Depreciation!!!!!!!

[414BHP]

Well after 2 1/2 years of happy, no EXTATIC RS4 ownership i have decided to swap my beloved B7 saloon, but am abolutely gobsmacked at what ive been offered for my car.
The best offer from an audi dealer has been £23k, mercedes have offered £24k and Fontain Audi and Auto prestige have offered me £25k!!!
I have a July 06 Phantom black saloon that has covered 31000 miles, has tracker horizon, auto dimming rear view mirror, auto opening boot, bluetooth phone prep, sat nav, 6 cd changer, adaptive lights, heated rear seats and an origin dash mounted camera detector.

What do you guys think it worth???? Obviously i know that having looked on the Pistonheads website that i could get nearer 30k private but i just dont want the hassle!

Can anyone recommend any other companies that offer good prices??

Also wonder what cars you guys are thinking of replacing your RS4 when the time comes.

At the moment im eyeing up a C63 AMG cos they sound awesome and are very rapid, although i would miss my quattro road handling!!!

[Andyuk911]

You may think your car is in good condition, maybe it is not .. and you have been offered what it is worth ... post a pix or two and we can comment

[victor2vt]

50% of retail value for a petrol guzzler after 30 months in the current economic climate isn't bad, in my humble opinion !!

[tweek]

Networkq.co.uk gives trade in values as below.

Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition: £25500
Average condition: £23000
Below average condition: £20250

[PaulF]

It is with sad regret that I have sold my B5 RS4. However, having taken the price on the chin I realise that it is absolutely a buyers market.

[APM]

they lose about a grand a month,a C63 AMG will take a bigger hit,i dont think 25k is a bad trade offer.

[scaghead]

sounds about right, as you said you would get nearer 30k if you flogged it yourself but you dont want the aggro. the c63 will be alot worse. good luck

[lengster1]

Seems about right,i nearly bought a 56 plate avant with only 19k on it and same spec for a little over £31k from main agent with 4 brand new tyres and front discs and pads,it traded at almost 30k!!!!!!!!!!! so i know they bought it in for less no one deals in £30k plus cars for a grand a time,i would think 27-28k is possible private sale if theres anyone out there at the moment,I think the merc will give you a bigger shock in a few years though,overall the rs4 isnt fairing up too badly in the current climate compared to others,I know of 9 month old m3 that went back to stealer after 9months for 32k now thats scary

[Terry1948]

Sign of the times. Not sure which is losing me the most at the moment House, car, pension. I think you have to accept that it is not the time to sell. Its a buyers market and cash rules.

[quattrokid1]

THATS some hole in the pocket of the original buyer!!!!!

as stated these are expensive cars and expensive to run and maintain.
People are either sitting tight hoping they still have a job or those fortunate to bag a bargain at someone elses expense.

32k for a 9 month old M3

17.5% OF SAY 50K = for round numbers is about 8-9k so there you are nearer 40k before you have driven it off the forecourt .... 9 months use and if the RS4 is losing about a grand a month then if the M3 is the same then 32k is about right

not worth the money to start with IMHO but those folk who can afford such cars can also afford the big hits in depreciation. If not wait a few years andget 1 for half price

[aidanjaye]

Im on the lookout for an RS4 and the difference in prices across the country is staggering. For example a 2006 car can be listed from anywhere between 26 and 36 grand depending on spec and if private or main dealer.
Are the main dealers just inflating the prices drastically?? One dealer (main Audi) knocked 2 grand off straight away without any haggling although car was still over priced IMO.
I feel for initial buyers but does mean, as others have said, that bargains are out there.

And all cars are taking a hit - 57 plate Golf GTI low miles one owner. Offered only 11200 for it, 50% of the value and I thought Golf GTIs where one of the better for depreciation.

[dom888]

The fall in prices will probably now put me in negative equity next year when the finance agreement runs out and the balloon payment is triggered. I intentionally went for a really conservative balloon payment to ensure this wouldn't happen, but that was before the credit crunch accelerated the depreciation. It just makes me intent on really enjoying the car for the next 18 months so that I get "value" from the outgoing.

[aidanjaye]

Sorry to here that Dom, but it does mean that when you do trade up, other cars are also cheaper (well thats what I'm telling myself).

Point in question - 7 month old M3 saloon - asked dealer rough pricing and he said still over 40K but suprise suprise, when he looked the prices had dropped to well below the 40K. Still prefer the RS4 though so waiting for the right spec / colour to appear.

[Contigo]

Alot of people say it's to do with people not being able to get finance but that's not even the start of it.

It's the fact that these cars are "Luxury items" and in the current climate the first thing that people do is tighten their belts and stop buying thing which are not a necessity. That's when the market then becomes stale, demand is low and suplly becomes high as people try to get rid of their fast depreciating motors and the cycle starts again. It's like house prices and as soon as the first time buyers start buying again and confidence grows in the market then prices will begin to rise again.

I'd just stick tight and ride it out.

[aidanjaye]

Dont think they'll actually rise again in price - think when times get better the prices just wont drop as quickly.