larryV

Anyone ever make any long-distance purchases/orders via phone or email without even setting foot at the dealership?
How did things go?

I'm curious because I'm moving to chicago in the fall/winter and I'd like to time it just right so that when I arrive, my car will be ready for delivery.

My plan is to either sell my car when I get there or trade it in but the twist is that while I'll be placing a refundable deposit on a car there, I won't actually negotiate a sale price until I get there so they can look at my A4 to reach an agreement on a trade-in value. When this trade-in price is reached upon, then a sale price can be negotiated. Is this reasonable? I'm not very familiar with how dealers make such arrangements especially up in Chicago. I'm sure it's dealer dependent but I just want to know if my plan is even remotely plausible. (This is the only plan I can think off since there is obviously no way they can appraise my trade-in here in san diego until I finally drive it to chicago and add even more mileage)

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks all!

Oh, and to all you chicagolanders, I'm leaning more towards Laurel or Advantage Audi based on my preliminary phone inquiries (screening conversations) - both were quite pleasant and not pushy.<p><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/larryescortsig.jpg">

Tomasz@Startup

Larry:

I am actually buuying a car in Chicago over the phone. I should fly to pick it up on Friday next week. I have been working with Fred, and so far he has been very open. I am paying sticker for an S4 though. His number is 630.236.8000 x13. I would recommend that you talk to him. Oh, that is Continental Audi I think.

Tomasz

PS If you e-mail me next week I will tell you how it went. Though not till June 1 as I will be driving the car from Chicago!

BradB

I dealt with Laurel from out of state. If you want more info e-mail me at bbloo@dkmail.com

eLmEr_FuDd

I have bought long distance (my Jeep Wrangler) via the internet. I had no problems and they even negotiated value of my trade-in over the phone sight unseen. My advice is to get a firm price for the car you are ordering, then worry about trade-in value.<p>"Next time your flight lands safely, thank an air traffic controller...."

TX-SLVRS4

I had a screwy time with my S4 experience at first. I actually went from Austin to San Antonio (90 miles) to test drive because there weren't any at the local Austin dealership. I then decided to order through the dealer I test drove in San Antonio. However, they coul not guarantee that my order would be placed iin the next allottment (March at the time) and that it would probably then be a 2001 and not be delivered until July/August.
I didn't want to waste all that time, so I called another dealer in Houston and explained the cirrcumstances. He said he had just ordered one for the February allottment that he could change if I consented to put a deposit on it. So, with three phone calls, two faxes and a check in the mail, my order was placed. It's due in in less than two weeks.
The dealer in Houston has been really great to deal with and it will be interesting to drop by with a check, sign a few papers and bolt out of there. I'm not even really sure where they are located.

rao

I'm signing the order via fax on Monday for my 2001. It is much better than wasting time there in person and playing games.