Now that the domestics are successfully closing the gap on quality, as well as on more silly measures like race-car performance, it looks like the next futile argument against the domestics is going to be the old red herring called "resale value". Resale value might have been an important factor in a car-buying decision thirty or forty years ago; but these days, it is in almost all cases just another tired and senseless elitist argument.
Think about it: when you bought your last refridgerator or kitchen table, did you really sit there and wring your hands over the item's resale value? Did you really worry about how much it was going to get for you at the eventual garage sale a few years down the road? Puh-leeez.
A car is no longer a luxury item--it is a commodity not unlike appliances or furniture. If you are a breathing adult, you probably own a car, just as you probably own a refridgerator, a table, and a bed. Resale value makes sense for appreciating investments, not everyday commodities like automobiles.
Sure, it's different if you're talking about the resale potential of an Edsel vs. that of a '57 Bel Air; but the difference in resale value between a Toyota and a Saturn after five years is not only inconsequential, it's also more than made up for by the aggressive discounts that got you into the car, and maybe even the additional aggressive discounts that will get you into your next Saturn.
Ya' think the Toyota is cheaper to maintain? I thought we already went over this... Sure, the Toyota is still less likely to break down than the Saturn; but the likelihood of either one of them breaking down makes that difference unnegligible. Besides, take out the Toyota and substitute a VW or a Nissan, and the typical GM car wins that quality contest.
Ah, what about the difference between more expensive luxury cars--those are not everyday commodities, right?
First of all, if you're choosing a luxury car for its better resale value and you're buying that car at a typical interest rate--as opposed to leasing it or buying the car at near-zero interest--then you're probably not the Wall Street wizard you think you are and it's no wonder you're so obsessed with resale value.
This is important, because--if you take advantage of the generous lease or interest specials offered by the domestics--the average monthly lease payment or zero-interest payment can be hundreds of dollars less per month than the comparable import luxury model, even at comparable sticker prices. Rebates and other up-front discounts have to be factored in as well.
Some may insist that this is not the case--that the imports offer similar incentives which lower the overall cost. This is strange, because these are typically the same folks who complain about lower resale value for domestics because of the aggressive discounts and rebates. So, uh, someone will have to explain that one to me.
Anyway, I obviously voted "no" on this one.
Think about it: when you bought your last refridgerator or kitchen table, did you really sit there and wring your hands over the item's resale value? Did you really worry about how much it was going to get for you at the eventual garage sale a few years down the road? Puh-leeez.
A car is no longer a luxury item--it is a commodity not unlike appliances or furniture. If you are a breathing adult, you probably own a car, just as you probably own a refridgerator, a table, and a bed. Resale value makes sense for appreciating investments, not everyday commodities like automobiles.
Sure, it's different if you're talking about the resale potential of an Edsel vs. that of a '57 Bel Air; but the difference in resale value between a Toyota and a Saturn after five years is not only inconsequential, it's also more than made up for by the aggressive discounts that got you into the car, and maybe even the additional aggressive discounts that will get you into your next Saturn.
Ya' think the Toyota is cheaper to maintain? I thought we already went over this... Sure, the Toyota is still less likely to break down than the Saturn; but the likelihood of either one of them breaking down makes that difference unnegligible. Besides, take out the Toyota and substitute a VW or a Nissan, and the typical GM car wins that quality contest.
Ah, what about the difference between more expensive luxury cars--those are not everyday commodities, right?
First of all, if you're choosing a luxury car for its better resale value and you're buying that car at a typical interest rate--as opposed to leasing it or buying the car at near-zero interest--then you're probably not the Wall Street wizard you think you are and it's no wonder you're so obsessed with resale value.
This is important, because--if you take advantage of the generous lease or interest specials offered by the domestics--the average monthly lease payment or zero-interest payment can be hundreds of dollars less per month than the comparable import luxury model, even at comparable sticker prices. Rebates and other up-front discounts have to be factored in as well.
Some may insist that this is not the case--that the imports offer similar incentives which lower the overall cost. This is strange, because these are typically the same folks who complain about lower resale value for domestics because of the aggressive discounts and rebates. So, uh, someone will have to explain that one to me.
Anyway, I obviously voted "no" on this one.