Investing in cars?

[twitchyzero]

any mass produced cars will unlikely go up in value
unless the E36 M3 was a Euro spec I doubt it

[bcrdukes]

I think this dealership is a good example of which cars could turn a profit - Munich Evolution Seattle | Munich Evolution

Then there are the Porsche and Alfa Romeo crowd. It takes a very special group of people who fit a certain demographic/mold in order to play the car investment game. The classic Porsche M491 still fetches a good amount. Investment? Possibly. But again, a very small circle of people are looking for these. Can't just assume mass produced cars like the S2000 or E36 M3 are going to appreciate in value over time.

[godwin]

Yup Good example as they are south of border.. you just have much less factors stacked against you.

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

I think this dealership is a good example of which cars could turn a profit - Munich Evolution Seattle | Munich Evolution

Then there are the Porsche and Alfa Romeo crowd. It takes a very special group of people who fit a certain demographic/mold in order to play the car investment game. The classic Porsche M491 still fetches a good amount. Investment? Possibly. But again, a very small circle of people are looking for these. Can't just assume mass produced cars like the S2000 or E36 M3 are going to appreciate in value over time.

[Lomac]

How about a BMW Z1? Only 8000 produced worldwide. Who cares if it's ugly as fuck... just find a cute girl in a skirt or dress and have her climb in.



Personally I do think there are a few cars out there that will be classics and may possibly be worth a bit of money down the road. Not $100k for an all original '69 Camaro Z24 money... but at least a few grand more than what you will probably pay for right now.

I'll spout off a few and give my reasons why I think they may be potential candidates. You're welcome to wholeheartedly disagree as it's just my own personal opinion.

1) First-gen Mazda Miata - Beautifully balanced and a monster on an auto-x track. Sure, they made millions of these but I see so many examples on CL that are rusted out, badly modified, or have high mileage on 'em that finding a good clean example is getting harder and harder to find. It bringing back the resurgence of the old British two-door, open roof mini sports car doesn't hurt it's reputation either.

2) Eunos Cosmo 20B variant - Probably desirable more to the Japanese and European crowd, Mazda's most expensive car sold in very small numbers... even smaller for the 20B engine. State-of-the-art, fast, rare, and with prices selling now for a fraction of what it originally cost, it'd be interesting to see in another 15-20 years what the market will bear for one of these in good nick.

3) Mazda RX7 SP - Rare as hell. And normal FD's still fetch a premium as it is.

4+5) Original M5 and M6 - Everybody wets their pants at the mention of the E30 M3 but I think the E24 and E28 may one day see the same resurgence that the 3-ser currently has.

6) BMW M3 CSL (E46) - Limited production run, arguably the last of the good M3 motors, and a greater focus on racing than the normal M3

[SumAznGuy]

If you can find a good clean AE86 that is either stock or lightly modded, I can see that car going up in value some more even after the Initial D tax.
Most cars are rusting away and give it another 10-15 years I can see demand for them.
Like the 240Z and Datsun 510, there is a cult following for them in Asia and North America. Racing heritage.
And with time, there will be less and less of them.

I agree with Lomac about the CSL. Drool....

[godwin]

Get a pickup and a trailer, buy what you like from BaT and profit?

High-Mile 1988 BMW E30 M3

[westopher]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

Can't just assume mass produced cars like the S2000 or E36 M3 are going to appreciate in value over time.

I wasn't mentioning them in terms of the original question as far as investment, but as the question above my post about great value cars that likely won't really depreciate even after a few years of use, pending proper care and not racking up the miles, which is easy for those living in metro vancouver.

[godwin]

The thing is for cars you really care after 15 years you really should either go with Hagerty or get ICBC's Collector's status if it is really rare. While it will decrease insurance cost, you will need to find place to store and another DD if you need one. Unless you move to a new insurance class, insurance companies use standard depreciation curves, so a minor rear ender (as seen quite often on BC Bimmer for e36) will render your collectible car a write off.. which will affect value.

I don't find Agreed value or Collector's plate that hard to get. Just a good detailing and photos with a polarizer filter works wonders.

Originally Posted by westopher

I wasn't mentioning them in terms of the original question as far as investment, but as the question above my post about great value cars that likely won't really depreciate even after a few years of use, pending proper care and not racking up the miles, which is easy for those living in metro vancouver.

[hk20000]

my volvo is rare as heck I don't see anyone paying me good money for it. only 214 ever made it to North American shore (only available in Canada as well).

Some US peeps might pay high price for it, but for me, it's just a year round reliable transportation. Hagerty heard my story and laughed.

Rarity =/= desirability (is that a word?)

[CaptFiero]

Sorry to bring back a dead thread.

However wanted to add some insight into Fiero's as an investment. If you bought in 10 years ago, you could have tripled your money easy. However the market went way up, then crashed in recent years. Fastback Fiero's went from 1500 on average for a decent one in the late 90's to $6000 plus in the mid to late 2009-2010. Right now they are starting to rebound with prices ranging from 1800 to 40,000 yes 40k The 40K one is a Brand new one, at a dealer never registered. Even will retain factory warrant when its sold. However the average high sail price on a good Fastback GT Fiero is 4000, and you can buy them for 1500-1800 needing TLC. You could easily buy one for $2000 spent 500-1000 on parts and labour and flip it for 4000 or if you have a painter buddy, buy a $1000 car, paint it, toss on some decent craigslist wheels, clean the interior and sell it for $5999. Now if you find the rare ones, like the 88GT 5spd T-Top Fiero, they start at 6000 even in daily driver condition and sell for 10,000-12000. Note I am taking about mainly stock Fiero's. When it comes to modded ones the prices are all over the map. Basically take what the owner has in the mods cut it half, take the value of the car in stock form reduce it by 25% then add the 2 together. IE, 2000 car, with 5000 motor mod, would be a 1500 car, with a 2500 motor mod value, comes to 4500. That is what its worth resale value. So you need to get the ca at 3500 to make ANY cash on it. Which is 1/2 what the owner says its worth. Note your sales ability will vary a lot of the profits.

We used to joke back in the 2005 era, Fiero's were a better investment than a GIC. My personal Fiero is a Yellow 88GT 5spd, I paid 1000, fixed it up a bit, and it needs paint plus a good cleaning, I'll take 4000 as is for the car. Then let someone sell it for between 6000 and 8000.
P.S. 4000 is firm, I'll keep driving it if I can't get at least 4000. Its 1 of 20 Yellow 88GT's in Canada. Its also a hard top car, which is hard to find in any Fiero.

I am not commenting on any of the other cars as frankly I have no clue. Fiero's have been my life for years. My wife and I are keeping 2 or 3 to play with, but the remaining ones are being sold off now. (Sold her V8 5spd Fiero, so my 88GT Coupe, sold my 86 Fiero Coupe, and now maybe my 88GT)

Just beware any Fiero with a "Rebuilt" title is not worth the cost of towing, neither is ANY 84 Fiero unless its a rare Indy Pace Car Replica from GM. I don't' like them, but others do. I'd love to part one out thought for the interior though.

[Timpo]

None of cars OP has posted are investment worthy.

Here are some good examples..

Ferrari F40
Back in late 90s and early 2000s, you could have bought this car for $250k, and now holds approx $500k-$650k value.


Ferrari F50
Back in 2000, you could have bought this car for $500k, now F50s hold value around $1 million to $1.8 million.


Isdera Commendatore 112i
The car was sold at $450k when new. Now worth $3 million.


B Engineering Edonis
The price new was £450k($820k), now they're north of $1.3 million.


Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Jota
They were sold for $200+k in early 2000s, Now worth over $500k-$600k.

[Timpo]

As we know classic Ferraris are always good investment if you have enough capital.

Ferrari 412P
Current Value: $18 million


Ferrari Testarossa 250
Current Value: $12 million


Ferrari 250 GTO
Current Value: $52 million


Ferrari 250 LM
Current Value: $14 million


Ferrari 625 TRC Spider
Current Value: $41.8 million


Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione
Current Value: €9.856.000 ($14.8 million)


Ferrari 375MM
Current Value: $12.7 million


Ferrari 275GTB
Current Value $27.5 million


Ferrari 250GT California
Current Value: $10.9 million

[maksimizer]

Kind of a side topic, but i would say no for long term investments, as stated, maintenance and such, its just not worth it. Its like trying to sell your car you bought 10 years ago, changed the transmission, 3 sets of new tires, oil changes x40, etcetc, you can never get your $$ back.
Also inflation, i find it kind of ironic, when yeah, one of those above supercars value has increased x2, but then again keep in mind the housing market has increased x4.

If you want to make some money off cars, I recommend trolling Craigslist for a particular car you know and can value easily.

Iv bought and sold 11 cars in the past three years (value of 1-4k), making 500-2000$ on each, AFTER expenses. (also got two lemons that made me come out even/under 500$)
1. Troll CL, pick your car(s)
2. Wait till you see one for 10-40% cheaper than any other model out there.
3. Check it out (FAST, as they will usually sell same day) unless its a hunk of shit or a lemon.
4. Buy the car.
5. Post it back up same day for "going price". Or wait a week or a month, fix up the small shit, and point it for "going price"

I do it more of a side hobby, i want to own a bunch of cars, but we all know that's not possible when your a student LOL. So i buy em, drive em, fix em, gain some knowledge, and resell em for some dollar billz.

[knight604]

Gtr vspev ii

[Yodamaster]

Fairlady roadsters are fetching good money now.

[Mr.C]

XLR-V will be worth money for sure a decade or two from now.

[Lomac]

Originally Posted by CaptFiero

Sorry to bring back a dead thread.

However wanted to add some insight into Fiero's as an investment. If you bought in 10 years ago, you could have tripled your money easy. However the market went way up, then crashed in recent years. Fastback Fiero's went from 1500 on average for a decent one in the late 90's to $6000 plus in the mid to late 2009-2010. Right now they are starting to rebound with prices ranging from 1800 to 40,000 yes 40k The 40K one is a Brand new one, at a dealer never registered. Even will retain factory warrant when its sold. However the average high sail price on a good Fastback GT Fiero is 4000, and you can buy them for 1500-1800 needing TLC. You could easily buy one for $2000 spent 500-1000 on parts and labour and flip it for 4000 or if you have a painter buddy, buy a $1000 car, paint it, toss on some decent craigslist wheels, clean the interior and sell it for $5999. Now if you find the rare ones, like the 88GT 5spd T-Top Fiero, they start at 6000 even in daily driver condition and sell for 10,000-12000. Note I am taking about mainly stock Fiero's. When it comes to modded ones the prices are all over the map. Basically take what the owner has in the mods cut it half, take the value of the car in stock form reduce it by 25% then add the 2 together. IE, 2000 car, with 5000 motor mod, would be a 1500 car, with a 2500 motor mod value, comes to 4500. That is what its worth resale value. So you need to get the ca at 3500 to make ANY cash on it. Which is 1/2 what the owner says its worth. Note your sales ability will vary a lot of the profits.

We used to joke back in the 2005 era, Fiero's were a better investment than a GIC. My personal Fiero is a Yellow 88GT 5spd, I paid 1000, fixed it up a bit, and it needs paint plus a good cleaning, I'll take 4000 as is for the car. Then let someone sell it for between 6000 and 8000.
P.S. 4000 is firm, I'll keep driving it if I can't get at least 4000. Its 1 of 20 Yellow 88GT's in Canada. Its also a hard top car, which is hard to find in any Fiero.

I am not commenting on any of the other cars as frankly I have no clue. Fiero's have been my life for years. My wife and I are keeping 2 or 3 to play with, but the remaining ones are being sold off now. (Sold her V8 5spd Fiero, so my 88GT Coupe, sold my 86 Fiero Coupe, and now maybe my 88GT)

Just beware any Fiero with a "Rebuilt" title is not worth the cost of towing, neither is ANY 84 Fiero unless its a rare Indy Pace Car Replica from GM. I don't' like them, but others do. I'd love to part one out thought for the interior though.

You sold the V8 monster?



Was actually looking at picking up a GT a few weeks back. Still have a soft spot for 'em.

[vitaminG]

bmw 1m has increased in value, even with use. that would have been a great investment

[GS8]

I drive a G8. Only 2864 were sold in Canada and only lasted 2 seasons (not even a year).

My car's value is worth what I paid for it 2 years ago. With my subtle mods, I may make a slight profit if sold to the right person.

But as a car guy, I love it waaay too much. I would only sell it for a more powerful G8. I would never consider cars as a wise investment. I can only see the success coming out of flipping cheaper cars as a side job.

This debate always comes up in the G8 community. Lots of grey hairs bought them new, stored them in a heated garage and, 5 years later, are trying to sell them at high prices using the 'NEVER SEEN RAIN!' as validity for the car's condition. After buying my Buick, I learned a sitting car is NOT a happy car.

I choose to drive my Pontiac and my 'Garage Queen' Buick and will drive it till I have to rebuild it. Neither the cars nor the money will follow me when I die so I'd rather not live in regret, knowing that I missed out on so much potential with them.

Like anything else, the market around here is inflated. The price for a Grand National over here would be far cheaper elsewhere even if both cars were in the SAME condition.

[jlenko]

The only reason I would pick up a cheap Fiero nowadays is for a project car.

Wouldn't mind stuffing an LS4 in there with the F40 6-speed. That would be fun.