Future Classics

af_thefragile

What cars do you think are set to become future classics?
Cars which have hit or will soon hit their depreciation low point and in the furutre will only increase in value?

I'ld say the 1st and 2nd generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI is set to become a future classic like the Ford Sierra Cosworth and other such rally bred cars have.
They're fast, very desirable, rare and have plenty of rally heritage to go by. If you can find a clean one which hasn't been crashed or tinkered around by boy racers, it'll be an excellent investment.

So what else do you think would be worth considering as potential investments??

corktina

I think both my cars are future classics.

Mondeo ST200....6500 built
Focus ST170...under 13000 registered in the UK originally, about 11000 now left, don't know about RoW

djimi

Id like to think that the DC2 Integra will one day be considered to be a classic. Thats assuming enough of them are left unmolested and unabused to make it that long of course...!

dgt

af_thefragile wrote: »

What cars do you think are set to become future classics?

Lots of cars fall into this bracket but alas I can't list them all...

One springs to mind: These are getting rare...

challengemaster

e46 M3 CSL

Matt Simis

challengemaster wrote: »

e46 M3 CSL

Yes, classic cars generally need to be from a limited production run (less than 2000) over a limited period.

Above 2000 under 20,000 is a "special interest vehicle", not a classic, which I think most of the above aside from the CSL fit into.

The 1M might be a classic someday, while virtually no M5 (from E34 up) will be. Infact the E39 and E60 M5s sold too many to even be counted as special interest.
The Alfa 166 (unless that one is some limited special edition?) could never be a classic as it was sold for far too long and sold near 100k units.

ShadowHearth

Mazda mx5 would become quite a lovely "modern classic".

dgt

Matt Simis wrote: »

The Alfa 166 (unless that one is some limited special edition?) could never be a classic as it was sold for far too long and sold near 100k units.

Got to know where you got that figure from

I should have stated the 3.2 GTA

Voodoomelon

Matt Simis wrote: »

The 1M might be a classic someday, while virtually no M5 (from E34 up) will be. Infact the E39 and E60 M5s sold too many to even be counted as special interest.
The Alfa 166 (unless that one is some limited special edition?) could never be a classic as it was sold for far too long and sold near 100k units.

This in a nutshell. As much as many of us would like to think our cars will someday become a classic, anything with large production number doesn't stand a chance. Sure, some cars are already "cultural" classics, but for something to be worth proper classic money, there needs to be frig all of them made.

af_thefragile

Matt Simis wrote: »

Yes, classic cars generally need to be from a limited production run (less than 2000) over a limited period.

Above 2000 under 20,000 is a "special interest vehicle", not a classic, which I think most of the above aside from the CSL fit into.

The 1M might be a classic someday, while virtually no M5 (from E34 up) will be. Infact the E39 and E60 M5s sold too many to even be counted as special interest.
The Alfa 166 (unless that one is some limited special edition?) could never be a classic as it was sold for far too long and sold near 100k units.

Exactly.

If a car is mass produced and doesn't have something "special" about them then it'll just end up as junk in a breakers yard than in a garage as a classic.

Something like a M3 is a brilliant car to drive but there are lots of them and it doesn't have anything much special about it. As they do E46/E90 M3s will continue depreciating just like E36 M3s have. But a M3 CSL is a rare and special car so its definitely a good contender for a future classic. The only thing is they're still very expensive cars!

A Lotus Elise is definitely a future classic. The 1st and 2nd generation ones are still depreciating slowly but its only a matter of time before their prices are going to start climbing back up as they're extremely rare and extremely desirable cars!

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Mazda mx5 would become quite a lovely "modern classic".

Its desirable - yes.
Its special - yes.
Its rare/exclusive - No.

That's the problem with the mx5. Too many of them around to become a classic until maybe sometime in the distant future only a few good examples are left which can then be considered as classics.

NIMAN

VW Corrado.

tossy

B5 RS4 the only modern Rs car that will become a classic IMO.

MK4 R32

Integra type R.

S2000

MX5

Eric Cartman

saying it has to be a limited production run to be a true classic is a bit nonsense really, look at the mk1 golf , the original mini, old mustangs and cadillac coupes , all made in big runs , but still classics.

Matt Simis

Eric Cartman wrote: »

saying it has to be a limited production run to be a true classic is a bit nonsense really, look at the mk1 golf , the original mini, old mustangs and cadillac coupes , all made in big runs , but still classics.

Of course there are exceptions but none of them are!
Within their domestic markets, today, none of those cars are actual big $$ classics (well, cadillac coupe is a bit vague and certain spec original ltd. Mustangs are expensive, but "Mk1 Mustangs" are readily available). Mk1 Golfs are sold here for under 5k.. a real classic car wouldnt be a matter of going to Donedeal and finding a selection forsale:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/vintagecars/for-sale/Ireland/golf%20mk1
http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/vintagecars/for-sale/Ireland/mustang?filter%28max_mileage%29=Max+KM&filter%28max_price%29=Max+Price&filter%28max_year%29=Max+Year&filter%28min_mileage%29=Min+KM&filter%28min_price%29=Min+Price&filter%28min_year%29=Min+Year&source=all
http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/vintagecars/for-sale/Ireland/mini?filter%28max_mileage%29=Max+KM&filter%28max_price%29=Max+Price&filter%28max_year%29=Max+Year&filter%28min_mileage%29=Min+KM&filter%28min_price%29=Min+Price&filter%28min_year%29=Min+Year&source=all
The reason they arent classics is production numbers. They are as VoodooMelon put, "cultural classics" but not actual car collector classics.

dgt wrote: »

Got to know where you got that figure from

I should have stated the 3.2 GTA

Wikipedia, alluded to "under 100k" as opposed under 50k or something.
Regardless, it was available and in mass production for years upon years.

The VW Phaeton which people consider rare (and commercially unpopular) also is tipping or has tipped 100k by now. It sold near 20k in 2007, Germany alone.

baldshin

How about the 1.4 mk2 mg zs, only made for the Irish market, can't have been a huge amount made as I think they were only in production for under a year?(open to correction)

af_thefragile

Eric Cartman wrote: »

saying it has to be a limited production run to be a true classic is a bit nonsense really, look at the mk1 golf , the original mini, old mustangs and cadillac coupes , all made in big runs , but still classics.

They're rare now though which is why they're considered classics.
Also even Mini coopers are more desirable than the standard Minis, A mustang fastback or a shelby mustang is worth more than a standard mustang.

In general the more rare a good car is, the more desirable a classic it'll be and the more it'll be worth. A series 1 Jag E-Type roadster can easily be worth upwards of 100K while a Series 3 onwards e-type coupes go for less than half the price. It has to do with the looks of the Series 1 e-type compared to the Series 3 onwards cars but they also cost so much because a Series 1 e-type roadsters are extreme rare to find today.

ShadowHearth

af_thefragile wrote: »

They're rare now though which is why they're considered classics.
Also even Mini coopers are more desirable than the standard Minis, A mustang fastback or a shelby mustang is worth more than a standard mustang.

In general the more rare a good car is, the more desirable a classic it'll be and the more it'll be worth. A series 1 Jag E-Type roadster can easily be worth upwards of 100K while a Series 3 onwards e-type coupes go for less than half the price. It has to do with the looks of the Series 1 e-type compared to the Series 3 onwards cars but they also cost so much because a Series 1 e-type roadsters are extreme rare to find today.

You put an old subaru as a classic, but then you scrap stuff like Mx5 or other cars, because those are not rare enough and cant be classics... does not compute!

From this post I understand that the main criteria is "classic value" money wises, not a car that is a classic. A bit miss leading thread.

af_thefragile

ShadowHearth wrote: »

You put an old subaru as a classic, but then you scrap stuff like Mx5 or other cars, because those are not rare enough and cant be classics... does not compute!

Not any subaru though. I'ld say most Subaru WRX will end up in a scrap heap.
Its only the WRX STi models that'll end up as classics. And only the series 1 and 2 ones because they were the ones that had the rally heritage. The Series 3 Impreza didn't live upto most people's expectations and by then Subaru were out of rallying as well.

On another note I'ld say the Toyota GT86 will become a classic at some stage as well. Although it'll depreciate like all other cars until its in production and there are lots around, I can really see it become a proper classic few decades down the line. It has everything to become a classic. Its a collaboration between two of the best car makers in Japan. It became an instant hit the moment it was launched. Its something different and unique in that its a proper front-mid engined RWD coupe which wasn't built for comfort or safety, neither was it built to break nurburgring lap records but was built purely for fun making it a really desirable car. I can really see it becoming the Golf GTi of this decade.

On a similar note the Toyota Supra seems to be becoming a classic quickly as well. They seem to be becoming more and more expensive and rare as clean untinkered cars are becoming few and far between and its possibly the most desirable tuner car being the start of Fast and the Furious and all.

From this post I understand that the main criteria is "classic value" money wises, not a car that is a classic. A bit miss leading thread.

In a way you are right. As I mentioned in the first post a classic is one whose price is only going to go up in the future.
The criteria for a future classic is a car which has hit its depreciation low point (or will hit it soon) and will only appreciate in the future in its value.

Viper_JB

I'd say as the years go on and they start getting rare RX8's will eventually be classic - unique car, unique engine and good to look at.

MetzgerMeister

Viper_JB wrote: »

I'd say as the years go on and they start getting rare RX8's will eventually be classic - unique car, unique engine and good to look at.

I wonder will Mazda have a permanent solution for compression issues by the time they become a classic?

:pac:

Viper_JB

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I wonder will Mazda have a permanent solution for compression issues by the time they become a classic?

:pac:

lol Stop producing the cars (already done) and just continue to churn out engines...

af_thefragile

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I wonder will Mazda have a permanent solution for compression issues by the time they become a classic?

:pac:

Can't you rebuild a RX8 engine like you can a conventional engine?

Fabritzo

BMW Z8

Eric Cartman

Fabritzo wrote: »

BMW Z8

the Z1 maybe, doubtful of the Z8

Alanstrainor

I'd say the e46 is a classic shape, it still looks great today, and I'd say it will be pretty much timeless. I don't even think it has to be a CSL M3 to be something special.

Johnny Drama_11

BMW e30

thecomedian

Probably too many made but a BMW ZM Coupe. It looks a bit different and I don't see that many of them.

Ferris

af_thefragile wrote: »

Can't you rebuild a RX8 engine like you can a conventional engine?

Plenty of guys rebuild them if the housings aren't too damaged. They're simpler to rebuild than a piston engine and there are a number of specialists doing it.

Although I think rx7s would be a better bet for a classic due to their performance. Actually any of the jap rwd coupes that haven't been micked or drifted will be future classics imo.

Also e30's are screaming up at the moment. Wouldn't mind a 325i.

Skyline GTR's and any merc with a large engine that goes over 30yrs (SL500?) also.

Voodoomelon

Eric Cartman wrote: »

the Z1 maybe, doubtful of the Z8

Z8 definitely a classic. It already is in money terms, they'll only become rarer.

5500

Honda NSX, hard enough to find one as it is, most likely any of the GTR skylines too. Dare I say AE86 Corollas? I'd say there will always be a cult following for them

Bigus

corktina wrote: »

I think both my cars are future classics.

Mondeo ST200....6500 built
Focus ST170...under 13000 registered in the UK originally, about 11000 now left, don't know about RoW

Would you recommend an ST 170 ?

I like mk 1 focus' sssss and was thinking of adding one of these to the fleet they seem good value at the moment here .