5 Cars From The 90s That Have Appreciated in Value

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kingr
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5 Cars From The 90s That Have Appreciated in Value

Post by kingr »

While of course the oohs and aahs abound over current annual upgrades and new, modern cars’ performance, the real test of whether something was truly a great motoring achievement, is measured by time. Time, and a demonstrably growing market value to the present day. We all know that cars slowly lose value, unless they are deemed collector’s items, destined to be the antiquities of the future. Very few older standard production cars have actually gained in value, as measured by current open market sales.

That said, here follow five such models that have, over the last few decades, bucked the trend and remain sought-after as exceptional vehicles. Occupying the top echelons of the classic car assembly in South Africa, these five beauties have defied typical aging dictates by virtue of their exceptional design, performance, or just overall driving pleasure.

  • Opel 200 GSI-16V "Superboss"

Warning: the Opel Superboss was never designed to be mixed with tequila, and that bullet shape and the sweet power its engineers threw under the hood really come together when you put your foot down on the pedal. Although the arguments between Superboss owners and then-model Golf GTI (jumbo) owners continue to this day, it’s sufficient to say this car really is a speeding bullet, and its acceleration and glide can still be alarming for newcomers.

Probably made most famous as the car of choice of Group N Saloon Car Championship racer Mike Briggs, this model pushed the term “standard production” to new heights when it was released. The car won the Group N or “Showroom Class” championship three years in a row. Manufactured between 1990 and 1994, the Superboss was an exclusively South African development of the standard Opel Kadett, and only 244 were ever made. Although gaining a reputation as somewhat stripped and also exhibiting the occasional rattle, the haste with which Delta Motors put the Superboss together resulted in a super-fast beast, with loads of growl and lightning speed.

Today it’s quite obvious that the Superboss helped give rise to modern, front-wheel, smoking hot hatches like the Renault Megane R26 and even the Mini Cooper GP. Extremely rare at the time, the Superboss shares a limited slip differential with modern performance front wheel drive hatches. Coupled with a lower ratio final drive too, the car simply became the last word on unashamed speed and delight when released.

A new price from 1992 sat around R68 178, while current prices for a Superboss hover around R125 000. Many times buyers will find that the owner has turbo-charged their Superboss, making a stock- standard one even more desirable.

  • BMW 325iS

Even among Beemer nuts, the “Gusheshe” is known as a classic BMW, and there is a dedicated following here in South Africa who think it was the best car ever made in the world, period. The “S” in the model name stands for 'Shadowline,' and although the interior design of modern cars will make the 325iS seemed a little cramped in the footwell, it’s driving comfort and performance remain pronounced.

Big-picture, panoramic views when seated in the 325iS hark back to an era before drivers became tucked away behind glass bubbles. Also, this BMW still has the overall solid, powerfully “heavy” feel of a modern sedan, and 7.5 seconds to 100kph remains scary for a car almost 30 years old. If you’re used to the highly responsive, sharp braking systems of modern luxury sedans, the Gushesh’s ever so slight delay will take some getting used to, but the overall engineering comes together in a very speedy, comfortable performance drive, short or long distance.

With a top end around 230kph, this BMW handles remarkably well, and you’ll have to really chuck it into corners if you want to feel a bit of sideways movement coming out of chicanes. Far from a pared-down version of a racer, however, overall comfort and a remarkably smooth ride over rough surfaces comes standard with the 325iS. The Gusheshe is one of those cars that seem to defy the passage of time by manifesting an overall driving experience highly reminiscent of today’s modern sedans. The engine purrs, the undercarriage assembly makes the car stable and steady in fast corners, and the classic statement this car makes remains undeniable, decades after release.

With most of the old 1990s models of both Mercedes and BMW having passed into oblivion, the 325iS is reminiscent of one or two earlier Mercedes hatchback models, namely still remarkably attractive and persistently desirable, in spite of the passage of time. When out shopping for this classic, be aware of DIY mods and other attempts to tweak performance, rather look for a standard model that hasn’t been fiddled with by a petrolhead!

Selling for around R105,000 new, between 1990 and 1992 when the car was manufactured, an average current market price sits around R150,000.

  • Porsche 911 Turbo (964)

Remember young Will Smith styling in his sports car in the first Bad Boys movie? This is that car - the Porsche 964 - although remember only Will’s Hollywood model can really dodge a volley of bullets being fired at it in a high-speed chase!

The Porsche 911 has become known as the ultimate do-it-all sports car, and this older model 964 is no different. Very capable on track and road, and highly usable as a daily-driver too. This Porsche goes like the clappers, has a gravity-defying ground-hugging ability, and leads with its nose at all times. New owners typically take a while to get used to not waiting for the tail swing coming out of fast corners - there is none. With not even a hint that something might come back at you when pushing through the last bend, the car powers ahead on an extremely solid base. With such superb handling and raw power, it’s also the fact that this model maintains both a classic and modern style to it that has made it such a desirable item.

Frequently accused of having invented time travel, the designers who developed the 964’s integrated bumpers and fat wheel arches latched onto design aspects that persist to this day, and on the inside this model will surprise you too. A driver’s airbag, luxury finishes and remarkably successful aircon all round off a previous global focus on comfort at speed. While today’s sports cars can be brutally hard on poorer surfaces, this Porsche was a more savvy, cosmopolitan offer, performing as quick and fast, but still extremely cushioned and comfortable. The 964 remains one of the cushiest sports cars you can buy.

The turbo really bites from second gear onwards, and the 964 has no problem competing with sports cars half its age. The engine is a tweaked version of the same 3.3lt 235kW powerhouse that drove the earlier 1980s Porsche 930 Turbo to glory and, again, this model represents a moment in motoring history where engineers made something truly out of time. Nothing in modern motoring has yet emerged to make the 964 obsolete in any sense.

Interested? Want to see if you can pick up one of these beauties on the local market? Well, steel yourself for some aggressive inflation and good hunting, as from a 1991 - 1993 price around R499,125, the Porsche 964 has experienced crazy market sentiment, nowadays selling for around R2,295,000. This, in itself, speaks volumes about the sweet spot struck by Porsche engineers in the early 90s.

  • Lancia Integrale 2.0 16V Turbo

One could say that the Lancia Integrale 2.0 16V Turbo is a car that needs getting used to, in order to really find the excitement in it, but then one could say the same for Lancia overall, as a general rule. That said, this car doesn’t ask that you compromise on performance or comfort, packing 149kW and 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, this is high performance hatchback that’s not for the faint hearted. The alcantara interior adds a touch of sophistication and the driver-focussed cockpit hints that this is a car that needs to be driven. Not the ideal car for everyone, you’ll know what matters to you if you ever test-drive one of these little sprinters, as the classic composition of performance, handling and comfort is readily identifiable in any Lancia.

Although many insist it’s best owned as a weekend sprinter, at least as many maintain that even as a daily runaround, they could not imagine sitting in anything else. Considering this was billed as a “family hatchback” by the Italians when they made the car, this car can be the most fun the “family” has on four wheels! Never sluggish, the 2.0 16V Turbo model is fitted with larger injectors, a more responsive Garrett T3 turbocharger and an upgraded intercooler.

This Lancia model can best be described as granting a certain smug satisfaction of driving a classic older car that yet outperforms most things on today’s roads. The first generation was launched around 1980 and persisted to 1994, dominating the World Rally Championship up until the early 90s.

A new price taken straight out of Wiel Magazine of 1992 sat at R184 000, while this model in good condition hovers around R250.000 today..

  • VW Golf 2 GTI 16V Executive


Image

The Gold 2 GTI is widely feted as the Golf that finally eliminated South Africa’s perceptions of a Golf as a good “second car” option, and rather established the Golf as a first-choice alternative to more typical sedans of the time. The quality of build, the interior space and the drive comfort - apart from the gut-wrenching performance - all helped to establish the Golf GTI legend in South Africa. It’s hard to imagine now, with Polos dominating and Golfs a mainstream desire in the modern SA marketplace, but this model GTI from the early 90s really allowed Volkswagen to establish the Golf as a first-choice vehicle for many local motorists.

Known as the “big bumper” version to enthusiasts, a well-maintained model will still give the kind of gear-shift fluidity and raw power expected from a modern sporty hatch. Fitted with a K-jetronic mechanical fuel injection system, cable shift gearbox, full leather seats and electric windows, this was the pinnacle of the Golf 2 triumph of the time. It’s faster than the Golf 2 2.0 8V GTI of the time, for example, and epitomises all that helped propel the Volkswagen Golf into the luxury, performance car echelon.

With direct steering and such sporty performance, this Golf is not for the drowsy driver. It will thrill those who seek to actively drive their cars, as opposed to doing the minimum to get home. This is a car that always pleases when you return to drive it home, as the solid comfort and gutsy performance never go away. This erstwhile king of sporty hatchbacks remains nippy, reaching 100kph in under 10s and capping out around R210kmh.

Offered for sale new at around R75,000 between 1990 to 1992 when it was being manufactured, this Golf today still fetches an average of R95,000 secondhand. Many Golf enthusiasts also still prefer its shape to the modern versions, and it maintains its ability to surprise most of which travels South Africa’s roads today.
Last edited by kingr on Fri Oct 05, 2018 5:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Wolf Mk2 16V
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Re: 5 Cars From The 90s That Have Appreciated in Value

Post by Wolf Mk2 16V »

Most guys on this forum will have an a$$hole collapse about a 95k 16 Valve... I however agree wholeheartedly :cool: not enough to buy mine though :lol:
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Re: 5 Cars From The 90s That Have Appreciated in Value

Post by kingr »

I've seen mk1 Gti's sell for R90k, so a R95k suggestion for a mint 2.0 16v Exec Mk2 is fair.

I sold my Mk2 1.8 16V GTI, one of the worse mistakes I could have even done. Keep yours!!!
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Re: 5 Cars From The 90s That Have Appreciated in Value

Post by Jetta2 »

Ex-neighbour had a 325iS and a 333i.
He sold both in 2010 and still regrets it to this day. Both were in extremely good condition. Sadly, the iS was raped and murdered by a snotkop laaitie who put horrible wheels on it, chucked in some flea market sound system (door panels, rear panels and boot were destroyed), and then tried to sell it back to the neighbour in 2015.
It smoked like a vaper trying to "impress" people, had gearbox issues, was dented on every panel and just plain ruined.
I saw him start crying when he saw his ex car....

The trip 3 went to a toppie in Midrand who still has it, as far as I know. And still in very good condition.
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kingr
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Re: 5 Cars From The 90s That Have Appreciated in Value

Post by kingr »

Jetta2 wrote: Fri Oct 05, 2018 10:13 pm Ex-neighbour had a 325iS and a 333i.
He sold both in 2010 and still regrets it to this day. Both were in extremely good condition. Sadly, the iS was raped and murdered by a snotkop laaitie who put horrible wheels on it, chucked in some flea market sound system (door panels, rear panels and boot were destroyed), and then tried to sell it back to the neighbour in 2015.
It smoked like a vaper trying to "impress" people, had gearbox issues, was dented on every panel and just plain ruined.
I saw him start crying when he saw his ex car....

The trip 3 went to a toppie in Midrand who still has it, as far as I know. And still in very good condition.
Regret always follow when you sell these cars, my dad also sold a 325is he owned. Friend of he's also sold another mint red one! Stupid things we do sometimes.

The 333i is ultra rare, I've only ever seen one in real life.
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Ex: 07" G5 GTi, 13" ST180, 03" Mk4 2 door 1.8T Stage 2, 07" Velo 1.6, 83" Mk1 GT 2.0 8v MP9, 87" Mk1 1.6 CitiSport, 88" Mk2 2.0 16v, 83" Mk1 GT 1.6 + 40 webers
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Re: 5 Cars From The 90s That Have Appreciated in Value

Post by Ashveer03 »

The e30 also came in a 325ix. Its basically a 4wd 325is.

Only saw 1 of these in Dbn

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