Today, we’re looking at two different visions of 1987. Japanese automakers were riding their bubble economy to new technological heights, and infusing their cars with all kinds of cool gadgets, while European brands were enjoying their newfound status among yuppies. And I, a car-crazy fourteen-year-old kid, loved them all. Which one is a better deal thirty-nine years later? We’ll see.
Well, I hope the little Honda Civic we looked at yesterday came with a spare tire, because that was a blowout. It didn’t stand a chance against the Nissan Hardbody Desert Runner. No love for the history of Honda tuners, huh? Many of you complained about the price, but I get the feeling there’s more to that car than the photos and description show. The ad says it comes with a lot more stuff that wasn’t pictured; maybe if they had pictured it, it would seem like a better deal.
But really, that Desert Runner is just too cool to pass up. Even the name is cool. The D21 Hardbody pickup is one of the best-looking trucks of all time, in my eyes, and that’s a variant you never see. I’d happily drive it, though I’m not sure I’d be willing to give up my Chevy for it. The little Civic looks like something I really want to build a model of, but as far as the real car goes, like the majority of you, I’ll pass.
I remember reading about both of today’s cars in the magazines back in the day, and at one time I probably could have quoted specs on both, but now I’ll probably have to look them up. I’ve heard people say that you never love anything as much as the stuff you love when you’re a teenager, which means I’m stuck with the cars, and music, and movies, of the mid- to late-’80s. Could be worse, I guess. There were some really cool cars back then, if you dug a little bit beyond the obvious. Let’s take a look at a couple of good ones.
1987 Mazda 626 GT – $6,750
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 2.0-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Odometer reading: 170,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
In some ways, I feel a bit cheated; we never had any Japanese cars when I was growing up. No one in our town did. We got away with a few European cars here and there, but for the most part all I saw were American cars. This means I missed out on a really great era of cars from Japan, cars that were not only well-made but also packed with cool high-tech features. I only got to experience them through magazine articles. This was one such car, the forerunner to the Mazda MX-6 and Ford Probe, the 626 GT.
The standard GC-chassis 626 was a nice car, but a bit dowdy. The GT version, introduced in 1986, had a much livelier personality, with a turbocharged engine, all kinds of power features, electronically adjustable shocks, and more. This car features a digital instrument panel, but it isn’t original to the car. The seller installed it, hence the incorrect mileage on the odometer. The original analog cluster with the right mileage is also included if you prefer. It runs great, and it comes with full documentation from both of its two owners.
Some heavy wear on the steering wheel rim and the shift knob gives away the actual mileage, but the rest of the interior looks really good. The GT came with better seats than the standard 626, with more adjustments, and man, do they look comfy. The seller says everything works except the power antenna, and the stereo speakers have died of old age and need to be replaced. The air conditioning, however, works fine.
It was repainted somewhere along the way, but the clearcoat is failing again, so there are some dull spots on the hood and roof. But it doesn’t have any rust, it has all four original wheels, and overall it looks really sharp.
1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold – $8,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter OHC V6, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 127,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
When you think of Alfa Romeo, you typically think of sports cars, not four-door sedans. But in Europe, four-door Alfas are common, and Alfa sold sedans in the US from the ’60s all the way up until it left the US market the first time in 1995. This was the second-to-last Alfa Romeo sedan sold here back then, a car known as the 75 in Europe, but known here as the Milano.
The 75 was offered with a range of four-cylinder engines in Europe, but all the Milanos sold here were V6s. This being a mid-range Gold model, it has a 2.5-liter version of Alfa’s famous “Busso” V6, which is consistently ranked among the best-sounding engines of all time. The rest of its mechanical specification is downright exotic: a rear-mounted transaxle, a DeDion tube rear axle, and inboard-mounted rear disc brakes. I’ve never had the pleasure of driving one, but I’ve heard they handle incredibly well. This one has had a lot of recent work done, including a new clutch, timing belt, and brake work, and the seller says it runs great.
I can’t explain why exactly, but one of my favorite details of this car has always been the basket-handle parking brake lever. It’s a small thing, and it probably makes no difference at all to its operation, but it looks so cool. The rest of the interior screams ’80s, with its blocky dashboard and Recaro-looking (or maybe actually Recaro?) seats. It’s all in good condition, and almost everything works in this one as well, including the air conditioner.
The seller repainted this car in its original color, and it looks good. It wears fifteen-inch Campagnolo wheels with new tires, but the original fourteen-inchers are included too. It’s funny; I remember the Milano’s styling as being much wilder than it looks now. It’s actually pretty sedate. Is it just that I’ve gotten used to it, or is it the four decades of increasingly crazier designs since then?
Honestly, I’d be happy with either one of these. They’re both fun, they’re both in good condition, and they both speak to the ’80s kid in me. If you’re my age, I’m sure you read about these two in magazines back then as well. But which one would you rather have today?
As a practicing Italian, I do need an Alfa in my life, but I explored buying an Alfa Milano once as a daily driver. The maintenance schedule of the Busso V6 sent me running in the other direction. For example, if I remember correctly, they need a timing belt every 20K miles. As an occasional driver, that would probably be fine, but yeah…
Also, the styling is not my favorite. That weird kink on the back half of the car always makes me think the thing got rear ended. I’d rather have a GTV6, which wraps the Busso in a more attractive package.
I’m going with the Mazda here. I love that era when it comes to Japanese stuff, and that’s an obscure and cool one. You never see these anymore!
Today would be a BOTH day for me, go figure :shrug:
The Alfa’s owner clearly knows the best time to sell is that fleeting moment when major service items are up to date because the parts finally came in, and ALSO nothing’s broken.
I did like the 164 better. It had more power.
Both? Enjoy the Alfa but keep the Mazda around for the frequent trips to the parts store so you can keep enjoying the Alfa.
As an American, there’s something so exotic about dark colored Italian cars, esp. when they’re sedans. It’s similar to how gently mind blowing a Mercedes Metris is to our eyes. A consequence of our very curated market, but it still makes me do a double take.
What’s with the Alfa’s ride height? The rear, especially, looks awkwardly high. Cat in heat comes to mind. Nevertheless, Alfa for me.
I’ve noticed an awkward looking rear end on these before so I think that’s just how they look. I think it could be from the shape of the rear quarter and the way it’s trim sort of tilts up causing a kind of optical illusion at the angle of the photo.
That Mazda doesn’t do much for me style wise. It’s probably competent on the road, but cars like the Alfa are the ones they were chasing in the 80s, both styling and performance-wise. That Alfa isn’t one of the prettier ones either, almost brutish in its design. But it is cool, unique, and the v6 is solid. It also appears to be well-maintained.
I have owned a handful of decent Japanese cars, although none were the “sporty” versions, but I have never had an Italian car and I would like to rectify that. I am not sure how much effort it would take to keep the Busso singing, but lets try it out for a year or so.
I had a 626 turbo 5-speed back in the day. It was, eh, okay. Never satisfied me the way my ‘87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe did.
So I’m going Alfa today. I should experience one once, right?
Just came immediately down to the comment section to say I don’t care about unreliability, lack of parts, ugly boxy design, questionable ergonomics or anything really.
It’s a rear wheel drive, 5 speed transaxle, Alfa Romeo sports saloon with the Busso V6 under the bonnet.
The end.
The ‘lack of parts’ people are just making an off the cuff remark with no actual experience in the matter. There are at least half a dozen specialist vendors in the US that deal with Alfas. Many of their mechanicals can be had off of common parts houses like Rock Auto. Bring the internet into the picture, and it’s no trouble. If I can track down parts for a limited production 1960s Abarth, then a mass produced 1980s vehicle won’t be an issue.
I wonder if, at this point, parts may be harder to source for the Mazda. It’s quite old for a more or less everyday car and its enthusiast base is likely smaller (as you point out).
Like most automotive enthusiasts, we buy cars to drive. Not just stare in a broken state. So, in this case simply by default, the Mazda, with its Honda Helix speedometer wins!
Wow, I drove both of these in their day for days at a time, not mere minutes. 626 satisfies, but Milano brings passion and exoticism in spades.
“The original analog cluster with the right mileage is also included if you prefer.”
So how has the owner been keeping the milage updated in the original cluster?
Has he a mileage winder at home?
I’ll still take the Mazda – because “Coupe”
I would assume mileage on the original plus mileage on the replacement minus mileage when purchased.
First, Alfa. Lower miles and in working order. Second, how did you end up with the same car that’s on the German Lighting site this morning?
Well….this is awkward…
https://www.jalopnik.com/2181160/1987-mazda-626-turbo-6750-dollars-nice-price/
Coincidence? I don’t think so. Do your own research. Praise Bob!
Bob be praised!
Since there is only 17 mins between postings and Mark’s text is completely different from Rob’s, I do hope you are teasing Mark and not literally accusing him of plagiarism.
Bound to happen eventually, I guess…
Marks write up and pic choices were better 🙂
I think it speaks to the fact that it’s an interesting car, more than anything else. Heck, it got my vote.
Of course, my fear of older German cars is only surpassed by my fear of older Italian cars.
For today’s SBSD-NPOND crossover event:
I picked Alfa. Color and styling are just too cool. CP pricing on that Mazda too.
It may be that the dark color mutes the impact of the black side moldings. I had the same reaction, but my mind’s eye always pictures these in Alfa Rosso.
I’m quite fond of Mazdas and might have picked this one had it been the five-door hatch or had this been a real choice to make for something I’d need to keep on the road. But it isn’t and it wasn’t, so it was a Milaneasy choice.
Picked the Alfa. Everything seems to be in good working order… for now. I could enjoy it for some time, then move it down the road once I start getting scared of issues cropping up.
Overpriced commuter car with peeling paint or an Italian car guaranteed to break down. Another day for neither.
I have an idea in the spirit of the series name. How about looking at actually fully depreciated cars that are 20 to 25 years old instead of overpriced cars from the 80’s?
He does those too. It’s hard finding 2 cars everyday that can be piled equally against each other especially when looking at cars over 25 years and running. Although a week of projects would be nice or cars by the same region. He does go heavy on the west Coast
There have been a handful of cars from this century – not many.
Both cars are clearly owned by enthusiasts, which is encouraging. All the recent work, the tidiness, and exoticism have me in the mood for Italian.
I’m firmly in the “never Alfa” camp.
Curses and swear words, I want both. But I have to go Alfa just because it’s an Alfa. And RWD. And the Top Gear thing. And people will think you imported it like it’s JDM, without the pain at the DMV.
I’ve always wanted to add a Busso V6 to the fleet, but I can’t resist 80s turbo Mazda charm
This seems like a good BOTH day, but that Alfa looks like fun and in good shape.
The Mazda is probably the objectively better car, but the Alfa has character, and character counts for a lot when your 40 year old car is giving you fits, or has maybe left you contemplating your life choices on the side of the road.
Bonus points for the Alfa: it has the kind of character that a non-car partner might appreciate. I had to roll-start my ’86 Subaru BRAT on a date back in the day. There was no second date. I think you could probably salvage a second date if you had to do that in the Alfa.
Never use your classic on a 1st date. Make sure the person is worth it.