3.5iS- will this be a classic?

[bob4333]

Not sure that the E-type is the best analogy to use - on it's release, Enzo Ferrari said it was the most beautiful car in the world - so it's appreciation was hardly lukewarm back in the day.

No, I'll stand by it.

Enzo Ferrari is indeed quoted as saying that: I don't have any issue with it and certainly would have no wish to denigrate the E Type's classic status. The point being that E Type sales were so small at the end that the factory had difficulty shifting them, and the value of used examples must have gone through the floor (admittedly the 1973 oil crisis didn't make things any easier).

Some years down the line and it's a different matter. But I think there are big differences between Classic, Perceived Future Value and Collectable, and we're back to "What makes a car a classic?"

[GuidoK]

Only around 400 in the UK, meanwhile thousands of Z4Ms.

Thousends of z4m's in the uk?!?
Are you drunk?
There are currently 862 z4m's registred on UK roads....

The E89 is faster ... and round the track.

You have any real data to back up that claim?
Like an independant test by a pro/compentent driver on a track with the same tyres?
(so a lap time set in 2006 and a lap time set in 2014 has no real meaning as tyre technology has come a long long way)

[EssexZed]

Not sure that the E-type is the best analogy to use - on it's release, Enzo Ferrari said it was the most beautiful car in the world - so it's appreciation was hardly lukewarm back in the day.

No, I'll stand by it.

Enzo Ferrari is indeed quoted as saying that: I don't have any issue with it and certainly would have no wish to denigrate the E Type's classic status. The point being that E Type sales were so small at the end that the factory had difficulty shifting them, and the value of used examples must have gone through the floor (admittedly the 1973 oil crisis didn't make things any easier).

Some years down the line and it's a different matter. But I think there are big differences between Classic, Perceived Future Value and Collectable, and we're back to "What makes a car a classic?"

An interesting point made about the 1973 oil crisis hitting sales of the E Type, got me thinking that the E89 was launched just after the start of the global financial melt down (the effects of which has lasted throughout its production lifetime) and what impact this might have had on sales volumes. I looked at the sales figures for the SLK (considered to be its main competitor) and global sales in 2007 were 28,104. By 2009 this had fallen to 13,371. Even when the R172 new model was launched in 2011 sales only rose to 20,949 - some way off the 48,101 they shifted in 2005. Perhaps those who feel the E89 was not as popular based on sales volumes compared to the E85/6 should consider this?

[GuidoK]

^might be the financial crisis but also might be that the roadster car type wasnt as popular as it was before.
If you look at bmw's global sales of all models it only had a 2009 setback (about 15%) but grew pretty steadily throughout the crisis years.
So if the e89 suffered from the crisis, it was probably only one of the few models

And it certainly wasnt due to the oil price, as that plummited in 2009 when the crisis started

[Kingfisher]

Did I read somewhere that the next Z4 won't have a folding hardtop? If true it's off my list I'm afraid!

[GuidoK]

Did I read somewhere that the next Z4 won't have a folding hardtop?

Yes, its going to be a proper roadster.

[Dav the wheel nut]

I suppose most people's idea of what makes a car classic is that it's future value will increase due to the rarity:demand ratio but trying to define what makes a classic car is a tricky problem (try looking up the definition of a classic car online).

This car is considered to be a classic - most examples still survive apparently. If you'd bought one new and kept it in reasonable nick you'd certainly be looking at profit if you sold it.

IMG_1165.JPG

This seems to give strength to one particular definition I found online which was that for a car to become a classic, somebody just needs to keep it on the road for no logical reason other than it's that particular car.

Food for thought

And someone posted Valencia Orange would never be classic

[EssexZed]

I suppose most people's idea of what makes a car classic is that it's future value will increase due to the rarity:demand ratio but trying to define what makes a classic car is a tricky problem (try looking up the definition of a classic car online).

This car is considered to be a classic - most examples still survive apparently. If you'd bought one new and kept it in reasonable nick you'd certainly be looking at profit if you sold it.

IMG_1165.JPG

This seems to give strength to one particular definition I found online which was that for a car to become a classic, somebody just needs to keep it on the road for no logical reason other than it's that particular car.

Food for thought

And someone posted Valencia Orange would never be classic

Not based on the interest shown at ZEDfest yesterday

[JustCruzin]

The way things are at the moment anything that uses petrol will become a classic

[Pastry]

Well... Some say that in a straight line, it is faster than light itself...... that it corners better than a bullet train..... that it will fellate you better than Linda Lovelace.. So of course it will be a classic... a classic fable

[Burgy100]

So everyone agrees it's NOT going to be a classic, but they are going to be rare as rocking horse poo as only 435 3.5is have been registered. Correct?

[Zed Five]

So everyone agrees it's NOT going to be a classic, but they are going to be rare as rocking horse poo as only 435 3.5is have been registered. Correct?

Yep. Plus, take out the undesirable colours like red, orange, white and yellow and the rest of us will be quids in.

[Zed Five]

Lets start a thread about how unique our 35is' are.....

[Smartbear]

Lets start a thread about how unique our 35is' are.....

Well I didn't see another e89 with my colour interior, I might write to bmw demanding production numbers
Rob

[sunnydays]

Lets start a thread about how unique our 35is' are.....

Well I didn't see another e89 with my colour interior, I might write to bmw demanding production numbers
Rob