3.5iS- will this be a classic?

Burgy100

Burgy100

Member
 UK
I am so sorry to bring this prickly subject up again. I mentioned to my wife about chopping it in for the new up and coming Z4 but she is totally in love with our car and is convinced with the rarity of this model it's worth keeping it as our forever car and settle up the finance on it in 18 months time! With its drop dead good looks and designed inside and out by two female designers she feels in 10 years time it will still look good and will become a desirable car. What do you think and be brutally honest please! Thanks
 
Decide if it's a car you want to drive for the next 10 years and then it it becomes a classic all well and good.
If not, then sell or trade when something comes along like the new Z4 which you prefer. Life's too short.

Personally, while the 35iS will be the one that people seek out, I don't see it as a potential classic
 
Can't see it being a "classic". It prices will continue to fall unless you keep the miles off it and one day, maybe it'll be worth a few £££££'s. Look at the prices of truly mint pov spec e21's.
 
Time will tell. But as a number of people here, would not swap there E85 or E86 for one, I have my doubts. :wink:

Ask your self, what is the 35IS USP. For me personally it simply doesn't have one. A very fine swift comfy mode of transport, just not quite special enough in any department. :wink:
 
[ref]Burgy100[/ref], I'm not sure how the two female designers would make the car a classic. However, the fact that it wasn't overly popular during production means it's doubtful that it will become a classic. If it was an M, it would be a different story. That said, the iS models do still command a premium, because there are only 435 of them about, particularly those with a high spec.

I own one, I enjoy it, and I'll keep it for as long as it sits my lifestyle. I didn't buy it as an investment :D
 
Honestly.. I highly doubt it. E85/6 possibly, m's for sure. But e89 not going to happen.
 
I suppose it is possible that the 35is will eventually become a classic, but it will definitely be more than a decade before it happens.

Do you really want to keep it that long?

Maybe wait and see what reviews are like for the new Z4 before you decide! :lol:
 
Drive it and enjoy it, who gives a f**k if it will be a classic in 20 years.

If the doom mongers are to be believed the massively inflated classic car market is about to take a great big dump anyway
 
Classic doubt it, as it never had the appreciation when it was a production model.

However, I believe it will retain its price, as for its BHP and brute speed and limited numbers - will help.

However, it was given an "M" badge different story.

But miles on the clock will be a key factor.
 
When you see some of the cars out there that are demanding big money that were ten a penny 30 years ago anythings possible.
You just have to wait long enough.
 
It won't be a classic, but it will be very rare in 20 years.

Bmw dealers do offer good prices on them, to snap them up used. Ive been offered great prices on mine and they are quite open about why. Not many made and unique 'bits' (they talk of exhaust etc not shared with other models).

Mine will be gone in 12 months though. God knows whats next.
 
Well people thanks for your views.....as I suspected. Still it's the best car I have ever driven and will enjoy it for what it is a great touring car that sounds fab! Person across the road has just bought a brand new M3 saloon and to be honest the exhaust note sounds terrible!
 
Due to the low numbers of these around prices should be very stable. Only around 400 in the UK, meanwhile thousands of Z4Ms. While the Z4M is classed as a "classic" due the fact it is an "M", you can rest easy knowing that your 35is spanks and outperforms the M in every department.

Back to your original question, will it become a classic? Doubtful, will prices be stable? Yes the low amount of these makes for a nice tight market. The biggest upcoming factor of these is the G29 Z4, the pricing of that is crucial, if they price upmarket it will be beneficial, the release of a new M version will likely bring Z4M prices back down eventually too.
 
sunnydays said:
Due to the low numbers of these around prices should be very stable. Only around 400 in the UK, meanwhile thousands of Z4Ms. While the Z4M is classed as a "classic" due the fact it is an "M", you can rest easy knowing that your 35is spanks and outperforms the M in every department.

Back to your original question, will it become a classic? Doubtful, will prices be stable? Yes the low amount of these makes for a nice tight market. The biggest upcoming factor of these is the G29 Z4, the pricing of that is crucial, if they price upmarket it will be beneficial, the release of a new M version will likely bring Z4M prices back down eventually too.
Click to expand...

According to details supplied by another forum member there were 617 M Roadsters and 588 M Coupes built to UK spec, so not exactly "thousands" of them!

Will the 35is become a classic - I doubt it as straight 6 turbos are fitted to so many BMWs of late (and there was no manual option)! M135i, M140i, M235i, M240i, M2, 335i, 435i, M3, M4 - plus a few more!
 
Mr Tidy said:
(and there was no manual option)!
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maybe the 35i with manual and m aero package will then be the future most sought after :)
There are loads of examples of oldtimers where the manual box variant is far more coveted than the automatic.
 
GuidoK said:
maybe the 35i with manual and m aero package will then be the future most sought after
There are loads of examples of oldtimers where the manual box variant is far more coveted than the automatic.
Click to expand...

Well that may happen - manual Z4Ms seem much more desirable than any E89! :P
 
sunnydays said:
Due to the low numbers of these around prices should be very stable. Only around 400 in the UK, meanwhile thousands of Z4Ms. While the Z4M is classed as a "classic" due the fact it is an "M", you can rest easy knowing that your 35is spanks and outperforms the M in every department
Click to expand...

:roll: you really are a knob :lol:
 
Contrary to how it feels today, the Jaguar E type was floundering at it's death in June 1974. The Company just couldn't sell them and had fields full of them parked up with no where to go.

Different story 40 years on. Admittedly, the car has generated a lot of design and aesthetic appreciation that was only partially acknowledged in it's day, but for what it was and did - it was a standout car (for some). Used values went way down low before they hit the eye watering overpriced levels of today.

Now I'm not comparing the Z4 with an E type (the world caught up and overtook that "standout car") and if you remove the emotion the Z4 is a much better car anyway. There are also so many good cars about today we're spoilt for choice, but the Z4 (especially the "35" variants) have a lot going for them. They may not have sold in huge numbers but owners tend to love 'em and I suspect many are in longer term ownership because the fad hasn't yet worn off. And 2 seater sports cars tend to have a wider classic appeal, with "curvy" cars more so than "angular" (imo).

So, if you'd asked an E type owner back in the day if his car was going to be a classic? ............ Nah!

I'm not so quick to write the Z4 off. But it may be just a case of how long you have to wait.
 
bob4333 said:
Contrary to how it feels today, the Jaguar E type was floundering at it's death in June 1974. The Company just couldn't sell them and had fields full of them parked up with no where to go.

Different story 40 years on. Admittedly, the car has generated a lot of design and aesthetic appreciation that was only partially acknowledged in it's day, but for what it was and did - it was a standout car (for some). Used values went way down low before they hit the eye watering overpriced levels of today.

Now I'm not comparing the Z4 with an E type (the world caught up and overtook that "standout car") and if you remove the emotion the Z4 is a much better car anyway. There are also so many good cars about today we're spoilt for choice, but the Z4 (especially the "35" variants) have a lot going for them. They may not have sold in huge numbers but owners tend to love 'em and I suspect many are in longer term ownership because the fad hasn't yet worn off. And 2 seater sports cars tend to have a wider classic appeal, with "curvy" cars more so than "angular" (imo).

So, if you'd asked an E type owner back in the day if his car was going to be a classic? ............ Nah!

I'm not so quick to write the Z4 off. But it may be just a case of how long you have to wait.
Click to expand...

Not sure that the E-type is the best analogy to use - on it's release, Enzo Ferrari said it was the most beautiful car in the world - so it's appreciation was hardly lukewarm back in the day.

I think a better comparison is the Golf - Mks 1 and 2 - generally held up as the benchmark setters of their day, before the lacklustre Mk3 and 4, with a return to form with the Mk5 onwards. If the new Z4 is hailed as a world class example of it's type, will the E89 be damned by history as the equivalent of the Mk3 and 4 Golf? Time will tell....

I suppose though, the 35iS will always be sought out and have a market - Mk4 Golf R32's hold a premium over the less well regarded GTi
 
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