Can't Get rid of the A4, Trade in value $10K??

[BSIXER]

So I have been in the market for a quicker car with better fuel economy. I have been looking at the Subaru WRX 05 or newer, and the Mini Cooper S. I came so close to buying both on a couple of occasions (wholesale prices) and I just couldn't let go of the A4. The interiors of both were so janky and uncomfortable. Little things like the auto window/sunroof roll up, comfortable seats, and an arm rest were big factors for me not switching to a more expensive faster car.

My 02 3.0 is so much nicer inside and out than either one of those cars. Audi definitely has the best engineering for the price. The Thing I don't get is why our cars don't hold better value? The cooper and the wrx both hold their values very well, but I can't see why besides demand. Our cars are just as reliable, and overall a better car (maybe not as fast but looking at the big picture).

Does anyone know why our cars don't hold value like these other cars? For instance my Audi retailed somewhere in the 30s, but now I wouldn't be able to get more than about $10K (trade in)-$14K for it in excellent retail condition. An 02 WRX retailed in the low 20s and people are selling them all day long for $12K-14K. The 02 mini S retails in the high 20s, but people are selling them for 14K-17K. Why are our better quality cars not seeing the same resale?

[gq9]

Question for the ages!

[Papachristou]

audi's service is overpriced and terrible... people who search before buying a car read about sludge TSBs and timing belts breaking.

look at the 04/05 s4s! $50k new, and they are having trouble getting $20-25k out of them! i saw an 06 s4 sell on ebay for $16k...

[EYE4SPEED]

I'm in the same boat as you... I can't get rid of my USP... even to anyone on AZ, let alone for the super lowball from the stealership.

You definitely need to find a private party buyer. Good luck with your sale.

[jojoampt]

yup, we're fucked... imma have my avant forever

[BSIXER]

Now I know why everyone mods their A4s. Better to keep it,make it the best it can be, and run it into the ground.

[jojoampt]

exactly, i was thinking of selling/trading mine for a newer avant, and after coming to terms with the loss id have to take on it after only six months of owning it, i decided to keep it and slowly but surely work my way up to a built engine/BT setup and rock it til tha wheels fall off!

Now I know why everyone mods their A4s. Better to keep it,make it the best it can be, and run it into the ground.

[Papachristou]

in motor trend, i saw a new a4 3.2 v6 loaded was like $46k! cRaZy!

[demea]

Yeah, I dont get it either. Audi A4 is just as great a car as the comparible BMW, Benz, Infiniti...but the value is terrible.
I definitely owe more than mines worth

[IceMole]

Also has to do with it's now 7 years and 2 models old.

[sloweryucf]

Lost four grand in value on my car in like a year. It def falls off. Maybe cause the B8s are out

[SeKKeY]

it doesnt matter to me, im going to drive this baby till its wheels fall off. and its one USP that no one else can have.

[gq9]

Now I know why everyone mods their A4s. Better to keep it,make it the best it can be, and run it into the ground.

I like that straight into the ground.

[absolutegtr]

My first car....I will never let it go

[golgo13]

My third car and I will still never let it go.

[pyro]

my 5th car and willing to let it go if i get a decent enough offer. :p

[bigbro]

like my 20th car and when paid off its audi

[A4 TSCHUSS]

All German cars suck cock in holding value. Before doing all the work I am currently doing to my car I was looking at getting a 04-05 Mercedes E55 AMG. They were $90,000 new and the 04 was selling for right at $40k or little under, 06s were like right at $60k. That is crazy it is 2 years old and has dropped $30k in value!

Then you have Diesel trucks boy have they fell like rocks, guess this is more of Diesel prices though. You can get a 06 King Ranch Ford F250 ($50,000 truck) for around $15,000 right now. 2 years old and $35k drop in value!

[jessefrank]

I feel all ya'll's pain. I can usually never keep a vehicle over 2-3 yrs, no matter how bland or wild...I just get bored/tired of it. I realized how bad reslae was when after two yrs of ownership I could have bought a B7 A4 for the same price I searched so hard to find my 02 B6 for in 2005/2006 any where within like 500 miles.

On a good note...it may break me of always getting a different vehicle so often because for one, damn it, I'm not losing that much on a trade. And more importantly, after haveing my B6 for almost 3yrs, and all the ups (mods) and the downs (damn gremlins), I still love it as much or more than the day I got it.


oh, and I built a new B8 A4 2.0t on Audiusa website and it was over $47K !!!!!! I mean damn...I could order a fully loaded 335xi the way I wanted for $48k.

[Rockclimbersh]

Personally this is double-edged. For guys who bought new or close to new, it stinks. For folks who are picking up good condition B6 A4s in the mid to low teens.... that's ALOT of car for the money. My B6 is in the shop and I'm renting a brand new Mazda 6 for the repair. The new mazda would run me 23 new, and i can't WAIT to get back into my B6 that's only worth 14. Just be happy that you're holding on to a well kept secret and run em down!

[passatkid]

Sure this doesn't help but i paid 6500 for my 02 1.8TQM with sport package and xenons.

[akarol]

What, you guys bought Audis thinking of resale value? You want to get the most in resale, stick to Toyota and Honda. I bought an Audi because it lasts and it looks and drivers how I always wanted a car to.

[fau vee]

Check out the #1 best resaler
http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/artic...-Holding-Value

[fau vee]

Thats German for ya!

[audikid66]

screw it enjoy ur car....theres more important things to worry about in life then ur car's resale value.....

[JMRQuattro]

ok wtf? Where are the people selling their audi's for that cheap in my area? I've been looking for like 7-8 months now and i've found a couple that were good deals but they disappear within like 2 days. The rest of them are over blue book by 2k+ easy. Shit at this rate i'd be able to buy an 02 wrx in my price range with low miles for cheaper. Believe me, i've looked. So i don't know why you guys are having trouble. Shit if you're interested in selling out of state i'm in the market for anything between 02-04 as long as it's MT and black interior. My only other stipulation is that it's not silver because silver is ugly IMO. As long as it's reasonably priced i'm all for it. I'm stuck with looking at $21k usp's that blue book for 17k. And even worse i found an 02 with 122k miles selling for $15k!! Talk about overpriced. According to blue book a 02 1.8t quattro sport MT with 47k miles is only worth about 13,500.

[B6Lovin]

i decided to keep it and slowly but surely work my way up to a built engine/BT setup and rock it til tha wheels fall off!

shit, wouldn't stop me -- hubs bearings and studs are cheap

[rimad]

I can tell you right now it's pretty much the same over here in Europe. It's not just german cars...it's ALL cars. I bought my GTI 3 years ago...around $14k, now i can't get more than $6-7 for it if i wanna ex-change it for another car.

The thing is when you are ex-changing car dealer wants to earn money on car you are taking AND the car he takes in ex-change...this such a low prices, it's total bullshit if you ask me... but what to do...

It's also funny how everything looks cheap when we are selling and everything looks very expensive when we are buying ;) Car is biggest luxury of 21st century... prices on cars with big engines got down by like 30% or so because nobody is buying them, you can get an damn good M3 here for like $25k now where like 1 year ago they were $35 or so... gas prices!

[lookaught]

The flipside to this depressing discussion is that you can pick up a used higher mileage Audi for next to nothing! If you are competent enough to do the majority of the maintenence and small fixes yourself, they are an excellent value.

Personally, I bought mine for the way it looks and functions, then on top of that it is tune-able if I wish to go that route. Id rather be driving a high mileage Audi than brand new Honda, Toyota, GM, Ford, Subaru, etc. The only car Id trade the audi for is a 335xi bmw wagon, but it doesnt exist here in the states.

[Molotov]

yeah I was going to sell mine and pick up a b5 stage 3 s4... until I realized what kind of hit i'd be taking from only owning my car 1 year. At least now I'm BT, and am going to drive it until the frame rusts through

[mdzaudi]

Maybe the resale on Audi's is shit because people hear horror stories about it costing $500 to replace a cupholder. And that's not far from the truth.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

by an Acura TL Type-S 37k loaded and dirt cheap for payments and time to buy. Cars interior was fantastic, power owned life, and it came loaded.

[gq9]

by an Acura TL Type-S 37k loaded and dirt cheap for payments and time to buy. Cars interior was fantastic, power owned life, and it came loaded.

The hell did you jus say lol

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^what? i'm being honest it wasn't bad and the all wheel drive model is coming out soon

Fine Correction: Buy a C350 lol.

[onemoremile]

Does anyone know why our cars don't hold value like these other cars? For instance my Audi retailed somewhere in the 30s, but now I wouldn't be able to get more than about $10K (trade in)-$14K for it in excellent retail condition. An 02 WRX retailed in the low 20s and people are selling them all day long for $12K-14K. The 02 mini S retails in the high 20s, but people are selling them for 14K-17K. Why are our better quality cars not seeing the same resale?

Trade in has nothing to do with value. It has to do with the dealer's ability to either markup and sell quickly or dump it at auction. They have to set the bar low for their financial safety.

Private party sale has everything to do with value.

So why is our value slipping over time?
Dollar vs. Euro makes parts expensive.
shoddy reliability and high maintenance costs.
A4s are a dime a dozen like Civics and Camrys but don't represent the same value as a more reliable and economical car.
The A4 isn't as well known as a lot of other cars that are more appealing as used purchases.

[bigbro]

by an Acura TL Type-S 37k loaded and dirt cheap for payments and time to buy. Cars interior was fantastic, power owned life, and it came loaded.

I had a TL that car was one of the worst peices I've ever sat my tush in. Also I don't want to get started on the tourqe steer. When it came time to trade I was more than happy to let it go. The interior looked futuristic but the quality and parts were garbage and that thing stayed in the shop. But none the less it did look good though. I personally have to say my a4 is already more reliable.

[BSIXER]

I still can't get over the WRX. That car is a real piece when it came to interior and ride quality. I am sure they are reliable (hear the STIs have tranny probs) but they are poorly designed. I can't believe the 05 I looked at didn't come with a 6 spd. I would never go back to a 5spd manual after owning a 6spd.