big hit in depreciation

[Super Unique]

I was well aware of the resale tendencies of Mazda products, which is precisely why I went with gap insurance when I purchased. Having previously owned a toyota, a honda, early mazdas, and some american iron, along with a Lotus product, I am still surprised that there is this lower resale on Mazda due to perceptions.

I can tell you clearly Mazda quality is better than any of the others I have named. At least right now it is. My speed3 is the first vehicle I have owned that I really loved to drive, and had no real problems with. True enough there was the radio bug, but mazda handled it well.

My toyota had zero soul, and was a mechanical wreck.

My Honda was dead reliable, but had no on road character

My RX2 was a great driver, but mechanically needy

The Lotus was a great driver, good overall reliability, but very finicky on maintenance (86 esprit turbo)

 

[squidmotion]

Folks talk and reason the issue away by saying they'll drive it till the wheels fall off. Yeah, until it gets totaled in a second of bad judgement by me or somebody else. Then the depreciation factor gets pretty damn real and unavoidable.

you got me there... but i usually put up a huge down payment, 5k or better. that usually takes care of it, though my insurance covers what i owe on the car.

i guess if you are planning on buying and selling a new car every two years, you have to expect to get slammed. all cars depreciate. it's just the facts. hehe, you should see what happens to BOATS!

i totally agree that you can save big money on a year old car. or even one with 10k miles or so on it... i have also had good luck with that, more-so when i could pay cash outright for the whole deal. but on the other hand, the two cars that i've bought new, and taken care of from day one, have served me trouble free miles. and also got a very good trade-in value (according to KBB) at mazda... so good i nearly fell out of my chair.. honestly, i was going to keep the xterra, but i couldn't justify it after what they offered me for it.... so they do hold their value a bit more on the long end, sometimes...

i guess i don't understand the question, or just don't care about depreciation.... i bought this car because i thought it was a kick-ass value... and i fit in it. my wife likes it, impressive mileage for the performance, super fun to drive, etc. wow, i took a 5k hit for driving it off the lot in my name.... darn.

 

[MikeHTally]

25% is actually a bit low compared to some brands. Mine was $24,700. Edmund's shows just over $20k now.

 

[Super Unique]

Since Chrysler filed bankruptcy, watch their values drop like stones made of lead

 

[MikeHTally]

If GM follows, they'll have $25K rebates on $20K cars.

 

[Super Unique]

Here is an interesting tidbit for us. When I purchased my speed3 one of the alternatives I considered, and what turned out to be a front running competitor the 2008 dodge caliber srt4 was running very very close to the speed 3 in purchase price.

Today I ran the numbers for both and here is the telling results.

dodge caliber srt4 - excellent trade in value 12,900
mazdaspeed 3 - excellent trade in value 17,900

both 1 year old with 24000 miles on the odometer.

Glad I did go for the speed 3 in this instance

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Wow, great test! The CSRT4 feels like a $12,000 car on the inside..

But then again, there are people who could give a damn about the interior and only care with how fast the car goes, period.