Affordable Future Classic Cars That Won’t Be Reasonably Priced For Much Longer

Collectible classics are expensive. New cars are expensive… But old cars are cheap. The trick is to identify the old ones that will one day become highly desirable collectors’ items. While there are no guarantees when it comes to investing, you can certainly increase your chances by doing your research. But who wants to do that when the CarBuzz team has already spent most of its downtime obsessing about this very subject? Since we’re so generous and love to share our passion for cars, we’ll spill the beans on the vehicles we think are destined for classic car status.

For the purposes of this article, we’ve focused on cars built between 2000 and 2010. All vehicle data was sourced from the respective manufacturer.

Audi B7 RS4

2006-2008

There’s a lot that Audi gets right when it comes to fast family cars, but they tend to be more about straight-line speed than handling finesse. Well, the B7 Audi RS4 showed that Audi could take on the best that Mercedes and BMW had to offer head-to-head.

Two key ingredients to its success were the 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 and a rear-biased quatro all-wheel-drive system. This gave the RS4 the responsiveness and sound that no turbo engine of the era could replicate. Around 10,000 were built, and aside from the sedan, you could also have a convertible or wagon body style. These cars still trail the V8 M3 from the same era when it comes to pricing, but that is unlikely to be the case for long.

BMW Z4

2006 -2008

The BMW Z4 may not have had universally appealing styling, but then neither did the Z3 that preceded it. What both models did, though, was offer a great driving experience. The Z4 M Coupe was an absolute beast, powered by the award-winning S54 inline-six motor, it was very rapid. Prices for these hardtop models have already started rising, but the mechanically similar roadster versions have yet to follow suit. Get one now and enjoy BMW at its peak.

Cadillac CTS-V

2010-2014

This model just fits into our early 2000s category, but it’s just so good we couldn’t leave it out. Cadillac may have made its name producing some of the most luxurious vehicles on the planet, but the V Series models proved that it could also make awesome sports cars as well.

The second-gen CTS-V sedan and wagon were Ferrari-baiting family cars thanks to a Corvette-sourced supercharged 6.2-liter V8. They were available with both a manual and automatic transmission, and values are now starting to head north.

Corvette C6

2005-2013

Corvettes seem to have a lasting allure. Perhaps it’s down to the looks, performance, or road presence. Well, the Corvette C6 has all three in spades, and it’s one of the best value sports cars you can buy. There’s no shortage of cars on the market, but not all are destined to become high-value collectibles. We would focus on the later 2008-on models with the upgraded LS3 motors, and high-performance limited-edition models with manual transmissions.

Maserati GranTurismo

2007-2019

A new Maserati is an eye-wateringly expensive thing. Used ones tend to bottom out quite low before slowly making their way up to valuable collectible status. The Maserati GranTurismo is a great example of this trend. It looks great, sounds awesome, and is fast enough to put a smile on your face. Look for the later 4.7-liter V8 models, as they sound like nothing else on the planet. As with any classic, especially an Italian classic, be sure to keep some spare change aside for any mechanical issues that may (quite likely) crop up.

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

2008-2015

The current-generation C63 offers a heady mix of turbocharged-hybrid power that makes it very quick, but also extremely heavy. The C63 that was released in 2008 was a completely different machine. It may not have the monstrous power output of the new car, but 451 hp is more than enough. If you really want more, look for a model that was equipped with the Performance Package Plus option. This pushed power up to 480 hp.

It also has twice the cylinders, which gives it the kind of soundtrack that you could sell on Spotify. Good ones are already going up in value, but seeing as we are heading down a path of hybridization and electrification, there should be plenty of demand for a big old AMG V8.

Pontiac Solstice GXP

2007-2009

The Pontiac Solstice always looked sporty, but the standard car’s V6 motor left fans wanting a whole lot more. The really desirable version was the GXP trim. This model arrived a little later and was fitted with a 260hp turbocharged motor that gave the Solstice the go to match the show. A factory kit added another 30hp, and suddenly those pesky BMWs were the ones moving over for you on the highway. There aren’t many GXP models out there, so it might take a bit of time to find a good one.

Porsche Cayman 987

2005-2012

The first-generation Cayman was essentially a Porsche Boxster with a hardtop. But detail upgrades to the suspension, a far stiffer chassis, and more powerful engines (initially) gave the Cayman an edge that appealed to enthusiasts. S models are more powerful, but any Cayman delivers the kind of driving experience that you usually only find in far pricier sports cars.

Early cars were known to have some mechanical issues, so look for a solid service history. The later, facelifted models from 2009-2012 are the most desirable, but make sure you get one with a manual.

Nissan 350Z

2002-2008

This car has already become a legend among tuners and continues to be a desirable used sports car bargain. Just about every video game used to feature the 350Z in some form or another, and as these kids turn into adults, they’ll want a real one to park in their garage.

If you are after one that will go up in value, stick to unmodified cars and look for the later models with the upgraded High Revolution (HR) engines. There were automatics and convertibles available, but a manual with a stick shift is where the money’s at.

Toyota 86

2012-2021

The 1980s Toyota AE86 was a small front-engined subcompact city car that became a legendary tuners car thanks to its superb handling dynamics. The Toyota 86 released in 2012 was its spiritual successor. It followed much the same recipe, with a great chassis allied to a revvy naturally aspirated engine.

The 86 isn’t very powerful, but if you are a fan of sharp rear-wheel drive handling, and a simple purity that is missing in modern cars, then this is the one to get. Stay away from automatics and wildly modified examples. And if you think that the 86 is too mild to become a desirable collector car, just look at what the prices for an original AE86 are.

Sources:
Audi
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BMW
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Cadillac
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Mercedes-Benz
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Toyota
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Nissan
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Porsche