1990 Red/Tan with low miles 57,000 miles no price

[Guest BJM]

1990 Buick Reatta

[KDirk]

Hmmm,

Very nice. Checked the dealers web site inventory listing, states "call for price" on this car. What is interesting is the payment/loan calculator applet has the down payment field pre-filled at $2000. Now, maybe that is standard procedure for all cars they sell (and appears it can be changed when entering the requisite figures), but that down payment amount makes me think they are seeking big money (and no whammies) for this car.

It is low(ish) on mileage, and looks very good, but I suspect they will discover the same problem that is now afflicting all of Reattadom: [presently] excessive supply and lack of interest and/or demand causing the collapse of selling prices. Great time to be a buyer though, based on what I am seeing. We are at the point where you could buy 'em (fairly decent cars, not beaters) by the dozen for less than many (probably most) brand new cars cost for one.

I don't know about anyone else here, but it is tough for me to resist some of the Reattae presently for sale.

KDirk

[DAVES89]

It is easy to resist if you don't look...

[Guest BJM]

Kevin

I am trying to buy while it's a buyers market. I agree the dealers like this are playing games when they don't include a price. They are delusional if they think they can get $15,000 or so for this car BUT if the offered price is $6,000 then that's a lot of car for $6,000 and I think a value IF the chassis and engine have received normal maintenance.

The $6,000 (a number I grabbed out of the air) for a very nice 57,000 miles convertible is what someone needs to compare a purchase to. For instance, what other premium American or foreign convertible in the same class can you get for $6,000?

If you go back 40+ years to the last generation of American and European convertibles, $6,000 does not buy much, certainly not 99% of the 57,000 mile convertibles. Think GM A body convertibles like a nice 70 Buick Skylark with bucket seats and console, a 350 4 barrel and 57,000 original miles. That's probably a $12,000 car. (Double)

Add a GS or a GTO or a 442 badge and add another $5,000 to $15,000.

So if someone looks at it like that, then the price becomes a value now and I believe, as some do, that Reatta convertible and rare models will go up a small percentage annually. Think 1-2%. So, if you buy this 57K Reatta convertible and maintain, exercise it at 2,000 miles per year, then in 10 years you would still have a Reatta conv. with only 77,000 miles, you would have thoroughly enjoyed that ownership (we presume) and it would be worth $7000. Not a skyrocket situation, but better then the alternative.

Where it gets dicey, is when the Reatta convertible is compared to other collectible convertibles from the LAST generation of convertibles. I looked at SAAB convertibles and some GM and Ford convertibles. Mustang convertibles, Corvette convertibles (C4's) and the ever present Mopar LeBarons and such. There are a LOT of European convertibles on the market now from Fiat's last American push, Triumph, VW's Cabriolet, etc and there is a LOT of value there.

I don't think most collectors are as broad spectrum as I am. Few Reatta lovers also love any old car in the same category. The newer the car, perhaps, the more specific collectors are. Corvette collectors rarely jump around and buy several brands in a collection. So, what I am writing, is perhaps it's not a fair comparison to see what $6,000 can buy in the latest generation of collector cars. It's too soon to know. With high crusher prices and the general attitude that "newer" cars are not collectible, the landscape will be changed in 10 years.