Yes, I've looked in the archives. I'm looking for any and all information or advice regarding ordering my new A4. I want to place the order very soon(this month) since the wait is bound to be long. I'm going to order a Silver 1.8T with a 5-speed, Frontrac, sport suspension, moonroof, and trip computer. I assume this car will end up being a 99.5.<p>Any advice that might help this process go smoother? I'm in Southern California and I'm probably going to order through Rusnak in Westlake, however, I'm open to other dealers if you have any suggestions.<p>Thanks,<br>Greg

Here's what I did; Went to Kelly Blue Book and got my costs and shopped all the dealers (12 of them) in a 150 mile radius for the one who'd give me the lowest price over cost. I special ordered it took 60 days. I got $1500 over and had to drive 100 miles. I liv e in San Jose bought in Sac. They all started by say $2000 over. For more details email me if you like.

I recently ordered an A4 very similar to the model you described - 5 speed, FrontTrak, Sunroof, Sports Package in Melange and Onyx. I live in Pasadena and stopped by Rusnak which was an utter waste of time. After carefully researching the web for dealer invoice, I talked to a salesman at Rusnak who asked me to make an offer when I was ready to purchase. When I finally decided the exact features and colors, I returned to negotiate a price. I was prepared to pay approximately $1,500 above invoice which I estimated to be a fair price based on my research. I made an opening offer of $1,000 above dealer invoice expecting a counter offer that would be close to the $1,500. The specific model I wanted was not in stock and I made it clear to the salesperson that I was not going to compromise for anything less and that I didn't mind waiting the 2 or 3 months it would take to order the exact car I wanted.<p>I was immediately introduced to the sales manager who was very condescending towards my offer and told me they weren't interested in selling an A4 for less than MSRP! They suggested that they might knock off $500 for a model in stock but NOTHING off an ordered model. I was a bit shocked and reminded them that they told me to make an offer and asked why I wasn't simply told from the beginning they would not negotiate for anything less than MSRP.<p>Quite frankly I was insulted and felt that they had wasted my time. When I started to leave they began saying that Rusnak was the largest dealer in So Cal and that I wouldn't find any other dealers who could make a better deal. What deal? They wanted MSRP!<p>I went back to the web and tried both CarPoint and Autobytel. CarPoint works with Ogden (sp?) but the sales rep took about a week to get back to me (they say max 2 days). Autobytel works with Audi of Van Nuys and they promptly returned my request offering me $1,500 above dealer invoice from the outset for any model whether it was in stock or ordered.<p>I dealt with a sales man named David Hasson who was very straight forward and we made a deal within ten minutes on the phone. I was so grateful to be offered a reasonable deal that I didn't really drive a hard bargain and basically accepted the $1,500 above dealer invoice. There was an additional So Cal Auto Dealers fee of about $250 which I didn't expect. When that figure was brought up, I balked and he knocked off an additional $100. So the final deal was $1,400 above dealer invoice.<p>Also, they only asked for a $500 deposit while Rusnak wanted $1,500.<p>I found Rusnak very snobbish. I can't imagine how they stay in business with that attitude? I hope this helps.<p>BTW, I ordered my A4 on Dec. 1. The ordered was placed to Audi on Dec. 15 and I was told the delivery would be March maybe April.<p>Good Luck.<br>

I posted this in an earlier forum but it might also be of interest to you. I asked the dealer if they would NOT attach the front license plate frame when my A4 arrived. David Hasson, my salesman at Audi of Van Nuys, said that it was no problem but that I would have to send a written request with my signature. I promptly wrote them a letter requesting that NO holes be drilled into the front bumper and that the hardware not be installed but supplied "loose" in the event I might want to attach it at a later date...

Rusnak stays in business because there are plenty of people in San Marino and South Pasadena who just walk into the dealership and pay the sticker price. BTW, my buddy from USC is working in the fleet department at Rusnak, and they sell a WHOLE BUNCH of cars. My friend just bought an A4 from him for $800 over invoice.<p>Mike

Perhaps Rusnak needs to fire their ******* sales manager? I felt kind of sorry for the salesperson I dealt with as she was the one who really lost out -- no sale, no commission. I wish I had known about your friend but I still can't recommend Rusnak.

Well, no saleperson is going to refer you to the fleet department because they will lose their commission. The fleet department usually handles corporate deals, although they will sell to anyone. They show you the invoice price and then tell you how much they want for the car. You get an awesome deal. I bought my A4 from the fleet department at McKenna BMW. I got a no haggle 6% deal over the phone and picked up the car three days later.<p>Mike

They really do have an awful attitude. It happened that some months after I told them to suck cheese that I found the car I wanted at another dealer, and even though they wouldn't bargain either they treated me better (plus the car was sitting right there crying for me) so I bought from them.<p>I hear that Rusnak in Westlake, surprisingly, is a much better atmosphere. FYI, did you know that Rusnak is the Costco dealer referral? And even THEN they give the same crappy MSRP deal.<br>

I did the same thing...with a little persistence I paid 5.7% over invoice, or $1,493, on a '99 1.8 TQMS with all options except trip. I live in PA but I assume that you can get something similar in CA.<p>Good luck.

Ahh it seems just like Dejavu. I also had a similar experiance at Rusnak, in this case it was Rusnak Westlake. The first time I came in the sales *******...ohh associate sorry, completely ignored me despite the fact he had nothing better to do, so instead of comming out and talking with me about buying a car he just sat there like a bump on a log behind his desk. Not exactly proactive in my book.<p>Anyhow I suffered severe age discrimination (I'm 21)and was treated as if though I were only there window shopping despite my attempts to make it very clear that I was going to buy a car. Well eventually someone took me seriously and I got to test drive a car...it was nice, the car that is...the sales guy was a total stiff. Ohh and if you want a A4 with a manual tranny don't go to Rusnak Westlake...they never have em...so be prepared to order.<p>Anyhow so I came back a few weeks later to actually put the wheels in motion. Again got the cold shoulder from the sales guy. So I zipped around the lot looking for the guy who gave me a test drive and came to find out that he had quit...after working there only about a month or so. Anyhow so once I picked another "sales lizard" to work with and started to talk about price I got the same old tired crap about how Rusnak only sells at MSRP and that I should be happy that they were willing to give a token offer of 500 off MSRP. <p>So I sat there and did the best I could to work em' on price but I just made no headway. So I tried another approach...I'll pay MSRP for the base model but I'm getting the options on the cheap. This didn't work either...so I broke down and said fine I'll buy the car assuming you'll give me the sunroof for free...this was met with a boisterous laugh..and then a comment something to this effect, "Hey look here Johhny we've got another guy who wants a car for free" damn was I getting pissed at this point, but I knew that if I ordered a car from them it would arrive somewhat faster than from a dealer with a lower sales volume...at least I figure that to be the case.<p>Well to make a long story short...I should have gotten up and left, but I didn't...I was weak, I badly needed a new car so I'm still probably going to take delivery of my A4 sometime mid January from Rustnads Westlake. The only thing I can say is that service will be very convienient as I live in Thousand Oaks..and Rusnak is very near to my house. My only other option is Ogner in the Valley or Steve Taub in Santa Monica. I guess I really should have checked out these other dealers, but what can you do...I guess the damage is already done...and Rusnak has a 1000 of my greenbacks in the form of a deposit.<p>Well based on my experiances with them I would by no means recommend them to anyone...not even a sworn enemy.

By the way if anyone is curious about what finally came down price wise.<p>So I haggled on the sunroof...basically I said that I was getting the damn thing for free or I would walk. So the guy talked with the manager who agreed (who wouldn't). Get this though...they did a little creative accounting on the quote sheet. Basically they put all my options down bla..bla..bla Sunroof $1000.00 then further down the sheet at the total they took off $830.00 which is what they pay for the roof. I just kinda smirked at the guy and said what the hell is this...I said free..not discount, but they wouldn't budge.<p>Anyhow the final rundown is the following.<p>1995.5 A4 1.8T Manual Tranny<br>Trip Computer<br>Sport Steering Wheel<br>SunRoof<br>Silver Metallic Paint (that's free I guess)<p>The grand total b4 tax and title is<p>24,800 including Destination. I got screwed on the price, but I can live with it...cause it's such a fine automobile.