When it comes to buying sports cars, reason and logic usually take a backseat to passion and desire. In the long run, a sports car may lose a ton of value as it ages, despite having all the looks and performance credentials gearheads want in a new car. Just look at the relatively new Ferrari SF90. It's a near-1000-horsepower hypercar from a brand famous for its amazing resale value, and yet, many used examples are now selling for almost $300,000 cheaper compared to their MSRPs.That said, predicting which sports cars will become classics and which ones will continue to depreciate in value can be very frustrating. According to Doug DeMuro, the best predictor for future value for enthusiast cars is if they are disliked or polarizing among gearheads when new. The idea is that these cars are already unique and enthusiast-focused, so they can only go up in value as collectors warm up to them and they become rare. It doesn't always work that way, but it's a solid approach. Examples include cars like the originally underwhelming Lexus LFA supercar, the "clownshoe" BMW M Coupe, and even the Ferrari F50, which struggled to get out of the F40's shadow. Apart from that, it's easy to predict that a very limited-edition, high-end supercar will go up in value in the future.However, what about the more everyday sports cars that enthusiasts buy and collect? One way to tell if these cars will become classics is by looking at which cars collectors already buy en masse and, more specifically, what kinds of features they're willing to pay more for. So far, it's already clear collectors are crazy about truly analog, naturally aspirated sports cars that feature manual transmissions. In many cases, I've found in my research that coupes tend to carry higher values than convertibles, likely due to their better structural rigidity and (usually) lighter weight and more timeless designs. The car's reputation for reliability also plays a role in its desirability, as in the case of one model on this list. BMW Z4 M Coupe Average Price: $36,402 Bring a TrailerThe notoriously polarizing BMW Z3 M Coupe has recently experienced a surge in value, with the final 2002 models now averaging over $86,000 on the used market. Now, it looks like it's the Z4 M's turn. One important factor driving the Z4 M's value is rarity – only 4,581 units have ever left the factory, but only 1,815 were sold in North America. It's also a truly incredible analog sports car. It's powered by BMW's last naturally-aspirated straight-six before the brand's turbo era – the same high-revving S54 that featured in the E46 M3 – paired exclusively with a proper 6-speed manual transmission. Add to that its unique looks, and you have a recipe for a guaranteed future classic. Interestingly, the closest spiritual successor to the Z4 M Coupe is not a BMW at all, but a Toyota – the new MKV Supra – which is also doing a very solid job of keeping its value.A decade ago, Z4 M Coupes were trading hands in the mid-20s; today, the average price enthusiasts are paying is over $36,000, and it's rising by the year. Really clean examples, however, command much more than that. Last year, a black 2007 example fetched a staggering 80,000 Euros (over $93,000 US) with 16k miles on the clock. Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Average Price: $64,580 Bring a TrailerImagine a mid-engined ND Miata with a carbon-fiber tub and about 60 more horsepower going to the rear wheels, and you're in the ballpark of what the Alfa 4C Spider brings to the table. Essentially an Italian version of a Lotus Exige but built in Modena alongside Maseratis, this 2,487-lb baby Ferrari has all the chops to back up its exotic design. Sure, there's no gated manual transmission and only four cylinders are firing behind the driver, but its immense power-to-weight ratio allows for a 4.2-second 0-60 mph and a 12.9-second quarter mile run. That's a 237-horsepower car we're talking about. That said, straight-line performance is not the 4C's forte – this is a car designed to be an absolute blast on a back road or the racetrack.Production ended in 2020, and 4C Spider values are now slowly climbing as the model advances toward classic status. Interestingly, 4C Coupes have continued to stagnate and drop in value in the last few years, now trading at $46,937 on average. Meanwhile, the Spiders have appreciated from about $50,000 in 2020 to almost $80,000, putting the five-year average at right around $65,000.That's likely to do with rarity, as Alfa only started to offer Spider versions in 2015, after the 4C had been on the market for 2 years already, and fewer buyers ostensibly opted for them overall. Looking at recent sales, many examples of 4C Spiders have eclipsed the six-figure mark. Here's a special 33-unit Stradale Tributo version that fetched a staggering $197,000 in 2025 via Bring a Trailer. However, even if we exclude these specials from our analysis, the 4C Spider shows a significant average jump in value in the last five years compared to other convertibles and especially the 4C Coupe, which seems to be getting cheaper. Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder Average Price: $66,675 via carpixelTipping the scale at just 2,810 lbs, the Porsche 987.2 Boxster Spyder is the lightest and among the purest Porsche sports cars money can buy, including subsequent Boxster Spyders. It's a direct homage to Porsche's iconic 1953 "Giant Killer" 550 Spyder, which was famously owned by James Dean.But unlike the classic icon – and the new 981 and 718 Spyders for that matter – the 987 Boxster Spyder is still well within enthusiasts' reach. It currently trades hands for around $65,000-$80,000, with PDK-equipped models being on the more approachable end of that spectrum. They all get a sonorous 3.4-liter flat-six that makes 320 horsepower. Combined with the featherlight weight, it allows the first-gen Boxster Spyder to rocket to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Only 1,944 Porsche 987 Spyders have been sold globally, which explains why the average value of models sold has risen from about $60,000 in 2020 to almost $75,000 in 2026, according to auction trends shown on The Classic Valuer. Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 Average Price: $88,000 ChevroletNicknamed the “Blue Devil” during its production, the C6 ZR1 became the fastest and most powerful American mass-market production car when it left the factory in 2009. A carbon fiber roof, wing, and that iconic polycarbonate window on the hood showcasing the 638-horsepower supercharged LS9 V8 underneath, all put the C6 ZR1 knee-deep into supercar territory – but with a price tag that made Ferrari engineers cry into their cappuccinos. You could get a new C6 ZR1 for $103,300 in 2009 and only with a 6-speed manual transmission – a common theme among many modern classics that are now rocketing in value. But when production ended in 2013, fewer than 4,700 examples had left the factory, so supplies are very limited, and values are steadily going up.Interestingly, the C6 Corvette ZR1 wasn’t an instant classic. Past auction data courtesy of The Classic Valuer shows that values slowly went down until about 2020, after which they rocketed back up. Collectors are now scrambling to get these cars, and many of the latest auctions for the model are all well into six-figure territory. Many, but not all – a good chunk of early C6 ZR1s still trade hands in the $70-$80k range or even cheaper, like this one that was sold in 2026 for just $73,700 with 20,900 miles on the clock. Ferrari F355 Berlinetta (Manual) Average Price: $140,000 Bring a TrailerIt’s been exactly 27 years since the last Ferrari F355 left Maranello, and used market values are now following this supercar’s fresh classic status. That’s to no one’s surprise, as the F355 combines virtually every feature collectors are looking for. It’s a proper mid-engined classic supercar, with an optional gated manual transmission, gorgeous Italian leather cabin, pop-up headlights, and barely over 3,000 lbs of dry weight. The highlight, however, is the notoriously reliable 3.5-liter flat-plane V8 with titanium rods and an 8,500-rpm redline.Values have risen from around $80,000 in 2020 to roughly $100,000 for all F355 models, including the GTS, Spider, and Berlinettas. However, manual-transmission models – especially Berlinettas and GTSs – are currently showing by far the steepest appreciation curves. Automatics currently trade at a significant discount.In the last five years, the average price collectors have paid for a manual Berlinetta comes out to around $140,000. For comparison, the F1-style hydraulic paddle shifted models sit at around $100k. Automatic GTS and Spider models are even cheaper at roughly $90,000. The most expensive F355 you can get is a manual GTS with a removable hardtop, which is currently selling for around $160,000. Manual Spiders prices are also on a steep appreciation curve, but these show an average price paid of $93,188, so they still seem like bargains compared to other manual Ferraris, for now.Sources: The Classic Valuer, Classic.com, Car and Driver, Elferspot.