Some cars don't get the mention they well deserve. Such cars, in most cases, never made the headlines, and not a lot of people know about them. Some of them have been produced recently, while others stretch back into the past. Everyone loves a good bargain, and this is particularly true when it comes to cars. There are strategies you can use to get the best deal when buying a car. The best strategy is to know the history of the car thoroughly. There's a Consumer Report issue that comes out every year in April, which highlights the most reliable used cars and their market estimates.
Updated May 2022: The used car market has lately gone haywire in the last few years. Classic cars are skyrocketing in value and dealers are marking up used car prices as much as they can. However, while the state of the market has changed a lot, some used cars are still undervalued and should be fetching much more than they do, making them great long-term investments.
A car generally depreciates by 31% after 2 years. This is acceptable, but there are some cars whose depreciation is way higher, and it has nothing to do with internal factors. This is the kind of cars we'll be focusing on. Their current market value doesn't reflect the worth of the car. This could be a blessing in disguise for car enthusiasts who know the real value of a car. If you're buying a used car, the general rule of thumb is you should buy a car that's at least 2 years old. The blue book value can also play a part in determining the cost of the car. Here are 22 undervalued cars that should be worth a lot more.
24 1973 Volkswagen Beetle ($10,000)
The VW Beetle is arguably the most iconic car of all time; it was meant for every single person and there have been more than 21 million of them manufactured since the 1930s. They weren't all that fast since most of them had between 25 and 40 hp, but they lasted a lifetime, were easy to maintain, and since they were manufactured in such large amounts, parts were, and still are, readily available. Just a few years back Beetles didn't cost near $5,000, but as time moved on, these got more desirable, and they still are rising in value to this day—after all, it's a piece of history.
23 2002 Honda S2000 ($20,000)
Finding a fun, analog sports car at a decent price is becoming significantly more difficult by the day, and that's why the Honda S2000 deserves a spot on our list. The S2k was a Japanese roadster built by Honda that made use of a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-banger fitted with Honda's enviable VTEC system. This made them good for around 240 hp, and since their engines were mated to a 6-speed manual gear lever, it just emphasized the Honda's exhilarating driving experience. These sports cars could usually be found for less than $10,000 just a few years back, but their prices have soared and will continue to do so.
22 2000 BMW M5 ($22,000)
The BMW M5 is the staple point at luxury sports sedans strived towards today, and back in its day, the E39's competition was tight with the Bavarians' rivals like Mercedes-Benz releasing strong competitors like the AMG Hammer. The 2000-year model M5 received a 4.9-liter naturally-aspirated V8 that exclaimed nearly 400 hp to just the rear wheels. So, on top of it looking badass, it sounded incredibly intimidating as well. Some E39 M5s can be picked up for below $20,000, but soon their prices will sit alongside that of the E34, if not even higher as the demand is increasing behind these super saloons by the day.
21 1971 Datsun 240Z - $30,000
The Datsun 240Z, also known as the Nissan S30, was the first Japanese racecar to conquer the world market. Japanese cars are known to have an economy image to them, but the Datsun changed the stereotype. The car came with a 4-wheel suspension for all the variants.
It had a 2.4-liter engine with the option of a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic transmission. The Datsun 240Z was a work of modern engineering and sleek styling, which was rare in vehicles in those days. You can get a Datsun 240Z for around $30,000, which is also dependent on the mileage and the condition of the car. The price is likely to go up as more people appreciate the value of the Datsun 240Z, and in the last few years, it has already increased by about $15,000.
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19 1989 Mazda FC RX-7 - $15,000
The Mazda RX-7 was on the assembly line for quite some time, and there have been so many amazing models over the years. You can get a used FC model for about $15,000, which might not be the true value since the car is worth more than that—look at the FD model for example which costs upwards of $70,000
The overall design was all about aerodynamics, and you'd think it's a rocket if you looked at it from the side. Even with about 800,000 units being produced, an untouched Mazda RX-7 has become a scarce sight, and you have to do some digging before you can find one that's in good condition. It's famous for its rotary engine design and comes with the option of either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.
18 1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four - $20,000
The GT-Four was a high-performance variant of the Toyota Celica back in the day; it had four-wheel drive and was destined to dominate any and all rally races it competed in. More specifically, there was one designed for safari rally and made its debut in the 1992 Rally Monte Carlo and went to win a total of 4 events that year. A car with such history should be worth a lot more, but guys aren't really concerned with the past. This is a genuine rally vehicle that's street-legal.
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16 1993 Volkswagen Corrado VR6 - $13,000
This car was dubbed the blueprint for future cars in terms of technology. There were a total of 97,521 units produced over the 7-year period, and it was dubbed one of the best cars to drive by various automotive magazines.
Even with such accolades, the Volkswagen Corrado is still undervalued and doesn't generate the same interest as the GTI models from Volkswagen. This specific Corrado came equipped with a VR6 motor, as the name suggests; it had a displacement of 2.9 liters, and six cylinders that produced more than 180 hp, and all of it was guided through a 5-speed manual transmission to the front wheels.
15 1975 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow - $18,000
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is the car that saved the company from sinking. There were concerns that Rolls-Royce was lagging behind in terms of automotive innovation, and the Silver Shadow was made to silence critics. The Silver Shadow was the first car from the company to use chassis construction and a unitary body. There was a major change from the model that came before it, the Silver Cloud, in terms of design. It had a long wheelbase variant, which was 4 inches longer than that of the normal Silver Shadow's to provide more legroom. There were 30,000 units produced for 15 years, and not a lot of them are still alive. The car currently is priced at around $18,000, which is a shame given its history.
14 1967 Fiat Dino - $120,000
The Fiat Dino doesn't come cheap, but that doesn't mean it was substantially valued during its time. The 'Dino' name came from the Ferrari Dino V6 engine, which was specifically produced by Fiat for Ferrari in Formula 2 racing.
The birth of the Fiat Dino was necessitated by Enzo's need for a homologate engine that could be used in Formula 2 racing. Fiat saw that the engines were too powerful to be used exclusively on Ferraris alone and decided to produce a road version with the same powertrain. The car came with a small Dino V6 engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. Only real car enthusiasts know the true value of the Fiat Dino.
13 1976 Citroën GS - $20,000
This has to be one of the most undervalued cars on the list in terms of price even though it's a very rare vehicle. It was on the assembly line for 16 years before it stopped production in 1986. It received a couple of accolades during its existence. It was voted 'European car of the year' in 1971.
It had advanced tech features with superior comfort. The exterior aerodynamic design was also class-leading for a car of its time, not to mention its different engine options ranging from flat-four engines to even a rotary engine. The GS was so successful that it had more than 5 assembly plants spread across the world. The car is now a shadow of its former self, and its rich history seems to have been buried for eternity.
12 1982 Mercedes-Benz W123 - $20,000
The W123 has been described as the epitome of Mercedes-Benz quality, and it has everything to do with the engineering and the craftsmanship that went into producing the car. You can get one that's still running for around $20,000, although you'll need to put in more work for it to look pristine. The car is slowly becoming a collector's item, and the price can only go up as the years pass. It marked a successful period for the car manufacturer, as over 2.6 million units were produced and sold in 10 years. The car has aged gracefully, and you can't help but appreciate the work that went into the exterior
11 1981 Lancia Montecarlo - $25,000
You've probably never heard of this car. Its name sounds more like a place in South America than a car. The Lancia Montecarlo was a sports car that was produced in Italy and was offered in a spider and a coupe version.
There were a total of 7,798 copies ever built, with 220 of them being competition models. There weren't so many Italian cars at that time that were destined for mass production, and the Lancia Montecarlo can be seen as a thoroughbred Italian sports car. It had a 2.0-liter Lampredi inline-four engine. For around $25,000, you can experience one of the rarest mass-produced sports cars from Italy that will skyrocket in terms of value.
10 1981 Porsche 924 - $16,000
It's not until recently that people have started to appreciate the Porsche 924, which was in production for 11 years. The price for one is around $15,000, but you can get it way cheaper if you know how to bargain. There were mixed feelings when it first launched with some critics claiming it wasn't up to standards with the Porsche line of cars since it was a joint project between Volkswagen and Porsche. It still managed to sell 150,000 units despite the negative publicity. The 1974 oil crisis and some not-so-friendly automobile enactments made it hard for Volkswagen to justify producing a sports car at that time. This might've been the reason for the partnership with Porsche, and the 924 was produced. Eventually, Porsche went and built their own 924 and called it the 944, and it had true Porsche blood.
9 1985 Fiat X1/9 - $13,000
This is one of our favorite cars from the '80s, and it's unbelievable you can get it for just $13,000. There were a total of 140,500 units produced in 7 years; all had retractable headlights, which were only found in high-end luxury sports cars at that time. The Fiat X1/9 shared the same engine with the Autobianchi 112, which was a very popular car in Europe in the '70s. Out of all the different X1/9 models, the convertible was the most popular because it was luxurious and looked like an expensive car even though it wasn't. $13,000 is a ridiculously low amount to pay for such a car, but sometimes, you can never understand how things turn out.
8 1991 Austin Metro - $5,000
This compact car provided convenient transportation for millions of people when it was in production from 1980 to 1998. The car was affordable and had a decent fuel economy too, which made it very popular with middle-class folk.
This British car was built to last, and you can get a low-mileage one for around $5,000. A car enthusiast will most certainly appreciate its value. You can still use it for daily commuting if you live in the city and are no complications with the engine, so you can even fix it yourself if you know your way around a vehicle. The car has been rebadged over the years with different names, but the reliability still stands out up to now.
7 1984 Renault Fuego Turbo - $10,000
The Renault Fuego was in production for just 3 years but was one of the best vehicles during its tenure. It was meant to replace the Renault 15 and 17 Coupes, and its engine and floorplan was heavily borrowed from the Renault 18. The Fuego Turbo paved way for a couple of car technologies that are still in use up to today. It was the first car in America to use the remote keyless system. The technology was invented by Paul Lipschutz, who was a Frenchman. It was later adopted on all Renault models. For $10,000 or less, you could get your hands on the Fuego Turbo, which was one of the most tech-rich cars from the '80s.
6 1988 Mercedes-Benz 190E - $6,000
The Mercedes-Benz 190E was a game-changer for the brand in terms of performance. It featured a new 5-link suspension and was the first compact luxury vehicle from Mercedes-Benz. There were 1.8 million examples sold, which makes it one of the most successful models to date from Mercedes-Benz.
The car had a 2.5-liter engine and buyers could either choose a 4-speed Tronic automatic or a 5-speed manual. The 190E just had to be successful because the company had spent close to $840 million on researching and developing the product. There aren't many left on the road, and you can get one for $6,000 that won't break down on the way home. The 190E also had a performance-orientated version called the Evolution, but that one has been soaring in price nowadays, so we won't be able to add it to our list.
5 1990 Bentley Turbo R - $18,000
You'd probably think we're bluffing if we said you can get a Bentley for less than $20,000, especially a high-performance luxurious one, but here we have the Turbo R. It inherited the same Turbo engine found in the Mulsanne Turbo. There were only 7,500 copies of the Turbo R produced, and we can't help but wonder why the value of the vehicle is so low. Under the hood, you get a 6.75-liter turbo Bentley V8 engine, which can produce up to 296 hp alongside a 3- or 4-speed automatic. Upon its release, the Turbo R had a base price of $211,000, which was very expensive at that time, and we're just waiting for it to climb back up