Depreciation Doesn’t Apply to Everything
You wouldn't be wrong to assume that, as soon as you drive your shiny new car out of the dealership, it's already depreciating. But not all are the same. From limited production to manual transmissions, unusual engineering, and strong collector demand, some used vehicles can actually sell for far, far more than their original sticker price. Fancy paying $1.5 million for a Porsche Carrera GT or a Ferrari 599 GTO? The values of the 20 used cars on this list might just shock you.
1. Porsche Carrera GT
The Carrera GT entered the American market with a base price of roughly $440,000, which already made it inaccessible to most buyers. Today, desirable examples can sell for well over $1.5 million, while exceptionally rare specifications have brought several million dollars. Its naturally aspirated V10, six-speed manual transmission, and limited production have made depreciation largely irrelevant.
2. 2005–2006 Ford GT
Ford originally priced the first modern GT at about $150,000, though some buyers paid dealer markups when it was new. Used examples now commonly command several hundred thousand dollars (upwards of $400,000), particularly when they have low mileage and desirable factory stripes. Cars equipped with all four available options tend to attract some of the strongest offers.
3. Lexus LFA
With an original base price near $375,000, the LFA was more expensive than almost every other Lexus ever produced. Standard models can now approach or exceed $800,000, while the 50 Nürburgring Package cars are worth considerably more. Buyers have come to appreciate its high-revving V10, carbon-fiber construction, and production run of only 500 vehicles.
4. BMW Z8
The Z8 carried a sticker price of approximately $128,000 when it arrived in the United States for the 2000 model year. Clean, low-mileage cars can now sell for $200,000 or more, with rare colors and exceptional documentation bringing higher prices. BMW built only 5,703 examples worldwide, and the standard car’s six-speed manual has become especially appealing to collectors.
Spurzem - Lothar Spurzem on Wikimedia
5. Ferrari 458 Speciale
Ferrari charged around $290,000 before options for the 458 Speciale, although highly personalized cars could cost much more. Used prices have moved far beyond that figure, and strong examples frequently sell for more than half a million dollars. As Ferrari’s final naturally aspirated mid-engine V8 production model, it holds a place that newer turbocharged replacements can’t duplicate.
6. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
The SLS AMG Black Series had an original American price of roughly $275,000, making it a costly version of an already expensive sports car. Buyers now regularly encounter asking prices above $600,000, and standout cars can be valued even higher. Only a small number reached the United States, which has made every well-preserved example closely watched.
Sarah Larson from Ann Arbor, MI, USA on Wikimedia
7. Porsche 911 R
Porsche listed the 2016 911 R at approximately $185,000 before buyers began adding options. Demand was intense from the start, and used prices quickly climbed far beyond the original sticker, with many cars still valued at several hundred thousand dollars. Its six-speed manual, naturally aspirated engine, and 991-unit production run created the combination collectors wanted.
8. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0
The GT3 RS 4.0 costs about $185,000 when new, which now looks modest beside its collector-market value. Used examples can bring well over $700,000, while unusually original or low-mileage cars have sold for even more. Porsche produced just 600 units, and the model marked the final development of the 997-generation GT3.
9. Dodge Viper ACR
A late-production Viper ACR started at a little under $120,000, although optional packages could add tens of thousands to the bill. Clean cars now regularly appear above their original prices, with low-mileage Final Edition and Extreme Aero examples attracting particularly large premiums. Since Dodge ended Viper production in 2017, there hasn’t been a direct replacement for its manual transmission and naturally aspirated V10.
10. Ferrari 599 GTO
Ferrari’s 599 GTO was priced at roughly $410,000 in the United States, and only 599 examples were produced worldwide. Current values often sit well above the original figure (in the $900,000 to $1.5 million range), especially for cars with desirable colors, low mileage, and complete Ferrari documentation. Its limited supply and 661-horsepower V12 have kept buyer interest strong.
11. Lamborghini Murciélago (Manual Transmission)
Early Murciélago coupes originally cost around $280,000, while later versions became considerably more expensive. Manual-transmission examples now carry a major premium, with some selling well beyond their original sticker prices. Lamborghini built relatively few Murciélagos with three pedals, and collectors increasingly favor them over the automated-manual alternatives.
12. Acura NSX Zanardi Edition
The 1999 NSX Zanardi Edition had an original price of approximately $84,000, making it only moderately more expensive than a standard NSX-T. Acura produced just 51 cars, and only 49 were offered for retail sale in the United States. Surviving examples can now sell for several times their initial price, particularly when they remain unmodified.
13. Acura Integra Type R
A new 1997 Integra Type R cost about $25,000, which placed it within reach of ordinary performance-car buyers at the time. Excellent cars now routinely exceed that amount, while exceptionally preserved examples have sold for more than $100,000. Heavy modification and theft removed many cars from the market, leaving original survivors in limited supply.
14. Mazda RX-7
The third-generation RX-7 started at approximately $32,500 for the 1993 model year. Good examples now cost more than that original figure, and low-mileage cars can sell for two or three times as much. Its twin-turbocharged rotary engine makes maintenance history important, so buyers pay a substantial premium for properly documented cars.
15. Toyota Supra Turbo
A 1994 Supra Turbo carried a base price of roughly $40,000, depending on equipment and transmission. Manual, low-mileage examples now sell deep into six-figure territory, while even regularly driven cars can exceed their original prices. Stock vehicles are especially desirable because so many Supras were heavily modified during the 1990s and 2000s.
DOHC Holiday at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia
16. Honda S2000 CR
Honda introduced the S2000 CR with a base price of just under $37,000 for the 2008 model year. Used examples with low mileage can now sell for more than twice that amount, especially when they include the original removable hardtop and factory equipment. Only 699 CR models were built for the American market, creating much greater scarcity than Honda initially intended.
17. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR
The 2006 Evolution IX MR started at approximately $36,000 when new. Original examples can now bring considerably more, particularly when they haven’t been modified, raced, or damaged. Finding one in factory condition is difficult because the model’s turbocharged engine and tuning potential encouraged many owners to alter their cars.
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima on Wikimedia
18. Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition
The final Trail Teams Ultimate Edition had an original price near $38,000 when Toyota offered it for 2014. Low-mileage examples can now sell above that amount, and unusually clean vehicles may reach well beyond $50,000. Toyota limited the edition to 2,500 units, combining its rarity with the broader demand for durable, body-on-frame SUVs.
Jeremy from Sydney, Australia on Wikimedia
19. Nissan Skyline GT-R R34
The R34 Skyline GT-R was never officially sold new through American Nissan dealerships, but its Japanese price translated to far less than what legal imported examples cost today. Desirable versions now command six figures, while rare Nür and V-Spec models can sell for several hundred thousand dollars. American demand has increased as more cars reach the 25-year federal import threshold.
20. Subaru Impreza 22B STI
Subaru produced roughly 400 Japanese-market 22B STI models, with a small number of additional cars built for other markets. Its original price was modest compared with the six-figure sums collectors now pay for authentic examples. Buyers value the widened body, 2.2-liter turbocharged engine, and direct connection to Subaru’s rally success, but originality and verified identification are essential.
