Today, I’m bringing you five luxury cars that are selling for an enormous amount of money less than they cost when they were new. Regular readers will point out I recently did a list on this very same topic, but here’s my defense: Right after this, I have a post coming about a 2006 Maybach. And if there’s ever a really good time to make this list, it’s when you’re talking about the Maybach. So, anyway, here are five more modern luxury cars selling for way less than their original price — and I promise that, after this, I will drop this topic, at least until it’s time for me to review a Bentley Arnage. Here goes:
2003 Aston Martin Vanquish — $59,500
The mid-2000s Aston Martin Vanquish is one of the single most beautiful cars of all time, but that hasn’t stopped it from depreciating heavily, like all Aston Martin models. The Vanquish’s original MSRP was $224,000 back in 2003, and this one is currently listed for sale by Airpark Motorcars in the Phoenix area for just $59,500, even though it’s traveled just over 21,000 miles since new. Admittedly, the transmission is partially to blame: The old-school sequential manual unit in the Vanquish is highly unloved, though Aston Martin offers a full factory manual swap for a hefty fee. Find a 2003 Aston Martin Vanquish for sale
2006 Audi A8L W12 — $19,900
Although many people don’t realize it, the Audi A8 was offered for many years with a 12-cylinder engine, just like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. In the 2006 Audi A8, the 12-cylinder was a W12 — basically, two V6 engines stuck together — and it made about 440 horsepower in this generation of the luxury sedan. But demand for the big engine is low (and it was low even when the A8 was new) — and while the starting price of this particular Audi model would’ve been $119,000 in 2006, it’s now listed by Specialties Auto Group in the Salt Lake City area for just $19,900. Find a 2006 Audi A8 for sale
2007 Maserati Quattroporte — $24,995
The mid-2000s Maserati Quattroporte is a sporty, V8-powered sedan with distinctive styling, rear-wheel drive and an excellent exhaust note just waiting to be unlocked with an aftermarket exhaust. While the Quattroporte sold for well over $100,000 just a decade ago, prices have fallen considerably since: This one is listed by a private seller near Philadelphia for just $24,995, and it’s nowhere near the cheapest on Autotrader. Fortunately, this later Quattroporte has a traditional torque converter automatic transmission, rather than the horrible "DuoSelect" sequential automatic that Maserati installed in earlier models — and that makes the car a lot more enjoyable to drive. Find a 2007 Maserati Quattroporte for sale
2005 Maybach 57 — $59,950
This 2005 Maybach 57 is certainly one of the most unusual of all, as it’s finished in red with giant red wheels — not exactly factory colors on a car that was usually finished in sedate, underwhelming hues. Unfortunately, the red exterior (noted as a $5,000 wrap in the listing) and the 24-inch wheels (claimed to have a $12,000 value in the listing) haven’t done much to increase the Maybach’s value: Even though this car was around $350,000 in 2005, it’s currently listed by a private seller in San Francisco for just $59,950. Find a 2005 Maybach 57 for sale
1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph — $29,990
Although it can be hard to keep the Rolls-Royce models straight, the Silver Seraph is the flagship model that preceded the Phantom — though it never had the Phantom’s crazy presence or exciting appearance. Instead, it faded into the background, which may be the reason why used examples have gotten so cheap: The starting price on this 1999 Silver Seraph would’ve been $217,000 when it was new, and now — less than 20 years later — it can be yours from a private seller in the beach community of South Haven, Michigan, for just $29,990. Find a 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph for sale
MORE FROM OVERSTEER:
Here’s What It Cost to Own a 10-Year-Old V12 Mercedes-Benz S600
Here Are the 5 Most Commonly Misspelled Car Names
Why Don’t You Review Cars on Race Tracks?
Seems like each one of those cars is a ticking time bomb, either a V12 seppuku, or transmission travesty. I’ve heard the rule of thumb on cars of this class/vintage is “have 50% of the purchase price set aside for repairs”….
The silver giraffe
You’ve re-stoked my fire for a Maser Quattroporte, ugh.
I really really want a 2011 maser quattroporte gts, what an amazing car.
Can I get the Maybach for 48,000 if I tell them to keep those rims?
I have a hard time believing anyone would buy that Maybach for $60k looking like that. If they actually want to sell it, I would ditch the wrap and rims, and go back to a more stately look.