MK6 TDI resale not as good?

[IFRCFI]

ahead of the Prius

You can contribute that to the fear (perhaps undeserved) of a battery replacement later in life.

 

[timwagon]

... Or search for last years model on Autotrader, and youll see that you "not caring" costs about 2k a year

You state that "not caring" about depreciation costs about $2k per year.

Which TDI model are you checking, and what comparisons did you make to come up with an additional $2k per year loss? An extra $2k compared to what?

I can't find any solid numbers on the comparable resale value of a Golf TDI / Jetta TDI / JSW TDI versus the competition that shows a large difference in favor of other models. Please enlighten me.

I did check some current 36-month depreciation on a Cars.com page, and the VW JSW TDI has better depreciation versus the Honda Crosstour, Toyota Venza, BMW 3-series wagon, and Hyundai Touring. It does get beaten by a couple of Subaru models, but not by much.

 

[Lightflyer1]

I'm the opposite. I'm far more worried that the cost of maintaining and repairing the new CR TDI's will grossly exceed the value of them far sooner than the previous generation of VW TDIs because of the technology that's in the current models.

There isn't enough information to know what it's going to cost to keep one running with things like the HPFP, NOx/DPF, DSG needing replacement/repair as the miles and time rack up.

I know for a fact that I won't keep mine beyond the extended warranty period.

Exactly! Add the complex electronics and sensors to that list as well. Kind of like a used hybrid and its battery. Who really wants to buy an older used one and have to replace the battery. All newer cars will be this way such that the cost to replace parts is so expensive and complex, most won't attempt it. Most owners don't work on their cars any more anyway or have all the knowledge and tools and space to do it. I am working my way back to the 70's and 80's technology. Looking at a totally redone 81-85 Mercedes 300D/SD Saturday. Costs about 1/2 a HPFP failure. All I really need is A/C in my car.

 

[Bayou_Flyer]

Heck, even caring about a new car will cost you in depreciation....only $2k would be less than 10% for a TDI. While used prices for a one year old TDI are in that range, a new 2010 Mustang GT is selling for 8K off the sticker (used ones even less). That's over 20% in the first year! Look at a 07-08 BMW 3 series; they are nearly half what they were new.

The TDI is pretty good from an initial purchase through it's ownership over a 4/5 year period. When I buy a new TDI, I know it will lose value. Though I will maintain it to the utmost of my ability, I accept that it will lose value over its lifetime. However, if it takes me to 200k miles without issue like my mkIV, then it'll be worth whatever it's worth in 10 years.

 

[CDG]

To each his own, but I don't understand the reasoning behind buying a TDI and selling it in 4-5 years.

 

[aja8888]

Exactly! Add the complex electronics and sensors to that list as well. Kind of like a used hybrid and its battery. Who really wants to buy an older used one and have to replace the battery. All newer cars will be this way such that the cost to replace parts is so expensive and complex, most won't attempt it. Most owners don't work on their cars any more anyway or have all the knowledge and tools and space to do it. I am working my way back to the 70's and 80's technology. Looking at a totally redone 81-85 Mercedes 300D/SD Saturday. Costs about 1/2 a HPFP failure. All I really need is A/C in my car.

Very well said! The reality of today's newer car complexity is leaning toward early retirement just short of the expiration of initial or extended warranties. Even the cost of extended warranties is getting expensive and those companies selling them are getting shadier by the day. Repair costs when things go very wrong are becoming hard to fathom (re: HPFP failures).

I, too, am on the hunt for an older Mercedes diesel in restored and good working condition. I have been shocked by the increased demand for those vehicles and have seen a couple of very nice '98 - '99 models go for north of $10K. Lightflyer, be cautious of some of the mid '80s models as there were engine and cylinder head issues that could be expensive to remedy. PM yatzee here for some guidance as he is pretty knowledgeable on those early vehicles. Stick with a turbo MB if you can though.

 

[IFRCFI]

To each his own, but I don't understand the reasoning behind buying a TDI and selling it in 4-5 years.

Some of us don't have faith that the new TDIs are going to be cost effective to maintain to keep them beyond the warranty period. Price out some of the high tech parts on the new TDIs and tell me you'd spend thousands of dollars to keep a 100K plus miles car on the road?

I don't feel cheated if can't wring 10 years and 300K miles out of car. I personally like a new car every 4 or 5 years. You can't take it with you.....

 

[getfast]

To each his own, but I don't understand the reasoning behind buying a TDI and selling it in 4-5 years.

For me it's automotive ADD. Even though this is a fantastic daily driver, I'll probably be bored with the slowness and ill handling after 2-3 years.

 

[CDG]

Some of us don't have faith that the new TDIs are going to be cost effective to maintain to keep them beyond the warranty period. Price out some of the high tech parts on the new TDIs and tell me you'd spend thousands of dollars to keep a 100K plus miles car on the road?

I don't feel cheated if can't wring 10 years and 300K miles out of car. I personally like a new car every 4 or 5 years. You can't take it with you.....

...but you're losing thousands by selling a 4-5 year old car.

I understand the sentiment if you just like having a new car every 4-5 years. But to say its a better financial decision to sell it and buy another vehicle seems ironic when your reason for selling is the money on replacing parts.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

If you're out of warranty and have to use the dealer for service keeping an older car can be very expensive. However, it seems that a lot of the electronic stuff on cars does not fail.

I worry more about the car's reliability. Last thing I want is to not be able to go somewhere because the car is down, or, worse, be stranded somewhere by a mechanical failure. What's interesting to me is the folks who maintain their TDIs well, replacing parts both as they fail and in anticipation of failure, don't seem to have a lot of reliability problems. My wagon's been dead reliable for 8+ years, and I have no less confidence taking it on a long trip today then when it was new.

Cars are getting more expensive, which I think will drive people to maintain and keep them instead of changing them out every few years. If they're willing to put up with the hassle of maintaining them. And I think TDIs will still be rare enough that they will command a premium in the used car market. There just aren't enough other options. If you wonder if this is true, look at what a 15 year-old gasoline powered M-B is worth compared to a diesel. Not a lot.

 

[Palladin]

The way I see it, the more TDIs are sold and appear on the highways, the more curiousity, awareness, and interest will increase among the general public attracting future buyers. And since not everyone can afford a new car, there will be a market for good used examples. The only thing that could disrupt this is if they suddenly quit selling diesel fuel which is not likely as long as there is a strong market for it. Thirty years ago GM tried putting a diesel engine in the Oldsmobile Cutlass made from a converted gasoline engine. It was total crap and I don't think any of them changed hands, just went straight to the shredder. That's not the case with the VW TDI. It just made the Wards 10 best engine list again for the third time. That combined with a high reliability rating for the current models is certainly not going to scare any potential buyers away. Besides, if you're worried about depreciation you shouldn't buy ANY car.

 

[timwagon]

To each his own, but I don't understand the reasoning behind buying a TDI and selling it in 4-5 years.

Usual reason for me:

I want a new car because I want a new car!

I won't attempt to justify or defend this mindset, it's just the way it is...

 

[getfast]

^ similar problem here. A friend from overseas refers to it as "typical American shiny new thing itis" or similar

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I used to keep cars 3 years, 4 tops. Longest (until now) was my Peugeot, which I drove for 7 years. But I've kept my wagon for 8.5 and counting. Canceled a '10 Golf TDI order in part because I didn't want to give up the Jetta and couldn't justify two TDI 'daily drivers' especially without a commute. I've always gotten bored with cars, but not this one. If I want something different I just change it. It's had 7 suspension setups, two different turbos, three different injection pumps, 4 or 5 different injector nozzles, several chip tunes, two sets of front seats, who knows how many wheels and tires. It's gone from 90 HP to 185, now at 167. So for me it's like I've had multiple cars in the last 8 years, all without the joy of paying sales tax.

If I get really bored with it in the next year or so I'll put in a six-speed. Or the euro market 16 valve PD engine sitting in my garage. I've still got options.

 

[RomanL]

The depreciation of a new car is a huge part of the expense. It doesn't surprise me to hear people talk like this on a VW, board because VW's have some of the worst residual values out there. "?

really? because i was always under impression VW's have higher then average resale

 

[timwagon]

really? because i was always under impression VW's have higher then average resale

I'm not sure which VW's 4running was referring to, but the sources I checked indicate TDI models have a resale value higher than their competition.

If you want to see some residual values from an independent source, you can try this: http://www.cars.com/go/alg/index.jsp

I believe a 3-year depreciation of about 50% is average. Anything over 60% would be excellent, and anything under 40% awful.

Anyone interested in a used PT Cruiser? (look it up!)

 

[ultranaut]

Hell I know of one local Jetta TDI that has 22k miles on it already and was delivered barely 13 months ago.

All the more reason for those of us who do ~12k miles a year and keep our cars in garages and maintain 'em well... to get top dollar later

My Golf is at 29,000 miles after 11 months.

 

[getfast]

My Golf is at 29,000 miles after 11 months.

Conversely, after nearly 8.5 months mine has covered ~7300mi.

Note to self: drive the TDI more

 

[RPS99SHO]

My Golf is at 29,000 miles after 11 months.

Basically the same as me! I'm on pace for just about 30,000 in one year of ownership. Bought the car in May and I just had my 20k service.


~ Roman

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