I've been pondering getting a cheaper (~$15K or less, preferably less) weekend toy that also might hold its value. I've currently been looking at various '99-04 Mustangs, but not the GTs - too generic right now. Ford did a Bullitt edition in '01, SVT Cobras all those years but 2001, and brought back the Mach 1 in '03-04. All would be fun 'toys' that appear to have depreciated less than the base models and/or GTs. I'm strongly leaning toward a Mustang (love 'em), but is there anything else worth considering? Also, anything to watch out for w/ the prior generation Mustangs?
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Recent "collector" cars?
- Thread starter Mursilis
- Start date
Arkaign
Lifer
Limited-edition Mustangs can hold decent value, provided you don't drive them into the ground, and also you should keep them stock.
Roush, Mach, Bullitt, etc.
That said, cars are terrible investments. You'll be waiting 20+ years at least before the price bottoms out and starts to edge upward, on almost any model.
There are exceptions. In the late 90s before the FnF set came on the scene, you could pick up a nice MK4 Supra for sub-$20k with low miles. That very same car today commands a higher price than when they were new (not including inflation). Mint stock MK4 Turbos are going for $40k+ (!!!). Insane.
Roush, Mach, Bullitt, etc.
That said, cars are terrible investments. You'll be waiting 20+ years at least before the price bottoms out and starts to edge upward, on almost any model.
There are exceptions. In the late 90s before the FnF set came on the scene, you could pick up a nice MK4 Supra for sub-$20k with low miles. That very same car today commands a higher price than when they were new (not including inflation). Mint stock MK4 Turbos are going for $40k+ (!!!). Insane.
Zenmervolt
Elite member
Hard to tell so soon. It usually takes 2-3 decades before one can tell if a car will be a "collector" car.
That said, I think that it's extremely unlikely that any modern car will truly become a collector car. The old muscle cars and other classics are collector cars in no small part because they are simple and easy to maintain. There are no complex electronics to worry about, so they are easily kept running by an average backyard mechanic. Engines were standardized for decades in some cases (Chevy 350 anyone?) so parts to fit the engine are everywhere. Today's cars have things changed every couple of years, parts aren't always interchangeable, and the mass of electronics wiring and emissions control doo-dads makes repair work by an average owner vastly more complicated.
ZV
That said, I think that it's extremely unlikely that any modern car will truly become a collector car. The old muscle cars and other classics are collector cars in no small part because they are simple and easy to maintain. There are no complex electronics to worry about, so they are easily kept running by an average backyard mechanic. Engines were standardized for decades in some cases (Chevy 350 anyone?) so parts to fit the engine are everywhere. Today's cars have things changed every couple of years, parts aren't always interchangeable, and the mass of electronics wiring and emissions control doo-dads makes repair work by an average owner vastly more complicated.
ZV
Arkaign
Lifer
ZV, I think you bring up some excellent points, but wouldn't that tend to make some of the recent models actually more rare in the end? You're entirely correct about the constant parts swapping, re-tooling, and overly complicated maintenance necessary to keep modern cars on the road for the long long haul.. which would lead me to believe that very few models of the rarer limited-run cars would still be around in 20 years. Of course, one could also make the point that 'collector' car status is somewhat determined by not just rarity, but desirability, and with the deluge of varying models and makes, it's going to be much harder to focus upon any particular model as a premium for a collector.
I do think the Supra will maintain that status. Probably the limited Trans-Ams of the last gen as well, eventually.
I do think the Supra will maintain that status. Probably the limited Trans-Ams of the last gen as well, eventually.
Zenmervolt
Elite member
The realm of very rare vehicles tends to be dominated by cars that truly weren't made in large numbers, not rare-ish variations on mass-production vehicles. For example, I don't consider a Mustang Bullitt to be a "limited-run" car. It's a great car, but in the end, it's a Mustang GT with some widely-available bolt-on parts that were installed at the factory and not by the user. There's a difference between that kind of "rarity" and the rarity of a Ferrari Daytona or a Duesenberg.
I think that the Supra has maybe another 10 years (15-20 at the longest) before there are just so few of them that aftermarket support dries up and people stop caring about them because they just can't get parts. The Supra's price right now is driven largely by people who want to drive the cars, not by people who want to collect them. Once support for the drivers dries up, I predict that the value will go down.
ZV
True, but cars like the Bullitt are limited enough that they change hands for significantly more than a standard GT, and seem to hold their value better. Generally, they've also been taken care of, usually having been bought by people who don't drive them too much - it's not hard at all to find a models with under 50K miles, and I just came across one for sale with only 6K! Looking at the values of the original Mustangs (64 1/2 - 73), the various limited edition versions (Mach 1, Shelbys, Boss's, etc.) are selling for much more than the generics.
thedarkwolf
Diamond Member
If you want a car that holds its value think older. The older fox body mustangs and 94-95s have pretty well bottomed out and won't loose much and some might even go up or their owners seem to think so anyway. Just look at what people want for the 5.0l fox body coupes.
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
Cars in the last 20 years that have a chance at being collectors:
GMC Syclone
'94-96 Impala SS
Porsche 911 Turbo
mid-late 90's BMW M3
RX7
300ZX
89-91 Dodge Dakota Convertible has a slim chance due to the uniqueness
1st gen Miata
'04-06 GTO
C4 ZR-1 Corvette
Acura NSX
note-some of these cars have a much better chance than others and I don't think any qualify as collector cars yet
GMC Syclone
'94-96 Impala SS
Porsche 911 Turbo
mid-late 90's BMW M3
RX7
300ZX
89-91 Dodge Dakota Convertible has a slim chance due to the uniqueness
1st gen Miata
'04-06 GTO
C4 ZR-1 Corvette
Acura NSX
note-some of these cars have a much better chance than others and I don't think any qualify as collector cars yet
zerocool84
Lifer
These cars have something cars like the Bullitt and other mustangs don't have, uniqueness. My friend has an 01 Bullitt but seriously it looks just like a regular GT with some badging. These cars already have people seeking them out. I cannot think of any modern car that will go up that much in value. Hell less than 2,000 were made of my car but I can sure as hell tell you in no way would my car go up in value or even the more commemorative edition. There has to be something special about a car to make it go up in value.
Depends on what you're looking for. I mean, a lot of cars bottom out and hold a certain value, maybe even eventually increasing. But what value?
For instance, my MK3 Supra Turbo (1991) has bottomed out. Blue book and local resale seems to be right in the 3k range for that year and trim, even somewhat regardless of mileage (most are high/very high miles, so there isnt much of a spectrum to compare). At this point, I'm not going to unload the car as for 3k I'd rather just keep it and fix things as they come up.
Plus, with BPU, it's still nice and quick 🙂
For instance, my MK3 Supra Turbo (1991) has bottomed out. Blue book and local resale seems to be right in the 3k range for that year and trim, even somewhat regardless of mileage (most are high/very high miles, so there isnt much of a spectrum to compare). At this point, I'm not going to unload the car as for 3k I'd rather just keep it and fix things as they come up.
Plus, with BPU, it's still nice and quick 🙂
sniperruff
Lifer
there are exceptions. VW corrado and Merc 190E 2.3 comes to mind.
for unique, rare cars, i can think of anything SVT (contour, focus), anything mazdaspeed (miata, protege), basically just about anything souped up.
Bignate603
Lifer
I think a few of the SRT vehicles may be worth something in a few years. The new corvette ZR-1 will probably be a collector car because it might be the last big engined crazy fast American car in a world of rising gas prices.
For $15k you're not going to get much. I would recommend trying to get a less collectible but nice vehicle that's 30-40 years old. They aren't making old cars anymore 😉
For $15k you're not going to get much. I would recommend trying to get a less collectible but nice vehicle that's 30-40 years old. They aren't making old cars anymore 😉
halik
Lifer
No way on the S2K, way too many made. The Type-R would definitely be a possibility, though they're very hard to come by in good shape.
MKIV Supras have really stable resale value and same goes for twin turbo Z32s. If you're into muscle, look for SVT lightning. Cobras are dime a dozen and mustang "special edition" aren't worth shit.
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