Buzz
Generally, new car buyers don’t purchase vehicles with the intention of trading them in every year. In fact, only 1.5% of owners swap their cars within the first year, according to a recent study by iSeeCars.com, which also found that certain vehicles have a much higher turnover rate.
The research analyzed over 24 million new car sales from 2015 to 2017. By tracking the VIN, the study determined if cars were relisted within a year of their original purchase. New cars with over 500 miles or fewer than 50,000 sales were excluded. The study then identified the top 11 cars that were most often resold within the first year.
The chart above shows how these vehicles rank, but iSeeCars shared a few key insights. Interestingly, 6 out of the 11 cars come from BMW or Mercedes, which they attribute to dealerships reselling loaner cars. Additionally, the other 5 models received 3 stars or fewer in the J.D. Power 2016 Initial Quality Study. Here’s what the CEO, Phong Ly, had to say about these findings:
It’s crucial to understand that a car with a mid-range or low quality ranking doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a “lemon.” Instead, it suggests the vehicle may not be meeting customer expectations. In many cases, these aren’t “issues” at all, but rather difficulties with technology features like Bluetooth, voice recognition, or the navigation and audio systems. Often, these systems don’t work as expected or lack intuitive operation.
This could be valuable information if you're looking for a gently used car. The study also estimated the average discount that bargain hunters can expect on each of these 11 models. Take a look at the table below.
