I've been thinking about my plans for my rescued SVT in the long term. On one hand I want to build a mild turbo'd car or add some nitrous. On the other hand, I just want to restore it. How do you feel, realistically, the SVT will hold up in value when it is 20, 25, 30 years old? Will it become a sought after collectible, or just a funny looking old car? I don't think they'll appreciate much because the base for the car (the regular Focus) was produced in such huge numbers and is not thought of as a performance vehicle. Also, most of the people that I talk to don't seem to know what the SVT Focus is- indicating that it doesn't have the 'icon' status of an Integra Type R or a Sentra SE-R classic- two compact performance cars that will increase in value over the years. But I see so many of these cars that are wrecked, beaten down, or being parted out that I think a clean one will be very, very rare in 10 years. Thoughts?

I don't think it will.. but I'm not sure. Maybe an unmolested SVTf with mega low mileage (think something a car collector would buy) may be worth something, but your average SVTf is driven by a younger driver who dogs the shit out of it. I got mine because I love cars, and love driving, and I wanted something that would make driving places fun, and it does a FANTASTIC job of that. I plan on driving it for a few years, and replacing it with an STI or something to the effect.


For now though, it's my baby :)

i dont think it will appreciate in value. sure they only make about 4000 of the svtf's. honestly even the car as you would call, "restored" is a blast to drive. I have all boltons and i love my DD.

I will probably drive my svtf until its undriveable. or i grad college in 3 years. but ill prolly end up keeping it after i graduate. nothing says fun like shifting at 3-3500 every gear in the city. where u can still stay under a legal speed limit, but get there allot faster

Yeah, I plan on keeping it as long as it's alive. Maybe even do work done once I'm a bit older and have the cash flow to spend on it, it's a really fun little car.

I plan on keeping mine for a really long time also. I just wish it would appreciate like a clean AE86 instead of bomb like a Dodge Shelby Turbo or something of that nature. Special Editions of American cars never seem to become collectible unless they're exotics or muscle cars.

Foci in general don't seem to hold value

I don't see SVTs ever appreciating in value. Maybe if you had a flawless low mileage one in 50 years. No offense intended Mike, but considering your signature boasts "worlds most ragged out 2002 SVT" it seems like kind of a moot question. Better to get the most fun out of the car while you can than hold out some distant hope that it will miraculously become more valuable over time.

It barely holds value now, let alone in 10 years or so. I just try to take care of mine and enjoy it as a daily driver.

I have read a few magazine articles calling the SVTf a future classic, I hope to be able to get my wife a new daily driver before the SVT gets WAY to many miles (on 80K now) and just enjoy taking it to shows in my old age. You gotta think, in 25 years WE will be the people deciding if a car is classic. How much would you pay for a mint SVTf to bring back the memories of your younger days 25-30 years from now?? I'll be 50-55 yrs old by then and I know for a fact I'll still love to have my EAP if I can keep it that long.

Im keeping mine whether it is considered Classic or not in that time.

I wouldn't doubt that the SVT will be collectors item right beside the RS and Newer RS and Cossie Escort.

-Ray-

No chance for appreciation or becoming a collectors item. I love the little car, but it's not one to accumulate a "cult" following 20 years from now. Now show me a 1997 stock turbo Supra with under 50k, I'll take out a 3rd mortgage on the house...

I have a clean original first year production 89 Taurus SHO which I bought new and it even has low miles. There were close to 10 stick shift SHO's built for every SVT Focus that was made, and they are now getting quite hard to find. That car is maybe worth $3000 to somebody somewhere on a good day! It's not exactly the same thing, but it's a good indication where your question is going. The real value is enjoying the car every day and with luck, keeping it nice for as long as possible. The only stuff that ever appreciates like crazy is stuff that very rare and very expensive to begin with. Even those cars are not as good of an investment as traditional cash investments if plotted over time. I've never seen another SVT Focus other than mine in five years of ownership, so you can say that even today, they are very very rare.

It's too bad rarity does not equal value in the used car collectors market or we'd be golden.

It's too bad rarity does not equal value in the used car collectors market or we'd be golden.

That's the biggest misconception in classic cars. 'Rare' does not automatically result in sky high values. My father purchased a 1969 Torino Talladega new in 1969 for $3300, sold it in 1976 for $1800. I happened to run across it a year ago and tried to buy it back. Guy wanted $30,000 for it because it was 'rare'. It was about a '5', had rust, wasn't all original and needed a full resto. The best example of a restored Talladega had sold for ~60k and this car was FAR from being perfect. Couldn't convince the guy it was worth 15k, at best, and he still has it, rusting away in his garage. He argued it was rare because someone told him it was worth 'at least' $50k because it was rare, so in his mind it had to be a gold mine. Talladegas' never had the cult following like the Dodge and Plymouth, even though the Talladega started the aero wars.

LOL, bump.

bahahaha looks like one of my buddies has been taking advantage of the fact that i leave myself logged in on his computer.

Mod Edit:
Deleted useless posting quote.

[slap]

bahahaha looks like one of my buddies has been taking advantage of the fact that i leave myself logged in on his computer.

Be careful with that, we have had to ban people b/c of what their FRIENDS did on the site before.

I had plans to keep my SVTF until it died, and thats what I did. Although way to premature, I still miss the car. I don't think these cars will have much value for a long time but I am sure you will see more track rat versions of the car since they are built on such a good chassis and you can buy them for cheap.

yea ... im definately going to drive my svtf to the ground ... i just hope i can juice as much life out of it as i can while it still bleeds ... :) ... i dont even want to think about the depreciation of value in this thing ... *sigh* ... for i am one of the lucky few who bought the it brand spankin new n payed for this thing in blood ... soooo ouch for me

^^ I bought mine brand new ... and still love it ... regardless of what I paid for it new in 03.

I know it has had my love and hate ... and only my love and hate.

-Ray-

Collectors car or not, mine is gunna be parked in my garage right next to my Ferrari. [:)]

Collectors car or not, mine is gunna be parked in my garage right next to my Ferrari. [:)]

DREAMER! lol j/k I hope you get it one day.[thumb]

DREAMER! lol j/k I hope you get it one day.[thumb]

Thanks man. You could have one too. All it takes is believing in yourself.
You just gotta find a vehicle to get you there financially and get around other dreamers.
Sorry OP, kinda off topic........

Theres just something amazing about an SVT though, It holds plenty of value for me. Although I'm pretty sure that the new performance focus will be amazing and I'll probably park my SVT for it. I mean come on, a new SVT factory turbo focus? yes please.