Every car enthusiast has ever thought about being at least a little clairvoyant and managing to buy a car that will become the next classic and its price will rise noticeably. But some people buy a car just for their pleasure, and in this case it is better to buy it cheap. And which are the cars that have the potential to become the next ʺclassicsʺ?
In the last few years, the used car market has witnessed a greater range of luxury cars, increasingly expensive SUVs and interesting sports coupes. In the last decade, some of them have maintained their price, some have lost it, and the price of the most promising ones has already risen noticeably. In most cases, the price of the cars on the list won't drop drastically, and unfortunately, we also don't have a magic crystal ball that allows us to see the future better.
The key to finding the next classic is to choose the right one, which is of course easier said than done. For someone, the right car will be the one close to their heart, and for another, the one from a limited series, with a specific engine or certain additional equipment. Searching for a future classic is certainly a complicated process, but to help and make the choice easier, we have prepared a list of cars that may become future classics and represent a possible a good investment for the future.
Alfa Romeo 4C
Just one look at Alfa Romeo 4C (2013 – 2020) is enough to convince us that it will become an automotive classic. The smaller Italian sports car boasts seductive curves and low weight thanks to carbon fiber. It weighs only 895 kilograms, and it is powered by an aluminum 1.75-liter inline 4-cylinder turbine engine that provides a good 230 horsepower. In this case, enough power and low weight are an excellent recipe that guarantees the appearance of fun. The Alfa Romeo 4C is rare, and its value is already slowly but steadily increasing.
Audi TT
Audi TT has been on the market since 1998, and we are referring to its second generation, which began production in 2006. Certain details were similar to those found on the more powerful Audi R8, but despite everything, the second generation TT had certain features that guarantee the status of a classic. The most refined version of the RS had a 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder gasoline engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. Add to that the Quattro four-wheel drive, the bold design and the movable rear air deflector, and it's no wonder that these Audis still hold their value today.
BMW 1M Coupé
One of the reasons why the car gets the status of a classic is also its story. And BMW 1M Coupé (2011 – 2012) certainly has such a story. Years ago it was rumored that the M version was being developed by the engineers themselves, but no one in the company, especially not the management, had even dreamed that such a project was underway. They only found out about him when the car was finished. Many parts were borrowed from the E92 M3 models, which was an additional reason for the success of the 1M Coupé. At the end of the day, it doesn't even matter if we believe the rumors and the story or not, we are already convinced by the fact that with more than 350 horsepower, the 1M is definitely one of the better cars that came out of the BMW factory. It is also wise to look for a preserved third-generation model BMW M5 (E34).
Ferrari 328
The Ferrari is one of the more exotic cars to make our list. Many believe it is Ferrari 328 the last ʺanalogʺ Ferrari, and this is precisely what will help to increase its value in the future. The value had been falling for many years, but they only moderated it in the end. If you owned it with the steering wheel on the right side, of which only 130 examples were made, the value could be even higher. The model is also interesting Ferrari 355, with manual transmission.
Ford Focus
Even the first generation Ford Focus it is necessary to allocate some space. In this case, it doesn't really matter whether it's a limousine or a hatchback, because the prices are low and you can get a good car for little money. Especially if it's a model RS. The car comes from an era when Ford was once again conquering the tops of sales numbers around the world. It is also an interesting specimen Ford Fiesta ST200, which presents an extremely interesting and entertaining, so-called ʺhothach-aʺ.
Honda Civic Type-R
In recent years, the presence of Honda on Slovenian roads has declined somewhat, but despite this, we can find quite a few attractive Honda models. Sports models stand out in particular, which have always been very popular. Honda models are known for their practicality, reliability, and at the same time offer plenty of fun. And exactly Honda Civic Type-R The 10th generation could be the one to become a true classic. The so-called hot hatchback with a 2.0-liter engine offers just over 300 horsepower and reaches over 250 km/h. The model is also worth monitoring S2000, which could hardly be argued to be cheap.
Land Rover Defender
The last classic Country Rover Defender left the Solihull factory in 2016, after 68 years of continuous production. A year before, they produced three special editions - Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography. These three examples could prove to be a good investment. When they came from the factory, it was necessary to pay about 30,000 English pounds for them, but now this figure is already around 60,000 English pounds. In the case of the Land Rover brand, it is also worth mentioning the model Discovery, where an increase in value is already noticeable in the first and second generation.
Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati Quattroporte has been in production since 1963 and can boast of a rich history. The future classic could become the 5th generation of the model, mainly due to its eye-catching design and the fact that it is powered by a classic naturally aspirated Ferrari engine with a displacement of 4.2 liters.
Mazda RX-8
Mazda RX-8 represents one of the last production cars to be equipped with a Wankel rotary engine. Just because of the engine, we can talk about a future classic. As long as you are willing to maintain the engine, which of course is not cheap, you will be able to immensely enjoy the fast pace of shifting between gears and driving a car with a little more than 230 horsepower on the road.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG it's considered one of the nicer cars around, with an awesome 6.2-liter V8 engine and one of the better exhaust notes. Considering that it still costs over 150,000 euros, its value is decreasing excessively, and with the announcement that more and more supercars will be electrified, the SLS AMG may be one of the last ʺclassicʺ sports cars.
Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper celebrates 60 years of existence and has already become a classic. We mention it because the Austin and Morris versions have been steadily increasing in price in recent years. At the moment, only this has calmed down, and such a well-preserved specimen may not be a bad investment for the future. Among the modern Mini models, the limited edition will definitely be interesting Mini 1499 GT.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
The so-called ʺEvotʺ' were quite a common sight on the roads about a decade ago, and they also had an extensive rally pedigree. The last of them was flat Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, which was discontinued in 2015. Considering that Mitsubushi is now making more practical cars and not focusing as much on sports specials, it's quite possible that the Evo X with a 2.0-liter engine and almost 300 horsepower the last of the Mitsubishi sports cars.
Porsche Cayman GT4
Porsche's sophisticated design is the main thing that makes their models visually almost ageless. And so it is not difficult to imagine that it will be Porsche Cayman GT4, with its extraordinary performance, one day joined the popular models with air-cooled engines. In 2021, the GT4 received a complete overhaul, but it will take a long time before we can call it a ʺclassicʺ. We can also mention Porsche 944 S2, which took many years to find favor among those who are otherwise more inclined towards the 911 model.
Renault 5 GT Turbo
Renault 5 GT Turbo it is a classic in itself and considering that many of them were destroyed already during the production of the car, they have become a real rarity these days. In the last year, prices have not fallen, but the trends for the future indicate that they will only rise.
Subaru WRX STI
Subaru a similar story happened to the aforementioned Mitsubishi. Models WRX they are among those rare cars that still hold their value well. And this despite the fact that they have traveled a lot of kilometers, are modified with unofficial spare parts and may still have a poorly maintained gearbox. Models like you Event and the WRX remains among the coveted cars, especially the WRX STI with its 2.5-liter boxer engine and nearly 300 horsepower.
Toyota Land Cruiser
Legendary models Toyota Land Cruiser, such as the FJ40, FJ60 and FJ80 are still selling like hot cakes in the off-road world. At the moment, the J100 is still relatively cheap and affordable, but that won't be for much longer either. Like all Land Cruisers before it, this model was technologically up to date and was equipped with a night camera, anti-roll sensors and the first V8 engine. Given the reliability Toyota represents, you'll be hard-pressed to find one with low mileage. At Toyota, we should also mention the bouncy little one Yaris GR, which, judging by its current popularity, will one day also represent the desired classic. We must not forget the third generation either Toyota MR2, which for many connoisseurs is still a more fun car than you could imagine from its competitors.
