Focus RS / Cupra Formentor / BMW M135i

[Archangel222]

Happy owner of a 2017 Ford Focus RS mk3. Car has held its value remarkably well so far, but has just started to drop quite a bit recently (Autotrader estimated £29.5k at the end of last year - now £24.5k). Wondering if I should sell and get myself another fast AWD car instead. Heated steering wheel a must. Thinking of either a BMW M135i or Cupra Formentor VZ2 310. But also wondering if I might be better off keeping the RS which I do still love if in the long term it might still hold its value like the mk2 and if this £5k drop in 6 month is just a blip… Any thoughts on which of the 3 I should own going forward?

Edited by Archangel222 on Tuesday 21st June 17:43

[ChrisNic]

We have a Cupra Ateca alongside a MK3 Focus RS so can probably give a sensible view on how the focus might compare to the Formentor.

Our Focus has the Mountune FPM375 pack and a Mountune Exhaust and it just has so much more character than the Cupra. Yes it’s a bit loud but the pop, bangs and burbles make it sound so much more interesting. It’s outright performance isn’t much different but they way it goes round corners is in a complete different league to the Cupra.

Values of the RS have bobbed up and down since it’s release but all things considered ours was a great buy and I can’t see values plummeting.

After almost 7 years in the Focus am I thinking about a change but to a V6 Exige rather than something too normal.

[samoht]

Trading in an older car for a newer one is very very unlikely to reduce your depreciation cost. Depreciation is generally exponential, it starts as a steep decline and then gradually levels out over time. With an enthusiasts' car like your Focus, it'll typically find a 'floor' often around 10 years old, and then start to increase in value again from about 15-20 years onwards. (Boring cars just decline to zero).

Since the rate of loss of value decreases with age, selling an older car and buying a newer one will nearly always increase your rate of loss of value. Additionally I think the Cupra is less 'special' than your Focus, so probably has a lower floor. I think the current-gen M135i would be in a similar category (especially as the press rate the junior 128ti over it as a drivers' car).

What you're seeing on Autotrader is I think mostly that nearly all cars have declined in value recently a bit, after a period of unusually high used values following Covid and the chip supply shortages. If you tracked Formentor or 135i values they'd likely show a similar pattern I think.


Now, if you just want to buy a new car, then go ahead. But buy it because it's better to drive, or because it's got Carplay/Android Auto, or because you just want a change - but don't tell yourself it's saving money on depreciation, because (unless you're getting something like a GT3) it's overwhelmingly likely to be the opposite.

[Archangel222]

Thanks both, that's very helpful. Think I'll keep the RS for now then. It's definitely a better car to drive than the others, especially with the manual box. I test drove the Formentor and when you put your foot down there's quite a big delay while it kicks down. It's a nice car, but less special than the RS indeed so might not keep its value as well.