Future classics

[Dobloseven]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Nobody will want to look back on that time they had to chop the car in for the Zafira. A really dark time when you stopped looking after yourself, wearing those washed out jumpers and eating at Hungry Horse pubs. 

But realistically, ie. not in an Autoshiters head, what fine machine would the Zafira have replaced? 1.6LX Focus? 1.3 CTDI Astra? 1.8 Edge Mondeo?......! 

 

 

...! 

[inconsistant]

The smart money of today is buying all the Zafira GSi’s. 

[FakeConcern]

I have said in the past that the Citroen Picasso is the future Morris Minor and I still think that's the case.

 

Also has anyone mentioned the Yaris GR?

 

 

[lesapandre]

32 minutes ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

Sporty and fast Italian cars have always been sought after 

Especially in Ferrari Red.

[ETCHY]

K11 Micra, Mk1 Yaris.

A lot of folk may have had them as first cars or reliable hacks. They'll disappear off the roads & nostalgia is a big thing.

 

 

[egg]

Vauxhall Adam?

[JJ0063]

R53 Cooper S, Clio 197, Megane 225 

 

Im really tempted to pick up an R53 whilst they’re cheap as I’m pretty sure they are going to skyrocket in a couple of years but I know I can’t hold on to anything!

[loserone]

1 hour ago, JJ0063 said:

Clio 197,

Not sure on the 197, they have always had the reputation of being heavier, thirstier and not as agile as a 182.  I think a clean 172 or 182 probably will fall into this bracket though.

 

Mine is not all that clean, it will need paint at some point.

[sierraman]

16 hours ago, Dobloseven said:

But realistically, ie. not in an Autoshiters head, what fine machine would the Zafira have replaced? 1.6LX Focus? 1.3 CTDI Astra? 1.8 Edge Mondeo?......! 

 

 

...! 

Pretty much anything would be preferable to the Zafira. 

[JJ0063]

18 minutes ago, loserone said:

Not sure on the 197, they have always had the reputation of being heavier, thirstier and not as agile as a 182.  I think a clean 172 or 182 probably will fall into this bracket though.

 

Mine is not all that clean, it will need paint at some point.

I think you’ll be surprised, look at the VTR, VTS, 106 GTI etc, all cars that were bloody everywhere a few years ago and were £500 cars. 
 

Another one il throw in the mix - 206 GTI 180. I paid under £400 for a 58k miles one about 10 years ago. Madness 

[horriblemercedes]

23 minutes ago, loserone said:

Not sure on the 197, they have always had the reputation of being heavier, thirstier and not as agile as a 182.  I think a clean 172 or 182 probably will fall into this bracket though.

 

Mine is not all that clean, it will need paint at some point.

I think the 197's time will come. In racing they are a significant improvement on the 182s.

 

Both great cars. We will see what happens but I think the 197 has a bright classic future

 

Honda EP3 and FN2 are another similar comparison

[Bradders59]

And to think I sold a lovely low mileage 205 GTi for £750, 20 years ago.

I also sold my Chevette HS in 1982 for £2300. 

No wonder Im perpetually skint. 😄

[quicksilver]

20 hours ago, sierraman said:

Nobody will want to look back on that time they had to chop the car in for the Zafira. A really dark time when you stopped looking after yourself, wearing those washed out jumpers and eating at Hungry Horse pubs. 

Maybe not the parents who had to drive them, but their kids might have fond memories of a carefree childhood once they grow up and reach the age their parents were when they had the Zafira. MPVs are a dying market sector so there might not be any left on the market by then and nostalgia is a powerful thing. Possibly more FOTU fodder than mainstream classic but it wouldn't surprise me if they gain a small following.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

20 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Yes indeed - it is seen as bourgeois and 'establishment'. No surprise de Gaulle was a big user of them.

They are notwithstanding fantastic cars and are well worth buying. But...

The Citroën Traction Avant has a bigger following in France. They are really popular.

My Dad is a member of a “  Classic Car Club” at his house in Brittany, I went with him to a meeting one Sunday at a village fete type thing. His TR4 was one of about 15 Triumphs, probably more MGs , a few Jags and old Yanks . Local stuff? One Traction Avant and 2 Peugeot 203s - one of which was painted up as a US Army Staff Car! almost as weird as the US Army Fergie TE21in his local village. In fact they love anything American, if my Old Man takes his S1 Land Rover anywhere, everyone thinks it’s a WW2 Jeep, one of his neighbours even got him to take his daughter to a prom in “ Le Jeep” !
 

It amazes me that you’re far more likely to see a nice 60’s/70’s or 80’s big Citroen or Pug in Notting Hill than in the whole of France.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

That last post was in the ether since last night’s shutdown.

I was thinking about Telly and Film influences on things becoming classics.

But I’ve come up with nothing! Where’s the 21st Century Saint’s Volvo or Regans Consul ?  Even humdrum stuff like Hillman Imps, Minis and FD Victors instantly bring to mind the Fims and TV shows from my youth.

Apart from Fast and Furious bollocks all I can think of are IronMan’s R8 and the Transporter A8s.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

On 17/10/2023 at 12:12, DSdriver said:

I may be wrong but are all the convertibles currently being made the rigid top type?

You are correct in suspecting you may be wrong! Some have gone back to soft tops BMW 4/M4 and Mercedes SL for example, also the new Ferrari Roma Spyder is proper canvas and replaces the folding hardtop Portofino. All Bentley and RR drop tops are canvas.

We currently have 2 proper soft tops and 2 folding tin lids and the floppy roofs are infinitely more refined and indeed watertight. One, an E Class can even open or close whilst moving something even the same age SLK  wouldn’t dare to do for fear of scraping , crunching and shattering of windows !

[DSdriver]

6 minutes ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

You are correct in suspecting you may be wrong! Some have gone back to soft tops BMW 4/M4 and Mercedes SL for example, also the new Ferrari Roma Spyder is proper canvas and replaces the folding hardtop Portofino. All Bentley and RR drop tops are canvas.

We currently have 2 proper soft tops and 2 folding tin lids and the floppy roofs are infinitely more refined and indeed watertight. One, an E Class can even open or close whilst moving something even the same age SLK  wouldn’t dare to do for fear of scraping , crunching and shattering of windows !

All of which are way above my place in the food chain. I will expect to pay a premium when my floppytop needs new canvas then, if that will be their perceived market. 😟

[egg]

43 minutes ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

Where’s the 21st Century Saint’s Volvo or Regans Consul ?

Inbetweeners Fiat Cinq 🤷‍♂️

[Dobloseven]

3 hours ago, quicksilver said:

Maybe not the parents who had to drive them, but their kids might have fond memories of a carefree childhood once they grow up and reach the age their parents were when they had the Zafira. MPVs are a dying market sector so there might not be any left on the market by then and nostalgia is a powerful thing. Possibly more FOTU fodder than mainstream classic but it wouldn't surprise me if they gain a small following.

The Zafira was a game changer. When MPVs took off, initially there were bigger Espace,Sharalaxy, Peugeot /Citroën /Fiat etc. type things where you could carry seven people, but had to take the seats out and leave them at home to get any meaningful luggage space. Or smaller five seat Scenic, Picasso types and the van based Berlingo sorts of thing. The Zafira idea was copied by many makers, including Renault who arguably started the whole MPV thing,and had a life of around 20 years over 3 generations. Fact is, they're a very useful car. A car in a way, for people with a life to get on with. 

[leakingstrut]

Given space and cash I’d buy the cars that I have the best driving memories of. Maybe one or two of them would be worth money in the future. If I’ve got enough money to buy a bunch of shite and a shed to store them in I’d wager the shed will appreciate quicker. 

• E36 325 TDS Manual
• Citroën ZX Volcano TD 
• Peugeot 406 Estate (pre facelift)
• Ford Ranger (mk1 post facelift)
• Ford Fusion 1.4 TDCI
• Chevrolet Lacetti Estate 

[Dobloseven]

Think a fairly safe bet would be an E46 3 Series BMW. The oldest are well over 20 years now,so classic insurance. The previous models are well on the way up, with older being better.There's a halo model in the M3. Mantra would be less doors and more power, so a 330 coupe would be favourite. Best avoid the diesels cos of ULEZs. RWD, straight six engines, even look good with the bonnet open. "Specialists" under every railway arch, good parts availability....... Got my eye on one round the corner. Not quite right but close, a 330 manual convertible with a hardtop, pre facelift. 

[Waderider]

I'm going with the Volvo C30. Had a 1.6 R Design for over 10 years now, always got my eye open for the right T5 within 100 miles of home, then the 1.6 can be my spare.

[FakeConcern]

20 hours ago, loserone said:

Not sure on the 197, they have always had the reputation of being heavier, thirstier and not as agile as a 182.  I think a clean 172 or 182 probably will fall into this bracket though.

 

Mine is not all that clean, it will need paint at some point.

The price of 182s in Racing Blue or Liquid Yellow has already gone stupidly high, the other colours not so much except the Capsicum Red ltd run Trophy.

18 hours ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

That last post was in the ether since last night’s shutdown.

I was thinking about Telly and Film influences on things becoming classics.

But I’ve come up with nothing! Where’s the 21st Century Saint’s Volvo or Regans Consul ?  Even humdrum stuff like Hillman Imps, Minis and FD Victors instantly bring to mind the Fims and TV shows from my youth.

Apart from Fast and Furious bollocks all I can think of are IronMan’s R8 and the Transporter A8s.

Some TV series I've never seen about vampires featured a Volvo C30...

[EyesWeldedShut]

15 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

The price of 182s in Racing Blue or Liquid Yellow has already gone stupidly high, the other colours not so much except the Capsicum Red ltd run Trophy.

Some TV series I've never seen about vampires featured a Volvo C30...

There's the (shite) Italian Job Reboot which did nothing for movies or Binis.
Subway - French Movie with Cjristophe Lambert - Pug 205 GTi for me in that one. That is so last century though - since 2000, nowt I can think of so I'm with @NorfolkNWeigh here

[martc]

18 hours ago, egg said:

Inbetweeners Fiat Cinq 🤷‍♂️

Talking of which, post 2000, Friday Night Dinner involved many memorable cars which my tickle the nostalgia bone -

Dad's SAAB 9-5 goes without mentioning, but there's also -

'It's not a house, it's a car'

And the almost concours

Owned by Mr Morris, grandma's new boyfriend.

[DaveDorson]

Makes me quite sad but I think we're the last generation that will enjoy cars the way we can now.

As such I don't think it's a good pension scheme..you're better off buying vintage watches or just chucking the money you'd throw into a car and storing and maintaining it into a pension pot.. sorry 

[leakingstrut]

12 hours ago, Dobloseven said:

Think a fairly safe bet would be an E46 3 Series BMW.

I think you are on the money there. E46 is peak 3 series. Most of them have no screen to age like milk. Better than the E36, and more timeless than the E90.

I was considering a nice 330 touring but prices are already climbing for good ones. 

[New POD]

On 17/10/2023 at 20:56, inconsistant said:

The smart money of today is buying all the Zafira GSi’s. 

To take the engines and put them in Mk5 Astra VXR replicas, or into mk4 astras as GSi replicas, or into 2.0 8V cavalier 4x4s as erm the ultimate sleeper or GSis as replica Cavalier Turbos. 

[Split_Pin]

It's wholly incorrect to say Rovers are worth 'feck all', I'm unclear where this information came from.

A scruffy diesel 75 has little value but the following are already fetching strong money:

-early v6 auto 75s with low mileage and top spec, especially a Personal Line. Launch/preproduction cars are particularly sought after

-very tidy low mileage top spec v6 MGZTs

- 200 BRMs are now silly money

As most future classics have been covered, there are a few where the ship has already sailed, such as tidy Clio 1*2s. But I think the following are now firmly at the bottom of the curve and will only rise:

- Mercedes SLK MK1

-Audi TT MK1 (sorry, I think the 225 will rise the most, regardless of the benefits over a 180)

- BMW E46 330

- Bini Cooper S R53

- Mk1 Mondeos

- MK1 Focus with a decent spec

Anything that was once ubiquitous but now very scarce and has a good spec will definitely be desirable. So a sporty Nissan Primera is probably already worth something but an 4 Cylinder Audi 80 from the same era is not. 

[Rocket88]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

It's wholly incorrect to say Rovers are worth 'feck all', I'm unclear where this information came from.

A scruffy diesel 75 has little value but the following are already fetching strong money:

-early v6 auto 75s with low mileage and top spec, especially a Personal Line. Launch/preproduction cars are particularly sought after

-very tidy low mileage top spec v6 MGZTs

- 200 BRMs are now silly money

As most future classics have been covered, there are a few where the ship has already sailed, such as tidy Clio 1*2s. But I think the following are now firmly at the bottom of the curve and will only rise:

- Mercedes SLK MK1

-Audi TT MK1 (sorry, I think the 225 will rise the most, regardless of the benefits over a 180)

- BMW E46 330

- Bini Cooper S R53

- Mk1 Mondeos

- MK1 Focus with a decent spec

Anything that was once ubiquitous but now very scarce and has a good spec will definitely be desirable. So a sporty Nissan Primera is probably already worth something but an 4 Cylinder Audi 80 from the same era is not. 

“ Jelly mould “ Audis are already double what they were three years ago, even the poverty spec models