What's the predictions of the MR2's value rising in years to

Mike G · January 7, 2011, 20:53

I'm slightly surprised the MGF prices are on a par with other cars , because they really are a horrible sack of rubbish in all but looks IMO.......... but it goes to strengthen the arguement I made earlier in this thread , that if its a 2 seater roadster it will pretty much always be cherished by someone.
In the case of the MGF just not me , sorry you MGF lovers

widermuller · January 7, 2011, 21:48

Until recently the 'classic car movement' was not particuarly kind to Japanese classics, thankfully this attitude has changed, as I believe it has with motorbikes, the first car what got accepted was the Toyota 2000gt from the mid to late 60's which is considered to be Japan's first supercar, the next was the Datsun 240 z, then... wait for it. The Mk 1 Mr2 Japan's first mid-engined car.
In fact, some of those 70's and 80's Japanese cars even the boring saloons are extremely rare, (but sadly not worth a lot) thanks in part to import restrictions at the time and their ability to rot! Which brings me back to the roadster as what was recently revealed on this very site a figure of just over 14 thousand were imported, sounds alot? but you could certainly knock off A few thousand already off that figure, I bet, taking into account, write offs, ones that get converted into kit cars, it will get worse soon, as ones will get written off so easily by insurance companies and at currently dropping values, some people if 'not in the know' or stash spares in the loft, will scrap the car if its un-economic to repair. If you don't believe there 'dropping like flies' look at all the stuff on ebay! Unfortunately 2 other things that can infuence prices as a 'classic' are not applicable to the roadster is: If the car, when in production was raced or rallied, again the average joe in the street won't know that the roadster was raced in Japan in the gt3000 series. The other is used in a film or tv series unless anyone knows diffrent! As much as it things in its favour, I just cannot see a sudden increase in value yet, but I think you should hang on to it! In the short term and I mean in the next 10-15 years, if people start paying serious money for tidy MK 1's this will have a 'knock on' effect on values for MK2 and MK3's so what this means if you can't afford a MK1 you buy a mark 2, this has happened with MK 1 AND MK 2 Escorts look on Pistonheads to see what their making!

K T M Rider · January 7, 2011, 23:23

On the basis that classic status = rising prices, then we need to consider what makes a classic car?

(yes I do recognise some of you already have)

the author of this:

m http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/29/what ... assic-car/ m

seems to have spent a bit of time thinking about it and I think has come up with quite a simple and elegant definition:

a car that retains its appeal after it is no longer produced

Surely the mid-engined layout of all MR2s therefore makes them potential future classics (based on the above definition and indeed the author lists Toyota MR2 as a PFC ), although albeit not necessarily particularly valuable ones.

I think the Mk1 is already a classic of sorts & certainly far more valuable than a similar vintage 2.0 Carina that cost about the same new, whereas the Mk2s current wider appeal is greatly lessened by all the chav/max powered versions.

Compared to the earlier cars the Roadster has two natural advantages (it's a convertible - which must count for something when orrible snot like ragtop Rover 216s can command upto two grand on Autotrader) and it has much more timeless styling.

Anonymous · January 7, 2011, 23:45

I recently parked next to a 52 plate MG rag top at my local B&Q and I must admit I swelled with pride when I compared the styling/build of the two and I thought to myself I hope the MG owner comes out and realises what a P.O.S he bought! s:D

s:D

mrzwei · January 8, 2011, 00:13

As an ex MGF owner (duck, I wrote it off but got a really good valuation), the difference is in the name and pedigree of the brand MG. The very powerful owners club will ensure the future of the model regardless because they can afford to. It actually drives and performs (in VVC form) very well. I looked for another and stumbled upon the MR2. The technology (SMT so I know many will disagree) put the 2 in a different league, plus the F looks too heavy on the rear quarters. It did have a bit of a boot though and the K series engine problems are long recognised and overcome. All in all I still prefer the 2.

K T M Rider · January 8, 2011, 00:48

As with so many other things the brand image apparently matters more than the quality of the product.

So amongst current classic car boresnobs, MGF is no doubt the 'better' car on account of the badge, yawn.

Thing is though, once the older generations with their fond memories of the MGA/B/C etc. start dying off, you will be left with a generation who identify with japanese performance cars alot more than old british leyland relics.

time was when A Triumph or Norton motorcycle were considered classics, a Yamaha or Suzuki weren't. Today you could easily pay more for a mid - eighties Yamaha or Suzuki 2 stroke than for a sixties Triumph.

Why?

'cos there's alot of middle aged blokes out there who would kill for an RD or RG500 (myself included), whereas alot of the blokes who lusted after 60's Triumphs are now getting to an age where a stairlift might be more appealing.

Fatbloater · January 8, 2011, 10:10

Very good point.

I mean who'd have thought a Mk2 Escort would now be a classic. Or a Mk1 Fiesta. Its purely because they're cars from our (or at least my era).

I think the main thing for us is if MR2 Roaster was ever classed as a classic we could get cheap insurance s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:
I'm surprised Mk1's aren't already listed under classic status TBH.

I remember as a 17 year old being quoted £300 fully comp for an MGBGT on classic insurance.
Fortunately my father is a mechanic and veto'd the purchase advising it'd be forever on the back of an AA truck.
Instead I bought a Mk2 Escort, insurance was £700 third party which was....forever on the back of an AA truck s:crazyeyes: :crazyeyes: s:crazyeyes: Oh how I laughed.

Anonymous · January 8, 2011, 13:18

Look at this from this view point-I wanted a two seater convertible. I started looking around and saw there was a lot of good things being said about Miata's. I looked and drove a few, but even after finding a well maintained, well priced mint condition, low mileage one I just wasn't jazzed by it. I started looking at z3's, a little more money and higher costs to maintain, but I thought they looked cool. I looked at other two seater cars and keep in mind I am not a car buff, collector or expert when it comes to cars, I just wanted a two seater convertible. I happened to see a 2000 MR2 Spyder for sale. I didn't know what it was or who manufactured it, I just thought it was cool looking. I read up on it in one afternoon, I heard they were reliable, got good MPG and were FUN TO DRIVE. After a test drive I bought it.
Little did I know how much I would come to enjoy driving it and looking at it. No, it's not a rare classic, but to me it's becoming one!

Monty

freak_in_cage · January 12, 2011, 20:41

No way will it be a classic- way too many of them around

Just enjoy it for what it is s:)

s:)

Mike G · January 12, 2011, 21:17

Quote from: "freak_in_cage"No way will it be a classic- way too many of them around

Just enjoy it for what it is s:) s:)

Someone probably once said that about the Escort

inert2k3 · January 12, 2011, 21:30

Yeah but its the mk1 Escort thats worth anything now.

So does that mean its the mk1 MR2 that will become valuable? I can't see the mk3 Escort ever becoming a classic and I reckon the same will go for the mk3 MR2.

Just enjoy it s:D

s:D

Mike G · January 12, 2011, 22:39

Quote from: "inert2k3"Yeah but its the mk1 Escort thats worth anything now.

So does that mean its the mk1 MR2 that will become valuable? I can't see the mk3 Escort ever becoming a classic and I reckon the same will go for the mk3 MR2.

Just enjoy it s:D s:D

s:? :? s:? s:? :? s:? s:? :? s:?

K T M Rider · January 12, 2011, 22:49

unless you can agree what defines a classic, it all just descends into a pointless argument. I would consider a Mk3 Escort RS Turbo to be a 'classic' already, presumably others consider it still won't be in 30 years time s:? :? s:?

Either way, these two on Autotrader are £6000 & £6800, so presumably enough people think they are worth hanging onto, rather than recycling them into kitchen appliances.

m http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p m

m http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p m

or how about a Mk4 RS Turbo for just under £10k?

m http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p m

Quote from: "Mike G"
Quote from: "freak_in_cage"No way will it be a classic- way too many of them around

Just enjoy it for what it is s:) s:)
Someone probably once said that about the Escort

Yup.

and something tells me that Escorts were slightly more common than MR2 Roadsters s:)

s:)

loadswine · January 13, 2011, 07:28

Those escort turbos are probably only expensive as they are now fairly scarce, mainly because they were the ride of choice for so many joy riders stealing them back in the day. At the time, not a patch on a 205 GTi, but now scarce as so many were chavved to death. So I'm guessing that's what has made those worth a bit more, plus the tag of performance ford which has survived, usually does the trick.
Nobody is going to find out the actual way the Roadster is going to go for many years, though if I had to put my money on any of them, it would be the pre facelift with original engine and precats as they may be in more limited supply.

Don of Croy · January 13, 2011, 10:21

Well I'm hoping it does go classic - be the first car I've ever owned that would appreciate, maybe?

When looking at this market I seriously considered a Z3 (as I already have a 325) or the MR2. I'm hoping the MR2 will be more reliable and cheaper to run than a Z (even with SMT). Although a 3 litre Z3 would be fun...MGF's are also too plentiful and there are too many horror stories (although I've had Rover's of the 1990's which were the best cars I've ever run reliability-wise). MGF's do look pretty though.

More importantly, there are just too many MX5's around and although I am sure it is a worthy car, it just does not light my candle (also the 02 - 08 model has 'quarter lights' on the doors which look too 1960's and smack of limited design - and if they compromise there where else?).

The MR2 seems to embody more thought and technological prowess - esp. SMT - at a budget price. But can a Toyota ever be a classic? Lexus - yes. Honda - yes. Nissan - yes. Subaru + Mitsubishi - yes. Well, given time why not?

In the meantime I'm just going to enjoy it. And try not to analyse it too much.

E · January 13, 2011, 11:17

Quote from: "Don of Croy"also the 02 - 08 model has 'quarter lights' on the doors which look too 1960's and smack of limited design - and if they compromise there where else?.

Drifting from the topic a bit but I hate to tell you this but quarter lights is one thing that our car should have, you will find that a lot of members have bought Mongos for their car to fix the lack of quarter lights as they serve to greatly reduce the battering you get from the cross wind when driving with the roof and windows down.

Don of Croy · January 13, 2011, 17:04

quote="E"]you will find that a lot of members have bought Mongos for their car to fix the lack of quarter lights as they serve to greatly reduce the battering you get from the cross wind when driving with the roof and windows down.[/quote]

- but that would destroy the aesthetics and therefore render any enjoyment null and void!

Mike G · January 13, 2011, 19:36

SPOT ON !! Don of Croy The one thing I was glad to be rid of from the asthetic point of view from all the other roadsters I have owned were the ugly quarter lights. A car looks 100 % better side on with just the windsreen sloping towards you, I would nt fit those Mongo things if you gave them to me and paid me into the bargain. I alawys envied the Boxster owners before I got one myself that they were quarter light free.
Why do people always hanker after wind blockers and quarter lights to stop back draughts and cross winds ? Its a bloody drop top....its meant to be open air ! By virtue of the fact that the 2 can have a stubby bonnet, long widscreen and relatively big door ....it means ALL the window can retract into the door itself.
If you look about , theres not that many cars can offer that, we're lucky

loadswine · January 13, 2011, 19:45

If you'd travelled across Europe for 10 consecutive days top down all the time, you might see the use for them, the small ones are unobtrusive and very effective. s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Mike G · January 13, 2011, 20:01

What I would have preffered to see then would have been some small black (or body colour) triangular plastic mounts in the quarter light area and the door mirror moved off the door skin and up onto them. That would have killed 2 birds with one stone ....less buffeting and door mirrors where they look best IMO

widermuller · January 13, 2011, 20:20

A point with the Escorts, basically the prices of the origional mk3 series 1 Escort RS turbo (aka 'white charger') and to an extent the MK4 are being driven by the prices, and unaffordability by most people of the origional 'whale tail' RS Sierra both standard and in RS 500 format. Ford RS brand has a massive following, spares support, specialists, etc. These Escorts did'nt exactly have much in the way of race or rally history. However in RS circles the concours scene, is as with alot of Ford clubs very important and youngsters can get into it with the Escorts because they're still cheap. The concours scene, thats something we don't really have in the japanese car scene...yet

Some Fords, considering they are not bespoke sportscars are currently making good money for example a 'mint' concours show winning Sierra RS 500 can set you back over 30k+ but they have to be 100% origional so collectors will be interested, and low milage helps!

Personally I'd be happy with a nice s:D

s:D 2.6 turbo, wide bodied, Mitsibishi Starion in mint condition from that era!