| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Some of the options that you add to your vehicle |
| What do you think is the most expensive aspect | | | | will increase the value of your vehicle when you |
| of owning a new car? You might answer gasoline, | | | | sell it or trade it in; some options will have no |
| insurance, new tires and you would be wrong. The | | | | effect on resale value, and other options will |
| greatest expense to owning a new car is | | | | actually make it harder to sell your vehicle. |
| depreciation. Depreciation is the single most | | | | Some of the options that add value of your |
| expensive part of car ownership. When you are | | | | vehicle are automatic transmission, air conditioning, |
| thinking of that new vehicle, when you are | | | | power steering, and rear window defogger as |
| thinking of that new car loan, think about | | | | long as all of these still work properly. |
| depreciation as well. | | | | Added options that may interest certain buyers, |
| If you are not sure what depreciation is, it is the | | | | but not others, include cruise control, sunroof, tilt |
| difference between what you pay for the vehicle | | | | steering wheel, premium stereo systems. |
| and what you can sell it for later on. The amount | | | | And then there are those vehicle options that |
| of depreciation varies wildly from one vehicle to | | | | may not be worth their costs when it comes to |
| the next, and it also changes with the mileage on | | | | selling your vehicle later on. These include items |
| the vehicle. | | | | such as diesel engines or very large hot rod type |
| It is generally considered that for an average, | | | | engines, expensive aluminum wheel covers, vinyl |
| intermediate sized vehicle, depreciation will amount | | | | roofs, and boom box stereos. |
| to 32 percent of the total cost of ownership over | | | | When it comes to selling your vehicle, red and |
| 128,500 miles. That is the normal life expectancy | | | | beige are the most popular colors that buyers |
| of a vehicle. | | | | seem to love. Blue, as long as it is not a light tone |
| Depreciation becomes an important factor when | | | | of blue, also sell well. Wild colors are much harder |
| you are choosing a new car depending on how | | | | to sell than "normal" colors. |
| soon you intend to trade it off for another one. If | | | | For the most part, you can get a better price if |
| you are only planning to use the vehicle for a | | | | you sell your vehicle yourself. Many people, |
| short period of time, a year or two, depreciation | | | | however, prefer to trade the vehicle in as part of |
| will be more important to you. Vehicle depreciation | | | | the new car buying process with the dealer. This |
| is usually greatest in the first few years of the | | | | can be especially true if the process involves a |
| vehicle's life and then it begins to level off with | | | | car loan. While depreciation is a factor to buying a |
| time. | | | | new vehicle, it should not be considered the sole |
| Mileage and age are just two of the factors that | | | | factor in making a decision. It is never a good idea |
| can affect the resale value of your vehicle. Here | | | | to drive something that you hate simply to get a |
| are some more that you might find interesting. | | | | better price later on. |