Dear 001,
One thing that always gets me on the internet is that I read negative statements about Audi resale value way too often. Things like "yeah the Audi is great, but what about the resale value" or "the value of the Audi will drop like a stone when you drive it off the lot." You've probably read the same.
I wouldn't mind if it were true, but it is not - with maybe the exception of the A6.
I have the data to prove it.
The data comes from ALG (Automotive Lease Guide) who is the definitive resource for ALL automotive financing companies when it comes the projected resale values. All companies use ALG as their basis for residual values. Some bump the RVs to help sales, but all use ALG as the base point. So, if you see someone out there with a higher RV than ALG it is because they are incentizing it - they do this as do most manufacturers.
So, here are the RVs for different models in the luxury class based on ALG for 24 month terms. In two years, the following 2007 vehicles will be worth x% of MSRP:
Compact Class
.
Audi A4 2.0T quattro 68%
Audi A4 2.0T 68%
Acura TL 67%
Lexus IS250 66%
Lexus IS350 66%
Audi A4 3.2 quattro 65%
Lexus IS250 AWD 65%
BMW 328i 65%
BMW 328xi 65%
Audi A4 3.2 64%
BMW 335i 64%
Mercedes C230 63%
Mercedes C280 4Matic 60%
Mercedes C280 59%
Saab 9-3 2.0T 59%
Mercedes C350 54%
Volvo V60 2.5T AWD 53%
Volvo V60 2.5T 52%
Jaguar X-Type 51%
Midsize Class
.
BMW 530i 67%
BMW 530xi 67%
Mercedes E350 4Matic 67%
BMW 525i 66%
BMW 525xi 66%
Infiniti M35 63%
Infiniti M45 63%
BMW 550i 63%
Infiniti M35 AWD 61%
Mercedes E550 4Matic 61%
Acura RL 59%
Audi A6 3.2 59%
Audi A6 4.2 quattro 59%
Lexus GS350 AWD 59%
Saab 9-5 2.3T 59%
Audi A6 3.2 quattro 58%
Infiniti Q45 50%
Jaguar S Type 4.2 48%
Jaguar S Type 3.0 47%
Large Class
.
Mercedes S550 61%
Mercedes S550 4Matic 61%
Audi A8 quattro 59%
Audi A8L quattro 58%
BMW 750i 57%
BMW 750Li 56%
Jaguar XJ8 52%
Jaguar XJ8L 52%
SUV Class
.
Audi Q7 3.6 66%
Lexus GX470 66%
Land Rover LR3 V8 SE 65%
Audi Q7 4.2 64%
Infiniti FX35 64%
Volvo XC90 V8 64%
Land Rover LR3 V6 SE 63%
Lexus LX470 62%
Mercedes ML350 62%
Mercedes ML500 62%
Mercedes GL450 62%
BMW X5 3.0 61%
Volvo XC90 3.2 61%
Infiniti FX45 59%
Mercedes R500 59%
Mercedes R350 59%
Saab 9-7X 58%
BMW X5 4.8 57%
Infiniti QX56 56%
This clearly shows that the reality and the perception are very different regarding resale values.
By the way, even though we hate to admit it, all of us in the industry think AutoSpies.com is the best auto website out there...bar none.
Morocco the car leasing agent mole