Car optionsCar options that improve resale values

If you choose the right car options, you'll attract more buyers and get the best price possible when it comes to selling your car.

The following are all worth paying extra for if you can afford it:

BMW 3 Series: worth more with metallic paint

Metallic paint

Buyers expect metallic paint on all types of car nowadays, from superminis to luxury cars.

According to vehicle valuation specialists CAP, it’s one of the most common options people pay extra for, and its effect on resale values can be far reaching.

As an example, a three-year-old BMW 3 Series with 60,000 miles on the clock has an average trade value of £8,825. If the buyer paid extra for metallic silver paint, this figure will rise by £75. If not, and the buyer opted for solid white paint, their car would be worth £930 less than the trade price.

The effects are even more extreme on sports cars: a Porsche 911 cabriolet with 30,000 miles on the clock will be worth a whopping £3,000 less without metallic paint.

Old superstitions still play a part in used car values, too. A three-year-old Ford Focus with metallic green paint will be worth £205 less than the same car sprayed metallic silver.

Choose carefully, and bear in mind that you’re picking the paint job not just for yourself, but for whoever you end up selling the car to.

Built-in sat nav: good option for luxury cars

Built-in sat nav

If you’re happy to have a standalone unit, you can find a Best Buy sat nav for less than £80. But with many cars, you have the option of paying more for a built-in sat nav.

It’s not cheap though: an integrated system will cost you around £1,850 on a new Volvo XC60, £1,975 on an Audi A4 Avant and up to £1,200 on a Ford Focus.

Built-in sat nav will help most cars retain value, but it’s particularly important for executive and luxury cars. In a three-year-old BMW 3 Series, for instance, a built-in sat nav will add as much as £330 to the resale value.

Built-in sat nav is less appealing as an option in other cars as it ages quickly and can be expensive to update.

Leather seats can boost resale values

Leather seats

If they’re available on the car you’re hoping to buy, leather seats are generally worth paying extra for. They look good, are comfortable, and will usually last longer than fabric alternatives.

What’s more, leather seats are renowned for improving the resale values of used cars. A 1.6-litre VW Golf, for example, will be worth almost £300 more with leather seats.

Leather seats are also a worthwhile option if you suffer from allergies, as they harbour less dust. Heated leather seats can add value to car.

Automatic gearbox

Car options: automatics hold their value well

Cars with automatic gearboxes are usually more expensive, but they hold their value well. This is particularly true of luxury cars, which can be worth significantly less with manual transmission.

To give you an idea of cost, a four-door petrol version of the new BMW 3 Series will set you back £1,970 more with an automatic gearbox. An automatic, 2.0-litre Vauxhall Insignia saloon is £1,350 more than the manual version.

Parking sensors

Parking sensors are incredibly useful (especially on large cars) and can help to improve resale values.

With some cars such as the Ford Kuga, you can pay extra for front and rear parking sensors that give you an audible warning when you get near to objects. Other cars, such as the BMW 7 Series, offer side and rear cameras that help you see where you are going.

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