2012 Hagerty Hot List: 10 Future Collector Cars Under $100,000

Scottsdale Auctions and Market Trends Highlight Next American- and foreign-built Classic Cars


TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (January 26, 2012) – Hagerty, the world leader in classic car insurance and host to the largest database of classic cars, today announced its annual "Hagerty Hot List" of new vehicles that stand above their mass-produced peers. The announcement comes on the heels of the annual Scottsdale collector car auction week, a Mecca for classic car enthusiasts and the place where collector car values are established for the year ahead. With so many world-record breaking sales and increasing values, consumers may be wondering what cars have the best future collectability.


"After more than twenty years of witnessing car-collecting trends, we have the unique ability to look at new cars through the eyes of a collector," said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance. "This year's Hot List includes cars that are sure to develop a cult-like following because their characteristics resonate with driving enthusiasts."


Each year Hagerty asks its team of valuations experts to select which mass-produced vehicles with a MSRP of less than $100,000 will one day become collectible. The 2012 Hagerty Hot List (along with base price) is:


1. Buick Regal GS ($32,535) – It has been quite a long time since we could say "that isn't your Grandpa's Buick." Surprisingly, at a time when allegedly more sporting makes don't offer real three-pedal manual transmissions, Buick is doing it with the Regal GS.


2. Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition ($48,100) – Ford is calling this a "race car with a license plate," and it pays homage to the original and very collectible Boss 302. It is a beast on the race track, yet tame enough to drive on the street – and all for less than $50,000.


3. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 ($61,785) – Let's face it, Americans love SUVs. The problem is most SUVs don't handle as impressively as they look. The SRT8 version of the Grand Cherokee takes the rugged, go-anywhere look of an SUV and combines it with performance characteristics that would earn respect on a race track.


4. Fiat 500 Abarth ($22,000) – With a 160 horsepower, 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, Abarth-tuned suspension, brakes and dual exhaust, the latest in-house-tuned Fiat recalls the "small but wicked" models from the past. Fiat's performance division also includes complimentary admission to the Abarth Driving Experience with each purchase. The cognoscenti line has formed.


5. Volkswagen Golf R ($36,000) – The Golf's ancestor, the MK I GTI from the early 1980s, is now a legitimate collectible, and the rare 2004 Golf R32 is headed in that direction. The new, all-wheel drive Golf R is geared towards someone who enjoys driving and evokes the same "pocket-rocket" characteristics of its forbearers.


6. Porsche 911 ($82,100) – The Porsche legacy is built around the 911. Every generation runs the course from being fun used cars for good buys to eventually swelling in value. If you are most concerned about a car holding its value over the long term, then this is the car on this list to buy now and lovingly keep.


7. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ($54,095) – Since 2005, the current generation of Shelby Mustangs has owned the king-of-the-hill position in the pony car segment. The new ZL1 Camaro with 580 horsepower brings Chevy back into the hunt and demonstrates that old-school muscle is alive and well.


8. Nissan GT-R Black Edition ($95,100) – Until this year, this is the car that young people in the U.S. have only been able to experience on video games. It manages to squeeze 530 horsepower out of a six-cylinder engine. While the invoice price is out of reach for most in the younger generation, we predict they will remember these cars years down the road after their student loans are paid off.


9. Dodge Charger SRT8 ($46,795) – What won us over is the giant touch screen in the center of the dash. And not for the reasons you are thinking. It has "performance pages" that feed input to the driver about performance statistics such as available horsepower and torque.


10. Audi TT RS ($56,850) – For people who won't buy a Porsche because they haven't won Le Mans in quite a while, the Audi TT RS is the answer. This is a car with global appeal, which means it will have global demand several decades down the road.


IS TOYOTA BACK?  (source: Autonews.com)

ASHTON'S KARMA (source: X17online)

NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR!
CNET CAR TECH AWARDS 2011 (source: CNET.com)

KBB NAMES TOP RESEARCHED CARS: (Source Autoblog)

BUY HERE PAY HERE UPDATE (Source: Used Car News)
RECALL FOR FORD UPDATE:  IF YOU HAVE A 2010 or 2011 FORD FUSION or MERCURY MILAN: CALL 1-866-436-7332.

GM DISCOUNT FOR CREDIT UNION MEMBERS: (source: GM)

INSURANCE INCREASE BY BECOMING A WIDOW(ER)? (source: The Consumerist)

DODGE DART IS BACK! (source: Autoblog)

NOVEMBER NUMBERS (source: Autoblog.com)

$8 PER DAY FERRARI 

WAS THE AUTO BAILOUT GOOD OR BAD? (source: Huffington Post)
$500,000 Mini Van? (source San Jose Mercury)

KBB BEST RESALE CARS (source Autoblog)

PORSCHE DELIVERY EXPERIENCE (source Car And Driver)

BUY HERE PAY HERE STORY (source: LA TIMES)

NIEMAN MARCUS CAR! - (source Autoblog)

CHEVY CAPRICE IS AWESOME - ANY YOU CAN'T GET ONE! (Source: Motortrend)

LA CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP MAY GET FINES - (source Autoblog)

CHEVY SPARK EV COMING SOON! (Source MSNBC)

ELECTRIC DeLOREAN IN 2013 (Source Jalopnik)

DATE MY RIDE? SHALLOW!

MOST POPULAR CAR COLOR IS... (source Autoblog)

STEVE JOBS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY  (source: Forbes)

WHAT % OF CARS ARE MADE IN THE USA? (source: NHTSA)

DODGE GET'S LOST IN IT'S JOURNEY (source: Jalopnik)

SPIKE TV HAS A NEW SHOW ABOUT CARS DEALERS (source: Autoblog)

CA DEALERS MUST PUT A STICKER ON IT! (source: Autoblog)

BEST CARS FOR THE BUCK (source: Yahoo!)

FOLLOW-UP ON PACKERS FAN/CAR SALES MAN FIRED FOR WEARING A PACKERS TIE TO WORK (source: Yahoo! Sports)

CAR SALES GUY SUES OVER "SUPER WEDGIE" (source: Autoblog)