Fancy a depreciation proof car: ideas?
06 May 2003, 05:01 PM
#1
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Currently thinking long and hard about sinking a bit of money into a car. Don't mind spending the money, but as I am a tight get I hate losing money on cars, so fancy looking for something with glacial depreciation. Obviously buying new is not a consideration. Ownership would probably last 12 months, and would like to spend between £1K-£23k.
Current favourite is an M Coupe. After an initial big hit, values over the last year seem to have held very strong, maybe due to individuality and limited numbers. Old shape M3 Evo's (not on my list) still seem to fetch silly money, maybe the Coupe will follow suit?
Also a candidate is a 964 shape Carrera 2 (a sound investment but not really my thing) or possibly previous shape Merc SL (very nice but a little bit Footballers Wives?).
Really fancy an E55AMG but figure they still have a bit to lose yet.
Caterhams and Elises could also figure.
Any ideas?
Current favourite is an M Coupe. After an initial big hit, values over the last year seem to have held very strong, maybe due to individuality and limited numbers. Old shape M3 Evo's (not on my list) still seem to fetch silly money, maybe the Coupe will follow suit?
Also a candidate is a 964 shape Carrera 2 (a sound investment but not really my thing) or possibly previous shape Merc SL (very nice but a little bit Footballers Wives?).
Really fancy an E55AMG but figure they still have a bit to lose yet.
Caterhams and Elises could also figure.
Any ideas?
06 May 2003, 05:05 PM
#2
Escort Cosworth?
Not sure about the 964 - I dont claim tto know much about these, but my understanding is that servicing costs may outweigh the possible saving in depreciation.
Steve
Not sure about the 964 - I dont claim tto know much about these, but my understanding is that servicing costs may outweigh the possible saving in depreciation.
Steve
06 May 2003, 08:16 PM
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Funny you should mention this as I am desperate to get a convertible and could either spend 14K on a brand new Import Peugeot 206cc or £16.5K on an R reg Mercedes SLK230 with 41K miles on the clock.
I too have been wondering what the minimum price SLK's and Porsche Boxsters are going to be. For instance I personally think that boxsters are never going to dip below 15K and SLK's are going to stop depreciating at 10K.
I too have been wondering what the minimum price SLK's and Porsche Boxsters are going to be. For instance I personally think that boxsters are never going to dip below 15K and SLK's are going to stop depreciating at 10K.
07 May 2003, 01:21 PM
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Some good ideas.
Current list looks like:
500SL
Early Elise
3-4 year old Caterham
M Coupe
968 Club Sport (yum)
911 Carrera 2
Sorry but Integrale's looked dated 10 years ago, EsCos is a bit too Max Power, and Celica is too new.
Wild card would be a Benz 500E (Eddie Irvine's got one y'know). 330bhp, LHD only and probably would have to buy in Germany. Always loved them, 10K buys a gooder and should hold value, but could be a limited market for future saleability. Anyone want to elaborate?
Current list looks like:
500SL
Early Elise
3-4 year old Caterham
M Coupe
968 Club Sport (yum)
911 Carrera 2
Sorry but Integrale's looked dated 10 years ago, EsCos is a bit too Max Power, and Celica is too new.
Wild card would be a Benz 500E (Eddie Irvine's got one y'know). 330bhp, LHD only and probably would have to buy in Germany. Always loved them, 10K buys a gooder and should hold value, but could be a limited market for future saleability. Anyone want to elaborate?
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07 May 2003, 01:51 PM
#9
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Its got to be a Porsche of some sort, lets be honest, the M-Coupe is a nice car and a great drivers car BUT it is just BMW at the end of the day.
A Porsche will still be "desirable" in 20 years whereas a BMW wont. All of this is IMHO!!
Cheers,
Grant
A Porsche will still be "desirable" in 20 years whereas a BMW wont. All of this is IMHO!!
Cheers,
Grant
07 May 2003, 02:05 PM
#10
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EVO IV's are holding their money very well, I sold my 40K mint example for 10K 2 years ago and they're still fetching the same amount if not more!!!!
Lotus Carltons are bullet proof at the moment as our Integrales as is the 964 RS which is one hell of a car!
Dom.
Lotus Carltons are bullet proof at the moment as our Integrales as is the 964 RS which is one hell of a car!
Dom.
07 May 2003, 03:28 PM
#12
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Very true, Evo 4's still holding strong. But we had one about 5 years ago, so fancy something different.
Lotus Carltons are fantastic, always fancied one. But parts prices are through the roof (something like £700 for discs and pads) and I am led to believe that engines can be troublesome. Anyway would prefer the anonymous looks and bulletproof engineering of an E500 for less money.
How about UR Quattro, my boyhood wet dream?
Keep 'em coming.
Lotus Carltons are fantastic, always fancied one. But parts prices are through the roof (something like £700 for discs and pads) and I am led to believe that engines can be troublesome. Anyway would prefer the anonymous looks and bulletproof engineering of an E500 for less money.
How about UR Quattro, my boyhood wet dream?
Keep 'em coming.
07 May 2003, 06:11 PM
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Olly,
I may be biased.... but whatever you do - don't but a 964 !!!
I've owned one. They are far from depreciation proof
In fact they are the least desirable of all the 911's - and the most expensive to maintain.
Believe me - pre-89 911's are now reaching iconic status and as such their prices have levelled off.
I'm not asking you buy mine - just giving you some sound Porker advice...
Gastro
I may be biased.... but whatever you do - don't but a 964 !!!
I've owned one. They are far from depreciation proof
In fact they are the least desirable of all the 911's - and the most expensive to maintain.Believe me - pre-89 911's are now reaching iconic status and as such their prices have levelled off.
I'm not asking you buy mine - just giving you some sound Porker advice...
Gastro
07 May 2003, 09:09 PM
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Olly - you have virtually the same list as me!
968 (would prefer Sport though)
964
M Coupe
my other edition is the S2000 or NSX.
M Coupe is favourite (not drive one yet tho), though I will decide after I drive both the NSX and S2000 for a weekend each courtesy of the classic car club www.cccedinburgh.co.uk
968 (would prefer Sport though)
964
M Coupe
my other edition is the S2000 or NSX.
M Coupe is favourite (not drive one yet tho), though I will decide after I drive both the NSX and S2000 for a weekend each courtesy of the classic car club www.cccedinburgh.co.uk
08 May 2003, 12:09 AM
#19
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Gastro, I know what you mean. My uncle has owned a 1985 911 Carrera similar to yours for around 8 years. He paid around £16k for it, and has serviced and maintained it well. Its probably not worth much less even now. The Old Boy used to own a 911 C2 Speedster. It was pretty expensive to service and generally maintain, and this was a 9000 miler stored away for 363 days a year.
Thinking about it, choose between maintaining a 2-3 year old M Coupe and a 13 year old Carrera 2, and its a no brainer. Plus we live near the toffs in Wilmslow where 911's are ten-a-penny. So I suppose I have answered my own question on that one.
Bri: your 500E is familiar, it was on my desktop wallpaper for a while. Still have a copy of Rowan Atkinson's article in CAR magazine from a few years back. Had a ride in an old H plate W124 300E tonight: still felt as new as the day it left the factory. Great, great cars.
Flicked through Top Marques tonight: NSX's getting dangerously close to early £20K. Nice.
Thinking about it, choose between maintaining a 2-3 year old M Coupe and a 13 year old Carrera 2, and its a no brainer. Plus we live near the toffs in Wilmslow where 911's are ten-a-penny. So I suppose I have answered my own question on that one.
Bri: your 500E is familiar, it was on my desktop wallpaper for a while.
Still have a copy of Rowan Atkinson's article in CAR magazine from a few years back. Had a ride in an old H plate W124 300E tonight: still felt as new as the day it left the factory. Great, great cars.Flicked through Top Marques tonight: NSX's getting dangerously close to early £20K. Nice.
08 May 2003, 09:32 AM
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When you look at Top Marques and say "NSX getting dangerously close to £20k" that's because they are still depreciating.
Gastro's 911 has finished depreciating - if it stays in well maintained order its value will change only by season and fashion, and not by much. The 964 is a headache to the pointe where some specialists won't sell them any more, the 933 is still too young to have bottomed out. Similarly the 968 has a long way to fall yet - it's a glorified 944 S2 yet it seems to sell for 50-75% more than an S2.
IMO the only truly depreciation proof cars are those that will remain desirable forever (ie prestige marques / 'classics'), over 10 years old and last of the line for that model.
Fen
Gastro's 911 has finished depreciating - if it stays in well maintained order its value will change only by season and fashion, and not by much. The 964 is a headache to the pointe where some specialists won't sell them any more, the 933 is still too young to have bottomed out. Similarly the 968 has a long way to fall yet - it's a glorified 944 S2 yet it seems to sell for 50-75% more than an S2.
IMO the only truly depreciation proof cars are those that will remain desirable forever (ie prestige marques / 'classics'), over 10 years old and last of the line for that model.
Fen
08 May 2003, 10:27 AM
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Bri: never been in a 500E (yet), been looking on Auto Trader since Christmas for a car for sale to go and view. Only actually come across 2 cars, one at a LHD specialists in Norfolk for an inflated price, and another from a rather dodgy sounding gentleman. Fancy parting with yours?
IIRC the Honda NSX was only late £40k new in 1991, early cars now creeping into the early £20K's. 50 odd percent in 12 years, about the same as most new cars lose in 2-3 years. Unlikely you would see a dramatic tumble in depreciation over a year.
Good 968 Club Sports seem to have been around £13-15k for years, and strong demand should see this maintained, posh 944 or not.
IIRC the Honda NSX was only late £40k new in 1991, early cars now creeping into the early £20K's. 50 odd percent in 12 years, about the same as most new cars lose in 2-3 years. Unlikely you would see a dramatic tumble in depreciation over a year.
Good 968 Club Sports seem to have been around £13-15k for years, and strong demand should see this maintained, posh 944 or not.
08 May 2003, 10:31 AM
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Olly.. I do know of one that will be for sale soon. Can put you in touch with the owner if you want.
Pics of mine at http://www.briandrought.com/500e/ if yer bored
Pics of mine at http://www.briandrought.com/500e/ if yer bored
08 May 2003, 12:19 PM
#25
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FFS Olly, you are starting to sound like the accountant Just get an E bought, you KNOW it makes sense
BTW, I reckon the only reason you're considering the 964 is to p155 your dad off
Just get an E bought, you KNOW it makes senseBTW, I reckon the only reason you're considering the 964 is to p155 your dad off
05 June 2003, 05:37 PM
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Boxsters are now coming in around £20k but only the 2.5 litre, still pretty amazing residuals. Lotus Elise don't lose too much and the older ones still pass around for decent money.
The R129 1989-2002 SLs are nice good cruisers, but I didn't find a them the most involving drive, they are quite heavy and to get decent performance you have to go to the bigger engines SL500.
The AMG55's are loads of car for the money most have high spec and bags of performance. There are a few AMG 43s C class W202 around and these see to be fairly stable in price now, the estates seem to fetch a bit more than the saloons.
BMW coupe's seem good, the M Roadster is also available quite cheaply, don't know if they will fall further but the larger engine Z3s do seem to have stabilised over the last couple of years. If you can get a decent E36 M3 for resonable money it should hold its value (someone will always want one)
Non performance E320TD W210 1994-2002 merc E class turbo diesel estate, quite quick, good economy bullet proof residuals.
All very nice cars, good luck with your choosing
[Edited by Mmmmm - 5/6/2003 5:39:53 PM]
The R129 1989-2002 SLs are nice good cruisers, but I didn't find a them the most involving drive, they are quite heavy and to get decent performance you have to go to the bigger engines SL500.
The AMG55's are loads of car for the money most have high spec and bags of performance. There are a few AMG 43s C class W202 around and these see to be fairly stable in price now, the estates seem to fetch a bit more than the saloons.
BMW coupe's seem good, the M Roadster is also available quite cheaply, don't know if they will fall further but the larger engine Z3s do seem to have stabilised over the last couple of years. If you can get a decent E36 M3 for resonable money it should hold its value (someone will always want one)
Non performance E320TD W210 1994-2002 merc E class turbo diesel estate, quite quick, good economy bullet proof residuals.
All very nice cars, good luck with your choosing
[Edited by Mmmmm - 5/6/2003 5:39:53 PM]
05 July 2003, 07:02 PM
#30
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I can second the 500E... Irvine has one, Rowan Atkinson has one. I also have one, but thats less impressive!
Bomb proof... stupidly fast and hold their value very very well. I've put 15,000 miles on mine in a year... not had any problems, and its still worth what I paid for it. Nice!
Bri
[Edited by bdrought - 5/7/2003 7:03:02 PM]
Bomb proof... stupidly fast and hold their value very very well. I've put 15,000 miles on mine in a year... not had any problems, and its still worth what I paid for it. Nice!
Bri
[Edited by bdrought - 5/7/2003 7:03:02 PM]