Should i buy out leased 2015 Sepang Blue S4

[silver_a4]

Hey guys, need some advice here. I have a 2015 Audi S4 Sepang blue with about 32k miles. I have to get all 4 tires replaced before i turn if in as well as pay the disposition fee which would cost me over 1k to do. I am wondering if i could buy it and just resale it, I have only seen one other sepang blue S4 driving around. Surely there is some demand out there for it!

What do you guys think? Posted some pics as well

[mikey7182]

You put exhaust on it? Any other mods? What's the buyout? What are you getting instead?

[Works2shoot]

Get a quote from carmax and another dealer and see if it’s worth your time.

[Dr GP]

DO NOT JUST GIVE IT BACK! (Yes, I am shouting!) In most cases, you would be foolish to just turn it in. I would be VERY surprised if your car doesn't have significant equity. Yes,I mean your car has value even though you are leasing. If you give it back, you will lose it. What is your buyout? I bet it is significantly lower than the retail value AND the wholesale value of the car. If so, here are your options:

1) Buy the car, and finance with best interest rate you can get. Audi Finacial Sevices or VW Credit will give you financing without involving a dealer if you desire.
2) Trade the car in on another Audi/VW / Porsche/ Lambo. BEFORE THE LEASE IS OVER. Use the equity on a new vehicle car finance or lease, or just put the equity money in your pocket.
3) Buy the car and resell it.
4) Buy the car and trade it in on a non VW/Audi.

FYI, If you try to trade in the car for a non Audi VW vehicle in the last 6 month of the lease, Audi will require the dealer to pay retail price to obtain your car which will basically negate any reasonable deal.

[silver_a4]

So i have a baby on the way and looking at the BMW X5 at the moment, buyout is at 30k. I did have the AWE exhaust on it which i actually have on sale. So you guys think its best to just buy it from AFS and sell it privately?

[Low Orbit]

Remember that you will have to pay the sales tax on the $30K buyout price but if you trade it in on another car at a dealership, you will cut the net purchase price by the trade in amount so it's pretty tax neutral. If you sell it to CarMax or a private party, you don't get the tax break on your next car. I'm pretty sure this is the case.

BTW, beautiful S4.

[Dr GP]

So i have a baby on the way and looking at the BMW X5 at the moment, buyout is at 30k. I did have the AWE exhaust on it which i actually have on sale. So you guys think its best to just buy it from AFS and sell it privately?

You should only buy it and resell it if you can get at least $35-35k for it. You probably will need to pay sales tax on the purchase and at least one month finance payment. I agree about going to Carmax to see what they will give you. Another potential option might be to find a dealership that sells both Audis and BMWs. Should be some in Texas ??? BTW, the color will make little difference to a dealer. Might to a private buyer. If it has a 6 MT, that would make it much more desirable and rare. But dealer will tell you it makes it harder for them to sell. I call BS on that. Might be able to get a deal from Audi on a Q7? IMHO. ,I would not want a Q5 with a 2.0t engine. that is one of the reasons I leased a 2017 Infinity Qx50. 325hp 3.7 V6 and no CVT trans.

[silver_a4]

Thanks! I can trade it while its still a lease or after buyout? kbb value is between 31 and 34 so including taxes and fees i would barely break even if at all if i was to buy it

[Brother Owl]

mmmm Sepang



...buy it. If only for the Sepang

[Sepang_Daaang]

mmmm Sepang



...buy it. If only for the Sepang


[up][up][up] [:D]

[whts4]

My favorite color! Bought one a year ago for $39k ($57k Msrp) with 10k mi, sport diff....so guessing the private sale mkt is around $32-34k depending on options. If you have the sport diff that will make it more valuable and more desireable. Do you have Audicare? That also has value to private party.

[silver_a4]

Ya I love the color, took me a while to find one. It doesn't have sport diff or Audi care. I prefer going to an Indy shop

Such a dilemma!

[QS4]

Silver a4, I just did a quick cargurus.com search for what you mentioned about your car. There were ten blue S4's from Maine to California, mileage was the likely factor for pricing.

1. You didn't say if you'd buy it to keep or sell - You can find used tires if you will not be keeping it, as long as they have some life left...
2. No matter, make a list of the costs for the options you are considering!
3. Your lease agreement will be your reference point for your decision and your vehicle specs & details will only SLIGHTLY change YOUR selling price options!
4. I KNOW there are a few people out there that really want your car! I have no idea if they live in your city, are flexible with the car color, options, etc.

So, considering what we are saying, ask yourself if the typical used car/S4 buyer gets exactly what they want(what YOU are selling in this case) or goes for the closest thing to the amount they want to spend on one of the 2-3 cars they've narrowed it down ... I don't recall seeing posts here asking for advice choosing between to S4's of the same color!

Find your bottom-dollar price and get it on the market before you need to...

[Dr GP]

Thanks! I can trade it while its still a lease or after buyout? kbb value is between 31 and 34 so including taxes and fees i would barely break even if at all if i was to buy it

You can trade it in ONLy to a VW/Audi dealer before the lease is over. If you want to trade it in to a non nVw/Audi dealer, you will first need to buy it. I would first see what Carmax will give you and then make a decision as to what to do. Of go to an Audi dealer to see what they might give you on a trade on an New Audi or see if they have any interest in buying it outright, An Audi dealer can actually buy the car for less than your buy out.

[hilmar2k]

You can trade it in ONLy to a VW/Audi dealer before the lease is over. If you want to trade it in to a non nVw/Audi dealer, you will first need to buy it. I would first see what Carmax will give you and then make a decision as to what to do. Of go to an Audi dealer to see what they might give you on a trade on an New Audi or see if they have any interest in buying it outright, An Audi dealer can actually buy the car for less than your buy out.

Is there something specific in an Audi lease that requires that? You can absolutely trade a lease in anywhere, generally. No need to go back to the same manufacturer.

[Dr GP]

Is there something specific in an Audi lease that requires that? You can absolutely trade a lease in anywhere, generally. No need to go back to the same manufacturer.

In reality, you can trade your Audi in during the lease term to a non Audi dealer. However, unlike other car manufacturers, Audi Financial Services and VW Credit, will not sell the car to the dealer, IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OF THE LEASE, for the buyout price, unlike other car makers. They will make the non Audi dealer pay retail price. That generally makes any trade-in not financially beneficial for the leasee or the dealer. Audi's leasing practices are fairly unique. That is also why you actually have equity in a leased Audi. Rarely does that happen with other brands, since Audi does not set the residual artificially high. Setting the residual high allows car dealers to sell more cars due to lower monthly payments with the higher residual. Because the residual is artificially high, buying the car at the end of the lease is usually not financially beneficial to the leassee because they will have to pay more than the car is worth to buy it . Opposite is true for many Audi leases.

[silver_a4]

Thanks guys, I went to carmax today and they offered me 29k! I just tore up the offer and walked out. Didn't think it would be that low

[hilmar2k]

Thanks guys, I went to carmax today and they offered me 29k! I just tore up the offer and walked out. Didn't think it would be that low

You're nuts. That is a good offer. You do realize that they need to resell it at a profit right?

[kjeeper10]

You're nuts. That is a good offer. You do realize that they need to resell it at a profit right?

No shit.

[silver_a4]

Ya, but by the time I add the cost of paying sales tax, title fee's plus the money I lose selling to CarMax, it would have been alot cheaper to just turn the car in

[hilmar2k]

Ya, but by the time I add the cost of paying sales tax, title fee's plus the money I lose selling to CarMax, it would have been alot cheaper to just turn the car in

Oh, I wasn't suggesting selling it to them, just saying that that was actually a pretty fair offer.

[Dr GP]

Thanks guys, I went to carmax today and they offered me 29k! I just tore up the offer and walked out. Didn't think it would be that low

It would seem that it would be better for you to just give the car back then. Just wondering if you were upside down on your previous car and that was rolled into the Audi lease or did you just get a bad deal on the lease. Or perhaps a good deal with a higher residual?

[Dannydyn]

It's a fucking awesome car. Do what I did: Buy it out of the lease and keep it!

[Dr GP]

It's a fucking awesome car. Do what I did: Buy it out of the lease and keep it!

Absolutely true, but the OP wants a BMW X3

[Dannydyn]

Absolutely true, but the OP wants a BMW X3OP needs to have his head checked... ☺

[AudiS4SD]

OP needs to have his head checked... ☺

Unless it's the X3 M40i. Those things are quick!

[SoCal Quattro]

Isn’t that the whole point of a lease, turn them in for something new every few years .


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[Dr GP]

Isn’t that the whole point of a lease, turn them in for something new every few years .


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It is, However if you decide to lease an Audi, they have a different philosophy on leasing. Audi want to make money on the lease. Other car makers want to sell cars rather than make as much money on each car. So they inflate the residual and the monthly payments are lower. That is a great thing for the person leasing the car. Plus you just give the car back at lease end and get something else. If you do the same with an Audi,you often have equity in the car that is money you are throwing away if you are just giving the car back. Its just the way Audi designs their leases. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fuDDqU6n4o

[Low Orbit]

True about the Audi leases - my lease would have been about $150 cheaper per month if I got a similarly-priced 3 series => lower money factor, bigger discount and higher residual at the time. That being said, I'm not a big fan of the B9 S4 so I'm buying out my B8.5 lease - unfortunately, Audi messed up the CPO I would have added when they recently moved from 2 additional years to 1 year (unlimited miles). I'm just trying to figure out whether to get a Fidelity extended warranty which seems to be people's favorite option.

[Solarsuplex]

If you still have it and want to make some cash ill take that exhaust off your hands if the price is right. PM me

[Dr GP]

True about the Audi leases - my lease would have been about $150 cheaper per month if I got a similarly-priced 3 series => lower money factor, bigger discount and higher residual at the time. That being said, I'm not a big fan of the B9 S4 so I'm buying out my B8.5 lease - unfortunately, Audi messed up the CPO I would have added when they recently moved from 2 additional years to 1 year (unlimited miles). I'm just trying to figure out whether to get a Fidelity extended warranty which seems to be people's favorite option.

I wasted $2700 on a 3 yr Fidelity warranty that I never needed to use. Better thing might be to self insure and start putting money into a slush fund. If you do need repairs before the fund has enough money to cover, get a 0% interest credit card and pay it off . These cars have been remarkably reliable even with higher mileage. Use he slush fund money for brakes and tires,battery ect if you don't need to use it for repairs. IMHO, you will be better off in the long run without a warranty. My major concerns for high dollar repairs would be the trans, sport dif and engine

[silver_a4]

Ya, those warranties are tough. To update everyone i ended up turning her in today, I will definitely miss that car, but i'll be back to something fun again in a couple years. Like some of you mentioned, i am not huge fan of the b9 S4 though i do like the new virtual cockpit

[Dr GP]

Ya, those warranties are tough. To update everyone i ended up turning her in today, I will definitely miss that car, but i'll be back to something fun again in a couple years. Like some of you mentioned, i am not huge fan of the b9 S4 though i do like the new virtual cockpit

Good luck. It would be a sad day for me unless I got something to replace it that I thought was even better than the S4.

[Low Orbit]

Yeah Dr GP, my DSG and sport diff are only the reasons I am considering an extended warranty. Anyone know how much they cost to fix at a good indy shop? My dealer service guy said that unless you abuse the DSG on a B8.5, it is very unlikely to have problems (assuming proper maintenance). I only have 20K miles on it now and have no idea what I'll replace it with in a few years.

[Dr GP]

Yeah Dr GP, my DSG and sport diff are only the reasons I am considering an extended warranty. Anyone know how much they cost to fix at a good indy shop? My dealer service guy said that unless you abuse the DSG on a B8.5, it is very unlikely to have problems (assuming proper maintenance). I only have 20K miles on it now and have no idea what I'll replace it with in a few years.

There have been posts of failures of bost components. Has nothing to do with maintenance. Your car does have really low mileage. It would all depend how long you expect to keep the car and how many miles you will drive it. I understand the 45k mile maintenance is expensive for the DSG trans. Many buy AudiCare since it is less expensive to, buy that then pay for the DSG maintenance, I would never have an Audi dealer work on my car after the warranty was over unless there was not an Independent mechanic that could do the repair.

[Low Orbit]

GP, I bought Audicare so I'll get the DSG maintenance at roughly the 4 year mark. I agree that one should use a good indy shop post-warranty but I'm still on the fence whether a Fidelity etc. warranty is a good idea if it costs several thousand $ if either the DSG or sport diff breaks. From a probabilistic standpoint, probably not a good investment.

I plan to keep it until at least 45-50K miles which means another 3 years, although I'm finding it hard to think of a good replacement.

[s42014DSG]

Yeah Dr GP, my DSG and sport diff are only the reasons I am considering an extended warranty. Anyone know how much they cost to fix at a good indy shop? My dealer service guy said that unless you abuse the DSG on a B8.5, it is very unlikely to have problems (assuming proper maintenance). I only have 20K miles on it now and have no idea what I'll replace it with in a few years.

What counts as “abuse”? I hardly ever launched mine but drove it hard and the mech failed at 42000 or so.

[Dr GP]

What counts as “abuse”? I hardly ever launched mine but drove it hard and the mech failed at 42000 or so.

Exactly. Failures have not been linked to overly aggressive driving or tracking the car

[Dr GP]

GP, I bought Audicare so I'll get the DSG maintenance at roughly the 4 year mark. I agree that one should use a good indy shop post-warranty but I'm still on the fence whether a Fidelity etc. warranty is a good idea if it costs several thousand $ if either the DSG or sport diff breaks. From a probabilistic standpoint, probably not a good investment.

I plan to keep it until at least 45-50K miles which means another 3 years, although I'm finding it hard to think of a good replacement.

If you do decide to get a warranty,there is a guy named Troy who will get you one the best price.

[AFR1485]

Sell the car. Buying out a lease will never make financial sense. A lease buy out should only be done if a replacement for the car being leased is not in production(ex. 6Mt S4). I’m of the mindset that a sedan is fine for one baby duty, but that’s personal preference. Good luck


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[Low Orbit]

Sell the car. Buying out a lease will never make financial sense. A lease buy out should only be done if a replacement for the car being leased is not in production(ex. 6Mt S4). I’m of the mindset that a sedan is fine for one baby duty, but that’s personal preference.


I was planning to get a B9 S4 but feel the driving dynamics are worse than the B8.5 plus my car has only 20K miles so I'll buy out my lease and wait until something I really want comes to market. My buyout price is slightly below the low end of what I see for a similar S4 on Autotrader so not a bad financial decision IMHO.

[Dr GP]

Sell the car. Buying out a lease will never make financial sense. A lease buy out should only be done if a replacement for the car being leased is not in production(ex. 6Mt S4). I’m of the mindset that a sedan is fine for one baby duty, but that’s personal preference. Good luck


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I made $3000 on my 2006 B6 S4 buying it at lease end and immediately re-selling it . Also traded my 2010 B8 S4 on a new 2014 that I ordered and took took possession 1 month prior to lease end. Was able to use $6K in equity on the new lease .Could have put that money in my pocket had I wanted to.

[AFR1485]

I was planning to get a B9 S4 but feel the driving dynamics are worse than the B8.5 plus my car has only 20K miles so I'll buy out my lease and wait until something I really want comes to market. My buyout price is slightly below the low end of what I see for a similar S4 on Autotrader so not a bad financial decision IMHO.


I made $3000 on my 2006 B6 S4 buying it at lease end and immediately re-selling it . Also traded my 2010 B8 S4 on a new 2014 that I ordered and took took possession 1 month prior to lease end. Was able to use $6K in equity on the new lease .Could have put that money in my pocket had I wanted to.

Are you both your situations the original price vs the lease+buyout cost? Good for you if that worked out; that would never make sense with the lease prices in my area.

[Low Orbit]

My 2016 S4 had a $58K MSRP (DSG, Sport diff, tech pkg, nappa) and residual of 58% with 36mo/12K. My buyout is $33.6K - the reason it works well for me is my pretty low miles (21K at lease Aug turn in date) indicating a non-CPO retail price of $34K+ so buying it makes sense for me. As has been mentioned, Audi doesn't inflate residuals so a buyout is financially rational for many.

[AFR1485]

My 2016 S4 had a $58K MSRP (DSG, Sport diff, tech pkg, nappa) and residual of 58% with 36mo/12K. My buyout is $33.6K - the reason it works well for me is my pretty low miles (21K at lease Aug turn in date) indicating a non-CPO retail price of $34K+ so buying it makes sense for me. As has been mentioned, Audi doesn't inflate residuals so a buyout is financially rational for many.

I doubt your lease was less than $24.4k. It if was then sign me up.

[Low Orbit]

58% was my residual with purchase of Audicare adding 1% to the basic 57% residual for a Premium Plus in Aug 2015. Of course I have to pay a money factor (interest) but I also negotiated money off MSRP.