Why have the QP's depreciated so quickly? | FerrariChat

Why have the QP's depreciated so quickly?

Discussion in 'Maserati' started by acstr, Jan 6, 2008.

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  1. acstr

    acstr Rookie

    Sep 13, 2007
    20
    Scottsdale, AZ
    I'm finding deals on 2005-2006 Quattroporte's in the high $50's with less than 15k miles. Why do they depreciate so quickly?
     
  2. Auraraptor

    Auraraptor F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Sep 25, 2002
    13,196
    MO
    Cambiocorsa
     
  3. italiancars

    italiancars F1 Rookie

    Apr 18, 2004
    3,338
    Hershey, PA
    Compared to what? It doesn't depreciate any more than it MB or BMW competitors.
     
  4. acstr

    acstr Rookie

    Sep 13, 2007
    20
    Scottsdale, AZ
    It does and more. If you take a S550 or even a S500 with a dated body design, the sales vs. original msrp are much stronger. Example: a 2007 MB S550 (even in one of the less desired color combos is selling for no less than 65-70% of it's original MSRP even with high miles i.e 25,000+). A Mas QP of the same year with similar mileage to make the comparison even can be found for 55-60% of original MSRP all day and then even better deals if hunted.

    I've been in the market for a QP and/ or possibly a S550. I can find 07 QP's in the low 70's which had a $120 or greater MSRP, but a S550 with a $100 MSRP and the same mileage can not be found in this range without a salvage title or very high one year mileage.

    For the record my research came from daily searching in Dupont R, Autotrader.com, cars.com, local classifieds, ebay, forums, and a dealer watching for cars at Manheim auctions.
     
  5. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 26, 2001
    29,385
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    Trailer Swift
    Because they're Maserati cars in America. Masers haven't held their value in 30 years, why would they start now?

    That's not a bad thing -- once an early Ferrari-related coupe hits the 20s I'll be driving one


    edit: to be more specific: little brand name value outside of niche enthusiasts. No full auto (until now) in a market segment that pretty much requires them. Service network is thin on the ground, and worse is tied in with the Ferrari dealerships. That doesn't bode well for customer service. Many new cars didn't sell for anything near sticker, so depreciation looks worse than it was. No lease programs early on, so slow sales -> no market penetration. Unknown future running costs, no track record for the new designs. Based off of Ferrari components, that scares 'normal' people. Instability in the brand itself, with it moving around within the FIAT structure. What happens to resale/brand image if the 2010 model turns out to be a rebadged FIAT 500?
     
  6. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,214
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    All good, valid points.

    Low resale value will impact future new car sales which will impact the long-term viability of the brand.
     
  7. lil squid

    lil squid F1 Veteran

    Dec 3, 2007
    5,949
    Houston TX
    Full Name:
    Yuliya
  8. Bcube

    Bcube Karting

    Jan 9, 2006
    94
    I.E. in SoCal
    Full Name:
    Brian
    EBAY - Too many variables for accuracy - a bid submission is not the final sale price
    Manheim Auction- Comparing wholesale prices of sometimes questionable cars to used retail? Pleeezzzeee
    Cars.com - A quick 10 second check of a 250 mile range of Scottsdale area has '05-'06 asking prices at $71K-$84K - didn't see any $55K- 60K QPs

    Sigh. Not going to check your other sources as I did my own analysis late last year. Three year old Maserati's (for SoCal area) tend to lose 43% of MSRP. Three year old MB AMG's tend to lose 44% of MSRP.

    Also note that very few purchasers bought new Maserati's at MSRP - $20K off sticker tends to be the norm.

    Sorry ACSTR - not buying into your statements. The comparable data doesn't support it.
     
  9. ddemuro

    ddemuro Formula 3

    Nov 16, 2006
    2,129
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Doug
    Let's check 2005 models to see if your statement is accurate:

    Format is: (vehicle: value new / value now / percentage retained)

    Maserati Quattroporte: $102,900 / $70,800 / 68.8%
    BMW 745i: $69,900 / $44,700 / 63.9%
    BMW 745Li: $73,900 / $46,800 / 63.3%
    BMW 760i: $109,900 / $68,900 / 62.7%
    BMW 760Li: $117,300 / $64,400 / 54.9%
    Mercedes S500: $86,100 / $46,300 / 53.8%
    Mercedes S600: $128,000 / $61,000 / 47.7%

    Those numbers show that the Quattroporte has retained its value significantly better. However, the BMW and Mercedes competitors named are almost always daily drivers, while the Quattroporte is not necessarily. For instance, the average-priced 2005 BMW 745i has about 35,000 miles on it and the average 2005 Mercedes S500 has about 37,000 miles while the average 2005 Quattroporte has only around 9,000 miles.

    A 2005 Quattroporte with 35,000 miles is averaging in the upper $50,000 range, which suggests worse depreciation than both Mercedes and BMW, however this is probably not due to mileage as much as it's due to the fact that there are so many lower-mileage examples available, which is generally not so with the BMW 745i and Mercedes S500.

    So my conclusion: based on raw numbers, the Quattroporte holds its value worse - but only slightly worse - than competition. However, it's hard to compare them based upon the mileage differences.
     
  10. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    75,370
    Texas!
    Simple, compared to the market, they were over priced from the get go.

    Remember, the tape never lies.

    Dale
     
  11. Prancing 12

    Prancing 12 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 11, 2004
    2,649
    The long way home
    Bingo!

    That's the one true reason that the brand has struggled out of the blocks. There is no other excuse why Maserati would be (has to be) offering a $20k (up to $40k in Canada!) rebate to move the new cars. If they were priced correctly in the first place, they would've sold a lot more cars to those cross-shopping Audis, BMWs and Benz'... no one wants to take a chance on an unknown brand for a $25k premium when the usual brands seem safe. If the QPs had always been priced in-line with the Germans, they could've drawn many new customers who were simply curious... Just my $.02
     
  12. Daytonafan

    Daytonafan F1 Rookie

    Oct 18, 2003
    2,748
    Surrey, England
    Full Name:
    Matthew
    The QP is comfortably the lowest depreciating luxury saloon (sedan) in the UK at the moment.
     
  13. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ
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    Nov 4, 2006
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    Marc Sonnery
    Although I don't really follow recent cars or their values I cannot help but notice that every few months there is anew threa of this kind and I always wonder if it is started by a Mercedes or a BMW salesman...
     
  14. ucorders

    ucorders Formula Junior

    Dec 27, 2005
    398
    Portland Oregon
    I think it is the perception of the looming mega repair bill. When you buy used MB, or BMW with 50k miles you are still are not usually thinking about what it will cost to fix it. If you buy a used Maserati with even 20k there is the perception that you could find yourself with a stunner of a repair bill. A good way to look at this is how many people would pick a MB over a Maserati if they new the operating cost would be the same? I think very few.
     
  15. Prancing 12

    Prancing 12 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 11, 2004
    2,649
    The long way home
    Not sure what experiences you or your friends have, but I don't know ANYONE that would consider a 50,000 7-Series or S-Class, especially if the car is out of warranty (time-wise)... too many bad stories
     
  16. technom3

    technom3 F1 World Champ
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    Mar 29, 2007
    14,721
    Phoenix AZ
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    Justin


    lol

    so true. I used to work at a bmw dealer... and one of my very good friends was a benz parts person... 8k dollars if your nav unit in a benz aka COMMAND system. LOL
     
  17. ucorders

    ucorders Formula Junior

    Dec 27, 2005
    398
    Portland Oregon
    I agree both of these are dogs but it is the general perception of the public that matters. Even considering what lousy cars these are they are still no match for even a "reliable" Maserati when it comes to expensive repair bills. I wish I was wrong. I would like to hear from someone on this board with a 4 year old 100k mile Maserati and hear what their repair bills are. This is not that unusual for a MB, Lexus or BMW. My guess is the reason it does not happen with Maseratis is because the repair bill pain starts to set in long before anyone puts that many miles on one.
     
  18. GregD

    GregD Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2003
    885
    California
    Full Name:
    Greg
    I agree, the QP was overpriced.. Initially, I was suprised to learn that the QP was in the $120,000 range when the Coupe was going for the low to mid $90,0000 range.
    There are no technological or performance enhancements in the QP vs. the Coupe.

    I also think the average QP driver does not want to deal with a cambiocorsa. Plain and
    simple, the car is being driven in auto mode wearing the clutch quickly.

    Even the car mag. writers can't handle the cambiocorsa, and have consistantly compared to a full auto transmission. Constant negative publicity, ignorance, and apples to oranges comparisons havent helped.
     
  19. italiancars

    italiancars F1 Rookie

    Apr 18, 2004
    3,338
    Hershey, PA
    Here you go, not 100k in 4, but 75k in 3,

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178118

    Joe
     
  20. 505T

    505T Formula Junior

    Jan 26, 2004
    377
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Sam
    After driving a Sport GT QP, I say let them depreciate! I can hardly wait to own one.
     
  21. ucorders

    ucorders Formula Junior

    Dec 27, 2005
    398
    Portland Oregon
    That is great! More stories like this and I would buy one. There needs to be multiple high mileage accounts though. It seems to me that I have seen far more stories of 10k repair bills on 20k mile cars. In all fairness though people do tend to push them to their limits all of the time.
     
  22. italiancars

    italiancars F1 Rookie

    Apr 18, 2004
    3,338
    Hershey, PA
    With a 48/50 warranty there shouldn't be ANY repair bills right now expect on the high mileage cars. Now that they have a true Automatic you should start to see more high mileage cars as they become less of an enthusiast car and are purchased (leased) by the Country Club set or become the Dr. wife's car etc.

    This is good, more sales equal more profit which will enable Maserati build other interesting enthusiast oriented cars.


    Joe
     
  23. tiara4300

    tiara4300 Formula Junior

    Feb 27, 2005
    650
    miami ,fl.
    Full Name:
    Adam
    01/10/08 MANHEIM Lease $55,250 10,233 Below BLACK 8G A Yes
    01/10/08 MANHEIM Regular $50,000 38,920 Below GREY/BLK 8G A No
    12/27/07 MANHEIM Regular $60,000 5,106 Avg BLUE 8G A Yes
    12/19/07 W PALM Regular $50,500 29,039 Below CHAMP 8G A No
    12/18/07 RIVRSIDE Regular $71,000 21,222 Above NONE 8G Yes
    12/12/07 ATLANTA Factory $51,000 30,525 Below BLACK 8G A No

    These are 2006 models
     
  24. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Franklin E. Parker
    I would consider one for $50k or less...
     
  25. DMOORE

    DMOORE Formula 3

    Aug 23, 2005
    1,720
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Darrell
    I just pulled up auto trader.com. The prices start at $55k ,for cars with 20k MI and under. The first 20 listings were under 65k asking. That's a lot of car for the money.


    Darrell.
     

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