Only $15,400 for me. By the end of this year, if the price drops 13% (of January 2004), my car will be worth less than $14,000 wholesale.

Note: This is for a 2002 car, with Nav. and ML., that currently has 58,000 miles

 

Oh, these are Galves wholesale value.

 

wow amazing how fast the depreciation, great for buyer, lousy for seller.

probably one of the best used luxury cars on the market, amazing how trouble free and dependable it is, it should definitely be worth more.

 

crazy!.....

 

You can thank the LS460 for the depreciation. Of course a new model will kill the old model.

Look at the MB S class (w220) when new S550 came out
Cheaper than a brand new honda accord-all these little punks are picking them up and throwing crap on it

 

Yeah...buying these luxury vehicles is a complete waste of money...they are worth nothing after a short while. It only makes sense to buy these new for those who can afford to spends loads of money just to have the newest thing. After the LS430 and previous gen S class...its pretty darn hard to improve upon them. The only thing is the prestige factor.

 

I generally thought the same thing, but the data shown above doesn't seem to support it. Look at the graph -- a steady decline -- can't really pick out a launch point for the 460....

What an insane car value these things are!

 

Car depreciation happens with all vehicles. I wouldn't be too worried about it.

 

They don't all depreciate at the same rate though -- depreciating $3K per year (perhaps a typical low depreciation rate on a modestly priced car) is quite different than depreciating $50K per year (something like an S-Class AMG car). Of course it's all relative -- some people can afford that kind of hit without concern, but regardless of how much money I had (within reason), I couldn't be content with that kind of depreciation -- no car is worth it. If I had that kind of money I'd MUCH sooner give more to charity or somehow do more to help other people who desperately need it. I just couldn't live with myself looking at a car in my garage that's depreciating $125 per day. But that's just me....

 

That looks like the rims from a radio-controlled car.. check out this R/C Lexus
.. this guy must have had leftover paint

 

If you are picking up a pre-owned vehicle, what is the big deal if the price depreciated more than what you believe it should. It is a car that is 6 years old. As all cars do, the vehicle depreciates in value. Now all depending on what kind of car you pick up, the value of the vehicle WILL increase, not decrease, as time goes on. But that is of course depending on what vehicle you would buy, and how much time has passed since it was "new". Such as a Shelby Cobra 427, or a Hemi 'cuda, or a '57 Chevy Bel Air. If you plan to get rid of the vehicle after a few years, drive it & enjoy it. If you want something really nice that holds it value (something you plan to keep for many years) then looks for a old vintage vehicle or at least a limit run vehicle with very low miles. Be prepared to pay big bucks though. Remember.......good things nuh cheap & cheap things nuh good!!!!!!!!