10 hot new cars destined to be collectibles
List covers models less than $100,000
If only you had kept that Plymouth Road Runner or Lincoln Continental that became a ’60s classic. You’d be rich by now.
Alas, you sold it and bought a Chevy Vega. Tough break.
Well, now is your chance to right that wrong.
Classic car insurance company Hagerty has released a list of the top 10 current vehicles most likely to increase in value and retain long-lasting appeal to classic-car buyers.
We’re not talking about supercars here. If you’ve got more than $100,000 to spend on a car, this isn’t the list for you.
This list covers 2018 vehicles less than $100,000 that show early signs of collectibility.
And no, it’s not a science. This is an art. Sorry in advance if these vehicles depreciate in value just as quickly as that Pontiac Aztek rusting away in your driveway.
“People are always saying, ‘What’s next? Is there anything today that’s going to be collected in the future?’ “said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty.
We know one thing: SUVs are surging in popularity, but don’t expect many of them to end up in museums.
The SUV revolution is predicated on ease of use and not necessarily on long-lasting value. Those seven-row passenger SUVs that are flying off dealership lots probably won’t be worth much in 50 years.
But sports cars? They’re a much better bet.
“In general, sports cars are winning,” Hagerty said. “It will tend to be a car that’s accessible to people but has performance features.”
Of course, there may come a day when cars that humans drive are a thing of the past. With self-driving vehicles on the horizon, is there a future for collectors?
Hagerty is optimistic that people will still collect vehicles for the sake of nostalgia.
“Driving will represent one of those analog activities that people value,” he said.
Here’s Hagerty’s 2018 hot list of vehicles most likely to increase in value, in alphabetical order.
Audi RS 3 Sedan
For “a serious collector,” Hagerty said, “Audi would not have been on the list” 10 to 15 years ago.
But that has changed. Audi has surged into the upper tier of German luxury brands.
At a starting price of $54,900, the RS 3 goes 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Take it to the bank.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
This is “quite obvious and shouldn’t surprise anybody,” Hagerty said.
Brembo brakes and performance seats are among the many eye-popping performance features on this track package. The 650-horsepower beast costs about $70,000. As the Camaro goes, it’s a sports car for the ages.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Admit it. You’ve always wanted to go 0 to 60 in 2.3 seconds. This car does it for you with a mind-boggling 840 horsepower — so much oomph that it’s generated controversy for being a tad over the top.
The National Hot Rod Association certified it as the world’s fastest quarter-mile production vehicle. It’s “a total weapons-grade monster,” Hagerty said.
Honda Civic Type R
It’s the most powerful Hon- da ever sold in the U.S. And it’s designed to re-engage youthful buyers who had lost interest in Honda, Hagerty said.
It has 306 horsepower and a not-too-bad starting price of $34,100.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
It’s a “fire-breathing SUV” with 707 horsepower that can hold its own on the track against some of the smaller vehicles on this list, Hagerty said.
“It’s going to get snapped up,” he said. “I can just envision them terrifying the neighbors.”
Jeep Wrangler
It’s an iconic American vehicle. The base of enthusiasts for the Jeep Wrangler runs so deep that there’s a good chance this recently redesigned model will have lasting power, even though it’s not geared for the track.
Fiat Chrysler revealed the overhauled version of the classically boxy off-roader at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, and it’s already a hot seller.
Kia Stinger
It’s “shocking to some” to see a Kia on this list, Hagerty acknowledges. But the Stinger turned heads when it debuted at the 2017 Detroit auto show as a flashy sports sedan with impressive performance.
“The younger buyer is more agnostic or more open to other brands entering this space,” Hagerty said.
The starting price is $31,900 for the 253-horsepower rearwheel-drive model with a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.
But a nearly fully loaded Stinger GT with a 3.3-liter, 6cylinder twin-turbocharged 365-horsepower engine goes for about $49,500.
Lexus LC 500
This luxury coupe is redefining the Toyota luxury brand’s image for design.
Don’t call it a sports car. It’s a grand tourer — opulent through and through.
It has a base price of $92,000 for the 471-horsepower, 5-liter, 8-cylinder engine and 10-speed automatic transmission.
Porsche Boxster and Cayman GTS
This list would never be complete without Porsche.
The 718 Boxster GTS is a convertible that starts at $82,800. And the 718 Cayman GTS is a coupe that starts at $80,700.
Both vehicles get 365 horse- power and go 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds.