classic cars that are affordable and good investments
Discussion
Fiat 500 - but get a good one, new model always seems to make origional more valuable.
Porsche 911 (993) - still a good investment if you consider a 15 year old car a classic, also suprisingly cheap to run for a 'supercar'.
Porsche 944 S2 - as 968's get rarer/overvalued the next best alternative and reasonable money at present.
MG Midget/Sprite - easy to fix and cheap ragtops.
Vauxhall Carlton GSI3000 - a cosworth with comfort and cheap at the moment.
Toyota MR2 series 1 - these cars are serious value now and can only go up.
Toyota MR2 series 2 - also good value but so good to look at in the right colour.
Oh and I forgot - Mk1 golf - classic that is usable everyday.
Porsche 911 (993) - still a good investment if you consider a 15 year old car a classic, also suprisingly cheap to run for a 'supercar'.
Porsche 944 S2 - as 968's get rarer/overvalued the next best alternative and reasonable money at present.
MG Midget/Sprite - easy to fix and cheap ragtops.
Vauxhall Carlton GSI3000 - a cosworth with comfort and cheap at the moment.
Toyota MR2 series 1 - these cars are serious value now and can only go up.
Toyota MR2 series 2 - also good value but so good to look at in the right colour.
Oh and I forgot - Mk1 golf - classic that is usable everyday.
Edited by andrewws on Sunday 28th December 06:14
Bought a Saab 96V4 a while ago to do some low key historic rallies in... £1200 on Ebay but it'll be £2k by the time it's really ready to use. Not a huge number for sale at any moment but £2k will get a good one and £3-4k a minter. Great rally pedigree and a reliable/comfortable drive. Freewheeling is a bit of added value eccentricity as well...
Its the bit about "good investmets" which is the thing. Older cars are getting rarer all the time, but its difficult to know which will be incresing in value. For example. the Quattro. A great car, but almost forgotten by the general classic car scene until a certain TV programme. Now they have become quite prized and a good investment. Yet the 944- arguably a better car when new, and another good sign of the 80s has been largely forgotten with very low values. What will chnage?
Also, some cars become investments for strange reasons: Mk1 escorts are now very sought after, even the most basic models. Why? Becuase the classic rally lot want the bodyshell to keep their RS lookalike competitive.
Or the Aston V8. For years people have been saying that their time will come. That time seems like now, and their prices are rising. But whats changed????
Also, some cars become investments for strange reasons: Mk1 escorts are now very sought after, even the most basic models. Why? Becuase the classic rally lot want the bodyshell to keep their RS lookalike competitive.
Or the Aston V8. For years people have been saying that their time will come. That time seems like now, and their prices are rising. But whats changed????
By "Good investment" I'm assuming you mean it'll increase in value.
Certain cars don't seem to move much. I happen to like a TR6 for some reason but there never seems to be much change in value whereas the TR5 has shot up and this can only be due to rarity.
A good MK1 Golf will hit the roof soon as they are a rare find in an unmolested condition. You only have to look a any fast ford to see what can happen.
Values also have a lot to do with era. 80s are in now because the teenagers of the 80s now have disposable and so it will continue like this through the decades.
I happen to agree that the 70/80s Aston V8 will be a blinding investment as they are already showing signs......This is long over-due to my mind.
E Types are starting to go too but only for top examples but this will still have an effect on the rougher example. I think we're starting to see a divide in values as buyers realise and understand the high cost of a "good" restoration. Early outside latch cars and the last Commemorative cars too will be great investments as soon as E Type celebrates it's 50th Birthday soon.
Certain cars don't seem to move much. I happen to like a TR6 for some reason but there never seems to be much change in value whereas the TR5 has shot up and this can only be due to rarity.
A good MK1 Golf will hit the roof soon as they are a rare find in an unmolested condition. You only have to look a any fast ford to see what can happen.
Values also have a lot to do with era. 80s are in now because the teenagers of the 80s now have disposable and so it will continue like this through the decades.
I happen to agree that the 70/80s Aston V8 will be a blinding investment as they are already showing signs......This is long over-due to my mind.
E Types are starting to go too but only for top examples but this will still have an effect on the rougher example. I think we're starting to see a divide in values as buyers realise and understand the high cost of a "good" restoration. Early outside latch cars and the last Commemorative cars too will be great investments as soon as E Type celebrates it's 50th Birthday soon.
williamp said:
Its the bit about "good investmets" which is the thing. Older cars are getting rarer all the time, but its difficult to know which will be incresing in value. For example. the Quattro. A great car, but almost forgotten by the general classic car scene until a certain TV programme. Now they have become quite prized and a good investment. Yet the 944- arguably a better car when new, and another good sign of the 80s has been largely forgotten with very low values. What will chnage?
I would think the Quattro would be a better long term bet than a 944. The 944 may well have been a better car at the time but there was nothing special about it (apart from how they went I guess) where as to the common man, the Quattro introduced 4 wheel drive and so is viewed as being revolutionary. haworthlloyd1 said:
austin healey 3000
jaguar e-type (not sure if you could get a good one for 'affordable' money)
Well, a decent Healey 3000 will be in the £30k bracket, as will a nice E-Type, although you might get a less sought after 2+2 Coupe for a mid £20k price.jaguar e-type (not sure if you could get a good one for 'affordable' money)
If you want your money to be reasonably safe, you need to go for something pre-73 and free-VED.
I think things like the E30 M3, RS500 Sierra and Integrale EVO's etc IF kept original and standard and little used, will maintain their current value and over the years will likely increase gradually, but you'll need to be 'in it' for the long haul for these type of vehicles IMHO.
williamp said:
Its the bit about "good investmets" which is the thing. Older cars are getting rarer all the time, but its difficult to know which will be incresing in value. For example. the Quattro. A great car, but almost forgotten by the general classic car scene until a certain TV programme. Now they have become quite prized and a good investment. Yet the 944- arguably a better car when new, and another good sign of the 80s has been largely forgotten with very low values. What will chnage?
Also, some cars become investments for strange reasons: Mk1 escorts are now very sought after, even the most basic models. Why? Becuase the classic rally lot want the bodyshell to keep their RS lookalike competitive.
Or the Aston V8. For years people have been saying that their time will come. That time seems like now, and their prices are rising. But whats changed????
A good investment in a car IMO is one that wont fall very much in value over the coming years, as the 944 is already at a very low starting price the chances of big falls in value are greatly diminished.Also, some cars become investments for strange reasons: Mk1 escorts are now very sought after, even the most basic models. Why? Becuase the classic rally lot want the bodyshell to keep their RS lookalike competitive.
Or the Aston V8. For years people have been saying that their time will come. That time seems like now, and their prices are rising. But whats changed????
I listed the Ford cortina G.T. and the Renault R8 " Gordini " as cars to excel a bit in the past. !! Sad no reasonable comments about cars and driving em. Just back to the annoying subject , same with our houses and dinkey toys-----HOW MUCh IS IT WORTH. just enjoy "he!s behinde you---who? THE TAX MAN.
I learned to drive in a Renault Dauphine back in the 60's. It pre dated the R8 but was similar in many ways. It was my mums car, my dad was a bit of a car nut so it had twin 40's competition cam and head etc. It would see off the average mini cooper at the time. It was a bit tricky on the corners despite oversized 145 section tyres. The steering rack was spring loaded to centre the steering. The sudden oversteer that came about with wheel tuck in could be caught by just letting go of the steering wheel, seemed a sensible thing to do aged 18. You could hear the doors creak through the body twisting when pushing hard. My second car owned was a Mk1 GT Cortina. Did all sorts of local motor club competition in it. It had an A2 cam (I think) a Boreham head and various suspension improvements. I'd go for the Cortina any time, better in every way as a fun drivers car.
knibbo said:
I listed the Ford cortina G.T. and the Renault R8 " Gordini " as cars to excel a bit in the past. !! Sad no reasonable comments about cars and driving em. Just back to the annoying subject , same with our houses and dinkey toys-----HOW MUCh IS IT WORTH. just enjoy "he!s behinde you---who? THE TAX MAN.
haworthlloyd1 said:
knibbo said:
I listed the Ford cortina G.T. and the Renault R8 " Gordini " as cars to excel a bit in the past. !! Sad no reasonable comments about cars and driving em. Just back to the annoying subject , same with our houses and dinkey toys-----HOW MUCh IS IT WORTH. just enjoy "he!s behinde you---who? THE TAX MAN.
i appreciate what you are saying knibbo and i agree that cars should be about fun and not always about money. However, the thread title was about cars that are good investments. I do believe that anyone buying a car should consider the financial implications too especially in the current climatefor example it is very easy for someone to go out and finance a new ish BMW X5 for £35,000 to find that it costs £12,000 3 years later which is a massive hit to someone earning say £50,000 per year or £3,000 per month. That would be a significant % drop in terms of overall net income earned.
If you bought say a testarossa for £35k and sold it for £45k 3 years later then you have enjoyed a car, made money and not been hurt financially.
I think one of the troubles of late has been people not thinking through the long term financial implications.
I can name many people in negative equity in their cars, and as peoples property is falling, pensions are falling and investments and interest rates falling unless you are seriously wealthy then investing in something that will tumble in value is just not common sense.
my theory is that cars are normally the 3rd most expensive asset (behind property and pensions) so you may as well buy one that is a good investment - the cars i mentioned eg integrale, cosworth, testarossa are all great fun cars so you can have fun and something that doesn't depreciate!
haworthlloyd1 said:
yeah true if you are doing big miles, i'd have thought a testarossa would be a few hundred quid classic insurance, road tax of a few hundred quid and £1500 per year servicing costs if you are only doing say 2,000 miles per year. But, yes I agree if you are doing 10k mpa then big bills!
When I looked at a 456 the dealer told the Mrs that we should look at about 6grand a year for running costs, I'd have thought a Testarossa would be at least as expensive to keep. That was based on about 4K miles a year.Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff