Cars in the financial doldrums that we should embrace now

[dgmx5]

I have spent my life not buying cars that I would not now spend the money on they have risen to, but which back in the day, once they were languishing in the doldrums and were in hindsight, cheap as chips, I should have availed myself of the opportunity

The sub-£15k Clio V6, the sub-£5k RX-7, the sub-£20k 996 Turbo, the sub-£10k Elise, the sub-£20k Exige S1. the sub-£10k Focus RS Mk1 all come to mind... NSXs, Venturi Atlantiques, Marcos Mantaras, Toyota Supras have also been through the dip and now command prices I would no longer, or could no longer afford to, pay.

So, at today's prices what would be a car that would hit that sweet spot of something special at a price that will probably not be repeated?

These are not cars to speculate on in the hope that in time the prices will balloon, but they are cars that simply represent as good a value as you could ever hope to find for what they offer in the current market. I think the crash in car prices from Covid-19 has not arrived and may never do so..

I suspect the answer to this question might be a 4200 or, more particularly given some recent sales, a GS so those are not permitted in the game below.

And one other criteria, your suggestions can be either for the sub-£5k, sub-£10k or sub-£20k categories.

For those with deep pockets, you may nominate sub-£50k cars too, and they may indeed be the best value at that price that they will ever be, but I still cannot afford that.

Let the games begin.

 

[conaero]

You speak the truth for the lower stuff but the higher end stuff is still buoyant and cars changing hands fast.

Why...I don’t know but they are.

A GranSport for under £20k must be a sensible investment.

 

[foibles]

Je**s you're stirring the pot aren't you?!

I've been neck deep in the JDM scene since the late 90s. I find the prices on R32 GTR, R34 GTR and to a lesser extent GZ and RZ Supras mindboggling. Rx7 series 8 spirit r type A and TME6.5 Evo and WRX STI v5 coupes not far off. I'm in Oz, and i could land an R34 GTR Vspec for about $45K in 2010. That same car goes for $180k now, and is sold in a week.

For JDM stuff, i like the 300zx tt 5spd in your under 10k category, and maybe Toyota MR2 turbo rev 4 or 5, and maybe the luxo barge mitsubishi GTO MR model. Also Toyota Century with v12 engine, Soarers with the 1jz and 5spd combo, or 180sx type x... Go a post 96 model in purple. I reckon the series 4 and 5 rx7 turbo coupe 5spd have more room to move too. But the GTR and Supra are beyond bubble territory. Stretch the budget a bit more and i think a good condition, low mileage subaru wrx sti p1 could travel well.

Euro metal... Sub 20k a porsche 968cs if you can get your hands on it. Also the 944 series 2 turbo and 928 GT.

If Eye talian, surely the GS has to be in the league of stunning value for money now? I'd have thought a rare paint and trim combo backed by FSH is a great speccy car to get for under 20k.

And we have different views on the future of the car market... In Australia, those fortunate enough to have kept their job are actually financially better off, and many blokes thinking they need some form of retail shopping therapy given we've all been locked down. Recent auction prices in oz almost hysterical. Once government welfare programs are wound back, zombie companies allowed to die, and property foreclosures recommence once the moratorium is lifted, i reckon classic cars will be dumped like hotcakes. 2017s 15k supra gz aerotop is today's 30k darling, and 2021s 20k basketcase.

My crystal ball is rarely right.

 

[foibles]

If i had a 94 to 96 model TVR I'd be dumping that in a flash too, especially the 5ltr.

And if someone were to do this, please let me know in advance. I'd consider doing you a favour and relieving you of this boat anchor.

Oh and 80 series landcruiser td, dump that too but do let me know.

 

[MarkMas]

Fiat 500 Maserati Edition anyone?

 

[Evo Cymru]

Interesting thread! I remember when Renault Turbo 2’s were at £12k and I just could not raise enough to get one - now at £80k! Again not as investments but just to be able to own one for a while would have been nice....

GS’s seem an amazing bargain to me at the moment. Another car I would like to have for a while would be a Mini GP2 but my knee might put a stop on that....

 

[dgmx5]

Reminder:

1. 4200 and GS are not permitted as suggestions.

2. Suggestions are not to be made on their investment potential, but should be at or close to the bottom of their depreciation curve.

Mini GP1 is ca. £15k so sits in that hinterland between the sub-£10k and sub-£20k categories.

Mini GP2 is considerably more and surely has significant depreciation to come.

595 Maserati Edition is well above £20k so I would have thought there are better suggestions to be made for the sub-£50k category.

Generally the UK market appears to have remained buoyant and not much value out there, or at least not yet.

We are looking for those cars which in the current market are unloved and their prices reflect that.

 

[JonW]

My sub 5k suggestion would be a low mileage limited edition 2006 R53 Mini Cooper S...

 

[rockits]

Bought my GTi-6 in the sub £5k category. Think that will be a good one over further years. Cr4cker to drive. I can't say crac ker withouy it being asterixed

I'm keeping my eye out for a nice R53 Mini Cooper S JCW that isn't silly money as the GP's are a little silly.

Bizarrely I'm not even sure my XJ SuperSport will ever depreciate much more or if it does it might appreciate back to the same level over time as we are seeing older XJR's appreciating now.

I guess the key is they need to be decent enough cars but also low in numbers. I can't imagine they sold many XJL SuperSport's.

Have been tempted by a both a MK1 and MK2 MR2 recently but didn't push the button. Also an Elan SE Turbo.

 

[Twinspark]

300ZX Z32 TT 5 speed
R129 SL500/500
BMW 850 E31

Those three would be my picks, though I think you can still find a reasonably priced R129 here or there.

Honorable mention to the Porsche 928 although its alleged running costs are off putting.

 

[Oneball]

Any Holden with a V8

 

[stindig]

Audi R8 V10 manual

 

[Andyk]

This is a hard one as Im not sure the big engine cars will be desirable as the years go on. We will be in a minority. Cars that rewrote the rule book probably and limited numbers as well....Motorsport connections seems to help as well....I could kick myself selling some of the cars I've owned which are now worth a fortune.....but the V8's I have had have not gone up in value.....3200 being one if them.........ones worth a punt for me would be a mark one Lotus Elise. Still not to expensive but as they get rare and as they was the car that saved Lotus and changed the rules for a car like this it could be a good bet.

 

[madmanmart]

I imported a Z32 300zx in 2018 for a decent price.

I wish I’d bought a TT6 Supra back went they were under £10k.
Now a decent one is towards £40k.

 

[dgmx5]

Elise is £15k+ and no longer at the bottom of the curve.

Investment potential is no a criteria, the challenge is to find something that won't lose more money than it already has.

@Nayf , what would be your suggestions for the £5k, £10k, £20k and £50k budgets?

 

[Lozzer]

2 Sub 10k, MG ZT 260, MG ZS 180. The ZS 180 is an extremely capable machine, snubbed by most because of the "Rover" ties, one should really try one and drive it like you you stole it, it's a hooligan. I've just dragged this thread to depths you never knew existed

 

[Crofty]

Was offered a 718 Cayman, cancelled order form a main dealer, at list price, during lockdown.
I guess the opportunity only arose because of Covid & because of Covid I didn’t really entertain the idea..
The cheapest used one is advertised at 13k more!
That would have covered the finance payments!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, he who dares Rodders!

 

[conaero]

My 3.2 GTV I scooped a year ago for £5k in the depths of winter is back up over £10k again.

My Renault 14....no laughing at the back! Bought for £1300, been offered £3k for it and done nothing. It also came with a grands worth of spares so that’s a healthy return. Tempted with a GS, maybe a couple or F456. £35k for sub 50k miles, got to go soon and I wouldn’t look like nob in it.

 

[Swedish Paul]

Was offered a 718 Cayman, cancelled order form a main dealer, at list price, during lockdown.
I guess the opportunity only arose because of Covid & because of Covid I didn’t really entertain the idea..
The cheapest used one is advertised at 13k more!
That would have covered the finance payments!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, he who dares Rodders! View attachment 74572

Just been offered a new GT4 with an 8% discount. Was seriously considering swapping the GS until I found out the 6 speed manual gearbox is not good for the round. The gearing is too long so you can only use 1st and 2nd if you want to hear the engine sing. If you don’t want to lose your license of course.

 

[Nayf]

Elise is £15k+ and no longer at the bottom of the curve.

Investment potential is no a criteria, the challenge is to find something that won't lose more money than it already has.

@Nayf , what would be your suggestions for the £5k, £10k, £20k and £50k budgets?

These are all objective rather than personal faves. These suggestions are only for the best cars, with low miles. Anything other than the best examples of these will not make you money. You’re looking for low survivors and passionate fan bases, irrespective of how ‘good’ they are - hence the Golfs.

£5k/10k- Rover 200 BRM, Peugeot 306 GTi-6/R@allye, MG ZR 180, Honda Civic Type R Premier Edition EP3, VW Golf GTI Mk3/4, Land Rover Discovery S1/2, Range Rover P38, Alfa Romeo GTV 916 V6, Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo, Ford Focus ST170, Ford Fiesta XR2i/RS Turbo
£20k - BMW M3 E36, BMW E31, Porsche 968 Sport (ClubSports have already flown), BMW M5 E39, Jaguar XKR X100, Honda S2000, VW Corrado VR6, Audi S2, Sapphire Cosworth 4x4/2WD, Honda Integra Type R
£50k - Honda NSX, Nissan Skyline GT-R R33, Porsche 964 Carrera, Ferrari 360, Mazda RX7 FD...