B8.5 CPO Vs. Supplier-Program New

[The Fat Kid]

I started on this forum by reading pretty much the entire track thread in one sitting; a tear was shed when West was banned.

The big question is whether anyone thinks a brand-new supplier-program S4 can come close to CPO 2014/2015? It seems like picking up a new well-equipped 2015 for less than $50k (supplier program + current Audi owner) is possible this summer, especially with the B9 coming soon; low-mileage 2014/15 CPOs are currently "listed" in the high $40k to low $50k range in the New-England area.

My wife and I are expecting our first kid soon, we live in the Boston area, and I plan on tracking the car (she gets a kid, I get to have fun ), so going the CPO route makes sense for the right price since it will not be a garage queen. We are primarily looking for a ~10k mile, DSG (wife can't drive manual), and flexible so long as it has the diff (for me) and back-up camera (for my wife).

Specific 2014/2015 CPO Questions:
* Maybe try to find a non-CPO (or remove CPO designation) and call Troy at FD-Warranty.com or Zurich (they already handle my business insurance); BBK/suspension more likely than a tune, but I won't count out the latter and a potential TD1 badge
* Any "must haves" (or superfluous features) aside from sport diff and back-up camera
* Any known issues (e.g. steering, wheel bearings, etc) with those MYs and how to quickly diagnose on a test drive
* What to ask dealer about history (e.g. alignment report, number of launches, TD1, etc.) that might not come up on the CarFax Report
* Any benefit of being eligible for the Supplier Program when going the CPO route
* Is there a preferable time of year to buy a CPO (i.e. more people trade cars in during X season)

Oh, and what is the deal with all these black S4s in NE? They look great when clean but not when covered in salt for half the year!

Thanks for any info!

P.S. If anyone recently picked up a '14 or '15 CPO S4, it would be great to find out how much they paid (even via PM) as a basis for negotiating.

[chaos2984]

The best time to buy a used car is either end of the year or end of the month and or quarter if the dealer is part of a fortune 500 company other than Carmax. Also you can probably walk out paying low-mid 40's for a CPO 14 S4.

You deff want the Sports diff for the fun factor. But for every day driving you want the Tech package that includes the MMI. It will make daily driving better with it. Just fyi thats how you get the back up camera also. Its in that package.

[RhythmAddict]

Picked up a car with a 57k price for 47k. Supplier program plus December incentives plus loyalty. New. I NJ dealer, pm me if you want contact info.

[The Fat Kid]

Picked up a car with a 57k price for 47k. Supplier program plus December incentives plus loyalty. New. I NJ dealer, pm me if you want contact info.

Wow, that is a great price! 2014/2015 CPOs are starting around $48k in my area, so waiting for a better deal on a new car might be the play.

The best time to buy a used car is either end of the year or end of the month and or quarter if the dealer is part of a fortune 500 company other than Carmax. Also you can probably walk out paying low-mid 40's for a CPO 14 S4.

You deff want the Sports diff for the fun factor. But for every day driving you want the Tech package that includes the MMI. It will make daily driving better with it. Just fyi thats how you get the back up camera also. Its in that package.

Hmm, so maybe looking at the end of Q3 would be a good time? End of month, quarter, and new MYs are hitting the lots.

Thanks for the info on the packages. The strange thing with a lot of the new S4 inventory in NE is that they don't list options, which makes researching difficult. As an example, this should at least have a few options at $58k: http://www.primeaudi.com/new/Audi/20...d-mediacom-sem

[The Fat Kid]

Picked up a car with a 57k price for 47k. Supplier program plus December incentives plus loyalty. New. I NJ dealer, pm me if you want contact info.

Thanks for the offer of contact info. I will let you know.

[b8audis4]

Yeah if you are daily driving you need the MMI system and also it will move the controls down to the center console which is a must for me instead of on the dash. Also I find the stock radio to be fine but many will say you need B&O.

[The Fat Kid]

Yeah if you are daily driving you need the MMI system and also it will move the controls down to the center console which is a must for me instead of on the dash. Also I find the stock radio to be fine but many will say you need B&O.

I didn't know that about the MMI/controls. Thanks.

We are not audiophiles, so B&O isn't a deal breaker.

[AZT]

I didn't know that about the MMI/controls. Thanks.

In any case you can't get parking assist (or even a rear camera) without the complete tech/MMI package, so that makes it a must have for me too.

[jygesq]

Picked up a car with a 57k price for 47k. Supplier program plus December incentives plus loyalty. New. I NJ dealer, pm me if you want contact info.

how does one qualify for supplier program?

[chaos2984]

how does one qualify for supplier program?

my guess is that your company provides a service or parts to that auto maker. I work for Cummins and we get supplier discount for Ford Dodge Chrysler, Nissan and Infiniti. But im sure OP can explain it better than I can.

[Tumbleweeds]

Wow, that is a great price! 2014/2015 CPOs are startingThanks for the info on the packages. The strange thing with a lot of the new S4 inventory in NE is that they don't list options, which makes researching difficult. As an example, this should at least have a few options at $58k: http://www.primeaudi.com/new/Audi/20...d-mediacom-sem

Click the "options and packages" tab.

Included Packages
Technology Package ($2,900)
Radio: 1 CD/DVD-Player & HD
Parking System w/Rearview Camera
Audi Side Assist
HDD Navi w/Voice Control

High Gloss Black Package ($1,300)
Wheels: 8.5J x 19" Titanium V-Spoke Design
Tires: P255/35R19 Summer Performance
High Gloss Black Pkg

Additional Options
Audi Guard Protection Kit
Audi Guard Wheel Lock Kit
Audi quattro w/Rear Sports Differential
Bang & Olufsen Sound System
Carbon Atlas Decorative Inlays
Front License Plate Holder

[The Fat Kid]

how does one qualify for supplier program?

AoA doesn't have the list on their website (which seems odd), but some individual dealers make it available: http://audi.niello.com/corporate-supplier-program.htm

As I know it: You get 6% off without negotiating and the dealer gets 3% back from Audi, which actually gives you a little more room to negotiate. Throw in the discount for currently being an Audi owner AFTER negotiating and you can get a great deal.

[The Fat Kid]

Click the "options and packages" tab.

Included Packages
Technology Package ($2,900)
Radio: 1 CD/DVD-Player & HD
Parking System w/Rearview Camera
Audi Side Assist
HDD Navi w/Voice Control

High Gloss Black Package ($1,300)
Wheels: 8.5J x 19" Titanium V-Spoke Design
Tires: P255/35R19 Summer Performance
High Gloss Black Pkg

Additional Options
Audi Guard Protection Kit
Audi Guard Wheel Lock Kit
Audi quattro w/Rear Sports Differential
Bang & Olufsen Sound System
Carbon Atlas Decorative Inlays
Front License Plate Holder

What the F... Ah, I think I had multiple tabs open and copied the wrong one. This listing definitely does not break out the option packages: http://www.audiburlington.com/new/Au...d-mediacom-sem

[The Fat Kid]

my guess is that your company provides a service or parts to that auto maker. I work for Cummins and we get supplier discount for Ford Dodge Chrysler, Nissan and Infiniti. But im sure OP can explain it better than I can.

Yup, my wife works for one of the insurance companies that Audi uses. The list of companies is surprisingly long.

[RhythmAddict]

how does one qualify for supplier program?

My wife works for a large conglomerate, so I'm not totally sure TBH. I guess some division does something for AoA :)
We did need to provide a pay stub as proof.

[AZT]

how does one qualify for supplier program?

You can also join ACNA to get the supplier discount, but you have to wait 6 months to be eligible (unless you buy the lifetime membership)

[RhythmAddict]

You can also join ACNA to get the supplier discount, but you have to wait 6 months to be eligible (unless you buy the lifetime membership)

Good to know! I'm already worried about my 6% if she ever switched jobs :)

[smohr33]

For what it's worth, 4-6% off MSRP was most dealers in the Tri-state areas starting point, and I didn't qualify for supplier discount or ACNA. That was with 0 haggling, just emailing asking for pricing.

I wound up buying my 2015 for 9.5% off MSRP, which included $1k conquest rebate.

I'm not sure if you can negotiate on top of ACNA or supplier discounts. If you can, home run.

[1MORLAP]

My wife and I are expecting our first kid soon, we live in the Boston area, and I plan on tracking the car (she gets a kid, I get to have fun ), so going the CPO route makes sense for the right price since it will not be a garage queen. We are primarily looking for a ~10k mile, DSG (wife can't drive manual), and flexible so long as it has the diff (for me) and back-up camera (for my wife).

Ha! You clearly are having your first kid. Good luck, but I will wager that you will not be tracking the car at much at all. Rear seat is too small for a rear facing kid seat, and she will complain that the car is too low and her back hurts when she has to put the kid in it. Hope you have a taller SUV like thing for her... Good luck, and I hope that I am wrong in every way here.

[The Fat Kid]

For what it's worth, 4-6% off MSRP was most dealers in the Tri-state areas starting point, and I didn't qualify for supplier discount or ACNA. That was with 0 haggling, just emailing asking for pricing.

I wound up buying my 2015 for 9.5% off MSRP, which included $1k conquest rebate.

I'm not sure if you can negotiate on top of ACNA or supplier discounts. If you can, home run.

That makes sense about pricing. Thanks.

Ha! You clearly are having your first kid. Good luck, but I will wager that you will not be tracking the car at much at all. Rear seat is too small for a rear facing kid seat, and she will complain that the car is too low and her back hurts when she has to put the kid in it. Hope you have a taller SUV like thing for her... Good luck, and I hope that I am wrong in every way here.

Yup, the FIRST and we will surely be in for a rude awakening! I have a B6 A4 (interior is slightly roomier than B8.5) and just tried out the enormous Britax Advocate ClickTight last night; my 5' wife can sit comfortably in the passenger seat with it rear facing, but I was squished. Looks like I am the designated driver!

My wife is seriously awesome and wants me to track the car since she knows I would love it; I never planned on doing it every weekend, maybe 4 or 5 times/year.

We live in an urban area and she rarely drives, so she will more likely complain about dragging a stroller up two flights of stairs.

[RhythmAddict]

For what it's worth, 4-6% off MSRP was most dealers in the Tri-state areas starting point, and I didn't qualify for supplier discount or ACNA. That was with 0 haggling, just emailing asking for pricing.

I wound up buying my 2015 for 9.5% off MSRP, which included $1k conquest rebate.

I'm not sure if you can negotiate on top of ACNA or supplier discounts. If you can, home run.

The trick is finding a dealer that well let you stack discounts. 6% off is no big deal, you're right. I was able to get ~16%

[AZT]

I'm not sure if you can negotiate on top of ACNA or supplier discounts. If you can, home run.

Yeah you definitely can. I think it strengthens your position since the dealer apparently gets reimbursed a chunk of the 6% back from Audi. In my case on an ordered car they added another 1.5% (7.5% total off) to supplier, and that's BEFORE other incentives like loyalty/conquest which make it more like 9-10% off.

[The Fat Kid]

Yeah you definitely can. I think it strengthens your position since the dealer apparently gets reimbursed a chunk of the 6% back from Audi. In my case on an ordered car they added another 1.5% (7.5% total off) to supplier, and that's BEFORE other incentives like loyalty/conquest which make it more like 9-10% off.

I was told that dealers get back 3% of the 6% Supplier Program discount (so something similar possible with ACNA), which means getting 10%+ off MSRP is plausible with other incentives. Rhythm getting a 16% discount is phenomenal.

[jygesq]

The trick is finding a dealer that well let you stack discounts. 6% off is no big deal, you're right. I was able to get ~16%

GREAT PRICE, THE best I could do was 7.5% off MSRP, ordered car Hoffman Audi East Hartford, played off against Valenti Audi Watertown,CT/ Hoffman matched thier price

[The Fat Kid]

GREAT PRICE, THE best I could do was 7.5% off MSRP, ordered car Hoffman Audi East Hartford, played off against Valenti Audi Watertown,CT/ Hoffman matched thier price

That seems really good for not having the Supplier discount. I don't need a car ASAP, so I might just visit a few local dealers and see who comes back with the best deal.

[anerbe]

http://www.audisupplier.com/details.aspx

Formal site if you are a supplier for Audi.

The car is fine with rear facing child seats placed on one side as long as one of the adults is under 5'5".

The front seats in the S4 are pretty thick, so there's little clearance between the seat back and a rear facing infant or convertible seat.

You can do the middle seat, but you lose the latch function, and have to use the seatbelt to anchor.

Once you go front facing, (anywhere from 2 years onward depending on kids size). The car has plenty of room.

[anerbe]

Yup, the FIRST and we will surely be in for a rude awakening! I have a B6 A4 (interior is slightly roomier than B8.5) and just tried out the enormous Britax Advocate ClickTight last night; my 5' wife can sit comfortably in the passenger seat with it rear facing, but I was squished. Looks like I am the designated driver!

I find it surprising that the B6 A4 you say has a larger interior than the B8.5.

From all my experiences, the B8.5 is larger than the B6/b7 in the interior. Although the total increase of length (4-5 inches longer than b6) is spread out to the interior and trunk space, I never felt the interior is smaller.

[The Fat Kid]

I find it surprising that the B6 A4 you say has a larger interior than the B8.5.

From all my experiences, the B8.5 is larger than the B6/b7 in the interior. Although the total increase of length (4-5 inches longer than b6) is spread out to the interior and trunk space, I never felt the interior is smaller.

Thanks for pointing out my mistake! I looked up the specs a while back and mis-remembered; it is the B8 trunk (12.4ft^3) that is actually smaller than the B6 (13.4ft^3). I was trying to figure out if our stroller would fit in the B8 S4's trunk and was really surprised that it was smaller. You are thankfully correct about the backseat, it is slightly roomier than the B6.