SciFrog:
RC, the simple fact you can buy a quasi new R8 for 40k under means it will drop much further. Simple supply and demand... Even V8 Ferraris eventually drop despite the huge demand for them...
This is why I didn't buy the car.
The 48 months lease costs me around 88k EUR (incl. 19% VAT), a 60 months warranty for the car is included, so no repair cost worries over the whole lease period. If I want to buy the car afterwards, I already know the remaining value (on paper) and it is pretty attractive as well (I cannot put the number here in this post for confidentiality reasons because leases usually need to be returned to the dealer but the number is highly interesting and not bad at all...if I decide I want the car).
If I am lucky (my tax guy is working on that...), 30% of the cost will be tax deductible (not more because this is a sports car, usually it would be 50% if I don't want to keep a logbook about my destinations).
My wife for example can deduct aprox. 90% because she keeps a logbook for her Macan Turbo.
The reason why German Audi dealers seem to "give away" the R8 V10 Plus with such rebates seems to be their business model (they do almost the same for the RS6 and other high priced models) and of course the fact that the R8 is a bit too flashy for Germany. It is no Ferrari or Lamborghini but the R8 cannot be compared with the 911 which is, kind of, socially "accepted" in Germany, even as a business car.
Porsche dealers seem to use a similar business model but it is less attractive: They keep the car at least three months as a test-car and they can do 10000 km in it, way too much in my opinion. Also, the discount is "only" 15% if you do that, with some less popular models up to 20%.
My Audi guy also told me that larger dealerships get only a high number of production slots for "popular" high demand models if they order from the factory the not so popular models as well, mostly very high priced models. So to get for example 20 production slots for a very popular high demand model, they need to order a R8 or a RS6 Performance as well. This is just an inaccurate example but you get the point.
For me, the R8 is a dream come true because I always wanted a Lamborghini and this is the closest thing I can get to one right now. This may sound ridiculous but it is a fact. Also, I don't need another 911 since I have the 991 GTS Cab, the R8 was a logical consequence since Porsche doesn't offer such a car. Unfortunately.
Last but not least, you really need to listen to that V10 engine...absolutely amazing. Right now, no Porsche can deliver the same emotions in the sound department.
Btw: Insurance (full coverage) cost for this car is 1500 EUR per year (incl. 19% VAT). My 991 GTS Cab is only 890 EUR per year because I am in a different insurance class with this car. In Germany, we have an insurance system based on accident free years but only one single car can be insured with that one contract, all the others start at "Zero" when you insure a second or third or fourth car. One reason the R8 is in a slightly more expensive category but no problem.
Also, the fact that my wife can drive both cars as well, makes the insurance aprox. 200 EUR more expensive per year. She won't drive the R8 often but she wants to (god beware... ) and I couldn't really say no.
Also interesting: My insurance (one of the largest in Germany) insures the R8 V10 Plus on an individual basis only. No insurance for this car under the age of 30. I read in a German internet forum that a guy aged 45 (I am 50) pays 6000 EUR per year for his Audi R8 with V8 engine. Old model. This is insane but apparently he had two accidents in five years, so the premium went up...
So far, knock on wood, I had my last (self induced) accident at age 19.
--
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, Porsche Macan Turbo, Audi R8 V10 Plus (2017), Mini JCW (2015), Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (2014)