A few years ago, I was travelling a LOT and decided to buy a Mercury Sable--just so I wouldn't have to rent all the time and the mileage reimbursement would pay for the car. Four months after I bought this thing, my company transferred me and I don't travel anymore.

I want a car that I love and I love the Audi TT - 3.2, automatic. Now, I've found what I want, but the dealer thinks I will pay full list. That sounds ridiculous to me -- but is it really what I have to do in order to get this car?

is it brand new or used?
what options are you getting?
what area are you from?

I want a new one; the only options that I want are the Bose audio and the heated front seats. I don't know enough about the tire differences to even want to consider them.

I live in St Paul. This particular dealer has MANY used TT's and is offering the TT demos at 5k off MSRP; however, they are all manual and most are the roadster, which probably doesn't sell as well here as elsewhere.

Edmunds is showing Invoice of $38,460 and MSRP of $42,520. I have called this dealership twice, test driven only once and am ready to buy. The most time the salesman spent was probably in locating the color I wanted. It's not like they've had to invest much in me as a buyer; I just hate that they want more than $4k margin.<edited><editID>AudiTTgirl</editID><editDate>38036.5949421296</editDate></edited>

lowball the dealer until ure at acceptable price, get a quote from a diff dealer

I was in the market for a TT and recently (within last 2 months) got several offers from dealers to sell a new floor 2004 model for 8-9% off MSRP. Since they are trying to clear out the 04s and get into the 05s, there are good deals to be had on the 2004 models.

I would fax or call around to dealers within 250 mile radius of your location and ask them to fax or email you the best they can do on a 2004 that meets your requirements. If they are not giving you this level if discount, there is room for you to negotiate. I was planning on paying cash so this also may be a factor. (This discount also takes into the account the depreciation factor of an 04 that has been sitting a year vs. a brand new 05.

Good luck and be firm and ready to walk away!

Unfortunately, if you are a woman buyer, the salespeople tend to be tougher on you. They think they can talk some gobblety-gook and it will succor you into believing their story. Don't do it! Part of the problem is that you tipped your hand early - you let the dealer know exactly what you want. Now he can fool around with you and get you to go for what he wants because he knows how important the specific model, color and options are to you. If you play hard to get (don't let the guy know exactly what interests you), then you have it on him to try to sell you something - he will be forced to try to make you happy with what he's got.
Lastly, the 3.2 model is a bit hot right now. Their prices are a bit premium because of the new engine. If you can wait until the season gets colder and then try to make a deal at the end of the month (September 30th is good, but December 30th is a better day for buyers), then you will be talking with a salesman who is motivated to sell at the best price to you.

By the way...
Welcome to the forum AudiTTgirl!

This is a great site. We keep the dialogue friendly and the attitude positive. The info is well received by all and we are here to help anyone with the need. I hope you find it to your liking as well.

If you're not familiar with this forum, please click the START HERE! (http:////www.audiforums.com/START_HERE%21__Terminology_%26_Vocab_lists/m_6320/tm.htm)link. There you will find a forum vocab list, an Audi forum terminology list and an Audi lexicon list. They should be very helpful to you if you're not familiar with the jargon.

Please feel free to ask any question, but double check the archives first. Many questions have been archived and, quite often, the answers are comprehensive.

I would find a frined that is a guy and go in there as your husband. And jsut try to get the price lower and lower. And if you have to walk out. And eirther come back after a few days or theyll call you.

shop around, see what else is out there. dont go with ur first one u see, look for better deals. (autotrader.com or cars.com)

I just bought a MY02 ALMS with 3500 miles for less than 29,000. Granted, it's a 225 Quattro, but there are good deals to be had out there if you look for them. It was the first car I looked at.

I've noticed TTGirl's post originated in February, so I am not addressing specific pricing issues. However, I would like to comment on your rights as a customer and specifically a woman buyer. Please note I am naturally biased as both a woman buyer and a woman seller for Audi, so view this as you will.

While it is true the majority of Audi purchasers are male, across the board women influence 80% of all car buying decisions. (J.D. Powers) That makes every woman client powerful from the minute they walk on the lot.

As a potential Audi owner, you have every right to request a specific salesperson by name or any other criteria you prefer. If you'd like a two-headed green midget, call ahead and set an appointment. If you are a woman more comfortable working with a woman, ask for a woman. The dealership(s) should do their best to accomodate you.

If you are ever treated with anything other than utmost respect at a dealership, let the sales manager know they are going to lose your current and future business unless the situation is rectified immediately. Excellent service is NOT negotiable.

I personally disagree with the idea of bringing a man along to make things better—we're big girls and this is 2004. If you can earn enough to buy the car, you're smart enough to do a great job at a dealership. I seriously disagree with having somebody pose as a decision maker or spouse. There's simply no point in creating discord through subterfuge. If you're lying, you've created a situation in which lying has become a means of operating. Any woman has every right to be treated fairly, based solely on herself.

If you are uncomfortable making a purchasing decision for reasons of price, what TTGirl did is perfect: consult a group of friendly strangers on the Internet who have no reason to mislead you. Also, use independent sites (such as Edmunds.com) to verify your pricing data. Bring the information with you that suggests your offer is fair. If you don't have the information printed, ask the dealership to print profiles from independent sites justifying their price. They'll be happy to do what it takes to earn your business, and if they aren't, TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO SOMEBODY WHO WANTS IT.

If you intend to do all service with the dealership you purchase with, let them know.

If you want a specific color and options, and won't take something else, let them know that, too. Your brand specialist then quits wasting your time and theirs trying to sell you something you don't want. Commissioned sales pros do NOT want to waste your time. It costs them money. It also costs them a sale that could have happened if they knew what they needed to do instead of messing around until the potential owner is turned off on the whole process. In my opinion, you don't want a sales person trying to sell you what he has--you want them making you happy with what you want. Period. It's YOUR money.

SOME salespeople tend to be "tougher" on women buyers. I personally do not, and I am sure of it. I believe old school certainly was, and there's still a lot of old schoolers out there, but that doesn't mean you have to buy from them. Audi corporate does not care for it one bit. Goes totally against the corporate vision.

Sales professionals are motivated NOT to create a LOSE/WIN situation. It causes all kinds of problems down the road for the sales pro, starting with unfavorable customer satisfaction surveys and extending to losing a person who would become a loyal advocate (making referrals, et cetera) to having a customer who plain out lets everybody know what a cruddy deal they got. I believe Audi's customer satisfaction department tries at LEAST 25 times within the first month to reach a new owner and see how they were treated—they really want to know, and they aren't kidding about it. If the answer is unfavorable, the brand specialist hears about it from the manufacturer, the sales manager, and potentially the dealership owner. At my dealership, you don't ever want to explain you made a customer feel buyer's remorse and made the dealership a couple dollars more. Long term net effect, you just cost the person who signs your paycheck a lot of money. That's bad, bad, bad business. If the peole who have purchased from you previously don't want to purchase again, you will not be successful.

In summary, I'm saying expect (and demand) to be treated very, very well when you go to an Audi dealership. This isn't a dirt lot on the side of the highway and you're buying a fantastic car--get fantastic help.

There is no reason a woman is not a powerful advocate for herself.