Selling private against dealer trade in

[Yusee]

That's one hell of a hit- would be enough to make me cry.
In 2009, I flew to Belfast, from the Midlands, to buy a 335d M sport touring with every option going and 14k on the clock. I paid £24250 for a car exactly 2 years old that listed for £44k.
It had been used by the wife of the owner of the BMW dealership in Belfast and was in "as new" condition, 4 brand new Michelin tyres and -I think- near enough a years tax thrown in.
I sold in December 2018- when I bought my Golf- for £6800. Around 75k mileage.
I never quite understood why people bought brand new cars!

[Spittfire]

That's one hell of a hit- would be enough to make me cry.

I purchased it used from BMW 12/18 for £26k, so thats still £18k loss in a year
Each to their own but I wouldn't buy new from a dealer. Saying that, I would enjoy the choosing colour and speccing up aspect of a new car.

[jaceyboy]

I never quite understood why people bought brand new cars!

Well if they didnt there would be no second hand cars to buy

[fredgroves]

That's one hell of a hit- would be enough to make me cry.

I purchased it used from BMW 12/18 for £26k, so thats still £18k loss in a year
Each to their own but I wouldn't buy new from a dealer. Saying that, I would enjoy the choosing colour and speccing up aspect of a new car.

67 plate car you bought second hand end of 2018 for £26k and then sold 2 years later for £20.5k? £5.5k for 2 years of ownership is pretty impressive - you'd not find that anywhere else unless you play "bangernonmics".

The average car depreciation will hit hardest in the first year of ownership. Generally, the drop will be around 15-35% in the first 12 months. And that will continue to rise up to 50% or more over three years.

    Year 1: 15-35% depreciation. 65-85% of the original value.
    Year 3: 40-60% depreciation. 40-65% of the original value.
    Year 5: 60-70% depreciation. 30-40% of the original value.
    Year 8-10: 80% depreciation.  20% of the original value.

[Yusee]

I should point out that I bought my golf brand new! It's a much cheaper car than a big engine BMW so much less to lose over the long term, particularly with a hefty discount.
Either that or I've got to the stage in life where I have more money than sense.

[Spittfire]

That's one hell of a hit- would be enough to make me cry.

I purchased it used from BMW 12/18 for £26k, so thats still £18k loss in a year
Each to their own but I wouldn't buy new from a dealer. Saying that, I would enjoy the choosing colour and speccing up aspect of a new car.

67 plate car you bought second hand end of 2018 for £26k and then sold 2 years later for £20.5k? £5.5k for 2 years of ownership is pretty impressive - you'd not find that anywhere else unless you play "bangernonmics".

The average car depreciation will hit hardest in the first year of ownership. Generally, the drop will be around 15-35% in the first 12 months. And that will continue to rise up to 50% or more over three years.

    Year 1: 15-35% depreciation. 65-85% of the original value.
    Year 3: 40-60% depreciation. 40-65% of the original value.
    Year 5: 60-70% depreciation. 30-40% of the original value.
    Year 8-10: 80% depreciation.  20% of the original value.

That was impressive seeing those stats.
This is where the buying the right model, colour, spec is essential to holding residuals. Who wants a povvo spec BM or GTI for that matter, not me.

[fredgroves]

Likely as not any options have zero residual value. It might ease the resale but you aren't going to get back your thousands you spent on them from new vs buying a poverty spec car.

Particulary not with something like a GTI because UK base spec is very high

[Guzzle]

Exactly. Best way to minimise depreciation is to go easy on the optional extras. Can't think of any examples that'll retain 100% of their cost.

[Al1040]

+1 Mileage and Condition are the main factors upon sale / trade-in.
Extras not so much, unfortunately that is why many people are very disappointed when they come to sell their high specced cars and get next to nothing for the options...

[skippy]

Back in 2006 I bought a brand new Mazda RX/8 for £22K,  having done my research at the time they held their value relatively well and was a lot of car for a reasonable cost, I loved it!

Roll forward a year or 2, and then the tax linked to emissions etc came in, and it absolutely killed any value left in it. A few people joked that I would have to pay them to take it off my hands!

I managed to sell it back to Mazda (in early 2009) for £7.5K and 11K miles on the clock! 

Then I bought my Scirocco which I kept for 11 years prior to my 7.5 GTI last year!