Beating Depreciation: 5 Great Cars That Will Outlast The Onslaught Of Time

You’re reading Forbes, so I don’t have to tell you what depreciation is. And I don’t have to tell you depreciation can be your friend or your enemy depending on what side of the ball you happen to be on a particular day. But what I’m here to tell you is there is a way to make depreciation work for you in an automotive context — a nuts-and-bolts equivalent of having your cake and eating it too.

Here is the basic premise. First, from the nearly 400 make-model combinations that are on the market, we identify vehicles we would like to own for their looks, panache, and fun-to-drive characteristics. Then we set our sights on used versions of these vehicles that capture virtually all the good they offer new but at a lower price thanks to — see paragraph #1 — depreciation.

Next, we ID used examples of these stellar cars that qualify for the exalted title Certified Pre-Owned, because that, like a golden ticket, is accompanied by special privileges. And finally, we run the nominees through our patented mental checklist to determine if they might be among those rare cars that actually increase in value over time, albeit after an almost inevitable dip when they are near-new.

In fact that just-described “dip” is precisely the time we want to buy them, profiting from the rapid depreciation cars typically suffer from early on and additionally profiting from the perks that accompany Certified Pre-Owned cars. Most notable among these is warranty coverage, but also included are roadside assistance and free maintenance. Free maintenance on a “collector car?” Pinch me; I must be dreaming, but I’m not.

Here are some notable cars that have all the requisites I just listed. Buy and hold, my friend. You will be glad you did.

2018 Jaguar F-Type

When it comes to the Jaguar F-Type it is hard to decide which is better-looking, the coupe or the convertible. Both are gorgeous, but in our quest to manipulate depreciation for our own purposes, my certain sense is the convertible versions will hold their value better over the long haul than the coupes. Why? Collectors like “open cars” plain and simple. F-Types are available with a dizzying array of engine choices, electronic driving aids, and even all-wheel drive. The top-of-the-line 2018 SVR has a 575-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8 and all-wheel-drive, and it is an odds-on favorite to “be really worth something someday.” But the supercharged 340- and 380-horsepower P340, P380, and R-Dynamic models equipped with the 3.0-liter V-6 are attractive alternatives.

2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata

To my eyes, the 2018 Miata and its generation are not as lovely to the eye as earlier generations of the venerable Japanese sports car. But beauty is in the eye of you know who, and for our purposes the MX-5 Miata checks all the boxes. The car is by no objective definition a “fast car.” Its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine delivers just 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of peak torque, but that modest power and torque are matched to perfection with the car’s other capabilities. From behind the wheel, you can push this car to your great amusement without going 180 miles per hour, and there is something both fun and reassuring about that. A low-cost winner that will always find an eager buyer, the Miata is built for this list.

2018 MINI Convertible

At first, the cognoscenti might scoff at the inclusion of the MINI Convertible on this ledger sheet. After all, it isn’t configured like a classic sports car; it can transport four people, not just two, and it is a front-driver. Oh, anathema! But a John Cooper Works MINI Convertible has a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that delivers 228 horsepower, way more than enough to get the grins going. With BMW-tuned suspension, the MINI Convertible also provides very impressive grip and scintillating handling. Okay, there is a little torque steer, but at least the car has some torque. And the whimsical interior will capture the hearts of collectors for decades to come.

2018 Alfa Romeo 4C

The 2018Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is unlike anything else on the American market. It is uncompromisingly small; it has a mid-engine configuration, and it is fitted out in true Italian sports car fashion. If you squint it is a small Ferrari. The 4C Spider features voluptuous styling with a race-inspired carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Its all-aluminum-alloy 1.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and it’s fitted with a 6-speed Alfa TCT twin-clutch transmission. That heady horsepower is squared off against a vehicle weighing less than 2,500 pounds, so the little Alfa’s performance is stupefying.

2018 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

Yes, 2020 Chevrolet Corvette has a mid-engine configuration that wrenches America’s Sports Car in a whole new direction, but please remember how much we have loved all the iterations that have come before it. For example, there is the 2018 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible, a winning combination of performance, looks, and handling, noted for its incredible streetability. Its 6.2-liter small-block V-8 puts out 460 horsepower, enabling it to out-accelerate all but a tiny fraction of vehicles on the road. The handling is so good, it might frighten you, lot less your passenger. The amazing thing is all this can be had for less than $50K, complete with all the perks of CPO. Do Corvettes become collector cars? Well, duh.