Trophy for Life.

[stephenhunter]

Anyone planning not selling their Trophy and keeping it mint for the long term. I had thought about selling mine and getting 8.5 plus but,

On second thoughts a good Williams still makes 3k (1994) and my 1990 1.9 205GTI is worth 2k all day long. So 8500 today and keep it mint and it will still will be worth 3k plus in 10 years from now. Thats around £350 per year spread over the next 10 and you still have access to a cracking drive in the meantime.

For those who bought the Trophy as a toy and not as your main transport what are your thoughts. I do not really need to release the cash and feel it does not make sense to give it away. If I look at some of my shares at the moment it makes this seem more sensible every minute!

 

[scott]

Yes im thinking of keeping mine, and keeping it more or less standard.
I have also been thinking of buying a second hand engine and gearbox from a 182 and putting it in storage so if my goes boom boom i can replace it with a nearly new one, will probably have to do this soon though as most cliosports will soon start getting alot of miles on them.

 

[g40steve]

Had mine 2 years now, the only car i have ever kept that long.
Normally change every 9 - 15 months.
Still only on 14K, so still worth a good amount
Wife wants me to change, we will see :roll:

 

[reboot]

stephenhunter: Haven't made any decisions yet, but definitely in it for longer rather than shorter! Seems to be an easy car to keep in good condition too. didn't you sell 369 then?

scott: I like your plans, good idea! go for it!

g40steve: with all respect to your wife: don't listen!

 

[gareth]

had mine advertised for sale and after a few time wasters and a few dry weekends :wink: ive decided to do some track days any keep the tomato! never wanted to drive as much since owning the trophy

 

[Cue]

haven't kept mine standard but will definately be keeping it for the long term. I'll never sell it, only if i write it off will this be leaving me. And then only if it's serious enough not to be repaired for a pure track toy. Bionic woman stylee.

I'll be needing a 'family car' in the not too distant future, so will be on the look out for something like a 5 series estate, if the m5 drops enough in price it's in with a shout but probably a 3 ltr diesel would make more sense.

 

[Sam415]

I was going to buy Stephen's car but it was just too far for collection. It looked in fantastic condition. Stephen, I've now bought 415 from local seller and loving every minute - if the option is there, you should keep it!

 

[Cue]

a friend of mine bought a mint Escort RS - the one with the massive wing on the back in black a few years back as he'd been wanting one since they were launched.

Hardly ever drives it just 'dusts' it every other weekend, paid something like £25k for it, i wondered why at the time but i can fully understand it now. These cars will get rarer and rarer over the coming years and mint examples will go up in value, of that i have no doubt.

Did you see that mint mark 1 fiesta that went for £15k about 12 months back? only cost £2-£3k new!

 

[reboot]

Why, oh why did I sell my Mk1 Escort RS 1600? Was a long time ago now though.....

 

[Berty]

I'd love to keep mine, but the mileage is getting very close to 30k. Possibly in a year or two I'll be able to afford a cheap weekday runaround, possibly a small diesel fiesta or corsa that will cost nothing to run. It should then make me appreciate the trophy even more on weekends.

 

[stephenhunter]

Thanks guys and welcome to Trophy ownership Sam.

Trophy for the long term. If you look at what a good RS Focus fetches today it makes sense to hold on. As the cars get rarer the values will harden and at the end of the day is there any other hatch that will give you the same buzz on the twisties.

 

[Tommy]

I saw one of the first mini's that were ever made, it had done 3 miles, delivered from the garage to the house..and they kept it in storage ever since

Sold for 20+k on eBay about a year ago

That was 100% standard, just kept in garage doing nothing at all

Tom

 

[felix]

Hi, Stephen.

Interesting topic. Personally i'm surprised how many Trophy owners have already moved on. Especially with the motoring press not overly enthusiastic about the current hot Clios. But, as always, each to their own.
I always like to hang onto my cars for a very long time. Owned a 205 GTi in my twenties for over eight years and always regretted not buying one from new. The Trophy, in my opinion, is a modern day interpretation of that car minus the superb driving position! I love seeing an older car on the road ( 205 etc) that looks standard and is in outstanding condition. That's the plan with my Trophy. Keep it mint and standard.
I've owned 262 from new. It still has the original wiper stalk, cd player, acoustic valve and exhaust. This is what i like to see in cars- original, standard and imaculate. It's garaged and not used for work and i'm a non smoker. On occasion the interior still smells like new. When ever it goes in the dealer i always request they don't clean it! It's now only done just done over 14000 mls and i try not to use it when the roads are wet unless i have to! The car was professionally detailed last year by Gary at Refined Reflections and will be every twelve months while i own it.
The Trophys not perfect. The ride in 30 limits is crashy at times and the interior build quality is poor. But then i didn't buy as an every day means of getting from a to b or the supermarket.

Keep enjoying your Trophy. And in 15 years if you see a standard and stunning Trophy - hopefully it'll be me!

James

 

[g40steve]

^^^ for a year i thought like you.
Then i upgraded the brakes, exhaust & induction.
This is how it should of left the factory, the car is vastly improved, under braking & acceleration.
Combined on track with R888's & 15" rims the car is unbelievable.

 

[chunktrophy]

i love my trophy, the only reason i am gonna sell it is to get another clio v6 in a year or so. I have to have another 1!!! would be nice to have both though!

 

[Max]

Think the reason people move on from Trophys is the 'so many cars, such little time' mentality. I'm a victim of that myself, very nearly bought a R26 recently then realised that the only gain was a car that was two years younger. With the recent rises in fuel and road tax the Trophy makes even more sense. Have bought a van through work to put miles on so, hopefully, the Trophy will stay around 25k longer now.