suprspdway

I agree somewhat with both of you. I’m anxious to just get the car and get the deal done. One would agree that the dealers have some right to sell at what ever price they choose, on the other hand, Audi set the price in the introduction as if that was the price $74,800-86,700. I might be naive, but I would guess there is a very firm understanding between the dealer and the manufacturer.

Otherwise, what would stop the (greedy) dealers from pricing the cars well above the MSRP, thus encouraging further reduced sales plus the damage to the brand than the 204 rating has done?

DMcDnald

I'm pretty sure back in the Jetta TDI heyday, before diesel gate, there were reports of dealers charging over MSRP. Demand determine price.

1st Audi Owner

Interesting article: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/comp...cturer-imposed. You may need to paste this link into your browser to get it to work. It did not work for me by just clicking onto it.

ted99

I'm suspecting that Audi is requiring Dealers to sell the car to reservation holders for the MSRP. When I told my dealer that the car was coming too soon and would they prefer that I cancel, or let the car come to them, their reply was they wanted the car to come to them and would I please let them change the order to a more generic spec than what I had (this was before lock). I said OK. They did so and said they would "take care of me" on a reorder. I gather from this that the Dealers will be able to mark up cars that are "not taken" by the person placing the order and that they are planning to do so. Whether or not the market will support this remains to be seen.

1st Audi Owner

I am astonished that there is as much conversation among us as there is concerning the possibility of dealers marking up the MSPR of e-trons, inasmuch as there appears to be so many of us contemplating cancelling their reservations or already having done so. To me, this talk of cancelling is indicative of a "soft market" for e-trons and thus an incentive for dealers to do quite the opposite, that is, to offer discounts. In reality, for months following the first sales of e-trons, discounts are not likely nor even less likely are MSRP markups. It appears to me that dealers (at least ted99's dealer) already recognize the soft market. This conclusion is based upon his dealer asking him to "let them change the order to a more generic spec." This would lower the MSRP and thereby make the vehicle he ordered more salable in a soft market. Dealers make money on options. If his dealer contemplated a strong market, I should expect him to ask to add to the e-tron specs.

I remember in the late 1990's when it was not uncommon for the dealers of luxury vehicles such as Cadillac (Cadillac was still considered a luxury vehicle) and BMW pasted an MSRP increasing "Market Value" sticker next to the Monroney sticker. When asked "are you out of your f___ing mind," dealers would immediately remove the Market Value sticker if it meant making the deal. I just cannot imagine a dealer trying to markup the MSRP of the e-tron.

Time will tell. I am looking forward to learning the details of the first actual lease deals.

ted99

Actually, the Dealer increased the spec and cost, adding things like the "washing wipers", protection package and 22" wheels. It was already Prestige. The biggest change was from my Siam Beige over Brown to White over Black. My disclaimer about market support was my back-handed way of saying that I agree with your postulation of a soft market. There might be a small number of cars sold at a premium at launch, but I don't see how that is sustainable. The i-Pace forum reports that there is a full sales year of inventory, at current sales rate, of 2019 i-Pace's at dealers (aggregated across the country) and production of Model year 2020 is about to begin. Many of the Jag models, including the i-Pace, are getting a factory $5K discount or 0% financing incentive. Some SoCal dealers have almost 40% of their inventory as i-Pace's. Their speculation is that the i-Pace will be awarded "Car of the Year" at the NY Auto show. If that happens, but sales don't get a bump, further discounts are almost certain. That will have a flow-on effect on Audi e-Tron sales. Speculation is that EV sales were accelerated because of the rush of buyers to get the full EV tax credit for Tesla, and there are not a lot of EV buyers waiting in the wings, at present. I asked a Jag i-Pace salesman why their residuals were so low for lease deals and his reply was that EV resale values are low because of the rapid improvement in technology. Tesla is now leasing, but I haven't looked at their residuals.

1st Audi Owner

Well said.

LavaGrau_A3

I suspect that Audi will do OK by just diverting their production away from the US. We are in a strange environment right now, but the rest of the world is charging ahead (pun intended).

njjoe

Changed to in production this morning 4/18

e-tronDriver

My order changed to "Leaving the Factory" today, May 15th.