Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Asset or not?

In the past I viewed my classic cars a 1930's Austin and later a 1960's TR as an apprecating asset and indeed the increased value of the TR enabled me to become the proud owner of a 2006 4/4. However with the increasing amount of emission regulations and that my 4/4 will not enjoy exemptions as my previous age related "classics" I suppose l should consider it a depreciating asset.

I've always viewed my Morgan as something I've enjoyed. I couldn't care less if its value has gone up or down or what happens to its value in the future.

Exactly this.

Morgans seem to defy depreciation, or at least that is what I have been told. I always thought that was due to the long waiting list - was 5 years when I first found out about these lovely cars decades ago. But now I am not so sure, looking at the prices for new ones over the last 15 years every now and then the price jumps up when you are not looking. I have a feeling buying one and selling it ten years later you will not lose as much as say a Toyota Corolla because the cost of a new Morgan has a gone up in the last ten years a lot more than the Corollas has.

Maybe decades ago you could order a Morgan, wait 5 years, pick it up and order a new one straight away, then in 5 years when that one turns up sell your current car without losing that much because the buyer either has to buy yours or wait 5 years for what he would chose. Now I feel that changing to a new Morgan every 5 or so years would be an expensive exercise.

Interesting that you mention your 4/4 doesn't enjoy the exemptions. Recently I met someone who owns 5 old cars all over 30 years of age. He drives a different one to work every day even though the historic registration he is on means the car should only be driven for club functions or to a garage to be fixed. He told me if he go pulled over he would claim the battery was flat so he is just taking it for a drive to work to charge it up and make sure the car is working fine before the weekend when there is a club function. His registration and insurance for 5 cars is a lot less than one modern car. While chatting to him walking from the car park to work he mentioned his brother in France owns classic cars because it means he can drive to work and not have to keep buying new cars to meet the rules. Not sure but I think to drive into Paris a car must be over 30 years of age, or under 10 years and use less than X grams of CO2 per KM etc. Listening to him I had a vision of Paris being full of 1960's sports cars puffing out all the nasty gases that pre Catalytic converter cars do because the owners find that more fun and is easier than keeping up with the regulations - probably not what the law makers are expecting.

+1

A 2006 4/4 may well be a classic shape but it isn’t a classic car, nor will it be so, until many, many more years have passed. Although my +4 was recently valued for insurance purposes at £500 above what I paid new 8 years ago, taking into account inflation and the price of replacing it, it’s not really appreciating in real terms. Now if I were lucky enough to own a Series 1 E type....that’s true appreciation!

I enjoy mine and it has not lost value in £ terms though in constant money it has. But nothing like depreciation on my tin tops.

Like many others I purchased my Morgan solely for my pleasure, I considered the cost a loss immediately, as I have no intention of ever selling it. So appreciation or depreciation is not a concern.
Smiles for every mile travelled and great pleasure to many by passers. What a fantastic investment in happiness.

I begged, borrowed and stole the money to get my Morgan. I'd wanted one since I was in my early teens and thought that if I don't get one now I'm 50, I never would. Hopefully will have paid her off in about 4 more years.

No intention to ever sell. If it gets to the stage when I can't drive her, I'll pass her on to the next generation as a family heirloom (she was built by my Grandad after all). If no-one wants her, I'll donate her to a Motor Museum (been to several that don't feature a Morgan in their collections)

Couldn't agree more, use it and enjoy it.

For me, the value of the car is in how much enjoyment I have in it, not whether it's value has gone up or down.