Topic: Norm T on depreciating Lexus and appreciating Buick

[Guest]

Post content deleted at request of original poster.

[rrocket]

My Supra and both 911s appreciated significantly from when I bought them.

[EV Dan]

Like Norm, I can't give you solid numbers, but I recall the only car that has pleasantly surprised me on a trade-in was an FJ cruiser. It was also, surprisingly, the most uncomfortable and fuel inefficient daily driver I have ever owned. Talk about paradoxes. My explanation to the high trade-in is it probably now got a bazooka bolted to its roof somewhere in Africa. 

[ChaosphereIX]

Nobody believed me, and most thought I was daft to buy a late 90s Alfa Romeo imported from Japan. But I had a hunch.

Bought the car for $10k, it is now perhaps worth somewhere around $30k. Not that it matters really, the car is for me, but it is nice to know I was right. Thank you Radwood.

[Gurgie]

My 2014 Wrangler was my best for a new vehicle. I had it for 2yrs, and when I traded it in they gave me $8.5k less than I had paid for it.

My 1986 Porsche is worth about $20k now & it cost me ~$11.5k with all the taxes, exchange, etc., since I bought it in Michigan.

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[Great_Big_Abyss]

I'm thinking my current vehicle will be my least depreciating, but I really have no way of knowing until I go to sell it.  Let's just call it a hunch.

All my other vehicles have been Dodges, Nissans and Fords, so in other words, some of the highest depreciating vehicles.  Depreciation (perceived, at least) factored hugely into my purchasing decision when buying my Tundra.

[sailor723]

I bought a used 1974 TR6 in 1976. When I sold it in the early '80's I got $500 more than I had paid for it.

I've actually made money on several boats. (sailboats that is..... power boats depreciate more like cars)

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I bought a used 1974 TR6 in 1976. When I sold it in the early '80's I got $500 more than I had paid for it.

I've actually made money on several boats. (sailboats that is..... power boats depreciate more like cars)

Until you factor in all the maintenance and parts you sunk into it...

[Shorlaw]

I had a 93 Probe GT I drove for a few years that was totaled and Insurance gave me about what I had paid.  A 92 Stealth that I drove 2 1/2 years that I sold for $1500 more than I paid.  A 2013 Wrangler I bought new and had for 4 1/2 years that I sold for exactly what I paid for it.  Other than that it's been pretty typical depreciation on everything else.

[JohnnyMac]

Considering we have only owned two vehicles (all previous to the Santa Fe and Golf R were leased), and we haven't sold either, it's hard to give a firm number but I'm pretty sure my Golf R will have some strong resale value when I trade it in the summer of 2020.  Currently 2016 Golf R's are being listed in the low to mid $30K.

[EV Dan]

I had a 93 Probe GT I drove for a few years that was totaled and Insurance gave me about what I had paid.  A 92 Stealth that I drove 2 1/2 years that I sold for $1500 more than I paid.  A 2013 Wrangler I bought new and had for 4 1/2 years that I sold for exactly what I paid for it.  Other than that it's been pretty typical depreciation on everything else.

Why would someone pay a price of a new Wrangler for your used one? 

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I had a 93 Probe GT I drove for a few years that was totaled and Insurance gave me about what I had paid.  A 92 Stealth that I drove 2 1/2 years that I sold for $1500 more than I paid.  A 2013 Wrangler I bought new and had for 4 1/2 years that I sold for exactly what I paid for it.  Other than that it's been pretty typical depreciation on everything else.

Why would someone pay a price of a new Wrangler for your used one? 

Because the price of new Wranglers has been steadily going up since 2013, at a far greater pace than just inflation.  A base Wrangler JK used to be about $20 000.  Now a base Wrangler is $33 000.  That is a HUGE jump, and explains why owners who bought Wranglers a decade ago are still getting back what they paid. 

[Shorlaw]

I had a 93 Probe GT I drove for a few years that was totaled and Insurance gave me about what I had paid.  A 92 Stealth that I drove 2 1/2 years that I sold for $1500 more than I paid.  A 2013 Wrangler I bought new and had for 4 1/2 years that I sold for exactly what I paid for it.  Other than that it's been pretty typical depreciation on everything else.

Why would someone pay a price of a new Wrangler for your used one? 

Because the price of new Wranglers has been steadily going up since 2013, at a far greater pace than just inflation.  A base Wrangler JK used to be about $20 000.  Now a base Wrangler is $33 000.  That is a HUGE jump, and explains why owners who bought Wranglers a decade ago are still getting back what they paid.

Exactly, I just lucked out, not that I planned on it.  It helped that I got a ridiculously low end of year purchase price and only put about 40K km's in the 4 1/2 years, and had extended warranty remaining.  Posted on Kijiji, got a few "you're crazy, you'll never get that much" replies, but it was literally gone 2 days later.

[sailor723]

I bought a used 1974 TR6 in 1976. When I sold it in the early '80's I got $500 more than I had paid for it.

I've actually made money on several boats. (sailboats that is..... power boats depreciate more like cars)

Until you factor in all the maintenance and parts you sunk into it...

Actually not so much. Other than cleaning/waxing and bottom painting  fibreglass sailboats are pretty low maintenance. The little 2 or 3 cyl. diesel auxiliaries usually require nothing more than an annual oil and filter change.    Most of the ownership costs involve marina/yacht club fees for things like berth space, winter storage ,haulout and launch etc.

[PJungnitsch]

Realize that while I'm not Arthur Dent exactly, all my stuff has been old and depreciation has not really been a cost. Some upkeep though

1972 Datsun 510, bought for $300, main vehicle for 10 years, parked (painted, light overhaul)
1981 F150, bought for $1000, work truck for ten years, sold for $1000 (brakes, heater core)
1982 Olds Omega, bought for $1000, drove for five years, sold for $1000 (replaced door, painted, hub bearing, axle)
1982 Yamaha Vision motorcycle, bought for $1350, drove for 70,000 km, sold as parts for $1000 [alternator (s)]
1987 Mazda B2000, bought for $2000, drove for 200,000 km, sold for scrap for $100 (clutch, brakes, rad, driveshaft, carb, exhaust)
2004 Pontiac Vibe, bought for $6000, drove for eight years now, still own (cat, O2 sensors, pads, rims). Could probably get two grand or so for it

[ktm525]

I bought a 2009 Pontiac G8 GT with 60k kms for $22k. Drove the pi$$ out of it for a year bought some new tires and sold it for $23k so about a wash. Every other vehicle I have lost $ on, sometimes eye watering amounts. Would do it all again as that $ lost = driving memories. Motorcycles are worse. Bought a new Husky last year and now it looks all beat up like an old bush bike.. Fun times.

[Firm]

I also buy strictly old crap; so I have actually yet to lose money on a car, including maintenance. Cars tend to leave my ownership working and looking better than when I got them, and I make a bit of money.

That said, if I were to sell a couple of the ones I am holding today (specifically the SLK and the Escalade) I'd probably lose a couple grand on each of them - not that I intend on selling them anytime soon anyway.

[blur911]

1982 Yamaha Vision motorcycle, bought for $1350, drove for 70,000 km, sold as parts for $1000 [alternator (s)]

Now that sounds... unusual.
A guy at work has one, but I've never seen it.   Interesting machine, I always kinda wanted one since I saw one new, heard they were a lot of trouble.

[PJungnitsch]

1982 Yamaha Vision motorcycle, bought for $1350, drove for 70,000 km, sold as parts for $1000 [alternator (s)]

Now that sounds... unusual.
A guy at work has one, but I've never seen it.   Interesting machine, I always kinda wanted one since I saw one new, heard they were a lot of trouble.

Some were I think, but mine was pretty good other than eating a couple stators, which the latest design from Yamaha seemed to fix. The carb is complicated but I drained it every fall and it never had to touch it otherwise, other than richening the idle mixture initially.

[johngenx]

I’ve almost never made money on vehicles. I use them too much.

I made a little on the 911, figured I’d made a huge score, but of course it’s now sold for nearly 2x that amount thanks to the nuts market for air cooled cars.

I’m sure I’d sell the Miata for more than I paid, that’s nice to know.

Back in 1982 I was working for Honda and scored a crazy good deal on the old single cam CB650. It was a work-horse bike for me, as other bikes were frequently apart for mods, etc. The little 650 stayed stock and was used as transportation. Actually really enjoyed it. The beauty was some years later I made a little on it when I sold it thanks to the well below dealer-cost price I’d paid new. Icing on the cake for a reliable little bike.