Depreciation?

[ApexJimi]

Howdy folks

Let's say I spend circa £7.5k on a bike engined MK Indy, already built to a high standard with full build diary and low miles etc

Over the course of 6 months to a year (which is how long I'll probably keep it) am I likely to lose much money on it?

[Jon Ison]

Not if you hold onto it and sell next spring, yes if you sell over winter.

[Furyblade_Lee]

Indy's have a big following, I am sure if it is a good one and you look after it then next summer you could possibly get most of your money back. There are not many cars which you make money on full stop, but a £7K BEC is probobly quite a safe place to put your money. One upside is in my experience they are quite gentle on tyres, brakes, cosumables ect. So within reason you could use it a fair bit and not have to shell out on replacement parts running it. So that may offset a small loss if you sell it on. But who knows how the used kit-car market will go? It has been hit badly the last few years, but with the cost of building a new one escalating, I cannot see used cars falling much further.

[Jubal]

The consumables thing is a big factor in overall costs if you intend to drive your car at all and especially if you track it. Compared with a tin top the depreciation on a BEC will be less than the cost of consumables (tyres/brakes) on anything even approaching the same power:weight. For 7.5k I'd be chancing my arm and haggling hard for a later injection engine in a car a year or two old. Or save a grand or so and have your pick of carbed cars. They come up regularly so it's worth holding out for the spec you want.

[gingerprince]

You've missed the main issue. The problem won't be what you can sell it for in 6/12 months. It'll be that you won't want to sell it in 6/12 months!