An "Investment" Car

willy3486 · Post by **willy3486** » July 28, 2007, 12:42 am

Boy thats the truth. I don't understand folks these days. What gets me is you will see ads for "rare" and "collectable" for vehicles made in the last 5-10 years. To me if its less 5-10 years I don't care if its 1 of 1 its not "rare or collectable yet. I know a guy that wastes money like crazy. If he has new tool he bought yesterday he will buy the new and improved one tomorrow. I was told one by someone they like "nice things" . Like what I have isn't nice. It may not be new or improved but for the most part its paid for. And a lot of my so called "un-nice things " are truely collectable. Let someone waste money on a 600 buck iphone that plays music. I got a 20 dollar special phone that works great and 2 vintage working jukeboxes from the 30s-40s. And with the cost of the restoration I did on the jukeboxes and cost of the phone with minutes to spare I still have less than 600 bucks in all that. Its like my camper. I know I overpaid for it when I got it for 500 bucks. But my wife really liked the way it was made,it had a lot of good stuff on it,and I knew it had potential. Now it is restored and I have used it for 2 trips . I only have about 1500 to 2 grand on it. I can still get more out of it than I have. I belong to a few camping groups and see people brag about their new campers at 20 grand plus. When they pulled it off the lot they lost more money than I have in mine. Same with my truck I have about 2 grand. It has a good engine I just needed to rebuild most everything else. But I did and get more thumbs up and stares when I go down the road than most people get in a new car. I got a lot of bills like everyone else but I do try to make do with what I have or find what I want and fix it up. Its no wonder this country is doing so bad now finacially now.

ripsnorter · Post by **ripsnorter** » July 28, 2007, 3:48 am

I took my little sailboat out the other day for the first time in about 5 years. Had a blast, took oinklette with me and she really enjoyed it. Its a butt ugly 15.5 foot dinghy (chrysler actually of all things) thats the color of that burnt orange shag carpeting. 7 years ago I paid $300 for it and have probably put another $100 into it since. Its ugly, the trailer looks like it would fall apart if you bumped it with your toe, but its probably the most fun thing I own.

While we were down loading up on the trailer at the end of the day, we got to talking to this girl loading up a 25+ foot Cobalt power boat. It was brand new, first time ever taken out, and boy was it beautiful.

Its probably an easy 60,000 or more boat, and after they loaded it up they spent about 30 or more minutes wiping it down with cloths, sprayng it with cleaner, making sure it didnt have any water spots etc. They looked so stressed out at the thought of any dirt, any scratches, anything, and yet she was complimenting me the whole time on my little dinghy and kind of wishing she could go out sailing on it.

I just loaded up my little boat, shoved it on over where it was crooked on the trailer, cranked down a strap and drove home in my $350 truck pulling my $300 boat. And was happier and had more fun than they had with $60,000 or more of debt.

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » July 28, 2007, 6:34 am

I'm stilly trying to figure out how a rebadged Nissan (Infiniti) would ever be considered 'collectible'.

Lots of 'collectibles' out there. Here's a few:
Buick Reatta
Fiero
Cadillac Allante
Chrysler TC Maserati
Bricklin

With the exception of the last one

I've seen lots of guys buy these cars as 'investments'. Well, they're lucky if its still worth what they paid for it ten years ago. You buy stuff because you like it, not because you think it will appreciate in value, because most times it won't. They have a name for these types of people: morons.

We've become a society obsessed with shiny objects and appearances, and far too many of us go deep in debt just to show off how successful we are. I will never understand why someone would buy a Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade when there is no difference except the price and some chrome between these and a Excursion or Tahoe. Maybe I'm listening to too much Dave Ramsey, but I'd rather have cool old stuff that's paid for vs the latest high tech bling item.

jwh f-100 · Post by **jwh f-100** » July 28, 2007, 6:50 am

drove home in my $350 truck pulling my $300 boat. And was happier and had more fun than they had with $60,000 or more of debt.

I always wondered why people need such expensive toys.

A few years back my brother came to me just after he was told he will be deployed to Jermany for 9 months and offered me a deal on his old truck. A '86, 4cyl, ford ranger, rust bucket. He said if I watched his dog that his wife hates while he is away, he will sell me his ranger for $1.00 yes a dollar, one buck, uno denaro. If course I said yes. Truth be known I would have done it any way, he's my brother and he's going away for a long time to serve our country.

So back to the subject. I drove that ranger for 30,000 miles and only put a $40 dollar alternator on it and then sold it for $200. So lets do the math for fun.

The other guy; -$400 a month/1,250 miles a month = -0.40 cents a mile, yes 40 cent a mile.

My Ranger - Paid $1 added a $40 alternator sold it for $200 = $159 above water. I had the truck two years so I made $6.63 a month.
+6.63 a month/1,250 mles a month = +$0.01 cents a mile

One other way we could look at this --- There is a guy driving down the road with a $30,000 truck and at every mile marker het throws $0.41 cents out his window for me to pick up in my Ranger.

Lets not even get started on the insurance rates!!!

jwh - f100

PS, We both got from point A to point B.

The joke is on the other guy.

jwh f-100 · Post by **jwh f-100** » July 28, 2007, 7:11 am

Messed that math up. The other guy is spending $0.32 a mile BUT still no contest.
Plus he must have made quite a down payment to get his payment down to $400.00 on a $30,000 truck.

mikecarson · Post by **mikecarson** » July 28, 2007, 7:18 am

A few years ago, my brother was having a shop built at his place. Real nice building, cost about $25,000. The guy across the street commented how he wished he had one. My brother (who was driving an old Ranger p/u) told him if he wasn't paying for that $30,000 truck he had, maybe he'd have enough to have a shop.

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » July 28, 2007, 10:43 am

DV65CustomCab wrote:Maybe I'm listening to too much Dave Ramsey, but I'd rather have cool old stuff that's paid for vs the latest high tech bling item.

Yeah, Dave has a way of pointing out to people they're being stupid by going into debt for bling.

I've gotta agree with him, the most expensive of my last three cars I've bought has been $600...coincidentally, it's also the smallest. It gets me to work every day, gets good mileage & I don't have any payments...makes me happy!

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » July 28, 2007, 10:47 am

Haha Dwight you funny, b'wah.

But you are also right, even including the Brick. If I put a couple grand in it in restoration, I will probably get it out, but they are appreciating at approx the same rate as the mid-seventies Vettes' and that really ain't much. So a person knows there's a ceiling there on what to throw at the car for money, if he wants a return on investment.

However, with the possible exception of imported Nissan Skylines,and old Toyota Supras there isn't a Jap car out there that is worth a pinch of coon spit as far as investment value. I have an Acura because I did the research and realised that they lose their value less quickly, but they still are on a constantly sinking ship as far as value goes.

They have to be rare and loved, and there sure ain't many rare rice rockets out there. I know all kinds of people who are sitting on '76 Mercury Marquis Broughams and classic 1971 Chev Caprices, thinking someday they will be worth huge bucks. They might be, but it will be as scrap metal, because there has to be someone -besides 80 year old men in white shoes- who like them to create a demand.

Meanwhile I will wait for a show, like Chop Cut Rebuild, to make Bricks famous and my investment will skyrocket! LOL

ripsnorter · Post by **ripsnorter** » July 28, 2007, 11:39 am

when I was a kid we had a lot of 69-71 Lincoln Mk IIIs. My dad told me a story back then ( I just noticed a lot of my stories have to do with my dad

) of a guy that was SURE that every single MKIII was going to skyrocket in value, so he went out and bought something like three HUNDRED of the things, stuck them in a warehouse and sat on them.

That was back in the early 70s, and Mark IIIs have pretty much been worth about nothing ever since. Theyre starting to come up in value finally, but you can usually buy them all day long in nice shape for $2,000 or $3,000. Which is less than they cost new. I like the cars, but not exactly a great investment at the time.

I've never understood people buying new cars as an investment. Certainly not an Infinity

It always seemed to me that when youre looking at cars for investments, you want to do some research and buy one thats 30+ years old and is already starting to increase in desiribility and value. Not one that you think might one day go up in value.

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » July 28, 2007, 4:51 pm

Hey JC, I was at a car show today and saw a 2 door, square headlamp Granada proudly displayed.

What's that saying? There's an ass for every seat?

Ford4jack · Post by **Ford4jack** » July 28, 2007, 5:45 pm

Come on now y'all talkin like our Taurus isn't gonna be worth a mint soon.

ripsnorter · Post by **ripsnorter** » July 28, 2007, 7:38 pm

well that depends on whether its the SHO or not

Phil · Post by **Phil** » July 28, 2007, 7:55 pm

DV65CustomCab wrote:Hey JC, I was at a car show today and saw a 2 door, square headlamp Granada proudly displayed.
What's that saying? There's an ass for every seat?

Granadas are GREAT cars!
They're full of Torino parts.

Post by **Greg D** » July 28, 2007, 8:12 pm

I have seen a 2 door Granda (same car) at 2! shows this year. I do have to admit though, it's in incredible condition. I am kinda thinking that my 05 GT has abit more chance at becoming collectable than any fancy jap crap. You can buy about any 3 year old infinity for about half of new cost, at least my 05 is still worth about 22-23K, I have the MSRP from the car too - 27K. Maybe I should run right down to the nissan dealer here in town and grab me a low mile sentra too - NOT!

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » July 28, 2007, 9:30 pm

DV65CustomCab wrote:Hey JC, I was at a car show today and saw a 2 door, square headlamp Granada proudly displayed.
What's that saying? There's an ass for every seat?

exactly. When guys start thinking Grenade-a's are show cars, with their nasty straight six and padded vinyl tops, can Futura's be far away?

next thing the GM guys will be showing 4 door Novas. The Toyota made ones.

Ford4jack · Post by **Ford4jack** » July 28, 2007, 11:41 pm

ripsnorter wrote:well that depends on whether its the SHO or not

Naw its a no SHO

Hey I just figured out how to do the quote thing. Will wonders never cease

Might have to go bold and try a picture next.

66fordtrucknut · Post by **66fordtrucknut** » July 29, 2007, 5:23 am

I knew I should've kept my Mercury Monarch, much rarer than the Granada.
Charlie

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » July 29, 2007, 8:57 am

There was some dude in town here , had a Monarch with a blower sticking up out thru the hood, big boots on the back sticking out of the back fenders at least 6", Air shocks, and little skinny front tires, about 2 years ago.
He had that car for sale for at least 2 years before that.. oh and I forgot the best part! Metallic Brown! What a ridiculous looking POS it was .. no matter what you do to those cars they still look like a lead brick. I think he ended up selling it in pieces.....

Maybe he was the guy who later had an airfoil wing, the ones with the wires...
on a dead stock Crown Vic

Phil · Post by **Phil** » July 29, 2007, 10:46 am

Fairmonts and Futuras, while ugly, are Fox Bodies.
There are some ridiculously sick big block ones on 460ford.com.

My buddy has a silver and black one with an aluminum front bumper
and a fiberglass hood.
Its like 2500lbs and runs 10s with a stroked 351 windsor.

They have NO style but are a great platform for speed parts

Phil · Post by **Phil** » July 29, 2007, 10:48 am

If you ever see a Lincoln Versailles (lincoln/Granada) cheap snap it up.
The real axles are disk brake and the Mustang guys look for em all the time.