Currently reading: Alfa 166 loses the most value
The UK's biggest depreciating car is the Alfa's luxury saloon

The Alfa Romeo 166 has been named as Britain’s worst depreciating used car, holding just 14.4 per cent of its original used value after three years.

The findings make up part of Glass’s Guide of used car values, which has studied more than 6500 three-year old models available in the UK.

Despite no longer being on sale, Rover and MG cars also fare little better, with the Rover 45/MG ZS, City Rover and Rover 75/MG ZT completing the top four. These cars held just 20.3 per cent, 20.4 per cent and 21.3 per cent of their values respectively after three years.

All the cars in the top 10 worst depreciators all share one common trait, the fact they are no longer in production.

Adrian Rushmore, managing editor of Glass¹s Guide, said: “For almost all of them [in the top 10] the last year they were available to buy as new cars was 2006.

“The used-car market has been offering these models for many years and they have been overtaken by a younger generation of cars with more stylish, modern designs. In the case of Rover/MG-badged cars, it's not just the models that are obsolete - even the manufacturer has gone.”

The top 10 worst depreciating cars in the UK are:

1. Alfa Romeo 166 - 14.4% (of its original value held after three years)2. Rover 45 / MG ZS - 20.3%3. Rover CityRover - 20.4%4. Rover 75 / MG ZT - 21.3%5. Proton Impian - 22.0%6. Mitsubishi Space Star - 22.5%7. Nissan Terrano - 22.9%8. Alfa Romeo 156 - 24.2%9. Renault Laguna - 24.3%10. Cadillac CTS - 24.8%

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Greg1 27 August 2009

Re: Alfa 166 loses the most value

justi wrote:
Speaking as the ex-owner of an expensively deceased and rebuilt MG ZT 190 I feel I have some experience.

Can't compare an Alfa with an MG ZT. Things started turning around with Alfa in the early 00's; sadly not the case with MG's.

justi 27 August 2009

Re: Alfa 166 loses the most value

Lee23404 wrote:
Makes a good used buy then. Go on you know you want to.

Hmmm, maybe not. Sometimes things are cheap for a good reason other than fashion. Speaking as the ex-owner of an expensively deceased and rebuilt MG ZT 190 I feel I have some experience. Lovely Q car. Then the Power steering belt came off and took the pistons with it through the whole engine. What kind of sh!t design is that? Lord knows what the 166 would have in store...

Luso Alfisti 27 August 2009

Re: Alfa 166 loses the most value

well, the cars do tend to depreciate as fast as they go :)

but seriously, I think Glass's Guide pushed it a bit too much... for example I checked on autotrader and there are these beauties available:

2005 - 166 2L @ £10000 - the mango's one

2004 - 166 3L V6 @ £ 8750 - another alfa dealer

I did find a 166 on the £2500 mark thou, but it's a 2003 one