First Investment Car: What to Buy (and Avoid) to Not Lose Money

Buying your first investment car is exciting — but it’s also where most car guys lose serious money.

The mistake isn’t passion.
It’s buying the wrong car.

If I were starting again today, here’s exactly what I would and wouldn’t do to avoid buying a bad car that depreciates and instead own a car that actually holds — or grows — in value.

What I Wouldn’t Do: Buy Modern Performance Cars That Depreciate

Most first-time buyers are drawn to modern performance cars because they feel special.

Unfortunately, they’re some of the worst investment cars you can buy.

BMW M4 (F82)

The BMW M4 is a perfect example of how hype doesn’t equal value retention.

• Depreciation: ~$55,000 lost over 11 years

• Oversupplied

• Not the last of its kind

• No scarcity premium

Great car to drive.
Poor car to invest in.

Mercedes-AMG GT

The Mercedes-AMG GT tells an even more painful story.

• New in 2015: $150,000

• Today: ~$50,000

• Loss: $100,000 in just over a decade

Modern AMG models are produced in high volumes, refreshed constantly, and replaced quickly — all ingredients for depreciation.

What I Would Do: Buy Investment-Grade Cars With Scarcity

Instead of buying modern performance cars, I would focus on investment-grade cars with three key traits:

• Underappreciated at launch

• Limited supply

• Cultural or engineering significance

Audi RS2

The Audi RS2 is a textbook investment car.

• Porsche-engineered

• First true RS model

• Limited production

Value increase: ~$75,000 over the same 11-year period

This isn’t hype — it’s scarcity meeting demand.

Ferrari 355 GTS

The Ferrari 355 GTS is another standout example.

• Naturally aspirated V8

• Manual gearbox

• Classic Ferrari proportions

Value increase: ~$125,000 over 11 years

This is exactly the type of car collectors chase as modern cars become more digital and less emotional.

The Real Secret to Buying Your First Investment Car

Buying a good investment car isn’t about brands or performance figures.

It’s about:

• Buying cars people will want in 10–20 years

• Identifying last-of-their-kind engineering

• Avoiding oversupplied modern models

Most people learn this after losing money.
You don’t have to.

Don’t Buy the Wrong Car That Loses You Money

I’ve helped 5,000+ car guys move from buying depreciating cars to owning cars that hold or increase in value.

That’s why I’ve spent a silly amount of time building a non-generic list of the 100 best investment cars to buy — cars that are:

• Underappreciated

• Last of their kind

• Where the market of buyers is growing

👉 Click here to access the list and avoid expensive mistakes