The late '70s and through the '80s is full of crap FWD cars: Omni, Escort, Cavalier. What are the good ones, the cars that will hold value long after the abused ones have been discarded?
I'm sure the VW GTI is on everyone's short list. What else you got?
I'll open up discussion into the '90s and put my suggestion (which will surprise no one): I know the world won't care, ever, but I'll always have a soft spot for the Mazda BG-chassis Ford Escort GT, '91-'96.
Civic Si. Integra GSR and Type-R.
Edit: The Scirocco in any form I think will be a classic.
'91 Lotus Elan aka M100
93EXCivic wrote: Civic Si. Integra GSR and Type-R.
These would be my top picks. Nostalgia from the import scene at its peak. I'd also like to add the CRX Si and Prelude VTEC.
Non-Honda possibilities:
First generation VW GTI, possibly later ones.
Dodge Omni and Charger GLHS.
Turbo DSMs, although the AWD ones will probably command a premium over FWD.
What if it started out FWD, but got switched to RWD with added power? My favorite hot hatch is the Renault R5 Turbo. If you're talking future classics from the 1980s, it has to be discussed, even if you're talking FWD--or especially if the subject is FWD: It demonstrates the extent to which tuners still hadn't gotten their heads around how to make the format work. And it's awesome.
Margie
I think all GTIs though 92, they pretty much disappeared in the last 10 years, now they are quite expensive already. Then of course the Civic and CRX SI, Integra Type R and GSR and probably at least some of the nicer and more rare turbo dodges (GLHS, CSX, etc).
Yugo. 
Id love to have an Omni GLH...Its a real Shelby!
Leo
93EXCivic wrote: Integra Type-R.
Going by the grief I got when I was considering buying one of these to use as a DD, I'm definitely going with this one (for the record, the one I was looking at is sold).
Considering the last R5 I saw for sale had an asking price of around $50K, I'd say those are already deep into "collectable" territory. The local Lotus dealer sold one for about $40K, but that was about 8 years ago.
Believe it or not, I've seen clean and original Cavalier Z24's show up at the occasional car show.
The FX-16... short wheelbase AE82 based 3 door model. Nice ones are rare... but rebuildable ones are plentiful
Should never have sold my 69 Cooper S or my 87 GLHS.
I have an '87 Turbo Daytona in the collection. It's the only FWD in the fleet.
I've noticed the prices on clean Daytonas have been climbing.
Marjorie Suddard wrote: What if it started out FWD, but got switched to RWD with added power? My favorite hot hatch is the Renault R5 Turbo. If you're talking future classics from the 1980s, it has to be discussed, even if you're talking FWD--or especially if the subject is FWD: It demonstrates the extent to which tuners still hadn't gotten their heads around how to make the format work. And it's awesome.
Oh my. That might be a winner. Fantastic example, too.
Re: R5 Turbo. Want. Want badly. I've had them on the brain recently and I don't know what brought them to mind...
I can't believe nobody's mentioned Saab 900s yet... I'd love a 900 Turbo, if only long enough to try it on for size.
In reply to Alan Cesar:
I would agree, except the R5 already is considered a classic.
1st gen Civics. Just finished putting BCR coil overs, bigger front discs, rear Prelude discs, urethane bushings, converted from 120mm bolt pattern to 100mm, Mini wheels. All in preparation for the 11:1 ported D16Z6 & Si LSD transmission going in.
1987 Cavailer Z24 Hatchback, and the Citation X11. If you can fine clean examples of either
Maybe Saturn SC2?
The X-11 is kinda cool
I really don't see any of the Japanese FWD cars becoming classics. To bland and to damn many of them. YMMV
Oldsmobile Toronado, Citroen 2CV, Alfa GTV and spider, Lancia Zagato, Lancia Fulvia, Honda Del Sol,
Jeff wrote: I really don't see any of the Japanese FWD cars becoming classics. To bland and to damn many of them. YMMV
CRX-si prices are already on the rise.
rconlon wrote: Honda Del Sol,
I don't think the Del Sol will be particularly collectable compared to a number of the other Hondas.
bravenrace wrote: CRX-si prices are already on the rise.
Yeah, I don't get that at all.
Jeff wrote:bravenrace wrote: CRX-si prices are already on the rise.Yeah, I don't get that at all.
Because they are berkeleying awesome.
You'll need to log in to post.
