The economy and E31's

[StefonC]

How's it going everyone?

How do you all think the value of the E31's will be affected as we continue to spiral down in this economic distress? Could they still retain or exeed todays values or would they plumit as more become avalible to the market? Also, what about collectability since alot of that factors in when pertaining to specific models such as CSI's or Individual cars?





"People have to realize that, to have a car, you have to drive it or you don't have anything. If you go to Barrett-Jackson and pay $150,000 to have it sit, that's the death of the car. If they're not driven, they're not cars, they're sculptures. But, if you want to have a collection of sculptures, so be."

[Montanamike]

Then they look for items that give them a rush without spending a ton of money.
E31's still are a rare commodity and unless someone really needs to sell to survive....most like me are able to just keep enjoying our fine cars and wait for the world to correct itself.

What makes you think we are still spiraling down??
All indications are that the economy is in a recovery mode...

[StefonC]

Well yes the economy is beginning to recover, but its not going to turn around significantly like alot of people think considering the timing. In other words it will take years. During those years it continues to pick back up, you still have people without jobs and with our government using money that we don't have, constantly throwing it away, what do we have entitlement to???

For instance, GM/Chrysler was given around $15 billion worth of bailout money. In the short period of time, one managed still to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy and the other had to be bought out by Fiat to survive. Dealerships nationwide have been shut down. The owners who owned franchises with these companies they had so much faith in are left broke, their workers are left jobless.

I don't see much improvement, not saying that the economy won't turn around because that's what I'd love to see. However, I don't think it will happen in the time period that we've all been promised




"People have to realize that, to have a car, you have to drive it or you don't have anything. If you go to Barrett-Jackson and pay $150,000 to have it sit, that's the death of the car. If they're not driven, they're not cars, they're sculptures. But, if you want to have a collection of sculptures, so be."

[Walte]

if and when the market dips -less cared for cars are/will be worth more in parts, then whole. as far as collectibilty - with approx. 30,000 8's made, it seems obvious to me, that they will be very collectable. hell, who would of though, with all the pony cars made in the 60's. (mustangs, camaro's, etc) that they would demand the prices they do today. They simply crushed most of them. 8's are following this same path. , heck within our RF -group we've parted out atleast 20 cars in the last couple of years.just wait until BMW stops 8 specific production parts. we already have to beg the aftermarket to produce products for us. as no company is vesting their own time and money for this limited production auto
Within the last 6 months -I could have bought 3 850's in another country for 2650.00 each.+ 1400.00 for the boat ride. so -4150.00 approx.landed. - these are not parts cars and have more than the asking price in body add ons. now, if they didn't sell -They would/could be very easily be chopped for parts.
Regards, Walt
hell, i'm still kickin myself for sellin my 67 big block camaro 15 yrs ago for 5k.cause it was just sittin in the garage. heheh

[StefonC]

LOL, I think Wuffers parted out 10 of the 20 in 4 years. The way I see it is as time goes by, younger owners buy the car and cannot keep up with the cost of maintanence. Once these less experianced have had enough, they trash these cars and they begin to end up in either junk yards or on ebay without records. That is why the E31 has become an averagely priced $10,000 car.

Also, where in the world can you buy an 8 in fair to good condition for $2-4,000? Moscow????



"People have to realize that, to have a car, you have to drive it or you don't have anything. If you go to Barrett-Jackson and pay $150,000 to have it sit, that's the death of the car. If they're not driven, they're not cars, they're sculptures. But, if you want to have a collection of sculptures, so be."

[ronaldpin]

I know that feeling. I sold my 69 4spd, Z28, small block 302 about 20 years ago for the same reason...taking up room in the garage.

[Walte]

for my 67.(originally a tired 396 - dropped a hypo'd 454 in it- 3 spd. auto)
too this day - the 302 zapper'd Z28 with the cue ball shifter ,still does it for me. what A car - shame on you for selling it and now i feel alittle better about getting rid of mine 8^).Thank you. heheh
My Regards , Walt

[lezonebay]

that says recovery is not very far. It will take years to get out of the mess we are in.
I think the auto industry would have failed anyhow, the worldwide economic downturn was just an accelerator.

I work in the industry and my life depends on it, but I still say it was destined to fail and it is good that it did. There was a huge chaos in the auto industry and they needed to rethink their future.
a Chrysler GM Bankruptcy is a GOOD thing. It should have happend 6 months ago when Bush gave them 35Billion. That money could have helped to recover the economy where it would have meant something. Chrysler and GM burned through the money and then filed bankruptcy. Wagoneer and his friends got their big fat bonuses in January and then sit on their big fat rear and did nothing.
GM will work and GM will emerge from this w/o Wagoneer and others from the 90's and 00's. These are the people who had a chance to save it but never did. GM rode on their 60's and 70's success. They lived through the 80's by doing nothing, then mid 90's they dropped the SUV and Pickup line on the market to survive, but the end result was still the same. loosing money since 1980's...
the bankruptcy will help them shred the union deals and a new and realistic GM will emerge in about a year or so.
<a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969" border="0"></a>


1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
2002 Astro Van AWD
1999 Astro Van 2WD
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

1995 850CSI CD00177 (1/2)

[lezonebay]

clearly fallen on the non-overhyped classics. a Yenko Camaro is still expensive but a regular Z28 dropped to about half of what it was in 2004-2005.
this is the time to buy a house and a car you always wanted. just don't expect to get a real good finance for them :-)

<a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969" border="0"></a>


1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
2002 Astro Van AWD
1999 Astro Van 2WD
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

1995 850CSI CD00177 (1/2)

[ronaldpin]

Thanks.....if only we had a crystal ball back then we would have snapped up all the good ones. I've yet to see a '69 like mine, even here in SoCal. I can still recall adjusting those solid lifters.

[dusty21]

Bought a '66 GTO new, 4sp, 335 hp, what a piece of crap
with drum brakes, 8 mpg. Sold it in Italy for $2500, a loss
of $4,000, bough a 1965 Porsche 356 SC for $1250 in 1969, drove
it for 15 years and sold it for $10,000 to pay off my house in 1994.

The baby boomers are going nuts over old '60's American muscle cars.

The next generation will want the 8' series and pay big bucks
for them..

Remember the car's you admired as a kid on the road?? How much
is a Model A Ford worth now?? A lot less than before. Their
era is gone.