Depreciation Of 'Stylish' VW Motors

Used Car Expert website and magazine recently compared a sample of the VW group’s one year old five door hatchbacks for depreciation.

They compared 2009 registered 1.9 TDI Audi A3s, Volkswagen Golfs, Seat Leons and Skoda Fabias.

The results showed a 2009 Audi A3 1.9 Tdi model with 9,215 average miles will be around £17,300, and you can sell it with 30,000 miles in 2 years for £12,100 (although average mileage is often 40,000).

Total depreciation: £5,200

While a 2009 Volkswagen Golf 1.9 Tdi model with 11,000 average miles will be around £14,500, and you can sell it with 34,000 average miles in 2 years for £10,200. Total depreciation: £4,300

A Seat Leon 1.9 Tdi model from the same year with 3,000 average miles will be around £12,000, and you can sell it with 32,000 average miles in 2 years for £9,500. Total depreciation: £2,500

A 2009 Skoda Fabia 1.9 Tdi model with 5,600 average miles will be around £10,100, and you can sell it with 29,000 average miles in 2 years for £7,600. Total depreciation: £2,500

Editor Matt Tumbridge said: "It seems that there is a high price to pay for being fashionable, with the Audi losing more than the other brands.

"But buyers of Skoda and Seat cars are quids in – they get a car that is as well built and reliable as the former but lose around £2,000 less."

He added: "We picked these cars because it reflects common advice we give to buyers:

buy a one year old car to avoid the worst of the depreciation and sell in two years when the warranty expires to avoid the big repair costs.

"Of course the Volkswagen and Audi do have a higher quality of finish and you should factor that in, but its impact is subjective so we stuck to the numbers and ranked them according to depreciation, as that is your biggest fixed cost as a motorist."

(PR/BMcc)