The old Defender is an icon, I kind of like the style of this. I hope they tone it down a bit and come out with a 110 version also!
My wish is that this Defender does not cut as many corners as the old one. Popping paint, leaking fuel tanks, wobbly feel around corners and poor window fit and finish are not great traits in the 21st century car market. Good Luck Land Rover, I am rooting for you!
My wish is that this Defender does not cut as many corners as the old one. Popping paint, leaking fuel tanks, wobbly feel around corners and poor window fit and finish are not great traits in the 21st century car market. Good Luck Land Rover, I am rooting for you!
Good list. I think you are spot on about the Lambo & Ferrari cars in general. Good cars, will bring good money, just not crazy money.
For what it is worth the 599 GTO is already out. I saw one on the track just a few weeks back at Gingerman for the Ferrari Club event.
For what it is worth the 599 GTO is already out. I saw one on the track just a few weeks back at Gingerman for the Ferrari Club event.
I believe that cars of the age (from ~2000's to 2010's) will die/be scrapped/become functionally obsolete much quicker than previous eras of cars. The combination of materials, fuel types and dated 'mission critical' electronics will make restoration and preservation in the future much harder.
With that in mind, I think that many cars that seem fairly common right now will have a shot... Taking into account that $1M is a colossal amount of of money for a car and the almost immutable fact that cars are non-appreciable assets (most cars get scrapped with in ~20 years), I think that any car that appreciates might as well be a million dollar car. There will be the McLarens, Ascari and other exotica that are in the $1M range, but these are my outside shots...
My predictions:
1. BMW Z8 - Watch for the last manual transmission cars before the Alpinas came in.
2. Ford GT - The less modification the better.
3. BMW E39 M5
4. 2005 Morgan Roadster - A niche car, but rarity and the 'analogue nature' will make it expensive.
5. Gen 3 Viper Coupes - Strange beast, low production numbers.
6. 996 GT2
7. 997 GT3RS Cup cars - We will be lucky if these cars stay in one piece 50 years from now.
8. Silver Seraph/Arnage Green Label - Last cars made under largely British ownership.
9. Acura NSX - Manual cars with the higher HP will dominate the market.
Interesting units... not $1M material but they may appreciate: XKRs, CTS-Vs, SL (AMG models included), Suburbans (out of left field - but who is to say SUVs won't be a great 'throwback' someday for car nuts in the future).
With that in mind, I think that many cars that seem fairly common right now will have a shot... Taking into account that $1M is a colossal amount of of money for a car and the almost immutable fact that cars are non-appreciable assets (most cars get scrapped with in ~20 years), I think that any car that appreciates might as well be a million dollar car. There will be the McLarens, Ascari and other exotica that are in the $1M range, but these are my outside shots...
My predictions:
1. BMW Z8 - Watch for the last manual transmission cars before the Alpinas came in.
2. Ford GT - The less modification the better.
3. BMW E39 M5
4. 2005 Morgan Roadster - A niche car, but rarity and the 'analogue nature' will make it expensive.
5. Gen 3 Viper Coupes - Strange beast, low production numbers.
6. 996 GT2
7. 997 GT3RS Cup cars - We will be lucky if these cars stay in one piece 50 years from now.
8. Silver Seraph/Arnage Green Label - Last cars made under largely British ownership.
9. Acura NSX - Manual cars with the higher HP will dominate the market.
Interesting units... not $1M material but they may appreciate: XKRs, CTS-Vs, SL (AMG models included), Suburbans (out of left field - but who is to say SUVs won't be a great 'throwback' someday for car nuts in the future).
Here, Here! If only they made a 750i with a 6 speed.
I would love one for tailgating. The ultimate Michigan fan's car, build them in Flint and jam a wonderful LS motor with a 6 speed and you have a cult car for sure.
Sign me up.
Sign me up.
I do believe that a this one is a solid runner up.
I never believed in the power of marketing until I thought it would be a good idea to get one of these heaps. Perhaps someday LeMons will beckon and I will get an XJ entered.
[youtu.be]
I never believed in the power of marketing until I thought it would be a good idea to get one of these heaps. Perhaps someday LeMons will beckon and I will get an XJ entered.
[youtu.be]
As someone that works for another major rental car company... people rent cars for extended periods of time, all the time. A significant portion of the non- airport market rents their cars on contracts like this (ex: body shop loaner fleets, dealer loaners, corporate office transportation, etc).
While I can't specifically comment on how Avis prices its cars, I can give some general rationalizations for this crazy price.
The price of the car is dependent on the prediction of demand, actual demand, local competitors and supply of cars on sight or in a region. My guess is that mid size fleet is really tight (we are running super tight also and we service the same type of airport clientele with similar products). The class of car, due to its general value, is probably sold out and alternatives are scarce. The prediction model has determined that customer demand is inelastic for this product and so it raises the price to stem demand and build yield into the rental. Because there are so few of this product in the fleet, instead of a few bucks more, the computer has made this car several thousand more expensive, there by stopping demand forcing customers elsewhere or into different car types and classes.
My guess is that like all car rental companies, their major locations will keep a percentage (2-10% of their local fleet) in reserve to serve walk-ups and account for units damaged, recalled for maintenance and recalls and reserved by special clientele. I'm sure there will be a few Cruzes in the back.
Moral of the story... The Cruze, is a nice car for the money. If you need to rent one... go to the counter, I am sure they will not quote you that price.
2nd moral... Rental car companies can not make your cars appear out of thin air. So take it easy on the counter people when things are not as great as you want them to be - the staff does not like upsetting customers or cold weather either.
While I can't specifically comment on how Avis prices its cars, I can give some general rationalizations for this crazy price.
The price of the car is dependent on the prediction of demand, actual demand, local competitors and supply of cars on sight or in a region. My guess is that mid size fleet is really tight (we are running super tight also and we service the same type of airport clientele with similar products). The class of car, due to its general value, is probably sold out and alternatives are scarce. The prediction model has determined that customer demand is inelastic for this product and so it raises the price to stem demand and build yield into the rental. Because there are so few of this product in the fleet, instead of a few bucks more, the computer has made this car several thousand more expensive, there by stopping demand forcing customers elsewhere or into different car types and classes.
My guess is that like all car rental companies, their major locations will keep a percentage (2-10% of their local fleet) in reserve to serve walk-ups and account for units damaged, recalled for maintenance and recalls and reserved by special clientele. I'm sure there will be a few Cruzes in the back.
Moral of the story... The Cruze, is a nice car for the money. If you need to rent one... go to the counter, I am sure they will not quote you that price.
2nd moral... Rental car companies can not make your cars appear out of thin air. So take it easy on the counter people when things are not as great as you want them to be - the staff does not like upsetting customers or cold weather either.
@GrandmaSideways: That has got to be the fastest 940 in the world! You should call it the Flying Brick!
I have never had the pleasure of piloting Volvos from that era. Being in the Detroit area, I see a great number of the Ford development era cars. They look interesting enough, but can never seem to track straight down the road. I will have to make a point to see how fast I can get an older model to go.
Enjoy the speed!
I have never had the pleasure of piloting Volvos from that era. Being in the Detroit area, I see a great number of the Ford development era cars. They look interesting enough, but can never seem to track straight down the road. I will have to make a point to see how fast I can get an older model to go.
Enjoy the speed!
Noble M400. I was able to step in and take a spin in some serious hardware when I sold cars... but never really put my foot into one (the problem of using other people's toys!). This car on paper was slower than a great deal of others, but the feeling you got from 0 to 100MPH bested the greatest Viper burnout or high speed pass in a F430.
When the Evora was launched, there was a solid 140MPH sprint on I75N. On the Autobahn south of Munich I had a good sustained 130MPH dart down to the ski areas on the boarder - oddly enough in a 325Ci (if only we had better rated tires!).
Good times, to bad the cars were not mine to keep.
When the Evora was launched, there was a solid 140MPH sprint on I75N. On the Autobahn south of Munich I had a good sustained 130MPH dart down to the ski areas on the boarder - oddly enough in a 325Ci (if only we had better rated tires!).
Good times, to bad the cars were not mine to keep.
@TopGearForever: I disagree.
#rant; #long winded response
As a driver, owner and former salesman of Lotus vehicles... weight is a big deal.
In my view from the small corner of the automotive world that I was a part of clearly leads me to believe that this guy might be a marketing guru, but is certainly no scholar on his own customers.
The Lotus customer is a fickle beast. The typical buyer comes in two flavors: aspiring young men (and on a very rare occasion a lady or two) who desire something different and older men that have money and a yearning for the old feel of cars with the modern convenience that a new vehicle brings. I paint with a broad brushstroke in making this generalization, but I believe this to be the true demographic of the Lotus buyer.
The new Evora reaches out to a new demographic. Lotus strives to reach the Porsche Cayman and Porsche 911 drivers. In reality, I believe they are actually tapping a niche of drivers that desire a "daily driver" that rivals the 'exoticness' of their Maser/Ferrari/Lambo/assorted super high-end sports car. They did this by offering a car that even with modest power, delivers on it promise of a great drive through weight alone (although it is no lightweight itself!).
The comments of the new CEO are in marked disagreement with Michael Kimberley's and the old British management team. The new CEO is a former Ferrari guy. He was successful there and while I don't question his sincerity in transforming the brand and his ambition to keep the company afloat, he has clearly decided to abandon the old management style of the company or does not know about who his customer really is or has decided to let them go elsewhere for cars.
You make a good point about the relative weight as compared to its market rivals. You are correct in that there are no rivals when it comes to the new weights of Lotus sports cars. However, weight has been used as the key point of leverage over other cars. With a diminished advantage or even parody with its competitors in the weight arena, Lotus risks having to compete against the "big dogs" Ferrari/Maserati/Lambo on their terms. Lotus has consistently lost this battle. Its engines have never been great. Its style has never really been great. Its fit and finish have never really been great (although the 2nd generation Elise is close to bullet proof [post 2006 years of the generation]). Lotus is a driver’s car, if it looked good or had other nice qualities it was icing on the cake.
When weight savings are not at the heart of the issue, Lotus is clearly not on the same field as the rest of its new peers. It will take massive amounts of money to correct the issue, something that Lotus has perennially been short on and that its corporate parent Proton cant afford to do. The company also risks shunning the crowning achievement of the Lotus Group, which is Lotus Engineering - the preeminent weight saving gurus in the business and also the biggest pool of black ink on the company spreadsheet.
To blow off its current customer base is absurd. They will cast their vote with their pocket books and move elsewhere for less expensive, simpler and lighter cars. Lotus is entering a period that is very dangerous for the marque. They have embarked on a journey that will test the market to see if there is more room at the top for another $200K supercar. I hope there is, but I know that they will no longer the moderately affordable. All the guys like myself will have been cast aside and will migrate to older models or a company that offers another compelling product. These are the choices that Lotus made when they OK’ed the plan… in doing so they OK’ed the dissolution of their former customer base. Sad.
#rant; #long winded response
As a driver, owner and former salesman of Lotus vehicles... weight is a big deal.
In my view from the small corner of the automotive world that I was a part of clearly leads me to believe that this guy might be a marketing guru, but is certainly no scholar on his own customers.
The Lotus customer is a fickle beast. The typical buyer comes in two flavors: aspiring young men (and on a very rare occasion a lady or two) who desire something different and older men that have money and a yearning for the old feel of cars with the modern convenience that a new vehicle brings. I paint with a broad brushstroke in making this generalization, but I believe this to be the true demographic of the Lotus buyer.
The new Evora reaches out to a new demographic. Lotus strives to reach the Porsche Cayman and Porsche 911 drivers. In reality, I believe they are actually tapping a niche of drivers that desire a "daily driver" that rivals the 'exoticness' of their Maser/Ferrari/Lambo/assorted super high-end sports car. They did this by offering a car that even with modest power, delivers on it promise of a great drive through weight alone (although it is no lightweight itself!).
The comments of the new CEO are in marked disagreement with Michael Kimberley's and the old British management team. The new CEO is a former Ferrari guy. He was successful there and while I don't question his sincerity in transforming the brand and his ambition to keep the company afloat, he has clearly decided to abandon the old management style of the company or does not know about who his customer really is or has decided to let them go elsewhere for cars.
You make a good point about the relative weight as compared to its market rivals. You are correct in that there are no rivals when it comes to the new weights of Lotus sports cars. However, weight has been used as the key point of leverage over other cars. With a diminished advantage or even parody with its competitors in the weight arena, Lotus risks having to compete against the "big dogs" Ferrari/Maserati/Lambo on their terms. Lotus has consistently lost this battle. Its engines have never been great. Its style has never really been great. Its fit and finish have never really been great (although the 2nd generation Elise is close to bullet proof [post 2006 years of the generation]). Lotus is a driver’s car, if it looked good or had other nice qualities it was icing on the cake.
When weight savings are not at the heart of the issue, Lotus is clearly not on the same field as the rest of its new peers. It will take massive amounts of money to correct the issue, something that Lotus has perennially been short on and that its corporate parent Proton cant afford to do. The company also risks shunning the crowning achievement of the Lotus Group, which is Lotus Engineering - the preeminent weight saving gurus in the business and also the biggest pool of black ink on the company spreadsheet.
To blow off its current customer base is absurd. They will cast their vote with their pocket books and move elsewhere for less expensive, simpler and lighter cars. Lotus is entering a period that is very dangerous for the marque. They have embarked on a journey that will test the market to see if there is more room at the top for another $200K supercar. I hope there is, but I know that they will no longer the moderately affordable. All the guys like myself will have been cast aside and will migrate to older models or a company that offers another compelling product. These are the choices that Lotus made when they OK’ed the plan… in doing so they OK’ed the dissolution of their former customer base. Sad.
@FodderTheSane: Thankfully, economics is not a zero sum game. A disproportionate amount of profits made from a growing GM China operation could not be directly repatriated into the US due to restrictive tax laws. But the money does not simply disappear, it adds to the bottom line worth of the brands and feed R&D and allows workers to be compensated more richly on their vested interest in the stock and their paychecks.
Your logic suggests that success with GM's international operations somehow will hurt well paid American workers. This logic is wrong. Chinese operations have floated the worth of the company and provided a rare bit of profit in the crumbling empire of pre-bankruptcy GM. With out these operations it would have been much more difficult to rationalize the government 'saving' GM. The growing middle class abroad is a potential cash cow for the next 25 years and the world is a big place to turn your back on.
As a Detroiter, I was torn between my conviction in the free markets, distaste for government intervention and the sight of immediate family and friends loosing all their worldly possessions... But, in the end, the best we can hope for is a great IPO and a roaring Wall Street. To demonize money making on Wall Street, like your comments seem to indicate, is short sighted and counter to American values and natural rights.
At then end of the day, Wall Street, Walmart, GM and the rest of the monoliths of the American economic system are made of people. These people have a skill and they are rewarded for it. To deny a corporation the same rights you would a person and to fault them for providing to their people to the best of their ability is foolish.
GM can still win, the American worker and consumer can still win and the Chinese can still win at the same time. Prudent investment, good products, a well paid and highly motivated work force and a bit of luck will mean the stock price will go up enough to make borrowing cheap again - good for operations. Once people see a winner in GM products and value, the new great era of products will unfold. I am looking forward to a car that has ZR1 performance and is one quarter the price. Now the business of making money begins, they still owe the taxpayers quite a bit more to go!
Your logic suggests that success with GM's international operations somehow will hurt well paid American workers. This logic is wrong. Chinese operations have floated the worth of the company and provided a rare bit of profit in the crumbling empire of pre-bankruptcy GM. With out these operations it would have been much more difficult to rationalize the government 'saving' GM. The growing middle class abroad is a potential cash cow for the next 25 years and the world is a big place to turn your back on.
As a Detroiter, I was torn between my conviction in the free markets, distaste for government intervention and the sight of immediate family and friends loosing all their worldly possessions... But, in the end, the best we can hope for is a great IPO and a roaring Wall Street. To demonize money making on Wall Street, like your comments seem to indicate, is short sighted and counter to American values and natural rights.
At then end of the day, Wall Street, Walmart, GM and the rest of the monoliths of the American economic system are made of people. These people have a skill and they are rewarded for it. To deny a corporation the same rights you would a person and to fault them for providing to their people to the best of their ability is foolish.
GM can still win, the American worker and consumer can still win and the Chinese can still win at the same time. Prudent investment, good products, a well paid and highly motivated work force and a bit of luck will mean the stock price will go up enough to make borrowing cheap again - good for operations. Once people see a winner in GM products and value, the new great era of products will unfold. I am looking forward to a car that has ZR1 performance and is one quarter the price. Now the business of making money begins, they still owe the taxpayers quite a bit more to go!
@MΩJΩ: Fantastic choice. This model will forever be stunning. Good motor, great looks, an interesting interior and the James Bond connection make this a winner.
Good choice. If only it came with a Bond girl for the ride!
(double entendre was not intentional... but with a Z8 perhaps it is possible)
Good choice. If only it came with a Bond girl for the ride!
(double entendre was not intentional... but with a Z8 perhaps it is possible)
@BrtStlnd: Having worked at the said 'candy store', the gentleman that owns that car bought it new and is a car nut with over 60 years of experience. Great guy and keeps his cars in great condition. He has a series of other fun stuff and his philosophy seems to be that he wants to drive as many different cars as he can for the rest of his life.
@loveableterror- has an SRT and knows how to wield it!: We always seem to share a story every holiday season... Until recently our family has had a set linens and a matching silver and china set that have never been opened from the time of the Great Depression. They were 'saved' for that special occasion or that special person and the time never seem to come.
Now with four generations of Matron's never used linens and safe guarding of the china and silver for the 10's of moves, family issues and natural disasters, we finally opened them up to enjoy them this last Christmas. It was an experience for my grandmother that was quite moving.
I can only hope that in the future that some of the fellows that I had the pleasure of meeting over the years of working car shows decide to 'use the linens' before it is too late and they are lost, destroyed or deemed unfit for travel. I have had my eye on a '29 IF Tipo 8A... perhaps when the youngest current owner (in his mid-60's now) that I know is ready to pass on... he will use the car and take me for a ride.
Now with four generations of Matron's never used linens and safe guarding of the china and silver for the 10's of moves, family issues and natural disasters, we finally opened them up to enjoy them this last Christmas. It was an experience for my grandmother that was quite moving.
I can only hope that in the future that some of the fellows that I had the pleasure of meeting over the years of working car shows decide to 'use the linens' before it is too late and they are lost, destroyed or deemed unfit for travel. I have had my eye on a '29 IF Tipo 8A... perhaps when the youngest current owner (in his mid-60's now) that I know is ready to pass on... he will use the car and take me for a ride.
@pidgeonsplatz: I survived. Taking the journey from Detroit to NYC, I had to take a 20mph average speed detour 100+ miles through PA after I80 was shut. I never thought that Wilkes Barre would be a welcome sight... it was.
Thank you to the staff of Tim Hortons for staying open all night allowing us to sit inside and enjoy a semblence of a nights sleep. On the positive side, amongst the many long haul truckers that were there, I got to see a high end auto hauler full of shiny new Turbos and some assorted British machinery (a Noble, TVR and a few Morgans).
Nothing like viewing fun convertible English cars whilst it is snowing! There is something very fitting about the situation that conjures up British eccentricity about driving in bad weather and the madness of British drivers to say to mother nature: 'damn you and your rain, sleet and snow, I will drive my TC when ever I please and will not worry that the top is totally worthless'.
Thank you to the staff of Tim Hortons for staying open all night allowing us to sit inside and enjoy a semblence of a nights sleep. On the positive side, amongst the many long haul truckers that were there, I got to see a high end auto hauler full of shiny new Turbos and some assorted British machinery (a Noble, TVR and a few Morgans).
Nothing like viewing fun convertible English cars whilst it is snowing! There is something very fitting about the situation that conjures up British eccentricity about driving in bad weather and the madness of British drivers to say to mother nature: 'damn you and your rain, sleet and snow, I will drive my TC when ever I please and will not worry that the top is totally worthless'.
@deep_fryed: Got mine in the red 1975 flavor... it is a treat to hear it at 9,000 when the engine is up to temperature. Keep up the search, they can be found very modestly and have great tangible and intangible return on investment!
Plus, as a novice rider and a pretty young guy, it is magnet for getting like minded car and motorcycle nuts to ask questions, hear stories, get parts help and talk shop - it is a total cult bike... Now just need to work on getting the 20 to 25 year old female crowd to get interested!
Plus, as a novice rider and a pretty young guy, it is magnet for getting like minded car and motorcycle nuts to ask questions, hear stories, get parts help and talk shop - it is a total cult bike... Now just need to work on getting the 20 to 25 year old female crowd to get interested!
@bmwvaughn: That is certainly a Hertz car... the bar code stickers of the windows give it away. Better not show these to the brass when I get in tomorrow or the offender would have a mighty bill to settle.
Very nice list.
My guess is that the MG is a TC non-EXU model (b/c of the double fog lamps). However, the turn signals indicate to me that the model is post WWII. I am not a true MG scholar... but my TC experience says they didn't get the gift of indicators until 1948 and they were bullet style on the top of the cycle fenders.
My guess is that the MG is a TC non-EXU model (b/c of the double fog lamps). However, the turn signals indicate to me that the model is post WWII. I am not a true MG scholar... but my TC experience says they didn't get the gift of indicators until 1948 and they were bullet style on the top of the cycle fenders.
I had my E34 for 2 years, still the greatest cruiser I have owned. My job allows me to swap cars every few days between new fleet Tauruses, Lacrosses and the like, and still no car is as enjoyable at speed like the 5er. It was a bear when it needed a new compressor, but a small price compared to the other undefinable positives.
Also, it had a timeless styling that only a car nut could distinguish the age of the vehicle. I even got a comment from the owner of a new (at the time) E38 740i Sport... mighty fine for a snot nosed highschooler with champagne taste and a beer budget.
@Ash78, Forza Micturspurts: I see what you did there. If only people still spoke latin...
