Old car values.

Tinders · 10 Apr 2020 at 22:17

Is it me or has the older car market just gone a bit mad in recent years. Im not talking about special cars like Cosworths, GSI's,Hot hatches but the more mundane stuff.

Ive just been laughed out of a facebook group for having the temerity to question/ridicule the price someone had put up a MK2 Fiesta up for, its in clean condition to be fair and low mileage at 30 odd K, but its its a base model 950cc popular plus in a horrible maroon colour, so nothing special to look at or drive. Its up at 2k. Which to me is utterly crazy money for a car that wasnt particularly great when new. But the general consensus in the group was that its a good buy and well worth the money, which it may well be, but i cant understand why!

Label anything as a Barn Find, and people go a bit mad bidding on eBay, ive seen boggo Nova,Astra's in pretty poor shape fetch daft money. Is it a Vauxhall/Ford thing? To be fair i think even the hot stuff is fetching crazy cash now, 3 door Sierra Cosworths are close to 70-80k. I like older cars, i'd happily run a 80's/90's hot hatch, or a interesting jap motor, that no one liked back in the day, but i wouldnt spend daft money on one.

Sorry for the rambling, covid-19 is making me miserable

Tinders · 10 Apr 2020 at 22:43

Ok so it gets worse. Is it chancers trying to ride the MK1/MK2 escort wave?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293497852911

Tinders · 11 Apr 2020 at 06:50

I stand corrected then.

Tinders · 11 Apr 2020 at 13:30

Orionaut said:
Perhaps there are a lot of people out there who are prepared to pay a premium for an older car that is in very good condition because they prefer that to buying a more modern car for the same money that is burdened with lots of, very expensive when it goes wrong, technology.

That 1993 Corsa probably has a better chance of still running in 10 years time than a 2015 equivalent model.

Personally, I am tempted with one of these..

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1193689

I actually have a spare V8 engine kicking around, very tempted to rebuild it with a stroker crank to bring it up to 5L, That would be an absolute beast in the P6!

I get old cars, the feel and connection to driving is brilliant, the simplicity and ability to fix it without expensive diagnostics is clear. Anything with a semi interesting engine/decent chassis is worth spending decent cash on.

But at the shopping trolley level a modern 2k car is superior, for eg MK1 focus can be had for pennies, zetec engines are reliable, the car is well built and is far superior to a MK2 popular plus fiesta or corsa L. A Fiesta S/XR2 or a Corsa SRI/GSI are a different proposition.

The Rover in that link is something worth the asking price, interesting car with a great engine, wouldnt look out of place in a classic car collection, loads of character.

Tinders · 11 Apr 2020 at 16:31

Ze germans have had high tech stuff for decades now, yes it costs a packet to put right, but spares are plenty and there are companies like BBR reman offering repair services for the more common cars.

I must admit having sat back in the sun, I’m starting to understand the motivation of wanting something, it’s just the price I can’t get my head round as I don’t have the same love for base spec cars. We all have wierd tastes, I’ve just been looking at a pug 405 SRDT, it’s mint and is only a paltry 2k. And I’ve also got a 86 Corolla hatch in the garage but that only cost me £300. I’ve also got my eye on a Civic VTi, but again it’s a £600 cheap.....So in some respects it’s very much pot kettle black