Mini storms to victory for the second year running, as EurotaxGlass’s, one of the leading automotive intelligence companies, publishes its annual residual value league table. The diesel-powered MINI 1.4TD is the UK’s slowest-depreciating used car, according to new analysis of the residual values of three-year-old vehicles carried out by EurotaxGlass’s, publisher of Glass’s Guide. The supermini currently has an average trade-in value of 63.2 per cent; better than that of any other used car currently on sale.
Despite retaining its crown, the car’s trade value has slipped from a peak last year of 71 per cent, equivalent to an additional £600 drop in value.
“This illustrates how no car is immune from the downturn in used car values,” comments Adrian Rushmore, Managing Editor at EurotaxGlass’s.
“The factors that help make the MINI as close to recession-proof as possible in the current used car market are its strong image, reasonable running costs and its high levels of perceived quality,” adds Rushmore. “It also benefits from being seen as a good compromise for those who need to downsize from a larger, more expensive premium-brand offering.”
Small, fuel-efficient and low purchase price vehicles make the new entries in the 2008 ‘Residual Value Top 10’ [listed below]– models in tune with consumer sentiment as the UK economy slips into recession. Three-year-old examples of the Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107, and Smart are all affordable new entries – retailing between £4,000 and £5,000, and qualifying for lower levels of Vehicle Excise Duty.
The following table shows the top 10 three-year-old used cars that retain the greatest proportion of their original list price, expressed as a trade value.
Residual Value Top 10
Percentage retained value (‘55’ plate, after 37,000 miles)
1 MINI 1.4TD three-door and Convertible- 63.2 per cent
2 Citroen C1 1.0/1.4 TD three/five-door- 61.2 per cent
3 Ferrari F430 Coupe/Spider- 60.9 per cent
4 Toyota Aygo 1.0 three/five-door- 60.6 per cent
5 Peugeot 107 1.0 three/five-door- 57.4 per cent
6 Smart 700 - 56.7 per cent
7 SEAT Leon 1.9TDI/2.0 TDi five-door- 55.4 per cent
8 Lamborghini Murcielago 6.2 Coupe- 55.2 per cent
9 Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid T4 five-door - 55.0 per cent 10 Porsche 911 Carrera 2/4 (997) Coupe and Cabriolet - 54.8 per cent
