When is the best time in life of the car to sell? Is there a depreciation versus value sweet spot? My Mini is about 20 months into ownership. Is the Mini different in this respect to other cars in general because of it's high resal value and unique automotive niche?

 

The best time to sell is when the wheels fall off and you have used every bit of the car until it costs more to keep it than to buy another. See The Real Reason Your Broke. If you got to dump the car, then I would wait until the depreciation curve flattens out. Every car is different. Usually, the first two years are a killer. Third year bad. Here is a good article, particulary the point about it no longer fitting your lifestyle if your worried about reliability. You also got to consider at 20 months, if you don't own the car, if your upsidedown. That is, do you owe more than the equity.

IMO, the best way to check out the depreciation curve is to go to galves.com. Pay the small fee for one day access, and check out the auction prices in your area for cars similar to yours. Then check cars older than yours. Plot the prices over time and you will see where the curve flattens out. When the curve flattens out, the longer you keep it, depreciation gets less and less with time. Of course, its never really flat, it always goes down and down

best of luck

 

No worry about being upside down. Owe very little on the car. Had planned to drive the wheels off but with the way it's looking - that won't be very long :(

 

Did your wheels fall off?

 

Well, went out and had no air in the tire just now. Does that count?

 

Well like I said in your other thread, I empathize ... not sympathize but emphathize because I was in your shoes and finally got fed up and dumped the car. There becomes a time when worrying about limp mode and spending too much time at dealership is no longer worth the hassle.

Best of Luck on your new car