Hull Daily mail, (BAGG), 15 October 2010, p. 10, ISSN: N/A.
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Yes, most new cars lose a good part of their value the minute they're driven
off the dealer forecourt and continue to depreciate as they age.
But a good handful of today's models could become classics, and are worth
seeking out now on the second-hand market, says British Car Auctions (BCA).
The motors that might become valuable collectors' cars in years to come are the
BMW Mini, the Volkswagen Beetle, the quirky Citroen C3 Pluriel, the Mazda RX-8
sports car and mean saloon machine the
Vauxhall Omega V6. "If you want a car that has a good chance of gaining classic status in the
years ahead - plus the premium values that go hand in hand with that - then
there are some interesting options around today for used-car buyers, " says Tim
Naylor, BCA spokesman.
"Second-guessing future trends is never an exact science. Who would have
thought the 1980s would get fashionable again?
"In the collectors' car market, though, beauty really is in the eye of the
beholder, " adds Naylor. "Rarity does not necessarily make for desirability, nor
does an exclusive, limited-run model, or even a high list price necessarily
mean a car will come to be worth more in years to come."
Naylor points out that, aside from BCA's top five motors mentioned earlier,
there will always be a demand for limited-run, high-specification performance
editions of mainstream models.
"Cars such as the RS-badged Fords, the Fiat Abarth, Renault Sport models, the
BMW M-series, Subaru's WRX versions and Volkswagen's R32 models should also
maintain their value well into the future, providing they are kept in good
condition, " he says.
"BCA's top five list of future classics is really, then, just a taster for used
car buyers - many other models will also gain future classic status."
But, he stresses, the key for anyone hoping to preserve value in their used car
is to keep it well maintained and serviced, ideally with the supplying
franchised dealer. A fully-stamped service book will typically add several
hundred pounds to a car's value at three to five years old, he says.
Meanwhile, UK buyers are urged to exercise caution when considering vehicles
that have been used as tow cars.
Matt Tumbridge, editor of the UsedCarExpert.co.uk website, says drivers should
take extra care if looking at a car that has a towing history - and at the very
least have a mechanical inspection carried out.
Tumbridge says his outfit's online research programme continually throws up
reliability problems related to towing, which puts the engine and transmission
under added strain.
"Most car buyers do expect this, " says Tumbridge. "But what they often don't
expect are problems due to the wrong equipment being fitted for towing. For
example, BMWs, when fitted with an unofficial tow bar and power sockets for the
trailer's lights, can start having car-wide electric problems."
Best advice? Tumbridge says: "If there are two cars of a similar quality, and
one has a tow bar but the other doesn't, then walk away from the one with the
tow bar."
The Practical Classics, Classic Cars, and Classic Car Weekly publications have
now closed the voting for the inaugural classic car of the year award, and the
overall winner, from the shortlist of ten, will be revealed at the Classic
Motor Show on Friday, November 12, at the NEC in Birmingham. Visit
www.nec classicmotorshow.com
Copyright © 2010 Northcliffe Newspapers Company.
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Topic: Classic Car issue - Hull Daily Mail (Read 1287 times)