A real Kiwi Bloke would not of course be seen dead behind a Korean Pedal Car (I frequently have to fish them out from under by Landrover), or even a Dodge Stratus (those they the things they rent to you at the Airport when there was a Tornado that ripped through the Airport destroying everything in sight, there is a Japanese Elvis Look-a-Like convention in town as well as a Mary Kay Beer Kegger and you are desperate for any car).

However here are the latest ranking for the Top 5 Vehicles for the Worst Depreciation. They depreciation is soo bad on a Kia that it loses 30% just leaving the smurking Kia Car Salesman. Here are the rankings for sedan vehicles. The numbers represent the expected residual value after 5 years. So for the Kia, expect to lose 80% of the value after five years. So your $12,995 bargain will be worth $ 2,400 in 2011.

• 2006 Kia Rio - 20.7%
• 2006 Hyundai Accent - 23.0%
• 2006 Kia Spectra - 24.0% 2006
• Dodge Stratus - 26.0%
• 2006 Hyundai Elantra - 26.3%

The worst depreciation for trucks are the following models:

• 2006 Isuzu Ascender - 30.8%
• 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck - 31.8%
• 2006 Buick Rendezvous - 31.9%
• 2006 Suzuki XL-7 - 32.2%
• 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara - 33.8%

Now my understanding is that the Ascender is the Chevy Trailblazer so go buy the Trailblazer which aside from the crappy GM interior is actually a good vehicle. The Mazda B Series truck, not clear why anyone would buy this, looks like one of those utility vehicles that the Accountant sprung on you one day as a good company vehicle. The Buick Rendevous, need I say more. The Suzuki XL7 and Grand Vitara are reasonable vehicles, the Samurai used to go anywhere and was cheap to run.

You can get the low down from the Auto Channel.

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