Elise to Z4MC

[mikedav]

Any comments on resale values of larger engined cars over the next few years then?

I really wouldnt want to be stuck with a car that had either lost s**t loads of value OR was simply unsalable after id done with it.

Don't buy a Z4M if you don't like depreciation! My view is all cars depreciate so I may as well enjoy it and minimise it as much as possible by not buying an Alfa Romeo. As regards depreciation on large capacity cars...it's largely academic really surely? Nothing we can do about it now. Unless the whole world switches to Micras, millons of cars - pretty much anything over 2.8 litres, from Astons, Range Rovers and Jags through to Golf VR6s, RS4s, M3s and AMG Mercs- are hit by the new charge. I seriously doubt anyone shopping for a high performance a car will change their minds because road tax is suddenly a few hundred more.

The same logic could suggest nobody should buy petrol cars anymore, as diesels will be all anyone wants in three years time. Z4 3.0D? No thanks

 

[scottish69]

Its a good point - i guess people wont be put off because its a performance car they are after and that means large petrol.

No option for them.

Id heard that bmw delaerships were having trouble getting rid of z4m's though, just wondered if that lack of demand would get worse as the economy got worse and the new model came out.

Also - hows the coupe for rattles?

 

[toplad]

Any comments on resale values of larger engined cars over the next few years then?

I really wouldnt want to be stuck with a car that had either lost s**t loads of value OR was simply unsalable after id done with it.

I can't see the current down trend in prices changing yet.

Why should it, the country is screwed at the moment

Looking at the latest sales/spending figures, it's very gloomy reading indeed, plus the price of fuel and tax keeps getting worse. Luxury items like these (impractical and expensive cars) are the first things to get nipped in the bud when the economy slows down, which means dealers will reduce there prices and that will effect private sales too. A punter isn't going to pay more in a private sale when he can buy from a dealer for less money and have greater piece of mind

Talk of prices levelling off or rising isn’t on the cards yet, but don't worry about it, I don't. Life is too short.

 

[mikedav]

Its a good point - i guess people wont be put off because its a performance car they are after and that means large petrol.

It gets worse as you go up the scale; think of all the V8s out there...RS4s, Range Rovers, AMV8s., new M3s...those are returning 16-20MPG averages....ouch.

Id heard that bmw delaerships were having trouble getting rid of z4m's though, just wondered if that lack of demand would get worse as the economy got worse and the new model came out.

That's always been the case though, it's never been a huge seller; new one was £40-46k. The better known, 4 seater M3 with the same engine and a huge boot can be yours for roughly the same...So it was always a niche car that was probably too much new. Used is the way to go and you get lots for your money; A year old one should be IRO £29k-£32k depending on spec.

Also - hows the coupe for rattles?

I've got an odd knocking from the centre console occasionally...but its booked in with the dealer to check it out; I am on my 3rd BMW (330 Sport and then an M3) and am not used to noises of any kind, they usually feel hewn from stone...

 

[scottish69]

Thanks for all the info guys this is really helping. I think im more inclined to go z4m to be honest. If i can get one for 28k a year old then i think it will keep its value better than a year old exige S considering the mileage im putting on it (8k/year). The exige is very sensitive to mileage, though cheaper to run.

Its all swings and roundabouts isnt it! The exige is a niche car just like the z4m really, possibly more so.

Just need to sort a test drive in both now.

Z4M coupe, black, red leather.... now thats my ideal car!

 

[Wondermike]

Much as it pains me to say it ('cos I prefer convertibles!) I think you'll do much better in a coupe than a roadster.

If you're doing your sums over 3 years, on a year old used car, remember you'll need to pay an extortionate amount to extend the warranty for a year.

 

[scottish69]

Any ideas how much it is for the fourth year warranty then? Its 750 for the exige i believe.

Is it necessary? I know its a good safety net but i wouldnt have though (hoped) anything would go wrong at that point - after all any initial niggles should have been ironed out in teh first 2/3 years?

 

[Wondermike]

IIRC it's about £1400-1500 for the year, with a £250 excess on claims, someone more knowledgeable will let you know. Personally I wouldn't be without it on a car like that.

 

[dgm]

The price used to be £1150 a year with the £250 excess, however, this has been completely revised. There are now several different options and prices but I think the main ones are £835 with £250 excess and £910 with no excess.

Still expensive but a big improvement.

 

[Wondermike]

dgm, you're right - a big improvement, almost reasonable in fact given the complexity of the car and engine.

 

[scottish69]

Found a z4m coupe . Its a 57 plate fully loaded, black, with red leather.

Up at 32k but id need to get them down a little given the current petrol issues... possible?

S>

 

[toplad]

You'd might get that for 30.5K-31K if you haggle hard

Are you far from Manchester, cos once you're in the dealership they won't want to let you go. It's a bit different if you ring up, tend to be less likely to knock money off.

Good luck

 

[scottish69]

Im in huddersfield so i'll bob down this weekend.

To be honest though the weather is looking shoddy and i dont want a soggy test drive lol.

Im still papping myself over running costs to be honest, considering an exige S too, but driving to work in the rain today made me realize id never want to take it out unless it was dry = limting enjoyment.

Ive worked out the extra 15 a month for tax and another 40 for petrol (over my gti). And ive got insurance quotes too (£250 more).

S>

 

[Anonymous]

As to mileage, I average about 22 MPG driving agressively (any other way to drive an M?) but not flat out.

As to Nav - the JD Powers survey says having factory nav reduces the resale value of any vehicle. I use my Garmin Nuvi 680 in my 530i as well as my 2006 M Roadster and it works flawlessly. Additionally, it works equally as well in a rental car or in your hand as you walk about an unfamiliar city. Slip it into your pocket when you stop on a trip and use it in the restaurant or hotel. Use it only when you need it and you do not have to deal with the factory screen flying up out of the dash every time you adjust the radio. Garmin updates are greatly more reasonable in cost than BMWs

 

[mikedav]

I wouldn't get too wound up about the extra costs; it won't be a 'cheap' car to run by any means, but it's no gas guzzler - its not a 4.8 litre doing 12MPG thankfully! Just buy one that has very low mileage; that way you can put as much distance between you and the Inspection 1 / Inspection 2 services as possible and you won't need new brakes / tyres for a long time. The its just tax, fuel and insurance.

As to Nav - the JD Powers survey says having factory nav reduces the resale value of any vehicle.

Really? Definitely not true here....on a relatively premium car like this, it's virtually expected at resale. You won't find many 3.0s and Ms without it, and those that don't have it are worth £800-£1200 less. On some models its even worse; an M3 without it is much harder to sell. It's the 'higher' spec cars though - on a 335i Nav and an Auto Box are essential, though on say a 320i you will rarely see either. I'm told by a Porsche dealer it's 50:50 on Boxsters, which are often weekend toys, but you'll find it on nearly all (non GT3 etc) 911s.

The hand held / portable vs OEM debate has been discussed at length, but I will never have another car without it. I can see it being interesting in 20 years when cars have massively outdated navigation systems but not while manufacturers keep providing software updates to bring the interface up to date, and new maps...and I find it less fiddly / faster to respond. I just prefer it.

 

[Wondermike]

Up at 32k but id need to get them down a little given the current petrol issues... possible?

Definitely possible, I'd try a real low-ball offer and see how far you get.

...You won't find many 3.0s and Ms without it, and those that don't have it are worth £800-£1200 less.

I think there are plenty 3.0 cars without nav, usually roadsters, but with the ///M - well, nav is a 100% definite requirement, there are so many cars with it.

I find it interesting that more and more manufacturers are speccing it on demo cars, Audi TT and now the SLK all have it on the top models. When I was looking for an SLK there were virtually no 350s with nav, now it's becoming far more common.

 

[scottish69]

Do we think the //M will date quick once the new (non //M) is out at the end of next year?

OK heres another - what will a 4 year old M be worth fully loaded when i come to p/x it? Are we seriously going to get £20k p/x for a three year old //M?

Depreciation concerns me a little too lol (easily worried). Though havign just lost around 13k in 6 months this particular M looks a bargain.

 

[Wondermike]

Do we think the //M will date quick once the new (non //M) is out at the end of next year?

OK heres another - what will a 4 year old M be worth fully loaded when i come to p/x it? Are we seriously going to get £20k p/x for a three year old //M?

Depreciation concerns me a little too lol (easily worried). Though havign just lost around 13k in 6 months this particular M looks a bargain. (wilmslow BMW).

Yes it will date as soon as the new one comes, but one good thing is that it always looked ahead of its time anyway, I reckon the new Z4 will look pretty similar to the current one, therefore the effect shouldn't be as marked as the difference between the Z3 and Z4.

For a 4 year old ///M I would expect a trade in value of around £14k maybe slightly more, maybe £17k for a 3 year old one. I wouldn't bank on getting any more than that.

Don't think because the cars have already lost a fortune that that is the end of it. There is an roadster on the AUC that is Feb 08 for under £30k, list price was £47-ish

 

[mikedav]

For a 4 year old ///M I would expect a trade in value of around £14k maybe slightly more, maybe £17k for a 3 year old one. I wouldn't bank on getting any more than that. Don't think because the cars have already lost a fortune that that is the end of it. There is an roadster on the AUC that is Feb 08 for under £30k, list price was £47-ish

It won't be that bad IMO. And the Roadsters seem to fair worse than the Coupes.

Depreciation in year one is heavy, £12-£14k, because they were too pricey new anyway. So 1 year old ones are £32k ish (and more on the AUC site). But buy after the first year is over and it's much less scary. If you check the AUC, the cheapest Z4MC on there right now is £29k for a 13,000 mile 56 plate (in my favourite black/sepang colour combo....I'd swap if I could!!) . That's £3k for year 2 but lets say £5k. Thats a similar drop to an M3. If we stick with £5k a year,

1 year old: £32k
2 year old: £27k
3 year old: £22k
4 year old: £17k

...and don't forget if you are in for the long haul, when collector status starts to emerge, check out Z3MC prices. 99's start at £11k. They are NINE years old.....2000/2001 cars are advertised all the way up to a scarcely believable £23k!!! I doubt they are gonna sell for that, but even £15k would be a win. I wouldn't worry, IMO the worst of it is well over. Trade ins will always be insulting at main dealers - they want £4k+ margins on a Z4M - so don't trade in. I made £4k more on my M3 than the dealer was offering by not trading in.

 

[Wondermike]

1 year old: £32k
2 year old: £27k
3 year old: £22k
4 year old: £17k

That might be what they're selling for, but not what they're worth to you. Take a 12 months old car on an 07/07 car - it's not worth £32k to anyone except a dealer, the absolute most you'll get bid on that is £28k but probably somewhere between £25k and £27k max.

You can get a fully loaded Sep/Oct 57 plate for under £33k from a dealer without even trying.

Adjust your values above in line with that and that's roughly what I said earlier.