CarGurus rates the Honda Civic Type R, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and Jaguar F-Type as three of the top future classic cars to consider buying in Canada right now. In this guide we have details on these models, plus five more, that anybody considering a future classic should have on their shortlist.
Eight Future Classic Cars to Buy in Canada Now
- What Makes a Future Classic?
- Honda Civic Type R
- Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
- Volkswagen Golf R
- Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody
- Alfa Romeo 4C
- BMW M5 Competition
- Jaguar F-Type
What Makes a Future Classic?
What makes a car a potential future classic? There’s no perfect formula, but there are a few attributes that can provide some solid hints. Desirability is a big one: if a car has a strong aspirational factor to it today, chances are it’s going to hold on to that over time. Cars that have exclusivity due to lower production volumes also tend to become classics more readily.
A performance pedigree can also be a strong indicator, especially when paired with particularly evocative styling and performance. And cars that are emblematic of a historic moment in automotive history or that are otherwise ground-breakers in some way can often be counted on to leave their mark in the car market long-term. To that point, we’re expecting cars with internal combustion engines to become increasingly coveted as the industry increasingly transitions to EVs.
Predicting whether a car may reach future classic status is a speculator’s game and an imperfect science, so it’s just as important to put your money into something that you’ll actually drive and enjoy. That said, here are eight examples of the best cars available to buy in Canada that we think could be worth investing in long-term. Of course, this doesn’t begin to scratch the surface: we could have dug into the many layers of Porsche, supercars like Aston Martin, Lamborghini, and Ferrari, and much more, but we chose to lean in with recommending relatively new and attainable cars here. We can't guarantee that they'll become collectible cars, but they will certainly be a lot of fun.
Honda Civic Type R
The Honda Civic Type R was the pride of Japanese four-door, front-wheel-drive sports cars but was forbidden fruit for many years in North America until it finally reached our shores in 2017. Its relatively short time on sale here means there still aren’t a lot in the United States or Canada that have hit the road in recent years. Meanwhile, the Type R is celebrated among die-hards for being one of very few cars sold today exclusively with a manual transmission. In the new generation that has just launched for the 2023 model year, the six-speed gearbox is mated to a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, increases over the previous generation of 9 hp and 15 lb-ft. With ventilated front disc brakes and Brembo four-piston calipers, plus a helical limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers controlled through three different drive modes, the Type R is among the best-engineered products in its segment. The current generation might be a good bet, but we’d look to the previous fifth-generation Type R, which was the first version sold in Canada, as making a better case for drawing some serious enthusiast coin someday.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
Now that the seventh-generation Ford Mustang has launched for 2024, it’s time to peruse the sixth-generation’s catalog for potential keepers. For its peak winding-road performance, we’d look to the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350. The 5.2-litre flat plane crank V8 engine with its 526 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque is standout enough; add on a six-speed manual transmission, Recaro sport seats, front and rear Brembo calipers, MagneRide dampers, and an independent rear suspension, and it may be some time before another Mustang comes along that’s quite like this one. If we had the budget, we’d be running out to snap one of these up if it appears on the used car market.
Volkswagen Golf R
The Volkswagen Golf is a lot scarcer in North America these days. We can’t get enough of SUVs on this continent, so VW no longer sells the everyday Golf TSI models and now brings only the GTI and R performance cars overseas. The Golf GTI has its fans and a case can be made for it here, but we’ll cast our vote for the all-wheel drive (AWD) Golf R. The Mk8 Golf R hatchback has a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine up-tuned to produce 315 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque with the seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission (280 lb-ft with the six-speed manual), up from the previous generation’s 288 hp and 280 lb-ft. A suite of suspension upgrades and an electronically controlled torque-vectoring rear drive unit that enables the addition of a “drift mode” are also features of the latest generation. With hot hatches becoming less common and the Golf about to head exclusively into enthusiast territory, this one could have some serious staying power.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Do we dare suggest that an electric car might be collectible someday? Will a low-VIN Mustang Mach-E ever generate the same fervour as a 1964 ½ Mustang? If there’s any electric car that’s going to have that much nameplate endurance, we think it will be this one. The practical concerns line up, for example: with a rear-wheel-drive platform that gets 485 km of range powering a single axle from its extended-range battery or 425 km in all-wheel drive, that’s a good amount of battery capacity that should last a while. (And what happens to a car worth keeping once its battery’s useful life runs out? The Mustang Mach-E could be one of the first models to put that question to the test.) Add on some impressive power figures – more specifically, 480 hp and 634 lb-ft of torque from a stop in the GT Performance Edition – and pundits are predicting this could be the vehicle that finally incites a number of drivers to take the plunge into full-time electrons. Ground-breaking, indeed.
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak
Pour one out for the muscle car: the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger were the first of the Detroit Three muscle cars to get the axe as the auto industry shifts into electrification. Production is winding down at the end of the 2023 model year. There’s a long list of special editions to choose from as these cars ride off into the sunset, any of which would be a solid bet as a future collectible. If you can’t get your hands on one of those, go for the Challenger Jailbreak. It’s the ideal combination of performance, cachet, low production numbers. Plus—should we say it? We’re going to say it—too many of these cars end up wadded in guardrails since they’re a handful and a half to drive, which will push up the rarity factor even more. With 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque from its high-output supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8, as well as the widebody’s competition suspension and adaptive damping, this Canadian-built rear-wheel-drive muscle car is a unique beast. Keep one in great condition and off the fences, and you might just find in a few years you’ve got a rare gem on your hands.
Alfa Romeo 4C
Time is running out to snag the under-appreciated Alfa Romeo 4C, which was discontinued in both its coupe and spider formats at the end of the 2020 model year. Sure, the operation of its six-speed dual-clutch transmission is quirky as all get-out, it gets a rough rap for having a harsh ride, and the 1.75-litre turbo four-cylinder engine’s 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque aren’t exactly mind-blowing. But a carbon fibre monocoque and aluminum subframes keep the weight of both the coupe and roadster under 1,150 kg (2,500 lb), which means those power figures go further than they seem to promise on paper. Plus, looks-wise, there’s just nothing else on the market quite like it. The final model year featured a farewell special edition modeled after the 1967 33 Stradale.
BMW M5 Competition
Let’s not open a discussion on whether the current-generation M3 and M4 and their wild styling are destined to be classics. The jury is still out on that one. But the BMW M5 Competition has more universal appeal to go with its performance, which makes it a safer bet for M enthusiasts looking to play the long game. Note the eight-generation BMW 5 Series launched for the 2024 model year, so until a new M5 arrives we’re still considering the seventh-generation version here. Its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 powerplant makes 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, going from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds. The all-wheel-drive system increasingly favours the rear axle as the driver cycles through the M5’s performance modes, and the adaptive damping system provides the flexibility needed to go directly from road to racetrack. Most BMW M cars have their ardent fans, but this one flies under the radar while having the potential for true long-term appeal.
Jaguar F-Type
The F-Type will long hold its place in automotive history as a modern classic and one of the greatest career achievements of its chief designer, the legendary Ian Callum. It has received multiple accolades for being one of the most visually attractive cars of its era. What F-Types aren’t renowned for is reliability, so keeping an example in good working order may not be a project for the faint of heart or wallet. However, that’s even more reason they could become scarce someday. Current models are offered with a shorter list of powertrain derivatives to choose from and no manual transmission, so you may need to go back a few years to find your ideal combination. 2024 will be the F-Type’s swan song, and the automaker is ushering its iconic sports car out with the 75 Special Edition available on P450 and P575 models.