Number of years for car loans going up & India Co wants to sell trucks in US by 2010

[CruzinSusan]

Orphan, come to Mama.

[meaux61]

4two4me-

I have sold a few cars, I never trade in, you lose a couple of thousand right there. We bought a toyota pick up in 89 for 13000 and I sold it for 8000 in 96. Choose your cars wisely and sell wisely and you wont have that kind of depreciation.

Meaux

[cosmart]

Smart will do well in depreciation if it matches the Civic. The Prius is the king of maintaining resale. In Colorado, people mysteriously can get 80% of MSRP after 40K miles for a 2004 or newer version. Civics are almost as good, even the non-hybrid models.

Older (1996-2001) 4Runners can be bought used, driven 50K miles, and sold for within $1000 of buying price. They have an intrinsic value that prevents them from dropping to junk prices. Subaru in CO is the same. Audi on the other hand....It is amazing to me that a 2002 A4 that went for $35K new now sells for about the same as a 2002 Subaru Legacy that sold new for $22K. I know a small used dealer that has gone to buying Subarus exclusively, most from neighboring states, and selling them here. He is making a killing.

I'm guessing a dealer that specialized in smart, Fit, Yaris, Elantra and the hybrids would do well.

[MarkB]

Originally Posted by meaux61

4two4me-

I have sold a few cars, I never trade in, you lose a couple of thousand right there. We bought a toyota pick up in 89 for 13000 and I sold it for 8000 in 96. Choose your cars wisely and sell wisely and you wont have that kind of depreciation.

Meaux

In my experience, nothing retains more value than a Toyota pickup. Especially the 4 cyl models with the 22R. One of the greatest trucks and engines ever made. Did you see the Top Gear where they demo'd a 60 floor building with Toyota on top and it still ran and drove? I've been inside a 'Yota when it rolled over and we just found another cab in junk yard for $500 and swapped them out in garage. Just two of us. They never die!