Your opinion on 2nd gen vs 3rd gen resale value

[chocolab]

Hey guys, I never got my Yaris, have just missed on a couple. I live in a smaller city so that means I have to drive somewhere to find one, which makes it a little tougher. Excuses excuses, right?

Anyway, right now I'm looking at two prospects, one is a 2010 and one a 2012, but MTs. Both seem to be about the same deal value wise (not price, the 2012 obviously costs more)... The 2010 is probably a tiny bit better deal, but a 2012 manual transmission is very rare from what I've seen.

I'm wondering if in the future the newer body style would make it relatively (again, not in an absolute price sense) more valuable so that paying up for the 2012 would be worth it.

What do you think, would the 3rd gen be worth paying more for? Or does the new body style not even matter that much in the Yaris' case?

[WeeYari]

Screw resale value. Depreciation will probably be the same for Gen3 as it is for Gen2.

Pick the generation that is most appealing to you.

[CTScott]

A newer model of a late model vehicle will always have a relatively better resale value than a prior model, but it will likely be in proportion to the higher purchase cost, making it somewhat of a wash in the end.

Manual transmission Yaris are hard to find, but also are hard to resell (so says one of my clients that owns a large used car business).

[chocolab]

Thanks guys... WeeYari, I like both of them. Prefer the 2012 because I like the interior and the power locks (I figure that would make it easier to add remote locking, which I want), but I like the 2010 also. I prefer the 2010 to earlier years because I like the tach, upholstery, and easier to add cruise, which I also want.

CTScott, that's true about the manual but I figure if I did sell it, it would be to a private individual so I could afford to take my time and find a loony like myself who insists on a MT. :)

[harda toenail]

In my area, the yaris is somehow increasing in value. Last year, I found mine for 6k with 84k miles (MT LB, power windows and locks, OEM cruise). This year I'm trying to find a similar deal for my wife and I can't find anything with under 130k miles for less than $7500
That said, there are very few 2012+ for sale but a similar 2011 goes for the same price. I much prefer the looks exterior and interior of the 2007 style. But to each his/her own.

Buy whatever YOU WANT right now. Worry about resale value when that time comes.

[nookandcrannycar]

I agree with Wee Yari and Harda Toenail. Don't let resale between two different versions of the same model enter into the decision.