I was a huge Celica fan till the last generation.
Celica GT-Four is still on my bucket list and maybe a 72' to stuff a 1UZ in.
Celica GT-Four is still on my bucket list and maybe a 72' to stuff a 1UZ in.
Cars you love that were ruined by its successor?
I had an '06 2.3 hatch. It was really boring and it rusted, but I agree it was better looking.
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When new, my '09 2.3 hatch was pretty fun. When I sold it last spring, there was just a hint of rust starting on the rear fender edges. The suspension was the most troublesome thing on the car. I had to put a lot of money into maintaining it, even to the point of replacing the rear springs when one broke and the other sagged. Pic from the sale.
E90 LCI 3 Series BMW. That was 2009 thru 2011. I had an 09 328i. The F30 that replaced it and every version since has been a letdown. They went anodyne luxury over driver experience. Really sad to see. Most people would have been better off with an Accord.
I tried to recapture the magic with a 2016 M235i. And while it was impressive as hell in many ways, it was also rather numb and soulless. It was supposed to feel like the older 3 Series, just faster, but it really didn’t.
Drat.
I tried to recapture the magic with a 2016 M235i. And while it was impressive as hell in many ways, it was also rather numb and soulless. It was supposed to feel like the older 3 Series, just faster, but it really didn’t.
Drat.
There are a few periods where large portions of the industry could qualify, like post '70-72 for US makers or exotics post '90s. Almost anything today whatever it is from regular manufacturers are overweight, oversized, lacking in character and engagement, and packed with annoying wuss features and too many have taken a giant fall backwards in ergonomics.
Definitely Honda after they ditched wishbones.
Definitely Honda after they ditched wishbones.
Mine was that with the earlier grille and Strato blue, which is like Trueno blue. Trouble was minimal, but bothered me because it was too boring to be excused—a front strut at 50k and a ball joint a year later due to the strut replacement, head unit that died under warranty, odd electrical gremlin that (eventually) turned out to be an improperly installed fuse, and an O2 sensor that was a PITA to replace because Mazda was apparently run like Wilkinson-era TVR and they didn't know they had three different exhaust configurations, with the one I had being the mystery one of a single wide and single narrowband (actually argued with Mazda NA over it as they insisted I had a bad narrowband where I did not. Finally resolved by contacting the O2 mfg. with the part number and ordering direct). Also, the body parts that weren't (un)galvanized steel were papier mache masquerading as plastic since the slightest taps caused major damage, like a simple dent in the front fender from a parking lot tap-and-run ($3k for fender, airbox, front bumper cover, headlight unit, useless PPF) or light rear-ending by an Audi ($3k for tailgate and bumper cover).When new, my '09 2.3 hatch was pretty fun. When I sold it last spring, there was just a hint of rust starting on the rear fender edges. The suspension was the most troublesome thing on the car. I had to put a lot of money into maintaining it, even to the point of replacing the rear springs when one broke and the other sagged. Pic from the sale.
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Thought the third gen was pretty good looking, though.
Another one I’d mention, in addition to the E90 LCI Bimmers, was the circa 1991 Civic. I had the hatch. That engine was a jewel. Every control was simple and felt right. No nonsense suspension. What an honest but great car that was. And 7k new! I’m not sure when the civic went downhill after that, but I know the one I had in the early 2000s was no match for it. The engineering precision and refinement for the dollar — just wasn’t the same.
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Would be cool to bring back the Plymouth Scamp model name as a Subaru BRAT-style vehicle from RAM, kinda like they did in the '80s.
Or if not the Scamp, then the Dodge Rampage:
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Yeah this thread is full of cars I disagree with LMAO. The MR-S is an ugly duckling but it’s basically a poor man’s Elise. Just a great car.
MR-S
A90 Supra
RX-8
2nd gen NSX
All great cars that are apparently very underrated in this day and age. I think a lot of the time, cars get killed because the new version is better than the old, but just can’t hold up to the nostalgia goggles.
The latest Dart really isn't a bad looking car, however, it was disappointing that they didn't come out with a high performance SRT model.
2022 Premium (base) BRZ - WR Blue FT86MS axleback and lots of sound deadening
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My 2000 Celica GTS was the best vehicle I have ever owned. At 21 years old and 170,000 miles it still had the original clutch. And 32 mpg hwy and 28 city. When she was 20 years old, I drove the Tail of the Dragon and the car was a blast. The Breezy is obviously nicer though - but totally different cars.
Steve
![Automotive parking light Car Wheel Vehicle Tire]()
Steve
Gt500. Used to be a purists dream. You could have it with any trans you wanted.... As long as it was a 6 speed manual. Then they went all soft and made it with an auto. To me it ruined the specialness to even offer it with an auto, but to go as far as making it automatic ONLY was a slap in the face of real mustang enthusiasts. Sure its faster, and blah blah blah. Spec sheet this and spec sheet that. Dont care. Mustangs get manuals and that is that.
Anything that went from RWD to FWD. I don’t care what came after, it’s a downgrade.
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We're an all-RWD household now and I'd be loathe to ever get another FWD or AWD. One of the greatest underappreciated things about RWD is improved steering angle and reduced turning circle.
But it's not "auto" it's a DCT! Those things are stupid fast and make gobs of power with minor work. A good friend has a '21 Track Pack with 1080 at the wheels. It's just stupid lol.
I hear the argument. Im just not listening..!! If there isnt a 3rd pedal its an auto. Lol
I am not anti-auto in all vehicles. I prefer it sports cars and it is a MUST in a MUSTang.
As a GR86 owner this may sound odd, but the Camaro is the car that really lost its way styling wise after 1973. They went through bloated years then wedge shaped crap then smoothed over wedged shaped crap into today’s gangster hotrods. Overweight, overpowered, and ugly as hell. I owned six Camaros in my misspent youth and I love my GR86 more than any of them. Well, that L78 SS396 1969 was rather special…
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