Hooniverse Asks: What’s the next cheap car to buy?

Jeff Glucker

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My 1991 Mitsubishi Montero cost $3,500. That’s a pretty good deal for a vehicle that can play in the dirt, looks good (to me, at least) when clean, and makes me smile when I drive it. Older Japanese off roaders are sliding up in value, driven by the popularity of the Land Cruiser and the rising tide that is an appreciation for All Things Radwood.

What’s next to make a similar move into the automotive enthusiast spotlight? There’s a car or truck out there right now that’s currently running along quietly unloved. Someone will buy one and make it look cool. Then the Internet will respond in kind with tons of folks buying up low-buck examples of the same machine.

What do you think is the next car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle to receive such attention? Sound off in the comments below.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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22 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What’s the next cheap car to buy?”

  1. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    C4 Corvettes – they’re relatively cheap and fun (and reasonably easy to keep running), and visually very tied to an era (just my opinion, but better looking than the C5’s that replaced them, although the later car is the better track rat option). Also, a slightly unsubstantiated observation, following my wife around the mall, I’ve seen a few wall sized images with some bored looking model posing, with a blurry C4 as the accessory in the background.

    Also, as an older Millennial from the middle of the continent, the C4 was on the short list of Fast Cars, following only the Countach and Testarossa (which are unobtanium).

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Tell that to all the C3 Corvette owners.

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        Hey, the pre-gas crisis ones are doing fine, right?

        I mean, I’m not betting on the next air-cooled Porsche, just a car with reasonable collectibility at the bottom of its depreciation cycle.

        Reply
        1. P161911 Avatar
          P161911

          The C3 Corvettes, at least the 1974-1982 ones have been at the bottom of their depreciation cycle since about 1990. That’s when I bought my 1977, values haven’t kept up with inflation, except for the 78 Pace Cars.

          Reply
          1. neight428 Avatar
            neight428

            This is true. Back around 2006-ish, I bought an ’81 Corvette for a project (arguably the worst model year if you have a choice) that I picked up because it was cheaper than a Nova, and I’m talking the real grandma ’75-79’s.

  2. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    Geo Metro convertible. For a while, if you paid more than three digits, you paid too much, and that’s even for when they were still under warranty.

    https://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/d/groveport-1991-geo-metro-convertible/6958594228.html
    https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/d/aberdeen-1991-geo-metro-convertiblem/6972109843.html
    https://fortwayne.craigslist.org/cto/d/lagro-1993-geo-convertible-low-miles/6969158792.html

    Reply
  3. KentMB1 Avatar
    KentMB1

    Hummer H3s appear to be going up now.

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      The prices on H3Ts are outrageous.

      Reply
      1. KentMB1 Avatar
        KentMB1

        Yep! I love the H3Ts, but those prices are a bit ridiculous. But it was a perfect storm in 2008-2009, GM was cancelling entire brands when the H3T was just coming out, same with the Solstice Coupe. I wish I coulda bought one of each when they were discounting them to get rid of them back then. Funny though, how even the Saturn Astras held onto their value a little too.

        Reply
  4. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Everything Eastern European. The prices of Trabant, GAZ and Moskovich have been climbing steadily from parked-with-keys-in-ignition-levels in the early ’90s until today. But popular culture is catching up and the trend accelerates: HBO’s “Chernobyl” was a showcase for Soviet cars. The ’80s in general are a common topic and with retro entertainment come retro cars. Unspecified machinery and the good old evil Russians are often the same vehicles on screen. That affects marked values.

    Reply
  5. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    I’m committed to the correct answer being Austins. Someone should buy this nice $1500 example to help keep things going:

    https://images.craigslist.org/00101_6dLQa8sCOhS_600x450.jpg

    https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/puyallup-1969-austin-america-1100/6975266212.html

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      A land crab was advertised here locally not long ago. I thought the asking price was obscene, but it did seem in very nice shape from the photos.

      Reply
  6. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Pickup trucks. Specifically early GMT400s and 1980-1987 Fords. Maybe the later Fords up to 1997. Dodge D-series and Ram up to 1993. Just looks at what has happened to GM squarebody trucks up to 1987. Even the rough ones are starting to bring collector money or at least more than old truck money.

    Reply
    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      I almost wonder if the ’94+ Rams are due for a moment soon, as well. They were revolutionary for the time, and have stylistically aged well (I live in the rust belt, so it’s best to ignore how they’ve physically aged up here).

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        They still look too new to me. Really they look too much like the 2002-2008 ones. GMT 400 might have the same problem. First gen Dakota could be added to the like. All these square trucks at least don’t look “modern”.

        Reply
    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Best to go with the latter end of that generation of Fords– the frames on the early ones are weak. Personally I think the OBS F150 (’92-’97) with the 300-six is the sweet spot.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        I will be shopping for a weekend pickup next year. My ideal truck is a 1992-1997 Ford F-150, extended cab, long bed, 4×4, manual 5-speed, I-6. Probably a unicorn.

        Reply
  7. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    Non-M3 E46 BMWs. My clean, one owner, dealer serviced, 5 speed 2002 325Ci with 155K miles cost me $3,600 in January. That’s a a lot of car for the money and I can’t imagine them getting cheaper. I’m certainly hoping they’re about to go up.

    Also the RSX Type S. When I got mine in 2017, there hadn’t been any on BAT. Since there have been 6, most pulling bids in the mid teens, one cresting $20K.

    Reply
  8. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    What do 350Z’s go for now? That seems an interesting option to Camaros/Mustangs. Maybe the Hyundai Genesis coupe? Seems a decent formula, though no idea how they hold up.

    I wonder if the 2011-2014 Mustang GT’s will ever hit a true nadir in value, or if attrition by way of undertalented drivers will keep the supply dropping.

    Reply
  9. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    I’m still surprised you got your Montero for so cheap. The ones in my area at that price are shot to hell.

    I’m thinking eventually the Nissan Xterra will start climbing in value. I’ve been tempted by a couple of manual-equipped Craigslisted ones in recent months. The aftermarket support is minuscule compared to that of the 4Runner, but it has a spartan charm to it that begs for DIY customization. I could see having some fun welding up off-road armour for it.

    Reply
  10. Wayne Moyer Avatar
    Wayne Moyer

    I’m late to this post but i will https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/969a4eb77873356c049950e647b066aea44270b8cbdada12617b21ad725ddb60.jpg throw the Corvair out here. How to own a sixties cars for a low sum of money. I am WAYYYYYYYYY overdue to write my story about this very car. (Is it still June Kamil?)
    They made 1.8 million Corvairs but when do you see them on the roads? They have a history that is well known but is unloved. The two generations get you a car that looks like its stuck in the fifties or borderline muscle like my second gen ’65 here. There was a coupe, sedan, convertible, pickup (two styles), and van. The last two in forward control. Plus they were all flat six’s that were aircooled. GM actually tried something new and it worked. Of course it didn’t last.
    That and the prices from range from $2000 for project cars to $20k for the super rare ones. Ten foot drivers can be found all day long in the $4500 range. You will get attention at a car show as well.

    Reply
    1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
      Wayne Moyer

      Thank you. It needs some body work but it’s a great runner. It’s a 1965 Corvair Monza 110 with the powerglide automatic. I need to go do the writeup about it since I got it off the Mecum auction for $3300 including the premium. It’s my second auction car. My first was a ’86 Ford Crown Victoria that I got for $1800 in 2016 on Ebay Motors that I just sold to a guy who is in love with it for … $1800. I lost on that one. Man is the Army guy I sold that one to really happy with it though. Made me happy.
      This car is going to be with my wife and i for a long time. I already swapped the tires and wheels out. I have been putting miles on this one pretty quickly even with the antique tags. At every show my wife and I run into people who give us a lot of “this was my first car” or “My parents had one”.
      It’s been fun learning how to play the big auctions. You watch enough Barrett Jackson and Mecums and then you go and see if you can do it and damn it I did it! Four cars after this one another Corvair convertible sold for $12000 but there were reasons why over ours.

      Reply