When we look for a new vehicle, we usually consider things like fuel-economy, interior and exterior features, and price, but we should also consider something that’s not found on the window sticker:

Resale Value

Depreciation can often be the greatest expense incurred by vehicle owners, so it really pays to become familiar with vehicle brands and those models which have the best projected resale value doing so can help us make better buying decisions.

We should take several factors into consideration when we’re in the market to purchase a new car to help ensure as much future value as possible. Among these include:

1. Choose a popular exterior color such as silver or black.
2. Choose optional equipment that is customary for the type of vehicle you’re buying.  Options that are popular with used-vehicle buyers include antilock brakes, alloy wheels, an audio system with MP3/iPod compatibility, power seats, cruise control, and a navigation system.
3. New car buyers should note that the cost of expensive features – like premium audio systems may be difficult to recover when we trade our car in later or sell it outright to a private buyer.

Not long ago, Kelley Blue Book announced the 2009 model-year vehicle winners of its annual Best Resale Value Awards, which recognize current and upcoming vehicles for their projected retained value five years from now (the average ownership period). Here’s how makes and models measured up.

Top 10 2009 Best Resale Value Models:

• Honda Civic
• Honda Civic Hybrid
• Honda Fit
• Toyota Prius
• Toyota Yaris
• Scion tC
• MINI Cooper
• Scion xB
• Scion xD
• Volkswagen Rabbit

2009 Best Resale Value:

• Best Resale Value Brand: Honda
• Compact Pickup: Toyota Tacoma
• Hybrid Crossover: Toyota Highlander Hybrid
• High-Performance Car: Nissan GT-R
• Full-Size Car: Cadillac CTS
• Full-Size Pickup: Toyota Tundra
• SUV: Jeep Wrangler
• Hybrid Car: Honda Civic
• Hybrid Luxury Car: Audi A5
• Crossover: Honda CR-V
• Luxury SUV: Audi Q7 Quattro
• Compact Car: Mini Cooper
• Van: Honda Odyssey
• Luxury Crossover: BMW X5
• Hybrid SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
• Mid-Size Car: Lexus IS
• Scion xB
• Scion xD
• Volkswagen Rabbit

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