Which decent cars are hitting the bottom of the price curve?
Discussion
I’ve currently got a mk1 golf GTI cabby that I’m looking to move on shortly and been looking at z3 2.8’s. You can still pick them up for a reasonable amount, but it got me thinking about what is hitting rock bottom before the prices start bouncing back.
Mk1 TT’s seem to be there right now. Mk2 golf GTI’s already rocketing.
What’s a potential bargain right now? The original Z4 seems to be at the bottom.
Mk1 TT’s seem to be there right now. Mk2 golf GTI’s already rocketing.
What’s a potential bargain right now? The original Z4 seems to be at the bottom.
roughly, a car thats about 20 years old will be at the bottom of its depreciation curve.
i remember when E36 BMWs were dirt cheap, they're on the up now. E46 BMWs pretty much bottomed out and on the climb now.
Z3s were cheap, now climbing. as you say, early Z4s are at the bottom right now, and the earliest are 21 years old now.
most 90s stuff is going up again now. so yes, i'd say cars of about 2005 vintage are at the bottom of their curves, plus or minus a few years either side.
i remember when E36 BMWs were dirt cheap, they're on the up now. E46 BMWs pretty much bottomed out and on the climb now.
Z3s were cheap, now climbing. as you say, early Z4s are at the bottom right now, and the earliest are 21 years old now.
most 90s stuff is going up again now. so yes, i'd say cars of about 2005 vintage are at the bottom of their curves, plus or minus a few years either side.
As above - 20 to 25 years. Millenium cars.
I havent seen a Ford Puma in ages - that strikes me as a car that suddenly would be worth a bit if you had a tidy 1.7 stashed away somewhere.
E46 M3's have been fortunes for ages but when was the last time you saw a really nice, unbarried 330 or 325i?
I havent seen a Ford Puma in ages - that strikes me as a car that suddenly would be worth a bit if you had a tidy 1.7 stashed away somewhere.
E46 M3's have been fortunes for ages but when was the last time you saw a really nice, unbarried 330 or 325i?
The Ford Racing Puma was a fortune ages ago, but older fords suffered massively from rust, so they're probably all dust somewhere 
I've seen a few nice e46 330's recently, but it's hard to tell real condition through photos and none were close to go and look at. I know they rust a lot around the arches.
I was thinking an early M135i could be a good shout, but they haven't hit the bottom price wise yet.
I've seen a few nice e46 330's recently, but it's hard to tell real condition through photos and none were close to go and look at. I know they rust a lot around the arches.
I was thinking an early M135i could be a good shout, but they haven't hit the bottom price wise yet.
350Z coupe/convertible? Can pick up a good one for £5-6k and don't see them dropping much lower than that?
This ones looks like a keeper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405199...
This ones looks like a keeper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405199...
SWoll said:
350Z coupe/convertible? Can pick up a good one for £5-6k and don't see them dropping much lower than that?
This ones looks like a keeper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405199...
I forgot about those. They were on my radar before I bought my Mk1 Golf. Not a massive fan of the look of the convertible 350Z, but that is a lot of car for the money! I seem to recall the tax was £600+ for the quicker ones.This ones looks like a keeper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405199...
Good E46s have been going up for 3-4 years now, Mk1 TTs certainly in the last two (not that you can't buy cheap ones, but anything in good nick with service history won't be cheap and won't be getting cheaper). Arguably there's two curves now for aging cars as the market splits into well-kept future classics and everything else (basically future parts cars for those future classics).
The big hurdle for what's next is the tax change in 2006, so most of the interesting stuff will cost you £6-700 a year in tax, which is a lot for a second or third car and is likely to stop any real appreciation and make all but the very best ones hard to sell. The interesting question is then what was good from 06 onwards but isn't in the higher rate. Lots of hot hatches? Mk2 TT RS? You're probably already too late on the good ones of most of those.
The big hurdle for what's next is the tax change in 2006, so most of the interesting stuff will cost you £6-700 a year in tax, which is a lot for a second or third car and is likely to stop any real appreciation and make all but the very best ones hard to sell. The interesting question is then what was good from 06 onwards but isn't in the higher rate. Lots of hot hatches? Mk2 TT RS? You're probably already too late on the good ones of most of those.
E63eeeeee... said:
Good E46s have been going up for 3-4 years now, Mk1 TTs certainly in the last two (not that you can't buy cheap ones, but anything in good nick with service history won't be cheap and won't be getting cheaper). Arguably there's two curves now for aging cars as the market splits into well-kept future classics and everything else (basically future parts cars for those future classics).
The big hurdle for what's next is the tax change in 2006, so most of the interesting stuff will cost you £6-700 a year in tax, which is a lot for a second or third car and is likely to stop any real appreciation and make all but the very best ones hard to sell. The interesting question is then what was good from 06 onwards but isn't in the higher rate. Lots of hot hatches? Mk2 TT RS? You're probably already too late on the good ones of most of those.
Yeah you’re right, I hadn’t considered the tax change of 2006. The big hurdle for what's next is the tax change in 2006, so most of the interesting stuff will cost you £6-700 a year in tax, which is a lot for a second or third car and is likely to stop any real appreciation and make all but the very best ones hard to sell. The interesting question is then what was good from 06 onwards but isn't in the higher rate. Lots of hot hatches? Mk2 TT RS? You're probably already too late on the good ones of most of those.
I'd say a FN2 Civic Type R's are probably as low as they will go. Probably the least popular of all the Civic Type R's with it's marmite spaceship looks (which I feel was quite ahead of it's time and have aged quite well), and the unfortunate cost savings from Honda in the suspension set up compared to the EP3. Think the Championship white ones which came unique body kit and LSD as standard are the ones to go for. They can be picked up £8-10k.
Echo what's been said about the early Z4. £5-6k should pick up a very decent one indeed. Can sometimes even see the Z4 Coupe's for around the £10k mark for a decent one or as low as £6k for a ropey one.
987 Caymans seem like great value for money too at the moment. Will they get any lower? Can sometimes find really good examples of 2.7's for around the £11-12k mark, or an average 3.4S for around £15k.
Echo what's been said about the early Z4. £5-6k should pick up a very decent one indeed. Can sometimes even see the Z4 Coupe's for around the £10k mark for a decent one or as low as £6k for a ropey one.
987 Caymans seem like great value for money too at the moment. Will they get any lower? Can sometimes find really good examples of 2.7's for around the £11-12k mark, or an average 3.4S for around £15k.
snotrag said:
As above - 20 to 25 years. Millenium cars.
I havent seen a Ford Puma in ages - that strikes me as a car that suddenly would be worth a bit if you had a tidy 1.7 stashed away somewhere.
E46 M3's have been fortunes for ages but when was the last time you saw a really nice, unbarried 330 or 325i?
Puma's hit their lowest just before Covid. I remember looking at multiple special editions (Thunder, Millenium) all under or just around £1k with the arches sorted and lowish mileage (70kish). I havent seen a Ford Puma in ages - that strikes me as a car that suddenly would be worth a bit if you had a tidy 1.7 stashed away somewhere.
E46 M3's have been fortunes for ages but when was the last time you saw a really nice, unbarried 330 or 325i?
Now, you're looking at a £3-4k car. Really wish I'd picked one up and stashed it away but had no idea they'd climb again.
350Zs are a good shout, they're very near the bottom but much like the Pumas will suffer from rusty arches but fairly solid otherwise.
DB7s must be close to bottom if not on the way up, V8 Vantages have been getting very cheap for a while as well.
E63eeeeee... said:
Good E46s have been going up for 3-4 years now, Mk1 TTs certainly in the last two (not that you can't buy cheap ones, but anything in good nick with service history won't be cheap and won't be getting cheaper). Arguably there's two curves now for aging cars as the market splits into well-kept future classics and everything else (basically future parts cars for those future classics).
The big hurdle for what's next is the tax change in 2006, so most of the interesting stuff will cost you £6-700 a year in tax, which is a lot for a second or third car and is likely to stop any real appreciation and make all but the very best ones hard to sell. The interesting question is then what was good from 06 onwards but isn't in the higher rate. Lots of hot hatches? Mk2 TT RS? You're probably already too late on the good ones of most of those.
this is a critical point - the ones in good nick, will start going up due to rarity. the ones that arent in good nick will be scrapped.The big hurdle for what's next is the tax change in 2006, so most of the interesting stuff will cost you £6-700 a year in tax, which is a lot for a second or third car and is likely to stop any real appreciation and make all but the very best ones hard to sell. The interesting question is then what was good from 06 onwards but isn't in the higher rate. Lots of hot hatches? Mk2 TT RS? You're probably already too late on the good ones of most of those.
old japanese cars follow this model - while cars are relatively new, their plentiful nature drives the price down. but once rust starts thinning the numbers, the good ones that are left start going up in value. same very much applies to rusty bmws.
theres certainly some cheap boxsters around right now - the earliest are now classics and are on the rise, but a good late 986 or early 987 can be had for a good price right now.
Lordseegs said:
SWoll said:
350Z coupe/convertible? Can pick up a good one for £5-6k and don't see them dropping much lower than that?
This ones looks like a keeper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405199...
I forgot about those. They were on my radar before I bought my Mk1 Golf. Not a massive fan of the look of the convertible 350Z, but that is a lot of car for the money! I seem to recall the tax was £600+ for the quicker ones.This ones looks like a keeper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405199...
Z4, 2nd gen R171 Mercedes SLK350, and the first gen supercharged Mini Cooper S seems to be at the very bottom of the curve and bouncing up slightly, everyone should try a supercharged car at some point too.
If you can pick up a manual SLK350 it's 80% of a Boxster with 20% of the bork risk, very underrated car. Early 270bhp ones are not too rare but the 2008 onwards facelift 300bhp ones are rocking horse poo, but fabulous.
If you can pick up a manual SLK350 it's 80% of a Boxster with 20% of the bork risk, very underrated car. Early 270bhp ones are not too rare but the 2008 onwards facelift 300bhp ones are rocking horse poo, but fabulous.
Lordseegs said:
Porsches scare me with potential service and parts costs. There are some amazing value ones around but you could spend the same again on some parts and a service.
ah the fear is unfounded - the early cars have high enough mileages to not have to worry about IMS bearings and the like any more, and there are plenty of companies making suspension components for no more money than other manufacturers - just don't buy the parts that are actually branded 'porsche' as they're 3 times the price as the equivalent tier 1 part. as with other cars 15-20 years old, find a good specialist and things don't have to cost the earth.i've had a 986 and now a 987, and neither have been more expensive to service than either the Z4 or 350Z that preceded them.
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