Best Investment?

[Evo]

mattman said:

I'd throw early XR3 and XR3i's into the mix - keep them standard and they will start to go the way of the 2dr mk2 escort in a few years time.

Also mk2 golf gti's seem to have hit bottom and are on the rise - as with all of these, you have to find the most original, unmolsted examples you can.

For my money I'd spread your 30-40k over 3 or 4 of these early hot hatches and have a great time while they appreciate

Not sure these will, the mk2 escort had a very famous racing heritage, something the escorts and golfs didn't, that's why the e30 m3's and integrates have shot up.

[thegreenhell]

It's not just the heritage, but the continued eligibility and popularity in motorsport that keeps the prices of the likes of mk2 Escorts buoyant. Historic and post-historic rallying is hugely popular all over Europe, relatively speaking.

[aeropilot]

thegreenhell said:

It's not just the heritage, but the continued eligibility and popularity in motorsport that keeps the prices of the likes of mk2 Escorts buoyant. Historic and post-historic rallying is hugely popular all over Europe, relatively speaking.

This.

Escort prices went stratospheric within a relatively short time after they became eligiable for historic events.

[DonkeyApple]

DarkHorseTerence said:

I'm not so sure the bubble is going to burst in the same way it did before, in the same way I don't think we will experience a global recession as hard as the one we have just been through....

I think cars will be harder to sell and the market may drop for cars in less desirable mileages but I don't see a massive value adjustment. Global governments are much more savvy at building sustainable recoveries and now we have seen a re-adjustment to expectations out of China/India I think there is reason to be optimistic of sustained global economic growth for the next 4-5 years.

I was interested to see folks opinions on the relative desirability of the list.

I did a straw poll on a few friends with the E9 and all of them were "meh" which really surprised me.

The 911 seems to split opinion.....

I don't figure on buying anything just to be locked up and unused - hoping for x% increase in value, I just like to hear counter opinions to those at dealers/magazines which all get excited about £100k 911 Turbos or the 2 355s currently for sale at nearly the same.

The E9 is a beautiful car. While the German economy remains the dominant EU economy then values will continue to grow but where it fails in investment criteria is where the Porsche and Ferrari win and this is global desirability and status. Both these brands are synonymous with success and wealth the world over and so have far further reaching demand.

I'd have the E9

[swisstoni]

I think the only reasonable approach is to buy the car YOU really want out of the list, and hope for the best. If it appreciates, great, if not you are driving a car you like, that's not like everything else.

[GTRene]

I also think the Lancia Delta Integrale EVO could go up within 5 years or so, prices are now mostly around 20k for the better ones, were I think they could go around the 40k

they have a rally history etc, so could go up soon when they are aloud again for sport/rally or so?

prices are still to low me thinks, although I forgot how many are made....
you also have special versions of those from were not many are made.

[Randompunter74]

Randompunter74 said:

Randompunter74 said:

swisstoni said:

I think the only reasonable approach is to buy the car YOU really want out of the list, and hope for the best. If it appreciates, great, if not you are driving a car you like, that's not like everything else.

Good point Swiss Toni, buy with you heart but use your head when you do, and if you make money, bonus.

..... After all "Buying the right Classic Car is a lot like like making love to a beautiful woman. You have to consider the field, pick one work good bodywork and not too many owners. One which will bring you the greatest amount of pleasure every time you ride her, look after her, caress her and if you can, get the full leather option. One which is smooth to the touch, a joy to look at and maybe... Just maybe... she won't take all your money. The right one will bring you a handsome return in years to come and still look as good as the first day you met. " ..... LOL... Swiss Toni knows.

[S3_Graham]

355 is only one on that list that is a cast iron investment. there is no such thing as a cheap ferrari anymore. gone are the days of leggy £10k cars

[swisstoni]

Randompunter74 said:

Randompunter74 said:

Randompunter74 said:

swisstoni said:

I think the only reasonable approach is to buy the car YOU really want out of the list, and hope for the best. If it appreciates, great, if not you are driving a car you like, that's not like everything else.

Good point Swiss Toni, buy with you heart but use your head when you do, and if you make money, bonus.

..... After all "Buying the right Classic Car is a lot like like making love to a beautiful woman. You have to consider the field, pick one work good bodywork and not too many owners. One which will bring you the greatest amount of pleasure every time you ride her, look after her, caress her and if you can, get the full leather option. One which is smooth to the touch, a joy to look at and maybe... Just maybe... she won't take all your money. The right one will bring you a handsome return in years to come and still look as good as the first day you met. " ..... LOL... Swiss Toni knows.

And remember to check her Nikasil liners before you take the plunge.

[jdw1234]

S3_Graham said:

355 is only one on that list that is a cast iron investment. there is no such thing as a cheap ferrari anymore. gone are the days of leggy £10k cars

As long as you ignore inflation and running costs (don't believe the internet myth of budget £1-3k per annum to run. It is very easy to spend £5k plus per annum running a F355).

[harry kular]

I'm going for 550 Maranello.

Second the Ford Puma argument too- fantastic to drive, and most will have rotted away in a few years....

[gibbon]

People are forgetting the cost to carry these cars, you can easily drop 10% of the value on servicing. Never mind insurance etc.

If you are look for absolute returns, there are better ways I think, if you are look for a potentially self funding hobby, then yes, if you are lucky you make achieve it.

[Nick Brough]

gibbon said:

People are forgetting the cost to carry these cars, you can easily drop 10% of the value on servicing. Never mind insurance etc.

If you are look for absolute returns, there are better ways I think, if you are look for a potentially self funding hobby, then yes, if you are lucky you make achieve it.

If you have the funds and the luck servicing will not be an issue. Read recently about an Aston Martin barn find bought at auction 2 years ago around 40k I think. Shoved in a garage nothing done to it, bought out this year put in an auction and even after taking off all the costs still netted the owner around 30k profit.

For us mere mortals I think you need to look at what cars 12 -16 year olds are interested / have posters of their wall. Buy an example of the car just before they hit around 50. This will be the time hopefully the mortgage is paid off, the kids have left home, and they have some disposable income to buy that classic they lusted after as a teenager.

My tip TVR Griffith.

There again I bought a 2 year old MK2 RS2000 in 1980 for £3,250 sold it a few years latter for £2700, just seen a beige standard not even custom one in a local garage for £15000 so what do I know. Although I did buy a car in 2000 that has tripled in value but only if I ever sell it

Edited by Nick Brough on Monday 18th August 19:01

[anonymous-user]

Skyline's, once the R34 becomes eligible for import in the USA @ 25 y/o they will go MAD for it over there, the grey imports over there already fetch $80k and many will not buy them due to their current grey import status, in that they were never federally approved. Only the R33 was through a now defunct middleman, whose name escapes me.

[TimCrighton]

Of that list the Porsche 930.

The Ferrari running costs in the near term would make it a painful hold. The BMWs perhaps lack the badge snobbery to rise that quickly - although I do agree with the Z1 comment made earlier - the Z8 continues to rise (a good one now is £120k+) and the Z1's potential for export to the US will help. But the 4 door saloons, just as with Ferrari's/Astons etc will reach a ceiling limit and the money.

I'd reinforce the comment that buy for you and not for investment. Also think about a true 'classic' for investment/enjoyment, the holding costs tend to be significantly lower - no VED, cheap insurance, cheap parts in the main etc.

Right now for fun and for not a huge amount of money I'd be looking at some 80's cars as the kids that grew up with those (me included) are now in a position to start buying them.

Therefore:

VW Golf Rallye (5k 5 years ago, 15k+ now for a good one)
Lancia Delta Integrale (Evo 2 Dealers Edition preferably - buy the best it will pay dividends!)
A really good, 3 door standard Mk2 Golf GTi 16v 90 spec
Porsche 968 Club Sport

I'd also go with the aforementioned Puma Rallye as a potential car to go up, but again whether it will ever really go crazy I don't know. I can see them making 10k though - a bit like an Escort Cosworth. There is brand snobbery around the Blue Oval though, its the historic rally markets that keep the MK1/MK2 Escort prices high.

Edited by TimCrighton on Thursday 21st August 13:25