2012 Focus is NOT holding value

[JesseE1981]

This car seems to keep dropping $1000 every month I check it on KBB.com. My SE Hatchback, had a value of $14,900 last month...now it's down to $13,977 for trade-in value. Two months ago is was in the $15,500 range. My car only has 12,600 miles on it.
I am definitely ditching this thing next summer....it'll still have a full 12,000 miles of factory warranty on it too.
I've never owned a vehicle whose value seems to be tanking this fast.

[Sponsor]

[feta_mgp]

Sadly I have to agree... my sticker priced $24,000 SEL with 12,000 miles on it is already down to about $15,000 for a trade in...

My $24,500 Mazdaspeed 3 from 2008 got me $16,000 for trade-in after 3 YEARS of ownership... ugh.

[pozi240]

Originally Posted by feta_mgp

Sadly I have to agree... my sticker priced $24,000 SEL with 12,000 miles on it is already down to about $15,000 for a trade in...

My $24,500 Mazdaspeed 3 from 2008 got me $16,000 for trade-in after 3 YEARS of ownership... ugh.

It must be a US thing, the Canadian KBB values are pretty good, at least I thought they were respectable and better than the competition anyway. Besides, if you purchase a car solely based on resale, you're never going to be happy with your purchase....

[hand-filer]

Originally Posted by pozi240

It must be a US thing, the Canadian KBB values are pretty good, at least I thought they were respectable and better than the competition anyway. Besides, if you purchase a car solely based on resale, you're never going to be happy with your purchase....

Don't go by KBB. According to KBB my Focus is worth 21,500 - 23,500.
According to two dealers I have had it appraised at, it's worth 18,000.
That's for a loaded 5 door titanium with 7,500km. And its in mint shape.
Your car is worth what the market will bear and in the case of the Focus, not much.
Cars in general are a poor investment. Unfortunately the Focus becomes junk bond status a little sooner than most.

[Elizabeth]

If that is the reason you bought it.. to be able to sell it for a lot.. You were crazy to start with.
Ford has NEVER had a good resale value except the high performance models.

Secondly, You ALREADY lost the value. So you're going to shoot yourself in the foot and sell it just because theoretically it will be worth even less?
Dude, You ALREADY lost that money, selling it just puts salt into your wound.
And yes

[feta_mgp]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

If that is the reason you bought it.. to be able to sell it for a lot.. You were crazy to start with.
Ford has NEVER had a good resale value except the high performance models.

Secondly, You ALREADY lost the value. So you're going to shoot yourself in the foot and sell it just because theoretically it will be worth even less?
Dude, You ALREADY lost that money, selling it just puts salt into your wound.
And yes

Well sure it's an investment... but at the end of the line when you decide to trade up or sell to get a newer vehicle, it's nice to know the car holds it's value well...

As I stated... my Mazdaspeed 3, a car easily outdone by my Focus in fit & finish and especially interior quality, that had been modded to hell and back, still got $16,000 after 3 years and 35,000 miles, AND an accident on record.

My Focus after a year is already down to $15,000 for perfect condition on KBB and it had an almost identical sticker price???

I love my car and I'm not going to sell it because of the resale value... but as you said it's an investment, and I like to get the maximum return on my investments at the end. So, sure, the fact that I love my car is great, but the fact that it's also losing value so rapidly... not great.

[jdubhack]

When I buy a car I buy it for a purpose.

1.) I love it.
2.) I'm going to keep it for the long run.
3.) It's an investment.

When you approach it that way it doesn't matter what it's worth in year to a dealership or private party, because it's yours. Just my .02. Good luck with yours.

[rangerbay]

Originally Posted by jdubhack

When I buy a car I buy it for a purpose.

1.) I love it.
2.) I'm going to keep it for the long run.
3.) It's an investment.

When you approach it that way it doesn't matter what it's worth in year to a dealership or private party, because it's yours. Just my .02. Good luck with yours.

#3.) Unless your a dealer, you are "purchasing" a car, not "investing" in one. An investment is a purchase of something such as stocks, bonds, real estate, business, etc. with the real possibility of it increasing in value! A new car certainly wont do that. Your car should start to hold better value as time goes on. These are good and popular cars, and should only radically depreciate the first two years. One of the main devaluation issues with your 1 yr old car is rebates and sales. Our local dealer has several new ones for 18 to 22 thousand.
Make it yours. Do some mods, have fun with it. That adds personal value to your car. This is a great forum for that. These guys and gals seem willing to help any one with anything. To me, that gives the Focus great value, more that just the money loss from the first couple years. Just remember, have fun with it!

[jdubhack]

Originally Posted by rangerbay

#3.) Unless your a dealer, you are "purchasing" a car, not "investing" in one. An investment is a purchase of something such as stocks, bonds, real estate, business, etc. with the real possibility of it increasing in value! A new car certainly wont do that. Your car should start to hold better value as time goes on. These are good and popular cars, and should only radically depreciate the first two years. One of the main devaluation issues with your 1 yr old car is rebates and sales. Our local dealer has several new ones for 18 to 22 thousand.
Make it yours. Do some mods, have fun with it. That adds personal value to your car. This is a great forum for that. These guys and gals seem willing to help any one with anything. To me, that gives the Focus great value, more that just the money loss from the first couple years. Just remember, have fun with it!

Agreed. Let me clarify. I "invest" in a car that does this to me whenever I see it. I "invest" in a car that will safely move my family and I safely from point A to B and everything in between. And the investment for me is in something that I can call my own and like you sad, enjoy.

*note* Those "investments" are not in a particular order!

[F35-JSF]

Originally Posted by rangerbay

#3.) Unless your a dealer, you are "purchasing" a car, not "investing" in one. An investment is a purchase of something such as stocks, bonds, real estate, business, etc. with the real possibility of it increasing in value! A new car certainly wont do that. Your car should start to hold better value as time goes on. These are good and popular cars, and should only radically depreciate the first two years. One of the main devaluation issues with your 1 yr old car is rebates and sales. Our local dealer has several nheew ones for 18 to 22 thousand.
Make it yours. Do some mods, have fun with it. That adds personal value to your car. This is a great forum for that. These guys and gals seem willing to help any one with anything. To me, that gives the Focus great value, more that just the money loss from the first couple years. Just remember, have fun with it!

This.

I've never looked at a car as an investment. It does nothing but depreciate over time, This hows double for a mass produced economy car. Cars that hold value are usually the rare or top model offerings but you'll still lose money save you finding some one that is covating your car and willing to pay your asking price.