Market observers note a clear shift in what buyers want when they look at used cars, especially among those who target vehicles aged around a decade. Industry voices, including leaders from the Union of Auto Experts and Appraisers, describe a growing preference for ten-year-old cars that have covered roughly 150,000 to 170,000 kilometers. This pattern is becoming a defining feature of today’s secondary market, signaling a change in priorities for many prospective buyers who previously focused on newer, lower-mileage options. The broader context shows families and individuals weighing reliability, maintenance costs, and long-term value, rather than simply chasing the newest model on the lot. In interviews and market observations, this trend emerges as a practical response to evolving price dynamics, availability, and the everyday realities of owning a used vehicle in today’s environment.
Just a year earlier, buyers tended to be more ambitious in their specifications. The typical request leaned toward cars aged five to seven years with mileage under 100,000 kilometers, representing a sweet spot of freshness and lower wear. That demand profile dominated the market conversations and influenced pricing in a noticeable way. As new car prices rose and the supply of reasonably priced options tightened, the market began to adapt, and the emphasis shifted toward what seemed most sensible given the circumstances. The result was a simpler, more forgiving set of criteria that many buyers felt could strike a favorable balance between cost, reliability, and residual value—at least in the short to medium term. The shift illustrates how buyers recalibrate expectations when ongoing market forces push prices higher and the pool of affordable, well-maintained options contracts.
It is evident that the rise in overall used car prices has reshaped buyers’ expectations and budgeting choices. Previously, a vehicle meeting the seven-year cap with mileage under 100,000 could comfortably sit around the 500,000 rubles mark, presenting a perceived value that combined age, mileage, and condition in a favorable way. Today, similar vehicles with those exact characteristics frequently fetch between 700,000 and 900,000 rubles. That jump forces many buyers to lower their demands, reassess their financing plans, or widen the search criteria in pursuit of better value elsewhere. The market response has been pronounced: more buyers are willing to compromise on age or mileage to stay within budget, while sellers adjust to the higher price floor required by current demand. In practice, this means a more elastic market where price, condition, and age co-exist in a delicate balance. The dialogue around what constitutes a good deal has shifted, and buyers now approach their purchases with a more pragmatic lens as they navigate the evolving landscape of available options.
Photo: TASS