Depreciation
 

I know it's hard to say now, the market can be fickle, but how well do you guys think this car will depreciate? Maybe in line with something like a brand new tC? Better, worse? I'm trying to decide on whether or not to go through with a purchase and this is one of those factors that makes me hesitant. I've never bought a new car and the thought of the car being worth a couple thousand dollars less the second it leaves the lot kinda scares me.

Toyota is expecting the FRS manual trans to be worth $16,698 in 3 years with 36,000 miles. That is the residual for a 12k per year, 36mo lease. It works out to be around 67% and that is a very strong number.

Is it going to depreciate? Absolutely! Is it going to depreciate like older Kia's and Hyundai's? Very doubtful...(newer Kia's and Hyundai's aren't too bad for depreciation, at least not like they used to be anyway).

Ruskymx

Well, if you mod it.......

It will be better than the tc but given the amount of cars they want to sell it won't be the best car ever resale wise. It should be well above average though. My STi actually increased in value the last 2 years I owned it. That's something this car won't do after 4 years on the road. Also as far as residuals go they are something that is set by ALG as a baseline for lease negotiation. It is very hard to get an idea for the market 3 years down the line on a new model. They really don't have any real data to go off of. Its doubtful that this will happen, but if the car turns into a flop or is unreliable look out below.

Depreciation doesnt matter to me since, as of right now, I dont see myself getting rid of it for many years.

If youre really worried about depreciation, wait until a used one that you like pops up and buy that.

used is a great idea if you don't mind waiting a good 2-3 years until purchasing. Given the fact that this car has relatively low power and a simple powertrain (ie. no worries about killing AWD components), they should be very easy to pickup in mint condition. Plus anyone who buys this car is most likely an enthusiast and will be more inclined to take proper care of it.

Beware of people trying to sell cars less than 1 year old for near sticker though, happens all the time. Just be patient and wait it out. In the end you will have saved 33% by just buying the car 2-3 years late :party0030:

Hard to predict. If they bring out a 250hp version next year, our cars are going to drop like stones (please see older mustangs, or pre 2012 2.0 genesis coupes)

But if they crash a lot and Toyota is forced to nerf them a bit, might become quite desirable.

I'm planning on keeping more than 3 years - if not, not sure I'd gamble.

What he said. My take is that once the STI version is released, we may see a flood of the current models hit the classifieds, and you will have a good chance of finding one for a good deal.

That said, I don't think these cars will depreciate that bad.

I'm hoping the dealer's "residual value" is not the market value. For example look around online for a 3 year old WRX with 36,000 miles. People are still asking a lot for them, a lot more than 16k. Anyway don't worry about depreciation, you get what you pay for.

The residual values are usually closer to wholesale/trade value than retail/private party.

Ruskymx

residual value is more likely for peeps that want to get rid of cars after three to four years that like to buy "brand new, off the lot cars". If you're worried about it, maybe leasing is the way to go; this car seems pretty legit to me, if it wasn't, Subaru and Toyota would not make it and there wouldn't be an argument over who did what... plus most mags and peeps that have driven the car love it... hachi roku is a tough name to live up to, but obviously Toyota feels this car lives up to the name... with that said, waiting is the best game to play... for someone skeptical and not in the need for another car...

Sports cars like these always hold their value a little more than normal cars do. But if you're looking to resell it in a few years, then don't modify it and maintain it well. I will probably keep my FR-S for a very long time unless something that totally blows me away comes out. Of course, I'll probably die in the next 10 years knowing my luck so it's a moot point. :bellyroll:

Scions across the board have average to poor resale value. I think the FRS will be a bit stronger, but I won't hold my breath. Cars are a depreciating asset, just keep that in mind. Never look at your car as an investment!

Cough-rx8-cough.