Cars that are desirable now but underappreciated when new?

[white_goodman]

Sorry about the clumsy thread title but what I guess I'm trying to say is which now discontinued cars do you think were ahead of their time and people didn't get them at the time but if they were launched now would be more popular/appreciated?

Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Honda NSX (light, reliable, easy to live with, high-revving NA engine, manual box option)
BMW M Coupe (distinctive, some raw TVR-like qualities i.e. no traction control etc but with German reliability and build quality)
Audi A2 (small but spacious, light and economical, premium badge, not just a re-badged VW)
Ford Puma (small, affordable coupe with a focus on handling rather than outright speed)
Fiat Coupe (fast, stunning looks, Italian style)

Please justify your answers.

[H100S]

Z8

C63 AMG Black series.

[roystinho]

R26.R, couldn't sell them all and some were going out well under £20k iirc. Check out the prices, cheapest is about £14k

[Captain Cadillac]

Dodge Charger Daytona / Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.

They're worth a fortune today, especially the Hemi models, but when new they were slow sellers, unsold '70 Superbirds were still sitting in dealer lots as late as '72.

[CRA1G]

I will go with the Z8,as i have mentioned before one car I regret selling.!

[gaz1234]

metro 6r4

[davepoth]

Captain Cadillac said:

Dodge Charger Daytona / Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.

They're worth a fortune today, especially the Hemi models, but when new they were slow sellers, unsold '70 Superbirds were still sitting in dealer lots as late as '72.

But as is the way with muscle cars, if they'd sold in their thousands, they would be worth an awful lot less now.

[H100S]

E36 M3 ??

[white_goodman]

Forgot to mention the Vauxhall VX220. Some would say better looking and a better engine than the closely related Elise but the wrong badge. With a premium badge, it could have done really well. Used prices seem quite firm now though!

[kambites]

white_goodman said:

Forgot to mention the Vauxhall VX220. Some would say better looking and a better engine than the closely related Elise but the wrong badge. With a premium badge, it could have done really well. Used prices seem quite firm now though!

I think with a premium badge, people would just have complained even more about Lotus' rubbish quality control.

And looking at prices compared to the Elise, I think the VX220 is still under-appreciated.

[Paul Dishman]

964RS is the classic example. All the hacks (including you-Mr Harris) moaned about the ride, prices fell to £25k about eight years ago and have subsequently trebled.

[Monty Zoomer]

McLaren F1.

They had a really hard time selling the sixty-four (or however many it was) but now people want one so much they'll pay a few million for it.

[s m]

Paul Dishman said:

964RS is the classic example. All the hacks (including you-Mr Harris) moaned about the ride, prices fell to £25k about eight years ago and have subsequently trebled.

Yes, I can remember Brian Laban(?) bringing one to a comparison test and everyone seemed to slate it.

Over the years it has improved out of all recognition....

[Krikkit]

davepoth said:

Captain Cadillac said:

Dodge Charger Daytona / Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.

They're worth a fortune today, especially the Hemi models, but when new they were slow sellers, unsold '70 Superbirds were still sitting in dealer lots as late as '72.

But as is the way with muscle cars, if they'd sold in their thousands, they would be worth an awful lot less now.

But to have those specials sitting in dealerships unloved, even in their small numbers, is a truly underappreciated classic. IIRC some of them even had the normal bumpers etc put on them and were just sold as normal models!

[Pvapour]

XJ220, the engine left many underwhelmed.

[Captain Muppet]

Toyota AE86s. When new everyone wanted an MR2 or a Celica/Supra instead, or maybe put their sensible head on and bought the FWD GTi hatch instead. Now all of those cars sell for a tiny proportion of the price of a scabby AE86.

Makes you wonder if Toyota haven't brought back the wrong car for new car sales success.

[funkyrobot]

According to this forum, Rover 75 CDTI.

This is because it is a BMW engine in a Rover car.

[renmure]

Lotus Exige S1. Couldn't sell them when they came out.

[Devil2575]

Not so revelant now but a few years back the Nissan 200sx.

Seen as boring/old peoples cars when new but once the Jap scene really took off manual cars were going for strong money.

[Alfa numeric]

Paul Dishman said:

964RS is the classic example. All the hacks (including you-Mr Harris) moaned about the ride, prices fell to £25k about eight years ago and have subsequently trebled.

To be fair to CH, he was about 15 when the 964RS was launched.

My suggestion would be the Lotus Europa- sold in pitiful numbers but prices seem to have gone stratospheric recently.