IRVINE, CA — Kelley Blue Book, a used- and new-car pricing and specification guide, has released a forecast of the 10 2003-model year vehicles that should best hold their value over the next five years.

The list was created based on current vehicle specifications, market conditions, expectations of the future economy, and the combined experience of the Kelley Blue Book editorial team, forecasting which 2003-model vehicles might retain the greatest amount of their original MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price).

The company adds that while a new car should not be considered an investment, there are some vehicles that hold a greater percentage of their original value than others. Several factors determine the current market value of a vehicle. The factors that carry the greatest weight are consumer demand, availability, and vehicle quality.

2003-Models Which Will Best Hold Their Value Over the Next Five Years

• Acura MDX

• BMW 3-Series

• Chevrolet Corvette

• Honda Civic

• Infiniti G35

• Jeep Wrangler

• Lexus LS 430

• Mercedes CLK

• Mini Cooper

• Toyota Tacoma

(High-performance, low-volume vehicles or vehicles with an original MSRP over $60,000 were not taken into consideration.)

According to Charlie Vogelheim, executive editor of Kelley Blue Book, many of the vehicles that made the 2002-model list may not make the list five years from now. He explained that supply and demand play the biggest role in year-over-year value.

“The 2002 model list is somewhat of a top 10 ranking of what was ‘hot’ right at that moment along with vehicles with low production and high demand,” said Vogelheim. “The 1998-model year vehicles on the list truly have long-term quality, reliability, usefulness, and sustained their consumer demand over time.”

Since many consumers purchase their vehicle on five-year loan or lease agreements, the Blue Book editorial team also took a look at vehicles that best held their value from the 1998-model year. The company determined each top 10 list by comparing the vehicle’s original MSRP with its current

Kelley Blue Book value.

2002-Models That Have Best Held Their Value

• Acura MDX

• BMW 3-Series

• BMW X5

• Ford Thunderbird

• Lexus LS 430

• Lexus SC 430

• Mercedes CLK

• Mini Cooper

• Toyota Sequoia

• Volkswagen GTi VR6

1998-Models That Have Best Held Their Value

• Chevrolet Corvette

• Honda Civic

• Jeep Wrangler

• Lexus 470

• Lexus GS

• Mercedes CLK

• Mercedes SLK

• Toyota Land Cruiser

• Toyota Supra

• Toyota Tacoma

(High-performance, low-volume vehicles or vehicles with an original MSRP over $60,000 were not taken into consideration.)

Vogelheim notes that the economy had a significant impact on the used-vehicle market in 2002 and will continue to impact values this year. 2002 saw zero-percent financing and other incentives that push new-vehicle sales. But along with the spike in new-vehicle sales, the market also saw an even greater influx of used vehicles. Blue Book also saw the largest number of vehicles to date coming out of lease programs, about three million, adding to the number of used vehicles on the market. All of these conditions contributed to a used car glut that significantly drove down the values of many used vehicles as much as 10-12 percent over the previous year.