fresh car
9 Car Features That Help Vehicles Retain Value
9 Car Features That Help Vehicles Retain Value
When auto consumers are looking at the used market, they will survey a vehicle’s reputation for durability to see what longevity they can expect, but many other factors come in the picture. In fact, with the number of available options in today’s automobiles, used car shoppers can customize almost as much as they would shopping for a fresh vehicle.
For consumers buying fresh cars, there are numerous add-ons that research and buying site iSeeCars says will help a vehicle retain its value. Here are nine features that will help produce a better come back when the time comes to sell a vehicle.
Advanced sound system
Stripped-down interiors might be fine for a spectacle car, but everyday vehicles will benefit from a quality stereo system when it comes time to sell. The top-of-the-line systems may not comeback their value on the used market, but music paramours will get good use out of an audio upgrade and stir the car to a like-minded buyer later. One example is the 10-speaker Sony Branded Audio upgrade available in the Ford Concentrate ($795).
Rearview backup camera
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will make backup cameras mandatory in all light-duty vehicles by 2018. In the meantime, this feature helps any car retain its value by providing an advanced safety feature for consumers on the secondhand market. Honda is one automaker that has rearview cameras standard in every two thousand fifteen model.
Bluetooth
Hands-free conversations might still be more dangerous than no conversation at all, but Bluetooth at least permits drivers to get the phone out of their mitts. Bluetooth is also the source of connectivity for audio playlists and streaming apps like Pandora and Spotify. Any car without Bluetooth these days feels dated, as it comes standard in almost every vehicle. However, for those automobiles with it left as an option, it will be worth a seller’s investment when the time comes.
Heated seats
Used car consumers in cold climates naturally prize heated seats when searching for a vehicle. While this feature may not be available as an add-on in some fresh automobiles, fresh car consumers usually have the option to upgrade to a higher trim level for heated seats. Using the Honda Civic sedan as an example, a two thousand fourteen Civic Sedan EX ($21,090) does not have heated seats available. The Civic EX-L ($22,740) has heated front seats standard. This feature won’t be worth the investment in warm climates.
Keyless entry
Coming in and commencing a car without the use of a key is becoming a common feature in vehicles — even ones outside of premium segments. According to iSeeCars, the luxury of unlocking and kicking off a car without the use of keys is worth the cost of the upgrade. There are many variances in brainy key systems, from the Tesla Model S fob that sends the door treats outside the car to the Ford MyKey system that controls the top speed of a car when loaned to someone else.
Premium wheels
Upgrading standard wheels to a larger, more premium set is another way for a car to retain its value over the years. Spending thousands extra on wheels doesn’t make sense from a practical standpoint — from a style standpoint, it always make sense — but going to the next level tends to be worth it, says iSeeCars. As an example, we suggest the Chrysler 200S trim of the midsize sedan. Choosing 19-inch hyper black aluminum wheels runs a fresh car buyer $695.
Leather seats
There is no comparison inbetween leather and cloth seats, but there are many cars that don’t give consumers the option to upgrade to leather in lower-level trims. Therefore, getting access to a more luxurious interior will cost a fresh car consumer. Leather’s durability and premium feel make the investment worth it in many cases. Shoddy cloth seats are no match for leather-clad vehicles on the secondhand market.
Automatic transmission
Manual transmissions are standard in many countries overseas, but automatic vehicles have been the norm among U.S. drivers for decades. Upgrading to automatic transmission in a two thousand fourteen Ford Concentrate costs $1,095 in the base trim, but the investment is worth it since it expands the pool of buyers dramatically when it is time to sell the car. Outside of sports cars, manual transmissions aren’t a desired feature for most used car shoppers.
Moonroof
No one needs to sell car consumers on the coolness of a moonroof, but this feature comes at a premium of $1,000 or more (as it would in a two thousand fourteen Ford Fusion SE). Nonetheless, iSeeCars says shoot for the moon when making this decision on a fresh car. The airiness and superior ventilation available with that upgrade give your car a boost at resale time. Compared to a car with a moonroof, a closed car will seem downright claustrophobic.
9 Car Features That Help Vehicles Retain Value
9 Car Features That Help Vehicles Retain Value
When auto consumers are looking at the used market, they will survey a vehicle’s reputation for durability to see what longevity they can expect, but many other factors inject the picture. In fact, with the number of available options in today’s automobiles, used car shoppers can customize almost as much as they would shopping for a fresh vehicle.
For consumers buying fresh cars, there are numerous add-ons that research and buying site iSeeCars says will help a vehicle retain its value. Here are nine features that will help produce a better comeback when the time comes to sell a vehicle.
Advanced sound system
Stripped-down interiors might be good for a spectacle car, but everyday vehicles will benefit from a quality stereo system when it comes time to sell. The top-of-the-line systems may not come back their value on the used market, but music paramours will get good use out of an audio upgrade and budge the car to a like-minded buyer later. One example is the 10-speaker Sony Branded Audio upgrade available in the Ford Concentrate ($795).
Rearview backup camera
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will make backup cameras mandatory in all light-duty vehicles by 2018. In the meantime, this feature helps any car retain its value by providing an advanced safety feature for consumers on the secondhand market. Honda is one automaker that has rearview cameras standard in every two thousand fifteen model.
Bluetooth
Hands-free conversations might still be more dangerous than no conversation at all, but Bluetooth at least permits drivers to get the phone out of their forearms. Bluetooth is also the source of connectivity for audio playlists and streaming apps like Pandora and Spotify. Any car without Bluetooth these days feels dated, as it comes standard in almost every vehicle. However, for those automobiles with it left as an option, it will be worth a seller’s investment when the time comes.
Heated seats
Used car consumers in cold climates naturally prize heated seats when searching for a vehicle. While this feature may not be available as an add-on in some fresh automobiles, fresh car consumers usually have the option to upgrade to a higher trim level for heated seats. Using the Honda Civic sedan as an example, a two thousand fourteen Civic Sedan EX ($21,090) does not have heated seats available. The Civic EX-L ($22,740) has heated front seats standard. This feature won’t be worth the investment in warm climates.
Keyless entry
Injecting and beginning a car without the use of a key is becoming a common feature in vehicles — even ones outside of premium segments. According to iSeeCars, the luxury of unlocking and beginning a car without the use of keys is worth the cost of the upgrade. There are many variances in brainy key systems, from the Tesla Model S fob that sends the door treats outside the car to the Ford MyKey system that controls the top speed of a car when loaned to someone else.
Premium wheels
Upgrading standard wheels to a larger, more premium set is another way for a car to retain its value over the years. Spending thousands extra on wheels doesn’t make sense from a practical standpoint — from a style standpoint, it always make sense — but going to the next level tends to be worth it, says iSeeCars. As an example, we suggest the Chrysler 200S trim of the midsize sedan. Choosing 19-inch hyper black aluminum wheels runs a fresh car buyer $695.
Leather seats
There is no comparison inbetween leather and cloth seats, but there are many cars that don’t give consumers the option to upgrade to leather in lower-level trims. Therefore, getting access to a more luxurious interior will cost a fresh car consumer. Leather’s durability and premium feel make the investment worth it in many cases. Shoddy cloth seats are no match for leather-clad vehicles on the secondhand market.
Automatic transmission
Manual transmissions are standard in many countries overseas, but automatic vehicles have been the norm among U.S. drivers for decades. Upgrading to automatic transmission in a two thousand fourteen Ford Concentrate costs $1,095 in the base trim, but the investment is worth it since it expands the pool of buyers dramatically when it is time to sell the car. Outside of sports cars, manual transmissions aren’t a desired feature for most used car shoppers.
Moonroof
No one needs to sell car consumers on the coolness of a moonroof, but this feature comes at a premium of $1,000 or more (as it would in a two thousand fourteen Ford Fusion SE). Nonetheless, iSeeCars says shoot for the moon when making this decision on a fresh car. The airiness and superior ventilation available with that upgrade give your car a boost at resale time. Compared to a car with a moonroof, a closed car will seem downright claustrophobic.