Classic cars of the future revealed

The Audi TT is the modern car most likely to become a future classic, according to more than a third of drivers.

Despite only 5% having owned one, more than a third (36%) of people surveyed by classic car insurer Carole Nash thought the German sports car is the most likely to become cherished in years to come.

Most likely modern cars to become classics (by proportion of votes)

• Audi TT – 36%
• MINI hatchback – 30%
• Volkswagen Golf GTI- 22%€
• BMW 3 Series Coupé (E36) – 17%
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class – 16%

The study also found that younger drivers cherish their current cars more than older generations, with an astonishing 63% of 25 to 34-year-olds thinking their motor will one day be collectible – compared to just 16% of those aged over 55.

People in this age group were also found to spend more each month on keeping their car in mint condition, with 35% shelling out up to £1,800 per year, while the majority of all other age groups tend not to spend over £50 per month.

Carole Nash also asked Fuzz Townshend, presenter of Channel 4’s Car SOS and classic car restorer, for his top five future classics…

1. Mazda MX-5 – “If you’re looking for an easy to live with, future classic convertible, the MX5 fits the bill, with plentiful spares supply, great build quality and easy driving characteristics.”
2. Land Rover Discovery (Series One and Two) – “Land Rover is known for making products with great longevity and the Discoveries from the first 15 years or so of production are becoming sought after, especially the Series One versions.”
3. Jaguar XK8 / XKR – “Second generation XK8s and XKRs are still great looking cars, even though it’s ten years since production started – they are splendid grand tourers.”
4. BMW MINI – “Whichever version floats your boat, the style remains fresh, testament to design teams who have worked on the various models. There’s a growing scene based around these cars and personalisation is high on the agenda.”
5. Volkswagen Scirocco (third generation) – “The Volkswagen Scirocco’s third generation imprint really put the model back into people’s minds. The VW enthusiasts’ scene really takes some beating and even a car as new as this will be welcomed at most marque oriented events.”

“Predicting which everyday cars will become classics when they’re still new is very tricky, even for experts, but spotting which are holding people’s interest after just a few years and attracting groups of enthusiasts is a good clue,” said Rebecca Donohue, Head of Marketing at Carole Nash.

Polling more than 1,000 drivers across the UK and Ireland, Carole Nash quizzed motorists about which car they think has the greatest chance of becoming a future classic, off the back of launching its latest free prize draw.

The specialist classic car insurance broker is offering one lucky winner the chance to win an iconic 1991 Mazda MX-5 Eunos. To be entered into the free prize draw, simply contact Carole Nash for a classic car insurance quote by October 20. What’s more, existing classic car policyholders with Carole Nash will be automatically entered into the free prize draw.