Remember a new car you thought was awesome and now you think the opposite?

[1969chargerrtse]

I thought this would be a neat thread to start.  Are there any cars out there that you remember seeing in the showroom brand new and you thought it was the coolest thing ever?  The type of car you dreamed of at night.  A car so beautiful to you, you were trying to find ways to buy one, And now when you see one you think, what the heck was I thinking?
I do.  The 1990 Oldsmobile cutlass conv.  I wanted one so bad because of the roll bar under the soft top.  I just thought that car was so cool.  Now when I see one, I just think, yuk.

[chargerboy69]

My parents had three of those cars.  In fact, mom still has her teal one.     Mom probably has not driven it in a year or two and would probably sell it, but dad bought it for her, and he passed away a few years ago.

They are not a bad car. . . but not a great one either.

[cdr]

2002 trans am

[Aero426]

Oldsmobile was coming on pretty strong at that time under John Rock's leadership.   I think the Cutlass was among the best looking of the GM-10 cars; very close to the Grand Prix in the looks department.    It made a very good stock car body.    The convertible was a 500 pace car.   The roll bar was cool, and necessary for the seat belts and body flex.    They also had that heads up display where you read the speedo on the windshield.    Today, the looks may be a little dated with all that side cladding, but it wasn't a bad car.  

All of that said, it is easy for your automotive taste buds to mature over time.

[1969chargerrtse]

2002 trans am

Ha! Good one

[1969chargerrtse]

Oldsmobile was coming on pretty strong at that time under John Rock's leadership.   I think the Cutlass was among the best looking of the GM-10 cars; very close to the Grand Prix in the looks department.    It made a very good stock car body.    The convertible was a 500 pace car.   The roll bar was cool, and necessary for the seat belts and body flex.    They also had that heads up display where you read the speedo on the windshield.    Today, the looks may be a little dated with all that side cladding, but it wasn't a bad car.  

All of that said, it is easy for your automotive taste buds to mature over time.

Yeah I loved the 69 Charger back when they were new, and love them today. The olds just looks ugly to me today, but back then I'd give a nut for one.

[Chryco Psycho]

Shelby Daytona Z
Finally bought one , test drove them new , they are a blast to drive .... if you can keep them running , the year I had mine I walked more then I drove 

[71charger_fan]

Lincoln Mark VII

[Old Moparz]

Back in high school I thought the TR7 was cool when it came out in the 70's.

Until I learned that owning one would probably get my ass kicked by nerd-like students with pocket protectors.

[skip68]

 Ford EXP.  I just loved the look back then but know now it's a turd.   OH, the Mercury Capri and Opal GT.   BOTH TURDS ......

[Daytona R/T SE]

Ford EXP.  I just loved the look back then but know now it's a turd.   OH, the Mercury Capri and Opal GT.   BOTH TURDS ......

Hey !   

I had an Opel GT !!

It WAS a turd !!  

[ChgrSteve67]

late 70s early 80s Ford mustang

[A383Wing]

Chev Monza...brown in color, manual trans, with the big spider decal on the hood

I never did get one

Bryan  (wheew!)

[Ghoste]

Countach.

[myk]

No such regrets for me, as I'm picky and have a "feeling" about the cars I like from the start.  I will say that I had an opposite change of heart about the 4.2 Gen Ram Air Firebird.  When I was out looking for a new muscle car in '98 I looked at the new Ram Air T/A's and said, "Goddamn that is the ugliest f**king car I have ever seen-were the designers on drugs?"  Fast forward to now, where I proudly drive a beautiful black '99 F-bird and as I walk up to it I can't help but notice how crazy the car looks but I love it so much it brings tears to my eyes; not since my Charger has a car moved me so.  

Yeah, anyway...

[Mytur Binsdirti]

My parents had three of those cars.  In fact, mom still has her teal one.     Mom probably has not driven it in a year or two and would probably sell it, but dad bought it for her, and he passed away a few years ago.

They are not a bad car. . . but not a great one either.

You actually thought that car was cool?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Chev Monza...brown in color, manual trans, with the big spider decal on the hood

I never did get one

Bryan  (wheew!)

My brother had one of those.... Monza Spider.  It was white with red velour interior...huge red & black spider on hood.  It had T-Tops as well....I think

[chargerboy69]

My parents had three of those cars.  In fact, mom still has her teal one.     Mom probably has not driven it in a year or two and would probably sell it, but dad bought it for her, and he passed away a few years ago.

They are not a bad car. . . but not a great one either.

You actually thought that car was cool?

They are alright.  I do not like the teal one they have now.  But, the 1995 red one with white leather they had was very nice. I was young when they had it and would take it out every now and then. Had some fond memories in that car. 

[PocketThunder]

Dodge Stealth, the poor mans viper.

[1969chargerrtse]

late 70s early 80s Ford mustang

Yes, good one.  I agree.  I look at those big ugly front lights now and think, yuk.  But back in the day I had a 88 GT conv and thought it was awesome looking.

[1969chargerrtse]

No such regrets for me, as I'm picky and have a "feeling" about the cars I like from the start.  I will say that I had an opposite change of heart about the 4.2 Gen Ram Air Firebird. When I was out looking for a new muscle car in '98 I looked at the new Ram Air T/A's and said, "Goddamn that is the ugliest f**king car I have ever seen-were the designers on drugs?"  Fast forward to now, where I proudly drive a beautiful black '99 F-bird and as I walk up to it I can't help but notice how crazy the car looks but I love it so much it brings tears to my eyes; not since my Charger has a car moved me so.  

Yeah, anyway...

Ha, that is funny. Yeah reverse thought.

I always loved the Monte Carlo.  Even the big swoopy lines of the 73.  One day I was pulling into a parking lot.  I saw the back end of a brand new 78.  I looked at the car and said that is the ugliest car ever produced, what the hell is that?  When I saw Monte Carlo on the trunk I almost dropped dead right there.  I think I threw up to?  

[Ghoste]

Dodge Stealth, the poor mans viper.

Although I don't recall them being that cheap when they were new?

[Ghoste]

Dodge Stealth, the poor mans viper.

Although I don't recall them being that cheap when they were new?

[Back N Black]

I had a 74 Roadrunner when i was 17 and thought it was the SHi##, but not so much anymore. I like the 71 and 72 much better.

[ACUDANUT]

I had a 74 Roadrunner when i was 17 and thought it was the SHi##, but not so much anymore. I like the 71 and 72 much better.

I agree. My same thoughts about the Charger. I love the 71/72's 10 times more than the 73/73's.

I had a 73 Monte Carlo in H.S., I liked it alot until my brother bought a 72 Charger.  His car was 10 times better looking and faster.

[Ponch ®]

I really, really thought the the PT Cruiser was cool when it came out. But then again, I was like 19 at the time...

[Cooter]

"PT Loser".

[cdr]

i had a monza spyder, red & black fuzzy interior ,305 auto

[Mike DC]

          
Dodge Vipers have slipped a lot in my rankings.  At least the early ones if maybe not the current crop.  

I'm only a moderate fan of Shelby's AC Cobras, but at least he was a guy working out of a small shop and he originally stuck to smallblock motors.  The Viper seems like an equally crude job as the 427 Cobra but coming from a big modern manufacturer.  Yeah the early Vipers were fast, but so is a dirt oval sprint-car.  That's not enough to impress me by itself.    



Sorry to be a heretic but the Charger Daytonas impress me less as time goes on too.  The actual engineers did a good job in the wind tunnel, but it was a fugly crude money-losing car that they should have known would get banned as soon as it started winning.  IMHO the whole program could have been handled better with a dose of practical longer term thinking.

[bull]

I thought the Opel GT was decent because it kind of looked like a Vette. Not now. I also used to think the early 90s Dodge Daytona was cool and now I wouldn't touch one.

I'd still own a Prowler but WTH were they thinking putting a V6 in it?

[ACUDANUT]

I liked the fiero but after driving one and feeling like I butt is going to drag on the asphalt I changed my mind.I also felt like I was in a death trap.  Did I mention the reliabilty on those suck.

[Ponch ®]

More recently, I was pretty enthused about the Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ. It looked pretty good in pics and the hype was pretty high before it came out.

Now that I'm seeing more of them on the road, I'm not quite as impressed, at least cosmetically.That being said, I haven't driven one yet, so  I'd still like to take one for a spin before I say 'its awesome' or 'all hype and looks, no balls".

[Mike DC]

Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ -

Small 2dr + RWD + Toyota/Subie mechanicals + small tires = lotsa fun.  I can't see how they could go wrong with those things. 

[1969chargerrtse]

Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ -

Small 2dr + RWD + Toyota/Subie mechanicals + small tires = lotsa fun.  I can't see how they could go wrong with those things. 

Friend of mine has one on order.

[Old Moparz]

Dodge Stealth, the poor mans viper.

Although I don't recall them being that cheap when they were new?

I think you're right, they were a lot of money. I stopped in at a Mitsubishi Stealership when those cars came out to see the twin, the 3000 GT. If I recall, the sticker was $30,000 & the douche bag dealer had balls larger than grapefruits putting another sticker on the window called "Market Value Surcharge" with $15,000 added on for no reason.   

[PocketThunder]

Dodge Stealth, the poor mans viper.

Although I don't recall them being that cheap when they were new?

I think you're right, they were a lot of money. I stopped in at a Mitsubishi Stealership when those cars came out to see the twin, the 3000 GT. If I recall, the sticker was $30,000 & the douche bag dealer had balls larger than grapefruits putting another sticker on the window called "Market Value Surcharge" with $15,000 added on for no reason.   

I was in HS when the Stealth came out.  They were stupid expensive.  Recently my younger cousin bought one for a couple grand and i sat inside it and it just didnt have the same feeling as 20 years ago.

[Ghoste]

No they haven't aged well have they?  I wonder if they are at the bottom of the desirability cycle and will start going up from here?

[ACUDANUT]

Those "stealth's" were 100 percent Mitsubishi 

[Ponch ®]

The twin turbo AWD Stealth / 3000GTs were badass. I think they were putting out something like 300hp and some crazy (for its class) amount of torque. I can't opine either way about their price when they first came out (since my primary method's of transportation at the time were still my rollerblades or the backseat of my mom's car), but they're still going for decent amounts nowadays. I've actually been scouring craigslist for one (i need a daily driver/beater) and good examples of R/T's and VR-4's are still going anywhere from $5000-15000, esp. if the mitsu badged ones.

[elacruze]

2002 trans am

Ha! Good one

Ha! Any year T/A after 1975.

[moparstuart]

2002 trans am

Ha! Good one

Ha! Any year T/A

fixed it for you

[Indygenerallee]

I was a tech at our local Dodge dealership back in 2000 and the first PT Cruiser that came in the idiot guy paid $10,000 above retail just because he "had to have it"
What a friggin' loon, They are not bad other than the timing belt fiasco but every car has it's faults..

[Ponch ®]

I was a tech at our local Dodge dealership back in 2000 and the first PT Cruiser that came in the idiot guy paid $10,000 above retail just because he "had to have it"
What a friggin' loon, They are not bad other than the timing belt fiasco but every car has it's faults..

It was a very cool and somewhat unusual car at the time it came out. Unfortunately the car was all looks and no balls, and the looks became dated pretty quick, in the way that an 80's hot rod looks dated (if that makes any sense). Gotta give it some credit though...along with the Prowler it practically kick started the retro design craze of the 00's (the 05 Stang, the Chevy HHR, the SSR, etc).

[Ghoste]

A big fat Neon is mostly what they were.

[billfury]

I can't believe I'm going to admit it but here it is. I thought the mid 80's Eldorado's, Riviera, and Toronado was such a cool chick magnet.  I remember my fiend got the Toro and I wanted to trade my 76 cutlass for it. He let me use it to pick this girl up that I thought the world of at the time and it was a nice riding car. Now I think the car and the girl were both ugly.

[1969chargerrtse]

I can't believe I'm going to admit it but here it is. I thought the mid 80's Eldorado's, Riviera, and Toronado was such a cool chick magnet.  I remember my fiend got the Toro and I wanted to trade my 76 cutlass for it. He let me use it to pick this girl up that I thought the world of at the time and it was a nice riding car. Now I think the car and the girl were both ugly.

Yeah this is what I'm talking about. Cars that were so cool looking to you back in the day when they were new, and now you have no idea why you thought that?

[TheGhost]

Mid 90s mustangs.

[A383Wing]

I was a tech at our local Dodge dealership back in 2000 and the first PT Cruiser that came in the idiot guy paid $10,000 above retail just because he "had to have it"
What a friggin' loon, They are not bad other than the timing belt fiasco but every car has it's faults..

yea...we got a 2003 for the wife...she really likes it..if Momma ain't happy, nobody is...I did the t-belt & water pump at 90k....yea..it's a pain

Bryan

[1969chargerrtse]

I was a tech at our local Dodge dealership back in 2000 and the first PT Cruiser that came in the idiot guy paid $10,000 above retail just because he "had to have it"
What a friggin' loon, They are not bad other than the timing belt fiasco but every car has it's faults..

yea...we got a 2003 for the wife...she really likes it..if Momma ain't happy, nobody is...I did the t-belt & water pump at 90k....yea..it's a pain

Bryan

Of all the comments made. The one about mama being happy is the most accurate. I do whatever it takes to keep mine quiet. I mean happy. 

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Most Pontiacs 

[A383Wing]

Most Pontiacs 

I still have a Pontiac here...very easy car to work on....we also used to own a '68 Firebird...250 OHC six with manual 3spd on the floor....that little car would kick 389 GTO's out there when we had it..I really miss that car

Bryan

[Ponch ®]

I just remembered another one. And this is gonna sound very tacky, but whatever. As I may have mentioned before, I spent a few years of elementary school living in Mexico. So when I was like 7-8 and first started to see cars as objects of lust and desire (in a very primitive way), I thought the pinnacle of automotive design was...the Ford* Cougar.  

I know, I know. But keep in mind a) my age at the time and b) that the cougar logo looks suspiciously similar to the Thundercats logo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqeyAfGDzyk


*To my knowledge, there was no Mercury brand in Mexico, hence the Ford badging.

[bill440rt]

Dodge Stealths here as well. Actually, although they were similar I liked the Stealth over the 3000GT. Took a Stealth out for a test drive once, that thing could haul. 

I remember the late-'70's T/A's on the showroom floor as a real young boy. I remember sitting in the driver's seat looking at the turned dash trim, I could barely see over the steering wheel. I find them interesting now, but wouldn't want to own one.

Ponch, don't feel bad. I had a fascination with early/mid-80's T-Birds for a short while, I was very young.     I guess it was because we had a '57 & a '66, & the '83's were new at the time. And they were being raced in NASCAR. Then, we had one for a week as a rental vehicle.     That changed my mind forever. 

[Mike DC]

 
Dodge Stealths never did anything for me.  The wrong wheels were spinning and somebody put the rear spoiler on backwards.   

[ACUDANUT]

I think you mean Mitsubishi aka dodge. On those cars there is zero parts from dodge on it, except a name.

[bill440rt]

IIRC the Mitsu's had gaudier bumper covers and cladding. The Stealths were a little "cleaner" looking, I preferred that look over the 3000GT's.
Other than some trim, they were still 100% Mitsu.

Along the same lines were the Starion/Conquest. I had no interest in the base Starion with the slab-sided body. But when the Conquest Tsi and Starion ESi came out it was a NICE looking car! I remember seeing one new in the showroom, it was a damn expensive car for it's time. I think the sticker on it was like $19K or something.
I owned an '87 Tsi for a few years. It was a great handling car but damn it was pathetic in any kind of winter driving. Even with an inch of snow it was like a dog on linoleum.

[Old Moparz]

IIRC the Mitsu's had gaudier bumper covers and cladding. The Stealths were a little "cleaner" looking, I preferred that look over the 3000GT's.
Other than some trim, they were still 100% Mitsu.

Along the same lines were the Starion/Conquest. I had no interest in the base Starion with the slab-sided body. But when the Conquest Tsi and Starion ESi came out it was a NICE looking car! I remember seeing one new in the showroom, it was a damn expensive car for it's time. I think the sticker on it was like $19K or something.
I owned an '87 Tsi for a few years. It was a great handling car but damn it was pathetic in any kind of winter driving. Even with an inch of snow it was like a dog on linoleum.

I still like the TSI, & yeah, the ones without the flared sides were very different & not at all interesting to look at. My wife test drove the TSI with the turbo before she bought her 5.0 Mustang GT in 1988. I sat in the back while the salesperson up front, & there wasn't any room at all. She liked the car, but back in the 80's anything with a turbo was worrisome because it seemed like every person who had one had horror stories of replacing them for a lot of money. I just saw a bright blue one locally about a month ago. It was the first time in ages I recall seeing one. 

[PocketThunder]

IIRC the Mitsu's had gaudier bumper covers and cladding. The Stealths were a little "cleaner" looking, I preferred that look over the 3000GT's.
Other than some trim, they were still 100% Mitsu.

Along the same lines were the Starion/Conquest. I had no interest in the base Starion with the slab-sided body. But when the Conquest Tsi and Starion ESi came out it was a NICE looking car! I remember seeing one new in the showroom, it was a damn expensive car for it's time. I think the sticker on it was like $19K or something.
I owned an '87 Tsi for a few years. It was a great handling car but damn it was pathetic in any kind of winter driving. Even with an inch of snow it was like a dog on linoleum.

I still like the TSI, & yeah, the ones without the flared sides were very different & not at all interesting to look at. My wife test drove the TSI with the turbo before she bought her 5.0 Mustang GT in 1988. I sat in the back while the salesperson up front, & there wasn't any room at all. She liked the car, but back in the 80's anything with a turbo was worrisome because it seemed like every person who had one had horror stories of replacing them for a lot of money. I just saw a bright blue one locally about a month ago. It was the first time in ages I recall seeing one. 

So i didnt know what a Conquest was (other than a night of successful events after a house party back in college ) so i looked it up and hey look at that, those things had a hemi!..

http://www.allpar.com/cars/chrysler/conquest.html

From allpar "By 1986 the only engine was the turbocharged 2.6, with hemispherical combustion chambers, a third valve in each chamber for better mixing and burning (MCA-JET), and dual engine stabilizers built into the block. "

[aussiemuscle]

Back in high school I thought the TR7 was cool when it came out in the 70's.

me too, but they are a futuristic design, like the 82 firebird. all coolest looking cars were wedge shaped. 

[Ghoste]

You're right, there was a period there where the wedge was the it car and a lot of them look dated and odd to me now.

[1969chargerrtse]

I remember when they first came out.  They were cool, but they had real bad engine issues and that ended that.

[70Sbird]

Fiat X-19

my uncle had a new one and i though it was a cool little 2 seater, until my brother bought a used one and i had to change the head gasket on it!
Tha was around 1986....the love affair didnt last long

[moparstuart]

Fiat X-19

my uncle had a new one and i though it was a cool little 2 seater, until my brother bought a used one and i had to change the head gasket on it!
Tha was around 1986....the love affair didnt last long

yeah i thought they looked cool and was going to buy one , then i tried to drive one and i couldnt get in it , That was at age 16 before i grew wider 

[hatersaurusrex]

This one is easy for me:  Subaru SVX.  WTF was I thinking?

[moparstuart]

This one is easy for me:  Subaru SVX.  WTF was I thinking?

sold alot of the engines out of those to nuts making ultralight air planes

[JT01]

In 94 I bought a brand new Beretta Z26 thought it was sharp at the time it had issues only had it for 2 years only put 10,000 miles on it and traded it in on a truck. Still to this wonder what i was thinking

[Chryco Psycho]

I thought those were 1/9th of an X fiat 

[Ghoste]

It's interesting to note how many changed their mind on the formerly awesome car based on a mechanical aspect and how many just decided the styling was no longer cool.

[69 OUR/TEA]

Bought a brand new 09 Challenger R/T,exciting at first,can't say anything bad about the car,fun car when I drove it,just saw it starting to  sit around to much as as I could not drive it to work,and decided to get rid of it after just 7 months before it depreciated to much.Glad I did now !!!If something is gonna sit in my garage being barely used,it may as well be something that will retain its value or go up,not down.
Now,as alot of comments about Pontiacs being discussed in this thread,namely T/A's,what drove me to buy the one that I have now is it's uniqueness and what it is powered by !!! I beleive 2 other members here also own them.

[ACUDANUT]

I'd drive that Challenger and got rid of the 77-78 monte mexico carlo. 

[Ghoste]

Me too.  I have to admit I find that choice surprising, respect your decision totally just find it surprising is all.

[69 OUR/TEA]

I'd drive that Challenger and got rid of the 77-78 monte mexico carlo. 

If you are refering about the car in my avatar,it's not a Monte Carlo,it's a 75 Buick Regal ,16k mile survivor,bought it cheap,great cruiser,ice cold A/C,have plenty of room in my garage to keep it,so it's no bother to have/own.It is fun to have so you can go for a ride in an old car that you don't have to be paraniod about.I like it because I have alot of respect for alot of dif cars for what they are,especially survivors.Did'nt sell off any Mopars and kept that,still have my Mopars.My 69 3x9 R/T SE is under construction as we speak.When it is done,to the level that I am bringing it,unfortunately will not be driven 1000's of miles a year,so having an old car,the Regal, to just go out for a drive is great.FWIW

[Brock Samson]

Subie SVX myself. Does any car company have more Sanctimonious TV commercials?.. 

[1970Moparmann]

The following -

- 88 Escort GT - what was I thinking!

- 89 Cougar XR7

- Stealth and PT Cruiser.