Used cars...expensive?
Discussion
Is it just me or are used cars here in the states a fair bit more expensive than in the UK? Looking around various dealers and online, anything half decent (i.e. European or one of the very few desirable domestics) seems to cost way more than it would in the uk unless it's on 100k+ miles and knackered.
But do they? I guess I've not been here long enough to figure out if that's actually the case but so far it doesn't seem that way on a day to day basis.
It still seems that the on the road "real world" prices in the US are lower than in the UK so don't understand why depreciation is so low.
As mentioned before, from a supply and demand standpoint it doesn't make sense. What other factors am I missing?
It still seems that the on the road "real world" prices in the US are lower than in the UK so don't understand why depreciation is so low.
As mentioned before, from a supply and demand standpoint it doesn't make sense. What other factors am I missing?
Yep, figures. Just been going round some Chicago dealers close to me and the prices are still comical. Since when was an '06 300C SRT-8 with 60k miles worth $29k!?!?!?! Here it seems to be. Outrageous!
Having said that, Pontiac G8 GT's (aka Holden Commodore/Vauxhall VXR8) seem like a very good buy with an 08-09 with not many miles around the $20k mark. They're actually very good cars and the one I tried drove much better than the SRT-8 and felt just as quick.
Anything SUV shaped though is still a piss take.
Having said that, Pontiac G8 GT's (aka Holden Commodore/Vauxhall VXR8) seem like a very good buy with an 08-09 with not many miles around the $20k mark. They're actually very good cars and the one I tried drove much better than the SRT-8 and felt just as quick.
Anything SUV shaped though is still a piss take.
So, an update.
After approximately 12 months of browsing the classifieds, getting my head around the prices, test driving loads of different cars and weighing up the pros and cons I finally made a purchase.
But first brief summaries of the cars I tried.
Range Rover - looks great, comfy, lots of space. Ludicrous mpg, slow and boat like to drive and cumbersome around the city and iffy reliability.
Cayenne S & Turbo - comically rapid (Turbo), decent handling, reasonable interior space. Hideous looks, fearsome running costs
Infiniti FX45 - Quickish, decent handling, nice engine, quirky. Plastiky interior, not much room inside. Odd looks.
Pontiac G8 GT - Almost pulled the trigger on one of these. Good looks, pace and handling. Loads of room inside and not a common sight on the roads. Interior fairly decent however annoyingly lacking many normal convenience features.
Chrysler 300 SRT-8 - Looks good in brash way and goes well (in a straight line). Decent interior space. Very low rent interior, crashy suspension, felt old fashioned to drive and should have been quicker (G8 felt just as quick).
Dodge Magnum SRT-8 - same as above, but somehow much cooler and seemed to ride better.
Jeep GC SRT-8 - Hilariously quick, great looks and soundtrack. Interior a bit pokey space wise and as with all Chrysler products of this era, cheap and nasty inside. Also a bit of a dodgy image.
So can you see a pattern developing? Something with SRT in the name?
We'll you'd be wrong. Ended up buying an Audi A8L 4.2. Got it for a song (much cheper than equivalent age and mileage SRTs) from a Ford/Lincoln dealer who didn't really know anything about it and had it on their lot for a while. One ludicrously cheeky offer later and it was mine.
It's not quite as quick in a straight line some of the above, but its so much nicer to be in and drive, has so much more room and is still by all standards a quick car.
So there we have it. I tried to like the yank motors, but they just didn't compare as an overall package.
After approximately 12 months of browsing the classifieds, getting my head around the prices, test driving loads of different cars and weighing up the pros and cons I finally made a purchase.
But first brief summaries of the cars I tried.
Range Rover - looks great, comfy, lots of space. Ludicrous mpg, slow and boat like to drive and cumbersome around the city and iffy reliability.
Cayenne S & Turbo - comically rapid (Turbo), decent handling, reasonable interior space. Hideous looks, fearsome running costs
Infiniti FX45 - Quickish, decent handling, nice engine, quirky. Plastiky interior, not much room inside. Odd looks.
Pontiac G8 GT - Almost pulled the trigger on one of these. Good looks, pace and handling. Loads of room inside and not a common sight on the roads. Interior fairly decent however annoyingly lacking many normal convenience features.
Chrysler 300 SRT-8 - Looks good in brash way and goes well (in a straight line). Decent interior space. Very low rent interior, crashy suspension, felt old fashioned to drive and should have been quicker (G8 felt just as quick).
Dodge Magnum SRT-8 - same as above, but somehow much cooler and seemed to ride better.
Jeep GC SRT-8 - Hilariously quick, great looks and soundtrack. Interior a bit pokey space wise and as with all Chrysler products of this era, cheap and nasty inside. Also a bit of a dodgy image.
So can you see a pattern developing? Something with SRT in the name?
We'll you'd be wrong. Ended up buying an Audi A8L 4.2. Got it for a song (much cheper than equivalent age and mileage SRTs) from a Ford/Lincoln dealer who didn't really know anything about it and had it on their lot for a while. One ludicrously cheeky offer later and it was mine.
It's not quite as quick in a straight line some of the above, but its so much nicer to be in and drive, has so much more room and is still by all standards a quick car.
So there we have it. I tried to like the yank motors, but they just didn't compare as an overall package.
Gassing Station | USA & Canada | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff