Dream car inflation

Had an idea for a fun discussion thread. 
 

Name a car you really wanted when you were young and it was selling new. Post the year, what it cost new, and what that price would be today adjusted for inflation. 
 

my first: Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, 1994. My HS graduation year, this was my dream. 
the:$45,500. (Base turbo)

today: $79,500

I'm using This inflation calculator

1991 Syclone $25000 then $47500 today.  Ridiculously cheap when new 

In the summer of 1989, the 1990 Miata had a starting price of $13,500 for a stripper model. Must were more like $15,500 and this was before another $2,000 of dealer mark up/bs. So, let's say $16,000 for a mid model in 1990

That 1989 $16,000 is $34,000 today, adjusted

Today, a 2020 Miata Club retails for $31,500. 

Net results are that Miatas have gone down in price over the years or at least not increased in price. 

I graduated high school in 1999 and I was infatuated with the 2000 Cobra R when it was released.

MSRP in 2000: $54,995

2020: $82,748

Its funny because the R "only" had 385hp but at the time, it was pretty special. In 2003, I bought a 1999 Mustang Cobra and put FRPP 2000 Cobra R wheels on it. That's as close as I will ever get to owning an R .

https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0520-414242/2000-ford-mustang-svt-cobra-r/

Chevrolet Camaro Iroc-Z 5.0 5 speed

$14380 then

$31495 now

A 1981 Corolla Liftback SR-5 was also a dream car of mine for some reason, but can't find much info on pricing:

Porsche 959.

1989: $227,000

1988 price in 2020: $497,000. A steal!

Seems like the price of hypercars has gone up seeing as there are many million+ cars....

1991 Acura NSX

1991 MSRP: $62,000 base

In 2020 Money: $117,946.12 using the link to the inflation calculator.

As a slight funny: In searching for current values, Edmunds thinks they are worth $2,489-$8,507 depending upon condition...maybe I should start shopping?

2007 Corvette Z06, basically been my dream car since like the 6th grade when my class took a field trip to the Corvette plant.

Original MSRP: $69,175.00

In 2020: $86,443.23

I guess Corvettes got cheaper, although we don't really have anything but the base C8 to compare it to right now, and the Z06 was the top level at the time.

Wen I was young, all the cars I wanted were old. My dream car was a '69 Firebird.

I do not want to think about what '69 Firebirds are worth today.  I had an awesome morning and would like to not be depressed.

My dream car was an orange Lamborghini Miura that hung out at my university.

1970 list = $20,000

2020 inflationary equivalent = $133,557.22

Value today c. $500,000

How depressing!

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Wen I was young, all the cars I wanted were old. My dream car was a '69 Firebird.

 

I do not want to think about what '69 Firebirds are worth today.  I had an awesome morning and would like to not be depressed.

Remember, this isn't about what it's worth today. It's just a comparison of what they sold for new in today's dollars. 
 

in general, I think most sports cars are cheaper now ( in relative dollars) than they were 25 years ago. It's interesting. 
 

trucks on the other hand ...

best I can tell, a mid optioned 4x4 F150 sold for around $18,000 in 1994. That's about $31,500 in today's dollars. Seems like trucks are getting relatively more expensive. 

I went to high school in a wealthy suburb of NYC in the '80s. The "attainable" dream car (in the sense that some lucky brats actually HAD them) was the 944 Turbo.

The original list price of a 944 Turbo in 1988 was $33,255. No idea what the actual marked-up price would be. But we're looking at about $73k in today's dollars. 

In reply to ultraclyde (Forum Supporter) :

A 1972 Jaguar XKE  V 12 Roadster 4 speed  wire wheels  $7000 

today $43,410  about today's market price  

A 1965 XKE roadster 4 speed wire wheels today adjusted for inflation  $49,910  original cost $6000 

Today selling for north of $175,000  

I wanted older cars, a 240z basically.

After passing on a few......and seeing what they sell for now...

Damn

1991 Dodge Viper

Original MSRP: $50,000

Inflation-Adjusted: $95,118

Seems about right for the caliber of car.

1972 Volkswagen Beetle.  MSRP $1,999.00.

Now $12,391.00.

Never did get one.

It wasn't new at the time, but...

I was a year out of college in 1980, and was shopping for a car.  I ended up buying a new Mazda 626, but at the same time an older guy I worked with was selling his 1967 Corvette coupe for just about the same price as the Mazda.  Good condition, fresh Marlboro Maroon paint, 327 small block and a four speed.  I was sorely tempted, but opted for the Mazda since it was more practical.  In hindsight, I wish I'd gone for the Corvette.

MSRP of a 1967 Corvette when it was new: around $4,500

What I could have paid for it in 1980: around $6,000

MSRP adjusted to 2020 : around $35,000

The $6000 asking price in 1980, adjusted to 2020: around $19,000

Actual value of a 1967 Corvette in good condition in 2020: around $55,000

I drove cheapo $1500 beaters in high school so I guess I can't pinpoint one particular car. I suppose the $1500 cars back then are the new $3-$4k beaters now.

1975 Porsche 914 - MSRP when new $6,300 - when I was in High School.

1975 Porsche 914 - Price today - don't know, don't care - I currently own the car I wanted in High School.

In reply to ultraclyde (Forum Supporter) :

My dad had a '93 Supra Twin Turbo. Auto, sadly, but he lived in LA traffic.

My top car (outside of a Group B) is an '83-'84 GTI and I have an '84.

1984 $8000? = 2020 $19,950 which is about the 2018 Honda Fit in the garage.

ultraclyde 

best I can tell, a mid optioned 4x4 F150 sold for around $18,000 in 1994. That's about $31,500 in today's dollars. Seems like trucks are getting relatively more expensive. 

what's mid optioned? They didn't really sell crew cabs as much back then, so figure a super cab with power windows/locks/cruise? I can buy that new Today for $34k. It's the fact that people are loading them up that makes it seem like they're crazy money

I have never really wanted a current production car but...

In highschool(2007) I bought a 1974 VW Beetle for $2500. MSRP was $2625 or $11040 in 2007 dollars.

Around 1973 my favorite by far was the black & gold Lotus Europa JPS which was about $7800. Today - $45,517. A kid in my junior year in H.S. had one. He blew the motor up and his dad bought him a Dino his senior year. In his sophomore year he totaled his new orange 240z.

My 68 Firebird vert was bought in 71 for $1,000, would now be $6,397. I wish.

I just spent some time trying to find the original MSRP for my teenage dream car--the 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo.  I have no idea what the car cost new, but it wasn't cheap then, and they aren't cheap now.

1988RedT2 said:

I just spent some time trying to find the original MSRP for my teenage dream car--the 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo.  I have no idea what the car cost new, but it wasn't cheap then, and they aren't cheap now.

I seem to remember they were around $25,0000, which seemed like an astronomical number to me at the time.