[Closed] £5k fun car that might appreciate?

Old Landies seem to be going up in price for some reason

Old landies are stupid money. You can restore one from a V5 and a rust stain in a field and make a proffit. For £5k you would be buying an unpopular model with a coin toss over the condition of the bulkhead.

Speaking of rust, I reckon MG Midgets and Triumph Spitfires seem to have lagged behind their bigger brothers like TRs and MGBs. They've gone up about 50% in the last few years but not by the multiples some models have.

Leftfield suggestion and I've never owned one but what about a Fiat Barchetta?

Both a z4 and a tt will depreciate more in coming years. They're neither rare nor special enough to have bottomed out - once they start getting scrapped in big numbers they'll go up again, the fact you can buy a z4 for barely over a grand should tell you where they are going next

You may get a boxster for less than 5k but the bills to keep it running will be huge.

Agree, I sold one for £5k a few years ago after using it for 60,000 miles. Was great at start but the last few years where it had 80,000 miles on were a monthly bill of £500+ and something was always going wrong with it.

How is an old Nova £5k?!

You mean why has someone gone to the trouble of engine swapping a Nova and they haven't used the C20XE for a minimum 150bhp? What a waste.

How is an old Nova £5k?!

Every single person with an old car thinks they're selling the crown jewels.

I'd say s2000

Classics are going for silly money post lock down people are bored, and the weather was good. Look on glenmarch.com for completed auction prices. Pistonheads classic forum has some educated comments on why the market is where it is.

For 5k I would get a classic beetle, pre 1980 so tax free, ulez exempt, 100 quid insurance. I have had a few and never lost money on them.

Or an e30 3 series bmw, decent ones can be had for 5k if you look hard.

I’d go Honda- less chance of massive bills : )

You can only buy very leggy, very rough, poverty spec Z4s for much less than £4K.

Decent 3.0SE with less than 70k, decent spec and condition are over £4K and will be the ones that remain so as the rest start to get scrapped.

Find one with heated sports seats, the roof motor done and the run-flats gone and you’ll be onto a winner.

Similarly, if you can get a 3.0si Sport Auto Coupe - these are quite rare.

A girlfriend of mine had a Nova van with a GTE engine crowbarred in. Odd driving position (legs way left of the steering wheel and ridiculous torque steer with the big engine. Great fun until a con rod blew through the side of the engine... 😊

Arent Barchettas LHD only?

I’d vote Boxster. Low service intervals (2 years or 20,000 miles) and a big service is only £300 or so. Boxsters aren’t going to get much cheaper either. Oh, and they’re fantastic fun, especially if it’s just a weekend car. Mine’s done 10,000 miles in three years and (after new tyres and a bit of sorting initially) only really cost me fuel.

I could be talked into letting it (04 Boxter S) go though, as I never drive it...

Both a z4 and a tt will depreciate more in coming years. They’re neither rare nor special enough to have bottomed out – once they start getting scrapped in big numbers they’ll go up again, the fact you can buy a z4 for barely over a grand should tell you where they are going next

Z4's aren't rare enough, or special enough yet for sure... You can buy a good one for £5k and enjoy it, and it shouldn't cost a ridiculous amount to run if you buy wisely, but it won't appreciate...

The right mk1 TT will though... Trust me! They've already been scrapped enough in big numbers, TT breakers are buying good cars specifically to break, cos they're worth more in spare parts (the Z4's aren't). This is a good thing for enthusiasts, because it means a ready supply of spare parts at good prices, but also it means that good ones are becoming harder to find. I bought a 225 TT Roadster with 96k on the clock back in October, it has just shy of 99K on the clock now and I'm confident I could sell it for £500 more than I bought it for already... I'm not saying it'll fetch silly money (you need a 240 Quattro Sport for that, they're now over £8k for higher milers, and mint low milers are naming their price already, when even 12 months ago £5k got you a reasonable one and £8k was the best of the best!).

The other thing in the TT's favour, was what counted against it when it was new. Other than how it looked, it was decidedly un-special. Based on a mk4 VW Golf Platform, and sharing many common parts with other VAG cars, it was a style icon but not a driving sensation. This helps the values for sure, as a 3L Sport Z4 is a much better drivers car, but a TT is the one that's going to appreciate...

You can only buy very leggy, very rough, poverty spec Z4s for much less than £4K.

Not so... I've seen decent 2.5 and 3L cars for less than this, not stupid miles, and usually good history too. Yes, if you want a facelift 3.0si with low miles, you best be prepared to shell out £8k or more, but I've seen good early 3L Z4's go for under £3k now.

I could be talked into letting it (04 Boxter S) go though, as I never drive it…

Talk to me Chipps! 😛 I'm still not convinced on Boxster's long term running costs, but I do know they're a lot of fun, and their values can't really go any lower or they'll all get broken for spares!

Or an e30 3 series bmw, decent ones can be had for 5k if you look hard.

He wants a useable classic, not a lifetime quest! ANY E30 is going to command silly money now, they are a cult icon. Only ones worth owning were M3 (obviously), 325i sport, and the 318is. I'd warrant that hens teeth were now more common than an affordable E30!

A mk1 TT quattro 225 well looked after, low mileage etc etc surely has to be a good shout… just had a look on auto trader and theres one for £5k with 67k on the clock

Too many miles to be a proper collection piece, and too few to be a bargain. Sadly, unless you actually want to use it and just enjoy it and don't care that it will go down in value (albeit slowly), that'll be one to avoid. The money is to be made in finding a good one with 100k for under £2k and waiting for values to go up slightly, or drop £15k on a showroom fresh ex press car that's done about 8k miles from new and stick it in a hermetically sealed bubble.

Remember that whilst you're considering how to "invest" £5k of your hard earned on an appreciating classic, the traders have been doing it on a daily basis for a long time. So unless you have a time machine, you're not likely to make much money if anything. In many cases the best you can hope for, is at least getting your investment back after you've used it slightly...

Is the fact we are beginning to get to the end of the internal combustion engine era going to have an impact on prices in the future? Which way if so?

Is the fact we are beginning to get to the end of the internal combustion engine era going to have an impact on prices in the future?

It already is... Cars aren't designed with the same flair or individuality now as they were decades ago, because of the impending death of the i/c engine, which has driven the values of anything collectible up.

Which way if so?

It won't be universal, there will be a lot of polarity to it. The closer we get to the death of the i/c engine, we'll see values of almost everything start to drop off a cliff, but the true collectibles, the minimal mile garage queens will start to skyrocket in value, almost regardless of what they actually are! But anything that was a real icon will go through the roof, as they become actual museum pieces rather than just metaphorical ones.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/96/cappuccino/

"Top end" eBike money is £12.5K, not 5K, jus'sayin'...

Clio Trophy if you can find one.

VW Lupo Gti.

Mx5 na or nb...

Bought the GF's nb four years ago for 3500. If we were selling it now (which e considered doing) we could put it on for 4k.

Not selling it. Recently had the main frame rewelded and the sills done. 600 and 700 respectively.

Great motor for the lanes. Bit leaky, tbh. Need to replace the rubber gubbins as water is getting into the boot and a rear shelf....

Not selling it, am I?

I'd go for a Volvo C30 T5 in Polestar Blue with manual shift, and get the Volvo approved Polestar remap.
250BHP in a relatively small car and the 5 cylinder engines are supposed to sound great.
They didn't sell many so there's a chance they may be collectable sometime in the distant future (although the Ford Focus association may hinder that?)
Usable, fun car in the meantime though!

A busso engined Alfa would be a good shout. Revered engine amongst petrolheads and never sold in great numbers (unlike a boxter or Z4) so more likely to gain classic status.

GT or GTV. Running costs won’t be insignificant tho.

Fast Ford? Seen the price of a xr3i?

If you can find one a s2000 would be a good idea.

How long are you planning on keeping it? As that makes a difference.

MK2 focus st. Prefably 3dr, orange in st3 trim.

Why?

Look at the prices of older fords. They only go up.
This is the "asbo" and is critically acclaimed. Might be entering dustbin territory but now is the time to buy. £5k will bag a nice one.

Ok so it's not German or jap but you watch, it'll climb in price.

Not so… I’ve seen decent 2.5 and 3L cars for less than this, not stupid miles, and usually good history too. Yes, if you want a facelift 3.0si with low miles, you best be prepared to shell out £8k or more, but I’ve seen good early 3L Z4’s go for under £3k now.

Only the manual - the auto is holding its value better and is rarer - 4:1 maunual:auto with only about 400 autos left. for the SI Auto Coupe - that's more like 110. Get one in the right colour, spec etc and it should be a winner.

Also, you've got to take into account where the TT and the Z$ sit within the product lineup. The Z3 is keeping the Z4 market buoyant and the newer Z4 is more of a cruiser than a sports car as it's soo much heavier. the TT was replaced by an all round better looking, better driving model, the Z4 wasn't. The Si Coupe is the rarest of the lot, never replaced and still very pretty and distinctive.

MK2 focus st. Prefably 3dr, orange in st3 trim.

Nowhere near rare enough yet. a £5k one probably still has £2-3k of depreciation before it bottoms out. The Fords going for good money now, and the ones that are appreciating were much rarer, like various flavours of the Focus RS or the Ford Racing Puma

EP3 Civic was a good shout, finding one not "garryed" within an inch of it life might be tricky though

Alpin, is there something special about your nb? Rust free ones are only £2.5k around here last time I looked. I bought mine for £1400 last year and yet to spot any rust...

That said it does look like they are on an upward trend compared to last year

Is the fact we are beginning to get to the end of the internal combustion engine era going to have an impact on prices in the future?

I suspect the value of good cars will stay strong for a while. The ones that might crash are the "classics for the sake of it", like the random Siera 1.6 LX or Cavalier that always shows upto classic car shows and only attracts the odd comment along the lines of "I lost my virginity in one of those".

And it kinda depends on how quickly petrol pumps disappear. I kinda hope that we'll see "petrol" change from E5, to E10, to E100 and be available indefinitely, there might just be one pump at the garage rather than 10. If that's the case then there's no reason for prices to drop really.

On the other hand if petrol ends up being sold by the gallon to niche enthusiasts (c.f. nitro methane and methanol based fuels) then I'd expect the prices of everyday classics to crash. Someone will always want to drive a DB4 up the Goodwood hillimb even if it costs a relative fortune for fuel. It's the granddad in his Morris Minor, MGB retirement project restorations or tubby middle aged bloke in a ford fleece and his Focus RS that will disappear.

As others have said if you want to make money on it go Ford. The mk2 Focus ST is a decent shout for your budget but maybe hasn't quite bottomed out so may be a while before you see a return. The current 'bottom of the curve' is the Focus ST170. I had one and they are lots of fun (not that quick though) and you could get a low milage and vgc one for half your budget. Prices for good ones are already starting to rise though and plenty are rusting away so condition is key.

I sold mine to my friend last week and he plans to keep it in his lockup for a few years, restore the car then sell for a profit. I'd have done the same if my garage wasn't damp.

Alfa's are a decent shout although most are now over your budget. My next door neighbour has a 156 GTA and it is lovely but they've shot up since he got it.

Get hold of a copy of Modern Classics mag if you haven't already as that whole thing is basically the answer to your question if that makes sense?

Only the manual – the auto is holding its value better and is rarer – 4:1 maunual:auto with only about 400 autos left. for the SI Auto Coupe – that’s more like 110. Get one in the right colour, spec etc and it should be a winner.

It's not a great auto box though... The manual is much better, and as it's ostensibly a drivers car, it's the one to have, rarity value or not.

Also, you’ve got to take into account where the TT and the Z$ sit within the product lineup. The Z3 is keeping the Z4 market buoyant and the newer Z4 is more of a cruiser than a sports car as it’s soo much heavier. the TT was replaced by an all round better looking, better driving model, the Z4 wasn’t. The Si Coupe is the rarest of the lot, never replaced and still very pretty and distinctive.

The Z4 coupe would indeed be a reasonable useable investment (and is one of the leading considerations for my next 4 wheeled purchases), but it's £8k at least for anything worth buying, and more likely £10k for a nice one. Forget Z4M's, they're stupid money now, and you can't really use the extra power on the road anyway.

Good Z3's would represent a decent purchase to be fair. I saw a late model 2.8i Z3 for sale on Facebook classifieds the other day, quick glance and it looked in good nick. Was under £3k too. That would probably be a good purchase!

The mk1 TT may not have been as dynamically accomplished as it's replacement, but it's much better looking than the mk2, and is more of an experience to drive. No TT is a full on sports car, the mk2's really aren't much of an event though, unless you've gone for a TTRS, they really do epitomise the "warm hatchback in drag" approach that the mid noughties was famous for... And it reflects in their prices too... Mk2 TT's (TTRS excepted) are devaluing quite sharply at the moment. I took my GF out in a mk2 for a test drive a while back, she said it was a bit boring really. My mk1 by comparison is much more of an experience, even if that has more to do with its dynamic flaws and the fact they put a lot more effort into the interior (seriously, the MK2 is DULL!)... If you know TT's (I'm not claiming to be the gospel on the matter, but I do know enough about them) then get a good mk1 225 (Roadsters are much rarer, so arguably although not as good looking, will likely appreciate faster) and look after it properly, and it will increase in value... 180's and 150's, you can pick them up for peanuts and they still look cool, but you will struggle to sell them on afterwards, they're mostly getting broken for parts now! V6's are a bit of an oddity, cos it's even less of a drivers car than the 1.8T models, but that engine makes a lovely sound. Values are reasonably strong, especially for those with a manual box (the early DSG could be problematic). 240QS's are out of the picture, as they're Z4 coupe money now...

The current ‘bottom of the curve’ is the Focus ST170

I'd be less sure. Any increase in value is proportional to it's desirability and scarcity. If you want to make money it has to be the 'best' version of something.

E.g. Mk1 Sprites
Mk3 Midgets (1275)
etc

A Mk2 Sprite is still a good car, but a lot less valuable than a mk1 because it lost the frog eyes. Mk1 and 2 Midgets have less power (and brakes) than the mk3. Mk4 has more power again, but lacks chrome bumpers. People generally buy the others because they're similar, but don't have the same premium, so prices rise slower.

So an ST170 is never going to be in the same demand as an RS.

Just buy the car you actually want, and if it appreciates then you've done well.

Just buy the car you actually want, and if it appreciates then you’ve done well

This.

Investment mentality has killed the classic scene. My first car was a 1.6 Capri that I bought for £600. Had loads of fun in it, loads of break downs learned loads of mechanical skills then sold it 2 years later for £600.

The same cars now are 5-6 grand plus and they're just not worth the grief. These days I'd just get a Fiesta on finance like everyone else.

Also, unless you actually use it, expect that low mileage guaranteed future classic you squirreled away in a bone dry lockup, to come out with seized brakes, leaking fuel hoses, rusty tanks, and perished everything.

Unless you're lucky or meticulous in your maintenance it could come out of that lock-up needing more work than any profit it makes!

Having owned a 3.0SE Z4, a 3.0si Coupe and a Z4MC, the Auto Coupe is definitely the one to have. The manual Z4 MUST have the CDV delete done to be a usable box and it's still a heavy clutch which can be a pain in any form of traffic. The Z4MC is pure theatre due to the engine/cockpit, but the gearbox is really rubbish. It's not the same box as an E46 M3 and makes getting off the line a pain. Once up to speed (2nd-6th) the MC is just lovely, sonorous and fun to drive. But the Si coupe with the (6sp) auto has some of the theatre (same cabin as the MC and more soundproofing than the SE), but less nice steering than the MC as it's electric rather than hydraulic. The Si is also cheap to run (returns high 30s, low 40s on a run), plenty fast and easy to drive. A retrofit LSD would bring it some way toward the MC if you wanted to race it.

Would an older Boxster or Z4 appreciate? As they're still being produced won't that ensure a ready supply to keep values down on older models? Appreciate there may be specific variants that could be sort after but they'll either be valued accordingly now or you'll have to take a gamble.

I’d go Honda- less chance of massive bills : )

I had an EP3 Type R, while the engine was sound the chassis had rotted (at 180k and 17 years old). It was fun and I loved it, but in the end no one wanted to buy it except for scrap.

Alpin, is there something special about your nb?

You mean Re price?

Very low mileage, silly hard racing suspension, brace thingies over the engine and underneath on the rear. various engine/air filter upgrades that I don't understand,

Plus I'm in Germany. Second hand motors are generally more than in UK.

I’d go Honda- less chance of massive bills : )

I had an EP3 Type R, while the engine was sound the chassis had rotted (at 180k and 17 years old). It was fun and I loved it, but in the end no one wanted to buy it except for scrap.

Exactly! your Honda made it to 180k.

How many tiny old and beautiful Alfa/ midgets/Imps are going to make it to 180k?

How much will it have cost to take a Boxster to 180K compared to any Honda?

Some will, but there won't be many due to the cost of keeping something like that going. There will always be low mileage garage queens that are traded for a fortune and live for many years. But I would guess by reputation many £5000 Honda's have a reasonable chance of making it with out an uneconomical repair.

I loved the idea of a Alfa GTA with a busso engine. Until I watched a bloke in my street get underneath his with his spanners and sockets. Repeatedly, month after month. He constantly had the tools out. So until I can just waive my hand at a mechanic and say "just do it" its not happening.

Where as my wife agreed that a civic type r is the perfect replacement for her 2001 civic when it eventually dies. {reality check, tiny son will probably put paid to that idea}

I'm sure you could make a similar argument for any BMW/vag group car where parts will be relatively plentiful.

I currently drive a BMW, I wish I'd gone for a type R every time the BMW eats a chunk of cash.

S200 is my (fantasy) £5,500 buy 🙂

S2000

I’d be less sure. Any increase in value is proportional to it’s desirability and scarcity. If you want to make money it has to be the ‘best’ version of something.

Quite often the case but not necessarily with Ford. Check out how much mid 90's Escort GTI's sell for. It was mince and overshadowed by the Cosworth but I couldn't belive the price when I looked (when I got my ST170). It's all relative though, they won't be worth tens of thousands but I expect you could double your money in 5 years if you pick up a tidy car for £2000/2500 now.

Yeah I agree about the ford thingy. Look at the Xr2i. Poor handling. Poor engine. Not as held in high regard like the XR2, certainly not like the 205 gti. Prices are mad.

A ford with sports trim will always command a high price. Certainly when they get rarer.

I thought of the 2000-2002 fiesta zetec s, no 106 GTi for sure. Drums on the rear. Not high powered. Nice chassis and fun to drive though. But not the best hot hatch, not even hot. Does have a ford badge though and most have rotted away. Had a look on eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184334510334

Any love for the MG TF?

Like the OP I'll be looking for something like this in the next few months and it seems really nice examples of the TF can be had for very little money.

Corrado vr6 or an early Audi S3 ?

Think you've missed the boat on Porsche 944, they were well on the up when we sold a few years ago and neutralised or cost of ownership. Not convinced the Boxster will have the same appreciation, lots of them and no quirky design not found anywhere else.

Early forced induction or late normally aspirated I reckon

Corrado G60 maybe or Clio 182/197

I agree about early Boxsters. They drive nice but are dreadful to look at and be sat in. The 987 introduced in 2005 was a much better car both mechanically and cosmetically. I had a 987 Boxster which I sold for my Z4M Coupe. I had far more go wrong with the Boxster in 18m of ownership than I did with the MC over 4 years.

Peugeot 306 GTI6/Rallye. Had afew theyre fantastic things, 205 prices have jumped ship and these will follow IMO. Plus the French knew how to make a good hot hatch in the 90's!

Any love for the MG TF?

Like the OP I’ll be looking for something like this in the next few months and it seems really nice examples of the TF can be had for very little money.

I dunno, there's still a lot of them as they're owned by people who want an MG without the hassle of 50 year old car. So there's still a lot of them.

On the other hand they've got a bad rep after the accountant's designed the original MG F.

Lot's about and not desirable, suppose that might change if lot's get scrapped and the Chinese manage to rehabilitate the MG brand a bit. Apparently the newest car is already a big step forwards from their first attempt.

Corrado vr6

As a VR6 Storm owner, I'd be a little wary. Many of the parts are hard to find and/or expensive and good ones are hard to get hold of, though the Corrado Forum's a good resource. They do seem to be appreciating though.

Merk SLK (2nd gen), these cars are 15 - 25 years old now. There are loads of the 200 variety at that price - many driven lightly by hairdressers. Smart money buys as big an engine as you can while still looking for a minter. An AMG will be silly money but a guaranteed investment. Bills will be high keeping all of them on the road but its a genuine high quality car and will always have demand.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-SLK-280-SPORT/193524396993?hash=item2d0ef3f3c1:g:IwkAAOSw8Lhe4gMd

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-SLK-350-AUTO-2005-ONLY-46-000-MILES/254628685417?_trkparms=aid%3D888008%26algo%3DDISC.CARDS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200220090753%26meid%3D9e0adb1ef5a740eb9f0bc03440cf67f7%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D193524396993%26itm%3D254628685417%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDiscV1&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982