The depreciation appreciation thread
The depreciation appreciation thread
Author
Discussion

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,345 posts

182 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
I'm in the process of selling a car. It's just a family runabout that we have owned since it was 3 years old (five and a half years ago) and we will lose GBP 1850 on it, which I am quite happy with. That got me thinking as to how I have fared over the years with regards to depreciation since buying my first car in 1987.

As it turns out not too bad at all. I will have bought and sold 9 cars with my own money during that period. Some were daily-drivers, others cherished classics. It's worth noting that none of these purchases were new cars. Anyway, ignoring inflation, maintenance etc, the nett result of all these 9 purchases/sales is actually a nominal profit of GBP 4070. So that's 27 years' worth of self-funding free car ownership, with 4 grand towards maintenance.

How does your depreciation history compare? Don't include any company-funded cars, just ones you paid for yourself.

B'stard Child

31,079 posts

275 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
LotusOmega375D said:
I'm in the process of selling a car. It's just a family runabout that we have owned since it was 3 years old (five and a half years ago) and we will lose GBP 1850 on it, which I am quite happy with. That got me thinking as to how I have fared over the years with regards to depreciation since buying my first car in 1987.

As it turns out not too bad at all. I will have bought and sold 9 cars with my own money during that period. Some were daily-drivers, others cherished classics. It's worth noting that none of these purchases were new cars. Anyway, ignoring inflation, maintenance etc, the nett result of all these 9 purchases/sales is actually a nominal profit of GBP 4070. So that's 27 years' worth of self-funding free car ownership, with 4 grand towards maintenance.

How does your depreciation history compare? Don't include any company-funded cars, just ones you paid for yourself.
I think we've done this before?

V8forweekends

2,501 posts

153 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
I'm down about 14 billion so far.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

275 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
LotusOmega375D said:
Anyway, ignoring inflation, maintenance etc, the nett result of all these 9 purchases/sales is actually a nominal profit of GBP 4070. So that's 27 years' worth of self-funding free car ownership, with 4 grand towards maintenance.
The only catch being, of course, that you shouldn't ignore inflation.

£1 from 27 years ago will be worth just 33p today.

If you appreciate depreciation, buy cheap cars!

Raman Kandola

221 posts

152 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
The only catch being, of course, that you shouldn't ignore inflation.

£1 from 27 years ago will be worth just 33p today.

If you appreciate depreciation, buy cheap cars!
Pretty sure its the other way round, 33p from 27 years ago will be worth a £1 today

jonnydm

5,108 posts

238 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
My overall P/L from buying and selling cars over the last 4.5 years is +£2445, this doesn't take into account an insurance payout for the theft of one car. This would bring the total to £4245. Not bad although there must be plenty better!

Tuvra

7,926 posts

254 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Probably down £100k or so in 10 years, I don't particularly care either, its what I enjoy...

Dave Hedgehog

16,327 posts

233 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Tuvra said:
Probably down £100k or so in 10 years, I don't particularly care either, its what I enjoy...
i dont get the hang up people have on depreciation, my train ticket would be 5k a year so i would rather blow that on a car

also its better to spend it on something you enjoy than leave it for the family to fight over

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,345 posts

182 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Raman Kandola said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
The only catch being, of course, that you shouldn't ignore inflation.

£1 from 27 years ago will be worth just 33p today.

If you appreciate depreciation, buy cheap cars!
Pretty sure its the other way round, 33p from 27 years ago will be worth a £1 today
Don't get hung up on inflation: 9 cars in 27 years = average 3 years per car, so inflation effect pretty minimal per purchase/sale.

Eclassy

1,201 posts

151 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Down £19,000 over the past 4 and a half years on my current car (based on WBAC current valuation and this also includes interest on PCP).

Down £5000 on previous car after 5 years and 2 months (It was written off)

Down £2200 on first car after 18 months (part excahnged)

Do I care? Hell No. currentlyy contemplating upgrading to another new car (man maths not working out yet) and I reckon I'll be down another £15000 in the next 3 years.


mwstewart

8,556 posts

217 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Women and Cocaine have cost me more than cars, but I wouldn't be without any of them.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

253 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
mwstewart said:
Women and Cocaine have cost me more than cars, but I wouldn't be without any of them.
Bloody well said old bean! biggrin

Bennet

2,133 posts

160 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
LotusOmega375D said:
It's just a family runabout that we have owned since it was 3 years old (five and a half years ago) and we will lose GBP 1850 on it
Would you mind giving us the figures?
What family car has gone from 3 years old to 8.5 years old and only lost £1850 in the process?

If you bought it at a stupid low price from a friend originally, that's cheating.

BoRED S2upid

21,047 posts

269 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
It probably averages out at £1000 per year which I can cope with some lost a lot more than others the best was a recently sold MX5 MK1 which depreciated at less than £100 per year. I've never made money on a car.

tali1

5,286 posts

230 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
V8forweekends said:
I'm down about 14 billion so far.
So you've been buying all the Phaeton W12s!

V8forweekends

2,501 posts

153 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
tali1 said:
V8forweekends said:
I'm down about 14 billion so far.
So you've been buying all the Phaeton W12s!

I might have been exaggerating a bit laugh

jonnydm

5,108 posts

238 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Bennet said:
LotusOmega375D said:
It's just a family runabout that we have owned since it was 3 years old (five and a half years ago) and we will lose GBP 1850 on it
Would you mind giving us the figures?
What family car has gone from 3 years old to 8.5 years old and only lost £1850 in the process?

If you bought it at a stupid low price from a friend originally, that's cheating.
Actually trying to think of something that would have had this sort of depreciation. Perhaps a sought after MPV or 'luxury' supermini but even still, very good going.

iva cosworth

44,044 posts

192 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
I'm the only person who could lose abougt 50% of an Escort RS Cosworths value............furious

h0b0

9,067 posts

225 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
I have $0 depreciation. I lease, that must make me smarter with money.





tali1

5,286 posts

230 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
V8forweekends said:
tali1 said:
V8forweekends said:
I'm down about 14 billion so far.
So you've been buying all the Phaeton W12s!

I might have been exaggerating a bit laugh
Exaggerating ? on PHs? -Never!
wink