What current car(s) do you think will become future classic's.

WHITE_P

Before all the Fan Boy's start suggesting M cars, GTi's and RS's etc., sure there will be a few of them that will be loved and maintained by enthuasists long enough to become future classic's.

What I'm wondering is will any modern non special(ist) cars ever become future classic's.

Henry Ford III

Very few or even none? Limited run, or high end/performance cars are much more likely to reach true classic status.

JoeA3

The last Focus RS.

ShayK1

I'd say the Mazda MX5 will one day get the same status as the old MG midget/roadster has now.

Anan1

Alfa 156 is a dead cert.

Panda Moanium

The Citroen C6 - beautiful car! The only problem is will anyone have bought one new for it to become a classic?

fletch

Renault Avantime maybe...

Eoin

I think the Peugeot 406 Coupe and Fiat Coupe are contenders. I am a fan of them, and male so that could make me a "fanboy" I imagine.

Ferris

Alfa GTV.

Honda s2000

Fiat 500 abarth

Works Mini Cooper S's

Golf Edition 30, Pirelli or anniversary if they have low miles on them.

BillyGoatGruff

I would definately say the alfa 166

maidhc

Imagine restoring something like a BMW 7 series or Merc S Class

Where would you start?

frag4

Are they still making it? ... Audi A2
rare
semi groundbreaking when new
quirky
bloodly exspenive when new
Slated by the press

all the ingrediants the oddballs love.

Guy:Incognito

maidhc wrote: »

Imagine restoring something like a BMW 7 series or Merc S Class

Where would you start?

By writing a cheque for about €50,000.

Anan1

Very true, kind of like an NSU Prinz for the 90s.

Tigger

scoda octavia

maidhc

Tigger wrote: »

scoda octavia

People have been banned for less.

superjosh9

i think even the whole idea of a "classic car" is an endangered species - given how I suspect we - the people that drive, tax, insure and fuel cars - are going to be crucified by every future government looking to pick up some pennies, in these greenerrrrr times. Like the way a lot of bigger engined cars a few years old have basically been forced off the road over here - what will go next?!

In addition, the cars these days are built in such volume - and they don't rust - it's hard to see any classic.

having said all that, as a volvo fan, I would like to see the previous/original C70 coupe develop a classic status at some point as imo when first pictures appeared in late 1996 - it was just about the best looking car around - no matter what the money (thanks to Ian Callum, who was at TWR at the time). I still think the coupes that drive around on the original design 17' canisto(?) alloys look great. And - like a true classic - there's enough faults with that car to keep any enthusiast happy!!! I mean, what kind of car leaks in this day and age!?! Ahhhh the C70... brilliant.

And I think there was 'only' 25,000 coupes made too.

TomMc

Just because The Saint drove one (C70) doesn't mean it will ever have classic status. I'd see it just as a more modern equivalent of the 262C. Not a classic in the way the P1800S or the P1800ES are. Always liked the estate more.

I'd say the Volvo 850 T5/R Estates will have classic status in the near future.

miju

Anan1 wrote: »

Alfa 156 is a dead cert.

have to 100% agree has the looks , plenty of donor cars and niggly little problems to give any restorer a great little project

Max_Damage

Most cars nowadays will never become classics IMO. Can you imagine pulling a now-modern BMW M5 from a barn in 50 years time? There would be absolutely NO chance of restoring it back to its original glory, not with all the electronic crap that's inside of it.

Not only that, but most cars nowadays are built like white goods, after a few years, they are just designed to be thrown away and replaced.

Shame really.

Fabio

Any Alfa is going to be a classic I think.

The Laguna may become one...maybe due to it's shape when it first came out.

Volve 850 and Saab 900 and 9-3 (old shape) should become classics.

Lancia's too...

Citroen C4 and C6

bazz26

Like it's predicessor, the new Fiat 500 imo.

ronnie3585

Alfa 156 is a dead cert.

If there are any left in working order:D

I'd say that the Fiat Coupe will defo be a future classic. Others include Saab 9-5/9-3 Aero, Works Mini Cooper S, BMW M Coupe, Ford Focus RS, Audi RS4, Mercedes W126 500SEL and the Volvo 850 T-5R.

Frankie Lee

mid 90's Toyota Supra, All Alfa's inevitably, Lotus Elise, Toyota Yaris for breaking the mould in the supermini class,
Mazda MX5 too.

I can't believe people are putting up citroen, saabs or volvos, madness!

Big_Mac

Max_Damage wrote: »

Most cars nowadays will never become classics IMO. Can you imagine pulling a now-modern BMW M5 from a barn in 50 years time? There would be absolutely NO chance of restoring it back to its original glory, not with all the electronic crap that's inside of it.

Not only that, but most cars nowadays are built like white goods, after a few years, they are just designed to be thrown away and replaced.

Shame really.

I agree, the reliability of cars these days is questionable compared to days of old. In saying that, it's very simple to do a bit of wiring or mechanical work on a MK1 escort or similar. Imagine having to do some similar kind of work with a 03 MK MTEC? Don't think its very likely

That said, in terms of style, I do like the M5 MTEC. Serious machine. Too bad I can't afford one yet......:(

maidhc

Well if you look at the amount of 70s Ford Metal still with us. I assume we will plenty of more fords around in 30 years:

My contenders for classic status:
Ford Scorpio Cosworth
Ford Ka
Fiat Multipla
Fiat Coupe
Ford Focus RS (2002)

Tigger

maidhc wrote: »

People have been banned for less.

why?

its the car that changes skoda from wouldn't touch it with a barge pole to fan-boi status

a lot of people regard tham as good value vag worthy cars

maidhc

Tigger wrote: »

why?

its the car that changes skoda from wouldn't touch it with a barge pole to fan-boi status

a lot of people regard tham as good value vag worthy cars

I actually thought you were being sarcastic!

That is true what you say, but it doesn't make it a classic. It is a very plain ordinary competent car. The fact VW chose to put a green arrow badge on it is neither here nor there IMO.

biggus

Toyota Prius as the first hybrid

biggus

Last MR2 and no more Celicas being made -sure fire classics

Japanese built 1997 style 3dr honda civics

Some oddball Cheapies below that might become classics
Fiat multipla - modern art .... yes ugly

Renault Espace all fiberglass first people carrier

Last rear wheel drive TRANSIT dissapearing quick

First ford FOCUS ground breaking and millions now but will get scarce

Hyundai S coupe joker in the pack

Hyundai Coupe so popular

Rav 4 3dr first and last model nothing like it now

E39 5 series best car in its class

Citreon Saxo very few unmodded

Petrol Range Rovers and Landcruisers... unbelievable in a few years.

All Jags
All Alfas
All convertibles
No Audis apart from A8
Any Renaults that survive more than ten years, how many 2002 lagunas will be left in seven years time

Remember some cars become classics because everybody had one of those at some stage like rwd escorts etc skoda octavia may well be one , who here hasn't been in one as a taxi

superjosh9

TomMc wrote: »

Just because The Saint drove one (C70) doesn't mean it will ever have classic status. I'd see it just as a more modern equivalent of the 262C. Not a classic in the way the P1800S or the P1800ES are. Always liked the estate more.

I'd say the Volvo 850 T5/R Estates will have classic status in the near future.

A C70 another 262C?? Would ya go on!!

oooh Volvo 780!

+1 on the Focus RS.

Out of current cars on sale, can see the future owners of these cars meeting every month to discuss how back in the day their cars were the best things since sliced bread...:
Merc CLS,
BMW 6-series,
Nissan 350Z
Honda S2000
Some Smarts perhaps?!

superjosh9

biggus wrote: »

... how many 2002 lagunas will be left in seven years time...

how many are left as it is?!?!

carchaeologist

A standard honda civic of any type,doesnt exist even now!!:D:D

zero19

Ford Fiesta

askU

how about a Mitsubishi Colt?
http://tinyurl.com/6kcnvq

pburns

All cars are potentially classics to someone. All sorts of fugly Vauxhall, Ford, Austin stuff from the 60s and 70s is drooled over by those who grew up during these periods. I think sometimes a dewey-eyed nostalgia is more the attraction than a appreciation of the machinery. Some people will remember being brought to the sea-side in a Cortina or losing their virginity in the back of a RWD Corolla. It's like the modern machinery we discuss here, everyone has different likes, dislikes and opinions.

As regards an M5 or similar being potentially too complex to restore - well if something is desirable enough, someone, somewhere, will put in the time and effort to resurrect it. I'm sure the classic car industry will adopt to meet the needs of ever-more electronic-laden machinery.

There is a real danger though that some mad EU law dreamt up by museli-eating lesbian environmentalists will wreck havoc with the maintenance or running of old cars:(.

ronnie3585

Honda NSX.
BMW 6

bren2002

BMW 6 is a dreadful car.

Agree with the MX5 comments, arguably already is a classic. Definitely a design classic already, if not a 'classic' classic.

XK8
SLK

ronnie3585

I could say the same about the XK8.

smash

S1 Elise
Honda NSX
Alfa GTV V6 / Alfa GTV Cup
Alfa Spider
Clio V6

Wertz

eoin_s wrote: »

I think the Peugeot 406 Coupe and Fiat Coupe are contenders. I am a fan of them, and male so that could make me a "fanboy" I imagine.

Anything with a pininfarina badge on it is almost guaranteed future classic status, especially limited runs like the 406....I'd add to that list the Alfa Romeo GTV and the Pug 306CC [edit] (The 2.0lt SE from 2000 on).
I'm also declaring my status as a fanboi...bought one (406c) with an eye to holding onto/maintaining it till it's even rarer.
I know it's not really fair suggesting decade old cars for this thread, but I can't think of too many current (ie last 2 yrs) cars that stand out from the crowd or have that je ne sais quoi that makes them classic contenders...

Tragedy

Love the 406coupe, also the Opel Calibra.

Blue850

Anything from the 90s and 00s that survives 20 years or more will be a classic to someone, go to classic car show these days and theres a lot of 80s bread and butter stuff about from Escorts to Nissan Sunnys etc.
Now what'll be valuable? The same as today I think, mint condition high end "brands", Mercs,BMWs,Porsche etc, and performance models from the likes of Ford, Opel, Toyota, not too sure about how the current retro designs like the Fiat 500,or Beetle, Mini will fare out

Anan1

ronnie3585 wrote: »

I could say the same about the XK8.

XK8 is visually unbalanced, but no more so than an E-type - and look at how many people like them.

WHITE_P

Max_Damage wrote: »

Most cars nowadays are built like white goods, after a few years, they are just designed to be thrown away and replaced.

Shame really.

Too true, that's what really got me thinking about it in the first place.

Truck

GTI Golf

Andrewf20

Heres my vote:

Mark 3 MX5
Lotus Elise
S2000
Focus ST
335i
A5
630i

barryfitz

Anyone else think the Brera could make it? Seen a convertible one at the weekend and it could definetly pull it off.

Eoin

barryfitz wrote: »

Anyone else think the Brera could make it? Seen a convertible one at the weekend and it could definetly pull it off.

Not too sure; personally I think that the aggressive look of the 159 and the GT take away from it somehow.

Anan1

eoin_s wrote: »

Not too sure; personally I think that the aggressive look of the 159 and the GT take away from it somehow.

I think so too. There was a real delicacy & balance to the 156, compared to that car the newer ones are like Tonka toys. Still handsome cars, but no longer beautiful.

Eoin

Anan1 wrote: »

I think so too. There was a real delicacy & balance to the 156, compared to that car the newer ones are like Tonka toys. Still handsome cars, but no longer beautiful.

I see your point, but I think what I meant to say is that the Brera doesn't seem to stand out as much, as all the cars in the Alfa range have an aggressive looking front.