Possibly ordering a new s4, tips?

[cculos]

Hey guys - well I'm in the NJ area and here's my story, maybe you guys could offer up some advice:

I'm 24, going to be 25 in January. I recently attained a 5% share in a multi-national software company whom landed a multi-million dollar 3 year contract because of me. I have a very, VERY secure job.

That being said - I want to save up enough money over the next 3 months to get a house, and then a month from then get a new S4. If I ordered one special, does anyone know what the lead up time would be for them to make it / ship it out? Like are we talking a few months here?

Also - I suppose it depends on the individual dealership, but do you have to put money down when ordering a car? I don't know that I'll have much to put down until I go to sign the papers and pick the car up, so I'm not sure how that works.

Any advice you guys could give me I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

[GrnMtnS4]

Welcome to the forum - congrats on the job! Right now most of us are seeing a few months from ordering until arrival of our cars. However, as more cars are hitting dealerships you may find what you want on a lot and your dealer can potentially obtain it for you. Money down depends on dealers but should be refundable. good luck and if i can help just let me know.

Cheers,
Brad

[cculos]

I'm no newbie to the forums, just perhaps to this particular section! And I know that there will probably be something that I want on a lot somewhere that could be obtained, I don't want very complicated options:

- Sport Diff
- Black/white silk nappa
- Upgraded sound system
- Nav

But there's also something to be said for saying "My new Audi is being made for me and should be in for my birthday!" lol.

[GrnMtnS4]

Sorry about that - didn't mean to infer you were a noob :) Yea - there is something cool about checking the boxes and getting just what you want. Looks like a nice list of options Have fun and happy B-Day

Brad

[A4Ber]

I would recommend the Alcantara Seats than the leather. I love mine and dont forget the CF inlays. I live in San Francisco, and I was asked to put a 1,000 deposit. It is refundable for me since that's the law in CA. I am not sure about NJ. You probably need to wait 3-4 months to build a car. I did not want to wait and just bought one off the lot. I was offered 1500 off msrp and free Audi Care(740 value) for ordering one, but only 740 off to buy one from the lot(from another dealer). they couldnt discount much because is the only black on black with manual trans in CA. They were asking 2k over msrp in the beginning..FUNNY

[cculos]

So what you're saying is if I order one directly I would have a bigger bargaining chip than simply buying one off the lot? Do you know if Audi does European Delivery? If you're not sure what that is, BMW does it.

They take a few thousand off of MSRP and you go on a trip to Germany to watch the car be built and you can drive it on the autobahn and it gets delivered to you a few weeks later. Really cool stuff and you end up spending about the same as if you were to buy it new and not go. Just a thought. Thanks for the advice. I'm not sold on the Alcantara, it'll never look even to me :( I can't stand suede anything for the same reason.

That being said, I hadn't considered the carbon fiber inlays, I may have to see what it looks like first. Thanks!

[zillmc]

Welcome and congrats on the sale, it's nice to see some positive job related info rather than "I just lost mine."

I am in a very similar situation as you, young professional (26) with a nice job with security. I just placed my order last week for my S4 which has very similar options as you do. I am fortunate enough to have a good family friend in the car business who has been getting cars for my family for the past 15 years. He works as a 3rd party dealer for many companies in their company cars department and basically you tell him what you need and he gets it for you. That being said, I have some further insight into the ordering process for these things as of late.

Basically, I would start looking at your local dealers now as it sounds like you want to build and order and with that there will be wait times. I suggest going to two-three of your closest dealers and ask them if they have any build allocations left. Each dealer is being allotted a certain amount of builds for their customers who want to order rather than buy what's on the lot. Depending on the dealer and whatnot, you may be asked to put a deposit down so they know you are serious. It isn't a lot of money I dont think probably like 1000-2000 bux max. It will also take you at least 3 months wait before getting one or even getting a build date. The allocations are dwindling as its a hot car, so the sooner you get in there and place the order the better. My current ride comes up off its lease in February 2010. I ordered this past week, have a build date in December and taking delivery in February if that puts it into perspective.

[Tomcat84]

Audi has a European Delivery program

http://www.audiusa.com/us/brand/en/exp/audi_culture/european_delivery.html

[cculos]

Wow, I Like how they have listed there how much you save off of MSRP. 5% is a considerable amount! That's $2500 on the s4. I wonder if I could actually save money by doing European Delivery. Of course, I don't speak a friggin LICK of german, so.

[UmIsThisThingOn]

Wow, I Like how they have listed there how much you save off of MSRP. 5% is a considerable amount! That's $2500 on the s4. I wonder if I could actually save money by doing European Delivery. Of course, I don't speak a friggin LICK of german, so.

The money you spend to get there, eat, drink, and gas for the Autobahnen would outweigh the 'savings' IMHO.
I was just there in Summer of '07 and dropped a decent amount of chump change on gas alone [;)]

Plus you have to give the dealer a check for VAT (19% of purchase price) until the car is delivered to the US. Not really a bonus...

[cculos]

was just something to think about... Whats VAT stand for? Never dealt with a new car before.

[HobbesA5]

VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is used in Europe but not in the U.S.

When purchasing a car through European Delivery you must pay the VAT (or rather, put down a deposit for the full amount of the VAT) until the car is returned to a port for shipment to the U.S. Until the car comes to the U.S. it is technically a European sale and VAT must be collected. The VAT deposit you put down when purchasing via European Delivery is fully refunded. Supposedly, some dealers won't even cash your deposit check, they'll just hold it until the car is delivered.

This is the only real downside to European Delivery. You have to front a sizable deposit to cover the VAT, even though you will be getting it back. This ties up a signficant sum of money for several weeks while you wait for your car to arrive.

[HobbesA5]

The money you spend to get there, eat, drink, and gas for the Autobahnen would outweigh the 'savings' IMHO.
I was just there in Summer of '07 and dropped a decent amount of chump change on gas alone [;)]

Yeah, but if it's a trip you wanted to take anyway it's not really an expense associated with the purchase of the car then. Those savings went towards your enjoying yourself in Europe with your new car, instead of just lining Audi's pockets.

[cculos]

So I Guess Euro Delivery is out then. I'll have a sizeable down payment, but not 20% to throw at once. hah. Thanks for the tips guys!

[cculos]

ROFL so I just called up my local Audi Dealership, and they told me that they require 15-20% down (non refundable unless they screw up) just to get my foot in the door with ordering the car. But if one happens to be made and sent their way that is according to my specs, I could tell them to hold it for a grand. Also - apparently there is a manual one on the lot that is available to test drive. Perhaps I'll go later this week!

[zillmc]

ROFL so I just called up my local Audi Dealership, and they told me that they require 15-20% down (non refundable unless they screw up) just to get my foot in the door with ordering the car. But if one happens to be made and sent their way that is according to my specs, I could tell them to hold it for a grand. Also - apparently there is a manual one on the lot that is available to test drive. Perhaps I'll go later this week!

And this is why I don't deal with dealerships for other than my periodic maintenance. I went through my guy and didn't have to deal with any of this bullshit; got my build date (December 2009) a day after I sent him the .PDF of the specs. The problem is that they (the dealers) have very limited build allotments from Audi so they will try to get as much as they can out of you the consumer.

[JTurbo]

And this is why I don't deal with dealerships for other than my periodic maintenance. I went through my guy and didn't have to deal with any of this bullshit; got my build date (December 2009) a day after I sent him the .PDF of the specs. The problem is that they (the dealers) have very limited build allotments from Audi so they will try to get as much as they can out of you the consumer.

I ordered one 2 weeks ago at Audi of Mission Viejo here in Southern Cali. Mine is for November delivery. Only $500 deposit, but, I did buy my RS4 there a year ago, so my guess is they know I'm serious and can afford it.

[valis]

Audi MV only charged me a $500 refundable deposit and this was on an audi exclusive color. Greg rules.

[cculos]

You guys are getting good deals on these builds, huh? I test drove an S4 yesterday to top off my mini comparo of 50kish cars, and the s4 was the surprise winner of the bunch. I drove:

2009 Audi TTS
2009 BMW z4 3.5
2009 BMW 335i sedan
2010 Audi S4 DSG

The BMWs had brutal acceleration, especially the roadster, but weren't what I was looking for interior wise. Felt like I was sitting on a football with the leather quality (its SHIT). Plus they weren't too willing to move on MSRP and they WAY over charged on top of MSRP (can you say $59,000 for the 335i sedan and $62,000 for the z4? Christ!)

So, the S4 came in at $51,500 with everything I want, they stick to MSRP and maybe a little below, it's practical, the best on gas, good on insurance (NJ sucks), and is lighter, faster, cheaper, and more efficient than it's predecessor. In my head, clear winner. Hands down. Especially after the test drive. Quiet, but feels really nice.

[pharmer]

I ordered my S4 in south jersey a month ago for a November delivery. Put down $1k refundable deposit. Won't say I got much of a "deal" as far as discounting and throw ins go but I am happy.

Not sure what that 20% stuff down is but it sounds like horse**** to me

[dchan189]

Where did you go to school?

[erik7]

Deposits are ALWAYS refundable in NJ. The dealers are fing with you. And $500 should be plenty to secure the car.

[Toast]

In that price range you should shop the 535 instead of the 335 - its a better value.


You guys are getting good deals on these builds, huh? I test drove an S4 yesterday to top off my mini comparo of 50kish cars, and the s4 was the surprise winner of the bunch. I drove:

2009 Audi TTS
2009 BMW z4 3.5
2009 BMW 335i sedan
2010 Audi S4 DSG

The BMWs had brutal acceleration, especially the roadster, but weren't what I was looking for interior wise. Felt like I was sitting on a football with the leather quality (its SHIT). Plus they weren't too willing to move on MSRP and they WAY over charged on top of MSRP (can you say $59,000 for the 335i sedan and $62,000 for the z4? Christ!)

So, the S4 came in at $51,500 with everything I want, they stick to MSRP and maybe a little below, it's practical, the best on gas, good on insurance (NJ sucks), and is lighter, faster, cheaper, and more efficient than it's predecessor. In my head, clear winner. Hands down. Especially after the test drive. Quiet, but feels really nice.

[HobbesA5]

In that price range you should shop the 535 instead of the 335 - its a better value.

And ugly as hell.

[cculos]

Yeah i'm not a fan of the new 5 series at all. Which is really a goddamn shame because I consider the E39 BMWs to be the finest looking exec cars of all time. No lie. rofl. And perhaps I wasn't clear - if I were to order the car to have it made for me that particular dealership wants a lot down, but if i wanted them to hold something that happened to match my specs that they came across they'd only want $1000