Really Modern & Really Cool?

[ejenner]

Does anyone have any idea what sorts of cars you can buy today up to about 10 years old which will look cool in 20 to 30 years time?

I know, sounds like I'm trying to buy a future classic at a rock bottom price... but that's not actually what I was thinking.

I just find it a bit annoying that every car I look at today seems like it wouldn't be worth preserving or cherishing.

I think it's down to the lack of edgy features, no chrome, nothing excessive, nothing particularly imaginative or artistic, bubbly perspex lamp lenses... I feel there's very little out there today that would make a future classic.

I suppose I can list a few I think might be cool in the future.

- Jaguar XK8 & XKR
- Peugeot 306 convertible
- Modern shape MINI
- Ford racing Puma - not the ordinary one, it's a bit carp
- New Fiat 500
- I suppose some of the other fast ford's like models from the ST range
- BMW Z3 / Z8 (although anything costing as much as a Z8 is a classic from the factory)
- Mk 1 Impreza?

I know people like BMW's and those sorts of German cars but if you remember what the 88-on 5-series looks like then that shape M5 is only cool because it's fast~ish but does not have a lot else going for it. The previous (first) M5 is very cool and its sibling the M6.

I just don't think there are very many cool cars around these days? Almost all pre-80's cars are classic and I can't really understand what they had that more modern cars don't.

So what is modern and cool?

[BOR]

Z1

[ejenner]

yea, spose that is a bit wacko and interesting. I spose the 8-series was pretty cool as well!

[Greg964]

ejenner said:

up to about 10 years old

BOR said:

Z1

[marcosgt]

Fiat Coupe
Vauxhall Calibra
Last 6 cylinder M3 (I can't remember the E number, obviously not nerdy enough...)
Last RX7

Those weird square cars - Nissan Qube and the other one, which I've forgotten - Bit of a gamble, I know, but they'll
either look like a total dead end or a brilliant idea and I think time will tell on that.

A bit older, but still valid - Porsche 928 - Was crazily futuristic when new (and looked huge), but now it looks sleek and lithe next to the monsterous Cayenne and Panamera.

You have a point though, most of my choices are notable for their lack of 'bling' and go faster add on bits.

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Friday 30th July 09:30

[Alfa numeric]

A bit older, but how about the Fiat Coupe or Alfa GTV? I'd also add the VX220/Turbo to that list.

Edited because I'd turned the Vauxhall into a Volkswagen...

Edited by Alfa numeric on Friday 30th July 09:40

[BOR]

LOL. OK, but that just proves my point.

[shoestring7]

Any Mercedes convertible>

SS7

[Greg964]

BOR said:

LOL. OK, but that just proves my point.

Its true, theres not been as many 'cool' designs this decade IMO.

[neil_bolton]

Whats the budget?

Obviously I'll say the E39 M5, as I now know why.

All things to all men doesn't even cover it.

[ejenner]

I spose the merc convertible thing is one of them things like the Z8 where it was a classic right from the start. There are some exceptions though unfortunately. The new c-class convertible and the SLK is a bit natty. The SL convertible from the 90's is one of the most attractive cars ever built!

I would go with the Fiat Coupe as a 20v turbo. Not sure about the Alfa GTV though... if you were going to include that then why wouldn't you include the Peugeot 406 coupe!?

[braddo]

It will be interesting to see how many of today's cars will be around in 20-30 years' time. A key problem is their complexity and in particular, the amount of electronics on most cars today. Electrical gremlins will likely make many of today's cars uneconomic to repair at some point in the future.

Stuff up to about the mid 90s is relatively simple and possible to maintain by owners, another key reason why current classics will remain popular in the future.

[Benny Saltstein]

Smart Roadster?

[pdV6]

ejenner said:

Not sure about the Alfa GTV though... if you were going to include that then why wouldn't you include the Peugeot 406 coupe!?

I know I'm biassed, but have you ever seen both cars?

[Dracoro]

Many (most?) quick roadsters (Z4, Boxster, S2000, Elise etc.). Must be in kept good condition though.

Come to think of it, I think keeping a car in v good condition is the way to make it a future classic. Put it this way, an old (e.g. 80s) Merc/BMW/Audi is a nice classic when in good nick. A tatty one is a POS.

[raf_gti]

ejenner said:

Does anyone have any idea what sorts of cars you can buy today up to about 10 years old which will look cool in 20 to 30 years time?

I know, sounds like I'm trying to buy a future classic at a rock bottom price... but that's not actually what I was thinking.

I just find it a bit annoying that every car I look at today seems like it wouldn't be worth preserving or cherishing.

I think it's down to the lack of edgy features, no chrome, nothing excessive, nothing particularly imaginative or artistic, bubbly perspex lamp lenses... I feel there's very little out there today that would make a future classic.

I suppose I can list a few I think might be cool in the future.

- Jaguar XK8 & XKR
- Peugeot 306 convertible
- Modern shape MINI
- Ford racing Puma - not the ordinary one, it's a bit carp
- New Fiat 500
- I suppose some of the other fast ford's like models from the ST range
- BMW Z3 / Z8 (although anything costing as much as a Z8 is a classic from the factory)
- Mk 1 Impreza?

I know people like BMW's and those sorts of German cars but if you remember what the 88-on 5-series looks like then that shape M5 is only cool because it's fast~ish but does not have a lot else going for it. The previous (first) M5 is very cool and its sibling the M6.

I just don't think there are very many cool cars around these days? Almost all pre-80's cars are classic and I can't really understand what they had that more modern cars don't.

So what is modern and cool?

I can imagine that a Z4M coupe will be sought after in years to come. Relatively rare, highly capable and styling which as the years go by will come to far more appreciated than it is now.

[300bhp/ton]

ejenner said:

Does anyone have any idea what sorts of cars you can buy today up to about 10 years old which will look cool in 20 to 30 years time?

I know, sounds like I'm trying to buy a future classic at a rock bottom price... but that's not actually what I was thinking.

I just find it a bit annoying that every car I look at today seems like it wouldn't be worth preserving or cherishing.

I think it's down to the lack of edgy features, no chrome, nothing excessive, nothing particularly imaginative or artistic, bubbly perspex lamp lenses... I feel there's very little out there today that would make a future classic.

I suppose I can list a few I think might be cool in the future.

- Jaguar XK8 & XKR
- Peugeot 306 convertible
- Modern shape MINI
- Ford racing Puma - not the ordinary one, it's a bit carp
- New Fiat 500
- I suppose some of the other fast ford's like models from the ST range
- BMW Z3 / Z8 (although anything costing as much as a Z8 is a classic from the factory)
- Mk 1 Impreza?

I know people like BMW's and those sorts of German cars but if you remember what the 88-on 5-series looks like then that shape M5 is only cool because it's fast~ish but does not have a lot else going for it. The previous (first) M5 is very cool and its sibling the M6.

I just don't think there are very many cool cars around these days? Almost all pre-80's cars are classic and I can't really understand what they had that more modern cars don't.

So what is modern and cool?

Biased of course but smart Roadster?

[Negative Creep]

Alfa 156

[Gummy Sagoo]

I think the key to coolness is to find something that didn't sell at all well because it was either priced badly or had styling that didn't mesh with the zeitgeist. Give it twenty years and I think cars like the Subaru SVX, the Smart Crossblade and the Citroen C6 will be very desirable.

[Roman]

raf_gti said:

ejenner said:

Does anyone have any idea what sorts of cars you can buy today up to about 10 years old which will look cool in 20 to 30 years time?

I know, sounds like I'm trying to buy a future classic at a rock bottom price... but that's not actually what I was thinking.

I just find it a bit annoying that every car I look at today seems like it wouldn't be worth preserving or cherishing.

I think it's down to the lack of edgy features, no chrome, nothing excessive, nothing particularly imaginative or artistic, bubbly perspex lamp lenses... I feel there's very little out there today that would make a future classic.

I suppose I can list a few I think might be cool in the future.

- Jaguar XK8 & XKR
- Peugeot 306 convertible
- Modern shape MINI
- Ford racing Puma - not the ordinary one, it's a bit carp
- New Fiat 500
- I suppose some of the other fast ford's like models from the ST range
- BMW Z3 / Z8 (although anything costing as much as a Z8 is a classic from the factory)
- Mk 1 Impreza?

I know people like BMW's and those sorts of German cars but if you remember what the 88-on 5-series looks like then that shape M5 is only cool because it's fast~ish but does not have a lot else going for it. The previous (first) M5 is very cool and its sibling the M6.

I just don't think there are very many cool cars around these days? Almost all pre-80's cars are classic and I can't really understand what they had that more modern cars don't.

So what is modern and cool?

I can imagine that a Z4M coupe will be sought after in years to come. Relatively rare, highly capable and styling which as the years go by will come to far more appreciated than it is now.

+ E46 M3, last RX7, Fiat Barchetta, MG ZT260, Defender & any TVR