Cars depreciate the most the first 1-2 years. The Value of your S stabilizes about the third year. Depreciating only a little bit every year after.

 

I was thinking the same thing about depriciation. I paid $31,000 new in July 2004 so I need to decide if it's worth losing $10,000 on the S to get the Elise at that point. I was hoping for more like $25,000 but that's not sounding like it's going to happen on a trade in.

I had an Elise press car for a week late last summer and really loved it. It's a rocket! Great autocrosser, great on the track. I daily drove it for a week with no problem. I'm only 5'5 so getting in and out was fine.

I'll probably get Grey on red with a track package. Left over 2005 Elises are selling 4-5K off sticker right now all over the place. It's the $22,000 I was offered on trade that through me for a loop.

 

Do you not have time or don't want to hassle with selling it private party? Might be worth it..

 

2005 S2000, Good condition, 7.5k miles, private party sale - $24,720.
2004 S2000, Good condition, 15k miles, private party sale - $23,445.
2003 S2000, Good condition, 22.5k miles, private party sale - $21,525.
2002 S2000, Good condition, 30k miles, private party sale - $19,000
2001 S2000, Good condition, 37.5k miles, private party sale - $17,170
2000 S2000, Good condition, 45k miles, private party sale - $15,090

So from a starting MY05 MSRP of $33,150, the anual depreciation amounts are:
$8,430
$1,275
$1,920
$2,525
$1,830
$2,080

A six year old S2000 retaining about half its value is actually a very good rate, from what I understand.

Retail of a MY04 S2000 with 15k miles is $27,635! So you can see how much profit the dealer would make off this. That's only $5,515 off '05 MSRP.

 

ouch... and i got mine new

 

Actually because the '06 is out it would be a two (2) year depreciation not one year. MSRP vs Dealer trade is not a great comparison either. Compare MSRP to AVG Retail that would be an apples to apples comparison.

 

PM Clovis, he has plenty of info in this matter. We bought his 00 S2000 when he traded up to an Elise.

 

I parked my S2000 next to an Elise and I was amazed at how small the Elise looked next to it. Usually, my car is the one looking like a go-kart among everyone else's, but not so next the the Elise.

What a sexy car it is though. I'd have to test drive one first, but yeah, I could see myself wanting to do that kind of trade too. Good luck with your purchase/trade in!

 

If you care to get the most money for your car, private party sale. If you want the new car NOW, trade it in.

You can not buy happiness but you sure can buy stuff that will make you happy.

Personally I don't buy used cars from private party and I always do a search for invoice price when shopping for a new car.

 

I traded my 2005 with 9800 miles on it and my trade was $24.5K, that car sold Certified for $27,691. I paid invoice for it in Feb. '05 so really I only got hit with $6K depreciation.
The S's depreciation has more to do with the Marketplace buying new ones @ invoice. All you guys out there lowballing your local dealers on new S2000's are hurting the resale values of the car you're about to buy, and hurting the values of the ones already on the road. Way back when S2000's commanded MSRP they depreciated less because a low mileage 1 year old model could be had for $2-3K below MSRP of a new one and it was considered a great deal. Now you can pick up a 2004 with 15K for around $23-24K. The market's changed on our special ride.
Funnily Enough I paid $20K for my Si, and I was offered $25K for it a few weeks ago. I'll wait until that spoiled brat offers $30K before cutting it loose....