It’s Impossible to Depreciate a Used Honda Civic Type R

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Honda’s Civic Type R is as hot a commodity as it is a hatchback. And why shouldn’t it be? The Type R name is something that has been forbidden fruit from the automotive garden of Honda for time immemorial. Sure, Americans have gotten the mildly spicy Civic Si, but never the full-fat Type R. What’s more, we’ve even resorted to importing them at exorbitant prices. The Civic Type R is finally here, and now we’re learning that it’s almost impossible to depreciate them.

What’s with the Honda hype?

The Honda Civic Type-R badge | Frederic J. Brown via Getty Images

In order to understand how this is possible, it’s time to look at the hype behind the Honda. It starts with rave reviews. The hot hatch was one MotorTrend’s car of the year finalists in 2018. Back then, it was praised for just about everything, though the styling was and is somewhat divisive. Of course, there’s nothing more a Honda boy like than divisive styling. Well, maybe VTEC.

Speaking of VTEC, the powertrain is largely the reason behind the hype; once you’re past the badge that is. Making 306 hp to the front wheels and mated to a six-speed gearbox, it’s said to be one of the best-driving front-wheel-drive cars ever. Unfortunately, dealers got wind of the hype. The dealers marked up the cars knowing customers would pay, like the horrible people they are. That is largely why the market for these cars is still so strong.

The market is going crazy

The red and black alcantara interior of the Honda Civic Type R
The CTR’s interior | Christopher Evans via Getty Images

So. Now you have a particular storm brewing, consisting of rabid consumer demand, greedy dealers, and a fantastic car at the center of it all. The result is money and lots of it. A new 2021 Honda Civic Type R should retail for around $37,000, per Honda. Joke’s on you, you’ll be lucky to find a 2018 model for less than that. What’s more, some of those older cars are starting to end up with some real miles on them, like this one.

The even hotter LE edition honestly isn’t even worth mentioning the markup is so appalling. The least the seller could have done was take some half-decent photos. Of course, all this is very good if you’re an owner. Chances are, unless you drove it to Iceland and back, you’ve made money on your brand new car. That never happens. Ever. That’s exactly how rabid the demand is for these cars.

Will it happen again?

A matte black Civic Type R
2017 Honda Civic Type R | Chesnot via Getty Images

The trend is sure to continue with the recent semiconductor shortage tanking the new car market. Unless Honda unveils a new Civic Type R very soon, it’s unlikely we’ll see the end of this for some time. Even then, it’s hard to imagine the same issue won’t crop up again with new Type R models. That is unless Honda is ready to meet demand and floods the market. For now, all you can do is try to find a clean Civic Si to get remotely close to the experience.

RELATED: This Four-Door 1999 Honda Civic Hatchback Is an Automotive Anomaly

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Which Is Safer, the 2021 Lexus RX or 2022 Acura MDX?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re in the market for a new midsize luxury SUV, there’s a good chance that you’ve considered the 2021 Lexus RX and the 2022 Acura MDX. Acura didn’t make a 2021 MDX, but the 2022 has been revealed. So which is safer, the Lexus RX or the Acura MDX? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash-tested them both, and each of them looks pretty good.

The 2021 Lexus RX was awarded a Top Safety Pick award by the IIHS. The 2022 Acura MDX was awarded a Top Safety Pick+ Award.

2022 Acura MDX | Acura

What is an IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ award?

To be awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick award, a vehicle must score a good rating in all of the IIHS crashworthy ratings. These include the driver-side small overlap front, the passenger-side small overlap front, and the moderate overlap front. In addition to these front crash tests, the vehicle must get a good score in the side crash tests, roof strength, and head restraint tests. To get a Top Safety Pick+ award, the vehicle must ace all these tests.

Additionally, the vehicle must have an advanced or superior in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. Headlights, often overlooked by car shoppers, must have a good or acceptable rating available. Oftentimes one trim level has good headlight ratings while another trim level does not, so it’s important to check the test results of the trim level you’re considering purchasing. To receive the Top Safety Pick+ award, the headlights on all trim levels must be good or acceptable. 

How crashworthy are the 2021 Lexus RX and 2022 Acura MDX?

If you look at crash test ratings, which is safer, the Lexus RX or the Acura MDX? The 2021 Lexus RX got a good small overlap front: driver-side score. Within this category are subcategories, including structure and safety cage, driver injury measures, and driver restraints and dummy kinematics. The 2021 RX also got a good score in each of these categories. 

Similarly, the small overlap front: passenger-side category and subcategories were all good, as were the moderate overlap front subcategory results. 

The 2022 Acura MDX got very similar scores: good score in all crashworthy categories, including small overlap front: driver-side. It also got good scores in all of the subcategories.  

Additionally, the small overlap front: passenger-side category and subcategories were all good. So were the moderate overlap front subcategory results. 

Side crash test results in the 2021 Lexus RX were also all good. These subcategories contain similar elements to the front crash tests: overall, structure and safety cage, driver injury measures. There’s also driver head protection and rear passenger injury measures, as well as rear passenger head protection. The 2022 MDX side crash test ratings were good as well. 

How is the crash prevention?

The IIHS tested the standard Lexus Safety System + 2.0 Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection. It gave it a superior rating. It met the requirements for forward collision warning and also avoided a collision in the IIHS 12 mph and 25 mph tests. 

The Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection got an advanced rating. In the 12 mph  crossing child test it avoided a collision, and in the 25 mph test, it reduced speed by 20 mph. In the 12 mph crossing adult test, it avoided a collision, and in the 25 mph test, it reduced speed by 22 mph. In the 25 mph parallel adult test, the Lexus RX avoided a collision, and in the 37 mph test, it reduced speed by 25 mph and a warning was issued 1.8 seconds before impact. 

The 2022 Acura MDX got good ratings in front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle. The IIHS tested the standard Collision Mitigation Braking System and found it to be superior. The braking system met the requirements for forward collision warning, and also nearly avoided a collision in the 12 mph IIHS test. In the 25 mph IIHS test, the Acura MDX did avoid a collision. 

The IIHS found the front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian to be superior. In the crossing child test, the 2022 Acura MDX was able to avoid a collision. In the 25 mph test, it reduced speed by 19 mph before impact.

In the crossing adult test, the 2022 MDX avoided a collision in both the 12 mph and 25 mph tests. Similarly, it avoided a collision in the parallel adult test. It didn’t avoid a collision in the 37 mph test, but it did reduce speed by 30 mph. The MDX also issued a warning 2.2 seconds before impact. 

How are the headlights?

The headlights are really the differentiating factor between the ratings in these two luxury SUVs. The 2021 Lexus RX’s headlights weren’t as good as the rest of its ratings. Trim level headlight ratings range from poor to acceptable. You’ll definitely want to check out which headlights your Lexus RX is coming with.

On the other hand, the 2022 Acura MDX were all good. 

Which is safer, the Lexus RX or the Acura MDX?

Overall, the 2022 Acura MDX is safer than the 2021 Lexus RX, but the RX is still a safe choice (check out those headlights though). If you’re looking for a midsize luxury SUV that the IIHS finds crashworthy, the 2022 MDX is a good choice. 

RELATED: Consumer Reports: 10 2021 Midsize Luxury SUVs With Advanced Safety Systems

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Corner the Saab Market Buying This One Auction

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Remember Saab, that Swedish carmaker that just faded away in 2012 from the GM bankruptcy? At one time it was an independent carmaker before GM started gobbling up brands for Gawd-knows-why?  Anyway, Saab had a following and was around for decades. So it goes that there are those in the vastness of car enthusiasm that still owns them. And drive them. So they’ll need parts here and there. 

You could be the King of Saabs winning this auction

Saab Peggy Sue | Patrick PIEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

And now there is a huge horde of Saab parts for sale on eBay. Just think; you could be the king of Saabs if you bought this auction. Do you think you’re the perfect patron of Saab stuff? 

There are a few small catches. First, there is no breakdown of what you’ll be buying. The auction description says, “Saab car OEM bumpers, lights, windows, panels, a huge lot of new parts. Over 1,000 pieces.” Yeah, it is pretty vague. 

Further in it says, “Most from 1995-2004-all new mixed pieces.” That’s a little more information, but it is still what you would call “a pig in a poke.” If one were thinking about starting a Saab business he or she would want to know what they were getting to determine if it is worth the asking price.

Would you buy this auction of over 1,000 Saab parts for $160,000?

"Save Saab" sign
A man puts a sign “Save Saab” on his Saab in Sofia on January 16, 2010 | NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP via Getty Images

That’s the other thing; the asking price is $160,000. Yeah, a lot of money for a horde of parts of which you have no idea what it consists of. It is a Saab treasure trove for sure. It’s just that without knowing what’s there it is unknown what’s a treasure and what’s trash.

The description goes on to say there are lots of small parts. Some are loose and not in boxes or bags which isn’t a great thing. If you’re an expert in Saab stuff then this won’t deter you from knowing what you have. Once you get it.

The final issue with all of this is that the Saab parts are in Jordan. The Middle East Jordan, not Jordan, Texas. But the owner will ship it all by a container if that is any consolation. 

If the Saab stuff is too much there are also “luxury watches, pens, and more

lone Saab at dealership
A Saab automobile stands on a parking lot of a Saab AB dealership near the factory in Trollhattan, Sweden | Linus Hook/Bloomberg via Getty Images

So, taken as a whole, this is an intriguing auction that has lots of issues. But there are some other things you might want to barter for. The same seller has a lot of luxury watches, pens, and other miscellaneous stuff. 

If you’re into things like that and also Saabs you may have so much in common you’ll become best bros. And if these particular years of Saab are really desirable and parts for them are scarce, you might just want to scarf up the parts and not worry. But, we suspect these will move slowly, so be careful.

RELATED: Saab Lives on Today Even if the Company No Longer Makes Cars

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The Surprisingly Hottest Collector Cars in 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It looks like the collector car hobby, in general, is cranking. Some of the segments slowing down before 2021 are bouncing back to life. The hotter segments of the collector hobby like Japanese cars from the 1980s and 1990s are seeing even higher values as 2021 continues on. At least that’s according to our pals at Hagerty.

Hagerty Insurance tracks the collector car market because they insure those cars. They see what’s hot and what’s not first based on what is being bought, sold, and insured. But even they are surprised at what looks to be one of the hottest groups of cars so far.

Vehicles from the 1980s and 1990s are really starting to take off

Vehicles from the 1980s and 1990s are really starting to take off. And within that group, it is the Japanese products seeing the highest numbers. Everything from sports cars to compact pickups is seeing spikes. 

Some of this increase is due to some of the more niche vehicles that Japanese manufacturers were able to produce.  During a crunch, there is little development money to play with. But when things are good it allows companies the bandwidth to stretch out. They can get into more niche-y segments as a way to highlight certain developments or used them as stalking horses. 

So some of those types of vehicles are seen here in the Top 10 fastest rising values in Japanese products. 

1981-1990 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60/62

1984 Toyota Land Cruiser | Toyota

No surprise here when SUVs are so popular and Land Cruisers were so good. Slowly beginning to increase in value starting in 2010, they have now seen a 22 percent increase in a year. A Land Cruiser in #2 condition averages out at just above $40,000 right now. Hagerty says that in the last three years requests for insurance quotes have increased a staggering 214 percent. 

1991 Nissan Figaro

1990 Nissan Figaro
1990 Nissan Figaro | Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

Nissan’s boutique cars from the late-1980s and 1990s have been poised to leap in value based on the 25-year laws in the US. These were for the Japanese market only so it took the mandatory 25 year wait period to become legal to import. These were limited production vehicles in Japan, though relatively low tech with automatics, front-wheel-drive, and small displacement engines. Prices have increased from $22,000 to $26,800 in 2021 alone. 

1983-1989 Mitsubishi Starion

A red 1987 Mitsubishi Starion on a stone bridge among rolling mossy hills
1987 Mitsubishi Starion | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

In spite of being cheap and rather obscure, the Starion is seeing more mainstream interest. The Chrysler Conquest is almost identical to the Starion. Both are seeing increases in values though they’re still relatively affordable. Figure around $17,500 for one in decent shape right now.

1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX

1990 Nissan 300ZX
1990 Nissan 300ZX | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

You knew this would find its way onto the list. This is just one of several generations of Zs on this list. Without the turbo, prices are around $17,000. With the turbo, the 300ZX is currently valued at a bit over $33,000.

1974 Datsun 260Z

1974 Datsun 260Z
Datsun 260 Z 1974 | Rust/ullstein bild via Getty Images

The same as a 240Z but with bigger bumpers and a stroked engine offset with lower compression, the 260Z values have risen 28 percent. Figure $25,500 for the 2+2 model, while the standard coupe will set you back almost $40,000.

1999-2000 Civic Si

1999 honda civic four door hatchback
1999 Honda Civic four door hatchback

A favorite to hot rod in the 1980s there are few that haven’t been massaged. If you can find one unmolested the price you’ll pay shot up between $19,900 and $28,100. That’s an increase of 41 percent.

1984-1988 Nissan 300ZX

1988 Nissan 300ZX
1988 Nissan 300ZX | Serge DE SAZO/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

As with other cars on this list the Z31-generation values took a huge leap no matter what the condition, options, or years. Hagerty says no Z31 variant grew less than 30 percent in the last year. With a #2 value that means you’ll pay more than $20,000 for one.

1982-1986  Toyota Supra

Red 1984 Toyota Supra
1984 Toyota Supra | Toyota

Based on the Celica these have never been the most popular in collector circles. But that is changing. Thanks to four-wheel independent suspension, more power, fender flares, larger wheels, and a rear spoiler the Supra was much more performance-oriented. In the past 10 years values have tripled.

1978-1983 Datsun 280ZX

1981 Datsun 280ZX Targa 2 turbo
1981 Datsun 280ZX Targa 2 turbo | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

The 1978 ZX was the first year of the heftier Zs and as such has not been the best-performing collector car. But values of all Zs have spiked including these second-gen models. In #2 condition the average value is now hovering at almost $25,000. 

1995-1998 Nissan Skyline GT-R

1999 Nissan Skyline GTR-34
1999 Nissan Skyline GTR-34 | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

By far the most valuable of the 10 cars on this list is the Nissan Skyline. Not imported into the US it has always been a scarce vehicle here. The R32 version was first able to be imported here in 2015. Now the R33 is eligible and values are shooting up quickly. A GT-R has a value of just under $70,000. Moving up to the V-Spec that increases to $71,000. A V-Spec N1 gets pretty pricey at around $125,000 and if you can find a NISMO 400R expect to pay $440,000. As more are imported it is unclear whether that will level out prices or increase them with increased demand. 

RELATED: Five Rare Japanese Cars From the 1990s

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