Giugiaro era value increase?

[semisphere]

Trying to think of creative ways to justify an Esprit purchase to my wife and family. My latest tact is to claim that it is an investment. I'm curious whether anyone has been tracking the market for the Giugiaro era cars (in the USA) and can tell me whether this claim would have any basis in fact?

thanks in advance!

Bill

PS: there is an element of tongue in cheek to this post although I am curious about the market trends ...

Edited January 9, 2006 by semisphere

[Mark Blanchard]

Hi Bill,

I don't know about the US, but in the UK, price of good Giugiaro Turbo's do seem to have increased by a few 1,000. Fishy will probably enjoy telling you prices are above early Steven's cars like mine .

Hope it works!

[EspritMiltonKeynes]

Yep! Eagerly anticipating fishy to leap on this thread and write 30 pages!

In all fairness he's right. Good Guigaros are certainly holding their value if not going up slowly as well. So are Sport 300s and X180Rs - but they're S-Cars unfortunately...

Best investment IMHO would be the HC Turbos or other 'rarer' kinds like the Essex. Unfortunately the majority of S3 NAs and basic turbo esprits are driven to death nowadays and need major overhauls that will outstrip their terminal values.

REMEMBER: It HAS to be be in exceedingly good nick. Or you can forget all of the above... Mileage is less important, no one expects miracles - but they're always nice.

Get a really good S3HC with the chargecooler conversion.

Failing that - just buy what you want and to hell with all else!

[Guest teigan]

what's actually happened is, they hit rock bottom several years ago. they can't depreciate any further. also, a percentage of the; now new, replacement parts gets added into the selling price. the downside is, it's more expensive than ever to maintain these things. parts are disintegrating, and the replacements are finite. financially it's a losing proposition. sorry.

[f1karting]

Lets face it, collectively, we probably own, or know where a good portion of the Esprit are in the world.. we may even be influential enough to have the ability to set prices.

We could start by advertising mint cars on LEW at higher prices.. advise buyers to only buy the best of the best. Make it so it is worth an owners while to maintain their car in mint condition for the sake of resale value.

I am still amazed that old american muscle cars, which really are pieces of shit (imo), fetch such high prices these days.. thanks to the web and Barrett Jackson!!

We can do the same by projecting a sense that our cars are VERY rare (which they are) and in BIG demand (which they could be)

Before becoming stinking rich re-selling our cars at insane collector car prices, we must buy as many as we can, at a good price

[xwingftr]

I can tell you in the "States" it seems the HCI car prices are on the rise. I've been tracking prices for month's as my search continues. A very nice G-car is so rare that, most sell without ever seeing Ebay or Autotrader. I've had, very knowledgeable, mechanics tell me not to spend more that 14-17K for an 85-87 G-car (What I'm looking for). That's all good but, after you spend three, four, five, six month's looking for the "right" car......when ie: only 45 or so 86's made it state side that year......you start to either settle for crap you can low-ball and fix or you pay premium money for a well taken care of, maint documented, and clean car?

It hasn't been easy- guys on this forum and the Yahoo group have been "the" source for getting the right knowledge. I've lived in Tampa for 5 years, I just saw my third Esprit since living here and it was an 87 HCI. It was at a shop and I got to look around it for a good while, sat in it, and just tried to get a feel for the car. The angular shape was just stunning, sitting in it - while parked - was an experience.

Hell, maybe it's a retro thing where old stuff is becoming hip again? I've liked the car for too long to really care.

Johnny

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Enjoy - no! However it is true...

Since I bought mine about 2 1/2 years ago I have seen the prices of GOOD Giugiaro Turbos increase by several thousand.

A REALLY good one in the UK from a dealer could easily be placed at over

[madmezza]

Sheeite. I've only got mine insured for

[tonyp]

Drip drip drip goes the lolly into goodies like suspension link bushes, rear discs, alli shockers etc. then stainless manifold & pipes and so on. makes me feel better about this if its not a total black hole.

Nice car on top though, just had the headlining done, interior now just fine with a slight patina of age.

I'm the 5th owner on this 84 s3 na, only done 50k miles & looking forward to easter time for some RUNS and plucking up courage for a bit of WELLY (thats rubbish, where do you buy extra narrow shoes from to press those precious pedals?)

[silverfrost]

I will go with fishy on the recent top gear thing! also for some strange reason,not

sure if it because of the upcoming esprit or the new europa but every classic

car magazine recently seems to be doing an artical on the g esprit or stevens!

but i have also noticed and refer to a magazine i read recently that they said the g esprit WAS THE BEST LOOKING OF ALL ESPRITS!. i just think

they have aged fantastic still look sharp and mean and crisp! and in silver look

the dogs nuts!

regards dan

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Rich - errr YES!!!

Mine's insured for

[Guest esprit geoff]

Lets face it, collectively, we probably own, or know where a good portion of the Esprit are in the world.. we may even be influential enough to have the ability to set prices.

We could start by advertising mint cars on LEW at higher prices.. advise buyers to only buy the best of the best. Make it so it is worth an owners while to maintain their car in mint condition for the sake of resale value.

We can do the same by projecting a sense that our cars are VERY rare (which they are) and in BIG demand (which they could be)

Before becoming stinking rich re-selling our cars at insane collector car prices, we must buy as many as we can, at a good price

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wishful thinking - it's always a buyers market.

Geoff.

[cbclotus]

Hi guys just spoke to a guy local to me cant sellhis 83 turbo .full mot leather trim cant sell it for 45OO to me that is a cheap car . feel gutted for him .If i had the money i wouldd buy it .so i dont think prices are going up at all. if any body wants his number i will pass it on just e mail me mike.ps the guy has owned the car for about 5 years .gutted i cant buy it .

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Depends on

1) Engine condition (history)

2) Paint Condition

3) Interior condition

4) Where he's trying to sell it

5) Time of year

Also with a car like this - if you price it too low then the 'wary' buyer will assume it's a dog and avoid it.

A mate of mine sold his '85Turbo for in excess of

[Guest Troy Halliday]

While we are on the subject how do you go about getting an evaluation on your Esprit. Mine will at sometime be finished and I want to get an agreed evaluation policy. I did get a quote last summer from Footman James as a second car with unlimited miles with myself (33 now, 32 at time of quote) and my friend Mick (36 now, 35 at time of quote) it was for an agreed valuation of

[Bibs]

an agreed valuation of

[Paul C]

Since I bought mine about 2 1/2 years ago I have seen the prices of GOOD Giugiaro Turbos increase by several thousand.

But how many thousand have you spent on it in that time?

(soz!)

[x6gas]

I live by the rule that houses are a good investment, cars are not.

There are one or two cars for which this is not true, but not that many.

That hasn't stopped me justifying to my wife the purchase of 1 x Lotus Elise based on the fact that it had cast iron residuals (true mostly - bought it new and could have sold it at a profit for six months afterwards due to production problems with the S2) and 2 x Esprits based on the lie that they were investments.

Unfortunately, my wife isn't stupid (married the wrong woman) and so she knows that I'll lose money, but it keeps me quiet and we have an arrangement that I buy parts for the Esprits and I pretend to ignore the new pair of boots she buys every week...

[Guest Troy Halliday]

I think that is my subconcious trying to tell me I have spent nearly

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Troy, it depends on who you're insured with

Footman James you need to get your valuation form Club Lotus - they want (iirc) 3 photos one of which must be the interior and one engine bay - something like that

Classic Line - you get your valuation from the most reliable and knowledgable source imaginable - Kato!

[JRTurbo909]

I live by the rule that houses are a good investment, cars are not.

There are one or two cars for which this is not true, but not that many.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Very true. I have never bought a car that I didnt expect to lose money on. But i am an enthusiast and buy them for other reasons than resale value...

Shah

[WayneB]

Cars are only worth what ever you get when you come to sell them

Good ,low milage or excellent restored Giugiaros are worth more than the more common badly maintained dogs that seem to be more common than not.

I personally dont think the Esprit is a good car to buy as an investment at present.

However as a beautiful, great handling uncommon performance car it is a bargain,

And if you buy right , and keep on top of it you will always at least get your money back when you sell