Golden Age of Motoring?

[coldwar]

This kind of goes with the MG thread. Has something been lost in the "character" of cars overall? I mean- I've seen comments about the new MG's (whether built in England or elsewhere- no matter). Think about the BMW's of today and the 1602/2002 of the '70's. The 2002 was a trend starter ("sport sedan"), and it simply oozed character, and gut level performance. Does today's 3-Series even compare? Nope- just another car- if one passes me (and I admit, they are good at that), I have to look twice to figure out if it was a Toyota, a Honda or a Bimmer. It would have been cool if BMW had actually built a "retro" collectors edition 2002 in the year 2002 for that year only- just a slightly modernized version of the original. But they brought us the Mini Cooper instead. Now I think the Cooper is pretty well done- a successful exercise in putting the vintage styling cues on a modern car. Trouble is, there just isn't enough of this happening any more. What affordable car can you buy today that will be highly prized 30 years from now/ I would like to see your suggestions on this thread, and the reasons why. (Has this already been done?) And I mean affordable. We all know that Maybachs and Bristols will be highly valued forever, but the BMW 2002 was not an expensive car in it's day. It was simply perceived as "overpriced because it's so little")

So I'll start- Mini Cooper.

[Zeus]

30 years from now, today's cars won't have any fuel. We'll all be in hydro-transporters.

[AustinsCE]

Maybe the Audi TT for its styling, copied most obviously by 350Z, SC430, new Eclipse (ripoff!) and all the other spaceship cars that will get continually more common? Or the Opel Speedster for a little everything, speed, handling, style and the Lotus Elise on the same note. Mostly European only stuff I think? Like the Lancia Delta, Stratos are now, but I dont know, a lot of the cars right now are absolutely no good. The RX8 had a chance, but blew it with lame performance and problems. Didnt quite take advantage of the hype. Perhaps some of those Chryslers? I dont know, might turn out just to be trendy. Not many companies are breaking new ground, best bets are with Audi, Volvo, Chrysler and even the French a little, and Alfa is trying oh so hard, but I doubt they can come back. New lineup is like 3500 lbs and up!

[Hatterasguy]

The new cars are pretty nice. A modern SL500 will run at 130mph in perfect comfort and safety. Slam on the brakes at 130 and you stop fast.

Try that with a Hemi Cuda.

The style's may have changed, but it sure is nice to idle with the AC blasting for hours in 100 degree heat without fear of overheating.

Or slamming on the brakes and not having the drums in the rear lock up and the car get all out of shape.

[Honus]

Originally Posted by coldwar

... What affordable car can you buy today that will be highly prized 30 years from now/ I would like to see your suggestions on this thread, and the reasons why...

Subaru Impreza, particularly the first generation Impreza (1993-2000).

With a few modifications, the Impreza is a total blast to drive, particularly on gravel. Cool flat-4 motor. Bullet-proof reliability. Great crash safety. Few gimmicks.

One of the few cars with any personality these days. More interesting, IMHO, than anything Mercedes has made for years.

[cscmc1]

Originally Posted by BlackE55

In America you had the Imala SS and later on the Merc Marauder.

Lest ye forget the Taurus SHO. Yes, just a Taurus, but that Yamaha V6 was a MONSTER.

[cscmc1]

Originally Posted by BlackE55

Oh yeah. 220HP?

A buddy owned the first year ('89). Total POS, not with the Yamaha however. Just not a good match between the motor and rest of the car.

Yup, 220 (flywheel) sounds right.

The '89 had the Yamahammer... Gen I and II (through 93, as I recall) were Yamahas, then they went to the V8. Not nearly as good an engine. They were hard to launch, but the power really came on from 2500 on up.

[Orkrist2]

Cars just aren't like that anymore, "like that" meaning having that "character" that so many unique, older cars do. I don't think the Rx8 is very interesting, not nearly so much so as the last Rx7. I think Mazda should just lose the Rx family of cars and make a GT/Coupe Miata with a bigger motor, something like a poor mans M coupe. That will never happen, but it would be a sharp one with more year round practicability.

I like the Alfa Brera Coupe, though. The thing I don't like about the choices for modern cars is that the interesting ones, even the low end interesting ones (like the Mini S for example) are just a little to expensive. I think I'd rather buy a used Boxster. I for one thought the Neon Srt4 had some chance of becoming cool if it were further developed, and the price was dirt cheap, but Chrysler has moved on the the beautiful (uggh, not) Caliber/Srt4.

Nonetheless, modern cars are safer, faster and better made by and large than their vintage brethren. I love my MG but in todays world on a technical level, with a few design exceptions like its unibody construction, its a piece of crap. The whole Banglization of the BMW line was their attempt to break through and create something new in an automobile. Aesthetically I suppose they succeeded, but I don't care for the looks and the looks seem to be spreading. The great thing is, you can have your cake and eat it too in todays world. You can have a newer car thats safer and more reliable, and you can still buy a characterful classic.

Heres some pics of concept Miata Coupes

[t walgamuth]

some of the really small economy cars like the chevy aero (is that right?) look really interesting, but with every other car out there an suv who wants to go out in something so small? not me. i want to die in bed not from being compacted in my car.

yeah, they all are so much better than before. true, the neon was pretty cool and the caliper is......butt ugly!

i like the 300 and the magnum but the earlier interpid was such a smooth design. a pos i hear though. but it made all the other contemporary cars look 30 years old.

i wish bangle would go off and design childrens toys. trendy designs that in thirty years we will say (not me i guess, i will prob be dead) what was he thinking?

tom w

tom w

[Jim B.]

I actually think the new Mustang and previous generation BMW 3 series will turn out to have been great cars for their time but I generally agree that the modern cars are for the most part competent and soulless!!

[Lebenz]

Originally Posted by coldwar

What affordable car can you buy today that will be highly prized 30 years from now

Always a treasure

[coldwar]

THe GT-40??? I said affordable

I guess there are a couple of ways to look at it. A car that makes a real splash- even in retrospect when introduced, like the 2002, or the trend of the past decade to apply retro styling to a new car, like the new Mustang. Yes, I think the new Mustang will be a sure winner in 30 years. As for making a real splash- the Chrysler Mini-Vans did it in 1985, and started an automotive revolution. But will any minivan ever be a classic? Not likely! Recent splashes have been the new Chrysler 300, and Magnum / Charger. These may become retrospective classics, but it's a tough call. They're not really stylistically related to anything Chrysler did before, in spite of the names from the past. Yet they aren't blatant rip-offs of their ancestors like the Mustang is.

How about that new Pontiac roadster thing? (Name escapes me at the moment, because I'm not interested enough). It really looks great, and kind of recalls the glory days, but still doesn't resemble anything made before, except maybe the original Corvette. It may well become the sleeper classic of 2006, but to qualify, it needs to prove itself as being a good overall car over time.

[bgkast]

I think that is some sort of Datsun

[coldwar]

... right- the Pontiac Solstice. What a stupid name Not a bad looking car though.

[Orkrist2]

Its a Lotus Europa, both of them. Built in the late 60's, rear engine, unusual shape, great performance. You might find a good one now in the US for around 10-12K, maybe.