THESE are the top ten affordable modern cars accelerating into ‘future classic’ territory, according to experts.
Desirable motors have long been considered as an alternative investment for your cash, with classic car prices soaring since the financial crash of 2010.
While the top end of the market - the more expensive classics - has slowed in recent years, the affordable bracket is still booming.
And your daily runaround could be worth a mint in the coming years, without you even realising it. That’s according to Mark Tongue, company director of leading UK vehicle leasing firm Select Car Leasing.
He explains: “How we view modern cars has changed dramaticallyHow we view modern cars has changed dramatically
“Government-led drives to improve emissions has led to more and more scrappage schemes, with many cars from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s being ditched in favour of more economical vehicles.
“Car ownerships as we know it is also changing, with many switching from purchasing to leasing.
“It means that some cars from the early Noughties are now already being considered ‘classic’, because of how far and how quickly the motoring industry has changed.
“But there’ll always be nostalgia for everything ‘retro’.
“And even if you’ve got a lease car as your daily driver, there’s always room for an appreciating classic on your driveway.”
Here, Mark Tongue and the Select Car Leasing team pick their top 10 future classics, priced from just £2,000.
ALFA ROMEO 147 GTA (2004, £8,500)
Mark says: “Yes, the Italian styling on display in the Alfa 147 is stunning. But the engine is equally impressive - a 250bhp, 3.2 litre V6, giving a 0-60mph time of just over six seconds. There were around 5,000 sales of these worldwide, meaning they’re already becoming an attractive rarity.”
AUDI TT 3.2 V6 (2003, £3,500)
“Audi TTs sold like hot cakes when they were first unleashed in 1998. And in 2003, Audi upped the ante by putting a 3.2 litre engine under the bonnet, creating the most desirable of all the Mk 1 TTs.”
FORD MONDEO ST-220 (2002, £2,500)
“Fast Fords have been dominating the affordable classic market in recent years, particularly anything with an ‘RS’ badge - largely because people who couldn’t afford them growing up now can. And one of the unsung future classics is the Mondeo ST220, which features a 3.0 litre engine with 223bhp.”
BMW Z4 3.0 i (2003, £4,000)
“The BMW Z3 - which preceded the Z4 - is already well and truly in classic car territory. And there’s everything to suggest the Z4 will follow. It’s got all the ingredients - good looks, rear wheel drive and two seats.”
RENAULT CLIO 182 (2004, £2,500)
“Not all Clio’s are made equal - and the Renaultsport Clio 182 is simply one of the best hot-hatches of the last 20 years. They’re cheap to pick up and they’re also fast, doing 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds.”
VW GOLF R32 (2007, £8,500)
“The R32 was something of an inbetweener - sportier than the VW GTI but not quite matching a Ford Focus RS. But the underdog is now becoming more and more desirable. Key to that is a 3.2-litre V6 that produces 250bhp.”
MAZDA MX-5 Mk1 1.8i (1997, £4,000)
“If you can find a good rust-free example of a Mk1 Mazda MX-5, whatever you do, keep hold of it - because prices are already rising fast! The MX-5 has had numerous style changes over the years, but none has been more easy on the eye than the original.”
HONDA CR-X DEL SOL (1995, £2,000)
“If you can’t find a Mazda MX-5, perhaps you can get hold of a Honda CR-X, another quirky two-seater sports car that rare, and therefore attractive to collectors?”
CITROEN C6 (2006, £4,000)
“Citroen know a thing or two about hydraulically-sprung cars, and the C6 was the long-awaited successor to the previous wedge-shaped XM. Critics loved them, but few punters bought them. Which means they’re now amassing a cult following.”
VOLVO 850 R 2.3 (1995, £7,000)
“It might look like a family load-lugger, but the Volvo 850 R is a sheep in wolf’s clothing, boasting blistering performance - 0-60mph in around 7 seconds - and racing credentials. If you want one, get in there now, because plenty are being bought as ‘drifting’ projects, being driven sideways by enthusiasts!”
SAAB 900 TURBO (1993, £4,000)
“Swedish giant SAAB famously went bust in 2012, as fans mourned the firm’s quirky looks and aircraft-building ancestry. And with the number of SAABs on the road now dwindling, there’s a growing market for them. One earmarked for future desirability is the 900 Turbo, which is considered the ‘last true SAAB’ before the US’s General Motors took control.”
