Cars You Wish Another Company Had Made

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars)
12/01/2013 at 11:00 • Filed to: None

Yes yes, The Heartbreak Kid. It could've been so good, but then they fitted a van engine and more plastic than Hasbro.

The idea was pure genius. It could've been small, light, peppy, and agile. It could've been a modern-day restomod for the masses. It could've been a screaming monster waiting to oversteer you into a Wendy's.

But it wasn't.

There are many cars I see that I just wish somebody else had made; somebody who knew what they were doing.

The Fiero. The Mid-Engine Economy Car. The missed opportunity. Luckily, somebody else did remake this car and thus we have the AW11 Toyota MR2..

Last but not least..

Now, before you throw your beer cans and skinned 'coons at me for damning America's sports car, hear me out. I like the Corvette, but there are a couple problems another company could solve. Firstly, the interior. The new one's great, but the old Vette's interior was just a rummage through the parts bin containing Tahoe trim pieces. The other problem with the Corvette is the owner. 9 times out of 10, the Corvette driver is over 60. Nuff said.

Chevy was on to something great. It's a red-blooded American thumbing its nose at 911s. It's powerful, comfortable, has tons of cargo space, and has USABLE CUPHOLDERS. Big plus for me there.

Feel free to share your opinions and options.

DISCUSSION (13)

twinturbobmw > Jay Lauer
12/01/2013 at 12:33

I think the Ferrari California should have been made by someone who focuses more on luxury. The California is an outlier to the rest of the Ferrari lineup. I seems like it doesn't belong with the supercars.

Jay Lauer > twinturbobmw
12/01/2013 at 12:42

Well the California is noticeably cheaper than their other cars, but miles more expensive than it's rivals. I've never driven a California, so I can't attest to any of it's merit compared to say, a 911.

Like I was telling another commenter, perhaps an Audi California?

twinturbobmw > Jay Lauer
12/01/2013 at 12:45

I think Audi or maybe Jaguar. Perhaps even Alfa Romeo as a predecessor to the 8C, only more GT oriented.

Jay Lauer > twinturbobmw
12/01/2013 at 12:51

Well I think Jag already makes a line of comfortable GT Cruisers, like the California.

What they need is a cheap California: The Fiat California.

All of the Italian Italian-ness at a fraction of exorbitant Ferrari prices. It could be the new Fiat Spider.

lone_liberal > Jay Lauer
12/01/2013 at 12:56

Once again I have to ask what the problem is with an old guy owning a fast car? Why do so many people have issues with that? How many 30 year old guys can buy a $60k two seat sports car? The cost and/or the lack of back seats prevents the vast majority from buying. We need those old guys to buy lots of the cool cars so that they're available used.

bpands > twinturbobmw
12/01/2013 at 13:23

Its the best Maserati GT Ferrari ever built.

bpands > Jay Lauer
12/01/2013 at 13:26

I always thought the Prowler would have been so much better if Chrysler could just swallow its pride and sell its production tooling to TVR or Carroll Shelby.

Jay Lauer > bpands
12/01/2013 at 17:03

I always hoped that someone like Alfa or BMW would build the Prowler. With a Bimmer straight six, it would be such a screamer.

I just wish any TVR car would make it stateside. I love the complete lunacy in all that small things that TVRs have.

Jay Lauer > lone_liberal
12/01/2013 at 17:07

Nothing's wrong with old guys owning cool cars. If it weren't for old white guys, the coolest car I'd have driven to my name would be a 10-year old WRX.

It's the stigma that attached once it gets defines as a "old mans car." Many times, I wish they would badge-engineer a Pontiac Corvette that appealed more to young people. And we all know how much GM loves to bade-engineer.

lone_liberal > Jay Lauer
12/01/2013 at 17:30

But that's my point, why does it matter what other people drive a car if you like the way a certain car drives? People get too caught up in what a car says about them and ignore the car itself. It's shallow and self defeating. Be your own man.

Jay Lauer > lone_liberal
12/01/2013 at 17:47

It's just a difference of preference now.

The Subaru I owned was great to drive. But, you spend your money for it and the average joe doesn't know it any different than a Saturn or Cavalier.

I'm not asking for a big cockpiece that shouts to the world "I have money," but I would like a little bit of public notoriety for owning a nice car.

Also, I drove a Teal colored car for two years and I loved it. I know what not caring about others opinion is about.

bpands > Jay Lauer
12/01/2013 at 20:28

Now that FIAT owns Chrysler, maybe an Alfa-powered Prowler revival could seem more likely but today's pedestrian safety regulations would make it impossible to market anywhere.

Jay Lauer > bpands
12/01/2013 at 20:35

Only a bonkers company like TVR or Noble could make it now, I'm afraid.