How to Justify Buying Another Porsche
Mike PapamichaelShare the knowledge
Are Classic and Sports Cars the Investment Wheels of the Future?
For most people, cars are just a way of getting from A to B. But for a select few, they’re an obsession—a symphony of metal, petrol, and rubber that stirs the soul. And lately, they’ve also become something else: an investment.
Yes, we’re now living in a world where your dad’s old Porsche might be a better bet than the stock market, where classic Ferraris are outpacing fine art at auctions, and where a limited-run supercar can double in value before you’ve even put a mile on the clock. But what’s driving this madness? And is the dream of turning passion into profit really as straightforward as it seems? Let’s take a look under the bonnet.
The Great New Car Depreciation Disaster
Once upon a time, buying a brand-new car was a statement. A sign that you were doing well. That you’d made it. These days? It’s a bit like setting fire to a pile of cash—spectacular, but ultimately painful.
Take Aston Martin, for example. A company that makes some of the most desirable cars in the world… and is reportedly losing a million pounds a day. And then there’s Ferrari, the untouchable king of resale values. Even they’ve had a wobble. Their latest hypercar, the F80, comes with a hybrid V6—a technological masterpiece, no doubt, but try telling that to the die-hard V12 lovers who now have a mild existential crisis every time they hear the words “electrified Ferrari.” Sure, all 799 units sold out instantly, but will collectors in 20 years still be scrambling for a hybrid V6 Ferrari? That’s the multi-million-pound question.
Porsche, on the other hand, seems to have figured it out. While Jaguar is betting the farm on an all-electric future, Porsche is taking a more measured approach—keeping petrol-powered 911s alongside their EV lineup. Meanwhile, Jaguar is staring down the barrel of some serious depreciation as its all-EV strategy remains untested.
The Used Market: From Boom to Bust and Back Again
If you’ve been anywhere near a car auction in the past three years, you’ll know that the used car market has been on a wild ride. The pandemic threw everything into chaos—suddenly, used cars were worth more than new ones. Dealers were rubbing their hands together while buyers were left wondering how on earth a three-year-old Golf GTI was more expensive than when it was brand new.
But, as with all bubbles, reality eventually kicked in. Prices have finally started to correct, and some of the once-hyped models are now back down to sensible levels. The Porsche 992 GT3, for instance, which was commanding ridiculous premiums at launch, is now often found trading below its list price. The Ferrari 296? Same story. Meanwhile, early models of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, once fetching absurd markups, have softened significantly.
So, if you’ve been waiting for sanity to return, now might be the time to strike. But choose wisely—because not all cars are created equal.
Old-School Cool: Why Simple is Back in Style
It turns out that the key to making a car collectible isn’t horsepower, lap times, or even badge snobbery—it’s simplicity.
For proof, look no further than the Porsche 997 Carrera GTS. No turbochargers, no hybrid nonsense, just a naturally aspirated flat-six and a proper manual gearbox. People love it, and as a result, prices are climbing. In fact, some say the GTS variant is “the free car” because its value today is pretty much what it was when new.
And then there are resto-mods—cars that combine old-school charm with modern engineering. Think Singer’s air-cooled Porsche 964s, reimagined to perfection and sold for eye-watering sums. It’s a niche market, but it’s booming. The idea? Take a car that already has character and make it even better—without ruining what made it special in the first place. Sounds simple, but in reality, it takes serious skill.
Porsche’s Surprise Move: The Early GT3 Release
Speaking of Porsche, they’ve been up to something interesting. The 992.2 GT3 has arrived much earlier than expected—before even the Carrera S. Why? Because emissions regulations are tightening, and Porsche is doing everything it can to keep its glorious naturally aspirated 4.0L flat-six alive.
Enthusiasts, naturally, are delighted. No one really wants a hybrid GT3, and this could be one of the last chances to own a true high-revving masterpiece. It’s a clever move—launch it now, avoid future headaches, and keep the purists happy.
Could this be the last of the great naturally aspirated 911s? Possibly. And if so, it might just be the investment car of the decade.
Motorcycles: The Last Bastion of Purity?
If you really want a pure driving experience in 2025, maybe you shouldn’t be looking at cars at all. Maybe you should be looking at motorcycles.
Unlike modern cars—where screens, driving aids, and eco-modes have sucked the fun out of everything—motorcycles have remained gloriously simple. No overcomplicated tech, no unnecessary weight, just an engine, two wheels, and a direct connection to the road.
As cars get more complex, bikes are starting to look more appealing. And while motorcycles haven’t yet hit the same investment heights as classic cars, give it time—because as more collectors realise they miss old-school driving, they may start looking towards two wheels instead.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Car Collecting
So, what does all this mean for the future?
Well, it’s clear that simplicity, emotion, and heritage are what buyers want. Cars that make you feel something. Cars that don’t need software updates every five minutes. Cars that remind us why we fell in love with driving in the first place.
Whether it’s an air-cooled Porsche, a perfectly restored Ferrari, or a last-of-its-kind naturally aspirated GT3, the cars that will hold their value in the coming years are the ones that put the experience of driving above everything else.
And for investors? The rules are the same as ever. Buy what you love, buy what’s special, and most importantly—buy something you actually want to drive.
Because, at the end of the day, cars were meant to be driven.