OT: Talking Cars (Wednesday??): Unsung heroes
We've all had those cars in our life that are aspirational, or illogical and high maintenance, but we love them anyway (I'm guessin many used BWM/Land Rover/Jag owners can call into that category.
Today, however, I've been inspired by an article in Jalopnik that talked about how the Vibe is underappreciated.
what are the underappreciated cars in your stable over the years? Maybe it was the Corolla you bought used with high miles for the kid, but the damn thing just keeps running. Maybe it's a '75 Duster with a slanted six, canvas seats, and no AC that got you through college. Maybe it's the Honda Accord that you drove way longer than you financially had to because it. would. not. die.
For me, it was my '98 ZJ. 318/Quadra Trac/Low Range. That damned thing went through anything. It only got stuck when I was stupid and high centered it. It never cost me anything but a radiator and consumables. And the radiator only failed when it was 14 years old. And it still drove me home. While towing a boat. It only got retired because the wife couldn't handle the rust anymore. I have a Commander now and if I found someone with a high mileage ZJ with little rust I'd be tempted to trade them right there.
What's yours?
My dad owned a beat up, 1960's Chevy truck. Similar to the one pictured below, but much more rust. And it was bright orange. It shook violently if you went faster than 45 mph. It's one purpose in life? Hauling wood. That truck was idle 99.99999% of the time, but it annually served it's purpose in late summer and early fall on wood cutting runs to stock up winter heating fuel. In retrospect, a truly underappreciated vehicle.
Also, I was amazed to discover that most families outside of the U.P. didn't have a wood hauling truck.
In college I had a 1985 Oldmobile Calais with a little 4-banger and 5-speed in it. That thing was fun to drive and got fantastic mileage. Can't find a picture (this is an 87, which is similar). I really miss that car.
now the car. You are a danger to travel with.
I had a hand-me-down 1974 Plymouth Valiant. 225 slant 6, vinyl bench seats, AM radio, no cruise or power anything. It took all sorts of abuse, mostly because I don't think I ever got any advice on how to take care of a car properly. I'd like to go back and talk to dumbass younger me about that, because if I'd taken care of that car it would have lasted all the way through school and beyond at very little cost. As it was it was a great car.
Anyone one of the three 1978-80 Ford Fiestas that I owned. Nothing like that 1.6 liter Ford engine (same as in Formula Ford race cars). They were a blast and I never was able to kill any of the three. I so badly wanted to put a Cosworth BDA in one of them but never had the opportunity to try it.
was a 1988? Toyota Starlet. Bought it used in '91 and drove the crap out of the car. Thing ran like a champ and got incredible gas mileage. Was in a wreck with it and totaled the car when it had 140K on it. I probably would've drove it for a long time if not for the accident.
Currently have an '06 4 Runner with 133K on it. Strong V8 engine and runs great, but at 12 years old been starting to get nickled and dimed with things starting to fail on it. It's been such a great vehicle for the 12 years I've had it, that I struggle with getting rid of it but just might this summer.
and a 5 speed! Holy crap that must have been fun to drive.
I was 16-17 at the time and it didn't take me long to realize that tires were expensive for someone working a $6/hr job. First and second gear would pull so hard for that inline 6 if I hooked up, I surprised a few people lining up at red lights. I still always point out Comanches when I see them on the road. I will own another one day as a little piece of nostalgia for me
2013 Mazda CX 5. I've got four cars including the Mazda (2017 BMW 640 Grand Touring, 2014 Chevy Silverado and 2003 Vette) and I love this car cause all that stupid Mazda does is run. Gets about 30 MPG, has now over 90K miles and has required next to no maintanence whatsoever. Cost me just under 27K new back in 2013 and the damn thing is still worth about 12-13K if I wanted to sell it (and I dont).
Once you get past the fact it has no acceleration at all the car is great.
And this year is the first time I've really had much issue. The battery died and when I jumped it a second time something happened that doesn't allow it to go over 3000 rpm. Hoping a reset of the battery will fix the computer issue. It is such a great fun car to drive, fits a ton of stuff and people into it, is still in great condition, and has a ton of power. I'm really hoping that the turbo holds out as I'm getting close to 150,000 miles. Love me some Mazda.
Got my first Mazda in 2014. A 3 HB in soul red. Fun car to drive and the seats are pretty decent. Still have my 97 Pontiac.
I had a 79 Buick Regal 2 door I really liked. Smooth ride with a front bench seat.
They bought it used so my mom had a beater car in the winter in around 93. The thing was as basic as you could get with power nothing, 4 speed manual, and only one sideview mirror. However, that thing was amazing. It survived a bunch of Michigan winters, 3 boys learning to drive on it/ used as our summer car at 16 so we could work t get our own car, got 40 mpg easily on the highway going 80, and my parents didn't put any money into it, and it had enough room for 5 with a big hatch trunk.
Strong second place to my parents 1991 Isuzu Rodeo. Again, basic as you could get, but had 4WD lockable hubs, had a ton of room on the inside, and again, my parents had almost no maintenance costs (remember an exhaust manifold having to be replaced around 2001). My dad got a great deal on a VW Jetta sport wagon, so he bought that and put it in the garage until the Rodeo died. After 3 more years of driving the rodeo, while the Jetta sat, he finally gave up, cleaned it all up and sold the Rodeo off. Amazing that $16,000 new lasted for close to 300,000 miles. I loved when I got a chance to drive it. Think it still looks good.
THIS is a LeMans...
You damn skippy!
Had an 86 Accord that I bought for $800. Shortly after I bought it, I had an electrical issue that cost me a couple hundred bucks to sort out. After that, that car was bulletproof for 3 years. The only quibble was that the pop up lights were stuck inthe up position. Other than that, the heat blew hot, the air blew cold, and that sucker fired right up every time I asked it to, through a couple of the coldest Cleveland winters I remember. I ended up selling it to buy a '93 Cavalier, which was about one of the dumbest decisions I ever made. I figured the Cavalier was owned by a girl whose father was a mechanic so it'd have to be in good shape. WRONG. There was some issue with the solenoids so sometimes when getting off the freeway the car wouldnt shift out of gear properly and it'd stall out. I HATED that car and only kept it for about 9 months
Hate to say it but: Honda - good. GM - Bad
Got me through grad school in Chicago in style for low-dough. Looked much more expensive than it was (bought a 6 year old car). It was also rather unique. Crazy easy to fix for DIY
Mine was a standard transmission. I always left it in neutral. Chicago is flat. Parking is tough to come by . . . the car was towed at least 3 times per year.
(representative picture)
My Fiero. Very fun car to drive, not too hard to maintain, several excellent, well-documented engine swaps for those who want more power, and very affordable to pick up in pretty good condition.
Yet all most people know about them is that they had engine fire issues. Few know why: GM, on the early 84s, listed the wrong oil capacity in the owner's manual (three quarts instead of four) *and* mismarked the dipstick, so it showed as full when it was a quart low. The cars ran low on oil, threw a rod throught the block, and sprayed oil onto the exhaust manifold. Ignition.
90+% of all the Fieros that had engine fires were due to this dumbassery by GM.
So if you are looking for a fun, affordable, (now) fairly rare and unique (still the only mass-produced mid-engine car by a US automaker) car, they are the ticket.
My mom had an early-80's Pontiac Phoenix. The early '80's GM X cars were wretched, wretched cars. Some of the worst ever produced by GM.
But . . . her's was great. It always ran well, it stayed together, and it aged very well.
It was an anti-lemon. A freak car in that series.
in the 90's and seeing one and being dumbfounded.
My very first car (in 1986) was an '82 Buick Skylark from this family. Ran great, had the indestructible 2.5L 4 cylinder (Iron Duke it was known as, IIRC). For an '82, it was loaded . . . power locks/windows, AC, FM stereo, etc. Only rust was on the deck lid, which I bought a replacement for in a junkyard for next to nothing and had painted for free at the dealership I had a summer job at. Very nice velvet-like seats (not 70s pimp velvet, but nice material). Kinda wish I still had it as a tongue-in-cheek "cruise" vehicle.
I want it back! Some 80's New Yorkers came with a plush throw pillow too!
As an aside, when I was a kid, 'luxury' was power windows, locks, nice radio, plush ride, and leather seats. Now that's an entrey level car.
I know I've said it before, but I mourn the loss of automotive simplicity.
My 2002 Cavalier is my unsung hero. I bought it used in 2002 with 20,000 miles on it. I still drive it everyday to work and back and the only issue I had was a recent transmission fluid leak that was easily fixed for very cheap.
It currently has 210,000 miles on it, limited rust, and still gets 30 mpg. I bought if for $6900 back in 2003 and paid cash for it. This car has reached legendary status and knock on wood is still running great and has a lot of life left in it.
That car, and your avatar go so well together...
2003 G35 with 277k miles on it. Took it into the shop this morning for an oil leak but this car has been virtually indestructible. radiator went at 150k, starter motor went about the same time. other than that the car just won't die.
'91 Honda Accord LX, white with blue interior.
It stayed with me through HS (hand-me-down from my sister, actually) and college. My record was fitting 9 people in it. A bunch of us went to watch a movie at the Showtime on Carpenter. Afterward, we discovered that several of them had been DROPPED OFF and had no ride back. B/c I was lazy and efficient, I decided that we could fit 9 people in there. I was driving, we had the three smallest girls in the front passenger seat (and actually kinda of on the center console); 4 across in the back, and 2 more on their laps.
I was low-ridin' that night in a major way. Sketchiest part was going by Washtenaw where it splits off with Stadium b/c there was often a cop sitting around there. Fortunately, we made it back to campus without incident.
Also got me and my sister home to Atlanta during winter break, December 1995 when a huge blizzard hit most of Ohio. We got stuck in that blizzard. Took us about 9 hours to get to Cincy from AA - normally a 4 to 4.5 hour drive. Took another 6 hours to get home to Atlanta, so that was a ROUGH day.
Can't leave out the road trips to Colorado, Chicago, and Cocoa Beach.
My second car was one I purchased from my Grandparents...1987 Delta '88. 3.8L V6, velour interior, it was a true beauty.
This car took me everywhere...great in the snow and that V6 seriously moved. Did I put a Pioneer CD player and 6x9's in it? You bet I did.
You can criticize a lot of 1970s and 80s American cars for being poorly constructed junk but the Big 3 certainly could build some rock solid engines. I know people that wept when GM discontinued the pushrod 3.8L V-6.
I had a 99 Civic I purchased used a work commuter. I passed it to my son who drove for 6 years. It got hit 3-4 times and kept rolling. I only had it fixed once. I sold it to a kid for $150 bucks about 4-5 years ago. Dang thing wouldn't die. It looked like it had been in a Demo derby and lost.
I had a Toyota Echo for three years and a drunk totaled it parked on my street. Insurance gave me 1k more than I paid for. That is the first time I ever beat the MAN!!! Dang it felt good!!!
Sorta wonder if I am now paying for the good fortune I had with that car because I can’t find a damn thing that doesn’t have constant problems. Could be that I now buy American cars. Such junk!