(5 votes, average: 2.4 out of 5)
Loading ...Car buyers beware - there’s some serious depreciation going on out there on certain marques.
Eurotaxglass’s publisher of Glasses guide says the worst performer when it comes to depreciation is the Alfa Romeo 166 which returns just 12 per cent of its value after 3 years and 37,000 miles use!
Bad news for Alfa, but good news for the used car buyer, because the 166 wasn’t a bad car - it was produced from 2004 to 2006 just badly perceieved by the motor trade as a quick seller.
EurotaxGlass’s has just compiled a list of the 10 worst, and 10 best, depreciation performers and managing editor Adrian Rushmore says the fact that several models are now obsolete has seen them appear among the bottom listers.
The most positive thing to say about the bottom 10 is that they represent unrivalled value for money in todays credit crunch market.
For example, a three year old Rover 75 1.8T Contemprary SE, with 37,000 miles, had a list price of £22,700 and yet its trade in value today is only £3,300.
This means that it has depreciated by £19,400. Buyers of the Rover 75 will be virtually garanteed trouble free motoring for the next three years and will not suffer further significant loss in value and in three years time a dealer is likely to offer minimum part exchange of £1,000.
DEPRECIATION TABLE
Taking that three years and 37,000 miles use the standard:
1. Alfa Romeo 166 2.0/3.0/3.2 four-door = 12%
2. Rover 75 1.8/2.5/4.6 four door = 14.6%
3. Rover 45 1.6/1.8/2.0TD Diesel MG ZS 1.8 four or five door = 15.9%
4. Saab 9-5 2.0/2.3 four-door = 17.4%
5. Kia Magentis 2.0 four-door = 17.5%
6. Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 four door = 17.5%
7. Jeep - Cherokee 2.4/3.7 five door = 18.4%
8. Renault Vel Satis 3.0 dci five door = 18.6%
9. Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin 2.0 five door = 18.8%
10. Rover City 1.4 five door = 19.4%
As for the slowest depreciationg car, that hour belongs once again to the diesel powered 1.4 litre Mini which says Eurotaxglass’s after 36 months use has an average trade in value of 63.2% far better thanthat of any other used car in the market.
This is the second year that the Mini has topped the annual residual figures league table.
Meanwhile, dramatic price drops are being witnessed on dealer forecourts all over Britain, according to buyer advice website used car expert. “I know everyone has been saying this for a couple of weeks now, but until you see real cars and their price tags, it is hard to beleive.”
“Dealers are genuinely slashing the prices on used luxury cars. The 2006 year cars seem to be having a particularly hard time, and as they still have a year of manufacturer warranty left they make the most sense”
3 Cars worth Considering:
BMW 3 series
Great to drive and look at, with a rock solid image, usually keeps prices high. Avoid some of the base models which are under equipped and may be difficult to sell on.
Most economical model is the 1.8TD and best used buy the 320d ES.
Jaguar S-Type
Good specification very comfortable, and so distinctively Jaguar. Most economical model 2.5 V6 and best used buy 3.0 V6.
Audi A4
Very stylish and brillianly built, but buyers usually pay extra because of that. Good drive and plenty of engine choices. most economical 1.9TDi and best buy Audi A4 2.0FSI