In November 2006 MTI went shopping. We spent a not inconsiderable £350,750 on 18 brand new cars ranging from the popular Mini Cooper to the not so popular Renault Laguna. We thought it might be interesting, after the sharp decline in residual values that occurred in late 2008, to re-visit our (non) investment and see what our cars are worth now.
Now, of course, depreciation is a fact of life when buying a motor car and this is just a bit of fun and perhaps not that scientific but, as you might imagine some cars fared better than others. Our top performer was the Mini closely followed by the Honda Civic (currently being stock-piled at all major ports) and the ever dependable VW Golf and worst by a mile the truly dreadful Renault Laguna.
So in just two years and clocking up average miles our cars are now worth collectively just £129,050 and were we to cash in our chips we would have lost a whopping £221,700 (ouch!)
What does all this tell us (apart from how painful depreciation can be)? Well it would lead us to conclude that maybe opting for a Corsa, Civic, Golf or Mini might be the wise option if you are likely to want to sell in the next 2 years. Other than that, as always do your research and factor in the cost of depreciation along with the running costs of the vehicle.
Oh and maybe don’t buy a new Renault Laguna!
| November 2007 | ||||||
|
Make
|
Model
|
Version
|
List 06/06
|
Nov
07 |
Depr’
amount |
Depr’
% |
| BMW | Mini | Cooper Chili pk | 14,500 | 10,500 | 4,000 |
28
|
| Honda | Civic | 1.8 vtec SE 5dr | 14,500 | 10,250 | 4,250 |
29
|
| VW | Golf | 1.4 s 5dr | 12,750 | 7,800 | 4,950 |
39
|
| Vauxhaul | Corsa | 1.0 life 3dr | 9,000 | 5,800 | 3,200 |
36
|
| BMW | 3 Series | 318 es auto | 22,000 | 14,000 | 8,000 |
36
|
| BMW | X5 | 3.0d sport | 43,000 | 28,000 | 15,000 |
35
|
| Land Rover | Discovery | 2.7 TD HSE | 44,000 | 27,500 | 16,500 |
38
|
| Ford | Ka | style 1.3 3dr | 7,500 | 3,500 | 4,000 |
53
|
| Toyota | Avensis | 2.0 d4d T2 4dr | 15,700 | 8,000 | 7,700 |
49
|
| Ford | Focus | 1.6 LX 5dr | 13,600 | 7,000 | 6,600 |
49
|
| Peugeot | 307 | 1.6 SW HDI SE | 16,750 | 9,000 | 7,750 |
46
|
| Fiat | Punto | 1.2 Active 5dr | 8,250 | 3,800 | 4,450 |
54
|
| Nissan | Micra | 1.2 5dr SE | 10,350 | 4,700 | 5,650 |
55
|
| Vauxhaul | Zafira | 1.9 tdi life | 17,000 | 8,500 | 8,500 |
50
|
| Vauxhaul | Astra | 1.4 Club 5dr | 13,700 | 6,000 | 7,700 |
56
|
| BMW | 7 Series | 730 se auto | 53,500 | 25,500 | 28,000 |
52
|
| Vauxhaul | Vectra | 1.8 life 5dr | 16,250 | 7,500 | 8,750 |
54
|
| Renault | Laguna | 2.0 Privilege 5dr | 18,400 | 7,000 | 11,400 |
62
|
| November 2008 | |||||
|
Make
|
Model
|
Version
|
Nov |
Total value lost
|
Depr’
% |
| BMW | Mini | Cooper Chili pk | 7,500 |
7,000
|
48
|
| Honda | Civic | 1.8 vtec SE 5dr | 7,250 |
7,250
|
50
|
| VW | Golf | 1.4 s 5dr | 6,000 |
6,750
|
53
|
| Vauxhaul | Corsa | 1.0 life 3dr | 4,200 |
4,800
|
53
|
| BMW | 3 Series | 318 es auto | 10,000 |
12,000
|
55
|
| BMW | X5 | 3.0d sport | 18,000 |
25,000
|
58
|
| Land Rover | Discovery | 2.7 TD HSE | 18,000 |
26,000
|
59
|
| Ford | Ka | style 1.3 3dr | 2,800 |
4,700
|
63
|
| Toyota | Avensis | 2.0 d4d T2 4dr | 5,500 |
10,200
|
65
|
| Ford | Focus | 1.6 LX 5dr | 4,750 |
8,850
|
65
|
| Peugeot | 307 | 1.6 SW HDI SE | 5,750 |
11,000
|
66
|
| Fiat | Punto | 1.2 Active 5dr | 2,800 |
5,450
|
66
|
| Nissan | Micra | 1.2 5dr SE | 3,500 |
6,850
|
66
|
| Vauxhaul | Zafira | 1.9 tdi life | 5,500 |
11,500
|
68
|
| Vauxhaul | Astra | 1.4 Club 5dr | 4,000 |
9,700
|
71
|
| BMW | 7 Series | 730 se auto | 15,500 |
38,000
|
71
|
| Vauxhaul | Vectra | 1.8 life 5dr | 4,000 |
12,250
|
75
|
| Renault | Laguna | 2.0 Privilege 5dr | 4,000 |
14,400
|
78
|
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