Where does it end? Where's the bottom?

[luttersj]

I've often wondered it and this thread: Can I get a nice LS for under $9K? got me thinking about it. Where does the LS bottom out pricewise. I realize there's a lot of factors that go into selling a car. But good lord, back in 2004 my car sold for $43000. FF to 6 months ago, just over 3 years, and I bought the car for $17000. That's a drop of $26000 in 3 years!! That has to be some sort of record! Don't misunderstand me, I'm not complaining. Just curious. But with a drop like that in 3 years, by 2012 I'll be lucky to give this thing away! Not that I plan on selling it anytime soon, but you never know...

 

[Jim Henderson]

Some cars depreciate like rocks. The LS appears to be one. This is good for us who are buying, not so good for selling.

I bought my 2004 LS used with about 14,000 miles on it. I paid something like 28K back in 2005. I thought that was a heck of a deal. I would never have bought an LS at list or anywhere near. Just didn't feel it was worth what a new one costs. Heck even the new 2006 models were selling at steep discounts last year I read. People just don't view the LS as a premium car price vehicle.

Seems like the Ford luxury type cars just depreciate. A crown vic has similar rock like characteristics as the LS. Dirt cheap after a year or two.

I doubt the LS will ever become a collectors item so, just buy cheap and drive the wheels off of it.

My plan is to turn it over to my 15 year old when it gets to about 100,000 miles plus. It is supposed to be one of the safest cars in its class.

Just my opinion,

Jim Henderson

 

[SoonerLS]

Very few cars don't depreciate. Last I heard, on average, a car will lose ~60% of its value in the first four years.

Also, with the possible exception of the '00s, which had waiting lists, you really can't compare the sticker price of an LS with its current value; very few of them sold at sticker, thanks to incentives (rebates, etc). At the end of the '06 model year, f'rinstance, they were selling for $17K (or more) under sticker; I just looked at Edmunds, and my '06, which "stickered" at $43K, now should retail for ~$30K--which is more than the actual sale price of the car.