My current B7 A4 lease ends on 10/30/08 and am looking to replace it with a 2008 A5 6MT 3.2, All of my car purchases so far have been off dealer inventory and I have never ordered -- although I am looking to order this one. Since the availability of the car in the US complicates things, I was hoping for some friendly advice from the ordering veterans out here.

1. Given the limited availability of the A5 in the US so far, what might be the ideal timing for me to:
a. Get the car on/by 01/11/2008
b. Get the 08 model and its pricing (I have a hunch the 09 models might price higher)

2. How binding is the order? If I order now, will I (and the dealer) be bound to the car and its negotiated price or can they sell my car when it arrives to a potential buyer who offers more? Could there be another round of negotiations when the car arrives ("price now is higher", etc.)?

3. Is it necessary to discuss/close on financing (leasing/buying) terms while ordering? Given the horrible AFS lease rates, I prefer holding out till later this year to see how rates come in and/or shop around a bit.

4. Is there a "waiting list/priority list" that I can get myself into now, and order later? Is that list specific to dealerships or with AoA? In other words, if I walk into a dealer and put myself on the "list", am I constrained to order from that dealer?

5. Are down payments/security deposits etc. due while ordering? Or later during pick up?

6. Is it likely that the US A5 supply might get better in the coming months?

7. (optional) Any other expert tips on ordering? Do's and Dont's? ... :)

Knowledge of this process will certainly help me better negotiate something -- so any help/advice will be much appreciated (and if you're in the Chicagoland area, free beers).

1. Get the 08 Model, as prices will most likely rise in 09 due to the weaker dollar.
2. The order is not very binding...most ask for a 1000 dollar deposit, but if you decide not to get the A5, you can use it towards any Audi at that dealership. Most will do this.
3. It is not neccessary to dicuss this, as rates will change by the time your car comes.
4. You will be on a waiting list until the dealship gets a spot to build a car, then your car will be "ordered". It took my dealship months just to order one. My dealer didn't charge me ANYTHING until the car was officially ordered.
5. Payments, negotiating etc.. will be due at pickup.
6. A5 supply will probably be limited for the rest of the year.
7. Do get in line, if you plan on getting some kind of an Audi. DON'T believe anything your dealer says in terms of delivery until the car has an official build and delivery date from the factory. My dealer told me my car would be here at the latest last october...it's almost March! Don't pay MSRP.

Thanks much sozdemir -- just a couple of follow-up questions:

"5. Payments, negotiating etc.. will be due at pickup" -- does this mean, no negotiations at the time of ordering, order at MSRP and negotiate price at pick-up? There are multiple dealers in the Chicagoland area and am pretty positive there's a discount waiting for me somewhere.

Can I order the car at one dealer and ask another one to pick it up -- if their price is better?

Also, no need to pay any deposit until the order is picked up for building, right?

No that's not going to work and this is why.
Your order will be marked sold. They have the car and all rights to it in the dealer network. Unless you order something that takes "a special individual" to buy there's no way they'll give it up.

negotiate your discount off MSRP at ordering, but you'll negotiate finance, etc. at pickup. you can order and then decide to purchase, pay cash, finance, lease, purchase with balloon, when the car arrives.

I paid a deposit in July of last year to get on my dealers waiting list for an allocation spot! they got an allocation and placed my order on Aug 14th, and the car was supposed to arrive 3/31, but came 2/11 :)

i paid only $500 down/deposit, and negotiated $750 off MSRP with free audicare, and a cargo net thrown in. Also got discounted Window Tint.

I haven't heard many people getting much more than $1K off MSRP, as audi only marks up about 6.5% over invoice (about 2800?)

but this is my 3rd audi in 2 years from this dealer. You have to know that the invoice on these cars is ~4000-5000 below MSRP, depending on your options. You also have to remember that is you lease or purchase through audi, they are making money on that too. Another thing, the MSRP on the vehicle is not OFFICIAL until you recieve the delivery date, given by the plant.

To answer your other question, if you go somewhere else you will most likely lose your deposit. Most people say paying MSRP is really dumb, but if you really want the car, then who cares. What's a 1000 dollars on a 50,000 dollar car? 20 bucks a month? phsssshhh...I do however think it is dumb to pay over MSRP, and if anyone ever trys that, laugh and walk away.

Right, you don't have to pay anything until it has been officially ordered and reconized by the plant to be built.

I like going to Edmonds.com, and see what other people are paying in my area. It's a good site to get TMV's (True Market Values).

Thanks again for all the great information. Its really helping.

So when a price (less than MSRP) is agreed upon upfront, I understand it may not be official until the order is accepted at the plant, but do you get something in writing from the dealer upon the agreed price? What factors might cause a future variance in that agreed upon MSRP?

Also, for those who have ordered A5s, how backed up is the A5 currently? I have heard of horror wait times on the S5 -- is the A5 truly as bad?

The reason I ask is I have a B7 A4 "Premier Purchase" running until 10/30 -- what options do I have if I order now and the car comes in earlier than anticipated? I also wanna ensure I somehow get the 08 model -- cant see any advantage in going for an 09.

Again, much appreciate all the help on this forum.

I'm thinking along the same lines as you, ordering something, but I'm hoping to get into a B8 A4 by then.

Hopefully I'll learn something from your thread. :-)

I am exploring a trade-in option but, at after initial exporations, i might be coming out with some negative equity at this time. Its pretty shocking given that my residual was as low as 48% for 15K miles/year and I am averaging well under 10K miles/year.

KBB and other online appraisers dont seem to be pricing all the options on the car.

Lets see -- I will start another thread on the B7 A4 forum and see what folks there have to say about resale values.