Convertibles cheaper in winter - true or false
Discussion
I am looking at possible cars and two cars are on my radar a convertible C class Merc and a BMW Z4 (e89). Is buying a convertible in winter cheaper or is it just an old wives tale. Z4's a bit cheaper than a few months ago but that could be due to the financial downturn of the country.
123DWA said:
lord trumpton said:
Wait for 6 months - all cars will be a fair bit cheaper!
Haven't people been saying this for the last 2 1/2 years?At the end of the day if you want the car and you can afford it then the cost of waiting around is not only the potential changes in price but also the span of time where you're not able to enjoy that car.
We used to do quite well with cabriolet's in Nov/December (Porsche) because of the perception that they are better value in the winter. But they were just the same price they were in the summer, ironically just harder to supply them. One December (2018 I think) we sold the most cabriolets (Boxster, 911) we ever had. So much so we put out wanted adverts for them.
But, they may be exception to the rule cars, there is a perception that they are harder to sell. From experience I don't think they are, as people believe they are buying at a lull in the market. But are they?
But, they may be exception to the rule cars, there is a perception that they are harder to sell. From experience I don't think they are, as people believe they are buying at a lull in the market. But are they?
People have short memories. In my experience, used car prices actually dropped substantially in Spring / Summer 2020 during the first lockdown. But it was short-lived. They went up substantially from 2021 to summer 2022 due to the knock-on effect of new car supply, but why 15-year-old cars shot up is just speculation. 
I bought a SLK 350 in summer 2020; I keep my eyes on them and they are just dropping below what I got it for 2 years ago. I very nearly bought an F type (garages were allowed to trade with appointments to collect, and it's also when distance deliveries took off), they were down at £21k in summer 2020. Looking on A/T now, they are only just back to that but with 100k miles on them. The data models for March to July 2020 are off kilter because for 4 months, private sales were actually not permitted due to not 'meeting' for test drives, etc. (although they did happen).
I've often looked for a convertible in winter due to this 'rumour' but because sellers think they'll get less for it, the supply is down.
I bought a SLK 350 in summer 2020; I keep my eyes on them and they are just dropping below what I got it for 2 years ago. I very nearly bought an F type (garages were allowed to trade with appointments to collect, and it's also when distance deliveries took off), they were down at £21k in summer 2020. Looking on A/T now, they are only just back to that but with 100k miles on them. The data models for March to July 2020 are off kilter because for 4 months, private sales were actually not permitted due to not 'meeting' for test drives, etc. (although they did happen).
I've often looked for a convertible in winter due to this 'rumour' but because sellers think they'll get less for it, the supply is down.
A few years ago I bought an mr2 roadster on New Year’s Eve. The weather was awful and I think the garage were more than happy to do a good deal on it. Enjoyed it for just over a year then sold privately in the Spring for more than I paid for it.
There may be something in it but things are all over the place now so it’s hard to tell. I’ve been looking at fairly new (2018) mx5 recently and prices seem to be holding very firm even now.
There may be something in it but things are all over the place now so it’s hard to tell. I’ve been looking at fairly new (2018) mx5 recently and prices seem to be holding very firm even now.
Fundamentally it's probably true. It's just become such a trope now that people tend to flood the market with them for sale in summer and it levels any benefit out.
I bought a 2010 A3 cabrio in January privately for £5.5k and got offered £6.5k in the summer for it, but decided to keep it as I was enjoying it so much. Checking Autotrader now, there's an identical car to mine up for £6,950 so the price doesn't seem to have fallen. Will probably sell my one next Spring and hope to get back what I paid for it.
I bought a 2010 A3 cabrio in January privately for £5.5k and got offered £6.5k in the summer for it, but decided to keep it as I was enjoying it so much. Checking Autotrader now, there's an identical car to mine up for £6,950 so the price doesn't seem to have fallen. Will probably sell my one next Spring and hope to get back what I paid for it.
sixor8 said:
People have short memories. In my experience, used car prices actually dropped substantially in Spring / Summer 2020 during the first lockdown. But it was short-lived. They went up substantially from 2021 to summer 2022 due to the knock-on effect of new car supply, but why 15-year-old cars shot up is just speculation.
Used car prices in 2019 dropped as usual this time of year, so in December 2019 I got a great deal on my BMXW Z4M Coupe that had to be sold before Xmas (seller probably shouldn't have said that) ! But I took a real pasting selling my 3.0Si Z4 Coupe in January/February 2020 but prices took off post-lockdown to the extent it would still fetch about £2K more now.
Still the M Coupe is worth considerably more than I paid so if you are buying and selling it's just swings and roundabouts.
sixor8 said:
People have short memories. In my experience, used car prices actually dropped substantially in Spring / Summer 2020 during the first lockdown. But it was short-lived. They went up substantially from 2021 to summer 2022 due to the knock-on effect of new car supply, but why 15-year-old cars shot up is just speculation.
I bought a SLK 350 in summer 2020; I keep my eyes on them and they are just dropping below what I got it for 2 years ago. I very nearly bought an F type (garages were allowed to trade with appointments to collect, and it's also when distance deliveries took off), they were down at £21k in summer 2020. Looking on A/T now, they are only just back to that but with 100k miles on them. The data models for March to July 2020 are off kilter because for 4 months, private sales were actually not permitted due to not 'meeting' for test drives, etc. (although they did happen).
I've often looked for a convertible in winter due to this 'rumour' but because sellers think they'll get less for it, the supply is down.
100% correct, got a bargain McLaren from a main dealer just off back of first lockdown, enjoyed it for a few months sold it for more, bought a SL and a Mustang year later both up 7k so sold. Thought the market would crash but it didn’t, think the big thing with older / cheaper cars is people less willing now to incur debt and adopting an outlook of if it ain’t broke…..I bought a SLK 350 in summer 2020; I keep my eyes on them and they are just dropping below what I got it for 2 years ago. I very nearly bought an F type (garages were allowed to trade with appointments to collect, and it's also when distance deliveries took off), they were down at £21k in summer 2020. Looking on A/T now, they are only just back to that but with 100k miles on them. The data models for March to July 2020 are off kilter because for 4 months, private sales were actually not permitted due to not 'meeting' for test drives, etc. (although they did happen).
I've often looked for a convertible in winter due to this 'rumour' but because sellers think they'll get less for it, the supply is down.
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