Re: 100/200 Q Owners

["Tom Forhan" <TFORHAN@HR.HOUSE.GOV>]

     End of February I purchased a '90 200Q Wagon, one owner, 82,000 miles,
     pearlescent white, VERY clean, for $13,200 from an Audi/MB/Porsche
     dealer in VA, near Washington DC. Blue book retail for the car was
     $14,900, Blue book tradein was $12,400 and they were originally asking
     $15,500.

     This should give you some idea about the margins these dealers operate
     with. In these days of people bying new cars knowin the invoice cost,
     the real profit is in the used cars....Long car buying story follows:

     I first saw this car advertised in January by a private party for blue
     book retail. Owner said he was going to trade it at the end of the
     month, and he wanted "$14,900 or best offer over the trade in offer"
     he had from a dealer, which he would not, of course, disclose. We went
     and looked at the car, very nice, but EVERY question I asked, he would
     start with a disclaimer, " I don't really know much about that.." or
     the like, in other words, bad karma owner. I drove the car, seemed
     VERY solid, tighter than two 91 and 92 MB wagons we had driven lately.
     Discovered (1) drivers side seat heater inoperative, (2) diff lock not
     functioning (3) right headlamp very dim. He was unwilling to correct
     these item, and said the dealer had not mentioned them when they
     evaluated the car. I figured if we got the car for the trade in value
     of $12,500, the three problems, corrected by a dealer, would eat up
     another $1000, for a total investment of $13500, and no guarrentees.
     With the bad karma, and the seller unwilling to take any
     responsibility for the car, we passed.

     First of February, the dealer has the same car advertised for $15,500
     including a 60 day 100% warrentee. Sales guy says it was traded on a
     new MB wagon. I do not let on to having seen the car before, of course
     (never let them know you REALLY want the car). During the walkaround
     and test drive I discover, surprise or surprises:  (1) heated seat
     still inop (2) diff lock still inop (3) headlight still inop.

     We dicker, and come to a bottom line of $13800, with the warrantee,
     and the three items corrected. ( I figure the price is about the same
     as from the original owner, plus $300 for the warrantee and the
     reputation of the dealer behind the car.)The  sales manager says OK,
     but conditions it on their shop evaluating the problems. They call
     back, say the seat would cost $500, the headlight $275, the diff lock
     $400, and they would have "too much in the car to let it go for
     $13800." They want me to pay for half the repairs.  OK, I said, forget
     it.

     February 15, the car is still being advertised, now for $14,900. I
     have a friend go over, and he determines that everything has been
     fixed.

     February 28. Last day of the month - folks, it is true in the car
     business- this is when to buy. I call up the original sales guy.
     "Still have the quattro?" Yup. "Everything fixed now?" Yup. "I will
     offer you $13,200." Screams of anguish, but to  keep this already long
     story a little shorter, I never budged, and they accepted, with the
     condition that I take physical delivery of the car that evening. We
     agree on the phone, and I drove it home that night.

     Everything works, I love it, and I sure am glad I didn't buy one of
     those clunky 4-matic Benzes for more than twice the price... it just
     took two months to get it.