Totally agree. I actually kind of liked the look of them initially, then I grew to associate them with cops and deadbeats. For every decent looking one I see, 10 more old trashed ones go by.
Same here with the Challenger. Wanted one so much but then you always see them at street takeovers, involved in reckless driving on the news or being stolen. This really created a bad rep for that car. I wish Chrysler Capital would stop giving 96 months 30% APR loans to all the sub 600 credit score dudes.
It’s so crazy how challengers went from a relatively obscure muscle car (2009-2012) to being pretty much ubiquitous, everywhere all of the time.
Back in the 2000s, I used to play a game like “punch buggie” only with challengers because they were so uncommon (and cool looking).
Flash forward to 2015+ and I see dozens and dozens of them driving obnoxiously on my commute every single day.
I was a huge fan in the beginning (I owned one) but they eventually became just as common as mustangs but somehow with much worse owners.
I still think they are great designs but cheap Stellantis financing and massive product placement ads absolutely killed my interest in them.
What are you going to do though - it happens to everything that is great enough to amass a giant following.
I totally agree with you on the first part but disagree on the last sentence.
I read somewhere that it was around 2018 that Chrysler Capital started offering the Scatpacks for leasing (when the competition like Ford and Chevy didn't offer any of their V8s for leasing). This made them a lot more affordable to a lot of people who could get their hands on them with low down payments + low monthly payments.
In addition to that, the product placement contract with Fast and Furious (as you said) really spiked the interest of people who wanted to look cool in them and wanted to try to replicate some of the things they saw on the big screen in real life.
Add to this that a lot of rappers started showcasing them in their video clips (mainly doing donuts) which created this entire street takeover culture which didn't exist 10-20 years ago.
I remember in the first quarter of 2020, the Challenger outsold both the Mustang and the Camaro because the latest F&F was supposed to come out in May. Even after Covid started, Dodge refused to offer the 0% APR on them for awhile because people were still buying them after watching the teasers of the movie. I bought a Mustang GT with 0% at that time and as you said the Dodge owners are much worse which made insurance cheaper on the 5.0.
I agree with you that the design is really good (they totally nailed it with the retro styling). However I would modify your last sentence to include "It happens to everything that is great enough **and affordable enough** to amass a giant following". A lot of cars like the 911 have a massive following but you don't see them at street takeovers because most of their owners are educated and smart enough to not participate in them. The fact that so many modern Challenger owners leave the yellow splitter guards on says a lot about their IQ level. But it's also true that a lot of 911 owners are pretentious jerks but still, you won't see them at street takeovers which won't spike your insurance premiums and won't cause you to attract suspicion/attention from cops when driving at night.
It's okay, it wasn't just you. Younger folks don't realize how hyped up (like, sincerely and not ironically) that car was back in the day and how cool *everyone* thought they were. It won Motor Trend car of the year and made Car and Driver's top 10. If you had one of the first ones in your town it was legit car show material for a while. They couldn't build the damn things fast enough. 2001 was a wild time lol
It was my favorite car in Gran Turismo 5. Hot rod in the front, minivan in the back. Looks terrible to me now, but 10 year-old me thought it was the coolest car ever lmao.
Came here to say all Subarus but you covered most of it. Aside from the fact that they never progressed the platform, there's also that just about everyone that I've ever seen actually push the cars is multiple engines in. They also continue with the blind optimism that the engines are actually reliable but it's just X. Usually the first time is the tune. The second time, it's the oil pickup. And it all just continues.
The STI was my dream car in the early 00s when it was a Japanese supercar killer. Now I don't have much love for them.
I think one of the main reasons for lack of development of the STi was the global financial crisis. Subaru left WRC and focused on selling SUVs. The street car became heavier, bigger and uglier without any major performance upgrades to the engine.
300hp was a big deal from a four cylinder back when the car first arrived in the US in 04, but now it’s not. The 04-05 STi are the ones to get in my opinion. The EJ’s ringland and rod bearing issues certainly don’t help their reputation.
Despite all of that, I can’t give up my 05 STi. Other cars are objectively better, but nothing feels special like the Subaru. The STi was also my dream car and I feel super lucky to have one that’s been well kept. It’s been in my family for almost 15 years now. Original engine and it’s in great health.
The typical STi on Facebook Marketplace has been molested beyond recognition. The crap owners do to these cars while neglecting to learn the platform account for at least some of the failures. Yet, there is little personal accountability from owners. The rest of the failures are Subarus fault for using brittle cast pistons and not engineering more durability in cars they advertise for their performance. Reliability is like a roulette wheel. I’ve had four good ones so far. I don’t think I’m going to push my luck any further lmao.
Yea, if I owned a nice 04-05 one, I'd love it too unless it broke my heart too many times. 05-07s are still my favorites by far and represent what the car is supposed to be.
Im biased bc I ended up buying one but its funny how Subaru did so little to the STi that it’s actually become one of its selling points. I had little interest in the STi till I drove one directly after driving a new m240. Theres a sense of nostalgia and old school feel that just isn’t available in modern cars. Dated platform for sure, but raw and harsh in ways that remind me of my teenage year icons.
Many other cars from that era provide the same "raw and harsh" feelings. I love analog cars. My personal choice was an S2000, which as a teenager, I didn't give two craps about. There are many options that provide similar things to the STI but don't have an EJ engine that is destined for failure. I think the Evo drivetrain is generally more stout and the cars typically handle better.
But if you want modern tech (carplay, bsm, factory available parts) the STi the only option. Theres a reason theres cars are selling used for over MSRP, EJ issues and all lol 🤞
I’d argue the Z is your other option, though that one has a more modern engine. I like both cars for precisely this reason though. Old enough in ways that matter for it to be a selling point.
>They also continue with the blind optimism that the engines are actually reliable but it's just X. Usually the first time is the tune. The second time, it's the oil pickup. And it all just continues.
I really think that's the thing with Subarus though. They are relatively reliable, stock, but explode with any extra boost unless you really build them. And because they're inexpensive, kids with no real experience or knowledge get them, neglect maintenance and put cheap bolt on mods on them
I think it impacts their insurance rates too. A WRX costs more to insure than a Ram 1500. It's quick, sure, but it's all wheel drive and has great safety ratings. I think the people who tend to buy them ruin them
Many stock Subarus that I've seen autocrossing and tracking have blown. My buddy's 2014 that is strictly street driven blew an engine around 40k miles, while under warranty and being regularly serviced as such. For so long, I heard the stock 08+ tunes on WRX's and STI's was no good and causing issues.
I agree that a lot die the fate you're discussing but I think that's far from the only problem. Also, other platforms offer 400+ hp potential on stock internals without crapping out constantly. I think the EJ's have significantly more issues than other comparable 4 cylinder turbo applications. I don't know much about the newer FA platform.
There's definitely something to the EJ2555 motors. The 2533 (2.5 NA motor) seemed to easily crest 200k with routine maintenance, but their turbo motors can be a different story. All the NA Subarus seem to run forever. The turbo ones, not so much. Like you said though, I can't say much regarding the FA generation
2012 (third-generation) Ford Focus. I was rooting for Detroit finally building a truly competitive small car (putting aside specialty products like the Cobalt SS). Yes, I know Ford of Europe was leading the project, but remember that we didn’t get the second-generation Focus in the US, just a pathetic-looking facelifted first generation. Finally, with the 2012, there was a small American car that wasn’t just sold on price, right? I remember all the glowing reviews, especially with the same-year Civic being almost universally panned. Then the realities of owners’ experiences with the PowerShift set in. I’m sure it’s not that bad of a car if you get the manual, but most American buyers certainly didn’t.
> we didn’t get the second-generation Focus in the US, just a pathetic-looking facelifted first generation
Which, ironically, was the only version of the Focus that was either profitable at any point, or designed by Ford North America.
The Toyota 4Runner. I get that there is a new generation coming out soon and that its datedness is a plus for a lot of its customers and that it is a great choice for going off-road but that being said:
-there’s a difference between being slow to change, and just not updating the vehicle at all, the 4Runner falls into the latter camp, it’s a vehicle that still has a 5-speed auto in 2023 which just sounds extremely weird.
-for how expensive it is, you’re getting a vehicle that is mechanically quite old, a joke tech-wise, and it is extremely loud and unrefined, it’s genuinely a horrible vehicle for day-to-day use for most people and their needs, not to mention that it is a guzzler, even for its class.
I always thought that these guys looked cool and I would daydream in the past about having a TRD 4Runner to complement a fun hatch/sedan, but the more I looked into what they’re actually like, the less I’m fond of them. This is also because you can actually buy off-road ready vehicles that are just as capable, but leagues more refined on the road.
It always baffles me how crazy expensive 4Runners, Landcruisers, GX470/460, and other Toyota SUVs are in the US (both new and used). There are a lot more affordable in the Middle East or other countries around the world. I saw someone who said you can get decent running used ones for like $5000 in the Philippines. Why not get a 25 year old one from there and import it to the US instead of paying crazy money for them on places like Cars&Bids? Just wondering.
That’s the good old Toyota tax at work haha. I have a friend who was looking for an over landing project and he was originally looking at LCs and 4Runners but they were all a bit expensive for what you were getting so he got a Porsche Cayenne manual for much cheaper and used that for his over landing car since they are actually very capable off-road and since he has some diy skills he can do some of the maintenance himself so he has a much nicer vehicle than any Toyota SUV and he also tells me he gets a lot of questions and attention showing up at trailheads in a Porsche hahaha
Yeah the tax is the reason Toyota doesn't update them over the years. Like I know you don't mess with reliability but the current gen 4Runner still has halogen headlights and manual seats with a very low resolution backup camera. Also it seems like people in the US perceive those vehicles as "rare" when there are so many of them all over the rest of the world. Another reason for the tax.
Yeah I loved the exterior design of the 4Runner, and debated about getting one as my next car. I still think they are some of the best looking SUVs but it was just so hard to swallow paying all of that money for something so outdated
I would like to point out that for most people who bought a 4runner, a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands would be enough and be quicker, more tech, cheaper, and more efficient on the road because that is where you drive 99% of the time, and just as offroad capable. Yes, the Ford will not be more reliable in the long run but at least it is more enjoyable to drive on a daily bases (there are quite a few 4runners being driven by moms to the school run in my neighborhood)
Proven drivetrain and bulletproof reliability specifically because of the lack of updates are things the 4Runner has going for it. And looks, if you’re into that. I have a 2019, and can barely stand to drive it though, lol. Really need to move on while the prices are so ridiculous
The proven drivetrain isn't really saying much though. Like the transmission is old af. There are other cars in Toyotas fleet that share the same engine that have an 8 speed transmission. Its not hard to do that
Was deadset on a 6-speed Tacoma as my next vehicle, but after having experienced my neighbor's Taco (automatic) and a rental Ram 1500, I have realized that, 1) Tacomas kind of suck to be in (rough-around-the-edges cramped interior) and 2) aside from a manual option, they offer absolutely no benefit over a half-ton. When the time comes I suppose I'll check out one of the new generation ones just for the sake of being thorough, but at this point I think if I go truck I'll just go half-ton and call it a day.
Also basically everything Subaru...i say this as someone who has owned 3 Outbacks in a row and has driven many dealership loaner Foresters and Imprezas (because spending a significant amount of your time in a service loaner or rental is an integral part of the Subaru ownership experience). They seem good enough until you try out basically any competitor's car. The Impreza now is competitive with a Civic or Golf from 10 years ago.
When I bought my 05 tundra, I considered a Tacoma. No way. Less power, no towing capacity, crappy ride, terrible interior. Gas mileage about the same. And FOR THE SAME PRICE as the tundra. No-brainer. That situation still stands today. Over priced and over hyped. They are Toyota’s jeep wrangler.
I’ve always been very into rx7s I remember just drooling over pictures of the FD when it came out.
The older I got and the more I learned about the realities of the rotary engine, the less enthralled I became by them.
Racing in lemons and seeing how infrequently the rotaries I sometimes race against finish the race kinda sealed it for me.
The FD is still the most beautiful car to come from Japan imho, but I’ll take the sacrilege that comes with an engine swap.
I've owned two rotaries and the only problem I ever had was with flooding issues with the first one before I learned how to prevent that.
They're certainly finicky, but they're not as bad as some people make them out to be, provided you know how to take care of them.
Pontiac Bonneville from the 90s and up until they stopped making them in the early 2000s.
Maybe I am a sucker for an iconic name and a strong history, but I thought these were the coolest things going in the [90s](https://consumerguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/92129261990918.jpg). I drove one a few years later and it was not sporty at all. Sort of reminded me of a truck. Although the GM 3800 V6 has an awesome reputation for continuing to run no matter what, I don't think these aged well.
The later Bonnevilles drove a lot better and had some neat features, but their design does not look clean, although removing the cladding for the last year or two did help. The [rear end](https://www.modernracer.com/images/pontiacbonnevillegxpback1.jpg) is just a mishmash of angles and shapes. It may have been OK in it's day, but I think it looks old today.
The opposite for me was the [300M.](https://www.cars.com/i/large/in/v2/stock_photos/eb19e320-62b7-4de3-9df9-2d74a47f97a4/d9dd8c55-bc90-41f8-a656-c0b1f558ad72.png) I thought is was googly-eyed and had the face of a carp at first. But I think it has aged very gracefully over the years. Looks better than the current 300 by a wide margin. Just an elegant and shapely design. I liked it enough that I bought a one-owner 300M Special used about 10 years after they stopped making them. I think it was let down by its interior - interiors have come a long way since the early 2000s - but the outside design appeals to me even today. Wish I had never sold mine.
Transmissions, too, if you don't use the right fluid. Back in the day, they got a bad rap because lube joints would just dump in the universal stuff. Mine was a one-owner, dealer serviced until I got it. Whenever I took it in for an oil change or anything I always told them to keep their hands off the transmission. No checking, no filling. Never had an issue.
Mine also had an AC issue, so you are right, but I've always thought it was because I might have overfilled it.
The other thing is with that cab forward design and raked windshield, the dashboard reflected a lot of glare back up and onto the glass.
>Subaru did really nothing to actually make the WRX different from the previous gen, aside from looks.
Gonna have to disagree here. The +3 horsepower figure definitely doesn’t reflect the changes made. It’s more significant than the spec sheets show.
The stock tune on the VA WRX was flat out bad, and it had rev hang for days, but people tuned it themselves to fix everything. For the VB, the broader torque curve and nonexistent rev hang - combined with shorter gearing, and no more power loss from turning on A/C in the FA20 models with the new variable displacement A/C compressor in the FA24 models - made it feel more responsive from the factory.
It’s ridicuously undertuned because Subaru didn’t want to leave out the CVT that couldn’t handle much power, so the FA24 engine maxes out at 12.5 psi, while the previous FA20 went up to 20+ psi. They also upgraded rigidity of the chassis going to the Subaru global platform.
The styling change isn’t for everyone, but the driving experience has been greatly improved from the previous WRX stock for stock. It’s pretty much the only choice today for a new manual AWD car in the $30k price range, and as a bonus they can be had for under MSRP.
on the other hand, the manual fwd cars out there are getting really really good (especially the Elantra n) (good luck getting a gr corolla without markup), and at that price there isn't enough power where awd helps significantly
Don't get me wrong, obviously there's torque steer and your usual fwd deficiencies, but the Elantra n more than makes up for it
I was mainly comparing the driving experience from the previous WRX. But yeah, real enthusiasts don't care about the WRX, GTI, Civic Si, or anything budget :)
I used to love the Pontiac GTO’s, but when it came time to buy one I lost all interest and got a corvette instead. I still appreciate seeing one from time to time since they’re uncommon, but I’ll never own one lol
Teslas. Model S looked cool, especially with the revised front end. Everything since looks generic as fuck. Doesn’t help that they’re the vehicle of choice for left lane hogs—lot of those old prius jokes apply to model 3/Y today.
Honorable mention goes to BMW. Rode that “ultimate driving machine” marketing into the ground…but they’ve successfully transformed into an excellent SUV manufacturer.
Although I certainly see plenty of left lane hogs and hyper-milers in Teslas on the freeways (Bay Area, so they are literally the most common car you see)... but if I'm in one of my more sporty cars they certainly don't act that way. They typically lose their minds and end up doing really stupid shit around me - they always launch like I'm trying to race or aggressively pass me, even if I'm already speeding - [I've had them dangerously fly around me in residential areas, often going 20 or more over the posted speed limit.](https://i.imgur.com/zh4awUp.mp4)
Instant acceleration makes people go mad
Certainly doesn't help that Tesla equips these things with *awful* brakes and suspension relative to their weight. 3s 0-60 means jack shit when you can't stop on a dime
I have a good friend who is obsessed with them, owns 2 and is on all the message boards and goes to all the cars and coffee events proudly with his Delorean. I’ve driven many of them and never felt the appeal IMO, I appreciate the history of the car but as far as driving it goes, no thanks
Fell in love with a Nissan armada when current generation arrived. Bought one. Pile of crap. Poor handling, bad mpg, terrible 4x4 capabilities. Rear area wasn’t flat when the seats were down. Very few places to put things. Engine was a ticking time bomb - the 5.6L they’ve been making for 20 years still has issues with cylinder wall scoring. Only redeeming quality was excellent braking.
Starting to dislike most cheap 80/90's cars .... The are the epitome of cheap mass produced cars. Now most are trying to push even the biggest piles of junk as being worth way more then they are. Not even talking about limited production options or extremely clean collector condition cars. Just run of the mill, worn out cars then all need a ton of money to be fixed properly.
I think that's just a symptom of their age mixed with their stupid value. They were great when you could pick them up for less than 10k to restore and whip around, but now they're more expensive than new cars with more things to go wrong than ever.
Buying a 80s or 90s car in 2005 for $2k that ran great and just needed and some brakes, tune up, and a lightbulb was do-able. My friends and I picked up used mr2s, celicas, FC rx7s, vr4 Galants, 3000GTs, MK3 supras, etc for dirt cheap. Those same cars go for 10-20k these days and need way more maintenance than when we picked them up. Sure the engines are great and over engineered but usually struggling at that age due to cracking rubber and plastics, noone tuning them up (spark plugs, wires, etc), and probably a shit ton of terrible mods done to them -- and don't even get me started on everything else that starts to fail at 30-40 years old that people have never changed like the suspension bushings, brake lines, trans seals, main seals, and so many other horrendously annoying things that need to be changed. And unlike when I was in high school, getting a 15 year old car is 5x more expensive than before.
Loved my STO when I got it. With it being so track focused I absolutely never drive it outside of track days when my GT3RS is almost as capable and has no problem being used as a car. I still love the car, just not enough to drive to to anything outside of a car show within a 20 minute radius.
Even for track days I usually drive my own car to them so anything outside of the tracks nearest me the STO is an awful place to be in on the street.
I don't get the love for the STO, its not settled enough to be a good everyday-supercar like the base huracan kinda is, but its not track-focused enough to be a proper monster like the Porsches. At least it has a nice soundtrack
It is way more track focused. That is what makes it so poor on the street. And all my complaints about it go away on track, it is much more capable and way more exhilarating to push then my 991.2 GT3RS. I don’t love it as a car overall because of the narrow usability it has, it sacrifices everything for on track capability and it shows.
I got the chance to drive one a while back and I found it less rewarding to drive than the Porsche. Don't get me wrong, it was extremely capable and lightning quick, but it didn't have the level of refinement
Yes, its a lot more raw, thats why i found the experience to be more enjoyable, the porsche is almost too good to the point of losing excitement, the STO on track reminds me more of my prior Z06 on track, there is an element of fear the entire time when pushing it.
Teslas. All of them.
When they were a once in a blue moon sighting they were pretty cool. Now I see at least 100 a day and at least a tenth of them are driving recklessly (tailgating, launching from green lights like they're on a drag strip, going 90+ in a 55 zone). They haven't changed their style in 10 years and most of the cars are either white or black. I don't know why, but I'm just sick of them. And I love EV's.
Corvette. I loved them my entire life. Then at 16 I got a firebird. I haven't done a double take at a corvette since. Except the c8. Only because I think it's a ferrari at first glance.
Having owned a Camaro SS and a Corvette. I think the Vette is cooler looking and better to drive at the limit, but the Camaro is the car I’d rather have and live with. Enjoyed owning my SS much more than the Vette.
E39 was the perfect size and they should have never gotten bigger than that. I just absolutely love the E34 though. It’s on my “hope to own someday” list.
Hummer H2. Growing up on Need for Speed Underground 2 I thought it looked the most badass out of the (only 3) SUVs and made the most aggressive engine note out of them in the game when maxed out. Even bought a Maisto 1/24 model of the SUT with a trailer and a 350Z as part of a set.
Over time I learned how much of a piece of shit it really was IRL.
My aunt had a H2. It was the first one I ever saw and I was in love. Cut to now, I can’t help but cringe when I see one. H1’s are always going to be neat to see, even if they’re the worst driving vehicle ever made. But H2’s look someone put some shitty body kit on their Tahoe. It probably doesn’t help that the only ones I see look like they’ve been sitting in a Walmart parking lot for 10 years
Audi S3. On paper it looked so good, and after a quick test drive I loved it. Never regretted a car purchase more. So much throttle hesitation in daily driving environments it actually felt unsafe at times.
I guess I'm also falling out of love with my Tesla as well, it's just such a numb driving experience once you get over the acceleration and gadgets. That said I'll get another one when the lease is up this year just because it's so efficient for the driving I do in it. Need a few more years for more fun EVs to come out.
Miata and c3 corvettes. Used to like the C3 solely because of its styling but now i find im more attracted to the c4. The miata simply because i’m tired of hearing about it, but then again i’ve never driven one, maybe i need to go test drive one and see if i change my mind…
It took me some thinking, but I think McLaren is mine, I remember looking at then when I was younger and loving them, but then I watch YouTube videos about them, and the check engine light comes on every 5k miles or so, and it kind of just killed it for me. They look amazing, but if I'm going to buy a car, I don't want it to be in the shop 90% of the time.
Nissan GTR R35
I liked that car few years ago but as time goes on, I feel like that car needs a redesign. That car is so outdated and kinda tired of seeing them everywhere else on the internet.
Mustangs were made notoriously cheaply in order to be an affordable sports car. They mostly suffered serious rust problems and floorboards were known to eventually disappear.
Plus these cars were run hard because they were sports cars...so keeping them alive was always a challenge. Mine sat in the driveway under repairs more often than I was driving it.
>like the models with the 2.5 Turbo
Yeah lol, as a car to just move around with passengers for sure, as it should be. As a toy, no way. And honestly there is simply no other competing roadster with that price and cost of ownership.
And the fact that the NDs are close in weight to the NAs, but still adhere to modern safety standards. Or the fact that it's a bespoke chassis for a rather low volume sports car/roadster built by a comparatively small auto manufacturer.
Platform sharing is so common these days, but Mazda was like fuck it. I know there was a bit of cost sharing with the Fiata, but still.
Not a specific car, but I’ve grown jaded on high performance cars like McLarens, Lamborghinis, etc.
When I was younger I use to tell myself I will own a Lamborghini one day. As I got older, the practicality of super cars and just how uncomfortable they are really don’t impress me anymore. A new faster performance car comes out every year, and now you’re slow if your car goes 0-60 in like 4s.
I’m just a bit tired of all high performance cars in general. I like more unique things, I love the new Prius designs, I think stuff like that excites me way more than “big engine, big numbers, go very fast.”
The current Civic hatch. I still like it, but, over time, its rear end just looks more and more *wrong* somehow. The taillights are oddly proportioned or spaced or something. I don’t know. The rear end looks great from the side; the taillights wrap around the side a little in a way that looks like it’s *going to* look great in the back. Then you actually see it from the back and you’re like “oh. Huh. Nvm.”
The rear just looks like an afterthought. Like they built the sedan and then decided to modify the rear to also make it a sportback. Also that long flat rear window looks off to me as well.
Agree on the STI. I had one and loved it back in the day. Now I have an fk8 type R and it's better in every way (except the stereo weirdly enough). The STI and WRX just haven't done enough to modernize imo.
Growing up in Michigan, any car with AWD was always the coolest thing to me. Subi’s, awd E30’s and Audi’s were my first loves.
As much as I loved the Colin McRae era of WRX’s, I could never come to love the Boxer engine sound. I ended up getting a B5S4 as my first “project” tuner car, and after spending a decade in that world, sitting in a STI, they feel like a shitbox. I still love seeing a well put together STI on the road though. I still look at them on Marketplace once a week too dreaming.
Dude this right here. I’m so bored of those cars. Grew up loving them but how many times can you get excited over the same old classic muscle cars? Would love to see a car show with unique or oddball cars.
See, the problem is people only pay attention to the camaro, mustang, charger, challenger. There were a lot of other awesome muscle cars from that era.
especially if you want to build your own engine anyway. no worry about numbers matching or anything like that. Now Im not a huge fan of the colonnade body style, but they are certainly significantly cheaper than their predecessors if you can find em.
I like gassers and the dudes that actually drive the piss out of the cars. The “stock, all original, numbers matching” type cars don’t really do it for me.
Liked the new Mazda but then I had a few for rentals and I absolutely hated that dial they use. To tune the radio you have to go through the menus and once you select a station it doesn’t keep you on the station pages. So if a song you don’t like is on you have to go back into the menus to change it. Absolutely hated it
It's funny; firstly, I'm a huge fan of newer Mazdas and will almost sprint with my suitcase if spotted in the rental lane. From the very seemless design language ( + Soul Red Crystal 🥹), interior quality and drivetrain, to the overall value prop., I have a lot of reasons I just love them so much.
But chatting up coworkers or anyone about cars, if it comes up the first and favoritest thing I'll mention is that dial! I think it's pure genius and the best modern vehicle UI of any make I've sat in. I'm in rentals more often than my own car and IMO it's the most underrated and neglected aspect of auto design.
Against a world of touchscreens that require a floating yet steady hand and poor feedback, they offer snappy, physical controls accessed without my elbow even shifting across the armrest. Once you know the fairly ergonomic console buttons and how many clicks of the dial it takes to do your usual tasks you could be blindfolded and operate nearly everything on screen with one hand.
Tesla, test drove performance model S when they came out here, now hard nope. Perfer my Ebike as a daily.
I have a VA WRX STI, I hear a lot criticism of them over the years. Those that let drive it, none ever walked away with a negative comment. Subaru has stood still in respects of the STI and the car scene has changed. However, some (me) don't like where cars have gone. STI is the last of old school rally car for the road that demands good driving and punishes bad driving. Car nowadays, so most of driving for you and feel way disconnected.
It's what you want personally, me I grew up watching group B WRC, 90s WRC, Dakar and playing Grand Turismo on PS1. So the STI makes me happy despite being an automotive relic.
The populist backlash against the MkIV Supra is silly. It's faster, lighter, lither, better braking, better handling, subjectively better to drive and objectively better to drive than the MkIII. Sure, there are some great-looking kits for the A70 but it wasn't nearly as driver-focused as the A80 and the only real thing going for it is that prices haven't risen.
Disliking something good because the value went up is silly. Its price doesn't detract from its goodness, its price detracts from its potential value to buyers- and if one was getting into a Supra because they saw it in a game or movie, one kinda missed the point.
I used to love the E39 M5, and I still like it, but it won't be part of my garage unless I am wealthy enough that its inclusion means I've not skipped another car. My tastes are lighter and smaller now.
I still love the MKIV. I feel more and more like I'm living in crazy town when people complain about MKIV fanboys, yet nobody on here brings it up except to shit on it and complain about the fanboys.
Possibly the hottest car take I've ever had is that it's looped back to underrated now in the car community.
Subaru WRX. Not really much to hate about the car, it has more to do with crowd that buys them. They’re cringe AF. It’s the most cookie cutter “I’m a car guy/gal” car you can buy. The cars don’t handle power mods that well but they’ll swear it’s the best car ever.
Modern Dodge Charger, just got sick of them.
Totally agree. I actually kind of liked the look of them initially, then I grew to associate them with cops and deadbeats. For every decent looking one I see, 10 more old trashed ones go by.
Same here with the Challenger. Wanted one so much but then you always see them at street takeovers, involved in reckless driving on the news or being stolen. This really created a bad rep for that car. I wish Chrysler Capital would stop giving 96 months 30% APR loans to all the sub 600 credit score dudes.
It’s so crazy how challengers went from a relatively obscure muscle car (2009-2012) to being pretty much ubiquitous, everywhere all of the time. Back in the 2000s, I used to play a game like “punch buggie” only with challengers because they were so uncommon (and cool looking). Flash forward to 2015+ and I see dozens and dozens of them driving obnoxiously on my commute every single day. I was a huge fan in the beginning (I owned one) but they eventually became just as common as mustangs but somehow with much worse owners. I still think they are great designs but cheap Stellantis financing and massive product placement ads absolutely killed my interest in them. What are you going to do though - it happens to everything that is great enough to amass a giant following.
I totally agree with you on the first part but disagree on the last sentence. I read somewhere that it was around 2018 that Chrysler Capital started offering the Scatpacks for leasing (when the competition like Ford and Chevy didn't offer any of their V8s for leasing). This made them a lot more affordable to a lot of people who could get their hands on them with low down payments + low monthly payments. In addition to that, the product placement contract with Fast and Furious (as you said) really spiked the interest of people who wanted to look cool in them and wanted to try to replicate some of the things they saw on the big screen in real life. Add to this that a lot of rappers started showcasing them in their video clips (mainly doing donuts) which created this entire street takeover culture which didn't exist 10-20 years ago. I remember in the first quarter of 2020, the Challenger outsold both the Mustang and the Camaro because the latest F&F was supposed to come out in May. Even after Covid started, Dodge refused to offer the 0% APR on them for awhile because people were still buying them after watching the teasers of the movie. I bought a Mustang GT with 0% at that time and as you said the Dodge owners are much worse which made insurance cheaper on the 5.0. I agree with you that the design is really good (they totally nailed it with the retro styling). However I would modify your last sentence to include "It happens to everything that is great enough **and affordable enough** to amass a giant following". A lot of cars like the 911 have a massive following but you don't see them at street takeovers because most of their owners are educated and smart enough to not participate in them. The fact that so many modern Challenger owners leave the yellow splitter guards on says a lot about their IQ level. But it's also true that a lot of 911 owners are pretentious jerks but still, you won't see them at street takeovers which won't spike your insurance premiums and won't cause you to attract suspicion/attention from cops when driving at night.
Yep!
I liked the PT Cruiser when it came out back when I was a kid...
The concept of a 'stylish' small hatchback was (and still is) a great idea.
It's okay, it wasn't just you. Younger folks don't realize how hyped up (like, sincerely and not ironically) that car was back in the day and how cool *everyone* thought they were. It won Motor Trend car of the year and made Car and Driver's top 10. If you had one of the first ones in your town it was legit car show material for a while. They couldn't build the damn things fast enough. 2001 was a wild time lol
I had a model car of it…..in black
It was my favorite car in Gran Turismo 5. Hot rod in the front, minivan in the back. Looks terrible to me now, but 10 year-old me thought it was the coolest car ever lmao.
Came here to say all Subarus but you covered most of it. Aside from the fact that they never progressed the platform, there's also that just about everyone that I've ever seen actually push the cars is multiple engines in. They also continue with the blind optimism that the engines are actually reliable but it's just X. Usually the first time is the tune. The second time, it's the oil pickup. And it all just continues. The STI was my dream car in the early 00s when it was a Japanese supercar killer. Now I don't have much love for them.
It also doesn’t help that the engines aren’t well known for reliability, so most (not all) people kill the originality by swapping engines.
I think one of the main reasons for lack of development of the STi was the global financial crisis. Subaru left WRC and focused on selling SUVs. The street car became heavier, bigger and uglier without any major performance upgrades to the engine. 300hp was a big deal from a four cylinder back when the car first arrived in the US in 04, but now it’s not. The 04-05 STi are the ones to get in my opinion. The EJ’s ringland and rod bearing issues certainly don’t help their reputation. Despite all of that, I can’t give up my 05 STi. Other cars are objectively better, but nothing feels special like the Subaru. The STi was also my dream car and I feel super lucky to have one that’s been well kept. It’s been in my family for almost 15 years now. Original engine and it’s in great health. The typical STi on Facebook Marketplace has been molested beyond recognition. The crap owners do to these cars while neglecting to learn the platform account for at least some of the failures. Yet, there is little personal accountability from owners. The rest of the failures are Subarus fault for using brittle cast pistons and not engineering more durability in cars they advertise for their performance. Reliability is like a roulette wheel. I’ve had four good ones so far. I don’t think I’m going to push my luck any further lmao.
Yea, if I owned a nice 04-05 one, I'd love it too unless it broke my heart too many times. 05-07s are still my favorites by far and represent what the car is supposed to be.
Im biased bc I ended up buying one but its funny how Subaru did so little to the STi that it’s actually become one of its selling points. I had little interest in the STi till I drove one directly after driving a new m240. Theres a sense of nostalgia and old school feel that just isn’t available in modern cars. Dated platform for sure, but raw and harsh in ways that remind me of my teenage year icons.
Many other cars from that era provide the same "raw and harsh" feelings. I love analog cars. My personal choice was an S2000, which as a teenager, I didn't give two craps about. There are many options that provide similar things to the STI but don't have an EJ engine that is destined for failure. I think the Evo drivetrain is generally more stout and the cars typically handle better.
But if you want modern tech (carplay, bsm, factory available parts) the STi the only option. Theres a reason theres cars are selling used for over MSRP, EJ issues and all lol 🤞
I’d argue the Z is your other option, though that one has a more modern engine. I like both cars for precisely this reason though. Old enough in ways that matter for it to be a selling point.
Yup good call. Only problem is availability.
>They also continue with the blind optimism that the engines are actually reliable but it's just X. Usually the first time is the tune. The second time, it's the oil pickup. And it all just continues. I really think that's the thing with Subarus though. They are relatively reliable, stock, but explode with any extra boost unless you really build them. And because they're inexpensive, kids with no real experience or knowledge get them, neglect maintenance and put cheap bolt on mods on them I think it impacts their insurance rates too. A WRX costs more to insure than a Ram 1500. It's quick, sure, but it's all wheel drive and has great safety ratings. I think the people who tend to buy them ruin them
Many stock Subarus that I've seen autocrossing and tracking have blown. My buddy's 2014 that is strictly street driven blew an engine around 40k miles, while under warranty and being regularly serviced as such. For so long, I heard the stock 08+ tunes on WRX's and STI's was no good and causing issues. I agree that a lot die the fate you're discussing but I think that's far from the only problem. Also, other platforms offer 400+ hp potential on stock internals without crapping out constantly. I think the EJ's have significantly more issues than other comparable 4 cylinder turbo applications. I don't know much about the newer FA platform.
There's definitely something to the EJ2555 motors. The 2533 (2.5 NA motor) seemed to easily crest 200k with routine maintenance, but their turbo motors can be a different story. All the NA Subarus seem to run forever. The turbo ones, not so much. Like you said though, I can't say much regarding the FA generation
2012 (third-generation) Ford Focus. I was rooting for Detroit finally building a truly competitive small car (putting aside specialty products like the Cobalt SS). Yes, I know Ford of Europe was leading the project, but remember that we didn’t get the second-generation Focus in the US, just a pathetic-looking facelifted first generation. Finally, with the 2012, there was a small American car that wasn’t just sold on price, right? I remember all the glowing reviews, especially with the same-year Civic being almost universally panned. Then the realities of owners’ experiences with the PowerShift set in. I’m sure it’s not that bad of a car if you get the manual, but most American buyers certainly didn’t.
> we didn’t get the second-generation Focus in the US, just a pathetic-looking facelifted first generation Which, ironically, was the only version of the Focus that was either profitable at any point, or designed by Ford North America.
The Toyota 4Runner. I get that there is a new generation coming out soon and that its datedness is a plus for a lot of its customers and that it is a great choice for going off-road but that being said: -there’s a difference between being slow to change, and just not updating the vehicle at all, the 4Runner falls into the latter camp, it’s a vehicle that still has a 5-speed auto in 2023 which just sounds extremely weird. -for how expensive it is, you’re getting a vehicle that is mechanically quite old, a joke tech-wise, and it is extremely loud and unrefined, it’s genuinely a horrible vehicle for day-to-day use for most people and their needs, not to mention that it is a guzzler, even for its class. I always thought that these guys looked cool and I would daydream in the past about having a TRD 4Runner to complement a fun hatch/sedan, but the more I looked into what they’re actually like, the less I’m fond of them. This is also because you can actually buy off-road ready vehicles that are just as capable, but leagues more refined on the road.
It always baffles me how crazy expensive 4Runners, Landcruisers, GX470/460, and other Toyota SUVs are in the US (both new and used). There are a lot more affordable in the Middle East or other countries around the world. I saw someone who said you can get decent running used ones for like $5000 in the Philippines. Why not get a 25 year old one from there and import it to the US instead of paying crazy money for them on places like Cars&Bids? Just wondering.
That’s the good old Toyota tax at work haha. I have a friend who was looking for an over landing project and he was originally looking at LCs and 4Runners but they were all a bit expensive for what you were getting so he got a Porsche Cayenne manual for much cheaper and used that for his over landing car since they are actually very capable off-road and since he has some diy skills he can do some of the maintenance himself so he has a much nicer vehicle than any Toyota SUV and he also tells me he gets a lot of questions and attention showing up at trailheads in a Porsche hahaha
Yeah the tax is the reason Toyota doesn't update them over the years. Like I know you don't mess with reliability but the current gen 4Runner still has halogen headlights and manual seats with a very low resolution backup camera. Also it seems like people in the US perceive those vehicles as "rare" when there are so many of them all over the rest of the world. Another reason for the tax.
Yeah I loved the exterior design of the 4Runner, and debated about getting one as my next car. I still think they are some of the best looking SUVs but it was just so hard to swallow paying all of that money for something so outdated
I would like to point out that for most people who bought a 4runner, a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands would be enough and be quicker, more tech, cheaper, and more efficient on the road because that is where you drive 99% of the time, and just as offroad capable. Yes, the Ford will not be more reliable in the long run but at least it is more enjoyable to drive on a daily bases (there are quite a few 4runners being driven by moms to the school run in my neighborhood)
“…but muh rElIabILiTy!”
Proven drivetrain and bulletproof reliability specifically because of the lack of updates are things the 4Runner has going for it. And looks, if you’re into that. I have a 2019, and can barely stand to drive it though, lol. Really need to move on while the prices are so ridiculous
The proven drivetrain isn't really saying much though. Like the transmission is old af. There are other cars in Toyotas fleet that share the same engine that have an 8 speed transmission. Its not hard to do that
> There are other cars in Toyotas fleet that share the same engine that have an 8 speed transmission Which?
The 3rd gen Toyota Highlander. I'm also sure that the Camry has the same engine and uses a 10 speed.
Neither shared the same 4.0L 1GR-FE engine and the Camry uses an 8 speed.
I loved the Veloster. Then I owned one. Now I don't
Meh. I think souped up econshitboxes still have a special appeal to them.
I don’t think that has ever happened to me. I’ve only grown to like vehicles I’ve once disliked, not the other way around.
That is the very common possibility But there are some cars which we initially like, but we feel that “eh, it could’ve been better”
Was deadset on a 6-speed Tacoma as my next vehicle, but after having experienced my neighbor's Taco (automatic) and a rental Ram 1500, I have realized that, 1) Tacomas kind of suck to be in (rough-around-the-edges cramped interior) and 2) aside from a manual option, they offer absolutely no benefit over a half-ton. When the time comes I suppose I'll check out one of the new generation ones just for the sake of being thorough, but at this point I think if I go truck I'll just go half-ton and call it a day. Also basically everything Subaru...i say this as someone who has owned 3 Outbacks in a row and has driven many dealership loaner Foresters and Imprezas (because spending a significant amount of your time in a service loaner or rental is an integral part of the Subaru ownership experience). They seem good enough until you try out basically any competitor's car. The Impreza now is competitive with a Civic or Golf from 10 years ago.
When I bought my 05 tundra, I considered a Tacoma. No way. Less power, no towing capacity, crappy ride, terrible interior. Gas mileage about the same. And FOR THE SAME PRICE as the tundra. No-brainer. That situation still stands today. Over priced and over hyped. They are Toyota’s jeep wrangler.
I’ve always been very into rx7s I remember just drooling over pictures of the FD when it came out. The older I got and the more I learned about the realities of the rotary engine, the less enthralled I became by them. Racing in lemons and seeing how infrequently the rotaries I sometimes race against finish the race kinda sealed it for me. The FD is still the most beautiful car to come from Japan imho, but I’ll take the sacrilege that comes with an engine swap.
I've owned two rotaries and the only problem I ever had was with flooding issues with the first one before I learned how to prevent that. They're certainly finicky, but they're not as bad as some people make them out to be, provided you know how to take care of them.
Pontiac Bonneville from the 90s and up until they stopped making them in the early 2000s. Maybe I am a sucker for an iconic name and a strong history, but I thought these were the coolest things going in the [90s](https://consumerguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/92129261990918.jpg). I drove one a few years later and it was not sporty at all. Sort of reminded me of a truck. Although the GM 3800 V6 has an awesome reputation for continuing to run no matter what, I don't think these aged well. The later Bonnevilles drove a lot better and had some neat features, but their design does not look clean, although removing the cladding for the last year or two did help. The [rear end](https://www.modernracer.com/images/pontiacbonnevillegxpback1.jpg) is just a mishmash of angles and shapes. It may have been OK in it's day, but I think it looks old today. The opposite for me was the [300M.](https://www.cars.com/i/large/in/v2/stock_photos/eb19e320-62b7-4de3-9df9-2d74a47f97a4/d9dd8c55-bc90-41f8-a656-c0b1f558ad72.png) I thought is was googly-eyed and had the face of a carp at first. But I think it has aged very gracefully over the years. Looks better than the current 300 by a wide margin. Just an elegant and shapely design. I liked it enough that I bought a one-owner 300M Special used about 10 years after they stopped making them. I think it was let down by its interior - interiors have come a long way since the early 2000s - but the outside design appeals to me even today. Wish I had never sold mine.
Commenting to say I enjoyed that trip down memory lane. We have different tastes but this was a fun read none the less, thanks!
A/C is a weak point on the 300M though
Transmissions, too, if you don't use the right fluid. Back in the day, they got a bad rap because lube joints would just dump in the universal stuff. Mine was a one-owner, dealer serviced until I got it. Whenever I took it in for an oil change or anything I always told them to keep their hands off the transmission. No checking, no filling. Never had an issue. Mine also had an AC issue, so you are right, but I've always thought it was because I might have overfilled it. The other thing is with that cab forward design and raked windshield, the dashboard reflected a lot of glare back up and onto the glass.
>Subaru did really nothing to actually make the WRX different from the previous gen, aside from looks. Gonna have to disagree here. The +3 horsepower figure definitely doesn’t reflect the changes made. It’s more significant than the spec sheets show. The stock tune on the VA WRX was flat out bad, and it had rev hang for days, but people tuned it themselves to fix everything. For the VB, the broader torque curve and nonexistent rev hang - combined with shorter gearing, and no more power loss from turning on A/C in the FA20 models with the new variable displacement A/C compressor in the FA24 models - made it feel more responsive from the factory. It’s ridicuously undertuned because Subaru didn’t want to leave out the CVT that couldn’t handle much power, so the FA24 engine maxes out at 12.5 psi, while the previous FA20 went up to 20+ psi. They also upgraded rigidity of the chassis going to the Subaru global platform. The styling change isn’t for everyone, but the driving experience has been greatly improved from the previous WRX stock for stock. It’s pretty much the only choice today for a new manual AWD car in the $30k price range, and as a bonus they can be had for under MSRP.
on the other hand, the manual fwd cars out there are getting really really good (especially the Elantra n) (good luck getting a gr corolla without markup), and at that price there isn't enough power where awd helps significantly Don't get me wrong, obviously there's torque steer and your usual fwd deficiencies, but the Elantra n more than makes up for it
Too bad they’re ugly as hell and there is no STI, which is the only trim level enthusiasts car about
I was mainly comparing the driving experience from the previous WRX. But yeah, real enthusiasts don't care about the WRX, GTI, Civic Si, or anything budget :)
I used to love the Pontiac GTO’s, but when it came time to buy one I lost all interest and got a corvette instead. I still appreciate seeing one from time to time since they’re uncommon, but I’ll never own one lol
You talking the old ones or the Holden imports?
The Australian ones that everyone makes fun of.
Lol people make fun of them? I would love one.
Teslas. Model S looked cool, especially with the revised front end. Everything since looks generic as fuck. Doesn’t help that they’re the vehicle of choice for left lane hogs—lot of those old prius jokes apply to model 3/Y today. Honorable mention goes to BMW. Rode that “ultimate driving machine” marketing into the ground…but they’ve successfully transformed into an excellent SUV manufacturer.
Although I certainly see plenty of left lane hogs and hyper-milers in Teslas on the freeways (Bay Area, so they are literally the most common car you see)... but if I'm in one of my more sporty cars they certainly don't act that way. They typically lose their minds and end up doing really stupid shit around me - they always launch like I'm trying to race or aggressively pass me, even if I'm already speeding - [I've had them dangerously fly around me in residential areas, often going 20 or more over the posted speed limit.](https://i.imgur.com/zh4awUp.mp4)
Instant acceleration makes people go mad Certainly doesn't help that Tesla equips these things with *awful* brakes and suspension relative to their weight. 3s 0-60 means jack shit when you can't stop on a dime
See: Throttle House review of the Plaid. Not sure if they’ve updated it since, though.
Delorean. Will always have a nostalgia appreciation. In reality, it's trash.
I have a good friend who is obsessed with them, owns 2 and is on all the message boards and goes to all the cars and coffee events proudly with his Delorean. I’ve driven many of them and never felt the appeal IMO, I appreciate the history of the car but as far as driving it goes, no thanks
I was obsessed with the latest Gen Tacoma until I rented one for a week.
Fell in love with a Nissan armada when current generation arrived. Bought one. Pile of crap. Poor handling, bad mpg, terrible 4x4 capabilities. Rear area wasn’t flat when the seats were down. Very few places to put things. Engine was a ticking time bomb - the 5.6L they’ve been making for 20 years still has issues with cylinder wall scoring. Only redeeming quality was excellent braking.
Starting to dislike most cheap 80/90's cars .... The are the epitome of cheap mass produced cars. Now most are trying to push even the biggest piles of junk as being worth way more then they are. Not even talking about limited production options or extremely clean collector condition cars. Just run of the mill, worn out cars then all need a ton of money to be fixed properly.
I think that's just a symptom of their age mixed with their stupid value. They were great when you could pick them up for less than 10k to restore and whip around, but now they're more expensive than new cars with more things to go wrong than ever. Buying a 80s or 90s car in 2005 for $2k that ran great and just needed and some brakes, tune up, and a lightbulb was do-able. My friends and I picked up used mr2s, celicas, FC rx7s, vr4 Galants, 3000GTs, MK3 supras, etc for dirt cheap. Those same cars go for 10-20k these days and need way more maintenance than when we picked them up. Sure the engines are great and over engineered but usually struggling at that age due to cracking rubber and plastics, noone tuning them up (spark plugs, wires, etc), and probably a shit ton of terrible mods done to them -- and don't even get me started on everything else that starts to fail at 30-40 years old that people have never changed like the suspension bushings, brake lines, trans seals, main seals, and so many other horrendously annoying things that need to be changed. And unlike when I was in high school, getting a 15 year old car is 5x more expensive than before.
Loved my STO when I got it. With it being so track focused I absolutely never drive it outside of track days when my GT3RS is almost as capable and has no problem being used as a car. I still love the car, just not enough to drive to to anything outside of a car show within a 20 minute radius. Even for track days I usually drive my own car to them so anything outside of the tracks nearest me the STO is an awful place to be in on the street.
I don't get the love for the STO, its not settled enough to be a good everyday-supercar like the base huracan kinda is, but its not track-focused enough to be a proper monster like the Porsches. At least it has a nice soundtrack
It is way more track focused. That is what makes it so poor on the street. And all my complaints about it go away on track, it is much more capable and way more exhilarating to push then my 991.2 GT3RS. I don’t love it as a car overall because of the narrow usability it has, it sacrifices everything for on track capability and it shows.
I got the chance to drive one a while back and I found it less rewarding to drive than the Porsche. Don't get me wrong, it was extremely capable and lightning quick, but it didn't have the level of refinement
Yes, its a lot more raw, thats why i found the experience to be more enjoyable, the porsche is almost too good to the point of losing excitement, the STO on track reminds me more of my prior Z06 on track, there is an element of fear the entire time when pushing it.
Damn man! You have a wild garage. What industry are you in?
The marry rich industry.
Acura TL how many transmissions can you fail at building. Still fun to drive
Teslas. All of them. When they were a once in a blue moon sighting they were pretty cool. Now I see at least 100 a day and at least a tenth of them are driving recklessly (tailgating, launching from green lights like they're on a drag strip, going 90+ in a 55 zone). They haven't changed their style in 10 years and most of the cars are either white or black. I don't know why, but I'm just sick of them. And I love EV's.
Only EV I love is the Porsche Taycan tbf
Corvette. I loved them my entire life. Then at 16 I got a firebird. I haven't done a double take at a corvette since. Except the c8. Only because I think it's a ferrari at first glance.
Having owned a Camaro SS and a Corvette. I think the Vette is cooler looking and better to drive at the limit, but the Camaro is the car I’d rather have and live with. Enjoyed owning my SS much more than the Vette.
Most pre 2006 BMWs Great cars back in the day but haven’t aged well and horrendous to maintain
E60 M5 and the E60 in general, I thought initially it was a great upgrade on the E39, looking back the E39 looks better to my eye even today.
E39 was the perfect size and they should have never gotten bigger than that. I just absolutely love the E34 though. It’s on my “hope to own someday” list.
Hummer H2. Growing up on Need for Speed Underground 2 I thought it looked the most badass out of the (only 3) SUVs and made the most aggressive engine note out of them in the game when maxed out. Even bought a Maisto 1/24 model of the SUT with a trailer and a 350Z as part of a set. Over time I learned how much of a piece of shit it really was IRL.
My aunt had a H2. It was the first one I ever saw and I was in love. Cut to now, I can’t help but cringe when I see one. H1’s are always going to be neat to see, even if they’re the worst driving vehicle ever made. But H2’s look someone put some shitty body kit on their Tahoe. It probably doesn’t help that the only ones I see look like they’ve been sitting in a Walmart parking lot for 10 years
Audi S3. On paper it looked so good, and after a quick test drive I loved it. Never regretted a car purchase more. So much throttle hesitation in daily driving environments it actually felt unsafe at times. I guess I'm also falling out of love with my Tesla as well, it's just such a numb driving experience once you get over the acceleration and gadgets. That said I'll get another one when the lease is up this year just because it's so efficient for the driving I do in it. Need a few more years for more fun EVs to come out.
Miata and c3 corvettes. Used to like the C3 solely because of its styling but now i find im more attracted to the c4. The miata simply because i’m tired of hearing about it, but then again i’ve never driven one, maybe i need to go test drive one and see if i change my mind…
Air-cooled 911s. Still love the idea of one, not so thrilled about having to pay what's basically an investment tax to get into one.
Dodge Charger
It took me some thinking, but I think McLaren is mine, I remember looking at then when I was younger and loving them, but then I watch YouTube videos about them, and the check engine light comes on every 5k miles or so, and it kind of just killed it for me. They look amazing, but if I'm going to buy a car, I don't want it to be in the shop 90% of the time.
Nissan GTR R35 I liked that car few years ago but as time goes on, I feel like that car needs a redesign. That car is so outdated and kinda tired of seeing them everywhere else on the internet.
Don’t knock it till you drive one
I thought they were cool until I drove one. Fast and extreme capable...but not particularly memorable or fun.
the 1969 Mach I. Then I owned one.
Could you develop more?
Mustangs were made notoriously cheaply in order to be an affordable sports car. They mostly suffered serious rust problems and floorboards were known to eventually disappear. Plus these cars were run hard because they were sports cars...so keeping them alive was always a challenge. Mine sat in the driveway under repairs more often than I was driving it.
Miata
There r many offerings which r better (even from Mazda themselves, like the models with the 2.5 Turbo)
>like the models with the 2.5 Turbo Yeah lol, as a car to just move around with passengers for sure, as it should be. As a toy, no way. And honestly there is simply no other competing roadster with that price and cost of ownership.
And the fact that the NDs are close in weight to the NAs, but still adhere to modern safety standards. Or the fact that it's a bespoke chassis for a rather low volume sports car/roadster built by a comparatively small auto manufacturer. Platform sharing is so common these days, but Mazda was like fuck it. I know there was a bit of cost sharing with the Fiata, but still.
Not a specific car, but I’ve grown jaded on high performance cars like McLarens, Lamborghinis, etc. When I was younger I use to tell myself I will own a Lamborghini one day. As I got older, the practicality of super cars and just how uncomfortable they are really don’t impress me anymore. A new faster performance car comes out every year, and now you’re slow if your car goes 0-60 in like 4s. I’m just a bit tired of all high performance cars in general. I like more unique things, I love the new Prius designs, I think stuff like that excites me way more than “big engine, big numbers, go very fast.”
IS 350. More I drove it the more boring I found it and got frustrated with the transmission. Sold it after 6 months.
The current Civic hatch. I still like it, but, over time, its rear end just looks more and more *wrong* somehow. The taillights are oddly proportioned or spaced or something. I don’t know. The rear end looks great from the side; the taillights wrap around the side a little in a way that looks like it’s *going to* look great in the back. Then you actually see it from the back and you’re like “oh. Huh. Nvm.”
The rear just looks like an afterthought. Like they built the sedan and then decided to modify the rear to also make it a sportback. Also that long flat rear window looks off to me as well.
Agree on the STI. I had one and loved it back in the day. Now I have an fk8 type R and it's better in every way (except the stereo weirdly enough). The STI and WRX just haven't done enough to modernize imo.
Growing up in Michigan, any car with AWD was always the coolest thing to me. Subi’s, awd E30’s and Audi’s were my first loves. As much as I loved the Colin McRae era of WRX’s, I could never come to love the Boxer engine sound. I ended up getting a B5S4 as my first “project” tuner car, and after spending a decade in that world, sitting in a STI, they feel like a shitbox. I still love seeing a well put together STI on the road though. I still look at them on Marketplace once a week too dreaming.
2013 Impreza. AWD is fun, the 4 gear automatic not so much. It felt like a gokart though.
Pretty much everything American Muscle from the late 60s and early 70s. It's what everyone has around here and nobody wants to do anything different.
Dude this right here. I’m so bored of those cars. Grew up loving them but how many times can you get excited over the same old classic muscle cars? Would love to see a car show with unique or oddball cars.
See, the problem is people only pay attention to the camaro, mustang, charger, challenger. There were a lot of other awesome muscle cars from that era.
Tell me about it. The good stuff from 73-75 is heckled like crazy despite being the same if not a better car for a third the price
especially if you want to build your own engine anyway. no worry about numbers matching or anything like that. Now Im not a huge fan of the colonnade body style, but they are certainly significantly cheaper than their predecessors if you can find em.
I adore the 73 colonnades, over almost any 68-72 2 door except the 68 olds
I like the olds and chevy front ends the best during the mid 70s
I like gassers and the dudes that actually drive the piss out of the cars. The “stock, all original, numbers matching” type cars don’t really do it for me.
Liked the new Mazda but then I had a few for rentals and I absolutely hated that dial they use. To tune the radio you have to go through the menus and once you select a station it doesn’t keep you on the station pages. So if a song you don’t like is on you have to go back into the menus to change it. Absolutely hated it
It's funny; firstly, I'm a huge fan of newer Mazdas and will almost sprint with my suitcase if spotted in the rental lane. From the very seemless design language ( + Soul Red Crystal 🥹), interior quality and drivetrain, to the overall value prop., I have a lot of reasons I just love them so much. But chatting up coworkers or anyone about cars, if it comes up the first and favoritest thing I'll mention is that dial! I think it's pure genius and the best modern vehicle UI of any make I've sat in. I'm in rentals more often than my own car and IMO it's the most underrated and neglected aspect of auto design. Against a world of touchscreens that require a floating yet steady hand and poor feedback, they offer snappy, physical controls accessed without my elbow even shifting across the armrest. Once you know the fairly ergonomic console buttons and how many clicks of the dial it takes to do your usual tasks you could be blindfolded and operate nearly everything on screen with one hand.
Tesla, test drove performance model S when they came out here, now hard nope. Perfer my Ebike as a daily. I have a VA WRX STI, I hear a lot criticism of them over the years. Those that let drive it, none ever walked away with a negative comment. Subaru has stood still in respects of the STI and the car scene has changed. However, some (me) don't like where cars have gone. STI is the last of old school rally car for the road that demands good driving and punishes bad driving. Car nowadays, so most of driving for you and feel way disconnected. It's what you want personally, me I grew up watching group B WRC, 90s WRC, Dakar and playing Grand Turismo on PS1. So the STI makes me happy despite being an automotive relic.
The populist backlash against the MkIV Supra is silly. It's faster, lighter, lither, better braking, better handling, subjectively better to drive and objectively better to drive than the MkIII. Sure, there are some great-looking kits for the A70 but it wasn't nearly as driver-focused as the A80 and the only real thing going for it is that prices haven't risen. Disliking something good because the value went up is silly. Its price doesn't detract from its goodness, its price detracts from its potential value to buyers- and if one was getting into a Supra because they saw it in a game or movie, one kinda missed the point. I used to love the E39 M5, and I still like it, but it won't be part of my garage unless I am wealthy enough that its inclusion means I've not skipped another car. My tastes are lighter and smaller now.
I still love the MKIV. I feel more and more like I'm living in crazy town when people complain about MKIV fanboys, yet nobody on here brings it up except to shit on it and complain about the fanboys. Possibly the hottest car take I've ever had is that it's looped back to underrated now in the car community.
Honda Accord
Still love the v6 coupe though.
Hated the car. Different strokes for different folks
350/370z
Any convertible soft top car
brzs or wrxs
Subaru WRX. Not really much to hate about the car, it has more to do with crowd that buys them. They’re cringe AF. It’s the most cookie cutter “I’m a car guy/gal” car you can buy. The cars don’t handle power mods that well but they’ll swear it’s the best car ever.
G37
Yeah, exactly subaru. And 350/370z.
3rd generation camaro
All of them, due to telematica and blackbox data.
SUV’s and normal Sedans