Not all cars are created equal, and some of them will lose as much as 50 percent of their value in the first 3 years on the road. Disturbing for sure.
We bring you a list of ten cars that lose their value like no others. You may be surprised when you see the list, as some of the cars here may well be shortlisted candidates in your mind. So, before you make that hard decision – new or used, cash or finance, lease or own, or any other solution you may come up with, read through this list. It will expand your “car-mind” and add value to your decision-making process.
10. Ford Fusion
Certainly one of the most alluring family sedans on the market, the latest Ford Fusion makes a good case for purchasing new. Many deals are available for this value-oriented and well-optioned car. You may be tempted, but before you buy it you should pay attention to the latest iSeeCars research, which clearly states that the Ford Fusion loses 45.1 percent of its value after only 3 years on the market. Does 2014 sound that much better compared to 2017?
And in this case, the Ford Focus shares almost the same fate as the Ford Fusion. It will lose 45 percent of its value in only three years. In dollars, it looks something like this. The average price of an all-new 2015 Ford Fusion back in ‘14 was close to $30,000. Now, you are looking at about $15,140 on the used car market.
9. Volkswagen Jetta
The best-selling Volkswagen in the US has an even worse depreciation rate than the Fusion. While it is true that Volkswagen offers only a three-year warranty for its new models (meaning your three years old used VW won’t have any of it left), it is also a fact that these cars can be had for very cheap. With an average price of only $13,033 (46.4 percent less than when it was new), the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta seems more than affordable. And let us get back to that warranty – while the whole car may have only 3 years of warranty, the engine warranty extends to five years.
8. Infiniti Q50
Of course, the list won’t be comprised mainly of entry-level consumer cars, and it seems that our first luxury sedan on the list is the Infiniti Q50. The average price for a new model comes close to $50,000, which is quite an investment. However, the 2015 Infiniti Q50 doesn’t look much different compared to the latest model, so you won’t feel outdated driving a used one. Plus, you could save up to 46.9 percent off the sticker price, as the average price for a used 300 HP Infiniti Q50 comes in at $25,000. Hard to beat a luxury sedan for Focus ST money.
7. BMW 3 Series
Want to drive a Bimmer? Of course you do. A high-quality German machine from three years ago certainly did not lose any of its “ultimate driving machine” merits, but it did lose a bunch of value. 46.9 percent of it, to be precise. According to iSeeCars, the average price of the 3 years-leased BMW 3 Series is right around $24,821.
Thus, if you want that cool European machine in your driveway, you can have it for peanuts.
6. Nissan Maxima
That old Nissan Maxima may not look as nice as the latest model; however, it did ace the J.D. Power ratings for overall quality getting four out of five stars. Regardless, the car has an incredible depreciation rate, losing 47.9 percent of its value with three years on the road. This means that the average price of the loaded and quite roomy 2015 Nissan Maxima averages $18,867 on the used car market.
5. BMW 5 Series
And now for the big boys. The dated five series still looks classy, elegant and sophisticated despite a newer model being up for grabs. 2015 models sold in large numbers and they were all reasonably equipped at an average price of $60,000.
Today, those same cars sell for $35,000, and that’s with only 30,000 miles on the clock. Really, really appealing.
4. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
We honestly aren’t even surprised that this list contains so many expensive German cars. Fourth place on the list has a three pointed star on its bonnet which, of course, means it’s a Mercedes-Benz C-class. The car makes a good case on the used car market, as you may snatch a good looking 2015 Benz for $23,212 (average price calculated by iSeeCar). That is 48.3 percent less than its sticker price (which was at more than $40,000). Further, even the one-year-old models already depreciated by 20 percent. So, the 2017 Ford Focus or the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-class?
3. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Now, the E-Class. As this is a redesigned model, it looks appealing and quite generously luxurious. To top it off, it’s even reasonably priced. The 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class makes a good case with its average price on the used car market of $33,727. That is 48.4 percent cheaper compared with the new car three years ago.
2. Cadillac ATS
While the German big boys have had their fair share of this list, the Americans always want to come in first, and in this case, they managed to lock down the top two pole positions.
Really, the Cadillac ATS isn’t dull. It is a fine car which seems to age reasonably well. Graceful aging aside, it depreciates like crazy, making buyers of new entry level luxury cars question their purchase decisions. The average new car price back in 2014 was somewhere around $42,000. Now, however, a 2015 Cadillac ATS has an average price on the used car market of exactly $21,175 (according to iSeeCars research).
1. Cadillac CTS
And the winner (or the loser, actually) is the Cadillac CTS. A fine car for sure, but holds its value like an ice cream cone on a sidewalk in Florida. Three years after purchase of the all-new Cadillac CTS, the owner will have to face a sad truth: the value of the car melted away by an insane 51.4 percent. According to iSeeCars, the average price of a used 2015 Cadillac CTS is exactly $27,537. The best thing that any CTS lover can do is be patient and buy at a bargain.
While these cars can be bad news for owners trying to trade-in or sell at the end of their ownership period, they can also be blessings in disguise for those in need of a cheap car with nice features. While some of the vehicles listed here suffer reliability issues, most of the depreciation simply comes from a market flooded with that particular car. Nobody is surprised that a Jetta is worth less because there’s already a ton of them, and nobody is going to be sad that they got an extra-cheap car because of it. Hopefully, you’ll be on the right side of the fence when this information becomes relevant; I’d hate to see you sobbing into a pint of ice cream when your 3-Series won’t even sell on craigslist for $15 and a pack of gum.
