Also the 1987 Buick Grand National GNX is another sought after "mid-1980s" collectible. 1987 was the last year the Regal was made on a RWD platform before it went to the FWD W-platform in 1988.

 

The Allante was a fairly interesting car that GM managed to botch (As everything else they did) back in the late 1980's. It was a handsome car for its time. Its body was built by Pininfarina in Italy and I remember the Allante's ads boasting the fact that every new Allante body was transported from Italy into the US via a Boeing 747 Cargo jetliner.

I still see Allantes (Both hardtops and convertibles) in fairly good shape here in Miami. I don't know if there is a local club around though.

GM also made another handsome car at that time, the 2 seater Buick Allante. Don't know much about them, but at least shape wise they were handsome cars. Not sure if they were duds or not, but its been years since I have seen one on the road.

Oh and who could forget the 1989 Chrysler "TC" 2 seater by "Maserati"?

 

I don't think mechanically that MINIs will survive exceptionally long. They'll be pretty good...but not exceptional. That said, I think owners will want to keep them for an exceptionally long time and that is important. If MINI's continue to fire our imagination and motoring passions there'll certainly be some die-hards keeping them going. The car itself has real staying power even if the mechanicals fade as one might expect. Twenty years from now I fully expect to see MINIs around.

 

Do you meant they sold for 10-15k? (i.e. what they sold for in 1985) or did they not sell for the inflated price that the fool paid for it, thinking that it was wortk 30-40k now?

I think that is the real key question to longevity? There really is no other competition in the fun to drive category besides the miata. and unless the auto world catches on and makes alot of fun to drive cars (right now they think that the MINI is successful just becuase it is small and trendy ) The MINI will have very strong staying power even if they are a little more hassle.

 

Why you think MINIs will not survive exceptionally long?

 

That would be exceptional. I suspect 150K will be no problem though.

 

I suspect that the MINI can easily reach 250,000 if properly maintained. Our cars will not be low maintenance vehicles btw, as they require regular replacement of "expendables" every 15 to 30k miles. As a for instance, the rotors and brake pads are designed to be replaced together (soft rotors are meant to wear away at a faster rate than the actual pads). If we pay to keep our little beasties in top condition, I foresee 350,000 to 400,000 with no problem.

 

A little eh? Go price a supercharger rebuild (or a new replacement) and get back to us.

 

I certainly can't because my neighbor has one (ugly yellow color tho) who parks it right next to my MCS. Interesting car, nice interior finish.

Oh and on the very rare occasions I see a Caddy Allante it is still a head-turner....JB

 

Sorry, it was early 90s.

This car is an 86 930 Turbo http://www.barrett-jackson.com/aucti....asp?id=181973
sold for far less than when new. Aftermarket exhaust, no engine detail, just a car driven around. Another one, an 87, sold for $20K, All OEM parts and detailed.

For the Mustang http://www.barrett-jackson.com/aucti....asp?id=182599
car sold new at $27K sold for $30K. Car sat in a garage for 12 years and the commentators said the $3K didn't pay for the electricity. Total waste of a car. 1 of 1000 made

For the Camaro, http://www.barrett-jackson.com/aucti....asp?id=181839
one of 500 made. Sold much better

Now why? Camaro is more popular than mustangs and rarity

How does it relate to MINI? Rarity is important.

Mustangs are ubiquituous. 124,000 sold in 1994. 1 in 500 is better than 1 in 1000. 2005 MINI sales 40000. MINI has a chance at being a collectable.

 

... Do our brake pads and rotors really need replacing after 15 to 30k miles? I guess that gives me a good reason to do a brake upgrade...

 

Yes. BMW rotors are soft. Its not like the old days when you could turn down the rotors and keep on trucking ...

The price you pay for modern technology

Of course, you could buy these http://www.porsche.com/pccb/default.asp?market=PCGB
and they will outlast the car ... just dont ask the price.

 

It's not the collectible or monetary value for him. It's a Labor of love, he truly loves that car...always has. I think he just can't stand the thought of anyone else driving it...