If you don’t care about having the latest car on your driveway constantly, it’s usually a good idea to buy models that are nearing the end of their lifecycle.
Chances are you’ll get a more reliable car than the average because by then automakers have fixed whatever problems a model may have in its early years. But that’s not the only reason to buy “old” new cars. It’s the discounts automakers typically offer to get rid of outgoing models and make room for new generation cars.
Take Audi, for example, which is offering huge discounts in the United States on the outgoing 2018 model year A6, A7 and A8 models. All three nameplates are redesigned for 2019, so dealers are naturally interested in clearing their inventories.
Through November 30, Audi offers its dealers a Marketing Allowance to help them offer discounted prices. It’s a form of dealer cash that isn’t advertised like a traditional rebate. Still, it can lead to big savings as long as you can find participating dealers.
The 2018 RS7 Sportback offers by far the biggest savings you can get on a brand new Audi. The high-performance fastback is eligible for a $17,500 incentive. Factor that in and the RS7’s steep base price of $115,875 can be reduced to under one hundred grand. There might be a problem, though: it’s quite difficult to find one given its limited production status.
If you can’t get your hands on an RS7, you should know the S7 Sportback is also eligible for a hefty $15,000 discount. The same goes for the 2018 S6, while regular A6 and A7 models can be had for $10,000 less. The 2018 A6 seems the best deal, as the discount accounts for one-fifth of its base MSRP of $50,675.
Finally, if full-size luxury sedans are your cup of tea, all 2018 Audi A8 models are also eligible for a significant $12,500 incentive — including the S8 performance version. Want to save even more money? You should know that all Audis are also eligible for an additional $1,000 loyalty discount when purchased through Audi Financial.