Recently decided to purchase an '05 S4 Avant. Local salesperson has been been fantastic. Went to purchase the vehicle with two other quotes in hand ($2,000 under MSRP and $1,000 under MSRP). Local dealer would do MSRP only plus California advertising fee and emissions. Would like to support my local dealer and am willing to pay more to do so, but the difference with all fees is $2,300.

My question is whether there are issues specific to the S4 that would compel someone to purchase locally despite such a large price differential? Thanks for the help.

I have been unsuccessful in negotiating a decent deal with local dealership, Service is fine. I am treated well. My wife has even made the comment as to why I would even try to make a deal with them. I quess I will know better whwn my current lease runs out( 30 more months)

Local dealer offers loaners for overnight service only, not for scheduled maintenance. They stated that this was Audi USA policy so it should apply even if I purchase the vehicle from another dealer.

I bought out-of-state and the savings was in the same ballpark. My local salesman has a B6S4 and I was straightforward regarding where I was in terms of $. The local dealer simply would not come close. Building a strong local relationship may be helpful should you need the dealer to help with an issue with Audi NA but there is not much else. BTW, I just had my S4 in for the manifold TSB (+ gasket replacement) and they provided a loner which really had nothing to do with if I had purchased from them or not.

<B>Local dealer offers loaners for overnight service only, not for scheduled maintenance. They stated that this was Audi USA policy so it should apply even if I purchase the vehicle from another dealer</B>

That's interesting. I've owned Audis for the last five years and I've always been given a loaner and I never had the car stay at the dealer overnight. My last service was two months ago and I was given a loaner. If the Service Rep didn't know me however, he always asked if I purchased the car at that deaalership. The clear implication is that if I didn't, I wouldn't get a loaner.

Bryan:

Thanks for the response. Noted from an old post that you had a positive experience with Harvey at Desert Audi. Do you continue to recommend purchasing a vehicle from him?

$2300 difference is a ton - tell your local dealer to stick it (not too far though, if you want to service it there).

Phil

but I know that's not the normal practice anymore (it was when I got my first A4 back in 98). I ended up getting my S4 from a dealer about 35 miles away because I couldn't come to an agreement on price for any of the cars that my local dealer had left. I know that if I take it to my local dealer for scheduled maintenance, they almost certainly won't get me a loaner but I'm sure that overnight service on other warranty issues would be covered as you've stated.

they always ask if you've purchased your car from the dealer when you set up a service appointment. They definitely give you the impression that you're treated better if you did and the loaner for scheduled maintenance would certainly fit the bill.

to go elsewhere. But if you can get the car at a significant savings ( I saved $ 90/ mo on a lease) you are foolish to have loyalty to a dealership that won't make a reasonable deal. In some areas there is little or no competition since there may be only one dealership within 20-50 miles. Therefore no need to deal in most cases. But the INTERNET HAS CHANGED ALL THAT!. The dealership has to Earn your business, otherwise someone else will.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Ended up purchasing an '05 S4 Avant from a dealer several hours away from me. My strong preference was to purchase the vehicle from the local dealer (had a great salesperson), but I could not justify the price difference. I would have happily purchased the car locally if the dealer had been willing to meet me even half way on price. Looking forward to picking up the car next week.

Loaners are purely up to the dealer. Audi does not set a policy on them one way or another.

At my dealer, you get a ride home in their courtesy shuttle or they will call Enterprise for you and you can pay for your own rental. No loaners for any reason unless AoA specifically approves one...

I bought out of town for a couple of reasons. My local dealer is only 5 miles away, but both sales and service is atrocious. I went out of town 75 miles to an Audi dealer.

They provide Audi loaners, either an A6 or an A4 always, no questions. I have a pickup and dropoff agreement. I will not go to the local dealer for any reason (bad history). If you are comfortable with an hour and 15 minute drive, it isn't that bad.

To me, service is important. Price can be negotiated alot more easily than service. Nice forum, BTW.