Coming into some money - what should I buy?
Coming into some money - what should I buy?
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Discussion

The Hiphopopotamus

Original Poster:

21 posts

87 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Yes, there's thousands of these threads, I'm sorry frown

I'm inheriting a (for me) large amount of money and whilst this would normally go straight on buying a house (as we rent) the raise in interest rates etc make this a pretty bad decision to make for the next year or two.

Therefore, I would like to get something fun, rare, and potentially appreciating in value. There are a couple of caveats;

I live in Germany, which means prices are very different to UK prices.
Related to the above - I'm not really a fan of BMW / Mercedes so whilst there are a lot of them about, I'm not really into them

It wouldnt have to be anything practical at all, and I have a garage where I can leave it.

A couple of the thoughts I've had so far are:

The money is from my Dad, his favourite car was always the E-Type but he never had a license. I thought of getting a LHD from the UK and bringing it over (I've seen a few S3's for around £50k)
Honda NSX (from around €75k)
Escort Cossie (€45k)
Maserati GranTurismo or Cambiocorsa (though parts / service prices terrify me)
Porsche 911 996 / 997 - I admittedly know nothing, but it seems the price can't drop MUCH lower than they already are.....

Any ideas or suggestions?

Cold

16,596 posts

118 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Yep, buy the house.

Carfield

320 posts

199 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Leaving aside the obligatory advice to buy a house, the NSX must be the best combination of lowish running costs and retaining value.

And of course, you get the best car of all, for a while

Jon556

431 posts

54 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
From the list (and I would probably have suggested it anyway) the NSX.

Something more modern but cheaper and just as special - and likely to retain value - Alfa 4C

Percy Cushion

1,271 posts

248 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Ok, I know this is PH but if you don’t own a house, I wouldn’t spunk it on a car!

What you pay in rent is dead money, and probably more expensive than a mortgage. Have you looked at using this money as a deposit on a property and compared monthly repayments to what you currently pay in rent?

By all means, enjoy a little but the sensible answer is buy your own property.

Draxindustries1

1,657 posts

51 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
If you want something nice and will hold its money , either the Etype ( S1 3.8 flat floor) or 60's Alfa or Maserati.
Germans seem to rent rather than buy . It's different to the UK ( as you're obviously aware) with government laws in place with price caps to prevent landlords charging as they wish.

Edited by Draxindustries1 on Sunday 7th August 20:14

The Hiphopopotamus

Original Poster:

21 posts

87 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Yep, I have researched it a lot. I'm quite lucky in that I have a big rented house at a good price until July 2024 when they want to knock it down and build flats, and anything remotely big enough for 2 kids and a dog in my area is c. €7-800k. That would leave me with a 4-500k mortgage still, and the monthly costs on that are more than I pay currently by a big distance.

That's why I'd prefer to put some money into a car for a year or two so that when the time does come to buy (and hopefully interest rates have dropped back down again) I can sell up at a profit, unless i've stuck whatever it is in a hedge.

Canon_Fodder

1,775 posts

91 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
OP are you buying as an investment or to drive the car?

The Hiphopopotamus

Original Poster:

21 posts

87 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Jon556 said:
From the list (and I would probably have suggested it anyway) the NSX.

Something more modern but cheaper and just as special - and likely to retain value - Alfa 4C
I hadn't thought about an Alfa (other than the GTV6) - the 4C is VERY sexy. The idea of owning an Alfa terrifies me though

The Hiphopopotamus

Original Poster:

21 posts

87 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Canon_Fodder said:
OP are you buying as an investment or to drive the car?
Ideally, both. Summer car, and also as an investment.

dudleybloke

20,553 posts

214 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
A cloth to wipe the jizz off the notes.

Pica-Pica

16,438 posts

112 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Maximise your pension payments for the year, and you may be able to use unclaimed allowance from three previous years. Not exactly PH, but best today, assuming in your situation you can claim tax relief.

The Hiphopopotamus

Original Poster:

21 posts

87 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Carfield said:
Leaving aside the obligatory advice to buy a house, the NSX must be the best combination of lowish running costs and retaining value.

And of course, you get the best car of all, for a while
One of about 3 for sale in Germany atm... https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/honda-...

The Hiphopopotamus

Original Poster:

21 posts

87 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Pica-Pica said:
Maximise your pension payments for the year, and you may be able to use unclaimed allowance from three previous years. Not exactly PH, but best today, assuming in your situation you can claim tax relief.
I don't live in the UK at all, unfortunately.

And you wouldn't believe how bad the pensions are in Germany

jamesbilluk

4,142 posts

211 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
Your choices of 911 or NSX should be a safe place to put your money,

These seem reasonable at the moment, and I don't think should loose much more.

First generation Audi R8
Nissan GTR
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Maserati 3200 (although the running costs could be fun!!)
S3 Lotus Exige V6
Lotus Elise

Edited by jamesbilluk on Sunday 7th August 20:26


Edited by jamesbilluk on Sunday 7th August 20:27

GR86

706 posts

124 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
What makes you think property prices will fall but car prices will stay high?

Don't throw away what could possibly be your only chance of getting on the property ladder.

It's a big risk, what if the car is a dud and you get a big bill, or if the car is already at peak value and then falls. With ever increasing fuel cost and government restrictions I wouldn't bet against this.

If house prices do go down a bit in the short term you've lost nothing as you don't need to sell and have already saved thousands in rent.

Inflation eats away at your debits if you take on a mortgage.

Canon_Fodder

1,775 posts

91 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
I don't the an E-type is a good idea if unless you've got another €50k coming in annually to keep it on the road

How about an F-type? Dad would have approved I'm sure.

MDMA .

10,596 posts

129 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
I think you could be buying at peak prices. I’d hold off a little while, see how things go. Apart from the usual GT/RS Porsche, is anything appreciating at the moment? I’d sit tight until the New Year (usually cheaper prices, post Christmas) and see where the market is at/state of the world!

Jon556

431 posts

54 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
The Hiphopopotamus said:
Jon556 said:
From the list (and I would probably have suggested it anyway) the NSX.

Something more modern but cheaper and just as special - and likely to retain value - Alfa 4C
I hadn't thought about an Alfa (other than the GTV6) - the 4C is VERY sexy. The idea of owning an Alfa terrifies me though
The engine is standard Alfa seen in the 159 and Giulietta and fairly robust. The carbon tub means no rust and there’s hardly any features so not a lot to go wrong. Oh, and technically it’s a Maserati as they built it.

Similarly a Lotus Elise, Exige or Evora?

On the Jaguar theme an F-Type coupe or cab V6 or V8 - although I’m not suggesting these will hold value!


The Hiphopopotamus

Original Poster:

21 posts

87 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
quotequote all
GR86 said:
What makes you think property prices will fall but car prices will stay high?

Don't throw away what could possibly be your only chance of getting on the property ladder.

It's a big risk, what if the car is a dud and you get a big bill, or if the car is already at peak value and then falls. With ever increasing fuel cost and government restrictions I wouldn't bet against this.

If house prices do go down a bit in the short term you've lost nothing as you don't need to sell and have already saved thousands in rent.

Inflation eats away at your debits if you take on a mortgage.
All fair points and taken on board. With the current interest rate however, it's not a buyer's market. Leaving it until Christmas as the poster beneath you said might also be a good idea