Residual Values: What Your Car Is Worth (video)

[blackman777]

"You see vehicles aging faster than they used to..... when you see a vehicle in its 3rd year, 4th year, then it's old news."

"A good time to buy a car is end-of-year in November/December. The best time is August..... the time to sell a car is March in the spring."

 

[FowVay]

If it hadn't been for that incredibly idiotic "Cash for Clunkers" idea the used car market wouldn't have spiked in price after 2009. Why is this ignored?

 

[Kira]

Hello,
A) Who says it's ignored?
B) For all the empty, one sided talk I've heard, no one has mentioned a single statistic on the matter.
C) Don't you think a program which ultimately caused more new cars to be made was backed or even hatched with the help of the auto industry?
D) If the program was so bad then why did the owners of "clunkers" take part in it?
Cheers, Kira

 

[surfstar]

When all the 'new' cash for clunkers cars start being sold on the used market, won't the prices drastically crash? All of a sudden used cars will be super cheap, if we're to believe the C4C hype.

Cars are more expensive in this area. When it comes time to buy one, I have to wait and search harder for a deal. Then I find one and buy it. No issues for me. If you're 'desperate' and buy a car too soon (ie overpriced), that's your fault for being in a situation like that in the first place.

 

[supton]

That's an interesting thought, the C4C cars hitting the used market, and crashing used car prices back down to where they ought to be. Or maybe lower.

But, that could be tempered by people holding onto cars longer. Is the upward tick (of 11 years average age) just something from the recession, or something here to stay? People are slowly realizing that gas prices will stay high, and that cars don't implode after 100k.

 

[blackman777]

Originally Posted By: Kira
D) If the program was so bad then why did the owners of "clunkers" take part in it?

I do not support the Cash for Clunkers program (it's as silly as Breaking Windows to "stimulate" the economy). However if the government hands me free money, I'll certainly take it. It's like getting a partial refund of the taxes I overpaid.

It's worth noting that the software, gaming, and TV/movie industries have all attempted to outlaw the selling of used programs/games/videos (at various points over the last decade). They wanted players/users to only be able to buy brand-new product.

Therefore I have zero doubt the Auto Industry was behind the C4C program to stimulate more purchases of new cars, and I also have zero doubt they would make it illegal to sell your used car if they could get away with it.