10 Cars That Are Worth More Used Than New
Most financial professionals will tell you that buying a car is one of the worst things you can do with your money, but occasionally a car comes along that breaks the trend.
Published 4 months ago in Wow
Most financial professionals will tell you that buying a car is one of the worst things to do with your money.
Take out a huge loan with high interest on a depreciating asset? No thanks.
But like any collector’s item, occasionally a car comes along that breaks the trend. If only we knew what they were at the time.
Here are 10 cars that have actually increased their used value over time.
1
Ford Maverik
With the ever constant push towards bigger and bigger SUVs and trucks, the entry-level Ford Maverik remains an outlier. Although not remotely as reliable as its predecessor, the modern Maverik has leveraged its niche to gain value over the last few years. With many used versions pushing $35,000, the base model Maverik from just a few years ago cost $30,000 or less.
2
Mercedes 300SL
In the late 1950s, you could buy a Mercedes 300SL for a tad under $7,000. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $78,000. Nothing to snoff at, but not outrageous for a luxury sports car. But thanks to the car’s unique “Gullwing” doors and timeless look, it’s now a collector’s dream. One of these today will cost you well over a million. In 2022, a pristine version went for $6.8 million.
3
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
These days, there are only a few cars left under $20,000, and unfortunately the Toyota Corolla is no longer one of them. However, if you were lucky enough to buy the hybrid version for just over $20,000 in the early 2020s, you can now sell it for a few grand more than you bought it. Toyotas retain value, especially in a market starved for affordable options.
4
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
When Mercedes and McLaren collaborated to make a supercar in the mid 2000’s off the back of their joint Formula 1 venture, it was sure to be a classic. But even the biggest enthusiasts weren’t ready for how cool the SLR would be. With only 2157 ever produced, the $500,000 2006 price tag is already in the $700,000s, and will only increase with time.
5
Ford Focus RS
The “hot hatch” used to be a fun and affordable way to get a car that was equal parts practical, affordable, and fun. But when companies realized how popular these little boxes were, they saw room for profit. At $37,000, the Ford Focus RS was already pricey in 2016, but with the death of the affordable hot hatch, and the car’s limited US run, these are predicted to gain value in the coming years.
6
Toyota Supra Mk IV
Back in 1998, you could buy a Toyota Supra for around $38,000. (At $77,000 in today’s money, that’s still a little pricey.) But the rare sports car has only increased its legendary status in the tuner community, and you can expect to pay over $100,000 for a Mark IV today. Toyota’s recent Mark V failure will only help that price moving forwards.
7
Aston Martin DB5
Back in 1963, Aston Martin began selling the DB5 for $12,775. That’s over $130,000 in today’s money; a hefty but fair price for a top-end sports car. But in 1964, the DB5 made its appearance in the early James Bond film Goldfinger, and the rest is history. Good luck getting one of these today for under a million.
8
Acura NSX
In the ‘90s, the Acura NSX was marketed as Honda’s Ferrari fighter on a budget. In 1990, the car cost around $60,000, the equivalent of around $144,000 in today’s money. Pricey. But just a few years ago, the model had depreciated to quite affordable levels; in the $30,000s. But with enthusiasts increasingly interested in ‘80s and ‘90s Japanese cars, those prices have shot back up to the $50-70 thousand range. And expect them to keep climbing quickly.
9
‘80s and ‘90s Toyota Pickups
You probably still see plenty of these on the road today, and for good reason: They’re literally indestructible. As pickups shift from functional tools to pavement princess luxury ego-boosters, trucks that can still get the job done are getting rarer and rarer. There are few things real car enthusiasts love more than an ‘80s Toyota truck, and these will surely hold their value.
10
AMC AMX 3
AMC produced some iconic muscle cars of its day, but when the American manufacturer went out of business in 1987, its cars took on a new level of nostalgia. Different versions of the AMX are mostly still gaining value, but the extremely rare AMX 3, (only five were ever built), has sold for over $1 million in the past.
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