Here’s something you might not have realized: The BMW Z8 is worth a ton of money. While other early-2000s BMW models have depreciated quickly, like the used vehicles they are, the Z8 hasn’t. In fact, it’s done the opposite. The Z8 is a 14-year-old BMW that has gained in value. Remember how you couldn’t afford a BMW Z8 back when it was new? Yeah, well, you still can’t.
Here’s the situation. When the BMW Z8 came out in 2000, we all thought it was really cool, and really special, because it was BMW’s supercar. It also cost $129,000 with shipping (before options), so it was a little out of everyone’s price range. After all, this was a time when BMW’s other roadster, the Z3, started at just $32,300 with shipping. So those of us who like used cars figured we’d wait a few years, and then this beautiful specimen would be ours at something close to $50,000. See the BMW Z8 models for sale near you
Well, that never happened.
Instead, the opposite happened: Rather than dropping in price like all other expensive German cars, the Z8 has dramatically appreciated — to the point where these things now routinely list for well over $200,000. In fact, the cheapest one currently listed on Autotrader is offered for about $165,000, which means the Z8 has roughly kept pace with inflation. As you probably know, that 2000 BMW Z3 I discussed earlier is worth about five grand now.
So how did the Z8 do so well on the used market? One reason is, of course, its beautiful styling. Effectively a modern take on the gorgeous BMW 507, the Z8 is arguably the most beautiful car of the last 20 years — a vehicle that dabbles in “retro,” and dabbles in “futuristic,” and somehow manages to look good doing both.
Rarity is also a factor. From 2000 to 2003, BMW only manufactured about 5,700 Z8 models for the entire world, and sent just 2,500-ish to the United States. And then there are the car’s other desirable traits: The fact that all Z8 models (except the rare Alpina version) used a manual transmission, in a world where stick-shift exotics are all shooting up in value — and the fact that the Z8 offers a big, muscular V8 borrowed from the M5.
So the Z8 never had that little waiting period where it depreciated to a price that mortals could afford. Instead, it just went up, and up, and up — and now its values are, officially, insane. Find a BMW Z8 for sale
Doug DeMuro is an automotive journalist who has written for many online and magazine publications. He once owned a Nissan Cube and a Ferrari 360 Modena. At the same time.
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These cars are still undervalued. You can’t really appreciate these cars in pictures. Only when you really get up close, and in particular in silver, can you really appreciate the lines and curves. It truly is arguably the best sculpted car in decades. The interior is spectacular when you are actually sitting in the car and closing the door has a very special feel, a bit like closing the door of an E-type roadster but far more solid feeling. This is a car that has styling that harkens back to a the 507 but also the AC Cobra. Yet it has modern performance and reliability. Unlike any exotic sports car I know, it also has a huge and usable trunk which is great for getaway road trips. Its drivetrain is BMW M5 so its reliable and not crazy expensive to service. This really is the best all around car for the money in terms of style, build quality, drivability, usability, etc.
In my search for a Z8 I quickly realized that my color preferences correlated perfectly with the prices. Topaz over cream seemed to be most rare and highest priced. Black and red with red/black interior were next on the list. Silver over black are least cost and most prevalent.
Thank goodness somebody corrected the in accuracy of this article. While I like this car and always have, they couldn’t give them away for a while and they could be had in the 70-80 range. It did not go up and up and up. The only car to never go below sticker price is the Ford GT. And that car I was waiting for it to drop and never got one.
WRONG. It’s ridiculous to say that “they couldn’t give them away for a while”, or for any period of time, for that matter. Every car ever made was sold for sticker price or better at least a year before it was built. I waited nearly 2 years from order to delivery and was lucky to have a dealer that won’t mark-up list price, because they could have. They were originally allocated 12 cars, and had a wait list of 20 people ready to pay a list price that all knew would be well into the 6 digits. I was offered $25K buy a 3rd party waiting at the dealer on the day my 2001 Z8 was delivered.
Z3 M Coupes of the same vintage and mileage are selling for 80 and 90 grand so its all about the rarity of special cars.