Top 10: New cars that beat depreciation
Planning to buy a new car? Read our rundown of the slowest depreciators, and keep more of your money
WE MAY criticise their forbidding interiors, moan about the brutal efficiency with which they go about their business and complain about their high prices but one thing is for sure: German cars (at least, some of them) won’t turn around and bite you come resale time.
We’re talking about depreciation, the hole in your car’s pocket through which its value leaks away ‒ and according to CAP, the car price experts, German cars are the best at resisting it.
It has identified the slowest depreciating new cars over three years and 60,000 miles, in the 10 most popular vehicle sectors. With the exception of one Ferrari, they’re all German.
A car’s depreciation is influenced by many things including how desirable it is, its specification level, its fuel efficiency, how easy it is to haggle a discount and whether it’s reaching the end of its model cycle. On all these measures, and more, German cars score consistently highly.
As you’ll see from the amount of hard cash they lose, our top 10 new cars are not immune to depreciation but compared with their rivals, they’ll keep more of your money. See them below, and then go to www.cap.co.uk/consumer to find out how your next new car will fare in the depreciation wars.
City car
VW Up 1.0 Take Up!
Price: £8,130
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £3,725 (45.82%)
We say: A great name and if depreciation’s on your mind, an invitation worth considering.
Search for and buy a used VW Up! on driving.co.uk
Small hatch
Audi A1 1.6 TDI SE 3dr
Price: £15,120
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £6,875 (45.47%)
We say: The A1’s image and economy protect it from the worst ravages of depreciation.
Search for and buy a used Audi A1 on driving.co.uk
Medium-size hatch
Audi A3 1.6 TDI SE
Price: £20,475
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £10,175 (49.69%)
We say: Image and economy for sure, but the recently launched A3 has longevity, too.
Search for and buy a used Audi A3 on driving.co.uk
Family car
BMW 420d SE
Price: £31,520
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £13,575 (43.07%)
We say: All the above, with lashings of desirability and good looks into the bargain.
Search for and buy a used BMW 4-series on driving.co.uk
Executive
BMW 518d SE
Price: £29,775
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £13,325 (44.75%)
We say: As solid as the Bundesbank (and paying almost as much in interest).
Search for and buy a used BMW 5-series on driving.co.uk
Large executive
Mercedes S350 BlueTEC SE Line auto
Price: £62,455
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £25,525 (40.87%)
We say: Not a bad return for a limo, thanks to its recent arrival and that top-drawer image.
Search for and buy a used Mercedes S-class on driving.co.uk
Convertible
Porsche 911 Carrera cabriolet
Price: £81,727
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £41,875 (51.24%)
We say: Still a whopping cash loss but otherwise, like legal tender.
Search for and buy a used Porsche 911 on driving.co.uk
SUV
Porsche Cayenne diesel Tiptronic S
Price: £47,390
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £25,675 (54.18%)
We say: Famous for sports cars but Porsche is fast becoming the SUV maker of choice.
Search for and buy a used Porsche Cayenne on driving.co.uk
Sports car
Porsche Cayman 2.7
Price: £39,694
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £22,375 (56.37%)
We say: Rarified classics aside, as close to money in the bank as motoring gets.
Search for and buy a used Porsche Cayman on driving.co.uk
Supercar
Ferrari 458 Italia auto
Price: £177,406
Worth after 3yrs/60k miles: £83,200 (46.9%)
We say: Ferrari’s promise to limit supply can only improve this model’s outlook.
Search for and buy a used Ferrari 458 on driving.co.uk
