MeddlingKids

I am deciding whether to sell my 2013 S4, which I am currently leasing, to Carmax. The car has about 12 months left on the 36 month lease, is about 10,000 miles below the mileage limit, and in awesome shape. I took her into the local Carmax last weekend and their purchase offer was approximately $1,600 over my payoff quote from Audi Financial Services. While I can likely get more for the car in a private party transaction, I don't really have the time to show the car to numerous buyers. I called Audi FS this morning and they said that car dealers have a different payoff amount than what I am quoted as the leasee. They apparently charge the dealer "fair market value", which I am guessing is higher than the amount they are paying me for the vehicle, which would negate the possibility of doing a transaction. A couple questions:

Has anybody sold a leased Audi to Carmax before, and is the fair market value that Audi FS gives them typically much higher than the payoff amount to the leasee?

Is there any way around this by doing a separate transaction while I'm at Carmax? (I buy the car from Audi FS and turn it over to Carmax, negating the need to consider Audi's fair market value?

Will Audi dealerships buy back a leased car that has some equity in it, even if I'm not buying an Audi from them?

Thanks in advance!

RickFLS4

If you buy the car first won't you have to pay sales tax?

I'd ask an Audi dealer or two if they are interested in buying it.

sjuhawks19

I sold my leased Q5 to CarMax about 5 weeks ago. The difference in the payoff quote I got from Audi and what they gave CarMax was negligible, I think less than $200. In the end CarMax gave me $4500 more than any Audi dealer for my vehicle so it was a no brainer. They took care of the paperwork and I walked out of there with a check in my hand after about 45 minutes.

Are you in PA? That's where my CarMax was and it was really easy, don't let Audi scare you off.

DrGP

I'm in PA , considering doing the same. What location did you use?

sjuhawks19

Hatfield

gforaker

So, inquiring minds are wondering. Why are you guys interested in dumping the car early?

MeddlingKids

Thank you all for the suggestions. Carmax called Audi today for the payoff quote and it was nearly identical to my payoff amount I pulled online. I also contacted a bunch of dealerships in the area about buying the car, and they were about $3k-$4k light of the offer from Carmax.

To answer the previous poster's question, I'm just looking to cut my car payment a tad. Absolutely loved the car, though.