5 Most Beautiful Budget Coupes Of The Nineties

"Margin Of Error" (marginoferror) 03/12/2015 at 12:17 • Filed to: LISTS

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The nineties was the last decade that saw an abundance of coupes. Here's the 5 most beautiful coupes that sold for less than 25K.

10 - Toyota Solara

Classical design with a twist a of sportiness.

9 - Nissan NX2000

Playful design with a twist of t-top

8 - Toyota Paseo

The reliable VW cariolet alertnative, with a twist a teal

7 - Chevrolet Lumina

Full size American confort with a twist of Europe

6 - Mercury Cougar

A cougar with a twist of youth

3 - Zuzuki X90

A coupe truck with a twist of je ne say quo'i

2 - Mazda Miata

A glorious roadster with a twist of coupe

1 - Volvo C70

A sexy Swede with a twist of Val Kilmer

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:18

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1. Take Tercel

2. Remove functionality

3. ????

4. Profit?

505Turbeaux > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:20

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I see 9 here, and you skipped number 6!

Margin Of Error > 505Turbeaux 03/12/2015 at 12:22

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The idea was to only list 5 but I got carried away.

Margin Of Error > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/12/2015 at 12:23

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Coupes are emotional vehicles, not reasonable ones.

For Sweden > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:24

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In the late nineteen-nineties, American rap artist Notorious B.I.G. posthumously taught us, "mo money, mo problems." From this, we may infer that less money, less problems.

If only Mr. B.I.G. had heeded his own advice, that mo is not always better, and driven one of these budget coupes, he could have reduced his problems, and maybe even be alive today.

Margin Of Error > For Sweden 03/12/2015 at 12:27

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He's dead ?

For Sweden > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:29

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Notoriously so.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:29

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A top five list with eight cars on it that skips numbers 4 & 5. Huh?

Margin Of Error > For Sweden 03/12/2015 at 12:34

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That's sad, he was so good in the Green Mile.

Makes me cry all the time, even more know that I know he's dead.

Margin Of Error > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/12/2015 at 12:38

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You can't please everyone ...

KnowsAboutCars > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:45

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Two points:

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beautiful

1st gen Lumina

2.

It's je ne sais quoi and S uzuki

As Du Volant > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:46

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The NX2000 is a great one. Mechanically identical to the classic SE-R, save for the brakes, which are bigger. Yet not nearly as sought after. If you want SE-R and can't find a decent one, look for an NX2000 instead.

Margin Of Error > As Du Volant 03/12/2015 at 12:48

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The t-top is the deal breaker for me.

duurtlang > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:49

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No love for the Peugeot 406 coupe? I think it's prettier than this whole top 10.

I might be biased, I daily drive one.

Margin Of Error > duurtlang 03/12/2015 at 12:51

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It's not bad, but it could be sharper. I think it lacks a bit of character.

Nibbles > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 12:57

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A coupe truck with a twist of je ne say quo'i

je ne sais quoi

Margin Of Error > Nibbles 03/12/2015 at 13:01

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I'm not really good in French, but I want to learn German at some point.

Nibbles > Margin Of Error 03/12/2015 at 13:33

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neither am I. The wife makes sure I know these things

Argentine jalop in Kosovo > Margin Of Error 03/16/2015 at 13:11

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Twist of European? You mean Europe on this galaxy? Have you ever been to Europe? Have you ever seen an European coupe? Other than the Cougar and C70 (good choices, tho)?

If this has an European twist I'm a Tea Party redneck.

RyanSellsHarleys > Margin Of Error 03/16/2015 at 13:14

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I looked at the list, then scratched my head and had a look of confusion as I thought of all the beautiful coupes that weren't on this list, then scrolled back to the top and re-read the headline. Apparently I missed the keyword "budget". Oh well.

Argentine jalop in Kosovo > Margin Of Error 03/16/2015 at 13:14

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Again, in Planet what this little SUV with a trunk can be a coupe? In Planet BMW?

Not in this galaxy. Nevermind, if you find this to be a beautiful coupe, then I should go home and say my prayers. Wait, I'm agnostic! Whatever...

Argentine jalop in Kosovo > duurtlang 03/16/2015 at 13:16

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One of the most beautiful and distinctive Pininfarina designs ever.

20394089234089234 > duurtlang 03/16/2015 at 13:32

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That thing is one of my secret fantasies, maybe one day...

duurtlang > 20394089234089234 03/16/2015 at 13:39

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I don't know what's stopping you, also because I don't know on which side of the Atlantic you're living, but they're great. Capable comfortable highway cruisers with a great chassis. If you drive at higher speeds (I drive in Germany a lot) I'd advise against the 2.0 I've got as the gearing is a bit short; 3000 rpm at 100 kmh, 4500 rpm at 150 kmh. The 2.2, 3.0V6 and the diesel have longer gearing. I'm thinking of putting a 6 speed from a Citroën C5 in mine.

Mine is super reliable. I bought it at 167k km in October 2012, it's at 243k km now and nothing went wrong with it at all. Other than a few light bulbs, none of which I had to replace more than once. I did preventively replace the battery. Oh, and I had to refill the AC twice.

duurtlang > Argentine jalop in Kosovo 03/16/2015 at 14:53

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It still has its effect. I was in Germany last weekend, on the second floor of a building with my 406 parked out front. When looking out the window I saw a guy, probably about 30 years old, walk by, stare at the Peugeot, walking towards it, check out the interior and walking around the whole car. Not many 15 year old vehicles have that kind of effect on people, especially 15 year old cars that are economically worthless with 243k km on the odometer with the occasional battle scar here and there. Maybe the vintage (1980s) relatively tiny 15 inch oxidized Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 wheels with snow tires reeled him in?

Big Block I-4 > Margin Of Error 03/16/2015 at 16:20

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Yo, Miata ain't no coupe bro.

Big Block I-4 > As Du Volant 03/16/2015 at 16:22

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Now, if only I knew someone on here with a NX pulsar and a removable hatch back top???? Also saw a NX today on my lunch break, love those cars. The 2000 is properly fast and is a decent handler for a FWD, 4 seat, coupe.

Antti Kautonen > Margin Of Error 03/16/2015 at 16:30

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Awesome, you picked one of my photos for the Lumina! :) I still see that one driving around town sometimes, it's probably the only one in the country.

Margin Of Error > Antti Kautonen 03/16/2015 at 16:41

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What country ?

Antti Kautonen > Margin Of Error 03/16/2015 at 16:49

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Finland!

As Du Volant > Big Block I-4 03/16/2015 at 16:54

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This one's mine:

20394089234089234 > duurtlang 03/16/2015 at 17:31

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Oh, I'm European alright but the simple fact is that I can't afford one at the moment since I'm studying! I still own my 2002 Saab 9-3 2.0t that I got before school though and as I've done some work on it -clutch, exhaust, suspension work etc.- I want to get my money's worth out of it before selling it, so to say! I don't get to drive it very much at the moment, but summer's coming and consequently, so are summer jobs, which means lots of commuting :D

Yeah, I guess that the 2.0 works better around town or on smaller country roads... I'd love a late V6 manual with a nice sports exhaust and everything but since I'll probably drive a lot after school the 2.2 or the diesel seems more reasonable. That transmission job you're talking about though, that sounds pretty interesting! Do you currently have a manual? Is it a common and easy swap?

I've heard nothing but good things about the coupe from those who have owned them to be honest, most of the horror stories seem to come from people without first-hand experience. That's quite a lot of reliable miles you've clocked! Why do it in some boring Passat or Avensis when you can have such a beautiful coupe instead? :)

duurtlang > 20394089234089234 03/16/2015 at 17:45

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Exactly! I've even got a LPG gas conversion, resulting in about €0.06 a km in fuel costs, or similar to a gently driven Toyota Aygo. I get to drive an excellent car and I'm paying next to nothing, I'm really quite pleased.

I do have a manual. Luckily. The automatics (ZF?) are said to be problematic. Anyway, I know very little about the transmission swap. What I do know that the engine in my car (the '99+ 2 liter mill) was also offered in the C5, sometimes with a manual 6-speed. So it fits the engine, but does it fit the car? I'm not sure yet.

20394089234089234 > duurtlang 03/16/2015 at 18:37

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Oh wow, that's impressive! Hadn't even thought of running LPG being a possibility even, but I guess it makes a lot of sense! Doesn't the tank take up a lot of space though?

That's good. I guess that the automatics of this generation wouldn't really do much good for the power delivery either and with the 2.0, I'm thinking that it'd feel really sluggish.
I see! I bet that they are fairly similar underneath, hopefully it's no bigger deal than fiddling with the mounts. Good luck if you decide to go try it, seems like a really neat idea!

duurtlang > 20394089234089234 03/16/2015 at 18:42

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The LPG tank does take up a considerable amount of space. Luckily the trunk is huge, the coupe is just as large as the sedan and wagon. Many cars, 406s included, have a LPG tank in the spare tire well so it doesn't take up any usable space at all, you just don't have a spare tire fitted any more. I, however, have the tank behind my rear seat. Sadly, as it greatly decreases practicality and the fact that rear seats are foldable has become rather useless because of it.

Looking back I would've preferred a V6 with the LPG tank in the spare tire well. I can't complain though, my car has held up great.

20394089234089234 > duurtlang 03/16/2015 at 19:13

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Having the tank there seems like a compromise that's worth dealing with though, I think, with your low running costs taken into consideration. A coupe isn't supposed to be roomy anyway :)

intrepid rook > Margin Of Error 03/16/2015 at 21:44

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What about the Ford Probe, Toyota Celica, Mitsubishi Eclipse/Plymouth Laser, Dodge Avenger, Toyota MR-2, or Mazda MX-3?

Orange Torana > duurtlang 03/16/2015 at 22:22

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Came here for this. I see a few around here in Australia. They are subtlety stunning.

Margin Of Error > intrepid rook 03/17/2015 at 09:01

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Did not made the cut.

Big Block I-4 > As Du Volant 03/17/2015 at 09:36

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I know, I was hoping you would take the bait and post a pictures!

Rick > Margin Of Error 03/20/2015 at 23:10

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Your mistaken identity is so odd..... I just can't even.