bpower1

I've got about 100,000 miles on my 2000 A8, and toying with the idea of either trading in on a pre owned RS6 (which are down to the low 40s), or holding out for an S8 in a couple of years. It makes sense for me if they can come down to about $50K. Of course, I'm counting on the legendary Audi resale value drop for that to happen. Just curious what the board thinks. Is Audi resale firming up, and will it take longer for the new S8s to basically drop down half in value in 24 to maybe 36 months?

My A8 new in 2000 was $66K, and I got it in 2003 for $31K (with just over 30K miles, one owner, really nice). So, that's my frame of reference....

Mister Bally

Certainly half price at 36 months, probably closer to 30 months old.

carsany

I expect mines to be valued in the low 70's in that timeframe, which had a 110915 sticker. Don't think you can get that much car for low 50's IMO. Then again, maybe a barebone 92k sticker car can pull it off. Not the same animal as the older Audi's IMO. Think the current rendition of S8 should hold the value a bit more than the A8. It ain't that old school S8 anymore. But then again, who knows. If it goes that cheap, I am throwing a cover on my car and keeping it for 30 years :-) It is a cool sedan.

BTW: I'll sell you mines for $95k today if you want it. only has 1800 miles ;-)

MP4.2+6.0

Maybe a little different take or theory, though probably additive to the other comments.

Audi's drop even more than normal just around the time a new body of the same model comes out, they drop when a large prior volume of them rolls off lease, and in the case of the expensive high performance ones they seem to drop when something hotter comes out.

Thus, map when the new "D4" will come out, when the S8's sold in the past year or so will likely roll off lease, and decide if something hotter is here or coming out (R8, RS8? (of either the R body or the A8 body), C6 RS6, etc.) and you will likely have your answer.

The analogy to the RS6 is as all the cars came off lease that were sold in 2003 and particularly as they were cleared out in 2004 (i.e. by 2007 in relative droves), when the as hot or hotter S8 and S6 was out in a newer body and with new gadgets, and when by 2007 the C5 body was clearly dated in various ways (though as a C5 owner still a great car), the writing was kind of on the wall for the prices to drop off a lot. I had seen the same thing some years ago on the old S4/S6 based on the C4 body. Once the 2.7 and 4.2 C5 were out, the previously pretty high resale value of the prior C4 based hot sedans fell off much more rapidly.

alexpho

I am reading some excellent comments by everyone. I am on the same agenda as Bpower when I get my next Audi. I am paying particular attention to the 2008 S8 (an improvement over 2007 S8). Once the new A8 rolls out around 2010, a good crop of certfied S8 should be available for a bargain.

BTW- Some dealers were letting new S8 go in 2007 in the 80k price range.

Mister Bally

Did you just buy it January? I buy these cars to D*R*I*V*E

I sure hope you can get what you expect for it in 2010 or 11. If you have to do the 30 year thing, I wonder how many years ahead they allow the clock/calendar to be properly programmed to?

My 1981 Audi made it to 1998 (225k miles) and my '87 made it to 2005 (286k miles) before each one was donated to charity.

bpower1

what makes '08 S8 better than '07?

alexpho

I believe ( not confirmed yet ) that the 2008 version of the S8 incorporates the enhancements that Audi put into the standard A8. Seems like Audi rarely protects the exclusiveness of their products and will radically change without thinking of the consiquences.

For example, D3 was introduced in 2004 but new grill for the same car was introduced in 2006. The R8 has the 4.2 FSI but now the Lambo V10 is available for the second model year.