2012 Focus is NOT holding value

[thenorm]

Originally Posted by mac.mogul

I've never understood people who focus so fiercely on resale value of a car. What is the point? You are losing money no matter what you do.

you only lose the money when you actually sell the car. like the OP is foolishly trying to do.

If you keep it forever, you never realize the loss. (As you don't have the expense of replacing it)

[revhigh]

Originally Posted by Justintoxicated

But one of the big things that makes the focus desirable is the nice bells and whistles you can add and still have an affordable car.

Then you just gotta live with the huge loss .... if you're keeping the car ... it shouldn't matter one way or the other. If you're way upside down on a big-buck loaded model ... you'll have no choice but to keep it for a decent amount of time anyway.

As nice as the car is ... I can't see owning it for more than about 4 years. I just can't see the reliability being there given the multitude of problems that it's having from day one.

My suspension was 'fixed' once ... now it's making the same noise from the other side. No sense taking it back for more work ... they obviously don't know what's causing it ... and they can't fix it yet. It is kind of ridiculous that Ford can't figure out this suspension thing. I'm guessing that they hope most people won't (or don't) notice it, and therefore it's not worth throwing a lot of money at it to find the real problem.

I'd bet if they put 4 Ford master technicians on it ... they could figure out the suspension clunking issue in a week or less. Hard to believe they haven't done that .... and if they have ... then their 'master technicians' aint so masterful.

REV

[RockyD]

I tend to keep cars for a long time, but there are just a few little comfort/convenience things about the Focus that annoy me. I bought a Ti sedan in January for $22,400, list of $26,500. It has only $3K miles on it, and last weekend I was offered $17k for it. NADA is $20,700.

I wasn't interested in taking a $5400+ loss, and I don't hate it enough to go through the trouble of selling it privately, so it looks like I'll have the Focus for the long term. I was surprised to see a $9500 depreciation from sticker, especially with only 3K miles. That said, these dealers are in business to make money and if they could have given me more they would have since it would have meant a new car sale for them.

[GoldenHour]

But one of the big things that makes the focus desirable is the nice bells and whistles you can add and still have an affordable car.

bingo! maybe the chronically discontent should stick to base models so they don't lose as much money but i plan to keep my car for the long haul and i like a few options. my SEL is well-appointed for a $20k car.

[VectorZ]

Originally Posted by RockyD

I tend to keep cars for a long time, but there are just a few little comfort/convenience things about the Focus that annoy me. I bought a Ti sedan in January for $22,400, list of $26,500. It has only $3K miles on it, and last weekend I was offered $17k for it. NADA is $20,700.

I wasn't interested in taking a $5400+ loss, and I don't hate it enough to go through the trouble of selling it privately, so it looks like I'll have the Focus for the long term. I was surprised to see a $9500 depreciation from sticker, especially with only 3K miles. That said, these dealers are in business to make money and if they could have given me more they would have since it would have meant a new car sale for them.

NOBODY pays list or MSRP, so if you paid $22,400, and you can get $20,700 private party I don't see the problem. That's not much depreciation at all for a year old car.

Originally Posted by GoldenHour

But one of the big things that makes the focus desirable is the nice bells and whistles you can add and still have an affordable car.

bingo! maybe the chronically discontent should stick to base models so they don't lose as much money but i plan to keep my car for the long haul and i like a few options. my SEL is well-appointed for a $20k car.

Exactly, I came from a high end car and if the Focus didn't have the bells and whistles I wouldn't have bought it.

[Elizabeth]

I did not get a big pile of money off. A little off, but then I got the exact car I wanted.
So I have no plan on selling anytime soon either.
The only thing that the wholesale price says to me is perhaps for insurance, i could opt for the 'replacement' coverage. Which is to get me an equal car, not just the bluebook value if it is totalled.
The extra coverage is $110. year. I just may, or may not bother. I like to feel some of the risk is my own, And I am not just paying it all to the companies.

[- Thed -]

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.

+1

Reason #1 will be the only reason why I'll be buying a new car.

[Wildsailor]

Originally Posted by - Thed -

+1

Reason #1 will be the only reason why I'll be buying a new car.

I bought a new car because I was getting tired of fixing my old one. It was getting to be every weekend.

[- Thed -]

Originally Posted by Wildsailor

I bought a new car because I was getting tired of fixing my old one. It was getting to be every weekend.

What did you have? A Bimmer?

[Chaddz3]

How to deal with a car that loses its value quickly?

Don't buy it new...

wait about 6 months to a year and buy it as a slightly experienced used car, Preferably a base model then add the options you want afterwards from a wrecked one, aftermarket or factory parts counter and install yourself.

I have almost the equivalent of an SE sport with black appearance package which on the 2013's MSRP's for .. what $23,000 something...

mine had 5000 miles at purchase and as it sits now has less than 15K spent on it..

for mine the depreciation of what i have spent on mine will still suck but be no where near as bad as a 2013 buyer of today has a year from now, when that 2013 similarly equipped car sees how much his car has lost compared to his MSRP...

Oh almost forget... to reduce the financial damage even more, pay for it with cash and stay away from the financing. the interest paid is just as bad as the depreciation.