New Car Options Impact Resale Value

Washington DC September 25, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that according to the New York Times, Car buyers are finding that optional safety features — stability control systems and side curtain air bags, for instance — can do more than just keep the family safe.

Along with options like CD changers and leather upholstery, the extra-cost safety equipment can help owners get a higher price when it is time to sell or trade in the car. "Safety equipment seems to be gaining in strength in terms of being an important feature," said Jack R. Nerad, the executive market analyst at Kelley Blue Book.

But some options may bring an even richer payback. One standout is a diesel engine. In 2005, a shopper who anted up for a Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI, the diesel version of the midsize E-Class, paid $575 more than the buyer of a gasoline E320. Today, the diesel model brings about $5,000 more than the gasoline version when it is sold. For more on what options most impact re-sale value, click here.