AaronBalto wrote:
Low-tech is going to be desirable as cars become so laden with failing circuit boards that they can't be driven. I predict a future where low-mileage cars in perfect shape will be crushed for want of an NLA printed circuit board. If I am remembering correctly, I think that Subaru XT's have some failure like this that kills them. Cars that spike in value will be the best cars of the pre-electronic era. Nobody wants to drop $50k on a car that is one puff of smoke away from the crusher.
Yea, it's the computer for the electric power steering. I looked at one like a year and a half ago that had a failing steering computer thingy. From what I gathered, you're basically completely SOL trying to find one.
Woody wrote:
Mike wrote:
Unmolested, well-kept new millennium retro: PT Cruiser, Prowler, HHR, SSR, Thunderbird, New Beetle, Z8, S-Cargo. Maybe MINI.
Have you checked Z8 prices lately? They're hovering around $200k for an average one.
Just you wait until they start going up!
Mid-late '80s Monte Carlo SS
3rd Gen F-Bodies (only clean/stock ones, especially convertibles)
Z32 ('90s) Nissan 300ZX
987 Cayman (end of the naturally aspirated flat-6) (unsure if the Boxster will go up though, they seem to get really beaten on)
Furious_E wrote:
Mike wrote:
Unmolested, well-kept new millennium retro: PT Cruiser, Prowler, HHR, SSR, Thunderbird, New Beetle, Z8, S-Cargo. Maybe MINI.
While some of these are definitely rather low volume, somewhat rare cars, the problem I have with seeing the values escalate very far is who's buying them?
The whole "retro" craze was basically invented by the industry to capitalize on the nostalgia of the baby boomer generation and the corresponding boom in the classic car market they were creating. The response at the time of their target market was, by my judgement at least, lukewarm at best and by the time these cars are getting to classic age in another 10-15 years, the baby boomers will be getting to the age where their kids are getting ready to yank their driving privileges and financially prep for the inevitable move into the retirement home.
I honestly haven't seen much enthusiasm for these types of "retromobiles" outside of the "I remember when the ORIGINALS first came out..." crowd, so I just don't see the demand ever getting high enough to really drive values into the stratosphere.
I know this is the internet and all, so I'm supposed to argue, but that's a solid counterpoint.
In reply to Mike:
You're doing it wrong. Rabble rabble rabble! 
The cars that get stupid expensive are 'prestige' cars. Cars that you can tell your country club friends about. I wouldn't be surprised to see Range Rover Classics and 80's Land Cruisers get very expensive.
Brian
MegaDork
2/17/16 4:11 p.m.
Tom_Spangler wrote:
Four-eyed Fox body Mustangs and the rarer 944 variants like the Turbos and S2s.
I want a 4 eye notch back so bad. I hope you're wrong until after I can buy one.
STM317
Reader
2/17/16 4:11 p.m.
AaronBalto wrote:
Low-tech is going to be desirable as cars become so laden with failing circuit boards that they can't be driven. I predict a future where low-mileage cars in perfect shape will be crushed for want of an NLA printed circuit board. If I am remembering correctly, I think that Subaru XT's have some failure like this that kills them. Cars that spike in value will be the best cars of the pre-electronic era. Nobody wants to drop $50k on a car that is one puff of smoke away from the crusher.
I can see the logic there. But I also think that fewer people will actually own cars, so the "spending 50k on a rolling computer that will be obsolete in 6-12 months" argument may not work out. The way I see it working out, "mobility companies" will offer ride sharing or subscription services in most areas.
I think a larger issue may not be the cars themselves, but the side effects of a bunch of all electric, automated cars running around. How will insurance companies charge non-automated drivers who are seen as a higher risk? What will happen to fuel prices when a very large part of the US fleet doesn't run on combustibles? How common will gas stations be? How do local governments pay for infrastructure like roads when there are so few people buying heavily taxed fuels, and paying to plate their vehicles? I can see a future where it just becomes too expensive or inconvenient to continue driving gasoline powered cars ourselves, and they become toys for the wealthy like horses are now. But if the wealthy want toys, they're probably not going to be interested in whatever fairly common vehicles we're talking about here. They'll want the best examples of ICE-powered relics that money can buy. Honda values crash. Pagani values soar.
AaronBalto wrote:
Low-tech is going to be desirable as cars become so laden with failing circuit boards that they can't be driven. I predict a future where low-mileage cars in perfect shape will be crushed for want of an NLA printed circuit board. If I am remembering correctly, I think that Subaru XT's have some failure like this that kills them. Cars that spike in value will be the best cars of the pre-electronic era. Nobody wants to drop $50k on a car that is one puff of smoke away from the crusher.
Except that there are already cars that are gaining value in the post electronic era. So much for that theory.
There are already cottage industries out there to fix all of this stuff, and just because one OEM has problems does not mean doom for all cars.
Heck, there are a lot of pre-electronic cars that are getting EFI put into them, to make them easier to live with.
Agree on the 80's SUVs going up.
And the late 90s early 2ks retro mobiles doing nothing.
Exception I think the t-bird remake was unique enough that given enough time it will go up (20+yrs still)
Even with rust minimizing the supply I do not think that top versions of econoboxes will go up (GTi, Si, etc) mechanically different unique versions might have their day (Type R)
Clean Evos and STis are different enough and so rare to find stock that they may see some decent appreciation in 10 or so yrs. but they have to be STOCK.
The modded air cooled p-cars are seeing the same issue, kept stock they pull more $$$
I am either sitting on a future goldmine or a pile of rust my current gambles are as following
- 86 Fox 4 eyed notch
- 81 Alfa GTV6
- 74 Mazda RX3
- 01 Porsche 996TT
In reply to aussiesmg:
Future pile of rust, but I'll do you a favor. Send the GTV6 and the RX-3 to Mr. Hungary Bill, 4401 N 19th...
Bullitt Mustangs. Maybe a few years for those. What do you guys think of 1979-1985 Rx7's? Got my eye on a 1979 Limited edition.
A lot of the cars mentioned will pull minor collector money, but not the stupid "what the hell is wrong with people" money that 911's and some of the muscle car era cars get. To get that (I think) you need a car that has wide appeal outside hard core car guys. If you have to explain to someone why your car is cool, it's not cool.
Whoever suggested early Viper coupes is probably right on. Those still cause people's heads to snap around. C3 Corvettes will get there too but they're still stuck in the doldrums of options deciding whether the car is worth it. Bug eye WRX's have potential if they're stock, not many of those seem to have survived and they were well known.
What made you excited when you saw it when you were 10?
If I could find a Camel Trophy Discovery I seriously consider it from an investment standpoint. Those were cool.
What about the 4 eye 302 Capris from the mid 80s?
Land Cruiser 80 Series? They're already starting to climb, though pricing is heavily influenced by condition. A really nice, low mileage truck is $12,000-$15,000, while I can find a rough appliance-duty truck with Lexus badges with 250,000 miles for $3,500.
Got another one: muscle trucks. Syclone/typhoon, F150 SVT Lightning, and Ram SRT10 specifically.
In reply to Mike:
These will be $40k within the decade.
mazdeuce wrote:
A lot of the cars mentioned will pull minor collector money, but not the stupid "what the hell is wrong with people" money that 911's and some of the muscle car era cars get. To get that (I think) you need a car that has wide appeal outside hard core car guys. If you have to explain to someone why your car is cool, it's not cool.
Whoever suggested early Viper coupes is probably right on. Those still cause people's heads to snap around. C3 Corvettes will get there too but they're still stuck in the doldrums of options deciding whether the car is worth it. Bug eye WRX's have potential if they're stock, not many of those seem to have survived and they were well known.
What made you excited when you saw it when you were 10?
If I could find a Camel Trophy Discovery I seriously consider it from an investment standpoint. Those were cool.
I don't even understand Viper pricing right now. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen cars are all more or less sitting on top of each other in value. Everything seems to suggest they're well overbuilt, with no fatal mechanical flaws, unlike the Porsche IMS headache. They're expensive to run, but they mostly just want a lot of regular stuff - like three Hondas worth of oil at an oil change, and $500 tires. None of this Mercedes-approved unicorn-infused synthetic blinker fluid mess is required to keep them going. They're just all over the place, and you can find them pretty easily in the $35,000-$45,000 range all day long.
I feel like I should drop everything and buy a late 2nd gen RT/10.
Did someone say 1981 Honda Accord LX?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Honda-Accord-LX-/201515098019
I think Vipers are a little like Ferraris in that they don't depreciate like normal cars. Although I swear you could buy first gens for the high teens at one point. I'm also not sure they'll have big surges like 911's, but they might. If you want an exceptional car to drive twice a month, I don't think you can go wrong with one.
ultraclyde wrote:
What about the 4 eye 302 Capris from the mid 80s?
I dig those, too, but I don't think they'll ever have the cachet of the Mustangs. They are pretty much forgotten these days.
I think you'll eventually see a nostalgia run for some of the "childhood and teenage memories" cars for those of us that grew up in the 80's and 90's just like the interest in 50's and 60's cars and muscle cars took off. Only the more unique models will go up though. MK1 and MK2 VW GTIs, Monte Carlo SSs, Hurst Cutlasses, GNs (already of course), Firebird TAs, IROC Zs, Cyclones, Typhoons, CRX Sis, ITRs, Turbo MR2s, Eclipses, Impala SS', Terminator Mustangs, unmolested STis and Evos, S2000s. Cars that weren't super cars or halo cars like the Supra and NSX, but cars that were performance orientated editions and well liked in their day.
You'll see other cars like the Integra GSR, 90's Sis, run of the mill Mustangs and F-bodies have interest, but they won't be as coveted as the more special edition cars.
