Forbes points out that the MINI retains its worth far better than average.Sports cars, crossovers and SUVs typically retain roughly 40% of their original purchase price after five years of ownership. One example renowned for holding resale value: the Mini Cooper, which retains 52% of its value after five years.It also instructs that
…you should be wary of highly customizable vehicles like Smart’s tiny Fortwo Cabriolet: Sure, it’s an inexpensive purchase, costing just $21,635 for a Brabus cabriolet base model. But the car quickly loses 63% of its value in 24 months, and retains just 17% of its initial worth after five years. The Hello Kitty wrap offered as a customized option will do nothing to help bolster resale value.Thus, MotoringFile calculates
According to Forbes, a 2006 model of the Smart they mention would be worth a mere $3,678 today. An ‘06 MINI spec’d at the same price would still be worth $11,250. Compare that further to MINI models like the limited edition ‘06 GP, which according to Kelly Blue Book, are retaining as much as 80% of their value five years on. Both the Smart and the GP are extreme examples, but no matter how you slice it, the MINI can be a great value in the long run.
