How Much Is Your Car Depreciating?

It is an unfortunate fact that all cars depreciate in value annually. In fact, as soon as your brand new car has been driven off the showroom floor, the car is already worth less. Year on year, and with general wear and tear, your car will slowly lose value. On average, a car will lose about 19% of its value annually.

Some cars do, however, lose more value than others. There are some manufacturers and models that depreciate more than other cars on the market. Cars like old vintage and classic cars will usually increase in price over the years. There are also various manufacturers that tend to hold their worth. German cars, for example tend to be worth significantly more at the end of the term in comparison to their Chinese counterparts.

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So, how much has your car lost over the years? How much is it currently worth? We thought we would take a look at a few common cars, find out how much you paid for it straight out of the box, and how much it is worth now. What are cars that were bought and registered in 2012 worth now?

Fiat 500 1.2 Cabriolet

This retro little bombshell has been a hit in South Africa, especially in the narrow streets of Cape Town. The car has a 1.2-litre 500C engine and really doesn’t push boundaries when it comes to speed. However, it has many other benefits. It is exceptionally easy to park as, not only is it tiny, but it has a super power steering mode that almost turns the car into a go-cart. It is also ridiculously light on fuel and gets 6.4 litres for every 100kms. The car seems to retain is value somewhat, which is good news for 30% of the Cape Town population.

Retail Price in 2012: R175 000.

Now Worth: R135 000.

Audi A6 3.0 TDi Multitronic

This 3.0 litre V6 beauty roared into 2012 and aimed to sweep Audi lovers off their feet. It reaches 100 kms / hr in 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 250 kms / hr. It came fitted with a new electric powered steering pump and 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Not only is it a smooth, comfortable drive, it is delicately beautiful to look at. The car, however, seemed to flop with avid Audi fans who were somewhat disappointed with the drive, the power and the drop in value.

Retail Price in 2012: R520 500.

Now Worth: R400 125.

Honda CRV 2.4 Elegance AWD

This was Honda’s fourth generation of CR-V soft roaders. It offered a 140kW / 220Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with a five-speed auto transmission. For the first time, its sister SUV, the Comfort, came in a front-wheel drive and all six derivatives came with LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights. The manufacturer claimed to have worked on its interior atmosphere by softening the loud engine and creating a better driving experience. The CR-V, although globally doesn’t seem to lose its value, has not done extraordinarily well here.

Retail Price in 2012: R399 900.

Now Worth: R294 765.

Ford Fiesta 1.4 Trend

Launched at the end of 2012 in South Africa, the Ford Fiesta Trend was a follow-up on Ford’s dominance in the market with the popular Fiesta. The Fiesta had a solid following in the country with the Fiesta being a popular family or young executive car. It is not surprising that this car has retained so much of its worth and can be valued at just under R30 000 than its original worth! It has a solid engine designed to last at least two generations, as stated by the manufacturer. Upon release, the fuel was rated at 4.3 litres / 100km, with CO2 emissions of 99g/km.

Retail Price in 2012: R187 600.

Now Worth R157 200.

Volkswagen Touran 1.2 TSI Trendline

2011 saw the introduction of the new-generation Touran into South Africa. The car has undergone some significant changes before being brought to SA soil. Kitted out with a new bumper, grille, bi-xenon headlights, and adaptive front lighting, the car was instantly recognisable on the roads. The car was all about comfort and space with handy pockets, cup holders, and plenty of storage space. This was the need-to-have family car that seems to have more or less retained its value.