There are cars that hold value reasonably well, and then there are cars with a value that seems to dissipate into thin air. Example A: the Nissan Maxima. There wasn’t really any real reason for it to lose value quite as quickly as it has, but hey, it does mean a good thing for consumers – a relatively new car, for a lot less than its RRP! Whether it was lack of demand, or people just weren’t too enthused by the shape of this particular model, we’re not totally sure why it flunked.
Coming with a 300 horsepower V6 engine, some fun tech and a 3-year warranty, it’s actually a pretty impressive car. When it was released, the Maxima set you back around $32,000 US, but nowadays you can pick one up for just over $20,000. We’re right on the cusp of warranty, but essentially, you’re saving $10,000 on a car that still has its driveaway warranty included!
$10,000
Subarus certainly have a reputation: often for street racing! But no, with this particular model of Subaru, we’re looking at something more spacious and maybe with a little less horsepower? The 4-door Subaru Legacy was created to tick off both boxes of providing comfort AND style. We think they did a pretty good job of it! With a punchy 170 HP engine, it’s got the grunt, but also has the tech which makes it super driveable even in 2019! Its intelligent all-wheel-drive system allows for a smooth transition from city driving to off-roading.
Fun fact: did you know that from their initial release price of $27,000, you can pick up one of these babies for less than half of that? Yep! These days, if you do your research and spend a couple of hours browsing the second-hand market, you can easily find one for around $10,000!
$20,000
Roll up in a 300C, for a lot less! The epitome of wannabe gangster (or gangster, we don’t want any trouble!), the Chrysler 300C was a testament to days gone by. The car which reminds us of every gangster film ever is a solid, brawny looking car, but it certainly looks very smooth on the road. With the option of a V6 or a gutsier V8 engine, its sleek interior is a great contrast to its full presence on the road.
Rather than paying the driveaway price, you can pick up a 2009 or even a 2010 model for as little as $20,000! If you don’t mind the size and the attention the 300C brings, then this could be a sweet ride for you. Ditch the crowds and the family sedans and get yourself a 300C to drive around town like a king. Yes, sir.
$50,000
The King of Sportscars, topping our list is the 2001 Ferrari. Sure, it’s second hand… but, it’s a FERRARI! And, for <$50,000! That’s a bargain if we’ve ever seen one. Now this particular model has that classic shape which takes us back to our Need for Speed playing days (look, for you millennials, if you aren’t up to scratch on that, make sure you dig out your sibling’s old PS1/2 and find the game. You’ll see).
You’re going to easily find second-hand cars at crazy prices, but there’s definitely a bit of luck involved! We’re just saying that if it’s been your dream since you were a kid to own one of these Italian stallions, it’s certainly more within reach after a few years on the market!
$14,650
If you’ve ever been to Europe, you will have seen every color combination and varietal parked in lanes, streets, on top of other cars (vertically stacked cars in car parks, pls). These teeny tiny Smart Fortwo cars can squeeze into almost any nook or cranny – sometimes in places where cars really shouldn’t be parked. Seems that these non-law-abiding vehicles have broken boundaries, not just with car parking, but also in terms of price! Sure they’re convenient, fuel-efficient, pretty cute on the road and all – but really, you can’t fit much inside these bite-sized cars.
This car is for the single occupant, or for someone who really only cares about getting from A to B. As families grow and you need space, they aren’t exactly at the top of the list – so better suited to city driving, and for the lone ranger. For singles, they’re a great buy, and cheap to run. Sure, they might just fit your handbag and a pair of gym shoes, but they’re going at an even tighter price of late!