Third Row and Residuals

Fredo · #1 10-13-2007, 11:20 AM

What do people think the effect of the third row of seats will be on residuals? It will obviously be easier to sell the car with them specified, my dealer thinks two years down the line it could be a must have on an X5 like Satnav is now. He was citing previous expereince with the E class Mercedes a few years ago where cars without the third row of seats were worth MUCH less.

For us they will be somthing that is useful rather than essential to have. Not intending to have four kids! Hopefully just two.

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linh811 · #2 10-13-2007, 11:26 AM

I bought mine off the showroom and didn't order it, so was forced to have the 3rd row seats. Given the option, I would just delete it, no one could possibly fit back there.

nynd · #3 10-13-2007, 11:47 AM

Well, kids can and do enjoy sitting there. It is a good thing to have more of a as/when needed. Its not the most comfortable for adults but during that time you want to haul a 6th or 7th person - its an added value. Think of it like this.. during resale...if you had to choose between two units - one with seats and one without 3rd row...which would you be inclined to opt for....considering their priced similarly.

linh811 · #4 10-13-2007, 11:55 AM

I think you're right, I'm married, no kids yet, haven't found anyone willing to sit back there

Fastbuck · #5 10-13-2007, 12:44 PM

You will not get a greater value at trade-in time than the cost of the options itself. So if you personally are not going to get your money's worth out of them during the time you own the vehicle, it's a lose-lose scenario.

brian5 · #6 10-13-2007, 02:13 PM

My dealer said it's a good idea to order 3rd row seats as it will be good for resale. What a load of hogwash... The 3rd row seats are not that functional that it will encourage anyone to pay extra for them in a used vehicle.

I did purchase them as I still have kids (and their friends) that will fit in them for another few years.

dwarfer · #7 10-13-2007, 02:38 PM

My dealer said the same. Almost all of the extra's don't add any real value at trade in time or at least noting like what they cost you. He said that certian things help like leather and wheels/sport kit esp when there are a lot of base model ex lease cars on the market. Bottom line seems to be get it if you are going to use/enjoy it, otherwise don't bother.

buschy · #8 10-13-2007, 07:07 PM

its all opinions and its also going to be based on who buys it.
I have the third row and I find them to be great. we didnt want another big suv, but we wanted the third row, cause we have three kids and its nice to keep the older one away form the smaller ones.
all three kids have no problem sitting back there. and honestly for th esmaller ones its very good, the seats and seatbelts fit them much better then the secondrow, thus being safer, imo.
I think I climbed back there once and if for somereason you wanted to tag along a couple adults with a DD to go out, I think it woudl be barable, they are not as bad as people make it seem..

buschy · #9 10-13-2007, 07:08 PM

oh yeah I think that the tird seat will help resale.
and why not get third row? it doesnt change anything except the third row, basically. comfor in the second row does not change

Fredo · #10 10-13-2007, 07:43 PM

Comfort in the second row does change. In the two cars I tried the second row seats are inferior when the third row is specced.

The more I think about the third row I think they are worth speccing. I think there will be occasions where we use them and I think used buyers will want them, it's an option which will be an absolute deal breaker for some buyers.

The third row seating could become something that is expected inthe future. Lets face it the X5 and it's competitors are big cars, the XC90 did very well out of the thrid row options and now with the X5 it may well be a requisite for a car in this sector.

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