Why resale matters
A car that holds 60% of its value at five years is effectively half the cost of one that holds 35%. Two cars with the same $50,000 sticker can cost wildly different amounts to actually own.
Models with legendary resale
Toyota Tacoma, Tacoma TRD Pro, Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Porsche 911 GT3, and Honda Civic Type R routinely sell used near new price. Some Toyota trucks have been spotted reselling above MSRP a year later.
Models with terrible resale
Most full-size luxury sedans (S-Class, 7 Series, A8) lose 60%+ in 5 years. Maserati Ghibli, Jaguar XF and most pre-Rivian luxury EVs lose 70%+ as warranties expire and tech ages. They're great used buys for someone else.
How options affect resale
Manual transmissions in sports cars (Porsche 911, BMW M3) command premiums. Sunroofs, heated seats and leather are expected — their absence hurts more than their presence helps. Loud paint and odd interior colors usually hurt resale; safe colors (white, silver, black, gray) help.
When to sell
Just before major depreciation cliffs: end of year one, before the 60k-mile maintenance interval, before the factory warranty expires (typically 50k miles), and before a redesigned model hits dealers. Selling private-party nets 10–20% more than trading in.