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!
Colt Vista wagon 7 passenger AWD crossover WAY before they were a thing.
Early 90s Escorts. From the base to the GT. Good small car with a surprising amount of space inside.
Parents had a 91 or 92 that got replaced with a 96 Sentra. Man was the Sentra a penalty box in comparison. It technically claimed to have more horsepower but it felt like all the engine was doing was twisting a rubber band tighter inside the transmission to imply to the car it should move forward.
I had a 91 GT with a 5 spd and the huge 1.8 dual overhead cam motor 🙂 It was black with cheesy graphics package. I should not have sold it.
yes, the DOHC engined models were basically Mazdas
Those Escorts were miserable horrible crap.
They could handle about 5 or 6 Canadian winters before the body structure and wiring would disintegrate.
The GT was sweet though.
The first generation Ford Probe. Despite its absolutely tragic name those things were great cars. I had a 1990 GT in red and that thing was faster and handled better than it had any right to. My buddy was a Ford guy back then and his buddies were insufferable since it wasn’t a V8 Mustang.
Maybe they were popular then? I dunno. I was a teenager. But no one seems to talk about them fondly.
Nice! I lusted after its fraternal twin, the Mazda MX-6.
Well played – everyone usually fawns over the more muscular styling of the second gen, but I loved the futuristic, Taurus-counterpart looks of the original. And yeah the optional digital dash was just so 80s cool.
A company I used to work for had the Taurus or the Ranger for mid level management company cars.
The Volvo V70 T5 (P2 chassis) with a five speed. Can run 130 mph and tow way more than it should (ask me how I managed to get an ’89 Sterling 825 from RI to the New Jersey docks). The most comfortable seats I’ve ever had the pleasure of sitting in, and enough room to haul three other adults in comfort.
I have never seen a P2 T5 with a manual and I have a Volvo problem. The manual was only for the NA 5-cyl, not the turbo.
Unless someone swapped it or it was imported from Europe, the only thing that had a turbo and a manual was the V70R, but that had a six-speed.
You may have had a P80 and not a P2. You could get a T5 (non R) with the turbo and a five speed.
I have a 2001 V70 T5 (P2) M56, as built in Ghent for the USDM.
From Volvo (2001 Owners Manual for the USDM V70):
“Volvo V70 T-5 – 247 hp, 5-speed Manual trans – $34,250”
From IPD:
“In the USA, the V70 was powered exclusively by “white block” inline five engines, with a range of naturally aspirated, light pressure turbo “2.4T” & “2.5T“, and high pressure “T5” turbo models, backed by either 5-speed AW50/55 automatic or 5-speed M56 manual transmissions.”
From the C&D Review of the ’01 T5:
“You can get the T5 with a five-speed manual, but Volvo’s $1000 Geartronic transmission will happily oblige you, should you want to shift the automatic yourself.”
Forum posts of owners with V70 T5 manuals:
2002 Volvo V70 T5 Manual in Washington
2003 Volvo V70 T5 Manual in North Carolina
2002 Volvo V70 T5 Manual in Atlanta
Here is an entire thread on P2 V70 T5 M56.
There is also one for sale on Facebook Marketplace right now for an absurd amount of money.
So, yeah to reiterate:
I have a 2001 V70 T5 (P2) M56, as built in Ghent for the USDM.
’89-’92(?) Toyota Cressida. The final generation for the Cressida in North America. 1JZ I6, RWD, the predecessor of the Lexus LS and intended to compete with BMW. They were really comfortable, fast and handled great but were sort of overshadowed by the Europeans and quickly forgotten once Lexus arrived. The previous generations, having also utilized drivetrains and technologies from the Supra, were excellent as well.
Yes. I thought that Cressida was a better Lexus than the ES250 Camry that they sold as a Lexus
Young teenage me was sad to see them go. I was looking at a used one a few years after they went away for my first car. I should have bought it but that Thunderbird was supercharged and a coupe.
I was working at a Toyota dealership when those were around.
Very nice, reliable cars that had good power and handled well.
See also: the Nissan Maxima of a similar vintage. I always dug the “4DSC” (four door sports car), as Nissan marketed it.
Several generations in a row too. I’ve had 2 maximas myself and they were great. I had my ’97 for 20 years. I never traded it in so I could always have a manual to drive and it’s probably the best car I’ve ever had.
NA Cressida only ever got the 7M-GE as far as I’m aware, I don’t think we ever officially got the 1JZ in the US. They’re still great cars though
I always thought the 1JZ replaced the 7M-GE for just the last 2 model years. I don’t remember why I thought that so I could definitely be wrong.
It did in the Japanese spec X80 Mark II/Chaser/Cresta and the S130 Crown, we just never got it here in the Cressida for some reason. Whenever I have to go to the parts store for my 7M-powered Crown I just tell them I have a Cressida…
The Mazda MX-3 with a V6.I saw a very clean one the other day and forgot what a cool little ride they are.
I suspect this’ll be the only mention of this car here. I’m just not sure if that’s because it’s secretly good or knowingly bad. It is a worthy mention though…that V6 is worth a post of its own.
That thing should be its own holy grail article
There was a very recent Car and Driver article about that engine and why it ultimately didn’t “work” as a product.
Volvo C30. It’s one of those cars that people kind of forget about until they see one. They are AWESOME. Turbo, 5 cyl, manual option. You can even get them in Swedish Racing Green (Rebel aka Polestar Blue).
They are quick, comfy, and pretty solid reliability-wise. Totally overlooked.
Totally agree. This was my mid life crisis car.
The whole idea of a hatchback Volvo car (non-SUV/XC) is shrinking. The V-series seems to get smaller every year in America.
As an owner of a 2011 C30 T5 (Auto), I agree!!
How is it holding up after 14 years?
Good so far, I just had one issue were the A/C clutch had to be replaced (it had worn thin and was slipping) and another weird issue in which the WSW reservoir cracked and was leaking if you filled it up more than 50% . And I had to have the Windshield resealed due to not enough sealant being applied at the factory. These quirky issues are all well known in the C30 community.
I have 61,000 miles on it currently.
I have a P2 V70, P3 XC70 and a S90. I would love to add either a C30 or a C70 to the fleet at one point (or both).
I would probably get yelled at for dragging home yet another fussy swedish meatball. The current wagons are tag teaming me at every chance. “I want an alternator!” “Well, I want a torque converter and a new turbo CRA!!”
Well, it sure sounds like we would get along rather well.
I also own 2015 XC70 T6, with a Polestar tune! <<<vroom>>> 😉
And, my first Volvo was a 2000 V70!
Yeah, I have a problem with these dumb things. I love driving them, but they drive me crazy with all the problems. I also insist upon doing all my own work which is probably also kind of dumb. I could afford to send them to a shop, but I’ve had such lousy experiences with crappy work, I almost never do it unless I just cannot do something on my own. Also, the local Volvo specialist shut down a while ago, so unless I go to the dealer, I’m rolling the dice.
Worsts part is that these cars are number three four and five.
My first was a 91 960 wagon (brown sugar) that I fell in love with. Was the weirdo with the I6 that was half old-school RWD, but had what was essentially a whiteblock engine with an extra cylinder. It was great, but sucked to find parts for as it was not terribly popular.
It was replaced by a P80 V70 that I got for peanuts. It was a little fussier and I didn’t have the time, tools, space or experience to keep it running properly so it didn’t stay with us long. Still loved it. Many fun family trips in it when the kids were wee little.
Agreed, I’ve always wanted one, it’s pretty close to being a proper Shooting Brake!
Hope somebody sells a shift kit for those. Awesome cars with a floppy shifter.
I can think of several from Japanese manufacturers. The Daihatsu us lineup if you can find them.
Suzuki samurai/ geo tracker.
Most Mitsubishis of the mid 90s to mid 2000s with the 4g63 besides oil pump failure they were pretty bullet proof easy to work on and most models drove great even the grampa spec gallants seemed to have more sport tuning then almost anything else similar of the time.
The first gen highlander I’m not sure if really forgotten because there are tons of them driving but really quite an cockroach of a car that drives great and I would think most people don’t realize it.
The 92 – 96 camry might be the ultimate cockroach you see them for time to time but I bet most people don’t realize how bulletproof it actually is.
All the scions xb were modified to death by their first or second owners then deficated in by the 3rd or 4th. So that’s probably a no go but you don’t see them much anymore and they were quite decent.
You see people paying crazy money for ej civics and the first gen crvs but not for the accords or preludes of the same era they seem to have forgotten they exist.
The second gen pathfinders have a following but seems almost like they have clubs of people that know what they are and keep buying them.
There are years of mini trucks from isuzu, Mitsubishi that people either forgot about or don’t know they exist they didn’t fair well in salt most left are probably rotting away in fields in salt free areas. They only think of the Toyotas and to a lessor extent the Nissans with Mazda being synonymous with Ford.
The sc300 is an interesting one as they were forgotten then with supra prices where they were some YouTube or TikTok nonsense happened and the $2k to 3k car became $8k to $10k.
Sorry I would put the Isuzu Amigo above these although the Tracker may have been a sister car but missed the convertible option, I think and the crazy interior.
9th generation Corolla XRS. Maybe 6000 produced for the US, for 05 and 06.
E120s were everywhere, so they’re genuinely hidden in plain sight. These were and still are all over college campuses, grocery store parking lots, and the XRS has only bumpers and wheels to visually differentiate itself from all the other Corollas.
Yet they had virtually no understeer and a 2ZZ that clearly wakes up at 6800rpm. They were pretty fun in a completely anonymous package that doesn’t ask for any attention unless you knew what to look for and ask of it. It stays almost entirely anonymous until it comes on cam, where the engine makes itself known with a pretty good induction note in what it otherwise a total NPC-mobile.
Apparently they were $18Kish new. I’m sure clean ones have held up in value.
Compared to anything else they’re entirely anonymous and what you expect to just be at supermarkets, college campuses, etc., but solid handling for what they are.
I remember test driving one in 2005. Great if you got on it, totally anonymous if you didnt.
The Corelica got it’s time in the spotlight as the star of the move “Superfast!”
I had the 2ZZ in my old Matrix and it was fun. Wasn’t great for the autocross though with the powerband only existing between 6800 and 8400 rpm.
I did drive the Elise with the 2ZZ, and that really was where that engine belonged. The car was so light that it was still quick on the small cam.
Actually where it really belonged was the MR2 Spyder… the budget Elise we never got.
It’s a tragedy that Toyota didn’t do that.
They had all the right ingredients in front of them.
What the hell were they thinking?
My guess is they were worried about all the lawsuits. They already really toned down the handling on the stock MR2 Spyder to try to induce understeer, so I’m guessing they thought that the cheap price with the hotter engine would lead to a lot of inexperienced kids killing themselves sliding backwards off a mountain road. Even with the pedestrian Corolla engine I still miss mine… I’ve owned every Miata and it was better and more fun than all of them.
Yeah that would be my guess too, although I feel they were being way too conservative. It was mostly a pretty docile motor and it was only 180hp, and only if you were willing to rev it to the moon. Many Celica buyers returned to dealerships complaining that they were duped over the horsepower rating.
The MR2 turbo had way more power than that.
We never got the Spyder here in Canada, although I know it made a name for itself in American autocross competition so they must have been fun to drive. That light front end would be like a cheat code in the slalom.
My brother’s first car was a 3rd Gen, non Si, non 4WS, automatic transmission Honda Prelude. The steering feel coupled with the low seating position was an experience no other car I’ve driven since can match.
I had a ’90 Si with a 5 speed and 4WS. I enjoyed the latter feature, but it was somewhat problematic. Will always have a soft spot for the Gen 2-4 Preludes.
How about the Honda Del Sol?
Out of place now in our drive angry era, but once upon a time, a reasonably sporting two seater with a targa top was just the ticket for motoring enjoyment.
Years ago I bought one for my daughter. Then I borrowed it more than I should have.
The Del Sol was a disappointing sequel to the CRX (just because the CRX design was so great, the departure was dumb).
The Del Sol VTEC though, now that’s a real holy grail.
Mitsubishi 3000GT… had all sorts of high-tech electromechanical gewgaws such as 4 wheel steering, 4wd, active aero and a twin-turbo v6 screaming with 300hp – all in the early 90s no less. The bubble era was a wonderful time to be alive.
Not quite a hidden gem as we’re in the limelight longer than George Segal
There’s someone on my street/block that has a very lightly loved 3000GT and I hope I get to meet them one day. I bet they’re cool.
Every once in a while I see a really really clean one driving around or for sale. A lot of times they aren’t turbos, but they are still neat cars and glad they are seeing some love.
I remember seeing one on the lot when I went with my dad to test drive a Dodge Stratus (a 3000gt, not a Stealth, but the dealer sold the DSM family) and being floored by it at 10 or 11 years old. It was a VR4, and from what I remember something like $32,000, or more than double the Stratus. My dad wouldn’t buy it for some reason.
I saw one on the road the other day, first time I’d seen one driving in years.
I’m gonna go with my recently-purchased 2004 Solara. As roomy and reliable as a Camry, as lux as a Lex, but with a much lower seating position than the platform-mate Avalon/ES/Camry. Pretty light weight so the V6 hauls ass. Low-profile tires ride good but also handle.
Overall, it’s a really balanced car. Perfect for the 80 miles I throw down every day.
Avalon was an unsung hero too, a Lexus ES. Peak Buick to peak Cadillac.
+1 on the Avalon. I bought a Gen 2 and regret the day I sold it. It made an awful commute from the Central Coast to Fremont possible, almost enjoyable.
New struts on all 4 corners at 123,000 was money very well spent, needed almost nothing after that once I replaced the timing belt and water pump.
As a convertible owner I’d have to agree. Once you get any notion of it being a sporty vehicle out of the way, what you’ll get a comfy cruiser that’s built like a tank and (for the era) had a Lexus-like feel to it. And for the convertible specifically, the amount of rear legroom that has few equals amongst other convertibles.
Oh, I guess I shoulda mentioned, it’s a coupe. Definitely quieter!
The only rental car I drove that popped a wheel cover at low speed off into the woods. Pudding on wheels. However I agree it’s a perfect cruiser.
Of all the original Pony Cars – my favorites are the one-year-only 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G and 7.0L XR7 GT-E
Everyone remembers the Volvo P1800ES and seem to think there was nothing between it and the C30
But there was – and we never saw it in the US: The Volvo 480.
It even had pop-up headlamps!
Another car that Americans have rarely seen outside of a trip to Paris:
Citroen’s follow up to the DS and XM – the other-worldly C6.
You had me at hideaway headlights and “7.0.”
BMW e34. They get overshadowed by the e39 and the e36, but they are great cars.
Beautiful simplicity. If only BMWs could be not-ugly again.
I loved my WJ (99-04) Grand Cherokee 4.0L. Spacious and comfortable.
Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix for package efficiency.
I came here to say Vibe/Matrix. I had a Vibe from 2009-2018 and I still miss it sometimes. She was such a practical, adorable package.
My 20yr daughter had an ’09 for under a year. 280,000 miles until t-boned in a collision. I would without hesitiation suggest to anyone.
I honestly considered buying a Gen1 before she was born as an everyday car.
Third vote for the Vibe GT. Great manual and that Yamaha (I think?) engine that lived to scream to 8k+. Not fast but fun to drive and could swallow a loveseat.
I had an ’05 Matrix XR with a manual and a moonroof. It was a fantastic car that I put almost 200,000 miles on in five years.
The Chevy Volt, what people thinks its a Chevy Cruze but when they actually drive it and noticed how different the car behaves, for the same price in the used market at some point compared to the Cruze, its a no brainer decision to go for it.
One of those great ideas killed by GM, I wish Voltec was available in more vehicles.
It would have made for a great 2 door pickup (the drivetrain)
Voltec has a bit of a packaging problem, which I think might be part of the reason they discontinued it. The T-shaped cells work pretty well in sedans, but I can’t imagine it would work well at all in a pickup. Love my Volt.
I think they still could have managed.
I purchased my 2017 Volt last year for 9,000 after the 4k used EV credit. It had 52,000 miles, and will pay for itself within another couple of years just with fuel savings! (Our electricity is incredibly cheap and our gasoline is incredibly expensive)
My buddy absolutely loved his. Had it for a long time even when he could afford a much nicer car.
The Volt is great. That’s why it carries a hefty premium over the Cruze where I live.
I test drove both a Gen 1 and Gen II Volt and in both was really surprised at how little interior room there was, it felt noticeably smaller than a 3rd Gen and the 4th Gen Prius
2nd Gen Nissan Leaf. It’s a BEV that isn’t overly expensive or overly technophilic. Mine Has manual seats, a mechanical parking brake, and mechanical door latches.
Apparently it’s also a good bit quieter than a lot of other BEVs interior DB wise.
The Leaf you can actually street park in the winter without plugging it in as it lacks any sort of active cooling for the battery and has less thermal mass because of it. With liquid cooled battery packs when left in deep freeze temps they stay cold due to the lack of waste heat BEVs churn out relative to their ICE counterparts. Out Of Spec Reviews tested charging for a Tesla Model 3 and a first and second gen Nissan Leaf after leaving them in deep freeze temps. The Model 3 took 40 minutes hooked up to a supercharger before it would accept a charge. The Leaf? As soon as it was plugged in.
IMHO Nissan shouldn’t have made the 3rd Gen Leaf and instead focused on making the 2nd Gen Leaf cheaper and giving them NACS. (bonus points if they would have offered their NISMO (by Quaife) LSD as a factory option when ordering).
If the Leaf had NACS while it’s charging speed would be slow, you could road trip it.
Frankly the Nissan Leaf is best suited for cold climates and for driving around town, not for road tripping, not for relying on public charging (due to relatively slow charging speeds), however for a lot of people that’s plenty for their use case. I paid $21,500 for mine brand new, if they could have that pricing across the country with NACS I bet they’d sell well.
Original Taurus/Sable were leaps above other domestics in substance when introduced and arguably held their own through the ’92 facelift. Add in gems like the SHO…
And then the third gen Taurus came along after falling out of the ugly tree and hitting every branch on the way down. Then got a beating with the ugly stick fir good measure.
I have two examples I think get overlooked, though I don’t know how easily either could be found in good shape today.
The first is one my best friend in high school and college had: 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24. I know it wasn’t a great car but honestly, for what it was, it really punched above its weight. Had a great exhaust note, wasn’t very fast but was quick. Interior was decent. It was an early adopter of the digital dash board and my friend’s dad had theirs replaced a few times when new but luckily was sorted out and lasted a long time.
My opinion may be clouded by my friend taking exceptional care of that car (which I think is the key to long term GM ownership) but that one lasted longer than his brother’s newer Honda CRX and was extremely clean when he traded it.
My next nomination (and really my favorite) would be the last gen Honda Prelude (2000 or 2001 was the last year I think). Much internet ink has been spilt recently on this one with the intro of a new generation forthcoming.
I test drove this car and still look back on it as one I should have found a way with. Like the Z24 it was quick but that car was so refined in how it drove. Very smooth in both acceleration and handling. It certainly had the edge in interior design as well. Hondas of the era were a class above today’s Honda in my opinion. This one has a better chance of being found in great condition but most are likely modified with questionable decisions.
I can afford much better cars now but I still really want one of these.
Obviously sales on coupes were better back then but neither of these sold in very large numbers, the Chevy certainly sold in much higher numbers than the Honda but it was also so much lower cost and more attainable. But both were better than their popularity would indicate.
Another one where you were assumed to want a slushbox with a usable body, but if that wasn’t an obstacle the Cavalier RS V6 wagon was a Z24 in everything but name.
I think the later model Z24 had a manual option (’92 model I think) but I could be wrong. It certainly would have made a fun car more fun to chuck around.
Yeah it was specifically the V6 wagon that was auto only.
Great call. As a devoted sport coupe era guy, I’ll add the Beretta GTs or later Z26, and the Pontiac Sunbird (hooded headlights!) and then Sunfire GT.
I considered the Fiero as well since it never sold well. But figured it misses the mark due to not really being hidden so much as it was cancelled in its prime.
Other coupes I’d mention are the Acura CL and Ford Probe.
Another of that era – the early 90s Camry coupe.
Good looking in its time, positively handsome now, could be easily had with a manual. And b/c that era Toyota, if I’d have gotten one, entirely possible I’d still have it.
A few months ago I saw a Chevy Beretta GT in Teal in great shape in an office parking lot; it was So Choice!
If you want an economical 4WD commuter, it’s hard to beat a Subaru Justy… if any of those still exist.
I wanted to get one a while back, then one with a parts car came up for sale in my area. I was about to go check it out when I learned NOONE makes snow tires for the OEM tire size anymore, and if you go up to a size you can get snow tires for you lose all the stuff that makes the Justy Great.
Your Turning circle is larger than some school busses
Due to the much higher gear ratio for every gear with your taller tires it’s obscenely gutless and does worse mileage than basically any Subaru when previously it could get over 40mpg
It rides worse and your tires rub the tops of the wheel wells when you hit bumps.
And all of the drivetrain components experience more stress.
The first thing you should check when considering buying a classic car after all the big things is whether you can get quality tires for it or not.
Cooker Tire to the rescue… Quick search and they have the standard 12″ tire available noted as branded as a Michellin.
I don’t know if Cooker makes what is an old make/model of tire for Cooker or if Cooker has a licensing agreement so they can make this make/model of tire…
Either way it appears available and as of now for a price of $96 per tire
https://cokertire.com/amfinder/index/index?finder_id=33649370
Not a snow tire…
Okay Dokey…
Here’s a touring tire in 1994 Subaru Justy size… 155/80R13
My point was it wasn’t really that hard to find tires in this (now unusual for the USA car.market in 2025) size and aspect ratio
It looks like Priority Tire may be a good source bc they came up with several different tire options in this size too
https://www.prioritytire.com/by-brand/milestar-tires/ms775-touring-sle?var-milestar=44039&msclkid=5c6a3399963a140effcb5b054fae1033
And here’s a snow tire in 155/80R13 too. Have I heard of “Armstrong” as a tire brand!?! No… no I haven’t, though it has excellent reviews on Priority Tire and at $43.per tire I certainly would probably order some to give it a try!
https://www.prioritytire.com/by-brand/armstrong-tires/ski-trac-pc?var-armstrong=136341&msclkid=d544dd61724613e55074b5fda8eb8904
Reread my initial comment. You’re just reenforcing what I said.
Ha OK the Justy DL came with tire size 145R12…
Here you go…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/336039807417?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&loc_physical_ms=109203&customid=a768d646c694149d3fc9beda26ca162e
Not DOT legal… You’d save yourself a lot of time and effort by just saying I was right and leaving it at that.
My Subaru dealer had a C&C a few weeks ago and I was happy to see some old nameplates. There was a Justy that looked like it was 2 months old.
The SC400 is a car I’d like to own someday. Since I’m in the middle of buying a house though, that day likely just got kicked a decade or longer into the future.
I might as well throw in for the B5 Passat since I’ve had 2 of them (still have one!).
1998, introduced in US and wins almost every midsize comparison test.
My friends and neighbors: “Hey, is that the new Jetta? Not bad.”
1999-2000, continues winning awards as the best car in the most crowded segment.
My friends and neighbors: “Is that an Audi? My uncle had one of those in 1983, piece of crap!”
2001, Honda officially benchmarks the car as the high water mark for the Accord redesign.
My friends and neighbors: “You still have that Jetta? My brother had one. Engine fell out.”
I’m assuming you had the V6? My mom had a 1.8T and it was a disaster. Much like Torch’s wife, she *loved* the car, but after the second water pump failure under 100k miles my dad (a Japanese car fan through and through) went with her to the Acura dealer and got the TSX she’s driven ever since. He drove an MDX at the time that he took to almost 300k miles – great car.
This might be why every time I see one these days it’s the V6 – I heard those had far fewer issues.
I alway’s liked the looks and substance of the Lexus GS, basically a sporty, RWD ES.
Seconded. I got one after my dad was done with it, and I loved everything about it.
Just this morning I saw one of my neighbors in a 1996-ish Lexus GS, slightly lowered, aftermarket wheels. I forgot how long it’s been since I’ve seen a first-gen version at all.
USDM Suzuki’s! And no, not the re-badged Daewoo shit they sold concurrently with the good stuff. Suzuki 4×4’s are fantastic and long lived little bastards, the Kizashi was a handsome and very good driving car, the SX4 was a great Subaru alternative without the reliability problems, and the Metro is the absolute goddamn cockroach of the car world. If you live in a relatively rust free environment these are all great lower priced alternative options to other Japanese brands. I just sold a Sidekick with 340,000 miles, and see it daily. My Tracker has 240,000 miles, and has been the single best 4×4 I’ve ever owned.
I was gonna say Suzuki Kizashi as an example. Waaaay better than you’d think.
I’d love to have one, but I don’t really have a need for one. Shame the AWD version is CVT only, and AWD Kizashi with a 6 speed would be phenomenal.
I never thought anything about them until a Lemons team that also owns a dealership got one in on a trade in that later had title issues. Rather than deal with that they turned it into a race car and raced it and finished without any real modification. Then they did it again, and again, and again…
Great to hear they perform well in an endurance race. I seriously considered one as a replacement for my sidelined E39 but had a tough time finding one, so I think they fit this category perfectly.
If only it were a hatch. They were insanely coveted by those who owned them.
And pretty good looking car.
Love the SX4. Very well made and an absolute bargain for what it offered.