We all love that new car smell. However, some cars are really not worth your time or money buying new as straight-up their value drops like a stock market crash. Let someone else take the hit whilst you buy the car of your dreams at a much more reasonable price.
Why does depreciation happen? It's mainly because of a lack of demand for these expensive cars on the used market, high maintenance costs, and also the idea that some of these cars are severely unreliable. This is not true for all cars though.
10 Range Rover L405
The Range Rover L405 is the king of SUVs. However, they really do depreciate pretty badly from new. In the first few years, expect to lose a considerable amount of money. This is great for us in the second-hand world though. You could probably buy a 2013 model and make it look like a 2020 model for a fraction of the cost.
Ok, second-hand Range Rover's have their issues, but so do new ones. Warranties exist, and they cover most things that can go wrong. Buying one from new is just pointless considering you can get the exact same spec you want for a cheaper price. The car may be older, but it's someone else who has taken the loss.
9 BMW M3/M4
Here is a car that everybody loves to buy new yet the depreciation is shocking. A new M4/M4 will essentially depreciate a considerable amount as soon as it is driven out of the showroom. Secondhand, these cars come at amazing prices and a 2015 model is essentially the same as a 2020 model apart from a minor facelift.
This is a car where mods are easily available. You could probably build an amazing car with the money you have leftover from a used M3/M4 in comparison to buying it new. There are many reasons to buy an M3/M4 over its competitors however, depreciation is not one of them.
8 Nissan GT-R
Buying a new GT-R is not recommended. As soon as it's registered it drops in value. A new GT-R starts at just over $113,000, yet secondhand you can get one for essentially half of that, depending on the model year. The GT-R is becoming a lot less popular to buy new, however, the used market is booming.
Of course, buying highly modified GT-Rs will set you back a lot more. However, the standard model or a lightly modded one will be considerably cheaper than a new car. There is plenty of aftermarket support available for GT-Rs at all price ranges. The GT-R is a seriously fast car and a used model will provide crazy value.
7 Aston Martin DB11
Just like the DB9, the DB11 also has crashed in value. If you want to be like Mr. Bond in the latest generation of Aston Martin's GT's, then you will be pleased to know that secondhand, the DB11 is a perfect purchase. These cars pack the latest Aston Martin twin-turbo 5.2 V12 or the Mercedes 4.0 Biturbo V8. Both very powerful very good engines.
The DB11 is a classy car. It is the sort of car which serves as your introduction to others. It may not be a drivers' car like the Vantage but the whole idea of it is to be a comfy elegant GT.
6 Mercedes S-Class W222
The W222 S-Class has just ended its production years and what a time to buy. You can now get top V8 or even V12 models for a fraction of the price when it was new. The S-Class W222 was launched in 2013 and ended production in 2020. During those 7 years, there were a few tweaks through a facelift and also an array of awesome engines and trims such as the Maybach S650. The W222 was one of the most luxurious cars of the past decade.
Top models like the S65 are a lot cheaper than they used to be with older models sometimes having dropped more than $100,000 in value. Even facelift S-Class W222 models are dropping massively in value since the launch of the new W223.
5 Audi A6
The Audi A6 may be a bit more normal compared to some other cars on this list but this sedan still loses value like crazy. It is a great secondhand purchase as a 2 or 3-year-old model will already have lost a significant amount of value. These cars are perfect daily drivers with high quality interiors and reliable engines.
The A6 starts at $54,900 new but in two years you can really expect to find a lot of cars priced below $30,000. An true bargain then. Most A6 sedans are also kept in good condition, so they do feel essentially brand new.
4 BMW 7-Series G11
The 7-Series G11 BMW is a perfect example of a car not to buy new. With the facelift model being so controversial, it is beyond certain that these cars will lose more value in the coming years. Let's face it, a car once worth $100,000 is now worth $40,000 or less. Would you want to suffer that depreciation? The 7-Series G11 is a very modern car with a lot of technology that really did shock the world back in 2015.
From the humble 730i to the monstrous M760i these cars have all taken a huge hit. A used version with a warranty is perfect if you don't need all the latest gadgets and technology. Plus the pre-facelift looks far nicer than the new post-facelift car.
3 Maserati Quattroporte
This is the car which depreciates the most in the USA. The 7-year-old design feels dated and fails to stay relevant when compared to its rivals. Those who can't say no to the new Super Trofeo model with its 3.8 V8 will lose 72.2% of what they paid for in 5 years. However, that's perfect for those looking to buy a used model. Apart from a minor facelift, what has actually changed in 5 years?
The Quattroporte is a sporty sedan, there's no doubt about that. There are many reasons why you should never buy a second-hand Italian car but the diesel Quattroporte actually shares the same engine as the other FCA diesel. It may be the most boring choice, but also the safest.
2 Bentley Continental
Here is a car that drops like a rock in value and has done since it was launched in 2003. By far one of the best GT cars, you can easily pick up one for a song. These cars depreciate a lot due to reliability concerns, maintenance concerns, and a whole host of other things. The Continental is a car that becomes unwanted whenever a new model or facelift version comes out.
Despite the Continental having the same shape outline over the past 17 years, whenever the looks are slightly updated, the old one ends up aging really fast and it becomes a bit tacky. They really are great cars though, with 7-8-year-old models available around the $60,000-70,000 mark.
1 BMW M8 Competition
Just like its predecessor, the M6, the M8 is bound to depreciate faster than the average car. Cars less than a year old have dropped between $30,000 and $40,000 in value since new. The M8 competition is a wild car starting at a ludicrous price of $146,000 and that is without options.
The second-hand market is where most of the keen buyers will be for this car, as who wants to suffer this kind of depreciation? It is a nice car that makes 100% more sense to buy used.