We’re going to start off the week with two examples of the vehicles that took over the roads in the 1990s: SUVs. We have the best-selling SUV, and what I suspect is probably the worst. One is incredibly useful, and the other, well, isn’t. Which one is the better deal all these years later is up to you.
On Friday, we stepped up in price a bit to look at a couple of sporty liftback coupes. I expected the Celica to run away with it; RWD plus a bulletproof engine seemed like a winning formula. But the vote ended up being extremely close, and as of this writing, the VW Scirocco is actually eleven votes ahead.
You know it has to be the Scirocco for me. I greatly prefer the Mk1 bodystyle, but the Mk2 drives pretty much the same, and it’s still a good-looking car. Is this example worth the asking price? I can’t be sure without seeing it in person, but I don’t think it’s too far off. I wish a good Scirocco wasn’t a $7,500 car these days, but alas.
The 1990s saw the rise of two things that pretty well changed the landscape of the entire US: the internet, and SUVs. (Some of us were hopeful for a while that the Spin Doctors would be the third thing that changed everything, but it didn’t pan out.) SUVs were around as early as the 1960s, but around 1989-1990 they really hit their stride as family vehicles, when nearly every manufacturer started offering a four-door model at the same time – except Jeep, which had already been doing it for years. Four-door SUVs took over minivan and wagon duties, while smaller two-door SUVs were seen as the fun choice. Today, we’re going to look back at both ends of the spectrum: a nice practical four-door, and a truly frivolous two-door. Here they are.
1992 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer – $6,000
Engine/drivetrain: 4.0-liter OHV V6, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: San Rafael, CA
Odometer reading: 177,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Ford has a long history of partnering with designer brands to create special editions of its cars. Back in the 1970s, a whole line of Lincoln Continental Mark IVs were offered, with trim and paint chosen by various fashion designers. Ford teamed up with tennis outfitter FILA for a special-edition Thunderbird in 1984. And starting in the mid-’80s, the top-of-the-line Ford trucks came with branding from upscale outdoor clothier Eddie Bauer. And just to make sure everyone knew you splashed out for the expensive version, all the Eddie Bauer Fords were two-tone, with beige along the bottom.
Eddie Bauer Explorers weren’t all that uncommon, and for the first few years quite a few Explorers came with manual transmissions, but the combination of the Eddie Bauer trim and a manual is pretty rare. Not many high-end buyers wanted to shift their own gears. Like all first-generation Explorers, the engine in front of it is a 4.0-liter Cologne V6, a stout but thirsty engine that no one would accuse of being overpowered, but it gets the job done. The seller says this one runs “amazing,” and that with the addition of new tires and some suspension bushings, it drives well, too.
Leather seats and power everything were hallmarks of the Eddie Bauer trucks, and this Explorer is no exception. We don’t get a great look at the interior, but what we can see looks good. Explorers tended to hold up a bit better inside than their Chevy Blazer counterparts; seeing one that’s truly trashed inside is rare. The seller proudly proclaims that everything works in this one, but I’d still test it all out before handing over your money.
It has been a Western car all its life, spending time in Washington and Idaho before coming to California, so it has been spared the horrors of road salt. Midwestern Explorers all had rust holes just above those fancy fiberglass running boards after ten years or so. The paint looks nice and shiny, in a very ’90s teal that goes well with the beige.
1996 Suzuki X-90 – $5,900
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Odometer reading: 100,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
I would like to have been in the room for the pitch meeting when this car was created. “You know that Vitara SUV we sell? What if we turned it into a sports car? We’ll put a stubby little trunk lid on it, add T-tops, and make it a two-seater! You know, like a Miata, but off-road capable! It’ll sell like crazy! We can’t miss!” Only, you know, in Japanese. (Spoiler alert: It didn’t sell like crazy.)
The X-90 was only available for three model years, and Suzuki only managed to move about seven thousand of them here in the US. All were powered by the same engine, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder backed by either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. This one has the manual, along with an old-school 4WD system with a dual-range transfer case. It runs and drives well, the seller says, and breezed through Pennsylvania inspections last year. (It now wears classic plates, so it wasn’t inspected this year.)
Like any good cheap-and-cheerful ’90s car, it has wild seat fabric, carrying over into the door panels. It’s a little worn, and there’s a small cut in the driver’s seat. The driver’s door panel is delaminating, but that’s not uncommon for cars this age. The seller says the T-top seals are leak-free, which is a nice bonus.
It’s kind of a mixed bag outside. Most of the paint is decent, but the bumpers have been painted black, as well as the grille and part of the hood. I have no idea why. It also has some pretty serious dents in the right front fender. But as rare as these are, if you really want one and aren’t willing to pay auction-site prices, you may have to put up with a little scruffiness.
Both of these could be fun to drive, in their own way, but one of them is a whole lot more practical than the other. But then again, T-tops. I guess it all depends what you’re looking for. So what do you think: will it be the best-seller with the rare stickshift, or the funny little failed experiment?
throw some Firestones on the Exploder and you have a deal!
I just spotted two X-90s in a small Swedish town (Borås) in as many days – RWD examples were popular as A-tractor conversions until rules were changed. I think RWD X-90s were not sold new there and were all imported from North America in order to be converted.
I’m late to this one, and it’s a tough call. I like the X90. I know two people that own them, and last summer I was surprised to see not one but two of them on the same stretch of beach in the Outer Banks. Many people forget the X90 was the first Red Bull car before they switched to Minis.
On the other hand, we have 1990’s suburban America on 4 wheels. A teal-and -tan Eddie Bauer Explorer? With a manual? It’s amazing how a model that was so ubiquitous can become a unicorn just by checking a few option boxes.
Normally I would never choose a boring Explorer over a quirky and fun X90. But this Explorer is bringing just too much to the table.
My very first car (’85 Bonneville with the 305) was re-painted the same shade of Ford teal of that Explorer and is an easy +1 vote from me. I’d even drive it with some Firestones.
I can see no context where I’d want to drive an Exploder of that generation unless it had the big glass roof from Jurassic Park; and I’ve always kind of wanted an X-90 as a laugh anyway.
I wanted to choose the Suzuki because it’s weird and fun, but I would actually scoop up that Explorer of these two. That first gen Explorer 4×4 was surprisingly capable and you would get the most out it off-road with the manual. The Eddie Bauer trim makes it a nicer place to be. Jeeps will always be Jeeps but that Explorer is going to do more than I’d ever need with better tires and vastly more with readily available bolt-on parts.
Also, I remember being 10 or 11 at the LA Auto Show and feeling like the X-90 was built for someone my size. I think I would hate to be in it now.
Eddie Bauer and a row-your-own? Heck yes.
I had to vote for the Suzuki, it’s just so silly (a spoiler, even!). Since this is imaginary internet money, I could have fun with this just as a toy. I never liked the Explorers when they first appeared, and they haven’t grown on me any since.
To each their own, but to me, the X-90 is utterly stupid. It’s like a Miata if you omit the handling, fuel economy, braking, and acceleration.
The Explorer doesn’t stir feelings deep inside my soul, but I know that I could use it on a regular basis, that they are quite robust/reliable and will likely be inexpensive to run over the next 100,000 miles.
I choose the X-90. It looks to me like a fun little commuter for New England summers.
When I get tired of it, I will start driving it through New England winters until it dissolves. Sweep the rust into a bucket and return the plates to the RMV.
I see no joy or utility in that Explorer.
I had a Suzuki X-90 in the exact same year, color, and wheels. There is no experience like off-roading with the T-tops off, despite how incredibly slow they are. This one looks a bit over-priced. I just sold mine in similar condition for about $2000 less.
Cheap and cheerful over boring family hauler. It’s the X-90 for me.
Neither? As I see we are back to crack head cars, prices, locations. I like the X-90 and it’s less of a crack head price, car, and probably location so that one. Plus it’s weird. I know a guy that payed about that for a 40k mi garage kept Samurai. But still I think I wouldn’t be done at $3500. I have no desire for a 92 171k mile like explorer. Even at its fair retail value of maybe $1500.
X-90! This was very easy…while that Fix Or Repair Daily/Found On Road Dead Exploder (ha ha) is a nice example in a great teal and is in CA, there is absolutely no way I’m picking it over an awesome X-90. I really love the beautiful colors/design inside and out on this one. It’s just such a FUN vehicle. At least these are both stick and 4WD.
As far as Suzuki, I’d also take a Cappuccino (love that name)
As far as FoMoCo, I’d take a Lincoln Continental Mark IV (as mentioned) or preferably a 79 Mark V Bill Blass w/ an awesome big ol V8 and ride on a cloud in comfort and style!
The X-90 is what you show to a doctor and ask, “Does this thing need to be lanced?” Explorer today.
It’s so painfully, painfully ugly and ungainly.
While the stick in the Suzuki is probably more fun to stir than the one in the Ford, I’ll take the Explorer. I see the X-90 and all I can think of is Red Bull.
Well across the life span the Explorer had 253 recalls, not recalled, 253 different recalls. Add in the tire issue and I’ll the 4wd miata