Used cars

Sunroofs shining for buyers

Don’t pay extra for the latest gizmos when buying your next second-hand car

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Ross Pinnock

23rd March 2007

Many advanced features such as radar-based cruise control and TV receivers are an increasingly common sight on used luxury models, but according to experts at Glass’s Guide, they are worth only a fraction of their price new.

While the average optional cost of radar cruise control for the Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series is £1,380, 12 months later its residual value is £280 – a 79 per cent decrease.

It’s the same for executive vehicles, where a premium audio system is typically worth £670 on new models such as the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series. A year later, the set-up adds only an extra £140 to the car’s price, while a £700 television receiver plummets in value to £110 over the same period.

However, not all add-ons are such poor value. Desirable options such as sat-nav and Bluetooth connectivity are in demand on premium models, with some luxury cars and SUVs worth as much as £2,500 less when the former hasn’t been specified. Meanwhile, sunroofs are making a comeback because so few modern vehicles are fitted with the once-fashionable optional extra.

Richard Crosthwaite is prestige car editor for Glass’s. He said: “After a period when few new cars were purchased with electric sunroofs due to the ubiquity of air-conditioning, they are experiencing a resurgence in popularity.” Crosthwaite reckons they retain more than half of their new cost after 12 months.