Running conneg manually inside a controller - ASP.NET Web API

CarsController.cs

public class CarsController : ApiController {

    public string[] Get() {

        var cars = new string[] { 
            "Car 1",
            "Car 2",
            "Car 3"
        };

        var contentNegotiator = Configuration.Services.GetContentNegotiator();
        var connegResult = contentNegotiator.Negotiate(typeof(string[]), Request, Configuration.Formatters);

        //you have the proper formatter for your request in your hand
        var properFormatter = connegResult.Formatter;

        //you have the proper MediaType for your request in your hand
        var properMediaType = connegResult.MediaType;

        return cars;
    }
}