I agree with your post. The xB has been my best winter car in the snow so far. And I've had a few. All but one were front wheel drive cars.

It is all about having 4 snow tires instead the stock tires. What a difference those snow tires will make!! I just bought 4 steel wheels from the dealer, and mounted my snow on them. When the weather gets bad, I put them on myself, and then it almost like having a 30 mpg SUV.

Now back to the thread:

I don't think the xB will ever become collectible, but I think time will show that they will not lose any of their resale value, and they will always be dependable, reliable, sought after transportation. Just think of an older Civic or Corolla.

 

It was in a TV show called "The LOOP" based in Chicago but the show took a dump after only a couple episodes.

FYI, on a different note... The xB is absolutely perfect in the snow. If you are having problems, you either can't drive or your tires are bald baloney skins.

 

Who really knows..I own a '72 Mustang Grande...try and find those..I've seen less than10 others here in AZ since my 10+ years of living here, its the most ugly Mustang ever made according to anyone you talk to...but who knows, because of that -in 10 more years I might have a goldmine.

I have an Oldsmobile a '66 in the same situation as the Mustang.

I also own another car that with current figures there might only be 6000 left in the entire world..and in my color combination even less (only one other in AZ that I know of) so even with 70k miles and a 20+ year car I can most likely sell it at a profit now.

Roughly 13,000 BSP Xb's produced in 2006 minus any totals in the next 20 years...I suppose only time will tell.......


So what does that tell you? Out of the 6 vehicles that I own (others not listed) 3 are considered ugly as sin and only one is worth a profit...my advise...enjoy your XB and if you keep it for 20+ years you might be lucky to own the next classic....

-Chris

 

I'd like to think that one day these cars will be a rare find, "the orginial" box
I bought mine solely for the purpose that in 18 years i won't have to by my kids a brand new car.... hahahaha :D

by the year 2030 though, there will probably be some rockin' new scions, but we can all say we own(ed) the original.

 

Either way, I'm keeping mine until the flying car goes into mass production!

 

not

 

I personally think it will. Even though they've been in japan for a long time, they took off quickly here in the states and with the new design going curvy, it makes the 1st gen a potential collectable.

I'm going to hang on to mine and am even thinking about buying another.

 

I think what's really going to determine if it will be a collector car in the future is when those of you that will be in your 40s and 50s in 20 - 30 years look back and think of the XB as a car that you really loved and wished you had again or really wanted but never had. That's what makes the collector cars today, not numbers. Numbers only make a difference if there were extremely few made like some of the muscle cars of the sixties that were only produced for the public so they'd be legitimate in certain racing classes.

 

I absolutely agree.

Blame boomers for jacking up prices on everything and anything they find nostalgic; to wit: designer ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, and muscle cars from the 60s, among other things.

Desire creates value. Disposible income makes it a reality - not limited supply. It doesn't matter only how many were made. You could own the only xB in the world, but if nobody else wants it, its value is nil. It's supply AND demand, not just supply.

The Mustang is valuable because it makes the boomer young again. At the time, it was the only car of its type for a huge demographic. Currently, there are many fun small cars made that are iconic for their brand, like the xB - Mazda Miata, new Mini come to mind. Plus marketing is much more specific and splintered. They are not all going to be collectable. There isn't a huge single demographic to reach, to create a huge demand, either.

It's a cult economy car that's already maxed out its demographic (weren't sales declining before the 07?). Future value would probably only be found in low milage, stock, 04 models, and even that's questionable.

 

Don't forget the generation that was too young and or poor to get the car of their dreams. The box is such a hit with kids who aren't old enough to drive yet.

I got my hands on a 68 VW bug shortly after getting my license back in 1981. They weren't easy to find back then in decent shape, not to mention now.

The last German built standard Beetle was sold in 1977. Only 30 years ago.
Like Chad said. I think that in combination with the xB death rate, (junked/totaled) over that time frame will effect its value. My guess is up. Like a supply-demand thing.

 

Yep, I agree, future demand would come from those without the means to drive an xB today.

But, really, there's lots of competition in the form of other cars, and the xB is only an uniquely styled economy car at best, not a luxury or performance ride.

Don't get me wrong - I love my box. It's the Hot Wheels I can drive. It's the closest to a marquee car I'll ever be able to afford. It's odd enough to ensure standing out in Massachusetts for its entire lifespan. It's a toy, loads of fun to modify.

It may stay a cult car, and remain an odd "what's that" car in the far future, but I just don't think that it ever will command much $$$.

 

i totally agree mycrisis, the box is a fun "hot wheels" you can drive! and there really aren't alot of them around here, I'm in RI. I think they MAY become collectible, especially the release series ones but who knows... I say enjoy your xb now while you have it. it's a great little car! i love my xb and am so GLAD i decided to go with it!! if it is that dependable and is still running in 20-30 years, then it is a good possibility. i mean, they've only been on the market for 4-5 years, who knows if they will even make it to 20-30 years?? i mean, they are toyotas in disguise so it's a good possibility..

now totally off topic, i hear the 08 xb's are gonna have 2.5 liter engines?? i can't wait for those, i definately want one!! bigger engines, yee haw!!

 

I don't think it will be worth alot of $$$.

But lets say it's resale value says about the same, and keeps up with inflation by the 20-year-mark.

I'd call that a collector car