Exotic Cars that are good buys in terms of depreciation/appreciation?

Question

I am thinking about buying an exotic/sports/high-end car some day when I can afford it (long time from now, possibly never, lol). I know that buying them new is almost always a cause for a significant and dramatic loss in value in just a few months.

Therefore, I'm looking to buy a high end car that is USED (NOT new) to save me from that huge initial drop in value that one gets when you buy one new. But even then, they can still depreciate rapidly.

I was wondering if anyone knew some specific models of high-end cars that you can buy that are either at the end (or nearing the end) of their depreciation curve, or are currently appreciating (increasing in value)?

I am more interested in buying a car that still looks modern when compared to today's standards. For example, a 2000 Ferrari Modena still looks pretty cool to me, so does the 2001 Lamborghini Murcielago.

My price range for a used high-end car would be under $100,000 (and since I would be buying it USED, the original price when the car was new could be well above that - 2 or 3 hundred thousand dollars possibly). I am open to all makes of cars, but am leaning towards the category of sports cars that still look modern.

Thanks a bunch for any info:) It would be nice if I could pin down a high-end car that meets my desires, and won't cause me to lose a ton of money when I sell it to the next buyer.

Answer 1

Every car depreciates in value. The more they cost new the worse the depreciation curve is.



Any car, no matter what it is, if it's a Chevy a VW or a Ferrari won't begin to appreciate in value until they are considered a vintage or classic era car.



Today in 2010 a classic era car would be something from the mid 70's and older. If you could find an old Porsche or Ferarri or an Alfa Romeo from the 70s that would be a car that will go up in value. A 1998 Lambo won't. It's still losing value. Why? Because it's just an old car. But once old turns into classic then the values begin to rise.

Answer 2

It's difficult to know exactly what the value of a car would be in the future. However, there are few ones that have depreciated very little, nothing, or actually appreciated in the last 10 years, so that maybe a good place to start. Here is a list for you, some of them may fit your $100k price criteria:



Best Bet: Audi R8

They were released at $100k to $130k price range, and are worth exactly that much now. 0% depreciation since release. Probably your best bet on a daily driver exotic.



Possible: BMW 1M

0% Depreciation since they were released. Worth exactly the same.



Over Your Budget: Ferrari Enzo

Gained 115% or $750,000. When new it was around $650k. Now $1.4 million at an auction. Unfortunately it's too rich for most of us



Possible: Fort GT

Gained 20% to 47% or $30k to $70k

Released at $150k, now $185k to $220k



Strange One: Pontiac G8 GXP

Lost only 22% or $8,000

When released, it was in the low $40s, now in the mid $30s. It doesn't sound like a great deal, but believe me, that is incredible in the realm of vehicle depreciation

Answer 3

Trust me, the only cars that ever make money are classics. They can be any kind of classic car (exotic, luxury, muscle, etc.). My dad had a 2001 Jaguar XKR two years ago. He bought it for $26,000, and after only a year, he sold it for $18,000. That car was in perfect condition. It was a convertible, it had wheels off of a 2004 XKR, and it had the 2005 XKR front bumper and badging. But who knows? Maybe when you get a 2000 Ferrari Modena or a 2001 Lamborghini Murcielago, they will be starting to pick up in value.