5 Future Classic Cars to Buy Before Prices Spike

There are always used cars out there that are on the verge of tipping over into classic car status. When they do, their values absolutely skyrocket. But until that point, they either keep depreciating or hold steady at the point of being genuinely affordable modern gems. Plenty of these are sports cars, and those sportier models are the ones that make up this list. Some of them are well-known and well-loved enthusiast favorites. Others, though, are underrated or were given the status of being ugly ducklings. When the time comes, though, all of these cars will mature into properly collectible classics.

5

Chevrolet Corvette (C5)

Average Used Value: $23,919

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5.7-liter V8 (LS1)	6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic	Rear-wheel drive	345-350 hp	350-365 lb-ft
5.7-liter V8 (LS6)	6-speed manual	Rear-wheel drive	385-405 hp	385-400 lb-ft

There are several generations of the Chevrolet Corvette that we could have chosen for this list. Right now, the C5 seems to be the one that’s teetering on the edge of classic status. The regular C5 is powered by the 5.7-liter LS1 V8, which produces up to 350 horsepower. The more powerful (and more desirable) Z06 version is powered by the similarly-sized LS6 V8, producing up to 405 horsepower. Both versions of the C5 will give you the same thing, though, and that’s great performance at a bargain price.

Via: Mecum Auctions

What kind of bargain price is that? Well, the average used value of a C5 Corvette these days is around $23,919. Those values are now pretty steady, too. You can still get absolute bargain-basement examples of base model C5s. But, if the C4’s values are anything to go by, that won’t be the case for much longer.

4

Pontiac GTO (Fifth Generation)

Average Used Value: $18,361

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When people usually think of the Pontiac GTO, they’ll picture the original muscle car from the 1960s. This fifth-generation version of the GTO is a modern interpretation of that same muscle car spirit. But, its origins are as far from America as you could possibly imagine! It’s a re-badged version of Australia’s Holden Monaro. Sold from 2004 to 2006, the fifth-generation GTO had two engine options. 2004 cars got the 5.7-liter LS1 V8 from the C5 Corvette we mentioned earlier. 2005 and 2006 cars got the newer 6-liter LS2 V8, bumping the power up by 50 horsepower. As it’s a re-badged Monaro, it also gets all the brilliant old-school muscle car character that people love that model for.

Credit: Bring a Trailer

You can get a fifth-generation Pontiac GTO for around $18,361 now. While values are still depreciating a little bit, they are fairly stable. It’s only a matter of time before these brilliant modern muscle cars become properly sought-after by collectors.

3

Porsche Boxster (986)

Average Used Value: $14,554

Via: Porsche

The 718 Boxster and Cayman are two of the most successful cars Porsche has ever made. The 986 Boxster was the car that started it all, and it’s still a fantastic buy today. Early base models have a 2.5-liter flat-6. This was soon replaced by a 2.7-liter unit, which brought a slight power hike along with it. There was also an S version, powered by a 3.2-liter flat-6. The S is the one to have if you’re a real performance junkie: it had up to 266 horsepower by the end of the 986’s production run, in a car that really doesn’t weigh very much at all! Its mid-engined layout also gives it fantastic driving dynamics. Some enthusiasts actually think these Boxsters drive better than the 911s that they were sold alongside. Due to that more balanced mid-engined layout, it’s really not difficult to understand why.

Via: Porsche

You can get a used 986 Boxster for around $14,554 now. That’s across all variants of this generation. Base model Boxsters can be extremely cheap, too — it’s not unusual for them to sell for less than $9,000. The value of the 986 Boxster has bottomed out as well, putting it well on the way to skyrocketing in price as it ages into modern classic territory.

2

Mazda RX-8

Average Used Value: $12,564

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The RX-8 is a bit of an ugly duckling in the world of rotary-engined Mazdas. Until the quirky MX-30 R:EV came along, it was the last production car ever to use a rotary engine in any form. That takes the form of a 1.3-liter twin-rotor Renesis unit, producing up to 232 horsepower. While the RX-8 is primarily a sports car, it’s actually pretty practical. It’s got four seats, the rear seats have carefully hidden suicide doors of their own, and the trunk is decently-sized. You could do a long trip in this car and it absolutely wouldn’t be a problem!

Via: Bring a Trailer

The RX-8 is phenomenally cheap. You can pick a used one up for around $12,564. But, there’s a reason why it’s as cheap as it is. The rotary engine still causes a lot of anxiety among enthusiasts, due to how finicky it is. It needs much more attention to certain things, such as oil usage, than conventional engines do. Engine rebuilds can also be incredibly expensive. But if you’re willing to put up with that, the Mazda RX-8 is possibly one of the best future classics on the market.

1

Audi TT (Mark 1)

Average Used Value: $10,584

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The Mark 1 Audi TT is a car that gets criminally overlooked. It’s never been known for having exciting performance, and some don’t like its looks. Later TTs are typically thought of more highly than these first-generation ones. But, they’re still great cars. While its looks weren’t exactly popular at the time, they have aged well over 2 decades later. It’s also one of the cheapest ways you can get a car with either one of Volkswagen’s two most legendary engines: the 1.8-liter 20v turbo or the VR6. Another plus point the Mark 1 Audi TT has is that it’s the only car on this list that’s available with all-wheel drive. This was available on some variants with the 1.8-liter turbo engine, and it was the only drivetrain option if you chose the 3.2-liter VR6.

Audi

The Mark 1 Audi TT is comfortably the cheapest car on this list. The average used value for one of these is around $10,584, and it’s not unusual for examples to sell for less than $6,000. Those values are holding steady, too, putting it in perfect position to become a desirable modern classic.

Sources: Audi, Classic.com, Chevrolet, Mazda, Pontiac, Porsche