The pricetags on some new cars place them out of reach for most buyers, but did you know those same vehicles that once cost upward of $65,000 can be had for tens of thousands less on the used market? Luxury car bargains are out there. You just have to know where to look.
Just a few years after their initial purchase, many cars are resold for prices that are startling lower than when they were new. Known as depreciation, this decline in value takes place for all vehicles, some much more rapidly than others. Factors like demand, brand reputation and cost of ownership all impact the rate at which a vehicle depreciates – and that’s all before normal wear and tear is considered.
Many luxury vehicles have pricetags that put them out of reach when new, but they become much more accessible on the used market, frequently with low miles and not much wear. Patient shoppers can take advantage of significant savings on vehicles whose prices once reached $75,000 or even $100,000. Let’s take a look at five contemporary luxury vehicles that promise big used-market savings.
2016 Jaguar XF
The Jaguar XF is not aimed at budget shoppers, but with features like a 340-horsepower supercharged V-6, navigation, active safety features and a panoramic sunroof, the British sports sedan may seem well worth its substantial pricetag. The second-generation Jaguar XF with the coupe-inspired aluminum bodywork is a thoroughly modern large luxury car. Buyers willing to opt for a used example of the XF just two years old will get a lot of car for less money. The 2016 XF R-Sport AWD sports full navigation, LED headlights and a leather interior. The price for all that luxury was $63,500 just 24 months ago, but the same car can now be found for just under $43,000 – a 33 percent savings.
2015 Volvo S80
Volvo’s former flagship sedan packs impressive standard features and has only gotten more affordable since it was replaced in the 2017 model year by the S90 sedan. Though some critics of the S80 bemoaned the fact that it was more than long in the tooth by the time the model was up for replacement late in 2016, the car is plush even by today’s standards. Topped up with options like ventilated seats, navigation, all-wheel drive and auto-leveling headlights, the S80 can hold its own against many new cars. The average selling price for a 2015 S80 T5 Platinum with all the trimmings is just a hair over $27,000 right now, which is 44 percent less than what it was when new.
2016 BMW 3-Series
The BMW 3-series used to be the standard entry-point to the brand. Now that BMW has expanded its lineup far beyond the long-running 3-, 5-, and 7-Series cars, things aren’t so clear. The 3-Series remains a sedan many of us would dearly like to have, but savvy buyers can take advantage of its fall into relative obscurity by shopping the previously owned market for a clean, under-used example. A loaded BMW 340i Sedan with AWD, M-Sport package, and active safety features was $58,500 in 2016. It is now selling for just over $36,000 – a 40-percent discount. Those are much more attractive numbers for a car that still competes well with vehicles costing much more today.
2016 Infiniti Q50
Infiniti’s Q50 is a pretty, albeit expensive, follow-up to the luxury brand’s popular G35 and G37 sedans. Even in base form, the Q50 is a fast and nimble car, capable of hauling five people in relative comfort. Further, a properly optioned Q50 has substantial performance potential. Infiniti didn’t forget to charge for those luxurious capabilities. The 2016 Q50 RedSport 400 with AWD, Bose sound system, and a 400-horsepower V6 had a starting MSRP of $50,000. The average selling price for the same car today is $37,400. That’s a steal for a family-hauling hotrod that will perform well in nearly any weather situation.
2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
In production since 1993 (and a lineage tracing much further back than that), the E-Class is one of Mercedes-Benz’ best-selling models. With cutting-edge safety tech, powerful engines and luxurious ride, the E-Class has earned its place among the best sedans in the world. Unsurprisingly, the cost of entry for an experience like it is not accessible to everyone, but the unforgiving forces of depreciation have stepped in to help. Many versions of the current-model-year E-Class start around $50,000 today, with most stretching far beyond that mark. In 2016, the E400 4Matic sedan had a price tag of $65,600 before any options were added. Buyers willing to do their homework will find the same car selling for an average price of $34,800. That’s 47 percent off the original price, and it buys a luxury sedan with features like a panoramic moonroof, heated seats, navigation, and active safety features like collision mitigation.
All the cars on this list are new enough to be very desirable, while at the same time offering remarkable savings compared with the current-model-year versions. Saving money on a great car is something we can get very used to.
