GR8-LIFE

Have had quite a bit of time to assess this purchase and I have concluded that a new A8 is just too much money, even at Invoice price. I was offered a 2012 order for $1K below invoice (This includes a $3K AUDI loyalty) and by the time you configure the car with decent options, even at invoice price, you are still looking at $84K atleast. Its a nice car no doubt but an $84K price is just insanely ridiculous IMO. If the car came loaded at $72K price, I might consider it

A BMW 740I, which IMO is slightly better engineerd car, is $7K less and even that is no bargain IMO. Hopefully one day BMW will wake up on interior design. Either way, NFW am I going to fork up that kind of coin for an A8 knowing that in 3 years, if I decide on a newer model, an AUDI dealer is going to low ball me with an auction price on a trade that nullifies any tax savings benefit from the trade itself

Sorry for ranting, but Manufactures and dealers are out of control on pricing IMO.

derfA8L

Everyone's got an opinion, to which they're entitled. Obviously others, including myself, have differing thoughts on the subject :-)

BigGrasshopper

I hope a bad dealership experience didn't taint you against getting the A8.

Especially now, dealers are lowballing trades because those are huge profit centers as the luxury used car market is a gold mine, and dealers are looking to offset tepid new car sales with used car profits.

Incidentally, when I traded my 750i to my Audi dealer, they tried to rape me, but I walked out - he got me 2 steps out the door and said they'd agree to my number (which was bluebook trade in).

Coming from a 750, I will disagree that it is a better engineered car. 4 of my last 6 cars were Bimmers, and I respect that brand, but the A8 takes it to a new level. It also easily surpasses an S Class (but probably not for too much longer).

The price of the A8 is high, I agree. But even some minivans are now selling in the high $40k's, so a bit of relative comparison is in order.

If you are looking for a great late model car in the low $60s or some in high 50s, there are some nice base model 740i's out there. It is tough to beat that value.

But the Audi is now a model ahead in almost every respect.

The 7-series does have a fun engine with monster torque, but less so in the 740, which is nonetheless a great car.

Right now there's nothing else on the road like an A8, unless you're willing to get into the $150k and up bracket.

GR8-LIFE

First, the 7 series feels more connected IMO, even to the A8 but the A8 is very very close as far as that road connection and steering precision. Its just that BMW have always been a stubborn group of people, taking forever to change in some aspects and whats lacking is they are light years away when it comes to interiors, especially in a Lux car. Thats the only thing that gets my goat on Bimmers. Otherwise, they are the best driving machines with AUDI being a tiny small step behind in the road-FEEL dept

Dealers are dealers. They are pretty much all the same especially when it comes to flagship models. So no dealer affected my decision. The trade always plays a role and yes, you have to try and avoid the "raping" but thats easier said than done because todays economy, dealers are giving you auction price (aka blackbook) for trades. Even carmax is now offering blackbook pricing. If a dealer gives you even True Wholesale (Edmunds TMV for example) then you dont get that great invoice deal on a new one. But we all know that game is a prehistoric one just like the bs AUDI loyalty crap or the Lexus/BMW credit. Lets face it, these cars dont cost anywhere near $70K to build. Sure, Part of the pricing is geared to recoup very very expensive advertisng but thats not my problem

Point is WE GET raped on the front end and the back end. The front end raping happens because the A8 is just too much $$$ by the time you add some decent options.

To illustrate my point , a 2009 A8 now has an Edmunds TMV of $49K, which is suppose to be wholesale. But Black book pricing is $38-$49K on a 2009 And and $35-$42K on a 2008. Now Look up sticker on a 2009 A8 and a 2008 A8. Its basically $25-$28K out the window on a 2 yr+ old model (and thats not inluding the tax that got flushed as you drove out). Thats pathetic.

We will always throw some $$$ away on new cars, thats a given but this is way out of hand. Imagine the amount of $$$ an $88K car will lose if we have this same conversation in 2013. Man, its ridiculous.

Sorry for the rant but all I am saying is The line on new Luxury car pricing has been drawn as far as I am concerned. That's just one person's opinion. At the end of the day, I'd rather be the one doing the lowballing on a distressed pre-owned knowing exactly how much that dealer has in the trade that I am now looking to be the 2cnd owner of. It just doesnt make sense to me anymore. What would make sense to buy a new A8 is to spend $72K which includes the $8K options that I want. That may sound unrealistic or ridiculous but it doesnt sound nearly as ridiculous as spending $88K on a car that's going to lose atleast $25K at some point in early 2013.

2 years from now you will probably be looking at $84K for a base A8 and close to $100K for some decent options. I like this year's A8 and would like to own one but I am going to avoid taking the huge depreciation hit for now. If AUDI puts a Turbo V8 in the A8 in 2012 MY or by next sept in the coming 2013 models, then that 2011 A8 will take even take a bigger drop too. That would just be icing on the cake

Yea Snow

Yes, this car is one fine piece of depreciating machinery. Looking only at your current/previous cars and a few comments, you obviously do enjoy the pleasures of driving and appreciate the kind of car that can do that for you.
I agree with some of your reasons, but - for me - it has for some time come down to that ridiculous, but accurate cliche that life, is too short. I am only 60, but I may be drooling in 10 years and my grandkids begin asking 'whats wrong with grandpa?' but if its really only about 'losing' 20 or 40 or even 100k for what I get from a new car every 3 years? Well, that's me cruising down the road with the pre-drool smile on my face.

derfA8L

Ditto that sentiment from another 60 year old kid :-)

jprescott

Agree with Mark. I shifted from the passive to the active hunt a month ago. I am bored with my S550 and have gone between a new A8 and 7 series. I really love the A8 interior and given the choice between the two , all else equal I would choose the A8. The problem is that as I get older and wiser my stomach can't take the concept of buying a new car and accepting a 35-45k hit over 2 years (which is when I reach the bordom wall and need a new car). I called my Audi sales guy who sold me my last A8 and he flew into a tirade about the difficulty they are having with Audi USA kicking in trunk money to get rid of 2011's. Basically he can't do much better than a 2012. He did say loaner/demos would hit low 70's when released. Long story short is that I found a 740Li demo with 10k miles on it. I can't stand waiting for the A8 to depreciate so for now the 7 is a clear winner. I think all of us on this forum can afford to pee away 40k in depreciation but I will be fine trading the 7 for an A8 in 2 years(and I always wanted to try a BMW). So I agree that 95k is too much for me to handle psychologically, not financially. Audi does not do as well as MB or BMW with pricing

Big Hank

And from a wee little 48 year old too!!!

GR8-LIFE

I agree, I can afford to pee it away but I think you found the word I was looking for: "psychologically", Its just too painfull to watch these price hikes while seeing them give us auction prices 2-3 years later. As always, there is a market for anything and there are plenty of "psycholically" unchallenged buyers out there, I am sure
.
And whereas I do agree with the posts on "Living in the moment", nowadays, that becomes a huge and heavy price should you happen to live a few more moments. At the point, the cycle continues and you will be offered 1/2 the price for your $88K-$96K A8 when you chose to live in the moment again.

I dont think there is a right or wrong. The new A8 is a beautiful car and I wouldnt dare call anyone crazy for buying one new. I think in the end one must do what makes him feel comfortable and I think for the first time in a very long time the very high prices of a new lux car along with the auction-price offers that I will get for that car as a trade has me very uncomfortable. I dont ever remember feeling this sick about industry patterns on trade values, and when you add the $90K prices, well, it makes me feel like a doormat

I conveyed to AUDI Flagship division in a different sense, that is, its difficult for some of us to purchase a new A8 at the current prices when the A8 will lose half the value so quickly. How they decide to interpret that is anyones guess but I Wanted to get my point across.

To the owners of a new 2011, or 2012 A8, enjoy the car!

ayesha2525

Really drives me crazy to drive past a casino in Oklahoma or Louisiana and see all the Texas license plates in the parking lot. That is money leaving our state.