Minimising depreciation
Discussion
Currently driving a MKV Golf GT TDI, I'd like to return to petrol and said if I could find one that did 40mpg and was 'interesting' I would. I've noticed that the MKVI GTI does 38.7mpg, which is close enough in my eyes, but it's a bit of an obvious choice after my current drive of 4.5 years. So I'd be looking at an early MKVI circa £15k with as many extras as poss.
Like most I appreciate that depreciation is the biggest cost of ownership, so can anyone suggest a relatively modern drivers car with reasonable consumption and minimal depreciation, prepared to go to £25k for something outstanding.
List of requirements; driver orientated, seats four (not just 2+2,) decent boot (this will be a daily driver), a few gadgets ie cruise/bluetooth/ipod etc, preferably not a five door and well built.
So far I've come up with one, a Focus RS - yep mpg isn't great at 25-30 BUT depreciation seems superb thus making the man maths add up - least that's my excuse!
So PH, what can you come up with? All input appreciated.
Cheers
Like most I appreciate that depreciation is the biggest cost of ownership, so can anyone suggest a relatively modern drivers car with reasonable consumption and minimal depreciation, prepared to go to £25k for something outstanding.
List of requirements; driver orientated, seats four (not just 2+2,) decent boot (this will be a daily driver), a few gadgets ie cruise/bluetooth/ipod etc, preferably not a five door and well built.
So far I've come up with one, a Focus RS - yep mpg isn't great at 25-30 BUT depreciation seems superb thus making the man maths add up - least that's my excuse!
So PH, what can you come up with? All input appreciated.
Cheers
I don't think anything mass produced and only a couple of years old is going to hang on to a large proportion of its value. Since you're asking about fuel economy I presume the plan is to do quite a few miles in it as well.
I'd be looking at something a little older, like a MK1 Focus RS. Higher mileage ones are reasonably priced, and shouldn't lose too much value even if you stick another 20-30k miles on it. What you save in purchase price can go towards fuel instead.
I'd be looking at something a little older, like a MK1 Focus RS. Higher mileage ones are reasonably priced, and shouldn't lose too much value even if you stick another 20-30k miles on it. What you save in purchase price can go towards fuel instead.
mnkiboy said:
I don't think anything mass produced and only a couple of years old is going to hang on to a large proportion of its value. Since you're asking about fuel economy I presume the plan is to do quite a few miles in it as well.
I'd be looking at something a little older, like a MK1 Focus RS. Higher mileage ones are reasonably priced, and shouldn't lose too much value even if you stick another 20-30k miles on it. What you save in purchase price can go towards fuel instead.
Not necessarily going to do mega mileage - 10-12K I reckon, another reason for going back to petrol.I'd be looking at something a little older, like a MK1 Focus RS. Higher mileage ones are reasonably priced, and shouldn't lose too much value even if you stick another 20-30k miles on it. What you save in purchase price can go towards fuel instead.
Papa Hotel said:
Ah, the dull depreciation thread.
If a guess of the future value of something you can't predict the condition of means so much, buy a 20 year old Escort for a hundred quid.
Granted, it's always a punt, but modern cars loose such a ridiculous some of money it seems if I can minimise it AND get something fun why not, the RS seems to fit this bill, and is presumably going to be a lot more fun than the GTI - great car but a bit of a default choice I'd have thought?If a guess of the future value of something you can't predict the condition of means so much, buy a 20 year old Escort for a hundred quid.
Going off my scientifically proven mathematical formula I can suggest the BMW Z4M coupe.
The formula consists of many intricate variables, but the easiest to explain is simply that I've just sold one, & if I know one thing it's that I get rid of a car around 6 months before everyone & their uncle wants one & the values go up
The formula consists of many intricate variables, but the easiest to explain is simply that I've just sold one, & if I know one thing it's that I get rid of a car around 6 months before everyone & their uncle wants one & the values go up
kambites said:
If you really want to avoid depreciation, buy whatever is cheapest and/or oldest that suits your needs.
Or buy what you really, really want and never sell it, ever. Depreciation is a known quantity then. Or stop trying to justify it and just get whatever you want. Life's too short.
There is no answer to this question given nobody can predict the future.
Oh and I would have thought a focus st would be a pretty common car really and will depreciate at a similar rate to anything else.
Wacky Racer said:
Astra VXR, minimal depreciation, 240bhp, 150mph performance, around 34mpg, reasonably cheap insurance..(Mrs WR pays £250 fully comp on a 2010 Artic model, decent room in the back.......three doors though....
Hardly be minimal depreciation when it will be worth next to nothing by the time is 6years old.Minimal depreciation usually means buying a classic and not using it much. But for a daily runner it usually means spending as little as possible. Or buying under the going market price and punting it on after a year or so for what you paid. Personally I'd look at cars which will be easy to sell on (smaller engine). Make low ball offers and see who takes you up on it. No need to go over £10k if depreciation is your enemy.
dave_s13 said:
kambites said:
If you really want to avoid depreciation, buy whatever is cheapest and/or oldest that suits your needs.
Or buy what you really, really want and never sell it, ever. Depreciation is a known quantity then. if you want to minimise your depreciation, you need to buy something thats got as cheap as its going to get. I don't expect to loose much on my 23 yr old merc, or my 24 year old morgan both of which are in daily use.
anything thats just a few years old and has the attributes you describe will depreciate by a significant degree. You may be able to minimise this by buying and selling privately, I suppose, as you dont need to fund the dealer margin at both ends of the deal
anything thats just a few years old and has the attributes you describe will depreciate by a significant degree. You may be able to minimise this by buying and selling privately, I suppose, as you dont need to fund the dealer margin at both ends of the deal
Djdan said:
Hardly be minimal depreciation when it will be worth next to nothing by the time is 6years old.
It will be worth a lot more than the typical mainstream car at 6years, especially as she only does 4k a year...the market for mint used VXR's is extremely strong.....Cost brand new (with dealer incentives) was 16k......she won't lose that much. acme said:
I've noticed that the MKVI GTI does 38.7mpg,
In your dreams it might. It's what, 200hp? A decent 200hp diesel engine will need circa 40 litres an hour wide open. Obviously you're unlikely to have your foot hard down for more than a few seconds at a time, but when you do, it will be pouring fuel into the engine. So you will need soldierly self restraint to get anything like 38mpg, which would defeat the object of having a GTi.There are plenty of cars that will do 40mpg on a run and in budget too, but they don't have any sporting connotations.
Might not be quite big enough but can recommend the Cooper S Clubman. (Marmite looks). We have added a roof box when extra space is required (maybe once or twice a year!!)
I can easily get 42mpg on a run (once got 50mpg), get 37mpg around town. £130 annual road tax. They can be specced up to include all the things you mention. They are five door (just not all in the right place - but counted for my company car criteria!!). Handling up there with the standard hatch.
Depreciation has got to be better than most other hot hatches or similiar 'newer' cars. Just buy at a couple of years old to save more....
Mike
I can easily get 42mpg on a run (once got 50mpg), get 37mpg around town. £130 annual road tax. They can be specced up to include all the things you mention. They are five door (just not all in the right place - but counted for my company car criteria!!). Handling up there with the standard hatch.
Depreciation has got to be better than most other hot hatches or similiar 'newer' cars. Just buy at a couple of years old to save more....
Mike
Wacky Racer said:
It will be worth a lot more than the typical mainstream car at 6years, especially as she only does 4k a year...the market for mint used VXR's is extremely strong.....Cost brand new (with dealer incentives) was 16k......she won't lose that much.
Performance Vauxhalls are two a penny.
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