Now that sounds pretty enticing! Just a couple more questions now that you have my complete attention:
Is it a guaranteed 5%?
5% off Invoice or MSRP?
Are there any fees from customs for it arriving that the consumer would pay?
How far ahead of time do you order?
What kind of deposit is required?
Who do you contact about it?
Do you pay the German tax as well as a DMV tax in California?

My wife and I have been wanting to go to Europe for the a couple of years. Now that we're "empty nesters", this may have to be included in our adventure.

I appreciate any information you have on this!

 

So Audi has a book of discount % and for the S4 its 5%, or at least it is for MY2012, it varies between the different models. Its off MSRP, I'm not sure the prices of S4 are very negotiable (maybe in the next months because they have a face and rear refresh comming sometime next summer) But its totally worth it without the discount, you don't have to rent a car, and flying down the autobahn is a crazy adrenline kick like I've never experienced!

So heres the key, you do have to pay the 17% VAT before going to germany, but on delivery in the US it is refunded to you. So you only really end up paying California taxes, but you have a ~2 mo period where you are out that 17%. But besides the 17% everything is included in the price, ship, customs...etc, its like buying it in the US on order.

My order was a little different, I ordered in June, and its supposed to get her in mid DEC, but thats because I special ordered it in a non standard paint color, otherwise I'd already have it (~2-3 mo standard options)

I paid 2500 deposit, you may be able to pay less, but that covered the special paint job for me.

You can just go to your audi dealer and ask about euro delivery, sometimes the guys aren't very knowledgeable though because not that many people do it. If you are in LA I have a guy I can recommend for you.

Hope that answers your questions

Rob

 

I looked into this for a BMW years ago but did not buy. It's a sweet deal since an upscale rental (i.e., not a Skoda) can cost almost a thousand a week to rent. So you have your own car to break in while driving around Europe. Then you drop it off and they clean it up, prep it for shipment, and send it to your dealership where you pick it up. I think it also arrives with the cool German (DE) license plates. The only other issue is that you have to remove all your personal possessions before shipping it, so no loading the trunk with French or German wine. Almost makes me want to stop buying used cars.

 

I was at the San Francisco auto show today and the Audi rep described it exactly as you said.
She mentioned that they roll your car out on a red carpet and an engineer stands next to it in his lab coat. He goes over the whole car with you. They treat you like royalty and make a big "hoora" out of it. Sounds really good.

Does it generally cost more to buy a new car on order from the factory than it would to buy one on the lot?

 

Yeah its pretty amazing, though I didn't get the engineer to walk me through the car. The factory tour was about 2 hours, and that was pretty impressive in itself. I would think that ordering a car (non euro delivery) is more expensive than buying one on the lot because the dealer is always trying to move what they have in stock. Honestly do the euro delivery, you save a little money that way to put towards a great vacation, see Europe in style, you won't regret doing it. I would have bought used to save cash if I wasn't interested in the Euro Delivery and get the color I wanted.

 

It does sound cool. I went to a dealership in San Francisco yesterday and the salesman said that they give you 1 complimentary round trip ticket. I'm not so sure about that, so I will research that point. My wife and I are debating the trip now.

 

No round trip ticket! I put a deposit on my car today. Decided against the European Delivery. I'll probably regret it, but it works for us now. Thanks for all the info!

 

Nice, the car is well worth it even if you don't go to Germany, Mine is on the boat right now! Did you manage to squeeze a discount of of them?

Yea Audi def don't include round trip tickets, the only company I know that does is Volvo.

 

You're right it is Volvo that offers. Spoke to my mom last night and she said my cousin did it 4 or 5 years ago for his wife's Volvo. I got 6.5% off MSRP.

 

You have to pay the 16% VAT tax.