Good luck buying an Audi R8. There's an 18-month– or longer– waiting list. Or you could pay dealers demanding a $50 – $80k price premium. Hence the reason that Automotive News' [sub] industry-wide list of factory incentives set off my WTF alarm. As usual, a handful of Audi finance deals are listed under the VW heading. Until July 2, Audi dealers are offering the Audi A3, RS4 and S4 with 2.9 percent financing (qualified buyers, first born as collateral, etc.). Ingolstadt's American minions are also offering 0.9 – 2.9 percent financing on A4s. And well-heeled enthusiasts can pick-up an $109k (six-speed, base) Audi R8 with 5.34 – 5.85 percent financing. AN didn't list any specifics: length of financing, down payments or whether it was a purchase or lease. And Audi's web site doesn't list the deal with their other "special offers." So now I'm wondering: if they're in such short supply and such high demand, why would Audi be offering finance deals? And would that finance rate really sway someone shopping the $100k+ market to buy an R8 over a Porsche 911 Turbo?
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Doesn’t sound promising…
Not liking the R8 anyway though.
I want a real Gallardo.
That’s wiggity-wiggity-WAC ;)
Probably 20% down and 750+ beacon score.
JJ :
An 18 month waiting list on an R8…?
Is that a global waiting list or is there a limited number of R8s destined for the US market?
Might be worth it to check the waiting list in Europe otherwise. I don’t feel there’s so much demand for this car right here. Could be completely wrong though.
In January, Car and Driver reported that the R8 was sold out in Europe for the year. There are fewer than 5000 offered globally for the year and fewer than 1000 of those (I’ve seen 800 cited in some sources) will come to the U.S. Most dealers have already sold out of their allotment for this year. Those who haven’t are demanding high premiums for a spot on the waiting list.
Could be a typo. But with the credit crunch, there might not be much of a lending market left for car loans in the amounts required to buy cars like these.
Believe it or not, not everybody who buys these things is loaded enough to pay cash for them. Even the upper crust borrows money to support its lifestyle. I have to wonder how many potential purchasers can’t actually pay when it’s their turn to buy.
Edit: As I think about it, that huge price premium may be the reason. It’s probably not possible to borrow nearly enough from a typical lending source to cover it, particularly now. In effect, Audi would be supporting those high out-the-door prices by making the financing possible when it otherwise might not be.
I really like the premise of the R8. It looks good too (not stunning like a Ferrari or ageless like a 911). I’ll hopefully be able to get a ride in one this weekend at an Audi track even I’m instructing at.
Friend of mine who was given one to drive for a few days says it’s the most amazing car he’s driven.
That’s not exactly cut-rate financing. Should be able to close to those numbers without any subsidy.
Pch101
Could be a typo.
That was my first thought, that maybe they actually meant A8. But I went back and checked, and this isn’t the first time the R8 has appeared on this list with reduced financing. It is the longest period of time they’ve offered it, though. Previously it was just for a couple of weeks at a time.
Just for the helluvit, I ran some figures through a car loan calculator. With tax, title and registration figured in, a $10k down payment, and the lowest rate they offer (5.38%), the payments on a base-price R8 (yeah, just try to find one for $109k) with gas guzzler tax ($2,100) and destination charge ($1,000) for 60 months would be $2,128.31.
Whatta bargain!
If your investments are bringing more than finance rate it makes more sense to borrow. Similarly with mortgages – there is no reason to payoff the house when interest is tax-deductible, which is twice as important in 35% tax bracket.