Buy new or nearly new - Depreciation?
Discussion
Hi guys here is my dilemma:
My wife bought a 09 SLK 350 last spring and as usual she is bored of it now and wants to change, thankfully into something more practical.
At the time I was desperately trying to get her to buy a 5 yr old 911 Convertible as I was terrified of the depreciation on a 1 yr old SLK - lo and behold judging by trade in offers it seems the SLK has lost 10k in the year that we have owned it!
Not wanting to make the same mistake again we are looking for a prestige/estate/family car. She has looked at the usual suspects from the Germans - C class estate, 3 series touring, A3 sportback etc.
She is however very interested in the new Range Rover Evoque and as I am military I can get 15% of RRP - as there is a long waiting list would this be a better option depreciation wise than paying say 25k for a year old BMW Touring?
My wife bought a 09 SLK 350 last spring and as usual she is bored of it now and wants to change, thankfully into something more practical.
At the time I was desperately trying to get her to buy a 5 yr old 911 Convertible as I was terrified of the depreciation on a 1 yr old SLK - lo and behold judging by trade in offers it seems the SLK has lost 10k in the year that we have owned it!
Not wanting to make the same mistake again we are looking for a prestige/estate/family car. She has looked at the usual suspects from the Germans - C class estate, 3 series touring, A3 sportback etc.
She is however very interested in the new Range Rover Evoque and as I am military I can get 15% of RRP - as there is a long waiting list would this be a better option depreciation wise than paying say 25k for a year old BMW Touring?
All these things are speculative of course, but I would expect to be able to buy a new Evoque on launch day (clearly you'd have to have your name down some time ago for this) and sell it a year on without losing any significant money. They're going to sell millions of them I reckon...
One of the tricks IMHO is to buy a car that isn't due a facelift/ replacement any time soon. An old model will always take a nose dive when the latest shiniest thing comes out. Being an avid reader of all things motoring AKA Piston heads means if you have an expensive asset on the drive and depreciation is an issue for you it shouldn't be too difficult to stay ahead of the game and move the prize on before your general public start to see the new model on the streets.
Could account for the massive hit the OP took on the SLK
Me, I always buy last years model after it's taken that massive hit when replaced. Just because there's a new one out doesn't make the old version suddenly a bad car but the general public are oh so fickle
Could account for the massive hit the OP took on the SLK
Me, I always buy last years model after it's taken that massive hit when replaced. Just because there's a new one out doesn't make the old version suddenly a bad car but the general public are oh so fickle
Edited by Harry H on Wednesday 20th April 14:03
We have an option of getting an Evoque by next Feb I think - although we will have to confirm this order very soon or pull out.
The SLK annoyed me I must say, we could have driven a lovely (and more practical - shove the 3yr old in the rear seats!) 911 for a year instead of the much more mainstream SLK, and for a lot less depreciation!
The missus just refuses to drive cars that are older than 3-4yrs she seems to think they will all break down once they are out of warranty she also has the mindset that 30k miles is high mileage!
The SLK annoyed me I must say, we could have driven a lovely (and more practical - shove the 3yr old in the rear seats!) 911 for a year instead of the much more mainstream SLK, and for a lot less depreciation!
The missus just refuses to drive cars that are older than 3-4yrs she seems to think they will all break down once they are out of warranty she also has the mindset that 30k miles is high mileage!
Diabolik said:
Agree. Does it not tend to be the thirstier motors that drop faster?
Supply and demand. I had the option of a 123d or 135i each for 28k, similar spec. 2 years later 123d px for 16k, 135i would have been 20. My 330d dropped like a rock too.
Try finding a 335i touring for that much below list. Try finding one at all.
If it's a popular fleet car, it will drop like a rock
272BHP said:
We have an option of getting an Evoque by next Feb I think - although we will have to confirm this order very soon or pull out.
The SLK annoyed me I must say, we could have driven a lovely (and more practical - shove the 3yr old in the rear seats!) 911 for a year instead of the much more mainstream SLK, and for a lot less depreciation!
The missus just refuses to drive cars that are older than 3-4yrs she seems to think they will all break down once they are out of warranty she also has the mindset that 30k miles is high mileage!
You just answered your own question then, with the 15% discount and an early build slot the Evoque is a no brainer, if you don't like it and sell it quickly it'll probably be the first time you come out with a profit!The SLK annoyed me I must say, we could have driven a lovely (and more practical - shove the 3yr old in the rear seats!) 911 for a year instead of the much more mainstream SLK, and for a lot less depreciation!
The missus just refuses to drive cars that are older than 3-4yrs she seems to think they will all break down once they are out of warranty she also has the mindset that 30k miles is high mileage!
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