“What car should I buy?” is a question frequently asked by our readers. There’s no right answer to the question, as often it comes down to budget and personal preference, but sooner or later the conversation turns to value, and no one wants to lose money on a classic car or weekend driver.

The truth is that car values are driven by market trends and disposable income. Muscle cars rose in value once the relevant audience (Baby Boomers, primarily) began buying them, fueled by a rolling stock market (pre-2009, of course), paid-off mortgages and grown children. Today, it’s the sports cars and trucks of the ’80s and ’90s that are attracting Gen-X and Millennial buyers, in part because of the generational relevancy of these vehicles and their still-affordable prices.

While we here at Hemmings know a thing or two about cars, the truth is that we’re as blind as anyone else in predicting their future value. The best reason to buy a weekend driver – any weekend driver – is a passion for that era, marque and model, and not a belief that it will rise in value to fund retirement plans or college tuition for the children.

Take your pick! Your [imaginary] budget is unlimited.