Fun, usable car that doesn't depreciate?

[acme]

I'm thinking about getting something to sit alongside the daily driver, I think I've got my list together but am interested in other ideas and or feedback on my choices.

Needs to be;

- a bit different/iconic (means different things to different people I know)
- this is to fulfil some petrolhead dreams
- must be usable, no garage queens please
- mustn't depreciate or at least much - these are likely to be short term propositions 6-12 months
- preferably 25-30mpg
- no diesels, the dailies a diesel and I only want one, I don't have an issue with them per se but prefer my fun cars to run on petrol

So, what have I missed, in order I'd preferably get them

- DC2 ITR
- MKII Focus RS
- E46 M3, preferably a CS, but if not a plain old late one would be fine.

Over to you......

Edited by acme on Monday 4th November 23:44

[CB125T]

Something very different to your current thoughts, but what about an original Mini? It's Iconic, fun, and won't depreciate at all, if anything it will probably appreciate

[0llie]

Clio Trophy or Clio Williams

[Du1point8]

E30 320i/325i

Wont depreciate and if you find a good one, might go up in value too.

[kambites]

Elise (depending on your definition of usable).

[schmalex]

Something totally different...

Series Land Rover. Won't depreciate, superb fun to drive, very iconic, easy and cheap to work on.

[balls-out]

acme said:

- mustn't depreciate or at least much - these are likely to be short term propositions 6-12 months
Over to you......

Anything over 7 years old, won't depreciate much in under a year, the main key will be buying and then selling at the price.

[alangla]

Sierra Cosworth. Another one that's appreciating.

In saying all that, if you wanted to get rid of the daily, either variant of Focus RS would do what you wanted & still give you back pretty much what you paid for it (the Mk1 would probably appreciate actually)

[BMW3s6]

Land Cruisers! or defenders more fun going off the tarmac than zipping around on the stuff

[rossub]

2005/06 Impreza STI (the 2 litre engine). These are not budging in value at all.

[RobM77]

Caterham
Elise
Porsche 944 S2, 968, 964 or pretty much any Porsche over 15-20 years old.
Ferrari - 355 or earlier (same as Porsche - they reach a value and then plateau)
Clio Williams (good original condition essential)
Integra Type R (good original condition essential)
Peugeot 205 GTi (good original condition essential)
Peugeot 106 GTi - my future tip - surely these have to start going up soon? (good original condition essential)
Toyota MR2 Mk1 (good original condition essential)
VW Golf GTi Mk1 or Mk2 (good original condition essential)

[Engineer1]

The danger is that while it won't depreciate the maintenance costs will be higher than any potential depreciation.

[acme]

Many thanks for all the responses, much appreciated.

It won't have a garage to live in, though will be on the driveway for quite a bit of time whilst the dailies pounding the motorways. I'm not up for any maintenance/up keep on these beyond the necessary - done quite a bit of that in the past few years and currently don't have time, this is very much a switch and go kind of car, hence must be usable. Plus I mustn't be too paranoid about leaving it anywhere - appreciate the Focus is likely to attract attention, and sometimes the wrong type, but I feel a fast ford should be in a petrolheads life at some stage, and by all accounts dull it certainly isn't!

Oh, and I want to be able to commute in it perhaps 1-2 times per week.

Keep em coming.

[Monkeylegend]

RobM77 said:

Caterham

Or Westfield, neither will lose value if you buy well, and will be more fun than most, and cheap to run and insure.

You will need to make a couple of compromises though

[GS88]

EK9 Civic Type-R. Lots of fun, running costs are low, and should hold their value.

[Spare tyre]

i have jimny as my second (toy) car at the moment

had faster cars before now, but to be honest this is just as much fun, whizzing about all the green lanes etc

[Monkeylegend]

acme said:

Many thanks for all the responses, much appreciated.

It won't have a garage to live in, though will be on the driveway for quite a bit of time whilst the dailies pounding the motorways. I'm not up for any maintenance/up keep on these beyond the necessary - done quite a bit of that in the past few years and currently don't have time, this is very much a switch and go kind of car, hence must be usable. Plus I mustn't be too paranoid about leaving it anywhere - appreciate the Focus is likely to attract attention, and sometimes the wrong type, but I feel a fast ford should be in a petrolheads life at some stage, and by all accounts dull it certainly isn't!

Oh, and I want to be able to commute in it perhaps 1-2 times per week.

Keep em coming.

The Z3 is worth a look, particularly the six pots.

[TameRacingDriver]

MR2 Turbo

[LotusOmega375D]

V6 Clio Mk2 (255bhp). Might not last long on your driveway though.

[Matt UK]

Monkeylegend said:

RobM77 said:

Caterham

Or Westfield, neither will lose value if you buy well, and will be more fun than most, and cheap to run and insure.

You will need to make a couple of compromises though

Was going to suggest, but a lack of a garage would rule them out for me.