Top 10s: Collectible Cars of 2012

By John LeBlanc

Let's make this clear: no one buys a new car as an immediate investment. That age-old bugaboo called depreciation ensures that a couple of years down the road (let alone a couple of decades) your new set of wheels won't be worth what you paid for it when it was driven off the lot.

Yet a select few of the hundreds of different models available in Canadian showrooms have the potential to someday become future collectibles. To help with your choice, the collector car insurance experts at Hagerty put out an annual "Hot List" of current new cars with an MSRP of less than $100,000 U.S. they predict will one day become collectibles.

No. 10: Audi TT RS — $67,600

What Hagerty says: 'For people who won't buy a Porsche because they haven't won Le Mans in quite a while, the Audi TT RS is the answer. This is a car with global appeal, which means it will have global demand several decades down the road.' What John says: Audi's VW Golf-based TT has never really threatened the class-leading Porsche Boxster/Cayman duo until now. The RS version, with its 360-hp 2.5-litre turbo five-cylinder, offers head-snapping acceleration, locked-down high-speed stability and agile handling traits, plus Audi's legendary Quattro. All in all, it's the first TT to raise the hair on the back of an enthusiast's neck and does a fair deal to shake off the TT's wallflower image.

No. 9: Dodge Charger SRT8 — $48,095

What Hagerty says: 'What won us over is the giant touchscreen in the centre of the dash. And not for the reasons you are thinking. It has 'performance pages' that keep the driver up to speed on performance statistics such as available horsepower and torque.' What John says: Touchscreens are nice, but we are more impressed with the Charger SRT8's 470-hp 6.4-litre V8. Yeah, it's a Hemi. And it makes the big sedan go from 0 to 100 km/h in under five seconds, topping out at over 280 km/h. With a hugely improved suspension to contain all its underhood might, we think the Charger will be just the antidote 30 years from now when we're all driving toasters to work.

No. 8: Nissan GT-R Black Edition — $103,980

What Hagerty says: 'Until recently, this is the car that young people have only been able to experience in video games. It manages to squeeze 545 horsepower out of a six-cylinder engine. While the invoice price is out of reach for most in the younger generation, we predict they will remember these cars years down the road after their student loans are paid off.' What John says: The GT-R—a.k.a as Godzilla—may be expensive. But not when compared to some of the super cars it can go toe-to-toe with, like a $156,900 Porsche 911 Turbo. In similar fashion to a race team’s continuing development practices, in the four years since the GT-R was launched globally, Nissan’s engineers have been beavering away to make the 2012 model even quicker, handle better and be more livable for those who thought the 2011 car sacrificed refinement for all-out performance. The twin-turbo V6 with all-wheel-drive helping can get the Nissan coupe to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds—quicker than an Audi R8 5.2, and said  911 Turbo.

No. 7: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 — $58,000

What Hagerty says: 'Since 2005, the current generation of Shelby Mustangs has owned the king-of-the-hill position in the pony car segment. The new ZL1 Camaro with 580 horsepower brings Chevy back into the hunt and demonstrates that old school muscle is alive and well.' What John says: While some consider the late-1960s as the golden era for muscle cars, collectors in the future may look at the early 21st century as the true apex of cheap power. For under $60k, the Camaro ZL1 is a true bang-for-your-buck champ. The supercharged 6.2-litre LSA V8 ignores the Camaro's hefty weight, rocketing it to 100 km/h in under five seconds. Better yet, the noises and sounds from the ZL1 will no doubtably be soon rare — hard to imagine any future electric car making the rumble and roar the Camaro does.

No. 6: Porsche 911 — $93,700

What Hagerty says: 'The Porsche legacy is built around the 911. Each generation features fun, accessible used cars that eventually swell in value. If you are most concerned about a car holding its value over the long term, then this is the car on this list to buy now and lovingly keep.' What John says: With so many variants (coupe, cab, Targa, AWD, Turbo, GT-models...) perhaps the biggest decision here is 'which 911?' For the most collectible, we recommend the just-announced 911 Club Coupe, which was created to honour the original 13 members of the Porsche Club from 1952. The only way to get ahold of one is to be a member of the Porsche Club; being a member gives you the chance to be enrolled in a lottery draw that gives you the chance to purchase one.

No. 5: Volkswagen Golf R — $39,650

What Hagerty says: 'The Golf's ancestor, the Mk.I GTI from the early 1980s, is now a legitimate collectible, and the rare 2004 Golf R32 is headed in that direction. The new, all-wheel-drive Golf R is geared towards someone who enjoys driving, and it evokes the same 'pocket-rocket' characteristics of its forbearers.' What John says: I can't argue with Hagerty here. VW Canada is only bringing 500 copies of the Golf R four-door (not the two-door pictured) for 2012, with no guarantee a 2013 model will appear. While you're waiting for your Golf R to attain collector car status, feel free to enjoy its excellent, well-rounded driving abilities. Like the old R32s, the 2012 Golf R puts its power to all four wheels. But instead of using the R32's narrow-angle six-cylinder, a turbocharged 2.0-litre four making 256 hp and 243 lb.-ft. is used.

No. 4: Fiat 500 Abarth — $23,995

What Hagerty says: 'With a 160 horsepower, 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, Abarth-tuned suspension, brakes and dual exhaust, the latest in-house-tuned Fiat recalls the 'small but wicked' models from the past. Fiat's performance division also includes complimentary admission to the Abarth Driving Experience with each purchase. The cognoscenti line has formed.' What John says: While the standard Fiat 500 is a relatively tame little runabout, the Abarth lights a fire under its cute shape. All that extra power helps. But the no autobox policy, bigger wheels and tires, and a suspension that flattens the regular Fiat's cornering attitude make the Abarth the 500 for drivers. I also like that the Abarth is a bargain. The Fiat is about $6k less than the similarly sized Mini Cooper S. Maybe that's why all the 2012 models are sold...

No. 3: Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 — $55,395

What Hagerty says: 'Let's face it: Americans (and Canadians) love SUVs. The problem is most SUVs don't handle as impressively as they look. The SRT8 version of the Grand Cherokee takes the rugged, go-anywhere look of an SUV and combines it with performance characteristics that would earn respect on a race track.' What John says: I already like the big Jeep, mainly because its bones are shared with the sophisticated Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Adding a 470-hp 6.4-litre V8 and a new independent rear suspension allows the SRT8 version to duke it out with brute-utes costing twice as much, like the BMW X5 M, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, and the 'Benz M 63 AMG, the SUV the Grand Cherokee most resembles. Like the majority of Hagerty's picks, it's hard not to see the Grand Cherokee SRT8 as a unique vehicle that's likely to be a rare beast in the future.

No. 2: Ford Mustang Boss 302 — $48,799

What Hagerty says: 'Ford is calling this a 'race car with a license plate,' and it pays homage to the original and very collectible Boss 302. It's a beast on the race track, yet tame enough to drive on the street -- and all for less than $50,000.' What John says: The new Boss 302 is the most track-ready Mustang ever. Its 444-hp splits the difference between the Mustang GT and the Shelby GT500. But it's the Boss 302's ability to nail an apex that's sets it apart. From its NASCAR-inspired adjustable front splitter to its tubular-steel X brace where the back seat used to be, all that's missing from the Boss 302 are numbers on it doors.

No. 1: Buick Regal GS — $40,900

What Hagerty says: 'It's been a long time since we could say, 'this isn't your Grandpa's Buick.' Surprisingly, at a time when so-called sportier makes don't offer real three-pedal manual transmissions, Buick is doing it with the Regal GS.' What John says: With all due respect to Hagerty, I didn't have the sportiest Regal on my radar when it came to picking future collectibles. The latest in a long line of Gran Sport — or GS — Buicks dating back to the original 1965 Skylark model, this new one is pure 2012: a small (2.0-litre) four-cylinder has been turbocharged to make 270 hp, with power going to the front, not the rear wheels. The Regal is based on an Opel, so it has the handling prowess the old Skylark driver could only dream of. We'll just have to wait until 2042 to see if the 2012 GS ends up as a true, future collectible.

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