Sorry if this is in the wrong place, I did try to read the FAQ's.

First, according to the dealers, the 2009 Cabriolet is built on the 2008 body, not the new B8 chassis used for the rest of the 2009 A4s, so I might be in the wrong place right off the bat.

Now, the real question, the dealers are all saying that this is the last of the rag top A4s, and acknowledge the depreciation hit that the rag tops will have when the new retractable hard top comes out. Regardless, they don't seem to be offering much incentive to buy new.

Most of these MSRP around 46k or higher with the 3.2, and I ran across a few one year old 2008 cabriolets with 10k miles for 31k with a V6. I was planning to buy new, but with this sort of depreciation on the 09 Cabriolets, this is attractive, and I don't need to use traditional financing which would cost way more for the used car.

So, any thoughts on my consideration of a used car saving me what appears 18k off for 10k miles of use. The lease on the 09, the only other way to avoid the big model change depreciation hit, results in a three year lease of about $900 a month, and that is with the 2.0 not the 3.2. All of the models considered are AWD.

Thanks for any thoughts you can throw in here. Trying to find something fairly quick and move on this.

Bill

 

I have always loved the look of the A4 convertable, but have you actually driven one?? I found it to have a very unsatisfying ride due to chassis flex and feel. Still a nice car if you don't mind having a flexy ride. With that said, the dealership I got my A4 from was dropping the 2008 2.0T convertables from 43.5K to 35K. (Rick Case Audi in Duluth, GA-North Atlanta) Anyhow, once they switch to the new platform, there will be very little comparision.
Good Luck

 

Yes, we have driven one around for a fairly long test drive. We thought is was just fine, maybe a little jerky compared to the BMW 335 convertible, but reasonable. We compared the BMW 335, the CLK 350 and the A4 vert all the same day.

I haven't had any of the dealers we talked to around here offer anything other than MSRP, which seems odd given that the 2009 verts are on the old chassis and everyone knows it is history now.

The A4 has the most room in the back seat and the most trunk room not to mention the advantages of the AWD.

We are going to buy one, just a matter of which one. The 10k mile car is interesting, but we hadn't planned on a used car. 18k $$$ is quite an incentive to consider it. The 3.2 is a 6k $ option by itself. The 2.0 seemed a bit underpowered to me, but I am used to 400hp.

Thanks Poppy, maybe I should give that dealer a look, as anything within about 800 miles of Virginia would be ok.

 

""First, according to the dealers, the 2009 Cabriolet is built on the 2008 body, not the new B8 chassis used for the rest of the 2009 A4s, so I might be in the wrong place right off the bat.""
That comment is correct.
The current Audi A4 B8 will only be available in saloon and avant. There will be no rag top version. However, there will be a new convertable but it will be the A5 Rag top. Any A4 soft top you buy now will be the outgoing B7 platform in both looks and chassis.