I posted this in r/Audi too but am curious what you all have to say.
I have a 2019 e-tron prestige with roughly 42k miles. No issues or damage. In Feb. 2020, it originally sold for $83,705. In 2021, it sold for $63,498. In May 2023, it was roughly $50,000 (when I purchased it). Car Edge ([https://caredge.com/audi/e-tron/depreciation](https://caredge.com/audi/e-tron/depreciation)) lists the residual value of a 6 year e-tron at 54.27%, which would equate to roughly $45,000. But a private party sell estimate today is only roughly $25,000. That shouldn’t be the case until it is roughly 9 years old.
I am trying to forecast when I will owe less than this car is worth, but I can’t project with the estimate being so far off. Does anyone have a better depreciation forecast or idea? Is it going to be worth $15,000 this time next year? $22,000?
by Apollo526
10 Comments
Nobody can tell you with any confidence.
I don’t know who CarEdge is, but they don’t know either.
1. The market hasn’t been “normal” since 2019.
2. EVs are a new tech that is evolving rapidly.
3. The first generation of Audis were not particularly good EVs (range, charge speed, efficiency vs the competition) and that will hurt them as brand new $40k EVs have better specs across the board.
4. Audi in general has pretty atrocious residuals as a car brand.
Also, wildcards:
5. The price of gas over the next few years.
6. The political climate, which may or may not effect available EV incentives.
7. Climate becoming an ever-more present issue in people’s lives as time goes on.
First year etron with 42k miles.. $25k seems about right. How has the car been for you?
I got a 2023 etron Chronos(Prestige with blacked out everything) last month or so for 55k(MSRP was 90k). That should tell you something. I suspect yours will be under 25k with the age, miles and number of owners.
I recently had my ’24 Q8 E-tron with 22k miles appraised, it came in at $45k… My residual after the lease is up is $43k, which is still two years from now. My out the door price was $88k in May 2023… And while the car has been great compared to the Model Y i traded in for it, I dont think in two years I’m going to keep it, because I’m sure the value will be less than the residual at the end of the lease…
I just assumed that I would keep my EV for 10+ years using it as a second car after 5-6. Even if you buy a gas car this is the best way but with the EV tech changing so fast I can’t see it being worth a fair price even though it’ll be a great car for a long time.
Hey! I’m in Chicago. Just bought a 2021. E-Tron Premium with the convenience package, 30k miles, no accidents for $29k.
Hertz sale of it’s electric part of it’s fleet has tanked the EV market: they have stated they are selling them – all 30,000 (regardless of the loss per unit) before the end of the fourth quarter.
There are now $25,000 50k miles used Model 3s on the market.
Carvana has a 2019 e-tron Prestige with 42k miles for $29k https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/3158772
Car Edge or any other publication is just a guide. They never actually buy any cars. The actual value of the car is determined by the marketplace. This is why I recommend you only Lease an EV and let the lease company take the risk on resale.
Unfortunately the future value of an EV has become very volatile.
I think the MY25 updates will drop the resale value significantly.