It's basically cost me only $6,000 (difference between what I paid and what it's now worth - according to Kelly's Blue Book) to own the car for 24 months.

Because its currently still worth quite a bit of money, would it make financial sense to get a new A4? It seems to me that the "cost" of depreciation and maintenance (when out of warranty) over the next couple of years could exceed the cost of what I would owe for a new one after the trade-in (clarification: not necessarily do an acutal trade-in...probably would sell on my own).

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Wesley Walls
'98 1.8TMS

I am currently at the same crossroads. I have a 97 with 43,000 miles on it. I went to look at the 2000 model this evening and found it enticing.

You have lost 6000 dollars over 2 years. Approx 125.00 per month.

If you sell the car you must pay tax on the new car price. The tax is lost. Approx 1,800 dollars depending on where you live.

The best thing to do from a financial point of view is to keep your vehicle till the end of the warranty period. Then sell it. You paid for a 3 year warranty. Selling the car prematurely is a waste of the warranty.

Kelly blue book is not reality.
It's paid for enjoynot having payments for a while.

I'm trading my '98 for a '00, due next month. The '98.5 is still worth a fair amount of money, especially with 17 months and 30,000 miles of warranty left, so it doesn't really cost that much to get the next one.

I hate to let them depreciate too much because then you have to cover such a big cash difference to buy the new one.

I realize that if you keep them a longer time, your cost per year will be less but IMHO it's nice to have the style, features, reliability, warranty, and low maintence of the latest model.

I would normally wait one more year but I'm tired of the Tiptronic and want a manual.

I was trying to sell my ZERO OPTIONS 96 FM with 71,000 miles in CT, where if you fall asleep at the wheel you're likely to ram another A4.

I didn't want to try to sell somebody on equipment that they wanted and I didn't have so I put in a frank ad.

96 Audi A4 5-speed
70,000 miles, blue
No sunroof. $14,000

In 30 days time I got 3 calls. I returned a call to an answering machine,but never heard back. One guy almost looked at it, but backed out. One guy told me his friend with same miles and quattro was offered $9000 by the dealer. This classified at A4.org got two responses, but no follow up. One dealership appraised my car at $9000. I ended up trading it in for $12,500 which is Kelly trade-in (in CT. you only pay sales tax on the difference, which was worth another $750 to me)

I would be truly amazed if you could get someone to buy your car for Kelly retail. Having a 5-speed is a real drawback.

It is a tough choice, no doubt about it. If you keep the car another year you'll at least know what the next generation A4's are going to look like.

Bill Shaffer

The "Trade-in" value was given at $17,500. Retail was given at $22,500. I presumed that reality was somewhere between the two...aprox. $20,000. I'm also making the assumption that I could replace it with a new model for around $26,000.

Thanks!
Wesley

I tried going for the s4.

tradein + payoff = more than the s4 if i bought it straight out.

they were only giving me 22k for my perfect condition 20k mile a4 2.8 quattro, and my payoff is still 24k. what a gip, i'm waiting for the e46 m3 now.

That must be the book that the used car salesman takes out of his pocket when you want to BUY a used car.

Wesley,

The next A4 should arrive in the fall of 2001 as a 2002 model. I suspect we will start to see authenic spy photos next year.

At an Audi dealership, if you want $20,000 for your car I bet you'll have to pay sticker for a new car.

Bill Shaffer