Welcome to the ‘gist.

Hi it’s Anthony and this is the ‘gist. Today I’m going to share some of my hums & haws from all of the year-end racket coming out of car world.

2025: The Year Car Culture Gets Stronger

We’ve seen every automotive outlet wax poetic this past month about the state of the collector car industry moving forward. There are really two important takeaways that you should know:

• Even with prices coming back down to earth from 2022’s lunatic highs and speak of a massive “cool off”, 43.7% of cars tracked by Hagerty in their Price Index still posted gains. That’s a huge amount of cars. 25.7% went down in value, so for those of you doing the math, about 30.6% stayed the same. That doesn’t sound like a cool off to me, and points to the evolving interest within the marketplace.

• Earlier last year, Hagerty also conducted a “Future Of Driving” survey where they polled Gen-Zs & Millennials on what they thought about cars and driving. A staggering 60% of Gen-Zs said they want to own a collector car at some point in their lives and 77% of them said they loved driving. That is a great indication for enthusiasm around the hobby and where it’s headed.

The issue is that as prices for enthusiast cars go up and more entrants come into the fold, the less opportunities there will be for young fans to participate in the hobby as owners. I see a lot of content speaking to “affordable” collector cars and the list starts with a $30K S2000. That isn’t an affordable collector car for a Gen-Z, but thankfully, there are tons of accessible entry-points into enthusiast ownership which will help get young buyers into the game.

Gen-Zs & Millennials represent over a quarter of the market (and growing), so interest in entry-level collector cars is set to increase as well, not to mention the glitzier poster cars this cohort grew up with.

Having said all this, here’s my “buy” list across multiple strata— main criteria are fun, maybe a bit off-beat, and a decent chance of at least maintaining value (all prices $USD). I hope there’s something here for you in 2025, no matter your price range.

<$15,000

Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA) — It goes without saying that the NA Miata is the benchmark if you’re looking to get into your first reasonably-priced collector car. Despite so many being built, at least half of them have been oxidized into the earth and another quarter stanced, leaving not a huge amount of good ones left. These cars will always have a market and have proven to capture generations worth of enthusiast attention over the years. The NA Miata is the ideal gateway into low-frills sports car ownership, point finale.

Suzuki Cappuccino — I’m a sucker for Japanese kei cars of yore and these are my pick of the “big(/little) three”, the other two of course being the Honda Beat & Autozam AZ-1. Sure, there are some ride-on lawnmowers that are more powerful, but a car that weighs less than 1,600lbs will teach you a thing or two about dynamics and momentum driving on a tight backroad. The choose-your-own-adventure benefit of running it as a coupe, targa, or roadster is a nice touch as well.

Glory-Days Hot Hatches — There’s nothing more Euro than driving a ’90s French hatchback, which is (ever so) slowly becoming a thing in North America, and for good reason— still cheap, different, and a total blast, how else are you going to get into a homologation special for under $10-15K landed? The Renault Clio (from the Williams all the way up to the 182), various flavors of Peugeot 106/205/306, and maybe to a lesser extent, the Citroën Saxo VTR, are very much niche interest vehicles here but iconic in their own right. These cars have been enjoying a renaissance in Europe and other parts of the world for some time now. As collectors, especially young ones, become more discerning and seek out more idiosyncratic choices, we might see these popping up on our shores. Four-wheeled fun doesn’t get cheaper than this. A white 106 Rallye S1 would be in my garage if I had a (tiny) bit more space.

Suzuki Samurai (SJ413) — Another Suzuki! While I’m not a truck guy, the mini-D90 vibes and robust off-road characteristics of these scaled down cute ‘utes is charming and practical for someone looking to get versatile use out of a fun, cheap collector car. Just leave yourself a couple miles of room if you ever need to pass someone on a two-lane road.

Toyota MR2 Spyder (W30) — The erm, “tit” to the Miata’s “tat”, the MR2 Spyder is an interesting way to do the roadster thing without getting a Miata… and maybe for the better? You get fabulous mid-engine dynamics, a relatively buzzy motor, a snick-snick manual gearbox, and Toyota reliability (minus the known pre-cat issue, which should be rectified by now). I don’t know why these aren’t more lauded than they are, but maybe it’s because you can get into a 986 Boxster for similar money… 

Mini Cooper S (R53) — Another hatch to round out the category is the first-gen Cooper S. Considering how much fun can be squeezed out of them, they are still widely available for well under $15K. Getting into an example with the spicier John Cooper Works package is also very doable at this price-point, the limited edition GP not so much. If you can deal with the 2000s nostalgia-bomb looks, there is a backroads giant-slayer waiting in the wings for you here.

<$25,000

A lot of the cars below also fit into the category above if you’re willing to be patient or don’t mind getting into an example that you’re able to DIY & give a little TLC to.

Porsche Boxster S (986) — The first-gen Boxster has endured image issues over the years, but that’s okay because a new generation of enthusiasts are breathing new energy into these great cars. $15K will still get you into a decent non-S with some miles and for that you get one of the slickest chassis in the sports car world, period. The 986 rocked the establishment and it still seems to illicit mixed emotions from anoraks who have probably never driven one. But that’s okay, because it’s a genuinely incredible all-round sports car with great handling, creamy power delivery, composed ride quality, and wow… luggage space. I would go for an S for the extra power and beefier brakes, but not totally essential. 

Volkswagen Corrado — With values of its older MkII GTI sibling sailing off into the distance, the beautiful and distinctive Corrado is another icon that is sure to enter the hallowed shrine of highly revered vehicles. Despite sharing underpinnings with other family members, the squat Karmann-produced bodywork differentiated itself enough from “lesser” Golfs, attaining its own cult-like status within VW circles. Supercharged G60s can still be had for well under $25K, but if it’s a minty VR6 you’re after with that addictive intake howl, now would be the time to buy…

Jaguar XJR (X308) — If you’re looking for something a bit more anachronistic, these cars make for an interesting choice that have largely been lost in time. I’ve purposely placed them here in the sub-$25K category as I wouldn’t want to relegate any of you to shoddy white elephant $10K examples. $20K can buy you a really nice one with peak end-of-era looks and a sumptuous baby-Bentley interior. Did I mention the 370hp/387lb-ft torque from the 4.0L supercharged AJ-V8? These car feel like they could pull a stump out of the ground with very little effort. They represented a very different approach to the sports-sedan formula in its day than say its rival, the E39 BMW M5. Consider it a more plush, stylish alternative with genuine curb appeal.

$25,000-50,000

Options in this segment are plentiful, especially if you’re looking for a ’90s/‘00s Bavarian with an M badge. Apart from the “gold standard” BMWs, there are many other interesting things to try…

Lotus Elise (S2) — Disclaimer: I own one. If you treat it as a device meant for a weekly 1-2 hour fix then this is the car for you. Don’t complicate things by bringing practicality into the mix. The Elise is the single-shot espresso to the S2000’s cortado. For all of its mini-supercar attributes they still somehow get overlooked, but its capabilities as a performance car punch so high above its weight it’s almost unbelievable. Once you try one, it usually leaves most other cars for dead. There’s a guy in Lotus circles with 30-something cars in his collection who says the only road car more entertaining than his Elise is his F40— you can get into an Elise for 1/100th the price. Enough said.

Honda S2000 — While the Elise is the better driving tool, if you rather lean Japanese and want a few creature-comforts in your life then the S2000 is a fantastic car. Mechanically, it has one of the best gearshifts in the industry paired with a sizzling four-banger that begs to be revved out. Sharp styling is something equal parts dressed up as it is sporty, and has aged rather gracefully. Whether you go AP1 or AP2 is up to you but either way the S2000 is a well-dialed package. Like its bigger NSX brother, it has achieved cult-like status reflective of its longterm appeal.

Porsche Cayman S (987) — As above with the 986 but dialled up thanks to the extra power and rigidity afforded by the tin-top. The 987 has really come of age. With the right combo of colours, suspension, and wheels, it is one of the most handsome packages to emerge from Porsche in the water-cooled era. Lets be real: something just shy of 300hp is all you really need in a sports car and when its mated to a chassis as delectable as the 987’s it doesn’t really leave you wanting for more. Its more hardcore Cayman R & Boxster Spyder brethren are also highly slept on and represent great value in the world of special Porsches, but will still set you back a bunch more cash. While they make sense if you’re looking at things from a pure collectability standpoint, a 987 is meant to be a driver’s car and at half the price of those, a Cayman S really is a bargain.

Audi RS4 (B7) — The first RS4 to officially reach our shores (in sedan-form only) got a high-winding V8 that eventually took pride of place in the original R8. With a slick manual gearbox, AWD, and built by Quattro GmbH, this was always going to be a future collectable. This car really put BMW on the back-foot and demanded they up their game— they clearly got the message, having countered with the E90/E92 M3. A decade-and-a-half later, those widened fenders and raucous V8 are no less sweet. The other upside to these is that they make a great choice for an everyday usable collector car. I would go for a Rest-of-World spec Avant model with the optional Recaro buckets, which unfortunately remains forbidden fruit in America for another seven years, but the sedan is nothing to sneeze at.

$50,000-100,000

Again, there are lots of options in this category, but if you’re leaning towards the slightly unorthodox, there might be something here in the first two… 

Audi RS4 (B5) — If you live in America and can’t wait those seven years to get your hands on a B7 RS4 Avant as above… you’re in luck! Audi diehards have counted down 25 long years for the previous-gen B5 RS4 to be eligible for importation in the US, which is arguably the coolest car to ever come out of Ingolstadt. Yes the RS2 which came five years before is widely recognized as the pinnacle, but to me the B5 RS4 is the grandaddy of the Audi range and is really where Quattro GmbH hit its stride with a series production car. Fast wagons have developed their own brand of cult classic and in that I think the RS4 represents a sub-culture all its own, which begins here. 375hp/325lb-ft torque from a twin-turbo V6 was eyeball-popping in 1998, and after driving one recently, it still feels it today. There’s a certain allure and rarity to these cars that just screams “special”.

Renault Sport Clio V6 — The spiritual successor to the venerable R5 Turbo had big shoes to fill, and Renault’s skunkworks division were determined to create something no less insane in this pocket poltergeist. UK-based Tom Wilkinshaw Racing (TWR) aided in the development and were tasked with stuffing a breathed-on version of the 3.0L V6 from an Avantime where the rear seats would normally be. Much like the R5 Turbo, the Clio V6 is so weird that it could not not be collectible one day. Yes the Swedish-built Phase 1 models were noted for their tricky handling, but Dieppe-built Phase 2 versions (yes, they switched factories mid-production) are known to have somewhat remedied the pendulum-like character caused by its layout. Just under 3,000 cars were built between 2001-2005. Early Phase 1 cars began production in 2000, which means they are now eligible for US importation. We love weird cars, and the Clio V6 is up there in the pantheon of one of the strangest sports cars ever.

Acura NSX (NA1/2) — The NSX is an obvious pick in this segment and its enduring appeal has cemented itself amongst some of the greatest cars of all time. Depending on what you’re after, an early driver with high miles can still be had in the lower-end of this zone. Prices can then go stratospheric for face-lifted end-of-line ’02-’05 models, which from an investment standpoint are the ones to get outside of an NSX-R. But for me, it’s the original coupe with pop-ups that is most iconic. A Zanardi is in my Top 10 all time… 

$100,000+

Once you’ve reached this echelon, there’s a good chance you’re speculating to some extent. Without stating the requisite Diablos, 355s, et al, the cars I think are poised for serious longterm upside are still surprisingly niche considering the manufacturers they come from…

Porsche 911 Turbo (964/3.3) — While 964 headlines have been dominated by RS cars and Singer conversions for the better part of the last 5-7+ years, it’s surprising to me that not more is said of the Turbo. Okay yes, the Bad Boys connection is deeply lodged into the cultural consciousness, and all of the exotic varietals of 3.6, Flachbau, X50, etc. have mooned… thus making my point and leaving the original 3.3 largely in the shadows. The 3.3 is interesting as its M30/69 motor was largely a carry-over from the previous-gen 930. Many Porschephiles actually prefer it for its old-school character compared to the later 3.6s. With only 3,660 3.3s made and lineage dating back to the legendary 935, these have the makings of a bonafide classic. I think it’s important to note that the 964 also represents the last generation of 911 to wear the “Turbo” badge that was available exclusively in RWD. The 993 was revolutionary in that it brought twin-turbo & AWD tech carried over from the 959, paving the way for the 911 Turbo as we know it today: an extraordinarily capable turret that you can also pickup groceries in. But what’s interesting about the 964 Turbo is that it pre-dated a bit of that raw “GT2” edge, to make a modern analogy. There’s a very convincing appeal here that I think bodes well for the overall collectability of these cars.

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera — Audi’s “baby Lambo” was a resounding success for the brand and largely turned around Lamborghini’s fortunes in the mid-2000s into what it is today. Despite how many of the original pre-facelift (’04-’08) Gallardos were made, the first SL was a very rare car, with only 172 produced for the US-market. And of those 172 made, how many were twin-turbo’d into oblivion back in the Heffner and UGR days? Manuals are basically non-existent unless you want to pony up some serious cash, so it’ll have to be an E-Gear. This was a car that was released while Porsche was only still assessing the North American viability for its hardcore 997.1 GT3 RS, following Ferrari’s success stoking the fire with the 360 Challenge Stradale in 2003. Even BMW didn’t think that its track-focused CSL variant of the E46 M3 would appeal to buyers on our shores. Without the motorsports pedigree of Ferrari and Porsche, the SL was a risky offering for Lamborghini and the numbers are commensurate with that. However, with interest in early-model Gallardos increasing and for what the Gallardo represents in the history of Lamborghini, that limited supply is a bellwether for future collectability.

Porsche 911 GT3 (996)— Two Porsches in the category, I know! But since the great divide in Pcarland is air-vs-water cooled, we have to include both, right? Again, I’m personally biased here as I type this with a Japanese-market 996.1 Clubsport in the garage. However, these historic beasts are due to get credit soon as enthusiasm for the GT3 seems unwaning and the lineage begins right here. Solid Mk2s can still be had for under $100K and Mk1 versions are now hitting 25 and eligible for US importation. The latter were the only GT3s built by Porsche’s Motorsports division in Weissach, which should overshadow the (now mundane) discussion around fried egg headlamps. Real talk is that any 996 provides an incredible entryway into 911 ownership, but to trace the roots of a legendary nameplate and motorsports success back to here is undeniable at this point. I’ve been unearthing some old magazines and in evo’s “Car of the Decade” issue (#066), the 996.1 GT3 placed behind only the 550 Maranello (one of the greatest modern-day Ferraris) and the Pagani Zonda C12S (now a €10M+ car). Not bad.

Upcoming

We’ll be travelling a ton this year to soak in some great car events. Getting on the road also seems as good a time as any to meet fellow Garagists, so feel free to hit me up: [email protected]

• 🇬🇧 London @ Southside Hustle — February 2nd

• 🇫🇷 Paris @ Rétromobile — February 4th-5th

• 🇺🇸 Miami @ MODA — March 1st-2nd

• 🇺🇸 L.A. @ Air|Water — April 26th

Moment of Zen

It’s 1998, you’re at Barnes & Noble and pickup the latest issue of duPont Registry. Thumbing through the pages your eye lands on something… a $324K F40, you say? You look up from the page… they’d probably take 300, with a cheeky smirk 😏

Until next!