Buying a fancy sports car is an expensive venture. The pricing for this kind of car very often defies all known laws of logic. But then again, if you consider the enjoyment that you will get from owning and driving a powerful, nimble machine, you might even start thinking that the sticker price is worth it. However, the large expenses don't end with simply purchasing the car. There is insurance, gas, maintenance - all of which are hefty when it comes to sports cars.
And yet there is one word that will make your bank account tremble in terror more than anything else - depreciation. It is common knowledge that your car starts losing its value as soon as you drive off the dealer parking lot. What's not common knowledge is just how bad the depreciation can get. Exotic sports cars tend to suffer the most, simply because of how difficult it can be for them to find a second or third owner.
In this article, we've compiled a few sports cars that lose their value faster and easier than you lose your keys on a Friday night out.
15 Chevrolet Corvette (C6): $15,000
The Corvette has always offered very good value for money as a sports car. That's especially true if you're shopping for a used one. Consider a sixth-gen 2007 model. When it was new, the base sticker price was in the ballpark of 45 grand. Not a crazy sum by any means, yet the depreciation still took its toll - nowadays, they can be found for as little as $15,000.
14 Mercedes-Benz SLK: $15,000
Much like its Bavarian competitor, the Mercedes-Benz SLK didn't end up being as popular as Mercedes had hoped. Partially, because of the steep pricing. In 2010, a brand new SLK would set you back at least $47,000. Luckily, the depreciation did its job well, and today the SLK is quite affordable at around $15,000.
13 Porsche Cayman: $25,000
One would think that Porsche's legendary status would protect their cars from depreciation. Sadly, that's not the case with their mid-engined Cayman. In 2008, a 295-hp Cayman S started at around $60,000. Nowadays, it's worth around $25,000. Great news for those who are shopping for a used one, but sure to make the original owners bite their nails.
12 BMW Z4: $6,000
BMW's Z line of roadsters has never as popular and iconic as some of their other cars. Thanks to that, most of them have lost most of their original value. Consider the 2007 Z4: its base price was around $42,000, yet somehow, it managed to lose as much $36,000 in value on its way to the present day. Meaning, you can snatch one of these up for as little as $6,000.
11 Audi S5: $10,000
13 years after its first release, the Audi A5 is still a beautiful, elegant car. The S5 version also adds serious performance to this beauty. With a 4.2-liter V8 in the coupé or a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 in the convertible, it's no slouch. The same applies to its depreciation. For the 2010 model year, the MSRP was around $50,000. Today, you can easily find one for around 10 grand.
10 Jaguar F-Type: $30,000
A more modern, powerful and stylish replacement for the XK, the Jaguar F-Type was supposed to right its predecessor's wrongs. It succeeded with most of them - except for the depreciation. In case you missed out on getting a new one in 2014 for $70,000, you can easily get one today for 30 thousand dollars.
9 Dodge Viper: $35,000
More than 20 years after its original release, the Dodge Viper doesn't cease to amaze. Throughout its production run, it was fitted with the unique V10 engine, ranging from 8.0 to 8.4 liters of displacement and putting out 400 to 645 hp. It was a mighty, brutal car - and the pricing reflected it. In 2005, for example, it started at almost $82,000 - a crazy number for an American car. Most of its value didn't stick around to this day, however, and now you can pick one up for around $35,000.
8 BMW M5: $30,000
The BMW M5 is one of the most iconic sports sedans ever. The brilliance of this car is that it's able to combine breakneck performance with outstanding comfort and luxury. Retaining its value, however, is not one of its strengths. You can buy a decent 2013 for around $30,000 now. And that's quite a bargain compared to its original price of around $90,000.
7 BMW 6-Series: $8,000
The BMW 6-series is a truly beautiful car - it's a large, luxury coupé after all. But beauty doesn't have to come at a steep price. Even though the 6 series started at around $70,000 back in 2005, we managed to find a pretty decent-looking one on sale for only $8,000! In other words, you can buy one for each day of the week for the original price.
6 Jaguar XK: $20,000
Even when it was sold new in 2011, the XK was one of the last old school Jaguars on the market. The big ol' V8, poorly-built interior and the exhaust sound of an angry apex predator - what's not to love? Perhaps, only the way it's lost its value. The original MSRP for one of these cats was around $83,000 back in the day. Today, the dealers can barely move them for $20,000!
5 Aston Martin V8 Vantage: $35,000
Aston Martin is an embodiment of class and handcrafted British performance. And as you may expect, handcrafted British performance doesn't come cheap. Even though the V8 Vantage was Aston's entry-level model when it first came out, the price tag was still north of $110,000 before options. Today, there is plenty of V8 Vantages on the used market selling for around $35,000 - a third of their original price.
4 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: $11,000
The SL has somewhat of a bad rep here in the US, as a car favored by retired old men in Florida. Still, it's one of the most special and opulent Mercedes models you can buy. This stunning roadster has remained on the market for around 20 years now with upgrades. Perhaps, that's the reason why you can buy a used one quite cheaply. We're talking $11,000 for a 2008 model that sold for more than $100,000 when it was new!
3 Maserati GranTurismo: $26,000
Forget all about the previous cars on this list: we're entering the hardcore depreciation territory, also known as Maserati. It's really a shame how much value these wonderful cars lose. On paper, it's a true statement of a car: famed brand, a screaming 4.7-liter V8 courtesy of Ferrari, handcrafted interior. Perhaps it's the poor reliability that's to blame for this coupé's depreciation. Either way, it's normal for the GranTurismo to lose over $100,000 in value over 10 years.
2 Maserati Quattroporte: $12,000
The GranTurismo might have been bad at keeping its value over the years, but the Quattroporte sedan is even worse! In 2010, one of these opulent, sporty cruisers could cost you as much as $140,000! Since then, most of them lost more than 90% of their original value and can be bought for as little as $12,000. Then again, it doesn't mean that they should be bought.
1 Bentley Continental GT: $30,000
A used Bentley Continental GT is, by far, the best way to look filthy rich for not too much money. We can thank the gods of depreciation for that. In 2005, when the Continental GT was still a hot new ultra-luxury car, the sticker price for one was an eye-watering $160,000. Since then, however, the Conti GT has become a rather common, mass-produced car. If you're brave enough, you can even get one for around $30,000.