Future Scene Tax Specials

[Negative Creep]

All this recent talk of the mk.1 and 2 Escort has got me thinking. It's one of those rare classic cars where any version in any spec is worth way more than it should be, yet were once viewed as disposable motoring. The Mini, mk.1 Golf and VW Camper have now gone the same way, and I bet if you told someone that in the 80's they'd have laughed in your face. So I'm wondering what the future mainstays of the Ebay Bargains thread will be? Now it has to be the entire model range that's worth money, so something like the Megane R26 won't count as no one will give a shit about the basic versions. My predictions

 

 

BMW E30

BMW Mini

Ford Focus mk.1

Ford Puma

Vauxhall VX220

 

 

Any others?

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Rover Streetwise, on steel wheels

[In The Pit]

Ford Focus MKII

Ford Mondeo MKI MKII

Ford Scorpio

Ford Cougar

VW Scirocco MKI MKII

Rover 75

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Ford Focus MKII

Ford Mondeo MKI MKII

Ford Scorpio

Ford Cougar

Rover 75

 

Not. A. Chance.

 

 

Not cool in any way when new, no competition history, nothing.

 

 

I would like to see the odd K/L reg Mondy at a classic car show in 10-15 years time.

 

 

As shit as they were, Mark 3 Rolfs could become 'scene' when there are none left.

[dollywobbler]

Rover 75 is a good one, purely for the fact that they'll suddenly all disappear in a Sierra-esque fashion.

 

Not sure the halo effect is going to drag up any more recent design though. MINIs are just fashion icons with no competitive pedigree. One day, they'll be horribly out of fashion.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

MINIs are just fashion icons with no competitive pedigree. One day, they'll be horribly out of fashion.

 

I don't think they will. The MINI is now 10 years old andf they sell as well as ever. If anything, given another 10 years and the launch of the 17 foot long 4x4 SUV convertible MINI Wankman, the twee originals will start to have a charm.

[retrogeezer]

Not cool in any way when new, no competition history, nothing.

 

•1997: BTCC - Pos: 13. Ford Mondeo Racing (Works entry). Ford Mondeo. No.15. 41 points.

Also Bathurst 1000 (Peugeot 406).

•1996: BTCC - Pos: 13. Valvoline Team Mondeo (Works entry). Ford Mondeo. No.6. 26 races. 27 points.

 

•1995: BTCC - Pos: 6. Team Mondeo (Works entry). Ford Mondeo. No.3. 24 races. 130 points. 1 wins. 3 fastest laps.

 

•1994: BTCC - Pos: 3. Team Mondeo (Works entry). Ford Mondeo Ghia. No.3. 20 races. 206 points. 2 wins. 2 pole positions. 2 fastest laps.

Also Winner of the FIA World Touring Car Cup at Donington Park.

•1993: BTCC - Pos: 3. Team Mondeo (Works entry). Ford Mondeo Si. No.15. 10 races. 110 points. 3 wins. 2 pole positions. 2 fastest laps.

Winner of the FIA World Touring Car Cup at Monza.

 

 

At his (Mansell) first event at Donington Park, he retired 3 laps into the sprint race, meaning he would start the feature race in 19th position on the grid. As the conditions changed and the track got wetter, Mansell found himself leading the race for several laps, and he finished in 5th position.[22] The race was regarded by many fans as one of the greatest in touring car history.[23]

 

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Ah yes, the racing Mondeo from almost 2 decades ago that everyone has since forgotten about. The one that had its arse kicked by Alfa in 1994 after which Andy Rouse acted like a prize twat and neartly jeopardized the whole BTCC for that season.

 

Not one of Ford's finer moments.

[Cavcraft]

Quite like the 75s but no way will they ever be big hitters in the money stakes-assuming that was what was meant by N.C.

 

Sleeping giants or the next best thing?

 

Novas. I mean, unabused or properly modified ones. They're already just starting the steep climb to desirability if they're not rotten or covered in stick on shit and stpid wheels.

 

Pumas I'd agree with as they're a sharp design and wear the right badge.

 

Focus: Surely only the 'ST' models?

 

E30: Definately and (to a lesser extent) the E36 in the future.

 

Generally run of the mill cars (Cavalier/Mongdeo/Primera possibly) become reasonably popular later in life because people can relate to them, though most will remain forever like Farina Cambridges/Oxfords/etc and stuff like Hunters, Marinas etc. This is because whilst they're were decent enough (except the Marina which is shit) and popular cars they are not 'fire starters' so probably won't ever be any great shakes price wise.

 

As ever it's the hotter models which will do best so STs, VX/Rs, GSis and what not will be the big things.

[warren t claim]

Any 2 door BMW E30, in fact they're already rising fast.

 

Alfa 156. Almost reliable.

 

Anything aspirational now will be sought after in twenty years, Audi TT, Any big German 4x4.

[Negative Creep]

I added the original Focus as I honestly believe in 20 or so years time it will be seen as a design classic and thus desirable in all forms

[In The Pit]

Ford Focus MKII

Ford Mondeo MKI MKII

Ford Scorpio

Ford Cougar

Rover 75

 

Not. A. Chance.

 

 

Not cool in any way when new, no competition history, nothing.

 

 

I would like to see the odd K/L reg Mondy at a classic car show in 10-15 years time.

 

 

As shit as they were, Mark 3 Rolfs could become 'scene' when there are none left.

 

My reasons: (and I dont think a car has to have a sporty background but it can help)

 

Ford Focus MKI MKII - A car loved and praised my motoring journos and public, well liked shape modern styling ahead of its time excellent reliability and build quality. These will be the MKI MKII Escorts of 2040.

 

Ford Mondeo MKI MKII - 'Loads about once' (is what we'll say in 2026) nice 90's shape, Mondeo man (remember him), they've had an owners club from its early beginnings. People said the same of the Ford Cortina.

 

Ford Scorpio - RWD, interesting design (car looks more modern now than it did in 1995). Cosworth version.

 

Ford Cougar - Same reasons as Puma really, limited amount made all sporting models, smart styling and dont forget the equation, sports model + blue oval = £££££££

 

Rover 75 - They are holding their value well today, last big Rover, very British and a smart looking quality feeling car.

 

Just thought of another the Subaru Impretza, even though the non-sporting models will be snapped up to be made to look like 'scoobys'.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Good call ofnthe Nova. They're on the way, surely? When the yoof who had them in the late 1990's are 40 year old farts like me and fancy a nice 1.4SR in the garage. They were a superb little chariot - I loved mine.

 

The problem with stuff like the Focus is that they don't rot and fall to bits like the Escort. It's now 13 years since the first Focus arrived and there are still 3.5 trillion of them on the road. They are still a modern car whereas in 1981, the first Scorts were wankered old teabags and Mexicos/RS2000's were dirst cheap. ST Focusses and RS's are still quite good money aren't they? And unlike the Escort, nobody seems to dress up basic models like an RS. They just become grotty street furniture.

 

E30's are entering scene now with genuinely mint exasmples starting to command strong money, and the E36 is where E30's were 5 years ago....fading chav scene (the scummers are molesting E46's now) and increasing numbers of OEM Homo examples in really nice nick.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 

I still don't see it.

 

My reasons: (and I dont think a car has to have a sporty background but it can help)

 

Ford Focus MKI MKII - A car loved and praised my motoring journos and public, well liked shape modern styling ahead of its time excellent reliability and build quality.

Well, the original was, but it didn't have ther rally jacket enthusiast appeal of the Escort 1 and 2. It was a brilliant family saloon and Ford only made a belated half arsed attempt at proper go faster versions.

 

Ford Mondeo MKI MKII - 'Loads about once' (is what we'll say in 2026) nice 90's shape, Mondeo man (remember him), they've had an owners club from its early beginnings. People said the same of the Ford Cortina.

 

Cortinas are scene, but only ancient ones. They aren't Escort megabucks apart from thew Lotus.

 

Ford Scorpio - RWD, interesting design (car looks more modern now than it did in 1995). Cosworth version.

 

Can't see it. They weren't that bad, but they were up against some far, far superior cars and they were much maligned. A 1995 5 Series or E Class is worth 4/5ths of fuck all. It might have a soprt of appeal like the Mark 4 Zephyrs but valuable/scene? Never.

 

Ford Cougar - Same reasons as Puma really, limited amount made all sporting models, smart styling and dont forget the equation, sports model + blue oval = £££££££

 

Cougars were utter shit. They drove okay but were so utterly dismal (terrible build quality) and they only sold about 9. The Probe has more chance tbh.

 

Rover 75 - They are holding their value well today, last big Rover, very British and a smart looking quality feeling car.

 

No way. A Singer Gazelle for the 2000's, and will be owned by BO ridden paedos in years to come.

 

Just thought of another the Subaru Impretza, even though the non-sporting models will be snapped up to be made to look like 'scoobys'.

 

A nice original Mark 1 Impreza - yes, very possible.

 

[warren t claim]

The Frogeyed Scorpio is the PA Cresta of the 1990s.

 

In years to come misguided British citizens will buy them for their americana appeal.

[Cavcraft]

Actually the 'yoof' bit is a good point you raised Rev.

 

I suspect stuff that the kids were into will have a stronger following in later years. Just like old motorbikes are doing with people who had them 'in the day' I think even cars like Saxos will attract a following. Just like Pete-M (just as an example) loved hooning round in hotted up Escorts and just like people went nuts for XR£is and Golf GTis I suspect the memory of youth plus the 'modability' of certain cars will see them as strong potential future scene tax mobiles.

I also believe cars have to go through that phase of being owned by kids who bought them because they were cheap and they could get a hideous bodykit for it then slowly but surely get appreciated by people who'd rather keep them standard-ish or do some proper modifications to them.

 

This sort of owner is the enthusiast as opposed to the family man or sales rep who just wants something mundane or for the perceived badge prestige.

[fiatdaft]

cougar and sporty = lolz.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Actually the 'yoof' bit is a good point you raised Rev.

 

I suspect stuff that the kids were into will have a stronger following in later years. Just like old motorbikes are doing with people who had them 'in the day' I think even cars like Saxos will attract a following. Just like Pete-M (just as an example) loved hooning round in hotted up Escorts and just like people went nuts for XR£is and Golf GTis I suspect the memory of youth plus the 'modability' of certain cars will see them as strong potential future scene tax mobiles.

I also believe cars have to go through that phase of being owned by kids who bought them because they were cheap and they could get a hideous bodykit for it then slowly but surely get appreciated by people who'd rather keep them standard-ish or do some proper modifications to them.

 

This sort of owner is the enthusiast as opposed to the family man or sales rep who just wants something mundane or for the perceived badge prestige.

 

 

I forgot about the Paxo. Also - the 205GTi. These are 25/26 years old now and I haven't seen one on the road in yonks. A minty mint one will surely be worth very strong money before long.

 

Scene tax is strange.

 

VW Campers. The image of chugging down the A30 towards Newquay in a mobile gas chamber whilst wearing a beany hat when you're 38 is obviously a strong image for some. I don't get it.

 

Minis. Bouncing around in some unreliable rusty shitbox with four gears, looking like a pillock and paying £3000 to do so.

 

Escorts. Yes, I can sort of see it, almost. I can see a really nice Mark 1 Mexico or RS2000 being £5000 or £10000 for a stunna. But 20-30k? Come on. They are still a bit 'fat bloke in a rally jacket' as well.

[babydriver]

Vauxhall Calibre

VW Corrado

Streetka soft top

Peugeot 407 coupe

Citroen C6

[Cavcraft]

I 'get' the Mini thing to an extent. Sure they're rusty, unreliable and cramped but they're a bloody good laugh to drive and probably 85%+ of their owners are enthusiasts. Whislt there is definately a 'scene' to them it's a different kind of scene to (for example) VW Campers where it can sometimes appear a lot of the owners are trying to be something they never were in the first place by which I mean the 'cool, hippy kid' type.

[retrogeezer]

Ah yes, the racing Mondeo from almost 2 decades ago that everyone has since forgotten about. The one that had its arse kicked by Alfa in 1994 after which Andy Rouse acted like a prize twat and neartly jeopardized the whole BTCC for that season.

 

Not one of Ford's finer moments.

 

 

The question was asking what 'might' become considered classic and you said the Mondeo had no sporting history which the Mondeo certainly does. The fact it's 20 years old is exactly the age we are talking about!

 

I remember all the touring cars from that era with a lot of fondness - it was a great time for the BTCC and it's not a question of whether the Alfa or Audi or Volvo was better, it's an everyday Ford that lots of people will have good memories of, just like the Escort, Cortina, Granada of the 60's & 70's.

 

I'm absolutely certain that within 5 years time we will be looking at Mondeos at car shows in the same way we look at other stuff now.....look how popular boxy Volvos are!

[Alexg]

MGF. HGF and engine rapes will cause numbers to diminish. Last of the real MGs etc etc.

 

Astra VXR. Mental fun car that most of which will be written off in 20 years time. Then suddenly everyone will remember they're brilliant.

 

Saxo VTR/VTS. Future Midlife crisis car for those reliving their youth. Good ones will be few and far between.

 

Mk1 L/R Disco. Old Landrover. Need I say more

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Re the Mini scene....

 

I dunno, it's not the same as when I was a nipper in the '80's. There were loads of shit Minis about for 50 quid, endless tidy ones for £350 and you didn't view them as a cult car. It was a stepping stone on the road to something else. I had loads, built 2 or 3 up from shells and did twice weekly scrapyard runs, picking bits off other shitters - cheap 1300GT engines, big bore exhaust, a set of S discs of you found a wanked pre '74 1275GT and stuff like that.

The current Mini scene is very odd to me. It's as if current owners buy a Mini to be part of the Mini scene, whereas I bought them because they were cheap and, as you say, a good laugh. Minis were a rite of passage as were rusty shit Escort 1300's to which you'd add wide Cortina Capri steels and a twin choke Weber.

When I had Minis and Scrotes, I never once thought "I want to own one of these forever'.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

You were asking what 'might' become considered classic and said they had no sporting history which the Mondeo certainly does.

 

Well, it had a very short and very flaky competition history - it never won a BTCC championship no matter how much money Ford threw at it. It was no Lotus Cortina.

But I like Mark 1 Mondeos. I thought they were an outstanding car at the time and thoroughly enjoyed the renters I had when they came out. But they will never, ever be valuable or 'scene' because in 10 years time, there will be next to none left. To support a 'scene', you need to have a certain number of survivors and I would be surprised if there are more than 50 - 100 nice Mark 1's left in the UK. It will be like the Princess and Mark 1 Cavalier where you occasionally see one at a show owned by some old geezer.

[Cavcraft]

Good call on the Calibra, again like the Nova they're emerging from the Barryboy culture and decent, unspoilt examples are worth having and holding on to. Sorry for being predictable but the Cavalier GSi is another and they're (quite) quickly creeping up in price now they're getting rare. I suppose like a lot of 'hot' cars of their type they were dry bummed for the XE engines, bodykits and interiors.

[retrogeezer]

@ Rev, yeh - I guess the Mondeo may never be 'scene' but the hot versions have always been nice motors too..the original Si's were funky in that yellowy colour and the ST models are very nice.

 

The thing I think about with stuff like this is that cars up to the early 80's were easy to keep running, it was bodywork that needed attention and that is 'fairly' easy to do. With more modern stuff it's all the electronics that go wrong and has already caused the demise of many otherwise good condition cars. How easy is it going to be to get replacement sensors, ecu's etc and at what cost??

[dollywobbler]

I'm going to say Mazda MX-5 Mk1. Given that the performance folk are starting to realise that you can pinch bits for all sorts of other cars (like a Herald... ) and that they rot like a classic, I can see prices only going one way. I might have to get one while they're still banger cheap...

 

The MX-5 could easily be the next MGB. There are millions of those about, but they still cost a fortune in roadster form. Already, people are falling in love with their purer styling. While later MX-5s are certainly no rubber bumper MGB, the originals will get very, very popular.

[pogweasel]

E30's are making really strong money, and started to about 30 seconds after I stopped owning one.

This is consistent with Pog's First Law of Vehicle Economics.

It follows that good examples of E36's will follow suit, so I'm not going to make that mistake again, even if I finish up garaging the thing long-term at some point.

[Guest]

Any completely original UK-spec Impreza 2000 Turbo will be worth an absolute fortune within this decade.

[morris_ital_lover]

From the recent releases I'd hedge my money on the Focus RSs and STs being worth quite a wedge. I'd also hedge my bets on Lotuses, such as the elises becoming notorius forbeing the last true british spport cars until they go tits up in two years time (they seems to be spending millions pursueing hopeless motorsport dreams as well as a range of shite).

 

From the golden oldies I reckon within the next 12 months the first Sierras will start going for silly money, then eventually (5-6 years time recession dependant) the whole lot will, with hundreds of estate running around in shitty rothmans liveries.

 

m0rris