Ford GT Appreciation

[maxemus]

Ernie
You obviously haven't been in touch with the market as of late. If you bought new, you got in at the GROUND level. Anybody that has acquired one in the last 3-4 months (myself included) bought in at the height of the craziness. You made out like a bandit, my friend!

Ed
The other way around. When I got in I was competing with guys spending 300k and during the height of the real estate bubble. There was money everywhere. I didn't pay that much but still paid way over retail. I didn't see another GT or heard of another GT for several months after I got mine.
What I was trying to say is that in my opinion the pleasure of driving these cars far outweighs any monetary gains from appreciation derived from low miles.

 

[bonehead]

Ed
The other way around. When I got in I was competing with guys spending 300k and during the height of the real estate bubble. There was money everywhere. I didn't pay that much but still paid way over retail. I didn't see another GT or heard of another GT for several months after I got mine.
What I was trying to say is that in my opinion the pleasure of driving these cars far outweighs any monetary gains from appreciation derived from low miles.

You said it, brother! After a few weeks of work-imposed slumber, I'm finally taking the GT out this weekend. Can't wait!

 

[GTMikey]

Say what now? You can put 20,000 more miles on it if you'd like and I'll gladly take it off your hands for free

I was offered $40k more than I paid for it when i bought it from Shelby a week ago with 8100 miles on it. Not for sale, love it too much and my kids would cry if the "Mach 6" wasn't in the garage. My spin out last week scared me straight, respect the animal.

 

[mal]

Whilst I am and will keep driving mine - it is nice to know that you are not throwing away money as you do it!

 

[Wwabbit]

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, bur rather to skid in sideways, covered in scars, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, 'Yahoo! What a ride!' "

So with that popular quote in mind: I've replaced smashed body panels, hurt engines, broken tranny, etc. I have a pitted front windshield, paint chips & 42,000+ miles on the odo. I plan to use the GT for what it was designed for - fun, fun, fun! I'll let the family worry about the resale value when I am gone or too feeble in mind or body to drive it anymore.

Ed

Works for me. Party on.

 

[AHudson]

Ed
What I was trying to say is that in my opinion the pleasure of driving these cars far outweighs any monetary gains from appreciation derived from low miles.

Agreed completely. The interesting thing to me is that this car makes it possible to enjoy both. Just turned 33k miles and loving it.

 

[jcthorne]

I was completely unprepared for how much I love driving mine. Never thought I would put so many miles on it and enjoy every one. My car is going to turn 20k today. On my way to Keel and Wheels down at the Yacht club where it will be displayed this weekend. Spent the last week with the car on jack stands being detailed and primped for the show. I loved every minute of the 'work'. Car looks 'nearly' as good as the day Shelby delivered it to me

It is interesting to watch the values of the cars climb, its just so different from other cars. Parts prices are worry some but will not prevent me from driving the car. At least most of what one needs to drive and maintain the car is readily available.

 

[soroush]

keels and wheels is this weekend?

 

[jcthorne]

Yes, set up is today. Show is tomorrow and Sunday. Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook.

 

[GTJack]

For all you folks enjoying driving your GTs, I can say I am getting jealous. We are having snow here today, May 3!! I got the car all ready a couple of weeks ago and the weather has been cold and rainy since. Here's hoping for next week. And no, I would not trade where I live for being back in Houston or Dallas.

 

[twobjshelbys]

I was offered $40k more than I paid for it when i bought it from Shelby a week ago with 8100 miles on it. Not for sale, love it too much and my kids would cry if the "Mach 6" wasn't in the garage. My spin out last week scared me straight, respect the animal.

I got in just in the nick of time. Mine is a low miles Heritage. I'd seen a Tungsten with medium miles (the color I was originally looking for and miles I wouldn't be afraid to drive it more). I was offered 30K cash plus the Tungsten for the Heritage.

For all you folks enjoying driving your GTs, I can say I am getting jealous. We are having snow here today, May 3!! I got the car all ready a couple of weeks ago and the weather has been cold and rainy since. Here's hoping for next week. And no, I would not trade where I live for being back in Houston or Dallas.

Probably the storm we got here this week. We ended up getting about a foot or so, but it didn't stick to the pavement but they did drop some sand and mag chloride down. I'm going to try to take mine to the Cars & Coffee tomorrow.

 

[dbk]

It is interesting to watch the values of the cars climb, its just so different from other cars. Parts prices are worry some but will not prevent me from driving the car. At least most of what one needs to drive and maintain the car is readily available.

It's pretty similar to what happens with the low volume Ferraris. Those trade hands in smaller numbers but bigger prices. 1 of 4000 Ford GT at $200k is an easier pill to swallow than 1 of 400 Enzo at $1.2 million. Neither has a successor within 10 years. Ford GT probably won't within 15 as a best case scenario. Maybe 20-30-40. Who knows? I was up at SVT all morning and saw the new (old) Ford GT bought by a guy on his way up the ladder at FMC who I think would be a guy that could make a new supercar program happen, but we're still talking years, and it wouldn't be a car that has anything to do with this one. Analogue supercars are dead. It is what it is, and whatever you get from here on out is gonna have lots of knobs, switches, modes and electronics. I think that makes cars like the Ford GT, Carrera GT, desirable from here on out.

I'm not saying it's bubble world yet, but I do think there are people out there who have been playing up bad information and just general bullshittery on Ford GT values and conditions as part of a long term play. Beware the guy that tells you "Oh I don't care about the money, I just bought it to drive this bad boy!" yet only accrues 3k miles in 8 years while telling everyone 50% of the cars have been junked.

 

[Xcentric]

The GT also has a few market makers...not exactly like DeBeers is with diamonds...but less than a handful of exotic car specialists are able to, at a minimum, support prices. Obviously, the demand has to be there too, but it's not exactly a free market out there. P.S. I don't care about the money. Mine had 3k miles when I got it last June and I just crossed 9k. :biggrin

 

[gtjim]

For all you folks enjoying driving your GTs, I can say I am getting jealous. We are having snow here today, May 3!! I got the car all ready a couple of weeks ago and the weather has been cold and rainy since. Here's hoping for next week. And no, I would not trade where I live for being back in Houston or Dallas.

Rain, ice and snow here also. Jeeeez ... Won't be long before its out though! I like where these "what is it going to be worth" end up ... Drive the damn thing! Reading this reminds me why I bought mine also. I bought it to play with, sometimes I need to be reminded of that. Thanks for doing that, folks! This conversation has given me the incentive to get a couple of dates reserved to rent a small local track this year!

 

[timcantwell]

After five GT's and dozens of other exotics the FGT is still my favorite!

 

[RALPHIE]

After five GT's and dozens of other exotics the FGT is still my favorite!

:agree:

 

[GTMikey]

I'm not saying it's bubble world yet, but I do think there are people out there who have been playing up bad information and just general bullshittery on Ford GT values and conditions as part of a long term play. Beware the guy that tells you "Oh I don't care about the money, I just bought it to drive this bad boy!" yet only accrues 3k miles in 8 years while telling everyone 50% of the cars have been junked.[/QUOTE]

I always see or hear this large number of wrecked cars and always thought it was way high as you indicated earlier. No doubt it's a big number and it will always be "hear say" since there is no way to really know. All of us who drive them know how easy it is for these cars to get away from you if you slip up 1x. I think the fact that these cars rarely make it to auction and last in Shelby's showroom for about 3-4 days speaks volumes about any type of value. One day one of these 10 mile Heritage's will show up somewhere at auction and it will be interesting to see the fireworks. I've enjoyed all 8200 in mine....

 

[mal]

As cars get older the mileage is less important than overall condition and service history - sometimes very low mileage on a 20 year old car can be a disadvantage eventually. I do not see what the hang up is over mileage. If you dont want to use your car buy a painting and stick it on the wall - why waste garage space.

 

[jcthorne]

The GT also has a few market makers...not exactly like DeBeers is with diamonds...but less than a handful of exotic car specialists are able to, at a minimum, support prices. Obviously, the demand has to be there too, but it's not exactly a free market out there. P.S. I don't care about the money. Mine had 3k miles when I got it last June and I just crossed 9k. :biggrin

This notion has been mentioned in different terms several times and while the small number of cars creates a small market, its the demand that drives prices, not the specialist dealers. If it was truly the dealers, the prices would have risen MUCH more quickly in years past. Truth is, the dealers are having to pay more to keep any inventory and its moving at the current prices. Comparing market general prices to advertised dealer prices, I really don't see the known GT dealers making any higher markup rate for their services than they did say 2 years ago. Its always going to cost a bit more to buy through one of the dealers, its the dealers services you are paying for. Worth it to some, and not to others. Its still a big enough market that its moving on simple supply and demand. I don't see any of the dealers hoarding cars for inventory to drive up prices. Heck, if anything the available inventory is much less as the cars are moving.

 

[jcthorne]

After five GT's and dozens of other exotics the FGT is still my favorite!

And I for one am personally grateful that you only own 4 of them now!