Where Is The Sweet Spot When You're Buying A VW ID.4?
There is a huge difference in retail prices between a Standard model at the entry-level end, and a Pro S Plus at the very top end.
How large? It roughly translates to about a 30% price premium in the used car market.
Other than the Chevy Bolt, no other vehicle has as much of a reach from the entry-level to the near luxury level as the ID.4. That reach also has a huge impact on the demand for the various trim levels.
The Standard, S and Pro models sit for a long time. Every... single... one...
Standard and S models in particular take a LOT longer to sell at the wholesale dealer auctions and the retail lots. I sometimes see the same vehicles get no-saled for months on end waititng for a buyer.
It's not just the limited range of the lower trim models which discount them heavily.
It's the sun. Literally.
When folks test drive these vehicles during the day, that heat combined with the panoramic glass roof makes the ID.4 less attractive to buy. Especially if you live where it's hot.
I have a friend of mine who operates one of the largest VW dealership in South Carolina. They intentionally keep these vehicles in the shade whenever possible, and even start performing climate control beforehand if a car shopper wants to test drive one.
As most of you know, only the Pro S and Pro S Plus trims have the heat mitigation systems needed to keep the ID.4 cool when parked directly in the sun for hours. If you own a dealership, they can sit for days on end and the panoramic glass roof can be a turn-off during a test drive.
That's why if you live in the South, Texas region, or Southwest, the price for an ID.4 Standard often runs neck and neck with the much older Nissan LEAF.
So is there an advantage to choosing the lower trim levels? Kinda.
The internet is chock full of tools and ideas to reduce that heat. Some work. Others not so much.
Nano-Ceramic window tint on the windshield and the windows helps. Custom windshield sunshades from Weathertech or Covercraft can also make a difference along with a good dashboard cover. You can also get window, roof, and rear shades.
But the thing is most VW dealers just have trouble selling these units. The days in inventory is now over 500 for the ID.4 and with the name officially cancelled, rebates and incentives are going to play an even greater role between now and 2027 for new vehicles.
The sweet spot may be a Pro if you need that range. Or a Standard or S if you can do fine with the smaller battery.
As an auto auctioneer and a buyer of a lot of EVs at the wholesale dealer auctions for 48 Hours And A Used Car, I can tell you that the higher trim models will always get more eyeballs. As those rebates get greater, it's those lower trim used models that will get the strongest price breaks.
The higher trim models will get more action. As those rebates get greater, it's those lower trim used models that will get the strongest price breaks.
