Budget £30k for Appreciating Car

Budget £30k for Appreciating Car

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1Addicted

Original Poster:

693 posts

120 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I've reached a position, finally, where I have the space and money to purchase a car with investment in mind. Realistically my budget is £30k - 35k but I'll consider anything up to this value and of any age. I've looked into a few cars over the last few months, and some of them you've provided me useful info on, so thank you. I've kind of kick started this again recently and have been inspired by a few threads on here. Anyway...

The closer to the value of the car is to the budget, will mean that it would get weekend use as still want to enjoy driving, albeit the miles will be small. Something cheaper would be locked away but maintained, and I'd buy (yet) another car to run along side for fun that in total all comes in under the budget. I'm open to suggestions from 90's hero's up to modern day.
I could possibly stretch this budget to £40k but that's pushing to the max if I don't want to make cuts elsewhere in my life.

What would you go for? Chances are you will think of things I've never considered but, cars I've been to view or are on the list are...

- AM V8V 4.3 - There are good ones at £35k. Are they likely to drop further?
- Honda NSX - Top end budget for an early one
- R34 GTR - Again top end of budget
- Nissan GTR (R35) - Prices of these seem to frequently move +/- the £30-40k bracket. Will they appreciate
- Porsche 997/997.2 CS/C4S - Always seem stable within £30-40k but little appreciation perhaps
- Porshe 996 Turbo - Fairly leggy in £30-40k. Likely to appreciate further?
- Renault Clio V6 - Wasn't long ago they were under £20k, now £30K
- Audi RS4 B5 - £20K seems achievable
- BMW M Coupe (1M) - Haven't moved in a while. Can scrape one in (just) under budget
- Audi R8 V8 - Not so long ago there were a few in £30k's but now high £30k's into £40k
- Noble M12 GTO-3/3R

Can you help?


phib

4,464 posts

258 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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The only one I can see appreciating there is the NSX and purely as there is a new one coming out.

The rest I am afraid IMHO are leggy sports cars whose prices are held up by the current bubble.

Most with never versions that will also depreciate, obviously with the exception of the Noble.

Phib

lord trumpton

7,320 posts

125 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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Porsche 968 Sport or Clubsport - both on the up if good condition and standard.

I bought a UK only Sport a while back and it's money in the bank wink


CABC

5,532 posts

100 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
phib said:
The only one I can see appreciating there is the NSX and purely as there is a new one coming out.

The rest I am afraid IMHO are leggy sports cars whose prices are held up by the current bubble.

Most with never versions that will also depreciate, obviously with the exception of the Noble.

Phib
sense.
future is difficult to predict and we're in an unusual market right now.
NSX has pedigree, is recognised and was a real game changer.
leggy cars are never appreciated long term. They'll be plenty of good 6 pot Porkers around in the future but there above 30k obviously.
There are a lot more Porches and Astons around now than there were 20 years ago too.

vtecyo

2,122 posts

128 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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3 x R32 GTR.

Greg_D

6,542 posts

245 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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I'm not a ford fan, but they are a stupid bubble at the mo, but anything 'cosworth'
the clio/NSX in your list Maaay go up. can you get a 964 porsche for your budget?

996TT02

3,308 posts

139 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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A car that will appreciate in future is one that is not loved enough today, or is perhaps decidedly unloved, but with potential for future loving... otherwise, in this day and age, it's probably already up there.

Another thing to consider, moderns can be very expensive to run, faults are costly to rectify, cars are complicated, so any gains are easily wiped out.

With this in mind:

R107 SL - nice to own, nice to drive, not yet loved enough, worst case scenario price keeps up with inflation, best case, reasonable appreciation (lots were made, so no rarity value - but makes for a practical ownership proposition). Simple by today's standards and most of it lasts forever anyway.

C4 Corvette - a classic wedge, still striking styling, V8. Currently in the doldrums, not very fast and interior not quite classic yet, but the ingredients are there.

If you don't love any of the above, that's to be expected. No one loved early, slow, smoky and wayward handling 911s and a host of other vehicles when they were cheap, either.


phib

4,464 posts

258 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
996TT02 said:
A car that will appreciate in future is one that is not loved enough today, or is perhaps decidedly unloved, but with potential for future loving... otherwise, in this day and age, it's probably already up there.

Another thing to consider, moderns can be very expensive to run, faults are costly to rectify, cars are complicated, so any gains are easily wiped out.

With this in mind:

R107 SL - nice to own, nice to drive, not yet loved enough, worst case scenario price keeps up with inflation, best case, reasonable appreciation (lots were made, so no rarity value - but makes for a practical ownership proposition). Simple by today's standards and most of it lasts forever anyway.

C4 Corvette - a classic wedge, still striking styling, V8. Currently in the doldrums, not very fast and interior not quite classic yet, but the ingredients are there.

If you don't love any of the above, that's to be expected. No one loved early, slow, smoky and wayward handling 911s and a host of other vehicles when they were cheap, either.
This makes a lot of sense. Sold my R107 for more than I paid for it. I didn't like it much though.

I however loved my slow, smoky, wayward 2.7 rs RHD lightweight !! Everybody else thought I was mad when I paid £42k for a rusty old 911 and even more mad when I paid £80k to have it restored !!

Things that tend to go up are last of lines i.e. air cooled 993's, last v12 manual Ferrari's etc etc


Phib


Edited by phib on Wednesday 27th July 11:13


Edited by phib on Wednesday 27th July 11:14

Prizam

2,335 posts

140 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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Any TVR.

Guvernator

13,104 posts

164 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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This with a bit of haggling

http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri36j.htm

One of only 24 RHD Ghibli Cups made so rare as rocking horse poo, it's Italian, it's a Maserati and just look at it. Guaranteed to appreciate IMO.

If this one is too rich you can pick up cheaper LHD's on the continent or you can pick up a decent Ghibli GT for £15-£20k. Not quiet as rare as the Cup cars and not as powerful but still a lovely car IMO.

I was seriously considering one last year but life got in the way so it had to be put on the back burner which probably means by the time I get round to it again, they'll be well out of my budget. frown

Leins

9,417 posts

147 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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Just to point out that IMO if you buy a car purely for financial reasons, you will quickly get fed up with it when the bills start coming thick and fast. As others have said already, the market is a bit shaky at the moment, cars seem to be taking longer to sell from what I can see, but they still need regular maintenance

As an owner of one of those on your list, a B5 RS4, it's expensive to keep on top of its maintenance, even though it doesn't cover a huge amount of mileage. However, despite these costs, and whether it will potentially be worth £4K or £40K this time next year, I love it regardless. This is what stops it being a chore to own, and the reason many of the others on your list would hold little interest for me

In summary, I actually feel it is better sometimes to be ruled by your heart rather than your head when it comes to car purchasing


P.S. Just go buy that Ghibli above! coolwink

mike74

3,687 posts

131 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I doubt you're going to find any hidden/ignored gem in this current market... anything that isn't already capable of being appreciated and indeed of appreciating in this insane bubble will simply never be worth investing in.

vtecyo

2,122 posts

128 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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Nanook said:
vtecyo said:
3 x R32 GTR.
Hasn't the price of these gone through the roof as they can now be imported to the states due to their age?

Buy as many R33 GTRs as you can and keep them for a few years!
Yup. You could buy one in Japan for 3.5k - 5k (before shipping etc). Now you'll struggle with double that.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I think a 968...Porsches seem to do well. NSX is a good bet. R32s are also, if you can get a mint one from Japan imported on the cheap and then sit on it and export it.

The other thought would be R34 GTR, yes they are quite pricey already but whatever happened to the R32 will be far more intense on the R34 because the R34 has more of a cult nature thanks to 2F2F.

WCZ

10,492 posts

193 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
This with a bit of haggling

http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri36j.htm

One of only 24 RHD Ghibli Cups made so rare as rocking horse poo, it's Italian, it's a Maserati and just look at it. Guaranteed to appreciate IMO.

If this one is too rich you can pick up cheaper LHD's on the continent or you can pick up a decent Ghibli GT for £15-£20k. Not quiet as rare as the Cup cars and not as powerful but still a lovely car IMO.

I was seriously considering one last year but life got in the way so it had to be put on the back burner which probably means by the time I get round to it again, they'll be well out of my budget. frown
love that 1990's webdesign

Vitorio

4,296 posts

142 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Any Ferrari in budget that isnt a mondial/4xx. The 308 was 30K 6-7 years back, now they are double that (over here anyway), and i think they will all go through that motion.

That said, if appreciation, and thus ROI is important, buy an old leggy mx5 to enjoy and put the money is safer investments which wont cost lots on maintenance.

EDIT: lol, only sub 30K Fezza in the classifieds is a mondial.. I had expected 348s to be in range..

Edited by Vitorio on Wednesday 27th July 12:26

SEE YA

3,522 posts

244 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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As I have said before,996 turbo.
They are already starting to climb.

Them and the Boxster S these I tipped two years ago.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

220 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
1Addicted said:
- Renault Clio V6 - Wasn't long ago they were under £20k, now £30K
I think this highlights the issue you're going to have quite nicely. I photographed a mint Ph1 (in a rare colour) back in 2010, I think it went for under £10k not long after.

It's now probably worth at least 3 times that, but that doesn't mean it will climb (or even stabilize) any further. It's a big, big gamble on a car that you're arguably not buying for the right reasons.

TommoAE86

2,659 posts

126 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
vtecyo said:
Nanook said:
vtecyo said:
3 x R32 GTR.
Hasn't the price of these gone through the roof as they can now be imported to the states due to their age?

Buy as many R33 GTRs as you can and keep them for a few years!
Yup. You could buy one in Japan for 3.5k - 5k (before shipping etc). Now you'll struggle with double that.
£15-£20k on some of the R32's!

blueg33

35,576 posts

223 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Lotus Evora. Probably not appreciating, but not depreciating either if you buy a car at about £30-32k it will be fine unless you load it with miles (like I did), it might even appreciate a bit.

Plus its a bloody good car