Small family car that will keep its value

Breckle

Hi. We are a family of 5. During Covid we have been a one-car family, but now need a second car. Our main car is a 5 seater MPV with 3 full seats in the back. It’s 2015 reg. We would like to update it to an electric 6/7 seater when these become more widely available, which won’t be for a few years. When we do get the 6/7 seater we will probably keep our current MPV. So the car we are looking to buy now, and which I’m seeking advice on, we will probably only be keeping for 2 years. So we are looking for a car that has a good resale value. This is where you all come in!

Requirements: We would like hybrid but that’s not a dealbreaker. It doesn’t need to have 3 full seats in the back. The mileage will be low. Aesthetically we like small SUVs. Budget 20k.

All advice much appreciated.

walshtipp

How about a Toyota C-HR. It is possible to get one in your budget not not very easy. The Toyota hybrid system is very reliable and Toyotas generally have good resale value.

colm_mcm

The less you spend, the less you stand to lose.

Wildly Boaring

Colm has it in one.

You don't want to lose much. Buy a cheap car. And buy an older car that has taken most of it's depreciation.

Today's secondhand prices are high. Very high. They may stay like that. But if the chip shortages get sorted they may come down a bit.

Any 20k car is going to depreciate. Hybrid or not.

Maybe an older Prius? Plenty for 10 to 12k. Or even the little Jap import Toyota Agua, plenty for 8 or 9k

JPup

I’d check out the Prius + as well.

black & white

Toyota, VW and Skoda usually hold their value well. Take as many different cars for a test drive as you can before you decide.

Breckle

Thanks all. We unfortunately went to see the Hyundai kona electric and have fallen in love. We’d keep it then and trade in our older MPV when buying a 6/7 seater electric. BUT If we WERE to have to Sell a new Hyundai kona in a couple of years, are we just throwing money down the drain??

HeidiHeidi

Buying any car new is throwing money down the drain unless you plan to keep it for basically its whole lifetime.

Maximum depreciation is suffered in the first week (if not day, or 5 minutes!) of ownership.

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969037#Comment_118969037

You’re out of date. My car is worth more than I paid for it a year ago. Electric VW ID.3.

Breckle

What about something like these?

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/30987415

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/30979479

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/30972995

what does it mean when it says “Japanese import”? Apart from the obvious! Is it something to be wary of?

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969113#Comment_118969113

That's a highly unusual situation, caused by fairly unique circumstances, and unlikely to last.

If the OP wants to gamble on a new car appreciating, or even holding its forecourt value, off with them!

fits

Nevertheless the depreciation of some EVs has been at a snails pace and with pent up demand and a wide scale shift to electric I can’t see this changing drastically in the next two years.

black & white

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969138#Comment_118969138

There were thousands of Jap imports sold here in the 80’s and early 90’s. Haven’t heard of many since.

randombar

I reckon if possible every 2nd car in a family should be a small EV, no brainer for me.

If you need to go on a long journey take the other one either a petrol or an EV with good range.

An older leaf 30 if you can find one would be perfect I reckon.

Depreciation much much better than a standard.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969037#Comment_118969037

Buying any new car is not throwing money down the drain if the person buying it can afford it and at the same time they are supporting some local jobs and that car company and jobs in it. Yes they will more than likely lose money on their purchase but at least they will know it is new and that no one else has driven it or had sex in it or sneezed or coughed in it or had a crash in it.

It's a risk yes but if no one buys knew then there would be no cars for people who want to buy second-hand cars. The people who buy new are the people who decide what the future second hand cars will be.

Breckle

Indeed I don’t!

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969195#Comment_118969195

My answer was to a question "are we throwing money down the drain".

I stand by my reply.

I have a (now ageing) new car myself, for all the reasons you outlined above, and some others - but if the question is will you lose a shedload of money buying a new car and selling it two years later - my educated guess is, yes you will.

Breckle

Totally agree, we’d love an EV as the second car. But scared to but second hand as we know nothing about what to look for.

Regarding the leaf - anything particular to look out for? There seem to be a few available eg https://www.donedeal.ie/view/30857137

Nissan Leaf E Acenta 5DR Auto // 1 Owner From New

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/30977890

Nissan Leaf 30kwh

Breckle

Replied in wrong place - this is wrt Japanese imports.

I’m seeing it a lot. Must be the cars I’m looking at. Makes me nervous, but maybe unnecessarily so.

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969037#Comment_118969037

This was true up until about 18 months ago.

redsheeps

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969113#Comment_118969113

What it's worth and what you'll get for it aren't necessarily the same thing. Your situation may be reasonably unique in the current climate.

OP the below is my experience over the past 8 years roughly:

€31k car from dealer - traded in one year later to dealer for €28k = €3k loss in one year.

€26k brand new car from dealer - written off after 6 months (dick head smashed into it) = insurance valued it at €22k because it was 6 months old = €4k loss in 6 months.

€3.1k car from private sale - sold 5 years later privately for €1.7k = €1.4k loss in 5 years (not bad!).

€2.8k car from private sale - traded in 2 years later for €2.4k - obviously trade in value is BS as it was built into price of car to make it look like I got a great deal on the trade in but still not bad.

Breckle

Great to see real life examples thank you. It makes sense that from a purely “money-saving at trade in/selling” then a second hand car is a no-brainer. But there’s so much else to consider isn't there - knowing there’s nothing wrong with it you didn’t spot, and small things like being able to choose the exact colour/specs you what etc (especially if you are going to run it into the ground, which is what we’d more likely be planning to do).

Breckle

One more question if I may.

-if we were to get a Hyundai kona, what similar alternatives are there? Small crossover/suv style. All I can find seem more expensive, am I missing anything?

-if we didn’t. How does the Nissan note e-power mark up as a good happy medium between diesel and electric. Mostly interested in environmental impact and also how nice it is to drive. Eg this one

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/30741870

Nissan NOTE E-power Hybrid Auto

again, really appreciate it

Wildly Boaring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969217#Comment_118969217

Jap imports have become popular again. Brexit has increased UK import prices. We went through 12 or 13 years of butying diesels for the cheap tax. So secondhand petrols ad hybrids need to be imported.

I've had a couple. Some insurance companies flinch at the idea. Most dont care. Most Jap imports have standard parts these days. I assume these guys put a new radio in them.

Wildly Boaring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969178#Comment_118969178

2 years max. This chip shortages is not indefinite. Hyundai reckoned it would end for them in Q3 of 2022. That was before Russia went taking what isn't theirs. But some stage of 2023 new car production will be back in full flight.

New cars appreciating was a one off entirely due to chip shortages. Now that all car manufacturers have shot up new prices don't expect it to happen again. All decent EVs are 40k and over now. There were ID3s for near 30k originally

Lantus

Recent articles suggest the chip crunch will end this year so we can expect some downward correction of used cars in 2 years. Just factor that in. And buy a popular run of the mill car to keep any residuals high as possible.

colm_mcm

For the usage this car will actually get, I would be buying something like this €5000 Volkswagen Up.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-up-2012/30999000

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118973248#Comment_118973248

They only have 4 seats

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969214#Comment_118969214

The SOH (State of health) of the battery is the main thing when it comes to EV's, batteries obviously degrade over time and some degrade faster based on quick charges etc. etc.

That one above looks good, 12 bars in the screenshot means the SOH of the battery is 87.5% or so which is very good for a call of that age.

https://capture.dropbox.com/kWf6T5XNHHX5PADt

I'd say jump onto the leaf thread for more info or happy to discuss more pointers via PM.

There is a lot less moving parts in an EV (200 vs 2000 I heard previously) so there is a lot less wear and tear.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969455#Comment_118969455

The new Kia Niro is out soon. It will be availible as a Hyprid, a plug-in Hyprid and as an EV.

It's not perfect but it's not bad either. According to Autocar it is a 4 out of 5 star car. So not bad. Yes maybe it's ride and refinement could be a bit better but I would say the electric one will be the pick of the bunch and will be better.

It has a very spacious interior a nice dash and a decent sized boot for its size a 451litres.

Here is Auto Expresse's review of it,

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/kia/niro/357816/new-kia-niro-hybrid-prototype-review

less nuisance advertising on the Auto Express site.

Breckle

Thanks for all the replies. We are being given a September date for the kona in the colour we want. Dealer has said they’ll sell and buy back a second hand car for us to use in meantime. There really just doesn’t seem to be an alternative that suits our taste and budget. The Niro looks great but I think bigger than what we need, and probably over a year before we could get our hands on one :(

Breckle

Thanks again everyone. With the substantial delay on the EVs, we have reverted to the original plan - buying a second car that we can either 1. Sell on in 2 years or so. Or 2. Keep long term as a second car.

I have landed on these, and am just wondering if Anyone has some thoughts to spare!! Same car, 2 years apart, main difference is mileage. Which should I choose? Also - The note only has 4/5 safety rating, should I be concerned? Will this hybrid model (e power) hold its value?

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/30832825

Nissan NOTE Hybrid E-power 1.2

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/30741870

Nissan NOTE E-power Hybrid Auto

THANK YOU!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118968087#Comment_118968087

I have a CH-R hybrid, excellent car, runs on fumes for city driving.

colm_mcm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118976979#Comment_118976979

I think you’re taking a massive gamble with a Japanese domestic market import especially when you want to try and trade it into a main dealer in 2 years. These are in favour at the moment because they’re filling a gap in the used market and are selling for relatively big money.

e power is a pretty new technology in that everything runs via the electric motor, there is no transmission as such. I don’t think even the Qashqai e power has been launched in Ireland yet.

brokenangel

You have a primary combustion car, just buy electric, save on fuel etc and if you need long journeys then use primary car

electric prices have been the most stable since 2018 or so with them not depreciating as quick as combustion

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118969214#Comment_118969214

Very little can go wrong with eletric cars, compared to combustion. Hence why you have garages complaining because a service is just software updates

If concerned but from Windsor and they provide 3 year extended warranty