Topic: Can I afford an Audi?

[haven_seeker]

So I've always been a North American brand car guy.

Recently I took a 2017 Audi A8 (32k KM) for a test drive and fell in love. Sticker price... $56K. 

Now...the payments I can handle. I'm just wondering, what about maintenance? What am I in for?

Apparently two hundred and fifty dollar oil changes are the norm. There is a gauntlet CPO warranties available as this is being sold at a dealer, ranging from $2500-$10,000 on the purchase...which tend to push the car a bit out of my price range.

I guess this is on the very high end of the affordability spectrum, and I'm just trying to justify it while making sure this thing won't bury me in other tangential costs.

There's no way I could ever afford something like this new. But with just 32,000km on the odometer and the interior in pristine condition, it's as close as it gets to new.

Thoughts? What am I getting myself into?

I hold onto my vehicles for a long time. And if I stick with just the money I have in the bank to get a car I'd be looking at a 2003 A4 with 145,000k on it...

 

[Hannibalsmith]

If your annual income is >$200,000, then yes to 2017 A8, if not then 2003 A4.

[Allen]

If your annual income is >$200,000, then yes to 2017 A8, if not then 2003 A4.

Agree,  it's an FGC so maintenance and any repairs will be on the high side.. as an example I just had my A4 in for its annual maintenance,  it has just over 43K on it but its  4 years old so they go by age. The 4 year check up with tax  was just over $1,400 and the most major things they did were oil change, tyranny fluid change and new plugs

[ktm525]

If your annual income is >$200,000, then yes to 2017 A8, if not then 2003 A4.

Agree,  it's an FGC so maintenance and any repairs will be on the high side.. as an example I just had my A4 in for its annual maintenance,  it has just over 43K on it but its  4 years old so they go by age. The 4 year check up with tax  was just over $1,400 and the most major things they did were oil change, tyranny fluid change and new plugs

Ouch bend over time.  Four years on plugs, what are they using old copper Champions? Proper Iridium plugs in a clean burning engine should be 160k kms easy. Couple fluids swapped and 4 plugs. $1400 please. Yikes...

[Allen]

 

[JohnnyMac]

I'd say you would be looking at a lot of money just for maintenance and that isn't taking into account unexpected expenses that arise.

If you want a large luxury vehicle that you can drive long term and not be put into the poor house for maintenance and unexpected repairs I'd tell you to get the nicest Lexus LS sedan you can find in your price range.

[Railton]

 

[quadzilla]

If your annual income is >$200,000, then yes to 2017 A8, if not then 2003 A4.

I think you meant disposable income. Big difference.

[Jaeger]

I'd say you would be looking at a lot of money just for maintenance and that isn't taking into account unexpected expenses that arise.

If you want a large luxury vehicle that you can drive long term and not be put into the poor house for maintenance and unexpected repairs I'd tell you to get the nicest Lexus LS sedan you can find in your price range.

/thread.

[tpl]

I think the A8 is just too complex  for any use except as a corporate lease.     If you REALLY fancy an Audi sedan than go and look for an A6

[rrocket]

I'd say you would be looking at a lot of money just for maintenance and that isn't taking into account unexpected expenses that arise.

If you want a large luxury vehicle that you can drive long term and not be put into the poor house for maintenance and unexpected repairs I'd tell you to get the nicest Lexus LS sedan you can find in your price range.

If I had $50k burning a hole in my pocket and wanted a large luxury sedan it would be this:

I found this 2013 Lexus LS 600h L on autoTRADER.ca's Android app and thought you might be interested: https://bit.ly/2ZgsWsh

[CanuckS2K]

^ Beautiful car.  If I was in the market for this type of car, I'd be all over this one in a heartbeat.  Lexus of that genre looked soooo much better than today's offerings......IMHO. 

[dkaz]

I don't think you can afford it.

[rrocket]

^ Beautiful car.  If I was in the market for this type of car, I'd be all over this one in a heartbeat.  Lexus of that genre looked soooo much better than today's offerings......IMHO.

It really is. And it rides like an absolute dream. AWD, loads of torque, impeccable materials and will be as trouble free as a luxury car can be.

[dkaz]

I'd say you would be looking at a lot of money just for maintenance and that isn't taking into account unexpected expenses that arise.

If you want a large luxury vehicle that you can drive long term and not be put into the poor house for maintenance and unexpected repairs I'd tell you to get the nicest Lexus LS sedan you can find in your price range.

If I had $50k burning a hole in my pocket and wanted a large luxury sedan it would be this:

I found this 2013 Lexus LS 600h L on autoTRADER.ca's Android app and thought you might be interested: https://bit.ly/2ZgsWsh

5 years older and 4x the km but for 40% of the price?

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/rds/cto/d/surrey-upper-west-2008-lexus-ls600hl/7146105461.html

[2JDM]

You can't afford the A8, however, I think you can afford a similar age A4 for about $30k. Less complicated, more common (for parts, more shops can service it) and more options on the used market.

That A8 will lose another $25k in value within a few years. You likely can "afford" the monthly payments but can you afford the depreciation?

Or get a Lexus LS sedan. Stress free luxury barge car.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[haven_seeker]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm a little biased in Audi VS Lexus - mainly I only have a Toyota dealership in my town, and I have an Audi dealership - no Lexus dealer to be seen anywhere, so......what if I need parts?

I'm not about to drive to the closest dealership - it's just too far.

Do I just let my regular mechanic work on the Lexus like he's been handling my old beater Ford truck for the past decade?

I like the peace of mind a warranty offers - but I also know those warranties, even though they cover 1500 things that can go wrong, there's 10,000 other things that are not on the warranty that are conveniently excluded. 

The ride was serene. For the record, I've never been in a Lexus LS, but I did recently test a GX460 (2018) and loved it, too...but, no massage seats. 

[haven_seeker]

One more thing - the LS600hL linked in the Calgary listing - would you honestly pay $50K+++ for an EIGHT YEAR OLD CAR??

That seems like a lot of dough for a car that could start having a million things go wrong with it.

[PJungnitsch]

Pretty good video on that generation here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3AuT-wxvmg

[rrocket]

One more thing - the LS600hL linked in the Calgary listing - would you honestly pay $50K+++ for an EIGHT YEAR OLD CAR??

That seems like a lot of dough for a car that could start having a million things go wrong with it.

Yes. Most reliable in class.  Hybrid system would still be under factory warranty too.  The rest of the car could be under warranty if it's CPO.

I'd put money an 8 year old Lexus LS having fewer problems than a newer Audi A8.