I've specified a Vogue SE with about £5k of options, totaling £93k. The identical Autobiography comes in at £98k, along with a few more luxuries and nicer seats as standard. The new cost of the RR doesn't bother me too much, it's the depreciation that is key. Will the base value of each model depreciate at about the same rates (guessing at £1k pm average) and the value of the options be wiped out after 3 years? In which case would it better to go with the AB because it will retain more value after 3 years due to the standard features and less options i.e. Will the VSE lose £36k plus the £5k options (£41k) and the AB only the £36k? MY23 D350 HSE
On my 7th RR plus various other JLR vehicles

Your worried about loosing £4K but not concerned about the £40K depreciation

Buy the AB and get more enjoyment over the 3yrs sir

I know I'm more interested in how this works, than concerned. MY23 D350 HSE
On my 7th RR plus various other JLR vehicles

Im sure it will be worth a premium over a VSE sir but how much???????

Who knows sir

LR finance predict the same % depreciation for both the VSE plus options versus the AB without options. So answered my own question, unless someone has a better insight? MY23 D350 HSE
On my 7th RR plus various other JLR vehicles

Last edited by Phil. on 1st Feb 2015 3:31pm. Edited 1 time in total

I think they all converge over time. The AB will command some sort of premium, but hard to predict.

As the typical buyer of a 3 year old car, I generally look for a specific colour & interior, then 1 or 2 options that I really want - anything else is a bonus. I think that's why options generally lose most of their value as people stop caring - you just buy whatever car you can find.

I usually have a time window, so look around and buy what I think is the best one I can find in the few weeks that I'm looking. Based on previous cars, I'd be looking ideally for the Signature Audio and a tow bar, my wife would demand a panoramic roof - there are other bits I'd like, but they wouldn't be deal breakers, or really affect my valuation too much.....

Options and versions only make the thing easier to sell over time. Even at the low end of things it's the same. Once a car is second hand the main selling points are engine and colour. All the rest is just a bonus.

Buy what you want, enjoy it while it's yours and deal with whatever happens in 3 years time.

Phil. wrote:

LR finance predict the same % depreciation

I have bought a 4 year old 5.0 SC AB and I don't think I cared whether it said AB or VSE or SC or whatever just as long as it met my spec and this particular AB did I would be surprised if there is an appreciable difference between the two after 4 years and that it is more important that the car is in great condition (i.e. will fetch a few percent more) than exactly what spec it is. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Not sure i would share that thought process Eugene... Lots of my customers would NOT have an HSE in the early days only Vogue or VSE...

The AB is a nicer place to sit (as I'm sure your well aware) so I'm sure it will make a difference

Maybe if you drive them side by side and really notice the differences. I would have gone for a VSE (and I did until turbo problems showed up) but ended up with my current AB and I would not have paid more for the fact that it is AB, I would for the right car though. But maybe that is just me . MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Eugene, are you a typical UK buyer though? Im only commenting on my experience...

Not discounting your opinion Eugene Just giving my experience

I can see both sides - I wouldn't have bought an HSE unless it had the screen fitted.

I've got a VSE and really wouldn't have cared if it was a Vogue or AB.

However, there have been people on here specifically looking for a VSE and not been able to articulate why...

All the above taken into account, the VSE & AB models have meant different things on different ages of 322's & maybe true too on 405's as well?

It has been said in the past that a lower spec Autobiography will tend to be worth more than an equal or better spec VSE. I'd choose AB all the way...I didn't even look at the VSE as some of the options I wanted were not available.