[ba] Reliability of B5 vs. B6 A4s - turn collectible audis...

[Chris Maresca]

On 12/2/10 11:47 AM, robert weinberg wrote:

> sedans in general have never been historically collectable.

Yup, except for the 1st gen M5/M535is....  Even the Aston Martin Lagonda 
can be found for relatively cheap.

> on the flip side - i'm astonished by the prices for 911SC and Carerras.
> still about $14-$20k.

The first gen of the water-cooled 911's (996 1999-2003ish) are following 
the same trajectory.  It was the first of the truly modern 911's and 
last year you could pick one up for > $17k.  The prices this year have 
gone up to slightly over $20k, and given that 911's rarely sell for less 
than about $12k, last year was probably the low-water mark.

> given, totally different car than my 200 - but
> even my friend with a nicely sorted 1978 911SC would never challenge me
> to a race. my 200q20v would annihilate it... in reverse ;-)

True, but collectibility is rarely a function of performance.  I have 
two Jensen Interceptors which, at their introduction in 1967, were the 
fastest cars in the world (top end and 0-60).  They were also more 
expensive than a Muira, and were the first cars with AWD and ABS brakes 
(!).  By all rights, given the advanced nature of these cars (vented 
discs front & rear + auto climate control) and the performance, not to 
mention the original price, they should be $500k cars, yet a decent one 
today is worth less than $40k... Which is why I can afford two ;-).

Chris.