I'm about to buy a 1998 A4 2.8 from an authorized NY dealer. Can anyone tell me if $500 under invoice (checked out on the Web) is a good deal?

Assuming that you meant to say invoice (dealer cost), not MSRP (retail price), that's great. Buy it. I have heard that there are incentives of about $1000 or so on leftover '98 models, so that would be about the same as $500 over invoice w/o the incentive, which is about 1-1/2% over, which would be incredibly good on a current model, and still good on last year's model. Some caveats: Is this possibly a very early 98 model leftover? (Check the production date on the door jamb to see how recent it is. If it has amber color as part of the taillights it is an early 98 verses a "98.5"). There is nothing wrong with this model, but it may have been sitting on the lot a long time. It would also help you in your decision to find out what they would sell you a 99 model for. For several years, a 99 model will be worth a couple of thousand more wholesale than a 98, so if you might be trading in a few years, the 99 might be worth considering. (If, for example, you could get the 99 for $1,500 over invoice, I would probably go for it myself, especially considering that you will get the minor improvements in the 99).

That sounds pretty good. I got $3,500 off sticker on my A4 2.8 tip with sunroof, bose, leather and sport wheel. No quattro or sport suspension. The sticker was $33,850. This was in early November. Hope this helps.

I got this funny feeling that someone is trying to pawn off $500 of MSRP as $500 off invoice (dealer cost). Anyone else got that feeling? What was the MSRP of the car (look at the sticker on the rear window of the car)? I got $2.5K off MSRP....but I had many special circumstances. However my deal was still several hundred dollars OVER invoice...not UNDER.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM

I am buying a 99.5 2.8Q for $1,700 above invoice plus tax/tag/etc [nothing additional for dealer fee, etc.]. $500 under invoice for a new [under 200 miles] '98 is exceptional. If I had the option I would probably still pay the $2000 more and opt for the 99.5, but the choice is not an easy one. Good luck.

....of course, that was under fairly extraordinary circumstances. I've told this story so many times that i can narrow it down to several short statements : <p>-Edmund orders 97 1.8TQM spring 1998<br>-Car falls off of delivery truck en route to dealership, dealer cannot pull another one until late summer 97<br>-AoA very embarrased, has regional rep call to personally apologize. . .but has a "good deal" on newly-available 30V. Come in and drive, then see the deal. See if you like. ?<br>-The deal - 1998 30V, everything except Automatic, MSRP $34,400, INV $30,500<p>Edmund pays $30,153. (which was only about $3000 more then my 97 1.8TQM was supposed to be (i got $26.8K with everything except Auto)). Do I regret not getting a 1.8? Well, sometimes. .. . but it's nothing a supercharger can't fix. =) And I actually like the power delivery of the V6 engine a lot, the smoothness also goes a long way in my book. . . (off topic, i know). <p>But if you can get $500 below dealer INVOICE without any extraordinary circumstances, i'd really like to see that one. . . . <p>Edmund Louie<br>98 A4Q 30V

http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/Incentives.html