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Ask HN: Does It Still Make Sense to Buy a New Car?

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Re: Ask HN: Does It Still Make Sense to Buy a New Car?

#11

Post by iwanttocomment »

Anumbia wrote: post #7
iwanttocomment wrote: post #3

With ICE cars? OK, perhaps. With BEV cars? No, no, no. Also, no. You can buy an insanely great BEV for 40% of retail after it's gone off lease after 2-3 years. Everyone is concerned about battery life, but it'll have years to go. I'm not going to be interviewed for the segment, but I have personally bought a like-new, just-off-lease BEV for a fraction of the retail price of the car and it is really very good.

That's an interesting take. I know you said you're not looking to be interviewed, but could you tell me how recently you bought the BEV? Also, at a fraction of the retail price after 2 to 3 years; couldn't have been a Tesla. Was it a Tesla?

No, I wouldn't touch a Tesla at this point. It's a Volvo. Bought it in February, a magnificent deal.

I just calculated it, it was 37% of the original price. Still feels new.

Re: Ask HN: Does It Still Make Sense to Buy a New Car?

#12

Post by iwanttocomment »

jillesvangurp wrote: post #9
iwanttocomment wrote: post #3

With ICE cars? OK, perhaps. With BEV cars? No, no, no. Also, no. You can buy an insanely great BEV for 40% of retail after it's gone off lease after 2-3 years. Everyone is concerned about battery life, but it'll have years to go. I'm not going to be interviewed for the segment, but I have personally bought a like-new, just-off-lease BEV for a fraction of the retail price of the car and it is really very good.

EV depreciation is non linear. You lose a lot of the value in the first year because new EVs get better in ways that ICE cars long stopped improving. They get better ranges, faster charging, better battery longevity, more efficiency, etc. For some older models, you can get nice discounts on them new because of this or there are attractive incentives that somewhat moderate the impact of this effect. After the first ye…

As the owner of a 2012 BEV (still going), I do not believe that BEVs are getting substantially better year over year. Are they getting better? Of course! Within a period of a few years? Yeah, no, that's not actually a thing.
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