Oppo QOTD: What Was the Price of Your Car When it Was New?

"Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis" (Dwhite95)
11/21/2013 at 14:12 • Filed to: None

This guy right here had a list of just shy of $30,000 back in 2005. What about yours?

DISCUSSION (44)

Der Käfer > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:14

I paid 16k for acar 8 months old that was 26k new. I drive a 2012 VW beetle.

Tom McParland > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:14

I want to say my '10 Mazda 3s hatch Grand Touring was about 24k.

For Sweden > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:16

2001 Volvo S80 2.9. MSRP $38,775.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:16

Kinja'd!!!

1991 Audi 200 20v - MSRP of over $44,000 back in the day. But an M5 would run you over 56k.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:17

IIRC, mine was bought at a discount for 15 thousand dollars back in 1995 (The Brazilian Real wasn't a thing back then) because the dealership was closing down, but the listed price was more like 18~20 thousand.

POD > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:18

2012 MS3 $29,990 (CND).

quarterlifecrisis > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:19

I've got the window sticker at home, but I want to say $55,7xx in 2005. I paid nothing close to that amount in 2012.

Saracen > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:20

$31,800 for my '12 Golf R I bought June 2012.

Takuro Spirit > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:21

lul

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:22

My 2010 SHO was roughly $38,000 when it was new, glad I didn't pay that much!

Nibbles > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:23

My SPG stickered in 1987 for $25,600 (roughly). Adjusted for inflation, that's a walloping $52,795 today!

alexotics > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:25

What's even more interesting is looking at cars' MSRP of the same vintage, and then comparing their current values to learn about appreciation trends. Then act on them today on a newer generation of cars. It's tricky and not at all reliable, but fun and potentially rewarding.

For example:

The BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante, and Ferrari 360 Modena Spider all cost the same back in 2000 when they were launched. In Europe they cost the today equivelant of 125,000 Euros. Interesting now to notice that you can sell the Z8 can buy 3 Astons. And the Bimmer probably saved you tons at the shop. Call it luck, call it playing the production numbers, or call it ze German engineering, but whoever picked the Z8 at that time and held on to it is a winner winner chicken dinner. Aside from the reflection on the shiny dash that has probably caused severe cataract by now.

Sn210 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:25

I paid $16,250 when I got my Civic in '08

RPM esq. > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:26

Based on a couple window stickers I found online for similarly configured ones, mine would have had an MSRP of about $57k. 2004 BMW M3 with a lot of option boxes ticked.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:27

The Land-Rover, probably around $4500. The Ranchero, probably closer to $2000. The Benz, haven't been able to find, but probably upward of 35 ('87 E-series diesel).

Party-vi > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:30

1949 CJ-3A: $1,270 new in '49, $12,070 in today's money (find me a new 4x4 SUV for that cheap today...), and $ 1,700 when I bought it in 2006.

2002 330Ci: $40,800 new in '02, $51,600 in today's money, and $12,500 when I bought it earlier this year (after tags, tax, title, etc.).

Hooker > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:33

2013 Equinox purchased used for 21,295 was 29,900 when new (Plus destination). Still have the window sticker.

Jagvar > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:33

Kinja'd!!!

Brand-spanking new in 2004? With the add-ons (Comfort & Cold Weather Package, Sensitive Leather, Klavierlack Mirror Finish) it came out to a hair over $76K. By the time it fell into my hands in 2009, it was a hair over $20K. Depreciation, yo.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:36

Kinja'd!!!

When it first came out: $8,399. $2,000 too many.

lone_liberal > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:36

For my DD it was $27k. I paid about half of that for it three years later which is kind of strange because it's a Mercury Mariner and Ford Escapes with less content were more expensive. For my other car, a Camaro, it was $2800 in 1971 dollars. I paid $800 for it, but it was/kinda-still-is a basket case. At least the engine is actually bolted to the subframe now.

Sn210 > alexotics
11/21/2013 at 14:36

Good point! I remember Motor Trend did a comparison of these three plus a Mercedes SL600 or something like that. I think it was yesterday someone wrote a NP/CP post for a $36,000 SL.

CKeffer > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:36

I believe the original price for a 2010 Mini Cooper S specd like mine was somewhere around $27k, when I bought it I paid $21k, and now 47,000 miles later it's worth around $13-14K.

m2m, apex detective > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:37

Uh ... $31.764,00.

Keep in mind that this is today's USD/EUR exchange rate and that the car was bought in 2005.

Kinda looks like this:

Kinja'd!!!

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:40

MotorTrend says my 2000 WJ was listed at around $37k with the V8 in Limited trim. Now, maybe $5k if I'm lucky since it's high miles at 192k. Not looking to sell this one though, we have a '98 ZJ that'll be on sale soon, with the I6.

Kinja'd!!!

Milky > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:45

35K … which is why IMO they are a damn good value now. Got mine for 9k less than a year ago.

Kinja'd!!!

Hooker > Jagvar
11/21/2013 at 14:49

Maintenance costs, yo.

ddavidn > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 14:56

KBB says Eva (1995 M3) is worth $3,289 (fair condition) now, and it appeared to be about $37,900 when it was new. According to this document from an almost-identical car.

Kinja'd!!!

Jagvar > Hooker
11/21/2013 at 14:59

Kinja'd!!!

Like I didn't know that.

offroadkarter > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 15:06

2004 mercury marauder - $35,000 USD

55Buick, Oversteer Scientist > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 15:09

My 55 Buick, with options:

Super Riviera $3,686.00
Heater & Defroster $87.00
Radio (Select) & Ant (Manual) $129.00
Easy Eye Glass $33.00
Power Brakes $40.00
Power Seat Adj. 6 Way $95.00
Power Window Lifts (4) $99.00
Two Tone Paint Upper $16.00
Kleenex Dispenser $5.20
Options Total $504.20
Total $4,190.20

Total $39,249.33 in today's money (inflation)

1337HPMustang > Milky
11/21/2013 at 15:10

people will say your car is crap, but don't listen to them. Crossfires are beautiful in my eyes

Hooker > Jagvar
11/21/2013 at 15:12

I assumed so. Just figured that had to figure into the depreciated value.

Still, the Phaeton was woefully under appreciated by most and ignored by most others. Sad, truly an amazing car.

davedave1111 > Party-vi
11/21/2013 at 15:23

You can get a Dacia Duster for $15k, which isn't that much more - and in general, for a much more capable vehicle.

A Mahindra Scorpio's only about $13k including taxes in India. I have no idea how much of that is tax, though.

Suzuki Jimnys can be had new for similar money in some parts of the world, depending on local taxes.

I'm also pretty sure a Lada Niva is about that kind of price as well, and I'm sure there are lots of others I haven't thought of.

Party-vi > davedave1111
11/21/2013 at 15:34

The Mahindra and Niva would be awesome, but I can't get any of those new in the US :(

The Duster only has 4Hi as opposed to the CJ's 2-range transfer case, but then again I'm sure it can go faster than 55mph...

efme > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 15:37

2013 $73k :(

Rob Evans > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
11/21/2013 at 15:40

2001 M5 - $73,000

purchased in 2012 with rod knock - $6500

davedave1111 > Party-vi
11/21/2013 at 15:49

And it has a roof, too! :)

I'm sure you can't get vehicles as basic as a CJ in the US anymore, but that's just because there's little demand for them and/or they don't meet safety regs. When it comes to building something that basic, though, we can do it much cheaper these days.

I'm guessing, but if you were building them in proper numbers, I reckon you could make a profit at around $5-6k today, maybe less.

After I wrote that, I took a quick look on alibaba.com, and found this scary looking Chinese jeep-thing for $5k+:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/216…

This thing's $6500, and looks a bit better resolved, but not quite the same niche as a CJ:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/823…

Still, gives an idea of what can be built for the money.

I also found this. I feel a strange sort of want:

Kinja'd!!!