I probably should be asking what you’re wrenching on or how your summer plans are going here in an Autopian Asks, but I’ve got more important business: I want to use these posts to help spread real knowledge about car history and dispel the miserable (often AI generated) misinformation and outright crap that’s out there in tiresome clickbait slideshows.
Today, I want to hear what open-minded enthusiasts have to say about hidden gems and unfairly maligned bargains in the car world. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty tired of hearing about how the BMW 2002 was the greatest thing ever produced since the first wheel. I’m well aware that the Miata is “always the answer,” and if you’re more old school, you’ll give the Datsun 240Z automotive sainthood. Hey, our family owned a rusting S30 Z-car for a decade, so I already know the undeniably good things about it. What I want to know about are great cars that didn’t quite get the day in the sun that they deserved. I’m talking about cars that you could get a dozen of for the price of a perfect-condition painfully overvalued old Acura Integra Type R. Here are just a few to get you going.
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The Lexus LS400 might have received endless accolades when it was introduced in 1990, but many enthusiast magazines preferred the more sporting nature and unique styling of Nissan’s rival Infiniti Q45 instead.
This thing easily out-accelerated the Lexus and handled sharper; the LS400 channeled a mix of Cadillac and Mercedes but Infiniti wasn’t having any of that. The Q45 even featured a version with the first active suspension system sold in the United States to make it respond even more quickly. Wow, my old W126 420SEL looks like it’s about to roll over below!
Maybe it was the strange television and print ads that showed trees and rocks instead of cars that alienated potential buyers. Perhaps people wanted a fake Benz grille on their car instead of the cool cloisonne Hulk Hogan belt buckle up front (which I flat-out love and Jason proudly displays an example of in his basement “museum”). Whatever the reason, the Q45 didn’t even come close to getting the sales and recognition it should have, but it deserves your attention today.
Later big V8 Infinitis like the second-generation Q were the same story as well; the somewhat frumpy when new looks are actually ageing better than I thought they would:
Honestly, even the smaller boxy-looking M45 you totally forgot about are worthy sport sedan entries that the market unfairly ignored.
Not that Lexus wasn’t without hidden, underappreciated gems. Early stickshift IS models seem to fall in that category (or the automatic-only SportCross wagon), but a true masterpiece might have been the new-for-1992 SC coupes, particularly the super-rare manual transmission-equipped SC300s.
I liked the mechanicals of the fourth-generation Supra but never warmed to the looks, even before it got overexposed in the Fast & Furious movie franchise; too bulbous and over-the-top for my tastes. The sculpted-in-clay (literally) SC300 solved that; it featured a 2JZ-GE drivetrain similar to Toyota’s GT but in spirit sort of traded Vin Diesel for Daniel Craig; it’s like a Supra in an Armani suit, with a far more polished interior and better ride/handling compromise.
The public didn’t seem to agree, though, as only 3,883 five-speed SC300s found buyers. It always looks delightfully incongruous seeing a manual shifter in the traditional leather-and-Yamaha-violin-sourced-wood interior.
Sure, maybe I’d rather have an early-nineties BMW 850i like the one I see near my house. Sadly, like the vast majority of them, that local example has sat on four flat tires with a bed of leaves under the chassis for years, so if I want an actual functioning car and not driveway “decoration,” that Lexus seems like a great far more usable forgotten alternative choice.
You Autopians have to be bristling at the seams with examples of cars that shoulda-been-hits that are now dark-horse outstanding values. Let’s hear them!
Man you know your old when people are suggesting cars that are hidden gem of a bygone age and you think didn’t they just stop making it? My two DD drivers are early 2000 and people are talking about that era as a bygone age.
Maybe not the Pinnacle of perfection but after having restored and driven one I have to say the 72-74Jensen Healey Roadster never got the proper recognition it deserves. Sure there were more popular better selling 2 seater convertibles but most had tiny little low HP motors while the JH had a Lotus 16 valve Dohc power plant. While the others were slow cars that seemed fast the JH properly tuned but stock could hit 100+ and cruise so smooth you don’t notice except for the cheap mirrors rattling about. So much room under the hood you could put an LS or a V8 under the hood with room to spare. A few minor upgrades like a 5 speed Gertrag, disc brakes, and shocks and you have a sleeper that could surprise today. O yeah get rid of the body rubber 70s bumper and it looks even better.
E36 325i – feels like it’s been overshadowed by the E46. But having owned and sold both long ago, I pine more for older one now. Classic good looks.
Well, it used to be the Honda Life, but that cat is out of the bag.
Anyhow, not telling you my secret aspirations because then they’ll just get even more expensive.
no Acura love? I bought a used ‘13 TSX wagon despite needing new rotors and it’s been rock solid, a comfy high speed highway cruiser with a great sound system. Many complaints that it’s not a “real” Acura, that it’s an automatic, that it doesn’t have the V6, but it does everything well.
I was looking for a TSX Wagon for a while, but judging by the prices asked they are in no way forgotten.
The Chrysler Conquest / Mitsubishi Starion. Even back in the 80s when they were still being sold absolutely nobody knew what it was and were always asking us who made it.
I don’t know if it’s quite a hidden gem, but I do love my TL Type-S.
Mid 90s Acura Legend – I know it still enjoys a bit of a following, but man oh man was that a great car in its era. I know it wasn’t competing directly with the Japanese v8 Q ships, but in this scenario, less was definitely more.
While we’re on the subject of Infiniti, my mom had a first year J30 and I remember everyone thinking it looked like a spaceship. I was too young to ever have a chance to drive it, but I recall the design was “interesting”.
Did you have a Ludacris style Legend?
Yep, 1994 Legend LS (minus Ludacris’ rims) I believe the one in our family was Canterbury Green with Taupe interior. I took my drivers test in that car.
I loved the M45 mention… still really like that car, and would get one if I had a large garage. Since it’s mentioned, I’ll go with the car that I think it the modern version of that Nissan:
The L10 Lexus GS-F. I longed for it almost as much as I long for the LC500 now, and I’ve actually seen the latter on the roads. The fact that I’ve never seen a GS-F out there has me thinking the few that were purchased were bought by old guys who wanted the V8 “in case they may pass one day” but actually never drive. I test drove an IS-F back about the same time, and would have bought it on the spot if I fit in it. It was amazing. The GS-F fixed that last problem…the seats were amongst the most comfortable I’ve ever sat in. Overall, it’s a beautiful big sedan with an amazing V8. The few that were out there are starting to come down in price too… “starting.”
There’s at least one out there! Saw one ripping past the Santa Monica Pier yesterday
The first generation Neons were a blast. Too bad they apparently fell apart with use. But terrific as a rental. Cute too.
Agreed. The ACR versions are true unicorns at this point, jealously guarded and kept up by their owners who refuse to part with them.
Cadillac XLR, especially in V form. The Northstar gets a good bit of hate, but honestly, it’s got a decent bit of punch, especially with the supercharger. It’s like this nice cruisy GT then when you put your foot down it suddenly remembers it rolled off the same line as Corvettes. My grandpa-in-law has had both, currently has the V, and I’ll gladly take any excuse to borrow it. But the most damning factor of the whole thing, it’s black over red and my bestie pointed out that it suits a goth girl well.
Though thanks to this place, all I can think of is OMG don’t touch the taillights stay away from the taillights!
May I nominate the 1st-gen Volvo XC90. My Dad had a facelifted 2009, and everything about that car felt significant and solid in its execution. Ergonomics were great, the stereo was pleasant, and the horizontal split tailgate was an interesting oddity. Not to mention the available super cool Yamaha-designed V8.
I don’t see many around, but I love when I do.
Base model cars are underrated gems.
I don’t need, nor want, power-everything.
I had a ride in a base-model Fiat recently (Uber/Bolt) with manual roll-up windows, no AC, what looked like a 5MT, no big-screens, and I’m guessing the absolute base-model engine.
It was refreshing.
The second gen Hyundai Genesis Sedan (G80) Ultimate with the V8. Super comfortable, good handling, 425 hp road eater. A friend has one with 140,000 miles and it’s still tight as a drum. Why they never wrapped a two door coupe around that engine is a mystery to me.