Good morning! It’s Friday, and this week, I’m just going to do a straight four-way runoff. Nothing fancy, no weird scenarios, just pick your favorite. I think I’m going to come up with a theme of some sort for next week. If we’ve done one in the past you enjoyed, or if you have a new suggestion, let me know in the comments. I’m open to ideas.
[Ed note: Mark loaded all the in-story photos for today’s Showdown before the site decided it wasn’t going to take photos anymore, so that’s an old Friday Free-For-All up there in the top spot. I’m doing my best here …– Pete]
For now, though, let’s crown yesterday’s winner. It’s probably no surprise that the Honda Accord walked away with this one. The little Tercel probably isn’t a bad choice, but here it was simply outclassed. Sometimes the cheapest option isn’t the best.
It’s the Honda every day and twice on Sundays for me. I am a big fan of second- and third-generation Accords, having owned one and driven or ridden in many others. Like a lot of you, I’d prefer a manual, but this is one rare instance when I’m not bothered by the presence of a carburetor.
[Pete here again. The Honda Accord bested the Toyota Tercel, 76.4% to 23.26%]
All right, let’s just keep this nice and simple today. Pros and cons of each car, as I see them, to refresh your memory. Here we go.
1987 Ford Tempo AWD – $2,750
The case for it: It’s incredibly clean for its age. It’s 4WD, which is kind of a novelty for a Tempo, and makes it a better-than-average winter car. It’s an old enough model to escape the indignity of motorized seat belts. And unlike some rare ’80s survivors, it’s not extortionately priced.
The case against it: It’s a Ford Tempo, with everything that entails. It’s slow, the transmission is fragile, and the interior fit and finish is, let’s say, casual.
1989 Chrysler TC by Maserati – $2,500
The case for it: it’s a one-of-500 coachbuilt special, equipped with a very cool turbocharged twin-cam engine and a five-speed stick. The interior is gorgeous. And it’s a really reasonable price for an up-and-coming classic.
The case against it: it doesn’t run. The seller says it’s just a bad fuel pump, but it has been sitting since 2020, so it will almost certainly need more than that. It also has kind of a cheesy reputation, so you may be the butt of some jokes, if you care.
2011 Ford Transit Connect XLT – $2,900
The case for it: it’s a little box on wheels, and if you can’t think of a use for that, you probably lead a very dull life. It’s also a commercial vehicle, which means it’s built for longevity and toughness.
The case against it: it’s beat-up and scarred inside, and still wears the livery of a florist from Roswell, New Mexico outside. Chances are you wouldn’t want to keep that. Or maybe you would; if so, you do you. I won’t judge.
1987 Honda Accord DX – $3,500
The case for it: It’s a 1980s Honda, which might very well someday come to be known as the peak of all automobiledom. It’s in really good condition, especially for the mileage. And while it’s a little more money than some of the other options, it’s still really reasonable.
The case against it: it has an automatic transmission in a car that really deserves a manual. And the ad is woefully short of information, so it’s hard to judge its actual condition without going to look at it.
So there you have it, the week’s winners. Now it’s time for you to choose a favorite. And like I said at the top, if there’s a theme you want to see for next week, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do. Thanks for reading!
Gonna repeat yesterday’s vote for the Accord, and toss a bunch of money at it to make it better, engine swap for a fuellie and adding a third peal.
Theme for next week: Musclewood, Radwood for the previous generation, on a budget. We’re talking the unloved cars of the muscle era, get weird with it.
Honda. The Accord’s a pretty nice car, and looks like previous owner(s) have kept it up. Even the (ugh) automatic isn’t enough to disqualify it.
The Tempo’s cleanliness probably comes from it being too boring to drive. The four-wheel drive would be more palatable if someone threw a set of locking hubs on the front. The Chrysler really doesn’t make it for me, despite the Italian leather and the “coachbuilt” looks-like-a-Chrysler body, and the Transit doesn’t really fit my needs, though it’s probably a decent piece.
So, Accord, more-or-less by default.
We finally have the answer to what will it take for a K-car to win the Friday showdown; an Italian masseuse, and I am pretty sure if it turns out to just be a bad fuel pump that counts as a happy ending. This seems like a hollow victory considering the field, but I am going to propose the first Monday in November we have a showdown of the October showdown winners to prove that people really do want K-cars!
Accord, I had an ‘86 version and Car and Driver called it a sports sedan for a reason. Carburetor is a French word that means, “leave it alone” according to my dad. Winter driver that gives no problems is what I need.
I’ve got two project vehicles almost done, and will sell one of them, so I need a new one, and the TC is a manual and interests me a lot.
The more I see that TC, the more I want it. But I do not need another project (yet).
TC. It’s the only one I’ve actually considered seriously this week given that it’s in the same state as me and it’s “why not” money.
I would find the Transit to be the most useful addition to my fleet.
I’m going for the TC…manual and turbo! Rolling the dice on a catastrophic failure, but otherwise it’s probably not a huge fix. Lots of documentation available for these. Seems like a kitschy way to have fun!
I’m not an old Italian Casanova living in The Villages, so no “Maserati” for me, regardless of it having the right transmission. Tempos are horrid devices, and I need AWD like I need a couple of ex-wives. I can only imagine how much that flower van would make me sneeze (you KNOW it has the reek of flowers embedded in every surface), and they have transmissions made of glass. Nose held, I guess it’s the Honda. Not a Honda fanbois in any way, but it’s not embarrassing or completely terrible. Just utterly boring.
Seems like florist in Roswell would do something more creative – Cosmic Flowers?
I’m not really a project car guy, but the TC looks worthwhile and is realistically priced for a non-op vehicle. If nothing else you shouldn’t wind up deep in the hole if the project goes sideways.
The Tempo is probably better than Subaru, but I voted for the Honda because they are awesome cars 🙂
What Subaru? Did I miss something? I went TC just because the others put me to sleep or made me feel like a serial killer.
Definitely the TC. Yes, it’s the only non-running one, but it is also the most interesting and the only stick, and the color combo is the best. Let’s get wrenching
4 boring choices and the nicest looking one doesn’t run.
I guess the AWD Tempo for something sort-of interesting.
I’m getting the boring Accord.
None of the options really thrill me, so I’m picking the one I’m pretty sure will at least get me where I’m going.