Car ad nauseam

One pastime of mine is dreaming of what exotica I would purchase if my numbers come up or an unknown relative left me an estate in Devon.

Five years ago, I had my head full of motors ranging from Persuadersera ones to more modern machinery, and for circa £70k I could have filled my boots with an interesting car or two. The number of classics in the classifieds (right-hand drive and of interest to my juvenile self) over the past year or so has dropped dramatically as I assume the ones I was dreaming of are now in storage awaiting further appreciation.

This has caused me to become a bore in social situations and bemoan the state of affordable metal at every opportunity that arises, appropriate or not. I have read articles and letters of similar sentiment in Autocar but feel I have now seen an advert that may signal the end is nigh for the inevitable appreciating automotive investment believers.

The car for sale in the ad was a 2000 Aston Martin Volante in V600 spec with 3000 miles on the clock, which, when I closed my eyes and had a stab at a valuation, came in at about £450k. This was, I am afraid, only based on watching the markets from an armchair and Googling recent Bonhams car sales. I nearly lost feeling in my feet when I read the £1.4 million sticker price.

Is the end nigh for the exotica escalator? T Sayer Bristol