Nearly new cars, so the theory goes, are like new cars but much cheaper. Like every car purchase though, it pays to check your facts for the specific make and model you want. As the latest edition of Used Car Expert magazine reveals there are some cars that lose hardly anything in their first year.
They may be ex-demonstrators, or ex-short lease cars, but because the model is on a small production run and a very desirable model, prices hardly move. The sexy-looking Ford Kuga is a classic example of a car that is in greater demand than supply, so people pay almost new prices for nearly new cars, just because they don’t want to wait.
Best performers
| Year |
Car specification |
|
Depreciation % |
|
2008
|
Volvo
|
V50
|
SE Sport
|
1.8
|
1
|
|
2008
|
Hyundai
|
i30
|
Style
|
1.6
|
1
|
|
2008
|
Ford
|
Kuga
|
TDCi Titanium
|
2.0
|
1
|
|
2008
|
Volkswagen
|
Passat
|
TSI 4dr
|
1.8
|
1
|
*Depreciation is percentage (%) lost over last 12 months on average.
Worst performers
| Year |
Car specification |
|
Depreciation % |
|
2008
|
Toyota
|
Avensis
|
D-4D T
|
2.0
|
49
|
|
2008
|
Citroën
|
C4
|
Hdi
|
1.6
|
35
|
|
2008
|
Renault
|
Megane
|
Expression VVT
|
1.6
|
34
|
|
2008
|
Ford
|
Ka
|
Ka Style
|
1.3
|
31
|
*Depreciation is percentage (%) lost over last 12 months on average.