2012 Models with the Highest Resale Values
If you're planning on either leasing a car or trading it in after only 5 or 6 years, you need to seriously consider its resale value (also called residual value).
The most expensive part of owning a car is this depreciation cost. Most vehicles lose half their value in only 3 years, which means on a $30,000 purchase you'll lose about $400 per month in depreciation - ouch!
To help you select a vehicle with good resale value, you should check out the results from the just-released "2012 Best Resale Value Awards" from Kelly Blue Book, one of the leading car pricing guides.
The results show that Toyota and Lexus as a whole produce cars that retain their value the best.
It also shows that the SUVs and trucks tend to hold their value a little better than passenger vehicles.
Here are the top 10 cars with the best resale value according to KBB:
| Rank | Model | 36 months | 60 months |
| 1 | 2012 Jeep Wrangler | 68.0% | 55.0% |
| 2 | 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser | 67.0% | 50.0% |
| 3 | 2012 Toyota Tacoma | 64.0% | 49.0% |
| 4 | 2012 Hyundai Tucson | 64.3% | 45.3% |
| 5 | 2012 Audi Q7 | 63.3% | 44.3% |
| 6 | 2012 Infiniti FX | 58.0% | 44.0% |
| 7 | 2012 Honda CR-V | 60.3% | 43.5% |
| 8 | 2012 Lexus RX | 64.0% | 43.0% |
| 9 | 2012 Nissan Frontier | 56.2% | 42.8% |
| 10 | 2012 Chevrolet Camaro | 57.0% | 42.2% |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, Edmunds Price Promise, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
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About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan + is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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