ORIGINAL: boxster27
So it looses most value in the first year of its life. The 67% residual number previously publised for Boxsters is after 3 years I believe.
I recently saw a report that put the Boxster as the least depreciating car you can get, so at least we have that consolation, but after 3 years I'm pretty sure an average boxster is still only worth 59% of it's original value. The biggest chunk of this 41% loss is going to be in the first year. My 1yr old 986 cost me 35K and originally listed at about 40K. If you didn't stop to think about it you'd have thought the residual looks really good, but I'm sure the previous owner probably only got 31or 32K for it, despite it being pristine with very low mileage. I'd be lucky to get 25K for it now (2.5 yrs old, still pristine with very low mileage), which is one of the many reasons why I'll be keeping it but I bought it originally with this intention anyway.
In fairness I'm not sure you can blame Porsche or the OPCs for 'poor' residuals, I think it's more to do with the fact that we now consume cars like everything else and it's simple economics. How many of you bought with the 'a boxster is for life' attitude? I'm inclined to think that most people can't help themselves but trade up after 2 to 3 years, especially when a new or tweaked model appears. The end result is lots of 2nd hand cars and lower residuals. There are a lot of 986s at my OPC, I haven't checked out the prices but they won't be too unreasonable as the OPC won't want them sitting on the forecourt in 6 weeks time. As much as I'd like to think dealers are greedy, they have a lot of costs, and margins are reasonably tight in the 2nd hand market these days. After all they have to make a healthy profit, not just break even. It's just a fact of life.
The only time you don't lose much on a car is when it is a complete revelation, like the Boxster was in 98, and a long waiting list naturally occurs, and you buy and sell in that initial period. After that it's business as usual. Even the completely revamped 987 doesn't cause anywhere near the stir the original car caused. You were only deluding yourself that you wouldn't lose a heap of money on your Boxster. Just be happy you're losing less than with any other car. For example, be glad you don't have my 3yr old Saab 9-5 estate, which is worth less than 40% of it's original value (if I'm lucky), again pristine and low mileage.