Bottomed out modern classic
Discussion
Hi all.
I sought inspiration from this forum once before and received some excellent suggestions so thought I would try again for latest car search.
I'm looking for something nice to drive of a weekend that has pretty much hit the bottom of the depreciation curve and not been caught up in the crazy classic boom of price rises. It can be anything from a pure sports car to a classy cruiser. Practicality and economy are not concerns but I don't really want something that will write itself off due to monstrous repair bills if/when it goes wrong. I guess key criteria are;
- Prices aren't at their peak (e.g. some Lotus and TVRs imo), on their way down and still have a way to fall (e.g. some Ferraris/Porsches imo) or rapidly climbing and thus likely to dump a load of value when they peak.
- Be interesting enough to take to pub car meetings and not have to park round the back.
- Have a petrol engine!
In terms of budget, I'm pretty flexible but must be at a price point that I could relatively easily sell on privately so I guess that limits it to c.£20/30k. Happy to only spend £2k though. Plan is to keep it a year or two and then buy something like a TVR once the market has adjusted itself to something more sensible. I'm pretty open minded and have been considering cars such as R53 Cooper S (JCW would be nice), early 997 Carrera S with Hartech rebuild and R129 SL500.
I look forward to reading your suggestions.
Many thanks.
I sought inspiration from this forum once before and received some excellent suggestions so thought I would try again for latest car search.
I'm looking for something nice to drive of a weekend that has pretty much hit the bottom of the depreciation curve and not been caught up in the crazy classic boom of price rises. It can be anything from a pure sports car to a classy cruiser. Practicality and economy are not concerns but I don't really want something that will write itself off due to monstrous repair bills if/when it goes wrong. I guess key criteria are;
- Prices aren't at their peak (e.g. some Lotus and TVRs imo), on their way down and still have a way to fall (e.g. some Ferraris/Porsches imo) or rapidly climbing and thus likely to dump a load of value when they peak.
- Be interesting enough to take to pub car meetings and not have to park round the back.
- Have a petrol engine!
In terms of budget, I'm pretty flexible but must be at a price point that I could relatively easily sell on privately so I guess that limits it to c.£20/30k. Happy to only spend £2k though. Plan is to keep it a year or two and then buy something like a TVR once the market has adjusted itself to something more sensible. I'm pretty open minded and have been considering cars such as R53 Cooper S (JCW would be nice), early 997 Carrera S with Hartech rebuild and R129 SL500.
I look forward to reading your suggestions.
Many thanks.
Some diverse options there. 
I didn't buy for that reason, but last December I got a BMW Z4M Coupe because after 5 years in a 3 litre Z4 Coupe I just couldn't resist!
Prices seem to have bottomed out and the S54 engine as fitted to the E46 M3 is just amazing - actually thinking about it a good E46 M3 might also be an option!
I didn't buy for that reason, but last December I got a BMW Z4M Coupe because after 5 years in a 3 litre Z4 Coupe I just couldn't resist!
Prices seem to have bottomed out and the S54 engine as fitted to the E46 M3 is just amazing - actually thinking about it a good E46 M3 might also be an option!
If you are interested in the r53 JCW then an alternate modern classic hot hatch would be the Renault Clio 182 trophy. Certainly commands a premium price over the standard 182 but with touring car style suspension and only 500 made I can’t see them staying at the price they are at now for long with many 182 rightly used for track abuse
TVR Wedge or S? SEAC excluded these have never really taken off in comparison to other TVRs and could be a good intro into TVR world...
80s Renault Alpine also comes to mind
Porsche 911 (996)
Maybe Porsche 944 - they have risen a bit but are still comparatively cheap
Lotus Evora
AM V8 Vantage
I also think nice unmolested Impreza's will rise
80s Renault Alpine also comes to mind
Porsche 911 (996)
Maybe Porsche 944 - they have risen a bit but are still comparatively cheap
Lotus Evora
AM V8 Vantage
I also think nice unmolested Impreza's will rise
SFTWend said:
Plan is to keep it a year or two and then buy something like a TVR once the market has adjusted itself to something more sensible. I'm pretty open minded and have been considering cars such as R53 Cooper S (JCW would be nice), early 997 Carrera S with Hartech rebuild and R129 SL500.
Housemate had the R53 JCW (the one with the supercharger) and it was a cracking hoon, if uncomfortable for long drives if over about 6ft2 I understand.Do you think TVR prices (Chim/Griff?) are going to settle lower?
Didn't realise the Evora has become sub 30k, dont know much about what the cars future prices will do, but fair enough.
Daniel
So many excellent suggestions already, thanks everyone. To pick out a few;
Porsche 968 - had the Sport version and nearly doubled my money in a year! The only time I've sold for a profit after deducting maintenance costs.
Audi TT Mk1 - ticked that box as well and agree with comments. Sold that for a third more than bought but spent more than I made.
Aston Vantage - this makes so much sense and I've always desired one. Problem is I bought a DB9 Volante last spring and gave it back after three weeks due to a fault, which has at least temporarily put me off the brand.
Alpine. This has got me excited. Always had a soft spot for these and they seem to remain under the radar so would probably have to be a keeper. Think the '90s model would suit me and there is the one off the TV for sale complete with the presenters handbag, but I'd maybe prefer a turbo. Both the blue one and red one for sale in the below links are fairly local to me.
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1095515
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1188911
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Not expecting or looking for an investment, just something that wont take all my car savings in depreciation.
My view on TVR values is based on the fact I considered a Tuscan two years ago and some of the same cars are still in the classifieds at the same asking price. That says to me that owners have not accepted they need to reduce asking prices to make a sale. Just viewed two precat 4.3 Griffith's'; one had a sales invoice in the file for half current asking price and the owner of the other wanted c.50% more than previous owner got for it only two years previously. I could well be wrong but happy with my stance as there are plenty of other makes/models out there to enjoy.
Please keep them coming!
Porsche 968 - had the Sport version and nearly doubled my money in a year! The only time I've sold for a profit after deducting maintenance costs.
Audi TT Mk1 - ticked that box as well and agree with comments. Sold that for a third more than bought but spent more than I made.
Aston Vantage - this makes so much sense and I've always desired one. Problem is I bought a DB9 Volante last spring and gave it back after three weeks due to a fault, which has at least temporarily put me off the brand.
Alpine. This has got me excited. Always had a soft spot for these and they seem to remain under the radar so would probably have to be a keeper. Think the '90s model would suit me and there is the one off the TV for sale complete with the presenters handbag, but I'd maybe prefer a turbo. Both the blue one and red one for sale in the below links are fairly local to me.
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1095515
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1188911
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Not expecting or looking for an investment, just something that wont take all my car savings in depreciation.
My view on TVR values is based on the fact I considered a Tuscan two years ago and some of the same cars are still in the classifieds at the same asking price. That says to me that owners have not accepted they need to reduce asking prices to make a sale. Just viewed two precat 4.3 Griffith's'; one had a sales invoice in the file for half current asking price and the owner of the other wanted c.50% more than previous owner got for it only two years previously. I could well be wrong but happy with my stance as there are plenty of other makes/models out there to enjoy.
Please keep them coming!
mike74 said:
With the ever stronger push for all things EV and, I expect, an equally strong push to ''disincentivise'' all things ICE (especially older, high performance, high emissions cars) I think it takes a very brave person to still invest in an ''appreciating future classic''
i agree with you i think you will find everthing drop not increasebuy somethig you like and enjoy it for what it is
Bottom of the budget - MK1 Clio 172
Middle of the budget - Clio Williams/Clio Trophy
Top of the budget - MK2 Clio V6
Despite all of these being Clios, I'm certainly no Clio fan boy (in fact I used to hate all Renaults and to some extent I still do) but have been keeping my eye on the markets very closely and these are the only ones I've seen that have been creeping up.
Middle of the budget - Clio Williams/Clio Trophy
Top of the budget - MK2 Clio V6
Despite all of these being Clios, I'm certainly no Clio fan boy (in fact I used to hate all Renaults and to some extent I still do) but have been keeping my eye on the markets very closely and these are the only ones I've seen that have been creeping up.
986 Boxster S gets my vote. I'm biased because i've had mine for 2 yrs, which is when i thought they'd bottomed out!!
Hard to think of anything else that feels as special, makes such a lovely noise, looks so beautiful, yet you could jump in and use every day for £6k (for a good one).
Amazing value
Hard to think of anything else that feels as special, makes such a lovely noise, looks so beautiful, yet you could jump in and use every day for £6k (for a good one).
Amazing value
Another vote for a 986 Boxster S.
Mine is my daily driver and gets me to work without fail 5 days a week and is a right hoot in the wet.
They're modern enough to be everday usable, but still feel analogue enough (mine has no driver aids beyond ABS - so traction/stability control is entirely up to you) to feel very different to most modern stuff.
The only blemish on it is its very long geared ... on my speedo I can hit 70mph in 2nd and 105mph in 3rd before the limiter kicks in (105mph in 3rd was at Mallory Park on a trackday ...).
Mine cost me just over £5k, and I reckon I could grenade the engine and still struggle to lose £3k on it (or break even if I could be bothered to break it myself). Whether it'll ever appreciate by a noticeable amount or not - who knows ... but it definitely is firmly at the bottom of its depreciation curve.
They are quite spec dependent - with Porsche almost everything is an option - so the look and feel of different cars can vary quite widely. I personally wasn't fussed about colour (although I ended up with my least favourite of silver), but wanted the 17" wheels, Litronic headlights, heated seats and a/c - as it was going to be a year round daily driver. I have some extended leather in the cabin, but not the full whack, and Porsche crests embossed into the seats (wasn't looking for that, but it's a nice touch that the original owner paid over £500 for!). I've also added in a 6 CD changer (my car had the prep for it, but not the changer itself, so fitting was a doddle) as I'm old(ish) school and still have all my music on shiny disks.
I think one hits the bullseye on pretty much all your criteria ... but what you decide on will come down to a very subjective want.
Mine is my daily driver and gets me to work without fail 5 days a week and is a right hoot in the wet.
They're modern enough to be everday usable, but still feel analogue enough (mine has no driver aids beyond ABS - so traction/stability control is entirely up to you) to feel very different to most modern stuff.
The only blemish on it is its very long geared ... on my speedo I can hit 70mph in 2nd and 105mph in 3rd before the limiter kicks in (105mph in 3rd was at Mallory Park on a trackday ...).
Mine cost me just over £5k, and I reckon I could grenade the engine and still struggle to lose £3k on it (or break even if I could be bothered to break it myself). Whether it'll ever appreciate by a noticeable amount or not - who knows ... but it definitely is firmly at the bottom of its depreciation curve.
They are quite spec dependent - with Porsche almost everything is an option - so the look and feel of different cars can vary quite widely. I personally wasn't fussed about colour (although I ended up with my least favourite of silver), but wanted the 17" wheels, Litronic headlights, heated seats and a/c - as it was going to be a year round daily driver. I have some extended leather in the cabin, but not the full whack, and Porsche crests embossed into the seats (wasn't looking for that, but it's a nice touch that the original owner paid over £500 for!). I've also added in a 6 CD changer (my car had the prep for it, but not the changer itself, so fitting was a doddle) as I'm old(ish) school and still have all my music on shiny disks.
I think one hits the bullseye on pretty much all your criteria ... but what you decide on will come down to a very subjective want.
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