Used cars can become an investment if you think about 'how to buy and sell' them. What the BNR34 taught me.
I used to think that cars were expensive things to own.
I thought that their value drops the moment you buy them, they incur maintenance costs, and in the end, you let them go for next to nothing. That's just how I thought it was.
However, if you study the used car market a little, you realize there is a completely different world out there.
If you think correctly about how to buy and sell, a car can become an asset.
The BNR34 Skyline GT-R as a 'textbook'
The Nissan Skyline GT-R BNR34. Released in 1999, it is a sports car that represents Japan.
The price of this BNR34 when it was new was about 5 million yen. There was a time until a few years ago when you could buy one for around 5 million yen on the used car market. The fact that a car over 20 years old was trading at the same level as its new car price is exceptional in itself.
Now, the average price of a used one has risen to about 25 million yen, with even the cheapest ones exceeding 13 million yen, and the most expensive examples fetching 77 million yen—more than 10 times its original price when new.
A car that could be bought for 5 million yen has exceeded 20 million yen. By simple calculation, that is more than four times the value.
Why has the price risen so much?
There are several reasons.
1. Scarcity due to the end of production
The BNR34 ceased production in 2002. It will never be manufactured again, and the number of existing units decreases year by year. As scarcity increases, prices rise.
2. Demand from overseas
Japanese classic and sports cars are highly popular among collectors in the United States and Europe. In particular, the application of the '25-year rule' (cars over 25 years old can be imported into the U.S.) has led to an increase in overseas purchasing, which has pushed up domestic prices.
3. The end of the GT-R brand
In August 2025, Nissan saw the final production car of the GT-R roll off the line. Including the Skyline GT-R era, the 'GT-R' title, which captivated sports car fans around the world for 56 years, has come to an end. The scarcity value of knowing that 'no new GT-R will be released' is increasing even further.
4. Cultural value
From appearing in movies and games to its success in motorsports, the BNR34 has become a cultural icon that transcends the category of 'car.' Such cars tend to increase in value as time goes by.
How to think about 'used cars as an investment'
The BNR34 is an extreme example, but there is a universal lesson in this story.
Common traits of cars that increase in value
• Limited production or special models with low numbers
• Sports cars or rare cars with enthusiastic fan bases
• In good condition with low mileage
• Not modified and kept in original, stock condition
• Models that are also popular overseas
Cars that meet these conditions tend to increase in value over time.
Points to keep in mind when considering used cars as assets
Of course, not all used cars will increase in value.
Ordinary, mass-produced cars generally decrease in value. There is also the risk of high maintenance and repair costs. While there is the option of 'storing it without driving it for investment purposes,' that also comes with costs.
Also, the value of a car is swayed by market trends. No one knows what will happen in the future, even if it is expensive now.
The extreme price hike like the BNR34 is actually an exception.
I believe that used car investment is healthiest when kept at the level of 'thinking about how to sell it while driving a car you love.'
What cars might increase in value in the future?
There are models often discussed among car enthusiasts as potentially drawing attention after the BNR34.
• BCNR33 Skyline GT-R (R33): Because it was unpopular, it is still relatively cheap and expected to rise in value in the future
• SW20 MR2: Toyota's mid-ship sports car, which is gaining popularity overseas
• FD3S RX-7: A rare car equipped with a rotary engine, rising in value due to the end of engine production
• NA/NB Roadster: Highly regarded worldwide as the originator of the lightweight open-top sports car
All of these have the condition of 'being affordable now, but potentially rising in the future.'
Summary—Balancing 'passion' and 'wisdom'
What the BNR34 taught me is that the value of a car is not determined solely by whether it is 'new' or not.
Scarcity, cultural value, supply and demand—when you start looking at used cars from these perspectives, the way you enjoy choosing a car changes.
While driving a car you love, think a little more wisely about how to buy and sell it. Just by doing that, a car can become an asset rather than just an expense.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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