Snark

I was one of the first in NA to get the new RS4 in June 2006. I leased it through my company for tax reasons, but now I'm selling my business and the new owners want it off their books. I went to buy it, fulling expecting to get hosed because leases generally have ridiculous residual value estimates.

But with a residual value of $41,000, and ten payments left on my lease, I got the car for $55,000. Then I went on Autotrader on saw that's a decent deal on for a perfect condition 2007 RS4 with 30,000 miles on it.

I don't feel screwed! :-)

larryV

I expected worse as well.... but recently traded mine in and it wasn't too bad

sjenner

Like other high performance limited models I think that the Audi RS/S cars retain value better due to demand and fewer cars made than other Audi models. Just like AMG and M cars hold value well for Benz and BMW. But any car depreciates just not sure if Audi drops like a rock like used Infiniti lose a lot of their value after few years.

MARKNMTT

if trading or handing in now value wise. RS6s held just fine until the mass started to come off lease (at 3 years out exactly from the very first deliveries so you were just the start of a soon to be glut) then dropped 20K immediately. You got in/out at the right time.

They got the residual just right (even the 41K) but in 1 1/2 years you will be owing more than its worth now that you bought it (but i don't know the length of your loan so maybe not). If you would have financed from the beginning you would have started to be behind on the deal soon. Leasing is a fabulous idea with RS cars as they were close with the residual. I will say though that my RS6 held much better value by ove $10K over the equivalent 2003/04 MB E55, BMW M5, and dragging up the rear Jag R-cars

gleb

Great response! Then, what's better: wait 6 months or take the 11K Audi promotion?