Car value bell curve

[ashmicro]

I think the Maestro's getting an unfair rap. It's roomy, easy to see out of, simple to maintain and easy to drive. Still, I suppose none of those are reasons why (most) people buy old/classic cars.

 

Hot R3 Metros (post 1990) are a good steer. The converted-to-twin carbs GTa I had was a 16valve, and gave plenty of supposedly better/faster cars a good scare, and frequently a good shoeing, too.

 

The Samba will suffer due to it's silly name, although I had 3 of them, liked them, and had no rot issues. The youngest one I owned was 8 years old, too.

[face]

You can get a really nice Puma for well under a grand.

 

The 1.4 is OK too with the bonus of a lower tax band.

[ruffgeezer]

I've always thought of car values as more of a bell end, they gradually drop until something comes pissing out, then they aren't worth anything at all!

[Betaphile]

This:

 

I think a lot of us are influenced by cars that we admired in our childhood - so ask a bunch of kids and see if they come up with a consensus.

 

Which in part is related to this:

 

Anything that raced or rallied in period.

 

...influenced to an extent by the Playstation/XBox stuff.

 

In general, while I think that in most cases trying to pick rising values in the automotive world is a mug's game, it seems to me a general rule that at the very least a car needs to have been well-regarded when it was new for it to ever gain serious value. A big part of this is the perception game - people's views are disproportionately influenced by stuff they hear and read about while they're young, so perceptions established then - both positive and negative - have a huge lasting effect. One of the main reasons I got into Italian cars way back when was because I was an easily-manipulated nipper back in the mid-'90s, when Fiat Group was on a roll. Whereas for something like Maestros, I can't see them ever being worth much more than fragger money, since for most people outside AS they're not exciting/desirable/redolent of positive memories/praised to high heaven by the press (when you're 13, obviously journalists' opinions are UNDISPUTED FACT; this also holds true in any pub argument setting). Likewise, it helps if they match up to what I call 'intuitive engineering specs' (i.e. "everyone knows" that the ideal spec for ANY car is full independent suspension/DOHC/all-ally block/manual gearbox/sub-ton weight/rear-wheel drive/etc).

 

Anyway, having stated all of one paragraph ago that picking this sort of stuff correctly is for fools, let me affirm this statement by saying that any sporty versions of desirable models back in the day are a good starting point - the whole race/rally/mid-life crisis thing plays out here. To wit:

 

* E30s, especially 325s, are a good call for future desirability, even if they're not my thing (halo of Group A M3 also applies here). I reckon good Alfa 75s will be worth keeping an eye on too - if for no other reason than that the 75's name has been officially changed by deed poll to "They're the last proper Alfa - rear-wheel drive, y'know". Will be even more true once the new Chryslerised shite comes on-stream.

 

* Clio Williams

 

* Some of the better stuff Fiat Group was doing 15 years ago - unmolested 156 GTAs, Fiat Coupe Turbos, GTVs, Cinq Sportings

 

* W124 300CEs

 

* Mk1 Elise

 

* Hot 306 (and 106s) mentioned earlier is a decent call also - trick is finding one that isn't buggered.

 

* On the subject of Pugs - 405 Mi16?

 

* Lupo GTI seems to have a curiously cult following too, I have noticed?

 

* Hate to say this, but I can see the MINI being MGB-esque popular in 30 years' time.

[oman5]

I think the Maestro's getting an unfair rap. It's roomy, easy to see out of, simple to maintain and easy to drive. Still, I suppose none of those are reasons why (most) people buy old/classic cars.

 

 

It worked - and still does- for the Morris Minor, arguably THE car that started off the everyman classic car scene

Maestros are fine- in my experience only slightly tempremental engine management system/rust/an appetite for front wheel bearings are the only real caveats.

 

Regarding values, my top tip would be to invest in a volvo 740. I will be selling mine shortly, for not much money because they are worthless. watch values skyrocket the moment I sell it.

[Rocket88]

MGBs now worth less than they were 8/9 years ago [too many still about] same with Midgets.

Same with Stags. It's the stuff that is rare that will go up [look at Mk3 Cortina prices now, compared to 8/9 years ago]

If Mk1 Escorts had no rally pedigree, they'd be worth no more than an Allegro. In fact, anything with rally / racing pedigree will always increase in value, stuff like 70's 911s have gone through the roof in the last 5 years.

Watch out for Rover 75s. [especially non K series ones] The Connosieur is already quite sought after, especially the Tourer.

Unfortunatley, the bloody Bini will always be worth money, as will the Audi A2, [they're now worth more than an Audi A8 !] The original Audi 80 convertable will also rise in value, original Saab 900 turbo convertables are also fetching strong money.

[Morgan84]

Some of our fleet which are pretty worthless atm are the Reliant Scimitar SE6A and the 1976 Cavalier L.Scimitars used to make several thousand pounds,but are now reduced to high hundreds instead for comparible cars.I think it will be a while before my Cavalier is valuble,although one golden egg in the fleet is the Manta with 11000 miles - that won't be for sale !