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Top Ten Resale Values -- What's Their Secret? - READ ONLY

58 messages,  Last post on Jan 11, 2010 at 9:10 AM

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#1 of 58 Top Ten Resale Values -- What's Their Secret? by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Aug 10, 2008 (8:09 pm)

Forbes Magazine lists the current Top Ten Resale Values--that is, cars/trucks that will retain about 60% of their resale value after 3 years.
 
I'm wondering:
 
1. What characteristics do these cars share?
 
2. Why is there only ONE domestic car on the list?
 
The Top Ten
 
1. Mini Cooper
2. Infiniti G37 Coupe
3. BMW 1 Series
4. Jeep Wrangler
5. WV R 32
6. Honda CR-V
7. Scion xB
8. Honda Civic Hybrid
9. Nissan Rogue
10. VW Beetle (tie)
10 Audi S5 (tie)

#2 of 58 What's even stranger... by lemko

Aug 11, 2008 (5:43 am)

...is the absence of two cars I expected to see - the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

#3 of 58 Re: Top Ten Resale Values -- What's Their Secret? [Mr_Shiftright] by oldfarmer50

Aug 11, 2008 (5:59 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Aug 10, 2008 8:09 pm)
"...What characteristics do these cars share?..."
 
I don't think they all share the same characteristics. The first 3 must share the characteristic of performance but the Scion, Civic, Rouge and others like them attract people who like economy. Toss in reliability and utility and your cover all of them.
 
"...Why is there only one domestic..."
 
My question is why are there any domestics at all? The way the popular press beats up on American cars (Jeep in particular) I can't imagine how they could hold their value.

#4 of 58 Re: Top Ten Resale Values -- What's Their Secret? [Mr_Shiftright] by gagrice

Aug 11, 2008 (6:02 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Aug 10, 2008 8:09 pm)
1. What characteristics do these cars share?
 
Scarcity may be one reason. I have been looking for a used 2006 VW Beetle diesel for over a year on Craigslist or the Trader. They are too high mileage or selling for as much as when they were new. Jeep Wrangler has probably been one of the best vehicles for holding its value since it was introduced. The biggest surprise to me is NO Prius. Is this list based on auction prices?

#5 of 58 Re: Top Ten Resale Values -- What's Their Secret? [gagrice] by lemmer

Aug 11, 2008 (7:17 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Aug 11, 2008 6:02 am)
It looks to me like they have some cars on there that haven't been out for three years.

#6 of 58 . by fintail

Aug 11, 2008 (8:01 am)

I noticed that too, some of those aren't nearly 3 years old yet.
 
Some of those cars are pretty trendy, that should do it - no other reason why a Beetle should have any resale. The couple people I know who have owned them did not have faultless experiences, and they do not have the cars anymore. I guess a lot of it is image based - an affordable car with seen as cool or fun will hold some value.

#7 of 58 Re: Top Ten Resale Values -- What's Their Secret? [lemmer] by andys120

Aug 11, 2008 (8:03 am)

Replying to: lemmer (Aug 11, 2008 7:17 am)
I think what most of them have in common is that they appeal to specific niches of the buying public (especiallyt the Mini and the Wrangler) and aren't produced in truly mass numbers like the CamCord.
 
I question the inclusion of the Nissan Rogue, it hasn't been out that long and I suspect that the Honda CR-V and Element would appeal to the same drivers and hold up better on resale.

#8 of 58 Re: Top Ten Resale Values -- What's Their Secret? [andys120] by andre1969

Aug 11, 2008 (8:14 am)

Replying to: andys120 (Aug 11, 2008 8:03 am)
Yeah, that's the one thing I've noticed, is that they're all relatively nich-ey markets, although I dunno if I'd really consider the CR-V market to be such a niche anymore.
 
Most of these cars are also built in small enough numbers that supply is simply not keeping up with demand. I'm surprised the Beetle is still up there, though. Didn't that act get played out about 7-8 years ago? And the Wrangler, well that's not a niche, that's a cult!

#9 of 58 what is this by nippononly

Aug 11, 2008 (8:30 am)

projected resale values? Some of these models haven't been around 3 years. And as we all know from the leasing meltdown this year, PROJECTED resale values have a way of being totally inaccurate.
 
Given that, I would add that all these models except CRV are WELL under 100K sales per year, some of them just a few thousand annually, which always aids resale in a desirable car with good reliability (or a cutesy niche car like the Beetle that people like to buy because it makes them smile).

#10 of 58 Re: Top Ten Resale Values -- What's Their Secret? [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Aug 11, 2008 (8:32 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Aug 11, 2008 8:14 am)
This list was compiled from a very large leasing database, is my understanding--so in other words, the money the leasing companies either got, or plan to get, upon resale.
 
Supply and demand must be a factor here, and would explain why Accord and Camry are not on the list.
 
So we know people must WANT them (basic rule of economics that price is driven by a supply and demand formula) but I'm still puzzled as to WHY these cars in particular?
 
Of course, keep in mind that "Top Ten" lists don't show #11, which might be a domestic car or a very common car selling at just below the cut-off point.
 
But I'm intrigued as to what "secret" these cars have?
 
This is important, because high resale value allows an automaker to maintain high MSRP on newer models.

Messages Page 1 of 6

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