RandyG

Where's Mercedes? Audi is better?

Top 10 Brands: Best Resale Value 2008 - KBB 5 Years % Value Retention:

1. 48.1% VW
2. 45.6% BMW
3. 45.4% Acura
4. 45.2% Honda
5. 44.9% Porsche
6. 44.4% Subaru
7. 43.2% Lexus
8. 43.1% Infiniti
9. 42.6% Audi
10. 41.4% Toyota

2008 BEST RESALE VALUE: BY VEHICLE CATEGORY
SEDAN: Honda Civic
COUPE: Infiniti G37
CONVERTIBLE: MINI Cooper
WAGON: Scion xB
HATCHBACK: Scion tC
HIGH PERFORMANCE: Chevrolet Corvette Z06
LUXURY:BMW 6 Series
PICKUP: Toyota Tundra
SPORT UTILITY: Acura MDX
VAN / MINIVAN: Honda Odyssey
HYBRID: Honda Civic Hybrid

oblu

VW?!?! .... VW?!? Wha-huh?

I wonder how much manufacturer backed financing's artificially inflated residuals factored into that study, or if those were real market prices.

I'm guessing VW Financial has been setting residuals sky high to be able to offer really attractive lease rates to push cars. I keep reading articles in the car rags about how VW is pissing and moaning that sales are so bad in NA.

chilledbenz

Something to consider: Mercedes Benz cars, specially some of the early change over models (crosses fingers with new C) such as the first two years of the current E and S classes, have had quite a few problems. This helps drive down resale on used cars and the demand isn't there for cars with known problems. I would also like to state that if your trading in a car to a MB dealership you will get more for it than if your trading it in to another manufactors dealership. Specially if they can certify it as a Starmark car. As far as VW at the top, that one left me scratching my head as well

Shake

Yeah, Mercedes has horrible resale value

RBP

Mercedes quality wasn't stellar with the E class when it launched, the old C class wasn't great and even the S-class left some to be desired. Top that off with a horrible M class and there wasn't much to love about MB.

Now with the lineup almost all new (ML, S, C, CL, CLS) they will shoot up I'm sure. Tack on the new E class soon to be launched...and the Mercedes star will shine bright again. They have zero room for poor quality and know it.

RLE

<<Something to consider: Mercedes Benz cars, specially some of the early change over models (crosses fingers with new C) such as the first two years of the current E and S classes, have had quite a few problems. This helps drive down resale on used cars and the demand isn't there for cars with known problems. I would also like to state that if your trading in a car to a MB dealership you will get more for it than if your trading it in to another manufactors dealership. Specially if they can certify it as a Starmark car.>>

Starmark has been gone for a few years now, replaced by CPO which is NOT the same.

Comparing the trade in values of my '95 C280 vs my '01 C320, with mileages, conditions and ages approximately the same, the trade-in value of my W203 was $3000 less. And of course the W203 cost more when new.

wase4711

who buys a mercedes because of the resale value 5 years down the road??????????

MBTex

I did at least in part. Planning on trading up to an E in the second MY of the new model and I'm going to want some cash out of the C when I do.

Krytech

I might do the same thing. I'd like to be able to consider the new E Class in a few years. But when you look at the amortization and see how slow you payoff the principal of the loan, 2yrs out (assuming you borrowed $35K at 5.85% for 60mo) your payoff about $22K with $3400 paid in interest, vs. the last two years where you only pay $870 in interest and your payments rapidly reduce the principal and therefore increase your 'equity' in the car. Let's just hope that the new C's will hold their value better than the previous models. If you know for sure you want to make a switch in a couple years, maybe a 27mo lease could serve you better?

MBTex

I didn't like the residuals on the lease rates. I also made a large downpayment on the C so will be paying more principal quicker (along with a 48 month payment schedule).

I also want the flexibility to keep the car if I really like it or hold off on getting the E if I don't like it and don't want to be forced to make a decision based on the expiration of a lease term. I also tend to put about 20K miles per year on the car and don't want to get nailed for extra mileage.

peabers

Same here... planning on driving the car for a few years, pass it on to my parents and get a E-class.

I guess MB's strategy of moving buyers up the foodchain is working.

Krytech

Sounds like a smart buy to me.

MBTex

Yeah I used to lease cars for the tax advantages back when I owned my own business, but I don't like the restrictions on it. Much better to buy if you can afford it.