Cars That Rocketed In Price After Leaving The Showroom

These used buys are worth more now than when they were new!

Some might argue that a new car is a waste of money – after all, the moment you drive off the showroom floor they’re said to lose 10% of their value or more. Buying a low mileage demo model can be the bargain of a lifetime if you shop smartly, except in the case of these eight cars, which just a few years after initially going on sale, are now more expensive than when they were new. Whilst you’ll be in for a hard time looking for one now, if you bought any of these when knew, you might just be sitting on a relative gold mine.

BMW 1 Series M Coupe

When the littlest M car from BMW went on sale, who would’ve known it would be so popular? Only 740 units were sold in the USA when it was released in 2011, of 2,700 worldwide, making it rather limited – and all of them were snapped up fairly promptly. The 335 horsepower coupe went on sale when new for base MSRP of $47,010, cheaper than the bigger M3 by nearly $12,000. Now though, it’s not uncommon to find the 1M fetching prices upwards of $60,000, with some prices bolstered to double the original retail price. For reference, the M3 that cost more originally is now worth less than $40,000 for clean examples.

Lexus LFA

The only true supercar from Japanese brand Toyota, the Lexus LFA might not have been the best in the supercar world, but the insanely rapid-revving V10 and striking styling endeared the LFA to anyone who drove it. When launched in 2012, the LFA fetched an asking price of $375,000 for the 552-hp supercar. Just 6 years on, second hand examples are available for more than $500,000 – and that’s just the proper used models, not the nine new examples that never actually went on sale to the public.

Ferrari LaFerrari

It might have one of the worst names to be given to a car in recent times, but the hybrid Ferrari LaFerrari hypercar has been immensely successful for the brand, with all 500 models (including 1 auctioned off for a good cause) selling almost instantly for the base MSRP of $1,420,000 – not bad for a 950-hp hybrid V12 machine. To pick up any second hand LaFerrari now, though, you’ll need to fork out nearly 2 and a half times more than when new, with most used LaFerraris selling for more than $3.6-million.

Mercedes-AMG G63 6x6

As far as pick-ups and off-roaders go, they don’t come more battle-ready than the Mercedes-AMG G63 6x6. The 6 wheel drive off-road pickup, originally developed for the Australian military features a 536hp twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8. Officially launched to the global market in early 2013, though not officially in the US, all models were sold out by early 2015, priced at $511 000. Now, just a few years later, prices have gone through the roof. If you can find one for sale – a few have been brought in – expect to pay north of the $1-million mark, with some examples fetching more than $1.4-million. If you managed to get one when new, it might just be your golden egg as prices aren’t likely to come down any time soon.

Porsche 911 R

The limited edition Porsche 911 R was the manual 911 GT3 we’d been dying for, but limited in numbers and with all sold before it was unveiled, prices skyrocketed after launch. Initially priced from $160,000, it wasn’t long before dealers were demanding nearly $1 million. Prices have since plummeted, but from $325,000 upwards, they’re still valued at double what they went on sale for. Of course for just $144,000 you can get a Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring Package, which is after all pretty much the same thing.

McLaren P1

As one part of the holy trinity of hybrid hypercars, the McLaren P1 is highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors alike. With 903 combined horsepower, the hardcore hybrid elevated the levels of prestige associated with hybrid vehicles, and set a new standard for the hypercar segment. Originally priced from a base MSRP of around $1.2-million, it’s not unusual to find P1’s now for sale for more than $2-million. It’s not quite LaFerrari levels of price escalation, but you won’t be found short of return on investment.

Ford GT

If you wanted a 2017 Ford GT you had to apply and be hand-selected by Ford in order to purchase one for $450,000. There were however strict conditions, mainly that resale was forbidden for 24 months in an effort to prevent the cars being flipped for profit. John Cena clearly thought Ford wouldn’t see him doing just that, and was recently embroiled in a law suit against Ford for selling his GT. The matter has been settled, but the Ford GT that made it to auction was sold off for an astronomical $1.65-million – nearly 4 times its original sale price.

Bugatti Chiron

The Bugatti Chiron is still in production, available from $3 million. For the world’s most premium hyper-machine, with its quad-turbo W16 pushing out 1,479 horsepower, that seems like a relative bargain – or so I’m told by those who can afford one. But if you order one from Bugatti, there’s a waiting list, and for some people, patience is not a virtue. For those, Chiron’s can be bought on the second hand market, with prices in excess of $3.5 million. That’s not a massive premium over a new one, but considering order books are still open, it’s impressive nonetheless.

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Russian Tuner Destroys Porsche 911 With Some Seriously Ugly Upgrades

What were they thinking?

Russian tuning house TopCar has been creating Porsche body kits for a few years now. And while not all are abhorrent abominations – its full-carbon Stinger GTR kit was actually pretty impressive – its latest creation, dubbed the 991.2 Stinger GTR gen 2 project, should have been killed at birth. Delivered to a customer in New Zealand who presumably goes by the name of ‘Jafaka’ the Porsche 911 stands in stark contrast with the Lamborghini Huracan its sat next to and we can’t figure out why the owner subjected his ride to such abuse.

Featuring a string of carbon-fiber add-ons including a custom hood, front and rear bumpers, GT3 RS inspired ducts, new side skirts and air intakes, and large rear wing, combined with a massive set of two-tone alloys, the yellow and black Porsche 911 Cabrio is sure to stand out for all the wrong reasons. Under the hood, TopCar is capable of tuning the engine to deliver up to 750 horsepower, coupled with better brakes and exhaust, but there’s no word on whether this particular model received any performance upgrades. Perhaps if we saw the car in a different color it wouldn’t offend our eyes so much, but as it stands, this is one hideous looking 911.

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Continental breaks Lincoln out of the doldrums

What’s Interesting: Packed with technology, great lines and solid performance.What’s Worst: Cramped backseat headroom for the tall. The optional rear seat package with reclining seats helps, but it also adds $5,000 to the purchase price.What’s Interesting: The E-Latch powered doors which use capacitors and electric motors to open and shut the doors.

LOS ANGELES, CA: Finally a Lincoln with a name — and what a name: Continental.

To this day I still remember at age 12 seeing a black-on-black Lincoln Continental II gliding down the main street of my hometown.

It was one of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen.

Recently, Lincoln has been using letters, not names to label its products, such as MKZ, MKT, MKC and MKX, which doesn’t project an image of what it is, at least not to me.

The 2017 Lincoln Continental premium luxury sedan is all new, with standard all-wheel-drive and a bevy of technology features such as 30-way adjustable seats.

The only Lincoln with a name is the full-size Navigator that has been around since the end of the last century.

Also Read:?Lincoln Navigator Concept brings Big to the Big Apple

Lincoln needs to make a mark in the premium luxury sedan arena and the 2017 Continental is it.

The amount of technology in this car is astounding.

An example is optional ($750) 30-way front seats with, get ready, six-way track adjust, two-way recline, four-way headrest adjust, four-way cushion extension, four-way thigh support, four-way lumbar support, two-way back bolster and two-way cushion bolster.

The interior of the 2017 Lincoln Continental is available in a variety of colours and trims including special Bridge of Weir, hand-finished leather.

Or how about the $5,000 Rear Seat Package on the Reserve trim model that includes reclining rear seats featuring four-way power lumbar support along with massaging, heating and cooling.

But perhaps the most intriguing, as well as stylish, feature is E-Latch power doors.

That’s right — power doors.

Lincoln has eliminated door handles along the beltline and replaced them with a solid nickel-chrome piece that runs along the windowsill from the A- to C-pillar with a closed loop handle at each door.

Also Read:?Luxury reigns in Jaguar’s flagship XJ

Inside each door is a motor and electric capacitor, much like a USB charger for a cellphone.

The 2017 Continental features three modes (Comfort, Normal and Sport) that adapt steering and suspension settings through controls on the steering wheel.

To open the door from the outside, there is a small button on the inside of the handle that, when touched, unlocks the door. To close, simply swing the door closed and the motor takes over and seals it shut. If there is no power, a blade key hidden inside the fob fits through a tiny slot in the driver side Continental trim piece and unlocks all doors.

To open from the inside, there is no latch/handle but a button on the back of the door pull. Touch it, and the motor unseals the door and you simply push it outward.

Beside available hand-finished leathers, one of the trim features is the Revel QuantumLogic Surround sound that puts the passenger into a 360-degree listening experience.

Not only is it elegant to look at, but also the lack of beltline latches makes for a remarkably sleek, uncluttered side profile.

All-wheel-drive is standard on all Canadian models with Dynamic Torque Vectoring, which routes grip under cornering to the appropriate rear wheel. A six-speed automatic transmission with selectable manual shift is standard.

There are two engines, the standard being a 335 hp 2.7-litre twin turbo V6. This is the optional ($3,000) 400 hp 3.0-litre V6.

Lincoln Drive Control lets the driver chose between three modes (Comfort, Normal and Sport) with makes it possible to adapt steering and suspension settings to the individual and is aided by continuously controlled damping and adaptive steering.

The Continental also features leading-edge driver safety aids such as Pre-Collision Alert, Pedestrian Detection with radar and cameras. Optional is adaptive cruise control that can automatically slow Continental in stop-and-go traffic – resuming speed when traffic clears. Of course, there’s lane keeping assist and electronic stability control.

If you think this sounds something like semi-autonomous driving, you’d be right. But the Lincoln engineers I talked to downplayed that, saying there is a still a long way to go.

But you and I both know they’re working feverishly on it back in Dearborn.

Continental does away with traditional door handles with an E-Latch at each doorsill that has a button that activated an electric motor, which in turn opens or shuts the door.

Standard engine is a 2.7-litre twin turbo, direct injection V6 with 335 hp and 380 lb/ft of torque. Optional ($3,000) is a 3.0-litre twin turbo direct injection V6 with 400 hp and 400 lb/ft of torque.

At the press introduction of the new Continental in Los Angeles, we drove the 3.0-litre V6 that was as silent in running as it was lusty.

We think of AWD as being for snow, slush and wet, but there are more challenging surfaces than those in the world, which is why I headed to surfer country north of Malibu. Here you find sandy entrances to the beaches that can catch you out with just two driving wheels in the soft surface, which can cause you to be bogged down.

Also Read:?Four-door luxury Italian style

My favourite photo stop in California is such a place, but getting to and from the water wasn’t a problem with the AWD.

If the E-Latch power doors are inoperative, a blade key hidden in the key fob fits through this slot of unlock the doors.

Heading back, I took the torturous Decker Canyon Road where falling rock is common, and I fact, I came across a soccer ball sized bolder on the climb up from the beach and alerted a road crew to it working further up the road.

Here the advantages of a “real” AWD, unlike simple slip-and-grip systems, rewards the driver, while the near instant grunt of the twin turbo V8 made seemingly endless series of 15-20 mph switchbacks easy – never a chore, as the first time I drove this 20 years ago before all of the current technology was possible.

After years of being second fiddle to Ford, with the Continental, Lincoln is no longer the “other” domestic luxury sedan, but a world-class premium luxury player in its own right.

The back seat is literally big on legroom. Note the controls on the middle seat fold down, which is part of the optional ($5,000) rear seat package on the Reserve trim model that includes reclining rear seats featuring four-way power lumbar support along with massaging, heating and cooling.

BODY STYLE: Full-size premium sedan.

DRIVE METHOD: Front-engine, full-time all-wheel-drive, six-speed SelectShift automatic

ENGINE: 2.7-litre, twin turbo, direct injection V6 (335 hp, 380 lb/ft); 3.0-litre twin turbo, direct injection V6 (400 hp, 400 lb/ft)

FUEL ECONOMY: 2.7-litre, 14.0/9.5/12.0L/100 km. city/highway/combined: 3.0-litre 14.4/9.7/12.3L/100 km

CARGO CAPACITY: 16.7 cu ft

PRICE: 2.7-litre Select, $57,000; 2.7-litre Reserve, $63,500; 3.0-litre Reserve, $63,500 not including $1,900 shipping fee.

WEB SITE: www.lincolncanada.com

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Rising Porsche 911 Sales Prove That Sports Cars Are Far From Dead

Although the Macan and Cayenne did pretty well too.

Porsche is having a terrific sales year so far in 2018. Through the first half of the year, the company has delivered 130,598 cars globally. Not only is this a 3% increase compared to last year, it is the most successful first half in Porsche's history. The success comes from increasing sales of several popular models. The Panamera experienced the strongest growth with 20,500 units sold, nearly double the figure from the first half of 2017.

The Panamera's sales success is likely due to the introduction of a new generation and a fresh Sport Turismo variant. It isn't just the Panamera that was a volume seller, the 911 did pretty well too. Coming off its best sales year in the US in 2017, the 911 saw double-digit growth with a 28% increase in sales with 21,400 units so far in 2018. As automakers continue to tell us that SUVs are far more important than anything else, we can simply point to the 911 as a beacon of hope that sports cars can still be a growing segment. To put a damper on our argument, Porsche's SUVs did pretty well too.

Both Porsche SUV models outsold the 911, with the Macan continuing to be the company's best-selling vehicle. Porsche delivered 46,600 units of the Macan and 28,700 units of the Cayenne so far in 2018. We aren't saying that automakers shouldn't focus on developing popular SUVs, but clearly some attention can still go into sports cars.

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Back to School – Eight Used Cars for Campus

In a time-honoured rite of passage, our American neighbours move into college dorms each fall to immerse themselves in campus life, while many Canadian students forego the experience and live at home, grudgingly joining the daily grind as commuters.

Plenty of students have to travel daily to a suburban college or university campus that isn’t always easily reached by transit. Buying a used car to make the commute bearable makes some sense if the distance is manageable.

For the equivalent to one year of rent, a smart student could be driving to campus and learning some essential life lessons – like circling around traffic jams and sourcing cheap gas. Here are eight recommended used cars you can buy today for around $8,000.

Any one of these will make a decent alternative to a backpack.

The wee Vibe may outlive all the other orphaned Pontiacs still in circulation, mostly because it’s powered by the same fuel-efficient, 132-hp 1.8-L four cylinder that makes the Toyota Matrix and Corolla such dependable buys. Vibes use an outdated, but durable, four-speed automatic transmission or five-speed stick with this engine.

The Vibe was sold only as a mini wagon by its dearly departed dealer network. There’s good room inside for five, thanks to the flat floor and upright seating. The cargo hold behind the folding rear bench isn’t particularly big, but it’s finished in hard plastic to accommodate wet and messy cargo – like the college’s pet mascot.

Stick with the 1.8-L engine and pass on the larger 2.4-L four; it has a reputation for burning oil. Other problems include worn-out sensors that trip the Check Engine light, scratch-prone paint and some interior rattles. There’s an all-wheel-drive model, but you’re better off with a set of four snow tires. GM still services the Vibe, and Toyota dealers are happy to help, too.

Comprehensive Vehicle Reports Provide Transparency

The Mitsubishi Lancer is not a household name – and that’s the genius of it. It languishes on dealer lots so buyers can negotiate a lower price. The Lancer comes as a four-door sedan, but there’s also a rare but practical Sportback model with a yawning hatchback that’s great for helping your friends move back home.

It’s adequately motivated by a 152-hp 2.0-L four-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox or optional continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmission. The car handles better than most economy cars; credit the Lancer’s alter-ego, the high-performance Evo. Most Lancers come with a big spoiler sprouting from the trunk lid – we’d pay a premium for one without it.

The made-in-Japan Lancer doesn’t break much. Gripes are limited to easily chipped paint, short-lived clutches, a few failed CVT transmissions and unwelcome rattles. Some drivers dislike the CVT’s sluggish behaviour, which can stifle a lot of forward thrust from the four banger, especially when the air conditioner is running.

We can’t think of a better student (or hamster) driving appliance than the quirky but endearing Kia Soul. Built on the modified front-drive platform of the Rio subcompact, the Soul conceals its econobox roots but delivers a lot of the cheap-to-own benefits. Owners rave about its cheerful cabin, eye-searing paint colours, refined demeanor and student-friendly tech options.

The Soul yields a surprising amount of interior space for occupants and cargo, thanks to its tall-box profile. There are two available engines: a base 1.6-L four-cylinder making 122 hp and a 2.0-L four putting out 142 horses – the latter of which works better with the six-speed automatic transmission.

Liabilities include big blind spots to the rear, road noise, susceptibility to crosswinds and scratch-prone plastic in the cabin. Reliability has been above reproach. Reported boo-boos include easily chipped paint and windshields, faulty brake-light switches and some rattles. Some worn steering linkages have been reported; there’s a recall for selected model years.

Redesigned for 2010, the Mazda3 is an overachieving driver’s car that elevates it well above the economy-car class average. It’s almost too good to hand over to a student. Still, the back seat is a little cramped for friends, the trunk is a tad small and some people may find the ride stiff – the downside of driving a sweet-handling car.

Available in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback configurations, the 3 is powered by a 148-hp 2.0-L DOHC four cylinder carried over from the previous 3, paired with either a five-speed stick or five-speed automatic transmission. There’s a bigger 2.5-L four, too, but it’s very fond of gasoline.

Reliability-wise the Mazda3 has a manual-transmission clutch that wears unusually quickly (not an issue when most students will opt for the automatic), the tire valve stems may fail and there’s reports of collapsed driver’s seats due to broken seat height adjustment lifter links. Fortunately, Mazda is repairing them through a recall campaign.

Buying a car? Take Time to Research Financing Options

Living in Canada’s snowbelt provides an understandable predilection for all-wheel drive. But it doesn’t have to be an SUV. With its standard symmetrical AWD system always churning, the Subaru Impreza is immensely stable at speed and in all conditions. Buyers can choose between four-door sedan and hatchback configurations.

Subaru’s 2.5-L SOHC flat-four engine puts out 170 hp, working through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The engine is a “boxer” design, meaning that the cylinders are horizontally opposed, two to a side, laying flat and low to reduce the car’s centre of gravity. Fuel use is a little thirsty, but it’s a big four cylinder and there’s a toll for four-wheel traction.

Mechanical issues reveal a few leaky head gaskets, weak clutches and easily chipped paint. You may be challenged finding a good example for $8,000 since Canucks covet their Subies and depreciation is slow. The good news is when you sell it later, you’re bound to get lots of your money back.

Here’s a business case study: how did a motorcycle company figure out what makes a great small car? The Honda Civic’s sleek styling and upscale cabin contradict its economy-car mission, while refined drivetrains work seamlessly to deliver good power and fuel economy. What’s nice is there’s a two-door coupe available, in addition to the popular four-door sedan.

Inside is a two-tiered instrument panel with an analog tachometer, while a digital speedometer lives near the windshield to help keep the driver’s eyes focused on distance. The chain-driven 1.8-L SOHC four cylinder is good for 140 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque, working through either a manual or automatic transmission, both with five gears.

Prior to 2009, porous aluminum engine blocks and uneven rear tire wear caused by faulty upper control arms marred what was supposed to be a flawless reputation. The 2009-11 Civic corrected those problems, though some owners had to contend with premature brake wear, broken engine mounts, short-lived a/c condensers and clearcoat delamination. Hey, nobody’s perfect.

The subcompact Hyundai Accent impresses with its surprisingly opulent furnishings and features on a mac-and-cheese budget. Available as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, the cabin is rendered in good materials and pleasing shapes. There are nice things inside this small package.

Outside, the fourth-generation Accent saw the previous car’s forgettable styling replaced with crisp European lines stretched over an 8-cm longer wheelbase that yields more legroom inside. The Accent’s lone engine is a direct-injected 1.6-L four-cylinder good for 138 hp, working through either a manual or automatic transmission, both with six gears.

Ride and handling characteristics are appreciably better than the subcompact class average. In U.S. government testing, the Accent earned four out of five stars for overall crash protection, frontal impact and side intrusion. There are few reliability complaints beyond a common gripe that the manual gearbox’s clutch may wear out rapidly. The car’s Korean tires are known for developing sidewall bulges and checking out early.

Suzuki may have left Canada for greener pastures, but it also left us with a bunch of orphaned SX4 sedans and five-door hatchbacks that have held up well. Most are front-drive models, although there are some all-wheel-drive SX4s with an electric solenoid-operated clutch pack that activates the rear wheels when required. It can also be locked in 4×4 mode, an unusual feature in a crossover.

The SX4 offers a generous greenhouse and tall seating, giving occupants the illusion – and the esteem – of riding in a five-eighths-scale minivan. Power is supplied by a 2.0-L four cylinder making 143 hp, tied to a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic transmission, the latter replaced by a CVT in 2010.

The made-in-Japan SX4 has drawn little criticism in terms of its dependability. The air conditioner may stop working because the electromagnet compressor clutch failed. Faulty airbag warning lamps and seat sensors have been the subject of a recall. Suzuki reportedly still supports authorized service centres, though buying a moribund brand entitles you to a hefty discount.

Used Car Myths Busted

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