How much are Karmann Ghia's going for?

A funny guy I once knew had one. It broke down, he took the tags off and left it on the street.

KG Cabriolet's are, of course, worth the mos,t but the real collectibles are the original 'low-light's that were built until 1959. That's the model that was displayed at the NY Museum of Modern Art. Good examples are very hard to find and one often sees even total rusted wrecks going for $10K.

Brad

Compare it to the timeline of the Porsche 914.

They didnt become valuable until about 5 years ago.

And I use the term valuable loosely, since I havent seen many over 20K

Good 914-6's regularly make over €30k (and more) in Europe! Good 4's regularly top 20k.

Production numbers alone make this comparison pretty invalid really!

Perhaps the best basis for comparison. Value is mostly based on condition as 914s usually have huge corrosion problems. I don't think 986s will have any issues with corrosion.

Be under no illusion, I've restored many..... Every car model that lasts to see its 30th birthday or beyond will suffer from corrosion!

This! Unless it's aluminium or carbon or GFRP, it will will rust. It's just a matter of time.

I would suggest that the 986 and the 914 are vastly different in terms of their places in Porsche history. The 914 was a standalone car - nothing came afterwards (924/944/968 were complete different designs/platforms).

Whereas, the 986 is a true sister car to the 996 and the 987 was still closely related to the 997. Even though the 981 and 991 aren't as closely related, the design language of both the 981 and the 991 clearly tie back to the 986.

This heritage will make the 986 many, many times more collectable than the 914.

Sorry, but I don't see the 914-4 as having anywhere near the collectible value of the 986 as:

1. The 944-4 was not really a Porsche, but a VW- Porsche (and as I recall, it was sold as such in much of Europe). The 914-6, of course, is a pure Porsche and the dramatically higher prices at present show that! Like the 914-6, the 986 is all Porsche.

2. The appearance of the 914 was often derided - certainly the 'basket handle' roll bar and the bumpers have been subject to criticism both when the car was introduced and today. In addition, its appearance had no connection to other Porsche designs, past or present. The 986 is considered by most to be a very attractive and balanced design with strong ties to Porsches of the past (in particular, the 550 Spyder).

3. The 914-4 engine doesn't have an exciting or even sporty exhaust note - in fact, it sounds like what it is - a VW!

4 Like the 986, the 914 had great handling and braking; unlike the 986, its engine performance was strictly pedestrian.

5. Unlike the 986 Boxster, the 914 was not the first in a line of superb sports cars; rather, it was a one-off model that was moderately successful and was eventually replaced by another VW-Porsche, the 924.

6. Even at the time, the HVAC system in the 914 was atrocious, whereas the 986 remains state of the art.

7. The 914 was not a seminal design for Porsche, the 986 was; the 914 did not save Porsche, the 986 did; upon its introduction, the 914 did not generate the kind of excitement and desire, nor the universally solid reviews that the 986 did.

All of these suggest that the 986 should do better in the long run than the 914. And no, I don't buy into the suggestion that discontinued models or cars from failed companies are more collectible. If that were true, then the DeTomosa Pantera would now be worth more than the Ferrari Dino of the same era. Both were mid-engined sports cars that sold at comparable prices when new, but decent Dino's are now worth at least twice the price of a Pantera.

For those who suggest that the 986 Boxster will not soon become collectible, what you are in effect saying is that a 97 Boxster is akin to a 97 Corolla: neither car is going to appreciate in value, so just drive them into the ground and then take them to the junkyard. Frankly, within a couple of years of the 25th anniversary of the 986 Boxster (which occurs in 2021), I expect prices for good examples of the 986 to be about double where they are today - i.e., $20K to $30K. I also think that they will continue to go up from there. Large production numbers haven't halted the rise in price on cars of less importance (such as the Triumph TR6 and MGB) and I see no reason to believe that they will stop the 986 from becoming a collectible car with appreciating value in the near future.

Would I recommend buying a 986 Boxster as an investment? No, there are other cars that will likely appreciate more over time. However, if I am right, the rise in value over the next 10 years should make the cost of ownership (and the cost of a rigid maintenance schedule) a lot easier to bear.

Brad

If you collect it, it is collectible.

If you love it as many here do, it will be a classic. Loved cars become classics because their owners take care of them into their old age. That's all it takes.

congrats, looks exactly like my 987, slightly different wheels though

http://i43.tinypic.com/do9z0x.jpg

Idk if 986's will become collectable. S's might, but the lack of HID headlights and the "runny egg" headlights are turn-offs for the 2.5/2.7, although maybe when all cars are HID the "old" 986 lights will be cool? Who knows.

I'd say 987's will be collectable before 986. At least they were all HID, no runny lights, more low rpm power, standard traction control, all around a better vehicle IMHO

Oh but I will say the 986 will be collectable more-so than the 944. etc for a few reasons:
1) Mid-engine: Few vehicles are mid-engine and all of them are expensive
2) Roadster: having two seats and convertible makes it more of a toy than a practical vehicle, making the boxster more likely to become collectable
3) 911 looks: 986 body is beautiful, which is more than I can say about the 914 or 944

about the same prices as 986's are currently selling for, $5,000 to $12,000

So 3 years later and a new generation of four cylinder turbo Boxsters out, has people's opinion changed on a 986 becoming collectible or a classic one day?

To me it was a classic on day one when I bought it in Dec 1999. I guess to prove its collectible the price will need to rise year over year from a nadir for at least two years. But we haven't seen that yet.

Some of the threads said that with so many produced it can't become collectible. From my estimates about 50% of the original production has already been scrapped. Year over year the numbers listed for resale on Autotrader for 1997-2000 are 20% down. That would translate to about a 10% scrap rate of the original production numbers year over year which sounds ridiculously high. That is until you take into account these cars are approaching being 20 years old, low price and expensive to maintain. Also when you look at historical expected attrition rates for cars of this age the 10% of original production or 20% of remaining cars is about right....

By about 25 years only 20% will remain and by 30 years only about 10-15%.

So in about 10 years when all cars will drive themselves, there should be about 1500 of the 2000 year 986 left. Then give another 10 more years and with inflation....

One day they will be classic and collectible!

Here's my case FOR future classic status:
 

Classic collectables seem to bought by old guys who are trying to reclaim their youth and can afford the cash to make the statement. My definition says the car has to sell for as much as it did originally taking into account inflation. I say this from watching Barret-Jackson and such auctions. So the 986 has to get to where 18-20 year-olds saw and lusted which to me says 35 years old or so. Then even that generation ages out but the number of good condition cars boosts the few even though there are fewer buyers.

Really good 914s are now climbing in price. $34.5k asking (see the 914world.com website and search "the restoration begins" by 993innc). Even a marginal one needing cosmetics will cost more than an early Boxster in the same condition. (1973 Porsche 914)

Owned both. Loved both. If I had to have only one in pristine condition for the nice weather back roads, surprisingly it would be the 914 because it was the car immediately before family responsibility took effect. The 2 Boxsters were after family obligations were met and I drove them a lot less vigorously. The Boxster was a much better car, but the car of my relative youth ...

I suppose they can be 'collected' now.

https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7103/2...de56eff2_c.jpg

As my cars and I age, there will come a time when we part ways. I have resolved to find an out of the way barn to park them in, seal them up, and pass them on to a 'finder' in the future.

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7457/2...79cd861f_c.jpg

:cheers:

I know this will be argued ad nauseam and from many different definitions but the 986 model years from 1997-2004 is, according to Porsche, a classic. If Porsche says it's a classic, for me, it's good enough.
986 - Porsche Classic
:cheers:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1464567287.jpg

My 2 cents.... Doubt I'll ever see this gem be worth what it cost new (sticker $65K), but that's what I thought about an archaic VW van (Westfalia) not to mention my old FJ 40 Landcruiser. Since it is a limited edition 550 Spyder and the last of the 986's, it stands a better chance of maintaining it's current value and appreciating some over the next 20 years. Anyway, I plan to enjoy the crap out of it and care for it like a classic. There....I said it... Classic (and its mine).

It is my intention to drive this car until it can't or I can't. Good Lord willing, we will both be classics at that point.