6 Used Cars In The US That Will Make You Money

Cars and money - the ultimate give-and-take relationship. You give the car some go-fast goodies, it takes your money. Sometimes, though, you give the car absolutely nothing and it still takes your money. And that my friends is called depreciation.

There is, however, a way around this pitfall, and that is to drop back 15 years or so where you’ll find a slew of attractive autos that offer fun factor with the actual prospect of making you money in the long run. A few months back we mentioned six such cars in the UK market, and now we’re bringing you six more for US markets, where gas is cheap and fun is usually spelled vee eight.

These cars aren’t necessarily affordable for all, but neither are they crazy expensive. More importantly, thanks to a special combination of age, desirability, reputation and performance, their resale values have bottomed out and are poised to rise.

So think of these as investments, opportunities, or future classics, but money pits they certainly are not!

1. 2003-2004 SVT Mustang Cobra: $18,000 - $22,000

After getting thoroughly whipped by GM’s Camaro and Firebird war horses throughout the 1990s, not to mention the embarrassing fiasco of ‘missing’ horsepower in the 1999 SVT Mustang Cobra, Ford’s Special Vehicle Team went a little bonkers.

Officially, the ’03 Cobra’s supercharged DOHC 32-valve V8 was rated at 390bhp, but actual power was closer to 425. Nicknamed Terminator, the 2003-2004 Cobras have a reputation for dominating straight-line power with good handling manners thanks to its independent rear suspension. That’s why values for these cars never dropped much below $20,000, while standard Mustangs of the era are only worth half as much.

2. 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS: $7000 - $9000

There’s an undeniable cool factor that surrounds the Impala SS, going all the way back to its 1960’s namesake. Ditching the chrome and fitting fat tyres on five-spoke rims can make just about any big boat look good, but retooled suspension helped this two-tonne, body-on-frame monster cope with corners.

Meanwhile, its Corvette-sourced, 260bhp 5.7-litre LT-1 V8 gave it enough American grunt to easily atomize $400 worth of tyres in a massive smokey burnout. GM took away some of the Impala’s thunder by offering the same engine in the Caprice, Buick Roadmaster and Cadillac Fleetwood, but none have the Impala’s sinister swagger - nor Darth Vader’s approval.

3. 2000-2003 Honda S2000: $12,000 - $15,000

The only four-cylinder on this list is arguably the best four cylinder…in the world. If you’ve never driven an S2000, imagine being strapped into a roller coaster that isn’t attached to rails. How does the coaster turn you ask? Duh, with magic - the same way the S2000 does. Few vehicles in the history of everything motorised push all the right enthusiast buttons like the S2000, and though most people consider the second-generation AP2 models superior, we like the slightly more visceral feel of the first-generation S2000 - not to mention exercising the 2.0-litre’s delicious 9000rpm redline to enjoy all 240 horses.

4. 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6: $10,000 - $14,000

There were many causalities when the auto industry collapsed in 2008, and Pontiac was among them. That’s too bad, because the Firebird always seemed to have a bit more attitude than its Camaro sibling. Case in point is the 1998-2002 Trans Am WS6, rocking the nostril-flaring, dual ram-air hood intakes overtop the already prominent standard air intakes.

And it was no slouch on the performance front; the 5.7-litre LS1 V8 delivered 325bhp through either an automatic or six-speed manual, punching the Trans Am to 60mph in about five seconds while nailing a low 13-second pass in the quarter-mile. All of these final generation WS6 models are good investments, but we give a special nod to 2002 as the very last of the breed. If you can track one down, it’s definitely a keeper.

5. 1992-1994 Dodge Viper RT/10: $20,000 - $25,000

When the Viper concept car made its debut in 1989, nobody thought it would see production. And when it hit showrooms just a couple of years later, it even looked like the freakin’ concept car. But the similarities didn’t stop with appearance; the production RT/10 also had no ABS, no airbags, no traction control, no roof, no windows, not even proper door handles. But, with a 400bhp 8.0-litre V10 and a curb weight of 3200 lbs, it was also a no-compromise performance powerhouse.

The later models with their extravagant equipment (like windows) attract more buyers, which has allowed the early models to bottom out around $20,000. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more attention-grabbing supercar for less, and as people catch on to this, expect RT/10 prices to rise.

6. 1990-1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1: $20,000 - $30,000

The C4 Corvette isn’t exactly the poster child for America’s premier sports car, but there is an illustrious, shining beacon to emerge from this generation: the ZR-1. No, not the supercharged ZR1 (sans hyphen), the 1990-1995 ZR-1. This is a machine unlike anything else in Corvette’s history, because that 5.7-litre V8 isn’t the same familiar pushrod mill. This one is called LT5, and it spins four overhead camshafts to operate 32 valves, culminating with a screaming 7200rpm redline.

A high-revving, four-cam factory Corvette? Oh yes, and with 375bhp (405bhp on later models) it was truly a world-class supercar for the day with a top speed nearing 180mph. The earlier models offer the lower prices, as the later cars with more horsepower are quite rare and a bit more desirable. Still, the differences are small and ZR-1 values have been stable for a while, so if you want to own a part of Corvette history, now is definitely time to buy.

While you’re mulling over that second mortgage, take a listen to this modified LT5 turning 9200 revs.