The average value of a new car reduces by more than '20 a day for the first six months of its life, it was revealed today.

This means owners see nearly '4,000 wiped off their car's value in the first half-year.

The average daily value loss for luxury cars is as high as '108 - equating to nearly '20,000 over the first six months, the statistics from Used Car Buyer magazine showed.

"When you see the figures in black and white, it's not difficult to see why nearly a million people opt to buy a manufacturer approved used car in the six to 24 months old bracket every year," said the compiler of the figures, James Ruppert, of Used Car Buyer.

These are the average depreciation figures for the various car sectors:

Luxury 36% - '108 loss per day, '19,848 loss over six months.

Executive 23% - '25 loss per day, '4,573 loss over six months.

Upper Medium 32% - '24 loss per day, '4,448 loss over six months.

4x4 24% - '24 loss per day, '4,569 loss over six months.

Small family 36% - '22 loss per day, '3,920 loss over six months.

Supermini 28% '12 loss per day, '2,321 loss over six months..

Mr Ruppert's statistics also revealed the slowest and fastest depreciators, with comments attached.

The Slowest Depreciators:

New Mini - Still a "must have" model

Nissan 350Z - Waiting list keeps prices up

Volvo XC90 - Much in demand

Smart Pure - Big in the city still

Toyota RAV-4 - Sensible 4x4 everyone wants

Mercedes E-Class diesel - Right badge and engine

Seat Alhambra - People carrier that stays firm

Porsche Boxster - On everyone's wish list

Audi A3 - The prestige hatch...

Volkswagen Golf - ...and another prestige hatch.


Biggest Depreciators:

Vauxhall Vectra - Good car but lots around

Rover 45 - Getting old now

Alfa Romeo 166 - Unwanted executive

Peugeot 607 - Another big, unloved car

Renault Vel Satis - The most unloved exec

Citroen Xsara Coupe - Not taken seriously

Proton Wira - Weird name, ignored car

Perodua Kenari - Cheap to start with

Hyundai Sonata - No image, no hope

Suzuki Liana - Dull but cheap.

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