Interesting cars mortals can still afford ?
Discussion
Any kind of 911 is getting expensive, even 996s, long derided and cheap are on the up, a dust pan and brush full of MK1 Escort rust is now about 12 grand, in fact any Fast Ford seems to have gone daft, crappy 1.6 laser Capris for seven grand ! Integrales are beyond most folks reach, any kind of M3 is going silly, even Manky old E36's which everyone hated 6 years ago are now apparently priceless. I exagerate but you get the idea,
So, what interesting (can be anything really) can less well heeled enthusiasts still buy for sensible money, that varies by individual so its what is not ridiculously overrpriced, say ten grand, stretch it a bit if needs be. Not just talking about gaining value, but being able to get a similar experience for a lot less money, or just somethign interesting that is off the beaten path.
I would say,
Porsche 924/944, a better car (if not image) than any Escort ever was, same era as a Mk2 RS2000 but more powerful, handles better and much better built, a grand still gets a working example, 4 gets the pick of most. Same goes for non turbo 944's, dont want to pay 20 grand plus for that 968 Club Sport, a well sorted 944 S2 for about 5 grand ?
Escort Cosworth or Integrale too rich for you, how about a Celica GT4, shared an Arcade machine with the Lancia and four grand gets a lot of Jap 4wd still.
Pug 205 GTI, 306 GTI was better in every respect, largely ignored these days but it a proper French hot hatch, available from a few hundred quid and destined to be a classic in its own right, 309 deserves a mention also as do the droves of Clio 172's out there for not much money, thats another that is due to have its day, buy now to avoid disappointment.
Volvo 850 T5, largely now consist of leggy sheds with the boost turned up, its over 20 years since these arrive, they were a big deal, nice, manual estates will get expensive, especially R's. Saab 9-3 Aeros and Viggens may get a minor following but not overly confident on that one.
Mk1 MX5, already on the up, so many tracked, stanced and drifted to death, a lot killed by rust, nice ones can only go one way now, a weird thing in that its no a classic aping a classic, Mk2's will be a while yet.
MG ZT, largely ignored at the moment, the petrol ones have hit rock bottom, deserves to get a bit of a following, the 200 BRM, 795 made, 200 or so left, most probably a bit screwed, actually a decent car, might be worth sticking one away, cant go any lower.
Audi TT Mk1, cheap and numerous currently, not the last word in driver enjoyment but quite a fantastic piece of design, iconic, trouble with these is they are worth enough to get fixed even though they are cheap so still loads about.
Your suggestions ?
So, what interesting (can be anything really) can less well heeled enthusiasts still buy for sensible money, that varies by individual so its what is not ridiculously overrpriced, say ten grand, stretch it a bit if needs be. Not just talking about gaining value, but being able to get a similar experience for a lot less money, or just somethign interesting that is off the beaten path.
I would say,
Porsche 924/944, a better car (if not image) than any Escort ever was, same era as a Mk2 RS2000 but more powerful, handles better and much better built, a grand still gets a working example, 4 gets the pick of most. Same goes for non turbo 944's, dont want to pay 20 grand plus for that 968 Club Sport, a well sorted 944 S2 for about 5 grand ?
Escort Cosworth or Integrale too rich for you, how about a Celica GT4, shared an Arcade machine with the Lancia and four grand gets a lot of Jap 4wd still.
Pug 205 GTI, 306 GTI was better in every respect, largely ignored these days but it a proper French hot hatch, available from a few hundred quid and destined to be a classic in its own right, 309 deserves a mention also as do the droves of Clio 172's out there for not much money, thats another that is due to have its day, buy now to avoid disappointment.
Volvo 850 T5, largely now consist of leggy sheds with the boost turned up, its over 20 years since these arrive, they were a big deal, nice, manual estates will get expensive, especially R's. Saab 9-3 Aeros and Viggens may get a minor following but not overly confident on that one.
Mk1 MX5, already on the up, so many tracked, stanced and drifted to death, a lot killed by rust, nice ones can only go one way now, a weird thing in that its no a classic aping a classic, Mk2's will be a while yet.
MG ZT, largely ignored at the moment, the petrol ones have hit rock bottom, deserves to get a bit of a following, the 200 BRM, 795 made, 200 or so left, most probably a bit screwed, actually a decent car, might be worth sticking one away, cant go any lower.
Audi TT Mk1, cheap and numerous currently, not the last word in driver enjoyment but quite a fantastic piece of design, iconic, trouble with these is they are worth enough to get fixed even though they are cheap so still loads about.
Your suggestions ?
Bennet said:
J4CKO said:
Porsche 924/944, a better car (if not image) than any Escort ever was, same era as a Mk2 RS2000 but more powerful, handles better and much better built, a grand still gets a working example, 4 gets the pick of most. Same goes for non turbo 944's, dont want to pay 20 grand plus for that 968 Club Sport, a well sorted 944 S2 for about 5 grand ?
I very much like the 944 but it's always said that that "if you can't afford an expensive Porsche, you can't afford a cheap one".insurance, 240 a year, Ved £250, parts off Ebay and various breakers, did the work myself that it needed, spent £1200 or so on it in 2 years and sold it for £4500.
Depends of course how hands on you are, but I dont think a 968 is that much different, its an evolution of the same car.
Like any car, especially older ones, at any price, just try and buy a good one.
SarGara said:
Nissan 350z's can be had from around £5k, worth a look in my opinion.
3.5L V6, RWD, Coupe, well spec'd and Nissan quality. Ticks a lot of boxes.
Yeah, I bought mine for 7 grand in 2013, ran it for 2 years and sold it for 7 grand, didnt spend that much on it.3.5L V6, RWD, Coupe, well spec'd and Nissan quality. Ticks a lot of boxes.
Dont think they are going to go up much, but the lack of depreciation offsets the fuel and VED costs to some extent.
Elises and the like have never really dropped back but agree they arent too expensive for what you get.
Z4M, I think the boat is already leaving the harbour on that one, Z3's have risen, where did the ropey 1.9s for £1500 go ?
R129 SL, yep, still some value to be had though decent spec ones are pricey
S2000, where did the 4 grand ones go ? when I was looking they were numerous, I would say they arent going to go up a huge amount more just yet, knock on effect for stuff like the Integra, Bread Van EP3's are cheap right now and could be due a renaissance as current hatches get bigger, heavier and faster than a supercar, old school NA, simplicity and nostalgia could see these climbing I reckon
Chimaeras, seem to hover in the same area to me, then there are some really nice ones and overpriced dealer stuff, 12 grand still gets you in the door though, which seems good value as long as it isnt needing a chassis, engine rebuild etc, very special car, ditto Cerbs, still seem a whole heap of awesome for around 20 grand, is a "special" 911 really worth ten or twenty times more, no, how could it be really ?
MR2 Mk2, still a cheap snotter in the eyes of most, slight whiff of Ferrari and replica and a hint of Barry but maturing nicely, cant see a massive swing in price but good ones will hold steady, worth having and still makes a good budget choice, ditto the Mk3, would say its still available to mortals and offers a good package.
Mustangs, hmm, not sure where they are going, they bombed spectacularly a few years back, then went back up and held steady for a good while, small pool of cars, can be confusing to look at with so many variations and modifications, but good value, will be interesting to see what the new one does to older ones, think they are far enough apart price wise now to not be affected apart from overpriced older stuff with superchargers and bodykits.
Clio V6, too expensive now I think for what it is, wont drop but isnt cheap and cant see it climbing much higher.
Z4M, I think the boat is already leaving the harbour on that one, Z3's have risen, where did the ropey 1.9s for £1500 go ?
R129 SL, yep, still some value to be had though decent spec ones are pricey
S2000, where did the 4 grand ones go ? when I was looking they were numerous, I would say they arent going to go up a huge amount more just yet, knock on effect for stuff like the Integra, Bread Van EP3's are cheap right now and could be due a renaissance as current hatches get bigger, heavier and faster than a supercar, old school NA, simplicity and nostalgia could see these climbing I reckon
Chimaeras, seem to hover in the same area to me, then there are some really nice ones and overpriced dealer stuff, 12 grand still gets you in the door though, which seems good value as long as it isnt needing a chassis, engine rebuild etc, very special car, ditto Cerbs, still seem a whole heap of awesome for around 20 grand, is a "special" 911 really worth ten or twenty times more, no, how could it be really ?
MR2 Mk2, still a cheap snotter in the eyes of most, slight whiff of Ferrari and replica and a hint of Barry but maturing nicely, cant see a massive swing in price but good ones will hold steady, worth having and still makes a good budget choice, ditto the Mk3, would say its still available to mortals and offers a good package.
Mustangs, hmm, not sure where they are going, they bombed spectacularly a few years back, then went back up and held steady for a good while, small pool of cars, can be confusing to look at with so many variations and modifications, but good value, will be interesting to see what the new one does to older ones, think they are far enough apart price wise now to not be affected apart from overpriced older stuff with superchargers and bodykits.
Clio V6, too expensive now I think for what it is, wont drop but isnt cheap and cant see it climbing much higher.
mike74 said:
Cheap and easy credit is what's going on... wait until the free money taps eventually get turned off, then watch the bubble burst and see what happens to these "values".
Its isnt just credit, its crap interest rates, if you have 20 grand, put it in an ISA and get it back but worth less a few years later or take a punt on an interesting motor ?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff