And the retro Thunderbirds... Uh, I'm really hoping my sarcasm detector is broken.

izmarkie

madflava

Alender1953

TripsyDaily

scottblack

Naturally Exasperated?

macecalrissian

macecalrissian

That said, the problem is that none of these vehicles will be able to run in thirty years. The only way they will operate is if they are converted to solar power and such. And even that's a stretch.

Spekkio

The first-gen Cadillac CTS/CTS-V (2003) in gold or black is a real looker and people will look favorably on it as the start of Cadillac's "Art and Science" resurgence.

Aficionados may think the BMW E65/E66 7-series (2001) as a classic as it introduced Bangle-butt, but it's not respected currently. However, as @brownie pointed out, the BMW E60 M5 (2005) is a completely insane cultural artifact that will be looked back on with disbelief. A 507 hp @7750rpm V10 in a four-door sedan, 11/17 MPG. And you haters who haven't walked around a black model haven't lived.

skierpage

Daga

Future minor classics: V8 Monte Carlo SS, Tiburon, Jag XF, Cayman, CTS-V, Caddy XLR, Mazda 3, VW Phaeton, TT, Aztek, M3

Sleepers: STS/STS-V, 300/Magnum/Charger SRTs, M5

GTBruiser

I'm completely unimpressed by the Maserati which started this conversation apparently, does nothing for me. The Alfa 8C is waaaay nicer.

to be classic, something has to be iconic in some way, be it ugly like an Aztec, timeless like a TT or a first of it's kind like a Prius/Insight or STi/Evo (one could argue for the normal WRX, but the STi is the distillation of the brand).

agree that it will be hard to find unmolested examples of a lot of the cheaper cars down the road.

I guess in the way that a '57 Chevy or '60s Mustang is a classic now but was just a car back then (tho not so much the Mustang I guess), something could come out of the decade, but there's something in the style (or lack thereof) of most cars these days which doesn't quite do it for me.

dwp

"The Oughts" means 21st century - i.e. Two thousand "ought" something. Thought some people might be enlightened by this.

Is there an urban dictionary for old slang?

Gaseous Clay

Gaseous Clay

Gaseous Clay

SethyT

sos10

Derp, you're right. Actually everything Aston Martin has made in the 2000s is pretty awesome.

TechnoDestructo

Honda: *S2000, Integra GSR and *Type R, maybe RSX-S and Prelude.
Toyota: Celica GTS, Scion xB (in a VW Thing kind of way)
Nissan: *GTR, 350Z, Infiniti G35 coupe 6MT
Mazda: All Mazdaspeeds, *RX8
Ford: *03-04 Cobra, later Mustangs (they didn't do it perfectly, but they did it right, even the V6 is alright now), *Mercury Marauder
Subaru: Legacy GT, Forester XT, WRX, and *STI, *2.5 RS coupe
Mitsubishi: Evo, that is all
Isuzu: *Vehicross
GM (like GM proper): *Solstice and Sky, possibly the G6 Convertible, *GTO, new Camaro, *C6 Vette, CTS, H3, XLR, every model with forced induction. Come to think of it, GM has had quite a few awesome products lately.
Chrysler: SRTs, particularly the *Neon SRT4 and the *Challenger, the perpetual instant classic *Wrangler, and the last few Cherokees
BMW: *Clown Shoe, Z8
Saab: Viggen

TechnoDestructo

UrCanadian

Yes, of course the Monaro (and any other name it may be called) is an instant classic. Handsome like an E46 M3 with great quality and materials, plus it's got one of the finest internal combustion engines ever built. So good, even Clarkson likes it. So good, America didn't understand it.

@skylark64: I can tell that you're a man who likes his scoops.

TRAMS_AM

Then there's the Geo Storm and Asuna Sunfire (only sold in Canada and looked like an Isuzu Impulse).

And finally there are the Turbocharged Chevy Sprints and Pontiac Fireflies... and the related Geo Metro Convertible.

petersterncan

petersterncan

CaliforniaCajun

And I'm surprised at how many people think the Crossfire will be a keeper. I guess it has the whole MB-Chrysler bastard child/sloppy seconds backstory.

rkwadd

Euromobile

@muhnkee_2: You've got my vote for the Avantime. If I chanced upon a babied, low-mileage 3.0dCi at the right price, I might just have to buy it...

@DSLPWR: Oh, the Volvo 850R will be a classic. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

My future classic picks (minus the obvious exotic stuff and with some late-'90s models that saw production well into the '00s):

Alfa Romeo 159

Audi A2, TT (unfortunately both and not just the current one), RS4

BMW 1-series, M-coupé, Z4 coupé (current model), 6-series

Citroen Berlingo, C4 coupé, C5 (the new model), C6

FIAT Panda, Barchetta

Ford StreetKa, Focus ST

Honda Civic Type R, S2000

Jaguar XF, XK

Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Range Rover (current model)

Mazda MX-5, RX-8

Mercedes-Benz CLS, S-class, CL

Mitsubishi Evo X

Nissan 350Z, Skyline GTR, GTR

Peugeot 406 coupé

Renault Clio Cup, Mégane, Kangoo, Clio V6, Avantime, Vel Satis

Saab 9-3 Viggen, 9-3 Turbo X

Seat Ibiza Cupra / Cupra R

Skoda Fabia vRS

Smart Fortwo

Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Forester, Legacy wagon / Outback

Toyota MR2 / MRS, Land Cruiser (Amazon)

Vaxhall / Opel Corsa VXR / OPC, Astra VXR / OPC, VX220 / Speedster

Volkswagen Golf GTi

Volvo C30

Euromobile

petersterncan

skulyk

SecretAZNMan

Eldorado

Classic cars are not necessarily the old 30 year old beaters you still see being driven daily on the streets - heck, it can even detract from the classical status.

Grive

Any volvo with an R

e46 M3's

M coupes, because they are rare period.

Foo2rama

As for my suggestion for QOTD: Which 2007/08 car would qualify for PCH in 30 years? I say the Ferrari engined Quattroporte and the Lambo engined Audi S8.

Maxichamp

1) Aston Martin DB9
2) Lambourghini Gallardo
3) Dodge Challenger SRT8

oh, & maybe as well... my dad's 1995 LADA 2104 station wagon! *sigh*

J-2-da-B

For example, even if the Crossfire dies by the thousands, the styling and/or driving experience wasn't special enough to guarantee it will become a classic. Same with just about any of today's "special" Mustangs.

A Corvette Z06, however, esp. the hardcore track-tuned one that strafed the Nurgringring is both fairly rare and likely to become a classic.

The other two criteria:
1) Racing success
2) Engineering breakthroughs

brandegee

A undefined ass crossed with the greatest front-overhang ever. Its heavy and it isn't a modern classic. Well, not a good one at least.

warpig

NovaloadMissesPolar

Volkswagen Phaeton W12 for reasons mentioned in an earlier comment (nice car, interesting engine, rare)

GT-R: First Godzilla sold in the US, revolutionary performance, Subtly interesting styling details

S2000: It's a Honda, so it'll stand the abuse, the styling is aging gracefully, and 9000rpm will never get old. Pre-facelift models will likely command a small premium because of the higher peak revs

Nissan 350Z: Too many Z fans out there for it not to be

RX-8: Because, as this website recently testified, it is quirky as hell

Audi TT: for being very influential design-wise

Pre-facelift E65/66 7-series: we all hated this car when it was launched, but it was the most influential car of the decade yet (and surely 'inspired' the W221 Benz's butt, along with numerous Lexus models). The facelift made it so much less visually interesting.

Civic99

k4ffy

Nurburgringer

yellofury * * * * *

For the most part they won't live in the form of pristine, stock beauties, but instead will be on their 4th engine with half of the interior, suspension or drivetrain replaced.

I'm pretty sure in the 60s no one thought Novas, Falcons and Darts were going to be classics.

Anything that's cheap and fast will live on in some form or another. Initially fueled by desire, then fueled by nostalgia.

Mad_Science

cardboardbelt

Andrewpetty

Stuntdriver

cardboardbelt

DSLPWR

Mercedes R63 AMG

goatrope

A couple of Ferraris should make the cut. The 550 Barchetta should win an award for "least practical really expensive car not called a McLaren" and the 575 Superamerica should make the list on the strength of its groovy electrochromic roof. The mid-engine V-8s will never go out of style and the 599 is yet another worthy heir to the Daytona. I expect the new California won't suck, either. You wouldn't want to pay to fix them, though....

ronbo

crossfire and M coupe are my top 2. The back end of both are just beautiful. A crossfire is just like a lotus: looks like it costs twice as much as it actually does

turkish

I had a whole fat list. And lost it. Damn.

Rarity: Aston Martin AR1, Lamborghini Reventon, Ferrari FXX, some species of Veyron.
Beauty: Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Aston Martin, Bugatti, Rolls Royce, a few others.
Technological significance: Porsche GT3, Prius/Tesla, R8 TDI, couple others.
Cultural impact: any car which most notably ushered in the second compact car generation or alternative fuel, be it the New Mini, Smart, Scion Xb, Prius, Insight, a TDI model, etc.
Originality: Atom, Can-Am Spider, The Batmobile, Tesla (Elise came out in '96, sorry), perhaps a couple others.
Performance: Veyron, Porsche, Ferrari, Corvette, others which distinguish themselves above and byond mere horspower. The Corvette gets nods for its sheer performance:price ratio, but even that quality is fading as prices rise like the 911 gains fat. Speaking of which, who's willing to go on a limb and say the Cayman is an instant classic? Not I. It'll get noted, but classic? Meh.

Call me heretic on two counts, but I believe Baby Boomer muscle car styling revival doesn't hold as "instant classic" nor as future classic, be it the Mustang, GT40, Camaro, or other 60's resuscitation. I also believe that the STI's and Evo's won't make it, either. They lack sufficient depth in various qualities to warrant "instant classic." Instant, yes. Classic? No. The few that survive intact and unmolested with reasonable miles will retain value for those reasons, but not for deeply intrinsic qualities. After all, how many A1 GTI's remain and why should we believe current STI's and Evo's have more "classic" potential now than the GTI did then? That said, I love 'em all to death and look forward to owning a used one later on.

DSLPWR

v8corvairpickup

I actually have one. It's a nice thing, when the gorram engine or computer isn't acting up.

I shudder to think about the work needed on a 20-30 year old T5.

Grive

orangeroller

Braff is Thad Longlove

[www.globalcar.com]
do i hear a second vote for my beautiful avantime?
no one loved it - ergo it has to be a future classic
and i dont say ergo that often....

muhnkee_2

orangeroller

GTO - They took a very nice looking Holden and gave it the wrong name.

SRT-4 - Sold for a short time before being killed at the altar of the compact-SUV. The new Supra?

Aztek - Belongs in the same historical freakshow as certain 70's AMCs.

Escalade EXT / Lincoln Blackwood - Tastewise, they're the The Chrysler Cordobas of today.

1st gen Prius / Insight - The '55 Chevies of hybrids.

Hyundai Tiburon - Our kids will waste time at work reading about one that's parked on the street in Alameda.

Mercury Marauder - This will be classic in the same way as the high performance Mercuries of yore; in 20 years no one has any clue what it is.

PCH Hell Candidate

Volvo R-cars - I've never heard anyone say that they truly had a pleasant experience living with one of these even when they were new.

TurboBrick

OldeEnglishD misses Polar

Also the TT.
Double for the Quattros.
Quadruple for the Quattro Convertibles.

It has the same instant cache as it's eccentric step-uncle, the VW Karmann Ghia.

Pinkerton

v8corvairpickup

Seconding the Aztek (I shudder to think what kind of BS the hipsters of the future will spin in order to call it brilliant and ahead of it's time) and the Sky redline (for reasons noted by the others above). Oh, and the Ford GT for being a sparkling peanut in a sea of turds.

clank-o-tron

Elhigh

If I think about what makes a current classic in my mind, it is always some sort of lore behind the car. The AC Cobra, the Corvette Gran Sport, GTO Judge, etc. all have some story, some kind of unique quality that defines them.

On the other side, I completely disagree with anyone who says the new GTO is an instant classic. What an uninspiring piece of crap. A total let down. Now, if you said the Holden Coupe was an instant classic, I would whole-heartedly agree.

skylark64

[upload.wikimedia.org]
number one in any noughties classic list has to be the renault avantime

muhnkee_2

I agree with Crossfire and M Coupe - very unique cars.

I think the CLK63 AMG Black Series will pull some money in the future - neat car.

Anyone think Audi TT's are going to be desirable?

Mrb00st

sheehaneil

dziekiel

LuciferV8

LuciferV8

rkwadd

Volvo R models
VW R32
SVT Focus
Grand Cherokee SRT 8
MB R63 AMG

rkwadd

I think our kids will yell at us for not all buying SRT-4s or Mustangs/Camaros when gas was so cheap. They'll ask why we drove SUVs when we knew they were so bad for the environment and then think about how cool it would be to own an Escalade "now."

They'll marvel at how powerful and fast nearly every car was and wish that a fuel crunch and recession didn't make everyone stop buying big, fast barges like the 300C or the latest Accord, which I bet will be the biggest one they ever make.

Some of their friends might have old, worn out WRXes and Evos that they are trying to make like those old movies about hot rodders, you know, the Fast and the Furious, whatever it was.

They'll laugh when we explain how crappy Chinese cars used to be, that nobody trusted them to make anything other than a flimsy deathbox, unlike the solid and safe Japanese cars.

They'll look at their quiet, streamlined ecopods and wish they had something big and square and noisy, and that their parents didn't make them drive safe, boring modern cars instead.

ZZMarcus

EdFinnerty

actionindex

PD to be

BWHAHAHAHA... classic and I totally agree.

We'll be talking about its ugly a$$ b pilar in the 2070 version too.

denalijb

Instant classic? The last of the last generation M3s. Good looks and great performance.

RS4 avant? Maybe.

EVOs and STIs are strange. I don't see them being collectible per se, but I do see them being a hot ticket amongst tinkerers in 20 years.

Instant collectors/classic: The last of the Vipers. Awesome power, uniquely american and it goes against the grain of society.

Sloop_John_B

warpig

buttons

doctorv8

SuperRad427

I also sincerely hope that the Aztek becomes desirable in the future.

@no_slushbox: The EV-1 already has an intensely devoted following. I had neighbors when I lived in Rochester, NY who had two of them, and spent their free time trying to convince GM not to take them back. They're awesomely futuristic cars, though, and they sound like the Jetsons vehicles.

Paul Y. can't think of a better, shorter handle

acarr260

philledup

Half of the cars mentioned here don't deserve to be classics. There's always "obvious" classics like anything that costs more than $100,000, but 300C? Evos and Subies? Nonsense. There are too many of them and there are nothing special about them.

From the suggestions above, I can see the Honda Insight and maybe the SRT-4 as future classics.

As for me, other than the Brera, CTS Coupe, Citroën C4 and C6, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Smacks, Lancia Thesis, Pontiac Solstice, Renault Laguna Coupé, Seat León Cupra R, VW Scirroco and up!/Lupo, and the usual suspects: sports cars et al.

Parkington

SuperRad427

orangeroller

P161911

I think that there will be future performance cars, but they will be electric. Which will make them very much like the super sanitized Japanese and German gas powered performance cars.

People in the future that want something unique will want cars that obnoxiously wear their internal combustion on their sleeves . The Viper, the F-bodys, 'vettes, and probably the retro muscle cars (Mustang/Camaro/Challenger) will be classics, especially in rare configurations.

The 1st generation hybrids (Prius and Insight) will be very prized collectibles for their forshadowing of the future, and for being rare.

Teslas will be classics, and the couple EV-1s that escape being crushed hidden in a GM exec's garage will be the kind of thing that goes for many millions at Barret-Jackson.

no_slushbox

The Neon based SRT-4 will have the same cult following as the Shelby Chryslers of the 80's. GLH-S, anyone?

The Subaru Baja might gain a small enthusiast group like the BRAT that preceeded it.

The Dodge Magnum will almost certainly become a classic.

And hate me if you must, but the PT Cruiser, and here's why: The retro styling was a hit when it came out, but somewhat ironically became quickly dated. Sales slipped, and only the true fans remained. As these once ubiquitous cars continue their march to the crusher, the few well-kept survivors will become more desirable. (think the original Beetle).

smalleyxb122

TheTooth

The supercharged Cobalt probably won't fare much better.

mytdawg

On a similar note, the Honda Type R Civics could be darlings of Barret Jackson for the same reason. In 2030 when today's Fast and Furious set are looking for midlife crisis cars, an authentic well-preserved Type R might command Yenko Camaro or Hemi Cuda type money. Oddly enough, much like those cars, I see plenty of Type R "clones" (if you can call a base car with a set of badges from Pep Boys
a clone).

Also (and not to harp on Mopar), but the Viper just got a bump in power this year, and last year may be its last. Surely a semi-rare and totally preposterous 600 hp slab of iron will be looked upon fondly in the future.

MarionCobretti

Doggie Daddy runs on gin

First-Generation Toyota Highlander Hybrid (same engine as the current model, but a lighter body; enough torque to outrun a V6 Mustang. Maybe that's not phenomenal, but it'll put up a good fight against the four-bangers of the future)

Current-Generation Lexus GS Hybrid (0-60 in mid to low 5s, if I'm not mistaken; this is NOT what one would expect from a full-size Japanese luxury car)

Pontiac GTO (after the new Camaros become mainstream, nobody's gonna remember, let alone be able to distinguish, these jellybeans from old Grand Ams and the like)

Dodge Ram SRT10 (what will amaze us more in the double-digit-per-gallon-gas-prices future, being beaten off the line by a supercar-powered pickup or the fact that there was once a market for these things?)

I'm sure there are more that just aren't coming to mind at the moment.

Saaj

Okay, so it's more like the oughts' P1800 hatch.

staircar

Picarso

The ZHP 330 coupe is a better, and rarer, car than the E46 M3.

Mjolnir427

Maxichamp a while back had an an excellent idea for a similar QOTD:

“Which 2007 or 2008 model cars would qualify for PCH 30 years from now?”

stu-rock

"My QOTD is: have the oughts produced any timeless classics like this? Exotics don't count."

TheTooth

Lounatic

j6r

diskreet

8yearoldsdude

Sport Compacts:
WRX
Evo
GTI
Pre-Bangle BMWs
Toyota MR-Spyder
Mini Cooper S

V8, RWD Touring:
Chrysler LX cars
GTO and G8
CTS-V
E39 M5

Alterna-classics:
Tesla
Prius (1st-gens will be super rare)

Honorable Mention:
Cummins-powered Dodge trucks

(basically a list of cars I'd be happy to own)

Back to work...

Mad_Science

Maymar the technophobe

8yearoldsdude

Lounatic

jnostalgics

@Hot_Carl: Once again, last of the best, the 1996 Impala SS is a classic in-waiting.

Dr.Danger, Hasta la victoria siempre!

Unregular

Neon SRT-4, because ugly little shit boxes with sick modding potential always seem to make a comeback and most of those are being killed early.

00-02 SS/WS6 F-bodies.

If you can find one, near stock "Terminator" Mustangs.

Mjolnir427

wookie1901

Lounatic

Obviously, anything fast has classic potential, although I see the Neon SRT-4 as a standout.

And, on account of their potential endangerment, any of the new-age land yachts, Suburbans, Expeditions, etc.

Maymar the technophobe

DWMILLER

rkwadd

That car captured my attention when I was in high school, and is still holding it today as I work up to a point when I might actually be able to purchase one. I don't even know why that particular car is my favourite... maybe it's 'x' factor, or perhaps it's the shooting brake part of the equation.

JoeKing

P161911

Aston Martins, all (zenith would be the Vanquish)

Saturn Skye (definitely over the Pontiac Soltice)

Second the motions on the JCW* MINIs, Spyker, Zonda, and Maserati GS**

* Not J.C. Whitney
**Is it just me or does Maserati alternately design the ugliest and and best looking cars?

SeanKHotay

that's like answering with "Escalade"

Unregular

Unregular

Lounatic

Good call on the Prius as the first popular hybrid. They'll be really quaint and odd when that technology is left in the dust.

TheTooth

rkwadd

Not only is it very rare, but it's got to be the most unique luxury cars to come out in the past decade.

Jagvar

MustaineGT

Oh, trust me, it won't be a trailer queen, knowing him.

Ash78

Braff is Thad Longlove

If you live on the right continent there is no other attainable modern automobile that a glance at will hasten heartbeats, buckle knees, and rip your eyes out (sorry to steal your eupimism Feds).

EdFinnerty

brownie

reefer

workingonyourinvoice

Braff is Thad Longlove

Braff is Thad Longlove

-Chrysler 300C.
-90's Impalas.
-BMW M Hatchback. (Or whatever they called it).
-Those full-size Chevy Blazers made for a while in the 90's.

---> 2008 CTS!

Hot_Carl

tenbeers

om nom de plume

Update: since I posted that, I just found out my boss sold his MINI autocrosser and picked up a mint 1999 M Coupe with ALL the Dinan goodies (exhaust, CAI, strut brace) and some aftermarket suspension bits. Cherry red. He's driving to Charlotte to trailer it home this weekend!

Can't wait to get behind the wheel.

Ash78

nick2ny

kungfo

HIDGolf

Unregular

Also, the Pontiac Aztek, in the same vein that Pacers and Gremlins are making a resurgance. Someday a freakishly low-miles preserved Aztek with the Rally option will go for millions at Barrett-Jackson, and we'll lament the soon-to-explode market on FutureOpnik.

bzr