Are 5000's appreciating?

[DeWitt Harrison]

On Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:05:18 -0400
Cody Forbes <cody at 5000tq.com> wrote:


> They never seem to appreciate the TLC I put in, but in terms of value I'm
seeing an odd trend. I've had 9 of then in the last 12 years. In that time
the most I've ever paid for one is my current black one that I bought 10
years ago for $1700. Since then I've bought a pair for $3000, and most
recently my better half's driver is a super clean, extremely well
maintained one that I paid a whopping $700 for about 4 years ago. Last I
looked at KBB they showed something like $1300 in good shape.

> My black car got backed in to in a parking lot and I was with an
insurance adjuster this morning. I popped open our marketplace here to
check current values and see a number of cars for $3000, $4000, and even
$5000! Just this last weekend I found a turbo Quattro under a carport that
looked like it had been sitting for a few years. I knocked on the owners
door and had a chat that ended up in "I won't take a penny less than
$3500". What's going on?? Are values going up or is everybody just nuts?

> -Cody Forbes (mobile)

I've not been in the market for a long time so I don't know. But this does
give me hope. I've not been such a 5000CS butterfly as you (9 ladies?).
I've owned my one and only 1988 5000CS since 1992. Poured a lot of love
into it over the decades. She now sports true Euro bumpers with appropriate
Euro (Zender) aftermarket aero bits, custom wheels worth more than your
last few 5k cars combined (with wheel spacers and offsets worked out
perfectly), AP front brakes, all new door handles, window lifts and door
seals, side mirrors, seat belts, all new factory fabric interior including
headliner, urS4 master cylinder (correctly plumbed) and many, many other
minor refinements such as variable windshield intermittent timing relay and
a most of a custom, high level sound system that looks stock. And not even
to mention the '91 20V oil pan and windage tray with a custom sump baffle
plate, etc. On the down side, I don't dare drive it more than 20 miles a
year on my current insurance policy. And no one would value the 1990 sport
seat conversion or any of the rest of a zillion such enhancements.

Obviously, I've been shoveling a lot of money into a deep hole. My fantasy
is that some Audi organization will someday decide that the car is worth
preserving in some fashion. Meanwhile, I'm shooting for an "agreed value"
policy with Hagerty or somebody so I can drive it with less fear.
Obviously, KBB value would not work for me.

So while I hope that 5000CS values are rising due to rarity, perhaps, I
have no useful data points. Sorry.

DeWitt