2018 MARKET
THEY MAY BE BRAWLING OVER BREXIT BUT WITH CARS, THE STATUS QUO REMAINS
FOUR YEARS have passed since we last looked in detail at t he European and British markets yet t he table is prett y much t he way we left it in 2014.
Prominent brands and high-profile models continue to gain ground and attract f irst-time buyers. New sa les records being set overseas and at loca l auctions are again conv incing people with investment in mind that cars can indeed offer f inancia l securit y.
There is another side though to the market for European and some British models and that is how incredibly cheap some cars from the 1990s and early 21st centur y have become. Our Buyers Guides feature a couple that offer terrif ic va lue in proven packages however t here are many more out there awaiting adventurous new owners.
There are a lways concerns as a complex model ages t hat major mechanical failure will be so cost ly, repairs will exceed t he va lue of t he car. Protecting your example of fading opulence from disaster isn’t entirely possible, however the risks can be reduced by choosing a lowk ilometre car wit h ser v ice histor y and a solid pre-purchase inspection result.
Tucking away a stock of parts is a good idea too. Engine electronics, sensors, dash modules and window/lock ing electronics kept dark and dr y won’t deteriorate for decades and could litera lly be worth t heir weight in gold.
Older models are becoming increasingly well-supported by spare parts suppliers and t hat availabilit y encourages more people to join the quest to own an older Jaguar, MG, Porsche and other brands that come with a reliable parts and ser v ice infrastructure.
Having a model t hat isn’t a ll t hat va luable and relatively easy to repair is going to encourage reg ular use. That is how it should be. As some owners of Austra lian ‘muscle’ models have discovered, t heir cars are now so va luable t hey have become v irtually worthless as something to be enjoyed.
Whether hav ing a good time with your car is more important than hav ing it make you some money might be a dif f icult choice. It will certa inly have some inf luence on which model you might choose and how it is used.