I was using Edmunds.com's True Market Value tool and found something surprising... I've actually lost more money (on paper, since I haven't sold) in 2 years on my 2.5RS than I did on my previous car in 2 years. The previous car was a Neon ACR, and as some of you know, Neons depreciate like crazy.

Anyway, I punch in my data and it says my RS has a trade-in value of $11,500 or thereabouts, and a dealer retail of $14,000 (private sale midway between).

Using trade-in value, my 2 year old RS (to the day, Happy B-Day! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif) has lost $7500 in value compared to what I paid for it, excluding taxes of course.

The Neon lost something like $5500-6000 in value from 97-99. Now of course the RS' higher pricetag helps the total $ lost increase but still the percentage drop is SHAMEFUL for a low-volume Japanese car... even if the interior materials are marginally better than the Neon (it's true!), the build quality and reliability is incomparably better.

http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/eek.gif

[This message has been edited by ColinL (edited April 24, 2001).]

Fuggin WRX's!

heh.. I kinda figured it happen like that.

ah well.. I didn't buy my car to sell it.
I try not to watch values.

poor baby. I think almost everyone knows that if a car gets redesigned the "old" bodystyle drops value like a rock. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif Not that I care, I don't buy a car to have a high resale value either.

Also didn't they stop making the ACR? That is a factory racer like the ITR. (I'm not really comparing it to the ITR though.)

That's why you gotta buy a '94 like I did. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

Sweet, that will make it easier for me to get a used one on my highschool budget! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif YAY! But yeah it sucks for those who already own one...

JD

Well, technically the WRX has nothing to do with the Kelley blue book value on the 2.5 RS yet. It will take a year or so for the effect to show up there.

Obviously you're not accustomed to Subaru ownership. ALL Subarus depreciate VERY FAST in the U.S., especially Imprezas, regardless of the model. It's mostly because of the reputation that Subaru earned from the rust problem of the 80's. Remember, typically consumer attitude (READ: reputation) and hince resale value are 10-15 years behind the current products. If you make a terrible car such as the Escort and Mustang of the early 80's, you'll be regretting it for the next 10 years after it. That's why Ford's reputation went to **** in the late 80's/early 90's. By that time, they had fixed most of their design and production problems and were actually making good products, but the reputation had already been established. Their sales plumeted and any competitors that were making at least mediocre cars in the early 80's (Toyota, Honda, Nissan) saw their sales go up substantially. It might not be fair, but that's how the market works.

All the more incentive to drive your car into the ground. ESPECIALLY if it's my car. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif

ACR Neon is back, late availability like the R/T. Neon ACR can do some damage to an ITR on the right course, at least the old one could. That's even before correcting times for classes.

Don't forget to adjust your insurance accordingly. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/frown.gifhttp://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/frown.gifhttp://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/frown.gif

I need to sell my MY01 when I move this summer! I just lost a ton of $$$$.

KBB is still up tho... I just have to find a dealer quick that'll take the blue book value.

[This message has been edited by ChimChim (edited April 24, 2001).]

(gloat mode) I sold my 99 for $15,500 privately. Perhaps I was on the edge of the tanking?
(/gloat mode)

Value sucks right now cause so many of you are unloading your RS's for WRX's. The market will stabilize after a year, and there isn't a huge honkin glut of used RS's for sale.

Well, I APPRECIATE my car more and more everyday. So, HA!http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif


Skylab

That Edmunds value blows. The KBB value for my Jeep is still around $27,500, whereas the Edmunds TMV is only $21,700. Go figure.

I know that the depreciation of the Impreza isn't cool. However, if the RS is getting a little cheaper than that will mean the sooner I will be able to buy one. I've wanted a Blue Ridge Pearl 00-01 RS for a long time but, the price is a little steep for a student working part-time.

Aspen-- had you bought that '94 when I bought my RS, you'd be visionary. Besides, in the first half of '99 there wasn't crap for parts or vendors... but knowing the extent I'd go through to build an Impreza now you bet all those juicy <$5000 93-95 models are tempting. A $1500 bare shell would work better still, considering all the stock powertrain would get yanked.

Horatio-- KBB does give $12,750 trade-in for my car. I can't say which is a "true" market value unless I try to sell it though, right? http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif

Glenn-- you actually sold LATE compared to others I know of that were sure that they were getting a WRX even before pricing was announced. You did do quite nicely for yourself though, but I'm in no mood to sell-- like I said this is on paper.

Drive it until the wheels fall off... then build up a turbo engine, install a roll cage and weld the suspension to the body and track it!

Here's what I'm thinking: drive the car around for a few years. Do incremental upgrades to suspension and engine. When the time comes for me to get a new car (lets say in about 3 years), then my 2.5 RS will make a good track car. It's relatively light, AWD, and has medium displacement. Add some FI and a med engine build up, and it can make good power. Parts should also be pretty easy to come by.

Anyways: there's NO WAY that I'll trade in for a WRX. Too much money, too little return.

Edmunds TMV is useless. They're TMV can be off by more than $3-4K. For example, if you were to lookup a 2000 Dodge Durango 4x4 it would tell you that the TMV is about 25k. Example: Trade-In$22,964 Private Party$24,452 Dealer Retail $26,933
But if you call around some brokers and Dodge dealers you can buy very nice Durangos for about $21k. On the other side edmunds lists a 2000 Audi S4 at about $33K but good luck finding one for less than $36K

this is the reason you need to sell your car to someone who knows what he/she is getting. a fan of teh RS would pay more becuase the car does not suck as it's resale value would indicate ..

I couldn't sell (privately) my 99 RS w/ 40,000 miles on it for $13,500. But it worked out great because I got $14,500 for it in trade. I typically don't keep cars all that long, and I never run them into the ground....I can't stand the maintainence costs at that point. The resale value is terrible right now!

Jeremy

Ah, who cares? I bought my 2001, its paid off, may as well enjoy it.

Did you think you were buying a Benz? Why would you even care that it loses value, of course it would, its a cheap japanese 2 door car with strictly enthusiast market.

I traded my 00RS with 10K on it
for 14500, good luck guys.

-Ed

My experience differs from most of the previous posts. My wifes 98 Forester L 13k sold in 2000 for 17,800 paid 19990. 2001 Forster S 5k sold last week for 20,500 paid
22,500. I could not be happier with the resale values on our Subaru's. Though keeping a car for less than one year is not the smartest thing to do. Unless you must have a new WRX at any cost.

Never try and sell you Subies over here...

The second hand market is terrible.. no one seems to be able to sell them.. the market has dropped through the floor...cellar... earths crust..and its still going down.. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/frown.gif

Friends have tried sellign their cars.. dropping the prices... and dropping.. but nothing.. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/frown.gif

Give it a year or so... wait for the STI... another version of the WRX.. and then see what happens... the Subie market will be flooded within a year or so.. assuming supply is kept up.

J.

http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/frown.gif I was planning on selling MY98 rs this summer to get a 3rd gen RX-7. But the price of my rs has dropped a lot..........so my plan is not gonna happen

i wanna turbo it thougt http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif but no $$ http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/frown.gif

I can't imagine anyone wanting to sell thier Impreza. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif