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Predict the Next Modern Classic


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I am in isolation in my room on site as I have cold like symptoms, even though there’s no COVID in WA. So I’m really bored. There’s only so much pornhub you can watch...

 So I read this article that gav posted this morning. And it got me thinking about something I do regularly which is try to predict out of the box future classics that haven’t yet been “fully appreciated”

here is the article if you haven’t read it.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/hagerty-insider/market-for-modern-classics/

So as a bit of fun I pose to you the challenge of coming up with a future modern clasisic that is under loved, under appreciated, and undervalued.

here are a few loose rules: 

- cannot be a current modern classic (basically the list from the article plus the usual subjects people consider to be modern classics) 

-cannot be obvious or a super car. Think out of the box

- must be from between the years 2000-2020

And what should be included is:

-model & year

-rough current price range 

-pros and cons

- reason it will be a future modern classic 

Edited by 240ZBUILTBYME
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I’ll start 

Mazda RX-8 Series 2

currently 10-15k 

pros- Wankel engine, critically acclaimed on release, 4 doors (sort of), 4 seats (sort of), good looking, RWD, excellent handling.

cons- Wankel engine, fuel consumption, maintenance costs, considered the black sheep of the RX family, hard to find good examples

I think the rotary engine is a unique piece of  engineering which is a strong and weak point. Due to the high rate that these get sent to the junkyard the number of good examples will be diminished. This may have been the last ever Wankel engined car ever produced. 

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Tesla Roadster (First Generation) - 2008-2012 (less for RHD)

100k US. There's a RHD one on carsales in Australia for 190k, less than they were new. I don't think it's a super car, but it might be considered "obvious" as it's priced like one.

Pros

  • Low volume ~2500 according to wikipedia and 50 in RHD.
  • First production EV that attempted to appeal to enthusiasts.
  • First model by a polarising company, will likely end up being one of the biggest car companies or a spectacular failure.
  • Successor with the same name will soon be released with supposedly impressive specs

Cons

  • Extremely high price, future collectability may already be factored in.
  • Its basically a heavy Elise.
  • Early EV so longevity is unknown.

I think there's so many interesting points about the car (there's even one in space), company and Elon Musk that it should almost certainly be collectible and a "classic" in future. But I think it's a bit off the radar as most attention around Teslas are on the current range and new specs, and not what models or variants may be "classics".

From a similar line of thought, early (pre facelift) Model S's might one day be collectible but are still depreciating.

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Suzuki Swift Sport manual RS416 2005-2012 6-14k. Pros great little run around city/suburban car that is sporty and fun to drive at pace. Can be daily driven and parking is a breeze and easy to care for. Bought one for the missus to commute to work but I enjoy driving it around whenever possible and they hold their value if well kept. It is well known as “The Ring hire car.” Cons small fwd.

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350/370z

They are right now getting abused left right and centre. Many will end up drift pigs because s-body tax and rarity now. So they will get consumed next.

I think the 370z Nismo has a lot of appeal in particular and improved the look of the car.

The 350z when new was $60k+ AUD in the early 2000s. You can pick them up for a song now, hard to find a clean 1.

370z's will get even cheaper once the new Z is launched. So wait a bit and buy 1 at rock bottom prices, then just enjoy it.

My mate has a Maxima from 2007 ish with the same 350z engine slightly detuned. It's done nearly 400,000kms. Wanted nothing.

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12 months ago I would have said, 180sx, S15, Chaser, Stagea, Pulsar GTiR to name a few but Covid tax boosted those cars out of cheap and into expensive within a few months.

So I can't add them here and say told you so. But I think the 180sx shape Type X in particular is the best of the S-bodies, followed by S15 and then S14 and S13 (notch back shape).

I also have been looking for an AE92/93 4AGE powered Corolla SX/GTi and almost impossible to find a good 1. Found 1 on CarSales for $11.5k and it sold (was clean).

So I think a lot of the P-plate first cars for many of us will become collectible again. For the Nostalgia in particular.

My friend has 3 3rd Gen Preludes. I've always thought they were great cars and well appointed. They are slowly going up in value. But really overlooked because hard to kswap and not much aftermarket support for them. But they really are good little things. I think the fact that first, second and fourth gens were a bit lame ducks didn't help. The 5th gen VTiR is good though!

But also 3rd Gens came in less desirable twin carb SOHC and non 4WS equipped in markets outside of Australia which hampers their appeal. Where as Aus delivered they got all the fruit including B20A5 engine.

 

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Z32 300zx, they are not given much respect despite how advanced they were in the late 80s / early 90s.

The V6 is hard to work on so that's kept a lot of hey Mr Drifter types away. But also many are very badly neglected now. Finding a good 2 seat turbo manual is tough.

But a sturdy 3.0ltr which has a lot of tuning potential. The RB26 is the darling but the VG30DETT is also a weapon.

Modified the right way they look nice and low and wide. Almost supercar looking.

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1 hour ago, gav240z said:

350/370z

They are right now getting abused left right and centre. Many will end up drift pigs because s-body tax and rarity now. So they will get consumed next.

 

Totally agree. Very difficult to find a nice 350z nowadays. And it was kind of a Z rebirth following the Z32. 

I personally think they ran the 370z way too long, 12 years! It’s basically a fossil compared to today’s sports cars, But with enough time and when no more petrol sports cars are made this will be forgotten.

56 minutes ago, gav240z said:

Z32 300zx, they are not given much respect despite how advanced they were in the late 80s / early 90s.

I am a huge fan of the Z32, such a ground breaking car in terms of technology. And also IMO one of the best looking cars of the era, timeless styling. The leather interior (I don’t think we received in our domestic cars) is still stylish by today’s standards. If a  well looked after non turbo 2+2 popped up I’d grab it in a heartbeat. I think the TT would be difficult to live with, more things to break and maintain. 

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2 hours ago, TOO60Z said:

Suzuki Swift Sport manual RS416

What’s the engine in it? My mate used to have a Suzuki swift GTI mk1 & mk2. Both handled amazingly, fun little cars. I’m surprised Suzuki hasn’t released a new gti yet.

and since we are on the topic of small fwd’s..

WZ Fiesta ST 2013-2018

currently 20k with COVID tax 

(full disclosure I own one)

pros: critically acclaimed on release, German built, incredible handling for a fwd, virtually no understeer (in the dry), cocks its leg round corners, torquey rev happy 1.6 Turbo engine, reliable, excellent recaro’s

cons: its a fiesta, not the best looking hot hatch, FWD, interior is cheap and nasty

The laughs per dollar on these is off the charts. You get good performance thrills for a small budget. Often rated as more fun than the Focus ST. 

Edited by 240ZBUILTBYME
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2 hours ago, C.A.F. said:

E46 M3 with a manual conversion.

Already on the hagerty list Lurch!

I’ve wanted one of these for the longest time. Finding well looked after examples is relatively easy as people generally don’t treat M cars as disposable. Rightly so

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Honda CRX

No good ones left, lots of fun. Great era for light weight Honda's, cool shape, reliable and fun.

Rust and boy racers have killed them. 90s sex spec mods killed the others.

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Suzuki Jimny / Samurai - I had 1 for several years, very very reliable and durable. Easy to park and speedhumps were optional. I really do miss it.

My Labrador didn't fit in the back properly. He was too big. Small engine so slow and useless at freeway speeds up inclines.

Cheap 4x4 that had a lot of utility value.

They have already done up in value with the launch of the new 1 but I think early ones will be collectible.

Took a while to find mine back in 2013 and sold it for more than it cost me in 2019 with 60,000 + more KMS on it.

I'd get another. Every time I see 1 I feel a bit sad I got rid of it. Then again I hate selling any of my cars.

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DR30 and R31 4 door and 2 doors. Great cars, and still abused by P plate owners today.

the DR30s with FJ's are thin on the ground and a cool car.

HR31s with rb20det are super cool too. Again not many left. Really was the origins of the R32 GTRs.

Values have been going up.

 

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GC8 WRX and GF8. I have always had a thing for them. Never got to really scratch the itch.

I nearly bought a Forester Turbo, the Boxer engine is punchy mid range but feel flat high up.

I wouldn't mind a GC8 in 1 of the limited trim versions or STi spec. 2 doors are mental money considering how cheap a 4 door is.

When they came out I wished I could afford 1.

I think Early turbo Subarus will become more collectible over time.

The Evo's have become valuable but WRX has lagged behind. The 4G63 is a better motor IMHO but the WRX sound is good fun and I prefer the look of them go the Evo's.

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I also think station wagon estate cars have some upside. Especially fun ones. Because everything is SUV based now, but I like Wagons.

Starting with 55 Chevy Nomad, but they are already $100k for a good one.

Volvo V70r wagon

Nissan Stagea (rs four s and 260rs)

Subaru Legacy Wagon

Toyota Caldina

Mitsubishi Legnum (good looking wagon)

Some performance wagons on BAT have been getting good prices.

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Mitsubishi GTO, were $100k+ in the 90s. I recall seeing a few sell under $10k only 5-6 years ago.

Seen a few picking up in price lately. The forgotten 90s hero car like the Z32. Perhaps over shadowed by the Supra, RX7, NSX and GTRs.

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Look at you go gav 

there are too many cool cars and not enough time/money to own them all. 

34 minutes ago, gav240z said:

Then again I hate selling any of my cars.

Lol How many cars you got now gav?! Just from reading past posts on the forum I count 4 leisure cars and I assume you have a daily?  

2x 240z, stagea, FD? 

should start calling you jay leno! I wish my wife would let me have more...

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Now this is a long play, it will take a long time for these to start increasing in value. And I know a lot of people dislike these. But with enough time I think these will be just like the S30 or mx5. 

GT86 and BRZ

just like the mx5 it’s a rebirth car, toyobaru brought back the cheap lightweight rwd sports car (that isn’t a convertible and has more than two seats) 

pros: chassis dynamics/ handling, low COG, rebirth car icon, critically acclaimed internationally

cons: 2.0L boxer lacks character, slow, most cars will be modified and thrashed, will take a long time to become valuable

 

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Drove the GT86, handle well but found it rather boring and uninspiring.

Just as the engine was building power you had to change gears, and I really don't like the styling.

So I personally don't see it. I think the old AE86 would be more fun (styling wise never loved them look), but can appreciate the raw mechanical feel.

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