Strange thing happened on a recent test drive

[Waynerm002]

Planned on checking out the new Santa Fe, to see if the hybrid was out and possible see the new Tucson. The day was planned to check out some other cars and if they were any deals on the GV80 and other cars. Well, the Stinger didn’t make it back home. What started out as a “let me see what kind of deal I can get” on a $70k+ car, ended up with us driving this home:




Oh the deal, 2021 Audi E-Tron Premium Plus, MSRP $77k, dealer discount 6%, $16K manufacturer discount and $4K equity from the Stinger. Lease for 3yr/30k miles for @ $600. Not as fast as the Stinger but the ride is really comfortable and it is pretty quick for such a heavy car. Drives much like a regular car, regen is minimal when turned on, no one pedal driving. The Dynamic mode isn't really that Sporty but it is fun. The lack of engine noise and the quiet cabin had me up in the high speeds before I realized it.

I was thinking of waiting for the EV6 and I still want to see what that can do and maybe trade the hybrid in on that. With the release of the GT version, I'm really wondering how that will be. Oh well, I'm on the EV bandwagon now, let's hope this one stays trouble free for the time I have it. My last Audi had computer issues and died on me after I got it home from the dealer. We did have a nice 2+ years and 73K miles together, before we parted. Here's hoping their new EV does well.

 

[Kamauxx]

So, all in you got $25k+ off MSRP? Gotta love those German negotiations.

 

[Waynerm002]

Pretty much. The lease deal was on the Premium version, dealer contribution of almost $20K, $4413 ($2999 cap reduction, $895 acquisition and first month $519) down, for a payment of $519 and 3yr/30k, plus taxes, dealer fees, etc.. With some research, I found info on the incentive for the Premium Plus, tried to get 10% off, $0 down and the same low MF on the Premium, to package the deal. First shop said ok on the 10% off but then tried to bump the MF to a crazy number and come up with a ridiculous down payment. Things worked out at the second place as they had this one with the brown interior, which I preferred over going black again, or the beige that we were working on at the first place.

Miss the Stinger a little, don’t have sport seats or heads up display, no perforated steering wheel and the paddles just work on the regeneration system. The Bang and Olufsen system is on par with the Lexicon, the voice system is great and wireless CarPlay is nice. The screens control most of the features, which so far has been easier to navigate. Pulled the Mando unit and sent to my buddy to put in his Stinger, to see if he likes it. Still have the badges I ordered from Sal, never got around to installing them. Most fun car i have had in all the years of driving. With KIA stepping up their game, I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings.

 

[Aarvix]

Grats.
As stinger owners were sad to lose ya, but those etrons are really nice. Hope it treats you well

 

[MerlintheMad]

And, a funny thing happened on your way back to the Stinger forum; you lost your Stinger. (and there's that number "222", aaagain. Hah.)

 

[Waynerm002]

I may not have the Stinger but I’ll be around. I’m not as active as in the early days, got new work responsibilities and less time to browse and chat. I’ll always be into cars, especially the Korean brands, so I’ll be sharing the news as I come across them and other stuff as well. Like how I drove the E-Tron like the Stinger and ran out of juice before I made the charger and had to get towed there. Well, it still had some charge in it but I realized the site we chose didn’t have the charger I needed and we wouldn’t make it. So I pulled over when It started to go into turtle mode and got it towed to one. Got 184 miles out of it with 4 to go, when I stopped. On the way back home I did a straight shot, no side trips, did my best to keep it at 75 but I put my foot in it again for the last 50 miles, ended up with 164 driven and 96 miles of range left. Still learning it, but there is potential to do more than the 235 official range when it is driven efficiently.

If KIA makes the EV6 as much fun as the Stinger, I’ll be seriously looking at one. I just hope they up their game on it and make it more luxurious than the Stinger. The E-Tron rides so well and is quiet, depending on the street surface, you won’t realize you are cruising at triple digit speed. Whether they make the SportSpace with the EV or a replacement Stinger, if they can get better range than cars now while having great driving performance, I think a lot more folks will make the jump.

 

[Waynerm002]

And, a funny thing happened on your way back to the Stinger forum; you lost your Stinger. (and there's that number "222", aaagain. Hah.)

At least this time it wasn’t to a tree and she will find a new home and the owner will be on here. I should have at least tried the launch control on it before I traded it. Oh well, she treated me well and we had some good times together.

 

[ChaneRZ]

Can’t never go wrong with an Audi. I love mine!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Can’t never go wrong with an Audi. I love mine!

You are understood, and forgiven the use of a double negative.