I plan to purchase a '00 A4 1.8 soon. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Anyone get a good deal recently? How much and how long to wait? Ernest at Diablo Audi quoted 5% over invoice.

somewhere else...
After the dealer said it was the lowest he could go, I told him I was going, and he took off $225. They want your sale. When i told him what someone I knew got at a competing dealer, he tried everything to get me to stay.
Good luck!

Sure you could probably get 1% or 2% off somewhere if you're lucky and a master negotiator. But 5% is a fair price, and the fact that Ernst is a pleasure to deal with and there's no need to haggle is worth giving up a point or two.

- Rog

'99 Silver 2.8 QMS (Delivered by Ernst)

There is a point in a deal where the actual sales person only gets what is normally called a "mini deal"...or about $100. I don't know for sure, but I am making an educated guess that a 3.5 - 4% deal for you would net the sales person with this mini deal. Now why would a sales person, in their right mind, do that deal?. They probably already spent several hours on the phone or in person talking to you....giving you test drives, etc. Now, for this time..they only get $100. Sorry, that just doesn't pay the bills in California. I really think that a 5-6% over invoice deal, right this second in time, is a decent win-win deal for the ordered A4. If you get 5% over, I would take it. The salesman makes about $300-400 (or thereabouts) and the dealership makes a considerable amount more...but within reason. They are a business that needs to make net profit.

There are reasons why a special, lower than 5 - 6% deal, can be had but usually under special circumstances; strangely optioned car was cancelled by potential buyer (now it is sittin on the lot unsold for many month....sell the thing right now!), the dealership may be close to some kind of bonus plan sales number....they gotta sell this car to make their special commission, or high supply.

Yes, sometimes people come in a just pay MSRP for cars...but it is becoming more and more rare. In this case the sales person and the dealership make up for those cars that are sold at 5% over invoice or less.

So, what I am suggesting is that you consider everyone's viewpoint...you...the sales person...the dealership....and then negotiate for a car. Everyone CAN win and prosper.

Just trying to keep the peace.

Steve S.
97 2.8QM
00 S4 (jan?)

I paid 4% over on the 99.5, but that was a car already in Houston not yet claimed by anyone.
I understand I can get between invoice and the 4% over price myself selling the car (my dealer has a waiting list for 2.8's that is quite long and is trying to see if any of them want a gently broken in 99.5 model for a little less money), then dealer sells me a Y2K car.

Of course he wants me to order an S4.

$40K is just a bit too high right now, I'd go for the 1.8T and chips & salsa the hell out of it.

ANYWAY, yes 5% is reasonable and nets the salesman enough to buy groceries that week, and he doesn't lose credibility w/ his employer by bringing in impossibly low sales.

REMEMBER the diff between 4% and 5% on a 1.8T isn't much- what say $280 on a $28K car?

:0
my $.02

I know somoene who sold his 8 month old 99 528 in San Jose, with some 5k miles on it, for the same price that he bought it for from the dealer. The car was very nice(i'm not sure what's an option and what isn't), and he negotiated for a long long long time to get the price he paid. But he just placed an ad at the purchase price and waited, and filter the calls for those who were serious about paying his asking price.

Eventually someone bought it for his asking. I guess if you have money and don't want to sit on a waiting list, people will buy.

but you still lose out on what you paid in taxes though, :<(.

I've got to quit reading these messages on the 00 models, it's making me want to get in and buy!

brian t
97 1.8T QS AT