What is the best american car from the 90's?

"moarpowerr" (moarpowerr) 08/06/2013 at 16:18 • Filed to: 'Merica

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The 90's were not a particularly great time for the american auto industry. Badge engineering, shotty electrics, crappy materials, and the emergence of great japanese cars did not help them one bit. I think my cirrus has been a pretty good car to me for the two years I have had it. Cab-forward design means loads of interior space, haven't had problems with electric components, and the 2.4L four banger has been pulling strong.

So what is the best american car from the 90's that you can think of?

dogisbadob > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:20

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Does the 92-96 Camry count? It was made in Kentucky!

If it doesn't count, them how about the Oldsmobile Quad 442 and Achieva SCX?

timateo81 > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:22

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Nerd-Vol > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:23

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Is this even a question?

Style, class, elegance, speed, all in one package. The C4 ZR1 is the car. 405hp from a Lotus(we have to give the Limeys something to do) designed DOHC V8.

The viper was cool too, but this was better.

Z_Stig > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:24

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C5 Corvette Z06

More Power!!and also some brakes. > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:24

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The ZR1 was a great American car with the help of Lotus, the LT5 was designed by Lotus but built in the states. 4.4 to 60 and those are the records it set or broke.

100 miles (160 km) at 175.600 mph (282.601 km/h)
500 miles (800 km) at 175.503 mph (282.445 km/h)
1,000 miles (1,600 km) at 174.428 mph (280.715 km/h)
5,000 km (3,100 mi) at 175.710 mph (282.778 km/h) (World Record)[citation needed]
5,000 miles (8,000 km) at 173.791 mph (279.690 km/h) (World Record)
12 Hours Endurance at 175.523 mph (282.477 km/h)
24 Hours Endurance at 175.885 mph (283.059 km/h) for 4,221.256 miles (6,793.453 km) (World Record)

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:26

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Are we talking strictly cars here? The US auto makers were great at SUV's and Trucks, haha.

Just looking at Ford, we had the Escort, Contour, Taurus. But probably most interesting, the Mustang. I don't remember any being particularly good, I suppose the Taurus SHO had a certain coolness about it. How could we forget the Probe? Haha. That didn't go so well... Then of course our recently fallen hero, the Crown Vic and Co.

Out of all those, my top 3 would be Mustang, Crown Vic, SHO. But I'd avoid them all of I could, at least as a primary car, some of them make excellent project cars or cars for your kids.

moarpowerr > More Power!!and also some brakes. 08/06/2013 at 16:27

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Wow that is alot of records that 'vette broke. I am guessing 175 mph was the top speed?

PS: I like your name!

moarpowerr > timateo81 08/06/2013 at 16:28

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a stroll in the park for the old folks

Nerd-Vol > Z_Stig 08/06/2013 at 16:29

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Didn't come out till 2001.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > Z_Stig 08/06/2013 at 16:30

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That and the viper. You can forget everything else.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > Z_Stig 08/06/2013 at 16:30

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That and the viper. You can forget everything else.

dogisbadob > More Power!!and also some brakes. 08/06/2013 at 16:32

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If only the C6 still used a DOHC engine, then it could get 600+ hp from 6.2L without a supercharger

lonestranger > Nerd-Vol 08/06/2013 at 16:33

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That blue 'Vette isn't a ZR1, just a run-of-the-mill '95 or '96 C4. Still a great car.

Here's a '95 ZR-1:

Nerd-Vol > lonestranger 08/06/2013 at 16:37

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What blue one?

;)

Takuro Spirit > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:38

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What I think.

Takuro Spirit > Z_Stig 08/06/2013 at 16:39

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I had that exact pic as my desktop way back when.

moarpowerr > Takuro Spirit 08/06/2013 at 16:39

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Its funny I saw one the other day, and all i could think is how long the rear overhang is...

Takuro Spirit > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:40

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The better to fit four bodies in the trunk with.

Z_Stig > Nerd-Vol 08/06/2013 at 16:43

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Damnit, fail on my part. Well then, just a plain C5 'Vette will suffice.

AbigGRNboot > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:43

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Top 5 in random order:

Viper

SVT Cobra

ZR-1

Lightning

Syclone/Typhoon

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:45

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What about Japanese cars sold as American? Dodge Stealth? Eagle Talon?
Barring that, I think the Focus came out in '98. The original neon was a sweet little car though not great. Saturn came out in the 90's and would have done a lot better if we could have exported them without massive tariffs.
The crown Vic some people like, as they do the Impala SS. And the jelly bean Taurus. I still like the look of them.

AbigGRNboot > AbigGRNboot 08/06/2013 at 16:45

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...and, the Mustang is the only one you can fit kids and luggage in.

Jagvar > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 16:56

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Panoz AIV Roadster

moarpowerr > Jagvar 08/06/2013 at 16:57

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That thing is dope!

Tell me more, I am not too familiar with it

More Power!!and also some brakes. > dogisbadob 08/06/2013 at 16:57

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It would be cool to make one with a DOHC. I am pretty sure there is no way in hell a DOHC would fit in the C6 bay. Also in my personal opinion I think the Corvette and Viper should keep going with OHV.

Jagvar > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 17:07

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Just 176 of them were built from 1996 to 1999 in Braselton, GA.

It had an extruded aluminum space frame with a central backbone, and was powered by a Mustang SVT Cobra V8 DOHC 32-valve motor. Since it was 70% aluminum, it was dubbed an Aluminum Intensive Vehicle, or AIV. The engine produced 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 300 foot-pounds of torque.

A fun little car that not many people know about.

moarpowerr > Jagvar 08/06/2013 at 17:08

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ohhhhh the want is soo strong!

it's almost like what the prowler should have been

SteyrTMP > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 17:37

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I was about to say Porsche 944S2, but then realized it was AMERICAN cars you were asking about... Then I was about to say "nothing"... but these guys have some points. The Caprice and Crown Vic... I have to make a confession. As much of a fan of German cars, part of me really wants a RoadMaster... with 500whp. The Syclone... there's one of the only trucks I'd like to have, shy of military vehicles.

delete-me-please123 > Z_Stig 08/06/2013 at 17:46

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Yeah, good call on both Z_Stig and Nerd-Vol.

VincentPrice > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 18:00

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Forgive me Oppo gods, but if I was going to buy an American car from the 90s it would be this: a Cadillac Brougham.

Dunnik > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 18:59

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Find anything with a GM 3800 Series I or Series II engine.

For bonus points, find one that's been supercharged (the Buck Regal GS, for example).

moarpowerr > Dunnik 08/06/2013 at 19:04

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My dad had an early 90's regal with the 3800 and it sucked balls. It was like a boat, with the floatiest suspension ever...it only lasted us a month before all the electronics went kaput

Dunnik > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 19:08

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If you think the 90's Regal had the "floatiest suspension ever" then you really 'aint seen nothing.

But if you're defining "best" as "best handling", well, I think you're barking up the wrong tree with American cars from the 90's.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 19:10

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If you're basing your analysis of '90's American cars on the Cirrus I can totally understand why you think they all suck.

There are actually a few gems, believe it or not.

thebigbossyboss > Takuro Spirit 08/06/2013 at 20:26

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and you think correctly. But more like this:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/03/impal…

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > moarpowerr 08/06/2013 at 22:35

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The Taurus SHO. The normal Taurus had already saved Ford from bankruptcy and set a standard for family cars, and then FoMoCo decided to turn the dial up to 11 and created a sports sedan that could keep up with many sports cars of the era. Take your pick of the first three generations, they were all in production at some point in the 90's. I like the second one the best.

'dat engine

boxjohn > AbigGRNboot 08/07/2013 at 00:21

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typhoon is a jimmy, so you can fit lots of crap in it.

Nerd-Vol > moarpowerr 08/07/2013 at 00:38

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At least the prowler was good looking. Really good looking.

Nerd-Vol > AbigGRNboot 08/07/2013 at 00:40

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And? Wasn't much room for the chilluns in a Rx7.

Wonk Unit > moarpowerr 08/07/2013 at 10:54

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Buick Mackane > AbigGRNboot 08/08/2013 at 23:08

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I was given a new Mustang at the rental car agency in Detroit, I could not get even one of my large pullman suitcases in the trunk or back seat. I went back to the office and had to ask for something else.