So I stopped into my local Audi dealer this morning both to test drive a TT and try to figure out how to proceed. Given ordering takes around 3 months and my estimated return date is 11/1 we're right in the window to do an order. Unfortunately, I wanted to check out a TT-S as well, so I'm going back to next week to do that before I decide what to do. I did however get some key information in the process. I was the first TDI owner they've seen armed with an official print out. The salesman had little to offer so I wound up speaking with the general manager about the process. He examined the sheet, said, 'so you've opted for the buyout', I replied, 'given its more than I paid originally how could I not', to which he said, 'yep, it's a very good deal.' He mention that last week they had been briefed on the program at a sales meeting attended by Audi. He seemed genuine and I trust the info he related is accurate, at least as far as he's been told as to whats going on.
First, the dealership isn't involved in the transaction at all. He said they are giving an Audi rep an office in the dealership to conduct the transactions. Apparently its similar to selling a house. There's a lot of stuff to sign, they cut you a check, and that's that. As Audi is buying your car just as if it was any other private sale, the dealer isn't involved, it is not a trade in and therefore there is no sales tax advantage buying a car from them at the same time.
The second important bit of info is that after the transactions are done, Audi intends to repair the cars and then offer them back to the dealership (not clear if its the one that took it in or the one that repairs it or...) for sale. If the dealer is uninterested, the car goes straight to wholesale. The GM said nothing about what they thought they might do, but he did mention that they still are sitting on a number of new diesels, mostly 3.0s. thus it struck me as doubtful they would take very many in for resale. Anyone that thinks these cars in the near term will rise in value is, IMO, smoking crack. My son is going to college this year, my intent is to hunt around for some form of TDI in January or Feb, when the market is in general tanked and there will be many of these cars looking for new owners.
Finally, they could not confirm or deny that the pre-paid service would be refunded. They did say though that they had some experience in other circumstances where Audi gave a credit if only the first 15K service had been performed. They expected I'd likely get something out of them, particularly if I was dropping one Audi off and driving away in another. I'm hopeful I can get the service plan gratis on the next.
But will it be an Audi? Not clear. I liked the TT, but despite all its rather attractive qualities, what they say is somewhat true. There's more than a little GTI in the car, which while not a bad thing, makes its near $50K price tag a seem quite steep. We'll see if the even more dear TT-S mitigates that sensation. Given the rather stellar C&D review of the 2017 S3 refresh, and in particular the updates to steering and chassis, I could see potentially going that way. That would require a leap of faith though as the first of those cars wont be here until October. OTOH, I'm fortunate enough to have several other cars to drive and so I dont need to hand them the keys and get something else a few minutes later. We'll see.
Anyhoo, I hope this info is helpful.
