I. CAR COSTS IN FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE AMERICANS spend more of their disposable incomes on automobiles than on virtually anything else except shelter. But many people especially younger persons whose first major purchase may well be an automobile probably have only a vague notion of what the costs of owning and operating a car amount to over the course of their lifetimes, or of how their spending on automobile transportation compares with average U.S. expenditures for transportation and other items, or of how great the eventual costs of seemingly minor luxuries may be in terms of lost educational opportunities, inadequate housing, reduced retirement income or worse, the inability to acquire needed health care and dignified living conditions during one s later years. Even average car costs probably are far greater than most people suspect. As shown in Chart 1, Americans spend, on average, twice as much on transportation as they contribute to pensions and Social Security each year. These outlays including vehicle purchases, motor fuel, car insurance, maintenance and repairs, license and registration fees, and more are more than four times higher than their out-of-pocket outlays for health care and education. 35 Chart 1 SELECTED COMPONENTS OF AVERAGE CONSUMER EXPENDITURES (2003) 33% 30 25 20 15 10 5 Housing 18% Transportation 13% Food Pensions & Social Security 8% Health Care 4% Apparel & Services 6% Entertainment 5% Education 4% 0 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1
Currently, the estimated average costs of owning and operating a motor vehicle during the course of an individual s expected driving lifetime, shown in Table 1, amount to over $297,000 or more, depending on the size of the cars one drives. Consider that this amount represents the costs of owning and driving just one vehicle. Two- and three-car families have proportionally greater costs. These figures are not given to discourage car ownership or to imply that anyone who drives anything other than a clunker is in some way profligate. On the contrary, for most Americans today automobile transportation is a necessity. Only a small percentage of the workforce lives within walking distance of work, shopping, entertainment, and such. Similarly, for the vast majority of Americans, public transportation either is unavailable, inconvenient, unreliable, or too dangerous to patronize. Some indication of just how much we rely on cars in given by the fact that currently reported U.S. personal consumption expenditures for Motor vehicles and parts plus user-operated transportation are about 50 times greater than for purchased local transportation via transit systems, taxicabs, and railways. Between 1990 and 2003, the number of registered cars and trucks in the United States increased from 135 million to 231 million, and the number of miles traveled by passenger cars, trucks and motorcycles increased from 2.0 trillion to 2.7 trillion. In 2003, there were 1.2 registered vehicles (automobiles, trucks, buses, and motorcycles) for every licensed driver in the United States. Table 1 ESTIMATED AVERAGE COSTS OF OWNING AND OPERATING AN AUTOMOBILE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR 50 YEARS (Current Dollars) Automobile Type Cost Small Medium-Sized Large Sport Passenger Category Sedan Sedan Sedan Utility Van Depreciation $71,130 $100,530 $127,854 $114,460 $96,410 Maintenance 39,000 48,750 44,250 46,500 47,250 Gas/Oil 51,750 63,750 69,750 81,000 66,750 Insurance 72,800 59,750 60,600 69,900 56,500 Taxes 16,650 19,500 22,250 21,750 19,450 Total: $251,330 $292,280 $324,704 $333,610 $286,360 Note: Based on 750,000 miles of travel over 50 years; 12-year, 100 percent depreciation on autos. Source: Your Driving Costs, American Automobile Association, 2005. 2
Chart 2 SELECTED COMPONENTS OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (1982-84=100) 400 350 Automobile Insurance 300 Maintenance & Repair 250 200 New Trucks New Cars 150 100 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Latest plots, May 2005. Source, BLS. Over the same period, however, the cost of buying a new vehicle has sharply increased. Between 1990 and 2003, the average expenditure for a new car (including leased cars) increased from $14,400 to $21,300. It is worth noting that this increase is not fully reflected in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the most widely followed barometer of price inflation and price changes. The CPI is designed to measure the change in the price of a fixed basket of goods and services that is, a selected group of items whose quality does not change over time. In fact, the quality of the things we buy does change. In particular, the cars we buy today are vastly better than the ones we bought 20 years ago. They are designed and built better, have more features to ensure the comfort and safety of drivers and passengers, require less maintenance, and have better warranties. Often we pay more for these added features. But these additional outlays are not included in the CPI. When the CPI is calculated, any increase in car prices that is attributable to quality improvements is netted out. Consequently, even when sticker prices are increasing, the CPI may show that quality-adjusted car prices are unchanged or even decreasing. This is evident in Chart 2, which shows selected components of the CPI. According to the CPI, the price indexes for new cars and trucks have been decreasing since the late 1990s even though sticker prices and the amounts that people actually pay when they 3
buy cars have increased. Other costs of car ownership are easier to measure and Chart 2 shows that these have increased substantially in the past 20 years. The cost of automobile insurance, in particular, has soared. These upward trends show few signs of abating. The likelihood of further rises in automobile purchase and ownership costs would seem to make it imperative that car buyers (and other drivers in the family) become clearly aware of the longterm costs of owning and operating different types of cars. Cost Differences Can Be Great In this regard, the estimates shown in Table 1 only begin to reveal how great potential cost differences can be. As large as it is, the $82,280 ($333,610- $251,330) estimated difference between driving an SUV and a small sedan over the span of one s driving years ignores several factors that might increase that difference substantially. For example, that estimate omits any consideration of what the amount might accrue to if the annual difference were invested. Assuming that the average annual difference in depreciation over the 12-year life of the car ($1,134 between a large sedan and a small sedan) was invested each year and returned five percent per year, at the end of 50 years, the principal and interest on that investment would amount to $249,376. (At the end of 40 years it also would be a sizable sum, $143,897.) If cars are traded in during the years of their greatest depreciation (the first four years), or if they are purchased on credit instead of cash, then additional cost differences arise. Consider an extreme hypothetical comparison that takes into effect several such factors: that is, the potential investment accrual amounts resulting from the difference between (1) paying cash for the equivalent of today s average small sedan and running it into the ground before purchasing a similar new replacement for cash, or (2) purchasing a luxury automobile on credit with a history of rapid depreciation (see the rankings on pages 15-66) and trading it in every third year on a similar credit purchase of a new luxury replacement. In the first case, average annual costs (in 2005 dollars) based on our estimates would be roughly $5,027. Estimated annual costs (in 2005 dollars) for the luxury car, which include depreciation, gas and oil, insurance, taxes and fees, and interest on the car loans amount to about $7,105. The annual average difference of $2,078, invested each year at five percent, after 50 years would yield about $456,781. After 40 years, the amount would be $263,576 still a substantial sum for use in retirement, for establishing trusts for one s children or grandchildren, or for other purposes. The purpose of the foregoing illustrations is not to dissuade persons 4
from purchasing luxury cars. Those who can afford such outlays without jeopardizing their other financial interests obviously will do as they choose. Nor should everyone run their cars into the ground (however, a number of independent studies have concluded and we agree that driving a car as long as possible probably is the most economical practice over the long run). Clearly, there can be substantial differences in car costs between the extremes given in the examples, and substantial long-term savings can be achieved without the necessity of driving a junk car and putting up with the annoyance and inconvenience such cars seem to occasion. Long-Term Costs vs. Short-Term Savings This introduction to car costs is intended to suggest two points that ought to be obvious but that many people seem to neglect (or were never aware of) when they start shopping for cars: (1) that seemingly minor short-term differences in outlays for auto transportation, say $40 or $50 per month, can become very great differences over the course of 10, 20, 30, or 40 years, and (2) that the long-term savings achieved through informed selections of the most economical cars suited to an individual s or family s needs far outweigh the one-time savings of $300 or $400 achieved through dickering in the dealer s showroom. With respect to the first observation, it would seem vitally important not only to the future financial security of many of today s adults, but also to the educational and other long-term prospects of their children, that they make informed choices about cars that acknowledge potential costs to the family s welfare. When they choose a particular costly option, they should be aware of the longer term sacrifices either their own or others that may be required. Consider, for example, that the estimated cost of four years of tuition, room, and board at a private four-year college is now in the neighborhood of $120,000. Highly-rated universities cost even more. Or consider that both Social Security and Medicare programs are actuarially unsound and simply will not, in all likelihood, provide benefits to the coming generations of recipients at anywhere near their current levels. With respect to the second observation, many car buying guides tend to emphasize the immediate potential savings to be achieved through a process of informed bargaining in the showroom which can indeed save you hundreds of dollars. There can be no question that it is important for buyers to ascertain such factors as (1) actual dealer cost of a car (as opposed to the sticker price ), (2) what dealer profit margin is acceptable to both buyer and seller, (3) what are the most economical ways to purchase 5
desired optional equipment, (4) what sales tricks to be on the lookout for, (5) how to avoid dealer add-ons and packages (such as undercoating), (6) how to determine what is a reasonable trade-in amount for your old car, and so on. Using Consumer Reports These matters have been adequately addressed by other consumer economists in our view most successfully by those at Consumer Reports magazine and it is needless to try to duplicate their efforts here. Rather, we strongly recommend that car buyers consult the April Annual Auto Issue of Consumer Reports, back issues of which are available in most public libraries. This issue contains useful information on how to drive a hard bargain, the results of the magazine s test drives of new models, the frequency-of-repair records of older models, safety test results, and good bets in used cars. As important as such information unquestionably is for achieving immediate savings, however, it largely ignores matters related to the longterm, and much larger, costs associated with owning and operating a car. The advice in most car buying guides (including Consumer Reports) is most useful after a decision already has been reached as to what kind of car to buy. Factors relating to what car may be affordable for a particular individual or family, or what cars may represent the best longrun dollar value, tend to be ignored. In our view, the long-term financial aspects of car ownership are just as important as the dealing and mechanical aspects of auto purchasing. Many people have gotten a good deal on the purchase of an automobile only to see it repossessed one or two years later (or to find that they must make other substantial financial sacrifices if they are to keep the car). The danger seems to be that in striking what they think is a good bargain, many car buyers are lulled into believing that they have protected their financial interests when actually they may have committed themselves to long-term outlays that may seriously threaten their financial well-being. That is, many car buyers tend to be penny-wise and pound-foolish. An essential first step for individuals and families to take toward adopting a prudent long-term financial perspective with respect to automobile ownership is, very simply, to keep an accurate record of auto transportation costs. This involves more than simply recording car payments, gas purchases and such, and we describe the procedures for accurate record keeping in the section preceding the monthly ledgers (see Chapter IX). Monitor your costs. Compare them with your expected income, with 6
current and anticipated expenses, and with the data presented here. Then you will be better able to judge at a given time how much car is consistent with a prudent family financial plan. If your auto-related expenditures appear much larger in relation to your income than the national averages, then you may be mismanaging your financial affairs no matter how good the bargain you struck on the purchase price of your car. Such a record also can be a useful tool in alerting other drivers in the family especially younger people who may not have purchased a car previously as to the actual amounts involved, which may be far different from what they believe. 7
8
II. RANKING CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SMALL VANS, AND LIGHT PICKUPS BY RESALE VALUE ONCE you have determined what is an affordable range of car costs, then, obviously, it is in your interest to own and operate a vehicle that provides the best overall value within that range. Again, we strongly advise that you consult carefully the judgments of Consumer Reports automotive specialists as to the roadworthiness and reliability of the models they tested. There is, however, an additional consideration that ought to enter into the selection of a particular model one that can result in substantial savings. Not all cars of similar size and original price that have been judged good cars with respect to driving characteristics and engineering features have retained value equally. Some of Consumer Reports recommended models have retained much more of their original dollar value than others. The accompanying tables rank models according to the ratio of manufacturer s suggested retails prices to average resale prices. We have provided these rankings of late-model automobiles as an aid in distinguishing which models currently seem probable to retain proportionally greater value and which models, on the basis of previous resale prices, are more apt to depreciate rapidly. Using the Tables The percentages and rankings given in the following tables are derived from the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, New England Edition, April 2005 (see Chapter VII). Percentages and rankings may differ somewhat from region to region. Cars are listed on pages 15-42. Sport utility vehicles and small vans are listed on pages 43-59, and light pickups are listed on pages 60-66. In each section, three values are given for each automobile: The Original M.S.R.P. is the manufacturer s suggested retail price. Unless otherwise indicated, it is based on the lowest-price bottom of the line version of each model. That is, it assumes no optional equipment was included. The Retail Value as a Percent of M.S.R.P. is the ratio of the current retail value to the original M.S.R.P. A high percentage indicates the vehicle has retained relatively more of its value over the years. Unless otherwise indicated, the M.S.R.P. component of this ratio is based on the lowest-price version of each model. The NADA retail value 9
component, however, reflects sales of vehicles that may or may not have optional equipment. Typically, the N.A.D.A. current retail value does not include the resale value of expensive options, such as a power sunroof, leather seats, aluminum/alloy wheels, or a premium audio system. (The N.A.D.A. Guide values these items separately). It does include the resale value of less-expensive optional equipment. However, according to the N.A.D.A., most optional equipment has little or no value on older vehicles, especially if the options cost relatively little to begin with or are likely to wear with age. The Retail Value minus Trade-In is the difference between the current N.A.D.A retail value and the N.A.D.A. trade-in value. The trade-in value reflects several adjustments from the retail value, such as the dealer profit margin, deduction for detailing costs, etc. If you are a seller, the retail value minus trade-in is a rough estimate of the difference between what you could expect to realize from a private sale of your car and what a dealer might offer to pay you for it in trade-in. The higher the amount, the more you stand to gain either by selling your car privately, or by bargaining with a dealer to pay you a trade-in price closer to the car s retail price. If you are a buyer, the retail value minus trade-in represents the difference between the retail price a dealer is likely to ask for his used car and the wholesale or trade-in price he might have paid for it. The higher the amount, the more room you have to bargain the price down. This amount also suggests how much bargaining leeway you would have with a private seller, who may ask the retail value but be willing to settle for somewhat less as an alternative to trading it in. Which Models are Listed There are hundreds of car and truck models on the road today. A particular vehicle (for example, a 2002 V6 Dodge Stratus) may have been manufactured in a half dozen different models (the V6 Stratus was available as a 2-door SE coupe, a 2-door R/T, a 4-door SE sedan, a 4-door SE Plus, a 4-door ES, and a 4-door R/T). To keep our lists manageable, we include only base models with some important exceptions. We include non-base models if their retail price as a percent of the M.S.R.P. is significantly different from the comparable percentage for the base model. Such differences indicate that a vehicle has depreciated significantly faster or slower than the base model. What qualifies as a significantly different rate of depreciation depends on the model year. For 2002, 2003, and 2004 models, we include a 10
non-base model if the ratio of its retail value to its M.S.R.P. differs from the ratio for the base model by seven percentage points or more. For 2002, 2001, and 2000 models, the difference has to be six percentage points or more. For 1998, the threshold is five percentage points. The thresholds are smaller for older vehicles because differences in depreciation rates (for different versions of a given model) tend to shrink over time. An illustration may help. Using these criteria, our list of 2002 cars includes two of the six models of the V6 Dodge Stratus mentioned above: the SE coupe, which is the base model, and the 2-door R/T. The latter was included because its resale value is significantly higher as a percentage of its M.S.R.P. (62.3 percent) compared with the resale value of the base model (52.1 percent of its M.S.R.P.). The resale prices of the other four V6 Stratus models, relative to their M.S.R.P.s, were sufficiently close to the base model that they did not merit a separate listing. Models are most likely to have a significantly different retail value as a percent of M.S.R.P., compared with the base model, if they have a fancier trim package, a more powerful engine, a convertible top, or four-wheel drive. Sometimes these extra features enhance the resale value, relative to the M.S.R.P, but sometimes they reduce it. In other words, a car with premium trim might depreciate faster than the base model, or it might hold its value better. It depends on the model. In addition, our tables include every model that Consumer Reports has identified as either a reliable used car or a used car to avoid. In most cases, the editors of Consumer Reports do not make a distinction between the base model and other models, but sometimes they do. For example, the 1998 six-cylinder Ford Contour is tagged by them as a used vehicle to avoid, but the four cylinder is not. What the Rankings Indicate Resale values listed in the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide reflect the collective judgments of market participants respecting the overall value of particular makes and models of vehicles. Inasmuch as these judgments are informed by many previous owners and operators experiences, they provide a strong indication of how a given make and model has withstood the test of consumer use over an extended period of time. In some instances, such market determinations appear to coincide with the judgments based on evaluations of short duration of one or two test cars for a particular model by independent consumer services such as Consumer Reports. In other instances, they differ sometimes very considerably. Admittedly, the usefulness of the accompanying tables is limited by the factors described below. But in the absence of more reliable 11
data, they provide at least some indication of expected performance from similar models now on the market. The ratios of N.A.D.A. resale values to original manufacturers suggested retail prices listed in the accompanying tables are not exact measurements of retained dollar value. The manufacturer s suggested retail price (M.S.R.P.) usually is not the actual retail sale price of a new car. The actual sale price is always open to negotiation, and in recent years has been subject to even greater fluctuations than usual. Unfortunately, there are no aggregate data reflecting actual sales prices of new cars. Hence, our rankings can be only roughly suggestive. For some models the original M.S.R.P. used in our tables may understate the actual price that car buyers originally paid. There are two reasons for this. First, the M.S.R.P. reported by the N.A.D.A. Guide excludes the cost of major options, but many car buyers do, in fact, purchase these options. Hence, they may pay more than the base model M.S.R.P. shown in our tables. This is especially likely with luxury vehicles such as Mercedes and Lexus, which often carry eye-catchingly low M.S.R.P.s for their entry level models, but which most customers buy as loaded-up versions at higher prices. Second, some models may sell for more than their M.S.R.P. due to strong demand. When the popular PT Cruiser was introduced a few years ago, some dealers were able to charge $2,000 or more above the sticker price. The rankings shown in the table probably exaggerate the retained dollar value of such models. This exaggeration is reflected in the fact that the average resale prices for some vehicles, particularly in the later model years, actually exceed their original M.S.R.P. That is, their retail value as a percent of M.S.R.P. is greater than 100 percent. In fact, these cars probably sold for more than the indicated M.S.R.P. when they were new, and their current resale value almost certainly is less than 100 percent of what they originally sold for. Conversely, the rankings probably exaggerate the loss of dollar value of other cars, namely those which originally sold for less than the M.S.R.P. The M.S.R.P. incorporates a dealer s profit margin, which differs according to a particular dealer s requirements. This margin may vary substantially from dealer to dealer, depending on such things as carrying costs, availability of some cars, buyer demand, and so on. It is negotiable, and car buyers often pay less than the M.S.R.P. for all but the most popular models. In recent years, some models have sold for less than the M.S.R.P. for another reason. Car manufacturers, especially the Big Three (GM, Ford, 12
and Chrysler) have been offering very large rebates to new car buyers, sometimes as high as $5,000. Hence, the actual sales price for these vehicles (especially in recent years) may have been substantially less than the M.S.R.P. used to calculate our ratios. The resale value of such vehicles, relative to what they originally sold for, is greater than indicated in the tables. In other words, they have not lost as much value as the tables suggest. The net effect of these price distortions on our ratios and rankings is impossible to estimate. However, they seem unlikely to change the broad patterns in the rankings. The models that have consistently achieved high resale rankings over the previous seven model years would seem to have a greater prospect of retaining more of their dollar value than do those models that consistently have ranked below the average with respect to resale value. Two other observations are especially pertinent to the choice of a particular model. First, different models of roughly similar price and size may have substantially different resale values. When buying a car, if there is a choice to be made between similar size and style cars, and one has been shown in the past to retain substantially greater dollar value than the other, then it is a matter of common sense that the one with the demonstrated higher resale value probably will offer better long-run value. Second, and equally important, some good cars with respect to driving characteristics, safety testing, and expected frequency of repair retain less dollar value than other cars judged similarly roadworthy and reliable. The models recommended by Consumer Reports after hands-on testing are indicated by asterisks in the tables. Plainly, some recommended models have retained less resale value than other recommended models, and even rank lower with respect to retained dollar value than many models that Consumer Reports did not recommend. When buying a car, if there is a choice to be made between two otherwise similar recommended cars, it would again seem common sense to pick the one with a record of higher retained dollar value. Of course, there is no guarantee that you will end up with a new car that is in every way satisfactory to you, no matter what procedures you follow. Occasionally, even the most promising vehicle turns out to be a lemon (see Chapter VI on lemon laws). However, in the absence of some crystal ball for predicting the future, taking into account both road-test results and actual resale performance would seem to be a useful way of judging the probable good buys in the automobile market today. 13
14
RANKING OF 1998 USED CARS BY NADA RETAIL VALUE IN APRIL 2005 AS A PERCENTAGE OF ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER S SUGGESTED RETAIL VALUE Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 1 Toyota Supra $30,918 72.3 $2,975 2 Chevrolet Corvette 37,495 53.8 3,125 3 Porsche 911 63,750 51.9 4,525 4 Acura NSX 84,000 49.6 5,175 5 BMW 3 Series M3 39,700 49.0 2,925 6 BMW Z Series 29,425 49.0 2,550 7 Porsche Boxster 41,000 48.1 2,950 8 Honda Civic* 10,650 47.4 1,300 9 BMW 3 Series Conv 323i 34,700 47.1 2,725 10 Acura Integra R* 23,500 46.9 2,000 11 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class 39,700 46.4 2,875 12 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class 39,850 45.0 2,825 13 Toyota Corolla* 11,908 44.3 1,325 14 Honda Prelude* 23,300 42.9 1,875 15 Toyota Celica 20,111 42.5 1,750 16 Honda Accord* 15,100 42.1 1,425 17 Volkswagen Golf GTI VR6 20,235 42.0 1,625 18 Lexus GS* 36,800 41.9 2,675 19 Toyota Camry* 16,938 41.8 1,650 20 Acura Integra* 16,200 41.7 1,625 21 Ford Mustang-V8* 19,970 41.3 1,725 22 Volkswagen New Beetle 15,200 41.1 1,525 23 BMW 3 Series 21,390 40.9 2,000 24 Pontiac Firebird~8 22,865 40.7 1,800 25 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX Turbo AWD 25,320 40.3 1,900 26 Mercedes-Benz E Class 41,800 39.8 2,750 27 BMW 5 Series 38,900 39.3 2,650 28 Subaru Impreza Sport Wgn Outback* 17,995 39.3 1,650 29 Toyota Corolla LE* 14,798 39.2 1,400 30 Mercedes-Benz C Class 30,450 39.1 2,300 31 Subaru Impreza RS* 19,195 39.1 1,675 32 Volkswagen Cabrio 17,975 39.1 1,500 33 Nissan 240SX 18,359 38.8 1,650 34 Chevrolet Camaro-V8 Conv Z28 27,450 38.7 1,925 35 Mitsubishi 3000GT 27,770 38.1 1,850 36 Lexus SC 40,900 37.8 2,675 37 Subaru Forester 18,695 37.6 1,625 38 Lexus ES* 30,790 37.3 2,125 39 Volkswagen Golf 13,495 36.3 1,275 40 Chevrolet Camaro 16,625 35.9 1,500 41 Mercedes-Benz SL Class 79,900 35.7 4,150 42 Subaru Legacy Wgn Outback* 22,495 35.7 1,725 43 Audi Cabriolet 34,600 35.6 2,200 44 Nissan Altima* 14,990 35.5 1,450 45 Toyota Tercel 12,690 35.5 1,250 15
RANKING OF 1998 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 46 Ford Mustang 6 * $15,970 35.1 $1,475 47 Mitsubishi Eclipse 15,740 35.1 1,475 48 Pontiac Firebird 6 18,015 35.1 1,525 49 Volkswagen Jetta 14,595 34.8 1,425 50 Mercury Grand Marquis* 21,890 34.6 1,825 51 Toyota Avalon* 24,278 34.6 1,900 52 Lexus LS* 52,900 34.2 3,300 53 Acura CL* 22,310 33.8 1,825 54 Ford Crown Victoria* 20,935 33.8 1,775 55 Subaru Impreza* 15,895 33.8 1,450 56 Nissan Sentra* 11,499 33.7 1,200 57 Volkswagen Passat 20,750 33.7 1,775 58 Chevrolet Prizm* 12,043 33.6 1,200 59 Nissan Maxima* 21,499 32.9 1,775 60 Audi A4 23,790 32.6 1,825 61 Lexus SC SC400 52,700 32.5 2,775 62 Mazda Protege* 12,145 32.5 1,200 63 Mercedes-Benz S Class 64,000 32.5 3,600 64 Acura TL* 30,700 32.2 2,000 65 Jaguar XK8 64,900 32.1 3,600 66 Volvo V70 28,285 32.0 1,950 67 Eagle Talon 14,505 31.9 1,375 68 Saturn Saturn 10,595 31.1 1,125 69 Acura RL* 41,200 30.8 2,350 70 Nissan 200SX 13,149 30.8 1,200 71 Mercedes-Benz CL Class 91,900 30.4 4,125 72 Nissan Altima GLE* 19,890 29.9 1,500 73 Dodge Avenger 14,930 29.8 1,350 74 Volvo C70 38,995 29.8 2,275 75 Chevrolet Cavalier 11,610 29.7 1,150 76 Infiniti I30* 28,900 29.7 1,925 77 Pontiac Sunfire 12,495 29.0 1,175 78 Subaru Legacy* 16,895 29.0 1,400 79 BMW 7 Series 61,070 28.5 3,250 80 Dodge Neon 11,155 28.5 1,125 81 Nissan Sentra GXE* 14,899 28.5 1,225 82 Plymouth Neon 11,155 28.5 1,125 83 Volvo V90 35,850 28.4 2,125 84 Volvo S70 26,985 28.3 1,825 85 Nissan Sentra GLE* 15,749 28.1 1,250 86 Nissan Sentra SE* 16,749 27.8 1,275 87 Pontiac Grand Am 14,874 27.7 1,300 88 Chrysler Sebring 16,840 27.6 1,375 89 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17,795 27.5 1,400 90 Pontiac Grand Prix 18,795 27.5 1,425 91 Ford Escort 11,280 27.3 1,100 16
RANKING OF 1998 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 92 Buick Regal $20,945 27.2 $1,475 93 Mercedes-Benz S Class S600 132,250 27.2 4,700 94 Hyundai Accent Gsi 10,699 27.1 1,075 95 Mercury Tracer 11,355 27.1 1,100 96 Saab 900 24,500 27.1 1,725 97 Audi A6 33,750 27.0 2,025 98 Infiniti Q45 47,900 26.9 2,375 99 Buick Century* 18,215 26.8 1,400 100 Chevrolet Malibu 15,670 26.5 1,300 101 Mercedes-Benz Sl Class SL600 125,000 26.1 4,500 102 Volvo S90 34,300 25.9 2,025 103 Suzuki Swift 9,099 25.8 1,025 104 Chevrolet Metro 8,655 25.7 1,000 105 Cadillac Eldorado 38,495 25.6 2,100 106 Mitsubishi Mirage 10,830 25.2 1,050 107 Hyundai Tiburon 13,599 25.0 1,150 108 Mazda 626* 15,550 24.9 1,275 109 Oldsmobile Cutlass 17,800 24.9 1,350 110 Pontiac Bonneville 22,390 24.9 1,575 111 Jaguar XJ8 54,750 24.8 2,475 112 Oldsmobile Intrigue 20,700 24.6 1,425 113 Buick Lesabre 22,465 24.5 1,575 114 Plymouth Breeze 14,675 24.5 1,250 115 Dodge Stratus 14,840 24.1 1,250 116 Ford Contour 5 13,460 24.1 1,125 117 Hyundai Elantra 11,499 24.1 1,075 118 Mitsubishi Diamante 27,650 24.1 1,725 119 Chrysler Cirrus 19,460 24.0 1,375 120 Pontiac Sunfire SE Conv 19,495 24.0 1,275 121 Chevrolet Lumina 17,245 23.9 1,300 122 Dodge Intrepid 19,685 23.6 1,475 123 Chrysler Concorde 21,305 23.4 1,525 124 Mitsubishi Galant 15,680 23.3 1,250 125 Audi A8 57,400 23.1 2,725 126 Buick Park Avenue 30,675 23.0 1,825 127 Buick Riviera 32,125 22.9 1,850 128 Oldsmobile Eighty-eight 22,795 22.9 1,550 129 Kia Sephia 9,995 22.5 1,000 130 Lincoln Town Car* 37,830 22.5 1,975 131 Ford Contour 6 15,880 22.4 1,150 132 Suzuki Esteem 11,999 22.3 1,050 133 Oldsmobile Regency 28,395 22.2 1,725 134 Cadillac Seville 42,495 22.1 2,050 135 Oldsmobile LSS 28,095 22.1 1,675 136 Buick Skylark 16,230 21.9 1,250 137 Mercury Sable 19,445 21.9 1,325 17
RANKING OF 1998 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 138 Cadillac Catera $29,995 21.6 $1,750 139 Mazda Millenia* 28,995 21.6 1,675 140 Saab 9000 38,580 21.6 1,900 141 Ford Taurus 18,245 21.5 1,275 142 Cadillac DeVille 37,695 21.4 1,950 143 Hyundai Sonata 14,749 21.4 1,125 144 Hyundai Accent 9,099 21.2 950 145 Mercury Mystique 16,235 21.1 1,150 146 Saab 900 Sedan S 26,955 21.1 1,625 147 Lincoln Mark VIII 37,830 20.1 1,875 148 Lincoln Continental 37,830 18.5 1,825 149 Oldsmobile Achieva 18,340 18.4 1,225 150 Mitsubishi Galant LS 25,310 18.3 1,375 151 Oldsmobile Aurora 35,960 17.9 1,750 * Consumer Reports reliable used cars. Consumer Reports used cars to avoid. 1 Manual. 2 Automatic. 3 2WD. 4 4WD. 5 4 cyl. 6 6 cyl. 18
RANKING OF 1999 USED CARS BY NADA RETAIL VALUE IN APRIL 2005 AS A PERCENTAGE OF ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER S SUGGESTED RETAIL VALUE Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 1 Honda Civic Si* $17,455 62.7 $1,925 2 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class Conv CLK320 47,200 60.3 3,775 3 BMW 3 Series Coupe M3 39,700 56.3 3,250 4 BMW 3 Series Sedan 323i 26,400 54.8 2,550 5 BMW Z Series 29,950 54.8 2,725 6 Acura NSX 84,725 54.6 5,425 7 Chevrolet Corvette 38,197 54.5 3,150 8 Porsche Boxster* 41,000 54.1 3,250 9 Honda Civic* 10,650 54.0 1,375 10 BMW 3 Series Conv 34,700 53.7 2,875 11 Porsche 911 65,030 53.1 4,625 12 Chevrolet Camaro-V8 Coupe Z28 20,870 51.5 1,925 13 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class Clk320 40,600 51.2 3,150 14 BMW 3 Series Sedan 328i 33,400 50.5 2,775 15 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class 41,000 50.5 3,150 16 Honda Prelude 23,800 49.8 2,050 17 Mazda Miata* 19,770 49.7 1,850 18 Toyota Corolla* 12,218 49.5 1,400 19 Volkswagen Golf GTI VR6 20,235 49.4 1,800 20 Honda Accord* 15,200 49.0 1,550 21 Lexus GS* 37,305 48.7 2,850 22 Toyota Camry* 17,038 48.7 1,750 23 Acura Integra* 19,200 48.3 1,800 24 BMW Z Series Coupe Z3 2.8 36,200 48.3 2,800 25 Mitsubishi 3000GT 25,450 47.8 2,025 26 Toyota Camry Solara* 19,058 47.6 1,800 27 Volkswagen New Golf 14,900 47.0 1,500 28 Toyota Celica 21,750 46.3 1,875 29 Audi A4 Wgn 1.8T Avant Quattro 26,440 46.2 2,200 30 Subaru Forester 18,695 45.5 1,750 31 BMW 5 Series 38,900 45.4 2,825 32 Volkswagen Cabrio 17,975 45.3 1,600 33 Volkswagen New Beetle 15,900 45.3 1,650 34 Nissan Altima* 14,990 45.2 1,625 35 Mercedes-Benz E Class 42,400 44.8 2,900 36 Lexus ES* 30,905 44.6 2,300 37 Acura TL 27,950 44.4 2,200 38 Mercedes-Benz C Class 31,200 44.3 2,500 39 Volkswagen New Jetta 16,700 43.9 1,650 40 BMW 3 Series 23,300 43.8 2,125 41 Chevrolet Camaro 16,625 43.8 1,650 42 Infiniti G20* 20,995 43.7 1,950 43 Volkswagen New Cabrio 19,990 43.6 1,675 44 Pontiac Firebird 18,165 43.2 1,700 45 Volkswagen Golf 13,495 43.0 1,400 19
RANKING OF 1999 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 46 Subaru Impreza $15,895 42.9 $1,625 47 Subaru Legacy Outback* 22,495 42.8 1,825 48 Lexus SC 42,905 42.4 2,850 49 Nissan Sentra* 11,799 42.4 1,300 50 Mazda Miata Anniversary* 26,875 41.7 2,025 51 Ford Mustang* 16,470 41.6 1,625 52 Mazda Protege* 11,970 41.6 1,300 53 Acura CL* 23,555 41.2 2,000 54 Mitsubishi Eclipse 15,750 40.2 1,525 55 Lexus LS* 53,605 40.1 3,650 56 Nissan Maxima* 21,499 39.9 1,925 57 Volvo V70 28,685 39.7 2,125 58 Mercedes-Benz SL Class 81,100 39.5 4,475 59 Audi A4 23,790 39.3 1,975 60 Volkswagen Jetta 14,845 39.1 1,500 61 Acura RL* 41,900 39.0 2,725 62 Mercedes-Benz E Class E320 46,200 38.7 2,825 63 Toyota Avalon* 24,568 38.6 1,975 64 Volkswagen Passat 21,200 38.6 1,875 65 Mercury Grand Marquis* 22,220 38.4 1,925 66 Nissan Altima GLE 19,990 38.3 1,675 67 Chevrolet Prizm* 12,268 38.1 1,275 68 Jaguar XK8 65,750 37.6 3,850 69 Pontiac Grand Am GT 6 19,070 36.7 1,625 70 Subaru Legacy* 16,895 36.7 1,525 71 Volvo S70* 27,385 36.4 2,025 72 Mercury Cougar 16,195 36.3 1,500 73 Volvo C70 33,925 36.3 2,325 74 Mercedes-Benz S Class 64,750 36.2 3,775 75 Saab 9-5 Wgn 5d Turbo 5 31,850 36.2 2,275 76 Ford Crown Victoria* 21,905 35.7 1,850 77 Saturn Saturn SW* 13,155 35.0 1,250 78 Infiniti I30* 28,900 34.9 2,025 79 Saturn Saturn 10,595 34.9 1,175 80 BMW 7 Series 62,400 33.8 3,625 81 Dodge Avenger 15,370 33.7 1,425 82 Pontiac Sunfire 12,745 33.7 1,225 83 Infiniti Q45* 48,200 33.6 2,725 84 Audi A6 33,750 33.0 2,200 85 Chrysler Sebring 17,125 32.8 1,475 86 Chrysler 300m 28,300 32.7 1,950 87 Volvo S80 35,820 32.5 2,275 88 Cadillac Eldorado 39,235 32.4 2,350 89 Mercedes-Benz CL Class 91,900 32.4 4,225 90 Saab 9-3 25,900 32.3 1,900 91 Chevrolet Cavalier 13,131 32.0 1,225 20
RANKING OF 1999 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 92 Dodge Neon $11,520 31.9 $1,175 93 Plymouth Neon 11,520 31.9 1,175 94 Mazda Millenia* 26,545 31.6 1,900 95 Ford Contour SVT 6 22,665 31.5 1,775 96 Mercury Tracer* 11,530 31.4 1,175 97 Pontiac Grand Am 17,470 31.2 1,450 98 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 18,510 31.1 1,475 99 Ford Escort* 11,455 30.8 1,150 100 Hyundai Tiburon 13,599 30.7 1,225 101 Buick Century 18,215 30.6 1,475 102 Pontiac Grand Prix 19,415 30.5 1,500 103 Hyundai Elantra 11,499 30.2 1,150 104 Mitsubishi Galant* 16,990 30.2 1,425 105 Buick Regal* 21,665 30.1 1,550 106 Dodge Stratus 15,140 30.1 1,375 107 Mazda 626 17,665 30.1 1,450 108 Plymouth Breeze 14,975 29.9 1,350 109 Buick Lesabre 22,725 29.6 1,725 110 Chrysler LHS 28,400 29.6 1,975 111 Jaguar XJ8 55,200 29.6 2,725 112 Pontiac Bonneville 22,880 29.4 1,725 113 Chevrolet Malibu 15,950 29.3 1,375 114 Mercedes-Benz Sl Class SL600 126,900 29.3 4,950 115 Chrysler Cirrus 19,460 29.2 1,475 116 Saab 9-5 31,025 29.2 2,025 117 Mitsubishi Mirage 11,150 29.1 1,125 118 Mercedes-Benz S Class S600 134,250 28.9 5,025 119 Oldsmobile Alero 16,325 28.9 1,375 120 Mitsubishi Diamante 27,199 28.8 1,850 121 Buick Park Avenue 31,100 28.6 2,025 122 Suzuki Swift 9,099 28.6 1,050 123 Audi A8 57,400 28.5 3,175 124 Oldsmobile Intrigue 21,175 28.0 1,500 125 Chevrolet Metro 8,993 27.8 1,025 126 Oldsmobile Cutlass 18,115 27.6 1,400 127 Hyundai Sonata 14,999 27.5 1,225 128 Chrysler Concorde 21,510 27.1 1,650 129 Buick Riviera 33,790 27.0 2,025 130 Dodge Intrepid 19,890 26.8 1,550 131 Chevrolet Lumina 18,190 26.7 1,400 132 Kia Sephia 9,995 26.3 1,050 133 Mercury Sable-V6 SED 4d Gs 18,445 26.3 1,400 134 Oldsmobile Eighty-eight 23,555 26.1 1,675 135 Cadillac Seville 43,355 26.0 2,250 136 Ford Contour 14,460 25.9 1,175 137 Cadillac DeVille 38,630 25.8 2,100 21
RANKING OF 1999 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 138 Ford Taurus $17,445 25.7 $1,350 139 Lincoln Town Car* 38,325 25.2 2,075 140 Suzuki Esteem 12,199 25.2 1,100 141 Oldsmobile LSS 29,105 25.0 1,800 142 Mercury Mystique 16,390 24.4 1,200 143 Hyundai Accent 8,999 24.2 1,000 144 Lincoln Continental 39,550 23.3 2,025 145 Cadillac Catera 34,180 22.6 1,900 146 Oldsmobile Aurora 36,299 21.2 1,900 147 Daewoo Lanos 8,749 21.1 950 148 Daewoo Leganza 14,540 19.6 1,075 149 Daewoo Nubira 12,250 19.0 1,025 * Consumer Reports reliable used cars. Consumer Reports used cars to avoid. 1 Manual. 2 Automatic. 3 2WD. 4 4WD. 5 4 cyl. 6 6 cyl. 22
RANKING OF 2000 USED CARS BY NADA RETAIL VALUE IN APRIL 2005 AS A PERCENTAGE OF ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER S SUGGESTED RETAIL VALUE Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 1 Honda Civic Si* $17,545 70.8 $2,025 2 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class Conv 48,100 66.9 4,100 3 Acura Integra R* 24,350 65.6 2,425 4 Toyota Camry Solara Conv* 25,068 65.6 2,450 5 BMW 3 Series 26,990 64.7 2,800 6 Honda Civic* 10,750 64.4 1,500 7 Porsche 911 65,590 61.5 5,125 8 Toyota Celica* 16,695 61.4 1,900 9 Chevrolet Corvette 38,320 61.3 3,325 10 Toyota Echo 9,995 61.0 1,425 11 Honda S2000* 32,000 60.8 2,425 12 Acura NSX 84,000 60.6 5,675 13 BMW M5 69,400 60.1 5,175 14 Porsche Boxster 41,430 59.9 3,400 15 Chevrolet Camaro-V8 Coupe Z28 21,265 59.1 2,150 16 Toyota Avalon* 25,195 59.0 2,400 17 Nissan Sentra 11,649 58.4 1,500 18 Toyota MR2 Spyder 23,098 58.4 2,100 19 Honda Civic Value* 14,730 58.2 1,625 20 BMW Z Series 31,300 58.0 2,850 21 Honda Prelude 23,500 58.0 2,225 22 Subaru Legacy Outback 22,695 57.8 2,175 23 Mercedes-Benz CL Class 85,500 57.7 5,575 24 Nissan Altima* 15,140 57.6 1,775 25 Honda Accord* 15,350 57.2 1,675 26 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class 41,600 57.0 3,325 27 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class 41,000 56.7 3,300 28 Subaru Legacy L AWD 19,895 56.7 2,025 29 Toyota Corolla* 12,418 56.6 1,500 30 Lexus GS* 37,605 56.0 3,175 31 Audi A4 Wgn 1.8T Avant Quattro 26,740 55.9 2,400 32 Acura Integra* 19,300 55.6 1,925 33 Lexus ES* 31,405 55.6 2,550 34 Subaru Impreza* 15,895 55.5 1,775 35 Audi A4 S4-T Quattro 6 37,900 55.3 2,900 36 Subaru Legacy GT 23,695 55.3 2,175 37 Toyota Camry Solara* 18,938 55.2 1,900 38 Toyota Camry* 17,418 55.0 1,825 39 Volkswagen Golf 14,900 54.7 1,600 40 Ford Mustang-V8 21,015 54.6 2,025 41 BMW 5 Series 38,900 54.5 3,175 42 Acura TL* 28,400 54.4 2,425 43 Volkswagen Jetta 16,700 54.3 1,800 44 Subaru Forester 20,095 54.2 1,925 45 Toyota Camry Solara Coupe SE 6 * 21,648 54.0 2,050 23
RANKING OF 2000 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 46 Volkswagen New Beetle $15,900 53.8 $1,750 47 Honda Insight 18,800 53.7 1,825 48 Mazda Miata* 21,245 53.4 2,025 49 Infiniti G20* 21,395 52.8 2,125 50 Nissan Maxima* 21,049 52.4 2,100 51 Mercedes-Benz S Class 69,700 51.9 4,700 52 Volvo V40 23,900 51.9 2,200 53 Nissan Sentra SE 14,899 51.0 1,550 54 Volvo V70 28,800 51.0 2,400 55 Audi TT 30,500 50.8 2,675 56 Chevrolet Camaro 16,840 50.6 1,750 57 Nissan Altima SE* 18,640 50.6 1,825 58 Volvo S40 22,900 50.4 2,150 59 Lexus SC 43,405 50.0 3,200 60 Volkswagen Passat 5 21,200 49.9 2,075 61 Mercedes-Benz C Class 31,750 49.8 2,700 62 Pontiac Firebird 18,490 49.8 1,800 63 Audi A4 23,990 49.5 2,175 64 Mazda Protege* 11,970 49.1 1,400 65 Ford Focus 11,865 48.9 1,400 66 Volvo S70* 27,500 48.3 2,275 67 Subaru Legacy 18,395 48.2 1,775 68 Nissan Altima GLE* 20,390 48.1 1,850 69 Volkswagen Passat 6 23,800 47.8 2,125 70 Infiniti I30* 29,465 47.7 2,325 71 Ford Mustang 6 16,520 47.4 1,700 72 Mercedes-Benz E Class AWD 49,900 46.8 3,300 73 Lexus LS* 54,005 46.2 3,875 74 Mercedes-Benz E Class 47,100 46.1 3,200 75 Volkswagen Cabrio 19,990 45.8 1,700 76 Hyundai Tiburon 13,999 45.4 1,425 77 Mercedes-Benz SL Class 82,600 45.0 4,950 78 Mitsubishi Eclipse* 17,697 44.9 1,725 79 Volvo C70 34,000 44.7 2,650 80 Jaguar XK8 66,200 44.6 4,225 81 Acura RL* 42,000 44.3 2,875 82 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 19,290 43.8 1,750 83 BMW 7 Series 62,400 43.4 4,075 84 Chevrolet Camaro Conv 6 24,140 42.8 1,900 85 Jaguar S-type 42,500 42.8 2,850 86 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 24,160 42.6 1,900 87 Ford Focus Sedan 12,125 42.3 1,300 88 Mercury Grand Marquis* 22,415 42.2 1,975 89 Infiniti Q45 48,895 42.0 3,150 90 Ford Escort 11,760 41.5 1,275 91 Chevrolet Impala 18,705 41.3 1,825 24
RANKING OF 2000 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 92 Ford Crown Victoria* $22,005 41.1 $1,950 93 Volvo S80 36,000 41.1 2,625 94 Mazda 626* 18,245 41.0 1,675 95 Pontiac Grand Am 15,920 41.0 1,550 96 Saab 9-3 25,900 40.8 2,075 97 Mercury Cougar 16,445 40.7 1,600 98 Audi A6 33,950 40.6 2,500 99 Cadillac Eldorado 39,120 40.5 2,700 100 Chevrolet Prizm 13,816 40.5 1,375 101 Lincoln LS 30,915 40.4 2,325 102 Chrysler 300m 29,085 40.0 2,150 103 Saturn S Series 10,685 40.0 1,225 104 Mazda Millenia* 24,995 39.8 2,025 105 Pontiac Bonneville 23,680 39.0 1,950 106 Buick Lesabre 23,235 38.8 1,950 107 Mercury Sable LS Wgn Premium 22,345 38.3 1,750 108 Hyundai Accent GL 9,699 38.1 1,175 109 Dodge Intrepid R/T 24,435 37.9 1,950 110 Cadillac DeVille 39,500 37.8 2,650 111 Hyundai Elantra 11,799 37.7 1,250 112 Dodge Neon 12,460 37.3 1,275 113 Plymouth Neon 12,460 37.3 1,275 114 Jaguar XJ8 55,650 37.1 3,150 115 Saab 9-5 32,575 37.1 2,300 116 Saturn L Series 6 20,135 37.0 1,675 117 Mitsubishi Galant* 16,922 36.8 1,525 118 Pontiac Sunfire 13,910 36.8 1,300 119 Saturn L Series 5 15,010 36.8 1,475 120 Oldsmobile Alero 15,675 36.2 1,475 121 Chevrolet Malibu 16,460 36.0 1,500 122 BMW 7 Series750iL 92,100 35.8 4,525 123 Audi A8 62,000 35.6 3,675 124 Chrysler LHS 28,090 35.5 2,100 125 Buick Regal 22,220 35.4 1,700 126 Pontiac Grand Prix 19,185 35.4 1,625 127 Dodge Stratus 15,910 35.2 1,475 128 Chevrolet Cavalier 14,710 34.8 1,300 129 Chrysler Cirrus 16,080 34.5 1,475 130 Buick Park Avenue 31,725 34.2 2,175 131 Suzuki Swift 9,099 34.1 1,100 132 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Sl600 128,950 33.6 5,275 133 Buick Century 19,602 33.4 1,550 134 Mitsubishi Diamante 24,997 33.4 1,900 135 Hyundai Sonata 14,999 33.3 1,300 136 Dodge Avenger 18,940 33.1 1,525 137 Chrysler Sebring 19,735 32.7 1,550 25
RANKING OF 2000 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 138 Chrysler Concorde $21,990 32.6 $1,775 139 Mitsubishi Mirage 11,332 32.2 1,175 140 Plymouth Breeze 15,910 32.2 1,425 141 Chevrolet Metro 9,185 32.1 1,075 142 Cadillac Seville 43,880 31.8 2,500 143 Mercury Sable 18,845 31.7 1,500 144 Dodge Intrepid 20,390 31.3 1,700 145 Lincoln Town Car* 38,630 31.3 2,300 146 Cadillac Catera 30,860 30.9 2,075 147 Kia Sephia 9,995 30.8 1,100 148 Oldsmobile Intrigue 22,090 30.6 1,625 149 Hyundai Accent 8,999 30.3 1,050 150 Ford Taurus 17,695 30.2 1,450 151 Suzuki Esteem 12,399 29.8 1,175 152 Lincoln Continental 38,880 29.4 2,250 153 Kia Spectra 10,795 29.2 1,125 154 Mercury Mystique 16,145 29.1 1,275 155 Daewoo Nubira 10,990 28.9 1,125 156 Chevrolet Lumina 18,790 28.7 1,450 157 Daewoo Lanos 8,669 28.6 1,025 158 Ford Contour 16,730 28.1 1,275 159 Daewoo Leganza 13,660 25.1 1,150 * Consumer Reports reliable used cars. Consumer Reports used cars to avoid. 1 Manual. 2 Automatic. 3 2WD. 4 4WD. 5 4 cyl. 6 6 cyl. 26
RANKING OF 2001 USED CARS BY NADA RETAIL VALUE IN APRIL 2005 AS A PERCENTAGE OF ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER S SUGGESTED RETAIL VALUE Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 1 BMW 3 Series $26,990 82.4 $3,250 2 BMW 3 Series (AWD)* 28,740 81.7 3,325 3 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class Conv 48,900 74.8 4,475 4 BMW 5 Series* 35,400 74.3 3,650 5 Toyota Echo* 9,995 73.5 1,525 6 BMW 3 Series 330 33,990 73.3 3,400 7 Acura Integra R* 24,450 72.9 2,525 8 Honda Civic* 12,760 72.7 1,700 9 Toyota Celica* 16,985 72.0 2,125 10 Mercedes-Benz C Class 29,950 71.4 3,200 11 Chevrolet Corvette 39,380 70.5 3,725 12 Toyota Camry Solara Conv SE* 25,095 70.5 2,500 13 BMW Z Series Roadster 31,300 70.2 3,225 14 Porsche 911 66,500 70.0 5,425 15 BMW M5 69,400 68.8 5,500 16 Honda Accord* 15,400 68.5 1,850 17 Toyota Prius* 20,450 68.3 2,150 18 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI 18,700 68.2 2,150 19 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class Roadster 38,900 67.7 3,650 20 Ford Mustang-V8 Cobra 28,635 67.3 2,650 21 Subaru Forester* 20,295 67.0 2,225 22 Honda Prelude* 23,600 66.7 2,400 23 Acura NSX 84,100 66.3 5,925 24 Chevrolet Camaro-V8 Z28 Coupe 21,645 65.8 2,250 25 Porsche Boxster 42,100 65.8 3,725 26 Nissan Altima* 15,140 65.6 1,875 27 Lexus IS* 30,805 65.5 3,125 28 Mazda Protege MP3 18,020 65.5 1,975 29 Nissan Sentra 11,649 65.5 1,550 30 BMW 5 Series 540i 51,100 65.4 4,175 31 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class 41,950 65.4 3,700 32 Toyota Corolla* 13,023 65.3 1,625 33 Honda S2000* 32,740 65.0 2,525 34 Lexus LS* 54,550 64.8 4,650 35 Subaru Impreza* 15,995 64.4 1,900 36 Toyota MR2 Spyder 23,585 64.4 2,200 37 Acura Integra* 19,400 64.3 2,150 38 Toyota Avalon* 25,845 64.2 2,500 39 Volkswagen Golf 14,900 63.8 1,725 40 Mercedes-Benz C Class C320 36,950 63.7 3,325 41 Mercedes-Benz CL Class 87,500 63.7 5,925 42 Honda Insight 18,980 63.4 2,000 43 Subaru Legacy 19,295 63.4 2,125 44 Volkswagen New Beetle 15,900 63.4 1,875 45 Mazda Miata* 21,180 63.0 2,200 27
RANKING OF 2001 USED CARS (Continued) Retail Value Retail Value Original as Percent minus Rank Model M.S.R.P. of M.S.R.P. Trade-In 46 Subaru Legacy Outback 6 * $29495 63.0 $2,550 47 Nissan Maxima* 21,249 62.9 2,275 48 Audi A6 Allroad Quattro 41,900 62.8 3,650 49 Toyota Camry* 17,675 62.8 2,025 50 Volkswagen Jetta 16,700 62.0 1,900 51 Volvo S60 26,500 62.0 2,500 52 Audi A4-4 1.8T Avant Quattro 27,290 61.8 2,525 53 Lexus GS* 38,555 61.6 3,325 54 Acura TL* 28,550 61.4 2,550 55 Audi A4 S4-T Quattro 38,900 61.4 3,075 56 Toyota Camry Solara* 18,965 61.4 2,050 57 Infiniti G20 21,395 61.2 2,250 58 BMW Z Series Coupe 37,700 61.1 3,300 59 Volvo V70 29,400 60.7 2,575 60 Lexus ES* 32,050 60.5 2,650 61 Volvo C70 34,500 60.1 3,150 62 Mercedes-Benz S Class 70,800 59.7 5,225 63 Volkswagen New Passat 21,750 59.1 2,050 64 Chrysler PT Cruiser* 15,450 58.6 1,975 65 Nissan Sentra SE 14,899 58.4 1,675 66 Chevrolet Camaro 17,075 58.1 1,875 67 Pontiac Firebird 18,725 57.9 1,925 68 Nissan Altima SE* 18,640 57.8 1,925 69 Mercury Cougar 6 17,200 57.0 1,850 70 Ford Focus 12,125 56.9 1,500 71 Acura CL 27,980 56.8 2,450 72 Audi TT 31,200 56.7 2,825 73 Toyota Camry XLE* 24,095 56.7 2,225 74 Volkswagen Passat 21,450 56.5 2,175 75 Volvo V40 24,500 56.3 2,300 76 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 22,400 56.0 2,150 77 Mercedes-Benz CLK Class CLK55 67,400 56.0 4,525 78 Mercedes-Benz E Class 47,850 55.6 3,650 79 Volkswagen Cabrio 19,600 55.5 1,875 80 Audi A4 24,540 55.4 2,300 81 Nissan Altima GLE* 20,390 55.3 2,025 82 BMW 7 Series 62,900 55.0 4,625 83 Ford Mustang 16,805 55.0 1,800 84 Volvo S40 23,500 54.9 2,250 85 Hyundai Tiburon 14,499 54.7 1,575 86 Mazda Protege* 12,765 54.4 1,500 87 Infiniti I30* 29,465 54.2 2,475 88 Saturn S Series SC1 12,535 53.3 1,475 89 Audi A8 S8 Quattro 72,500 52.9 5,000 90 Acura RL 42,150 52.7 3,250 91 Mercedes-Benz CL Class CL600 117,200 52.7 6,225 28