This is what I have been finding lately

[Guest Kurt Franz]

Here is a good example of what I have been seeing lately....

1990 Bucik Reatta

My guess is that it will sell for 1300-1500 tops, if it sells at all.

[eyetimer]

Is that sapphire blue like on the 88 or 89, or is it a reprint?

[Guest BJM]

Kurt

The car won't likely sell. Owner will hold tight on pricing believing it's a "classic" collector car and we will run to his door to pay $2700. Reality is he would say no to offers in the $1500 range and we as a community have actually seen several similar cars end up at CoPart and other U Pick It or Salvage Yards when after an extended period of time, no one purchases them.

I thought about that 89 Silver/Burgandy coupe and why it hadn't sold. When new, the Reatta was a halo-specialty car and found a lot of women buyers or salt n' pepper haired baby boomers types (I know it was 88-91, so technically not correct but you get my concept-empty nesters) .

Now, for 99% of possible owners this is an impractical old car. After the coolness factor of seeing one goes away, the potential buyer isn't thinking about the driving and ownership experience of a Reatta, he/she is thinking about the impracticality of daily driver usage.

Not so many people can afford an occasional usage car sitting in their suburban driveway or in that 3rd stall where they typically cram the lawn mower and other "stuff". And if they did, they usually aren't looking for a Reatta, or even a troublesome Allante'.

So it falls to our niche group or to a younger single person who doesn't need more then 2 seats and a smallish trunk.

177,000 miles is a lot. This Reatta can still be reliable of course, but there are a TON of cars out there a lot more practical with 150,000 to 250,000 miles on them. Target a CL search at $1500 max in any major city and the pages run to 20 or more. That's competition for this Reatta.

[Guest Kurt Franz]

Kurt

The car won't likely sell. Owner will hold tight on pricing believing it's a "classic" collector car and we will run to his door to pay $2700. Reality is he would say no to offers in the $1500 range and we as a community have actually seen several similar cars end up at CoPart and other U Pick It or Salvage Yards when after an extended period of time, no one purchases them.

I thought about that 89 Silver/Burgandy coupe and why it hadn't sold. When new, the Reatta was a halo-specialty car and found a lot of women buyers or salt n' pepper haired baby boomers types (I know it was 88-91, so technically not correct but you get my concept-empty nesters) .

Now, for 99% of possible owners this is an impractical old car. After the coolness factor of seeing one goes away, the potential buyer isn't thinking about the driving and ownership experience of a Reatta, he/she is thinking about the impracticality of daily driver usage.

Not so many people can afford an occasional usage car sitting in their suburban driveway or in that 3rd stall where they typically cram the lawn mower and other "stuff". And if they did, they usually aren't looking for a Reatta, or even a troublesome Allante'.

So it falls to our niche group or to a younger single person who doesn't need more then 2 seats and a smallish trunk.

177,000 miles is a lot. This Reatta can still be reliable of course, but there are a TON of cars out there a lot more practical with 150,000 to 250,000 miles on them. Target a CL search at $1500 max in any major city and the pages run to 20 or more. That's competition for this Reatta.

That does pretty much sum things up. The Reatta is an enigma of sorts. For example, when I bought mine it was an "accident" so to speak. I was looking for a car for my son and I came across it. Went and looked at it and when I saw what a gem I had found I decided to keep it for myself and find him something else - as I could not bear to see such a pristine vehicle get sent to the dogs ......that started a war but I wont go into that.

However, although I think it is a great car my wife does not care much for it, nor do any of my friends, nor does my son. It is just me who really likes it. Actually my wife strongly suggested that I part with it - and who knows I may end up doing that, knowing full well that I will not make any money on it or lose any. I will get back what I paid for it as it is a rare northern garage dweller. If it was a true collectible I would easily make a few thou on it - however it isn't and I realize that its extremely limited appeal will keep the resale value where it is - low.

I think my situation is what happens on a macro scale with regards to this vehicle. There are a limited number of folks who really like them and want to buy a nice one. The people who have them and want to dump them have usually beat the heck out of them and/or did not perform maintenance to keep them in top condition - resulting in the usual CL ads as I originally posted. It is good if you like them because you can get a creampuff for a good price - just hopefully not from me - however I can see the real possibility that happening.

KF