Cars that retain value/increase in value

stevenb · Post by **stevenb** » Tue 01 Nov, 2011 21:06

I thought it'd be nice to mention some great cars that retain their value or even increase in value.

Being a Jap car fan at heart I can vote for the UK Spec Toyota Supra Twin Turbo 6 speed manual and Auto versions.
They seem to be increasing in value becoming sought after modern classics.

The excellent Honda NSX. These fetch an awful lot of money these days.

For BMW's the original E30M.
E34M
Audi RS2
Porsche 968's (especially the Cup) seem to fetch more than a 996.
Mercedes-Benz 190 Cosworth
Lotus Carlton

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Tue 01 Nov, 2011 22:28

My boss has a lotus Carlton in his garage. He bought it when he sold his first business at 19 (15 years ago) and will never sell it. It's the only car he has he won't let anyone drive.

stevenb · Post by **stevenb** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 07:24

Fair play.
It's his pension I would say.

Z3cade · Post by **Z3cade** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 08:17

Do you think the Z3M will be the same in the next 5 - 10 years?...

Badman gee · Post by **Badman gee** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 08:54

in the next 2 to 5 years mate

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 11:07

190 Cosworths are a few k I think. Very few of those cars listed have appreciated from their new price, very few cars do.

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 11:46

stevenb wrote:Fair play.
It's his pension I would say.

Steve, Its purely for sentimental reasons linked to the sale of his first business. He's pays far more in insurance costs on his cars every year than that car will ever be worth

It as a dream car of mine though. I remember seeing a brand new one in Glasgow one year and drooling over it

c_w wrote:190 Cosworths are a few k I think. Very few of those cars listed have appreciated from their new price, very few cars do.

especially if you factor in inflation as well

PVR · Post by **PVR** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 11:53

My mint Golf Clipper (1993) bought in 1994 is increasing in value.

Garage wants to buy it every time I bring it in for its annual service

Boysie · Post by **Boysie** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 16:33

Hi

I used to go to Potters holiday
The Owner of it has

Lotus Carlton Brg
Porche 968 white
1275 Minor Cooper S Brg

All immaculate

He might have more tucked away,
boys toys who have money

Ray

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 18:25

I guess this is why NSX's fetch good money.... All aluminium body & chassis, titanium con rods, Senna participated in the design.
Rare you'll see 30 x 911's for everyone of these.

From EVO.co.uk

"A surprising mid-engined V6 supercar sent shock waves through the hallowed halls of Ferrari headquarters when it broke cover back in September 1990. A Japanese contender that looked the part, handled superbly, was easier to drive and far better built than anything Maranello had ever produced."

Certainly on my list to consider if & when I buy a sports coupe with the added advantage that it's more likely to appreciate than depreciate.

calbens · Post by **calbens** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 18:37

Does my original '72 fiat 500L count?

I'm pretty sure it cost more to buy now than it did originally

stevenb · Post by **stevenb** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 18:56

Robin wrote:I guess this is why NSX's fetch good money.... All aluminium body & chassis, titanium con rods, Senna participated in the design.
Rare you'll see 30 x 911's for everyone of these.

From EVO.co.uk

"A surprising mid-engined V6 supercar sent shock waves through the hallowed halls of Ferrari headquarters when it broke cover back in September 1990. A Japanese contender that looked the part, handled superbly, was easier to drive and far better built than anything Maranello had ever produced."

Certainly on my list to consider if & when I buy a sports coupe with the added advantage that it's more likely to appreciate than depreciate.

One of my dream team line up in my Lotto winning garage collection.
I think I'd like the Orange Mica colour 3.2.

Although I do like the facelift shape with the built in headlights in the nice blue colour (Interlagos Blue I think it is...).

Old Skool cars fetch a lot of money too. Classic BMW's/Mercs etc but that's to be expected
Even 80's Fords are making big money now.
80's Escort RS Turbo S1

G2JRP · Post by **G2JRP** » Wed 02 Nov, 2011 20:23

Jonttt wrote:
stevenb wrote:Fair play.
It's his pension I would say.

Steve, Its purely for sentimental reasons linked to the sale of his first business. He's pays far more in insurance costs on his cars every year than that car will ever be worth

It as a dream car of mine though. I remember seeing a brand new one in Glasgow one year and drooling over it

c_w wrote:190 Cosworths are a few k I think. Very few of those cars listed have appreciated from their new price, very few cars do.
I worked at a vauxhall dealership when they came out. They were normal gsi's that were then converted at lotus. The transporter used to stop at our dealership before they went to lotus
especially if you factor in inflation as well

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Thu 03 Nov, 2011 12:47

Jonttt wrote:
especially if you factor in inflation as well

That's what I mean. People storing their cars for 25yrs in tents and it's worth £40k now, but cost £25k new, means it's worth a whole lot less in reality.

pingu · Post by **pingu** » Thu 03 Nov, 2011 16:12

Most of the cars that beat inflation cost a fortune to start with.

I heard Nick Mason talking about a Ferrari he bought in 1975 for £37,500 being worth over £3,000,000 now. I think that beats inflation (and it's capital gains tax free

)

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Thu 03 Nov, 2011 16:46

Yes, that is a car that is (was) an investment!!

Dave'z3 · Post by **Dave'z3** » Fri 04 Nov, 2011 16:22

A clients husband has a E-Type Jag that he keeps in an air conditioned tent, pretty sure that must be getting more and more expensive?

Regards,

Dave

pingu · Post by **pingu** » Fri 04 Nov, 2011 17:32

A lad at my old job bought a "barn find" E-Type with his redundo in the late 80s for nearly £10,000. Then the bottom fell out of the market and it was only worth £2,000. It's back to being worth around £20,000 now, but he wasn't best pleased for a decade

.

Geoff H · Post by **Geoff H** » Fri 04 Nov, 2011 19:54

One of my friends had two V12 E-Types, one was a Roadster the other a 2+2. They were brought at the height of the Classic Car boom about 20 years ago for about £30,000 each, he lost about £10,000 on each of them when the Classic market crashed but as Pingu has said the market has levelled out now, but not up to the really high prices cars were fetching

stevenb · Post by **stevenb** » Fri 04 Nov, 2011 20:35

There's definately money in restoring cars if you have the tools and knowhow.
Buy a calssic in need of TLC, spend sensible money restoring and either enjoy it and keep it or sell it.

p.s Geoff H, I like your wheels. Really suit the car.
Can I ask what make/model they are?

stu · Post by **stu** » Fri 04 Nov, 2011 21:36

calbens wrote:Does my original '72 fiat 500L count?

I'm pretty sure it cost more to buy now than it did originally

These things are awesome. Pics please?

Eastsix · Post by **Eastsix** » Sat 05 Nov, 2011 16:55

I remember years ago an episode of top gear Ithink - although it might have been fifth gear, when Quentin Wilson did a piece on great luxury cars that were great second hand cars. The Z8 featured and i remmeber him saying that you could pick them up for about half wht they originally cost - i seem to remember him having one that was about 40k. That seems to have dramatically reversed! they cost fortunes now.

Eastsix · Post by **Eastsix** » Sat 05 Nov, 2011 16:58

Here we go - an article he wrote basically saying the same thing.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/QUENTIN+W ... 0100368402

Can you imagine £40k for a Z8? id sell a KIDNEY.

Dave'z3 · Post by **Dave'z3** » Sun 06 Nov, 2011 11:45

I thought e-types were worth an absolute fortune! Had no idea that that was the case! I would be pretty devastated to buy a car as an investment and it bomb on me like that for 10 years!

Dave

Hels Z'd · Post by **Hels Z'd** » Thu 10 Nov, 2011 08:31

I'm in the business of classic cars and it's all about buying the right type of classic. E Type prices have risen on certain models more than others, but all are generally up due to the 50th anniversary. Cars such as 70's 911 have risen dramatically over the last few years, the 911rs leading the way with this then dragging lower models too, now to the point that SWB 912's are strong in value as these can be easily converted to 911 spec for rallying.

At the lower end of the spectrum cars such as the Fiat 500 are on the rise, the relatively unknown MG ZA/ZB (mini Mk2 Jag) have doubled in value over last few years, MGC's are strong.......I've even seen a couple of Capri's at £15k plus........that scares me as they're not RS3100/2600's.

The best way to look at it is that with low bank interest rates you could invest a small amount, enjoy classic motoring and in a few years sell your car and hopeful earn a nice bit of interest.

As for the Lotus Carlton a very good friend of mine has 3 (privately owned), he's a big GM6 fan. Despite the Lotus rework they're still a Vauxhall and so can rot like mad, so if you're thinking about about 170mph super saloon at a mere £9k (H&H auction Oct sale) be sure to check the bodywork thoroughly and make sure the paperwork/history stacks up.

Happy hunting:)

Badman gee · Post by **Badman gee** » Thu 10 Nov, 2011 10:24

Hello Hels,

Do you think the M roadster will be a classic, and go up in value?

Many thanks

Mark

Hels Z'd · Post by **Hels Z'd** » Thu 10 Nov, 2011 11:38

Z3M and lesser models will always have a following and a classic status, as will MK1 Audi TT's. For the moment I think prices are still a bit erratic, so probably still on the down slope. Z3M's will have their day, but I don't think they'll ever go stratospheric (could be famous last words!). That said what other soft top with 320bhp can you pick up for so little money......don't mention the Boxster.....its positively mass produced in comparison.

If you look at a car like the E30 M3 (plus variants) the prices for those was low until about 2/3yrs ago, since then prices have become much stronger. I remember going to a dealership in Germany in '99 and having a choice of 4 cars all priced less than £4k. I ended up buying a Mk2 Golf G60 Rallye (5000 built for the end of the grp B era) and paid a similar amount of money. That said at the time Rallyes were unheard of in the UK and I returned a good profit, the M3 I don't think will have done as well at that time.

The Rallyes are now still priced £4-8k.......E30 M3's are now £10-25K+. The Rallye will never reach the cult status as the M3 because it never really saw enough competition.

As for Z'ds, I think eventually supply/demand will cause prices to increase, so look after your Z3M's, keep them well serviced, keep them original and one day you could be sitting pretty.

Badman gee · Post by **Badman gee** » Thu 10 Nov, 2011 13:12

Thanks for the reply

Mark