"mazda616" (mazda616)
10/12/2016 at 11:49 • Filed to: Cars You Like Just Because
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"mazda616" (mazda616)
10/12/2016 at 11:49 • Filed to: Cars You Like Just Because | 1
| 29 |
We all have those weird automotive likes that don’t really make sense. Maybe the car looks sporty but isn’t. Maybe it tried to be practical and just never was. Or maybe, it’s boring and you like it anyway.
Mine is the last generation Ford Thunderbird. Cheesy “retro” styling that was all the rage at the time, Lincoln LS parts bin sharing, and low sales. But I still like them.
My wife’s family and I are staying at a beachfront home on the Gulf of Mexico in Gulf Shores, Alabama this week. The house next to us is apparently closed up for the season, and there’s a 2002 - 2005 Thunderbird parked under it with a flat tire. Registration expired in August. It has a salty film all over it and the wipers are solid rust. It’s been sitting facing the Gulf for quite a while, I think! Poor thing. I need to sneak over and get some photos of it soon.
Edit: I took some photos of the abandoned ‘Bird.
Expired registration as of August.
The salty air is already getting to it.
That film on the windshield is unbelievably thick.
Future next gen S2000 owner
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 11:52 |
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Lincoln MKZ. I know it is a Fusion in a nice dress. I don’t care.
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mazda616
> Future next gen S2000 owner
10/12/2016 at 11:53 |
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I have to say, I’ve always liked those, too!
Tripper
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 11:55 |
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1995-2001 Ford Explorer. I have owned 3 of them. I don’t really like anything besides small, quick, European cars. However that particular generation of explorer has been my automotive comfort food. Whenever I have needed a bigger car or a beater, the explorer has been right there for me to buy cheap and then donate when it dies or I don’t want it any more. I know that there is probably at least one more in my future.
Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 11:55 |
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SSR springs immediately to mind.
CobraJoe
> Future next gen S2000 owner
10/12/2016 at 11:56 |
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Same for me with the MKS. I want it, even though it’s a dressed up Taurus.
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mazda616
> Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/12/2016 at 11:59 |
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My wife’s grandfather had one for a while, in yellow. I’m too introverted to ever own one, but they are unique!
LongbowMkII
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 12:00 |
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Dodge Shadow.
It’s an awesome name. It’d be fun to make it into a canyon carver.
Like a Inital D antagonist. Some eccentric Japanese dude who wins by pressuring their opponent until they crash.
duurtlang
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 12:00 |
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The 1986 econobox I just bought . It’s inferior in every way (other than purchase price) to the GTi that’s based on it (which I also own ), and certainly inferior in most rational aspects to basically every car built this century. Yet I really quite enjoy driving it. Bonus is that I only paid €300 for it.
OPPOsaurus WRX
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 12:01 |
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and everyone posts miatas
Honeybunchesofgoats
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 12:07 |
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I love the Thunderbird, especially with the hard top, and I make no apologies for that.
I’d also throw in its sisters, the S-Type and the LS.
As far as I’m concerned, the S-Type and Thunderbird are probably the only cars that ever got retro styling right.
Captain of the Enterprise
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 12:10 |
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Nissan Cube especially with these wheels
Wacko
> LongbowMkII
10/12/2016 at 12:20 |
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it was a shitty car in the time of shitty cars.
it made the Cavalier look good!
MultiplaOrgasms
> LongbowMkII
10/12/2016 at 12:32 |
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So basically Shingo without the VTEC.
DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 12:36 |
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I’ve tried finding issues with it, it’s impossible. It’s a perfect boulevard cruiser.
Die-Trying
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 12:44 |
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the vw beetle........... not particularly quick, or fast, handling isnt remotely good............. still cant get the hippie smell out..........
but they have curves for DAYS, parts are cheap, interchangeable, and the owners are friendly................ character in spades.........
Amoore100
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 12:55 |
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These big oafish Swedish Opels.
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> Future next gen S2000 owner
10/12/2016 at 13:06 |
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Unless you compare it to a Fusion Sport (first generations) the no it isn’t. It’s in a nice dress with a bigger motor underneath.
It also applies to the newer generations of MKZ’s which never down shared their 3.7L V6 to the Fusion.
Just saying.
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MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 13:11 |
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I give you the worst car I ever liked:
Malibu MAXX SS
240 hp and somehow 3600 pounds (just googled and found out the normal Malibu SS was 3400 pounds. I’m just not getting how these cars are so god damn heavy, for reference my Milan is 3200).
It makes no sense, it can’t be fast with 240 pushing around 3600. But I love the look of it. I always wonder if I could gut the interior and swap in a motor with more power to make it worth liking the shape.
Oh, and I also love the AWD EcoBoost MKT.
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mazda616
> MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/12/2016 at 13:12 |
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Never had any experience with the SS versions, but our regular 2006 Malibu LT sedan was a tried-and-true lemon. Terrible, terrible car. But, it made around 200 HP with its “3500" V6. I got two speeding tickets in it.
Bvnni
> MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/12/2016 at 13:31 |
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I love the MKT as well for its sedan delivery meets barndoor Suburban awesomeness. AWD is better than FWD. But not V8 makes me a sad bunny.
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Bvnni
> Future next gen S2000 owner
10/12/2016 at 13:33 |
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The duck tail spoiler on those is one of my favourite bits.
Noodles
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 13:39 |
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We have the same answer. I’ve always liked those T-birds. People think I’m crazy. I don’t care, I want one.
Probenja
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 13:42 |
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The Honda HR-V (first gen) I love the way it looks like a toy car, it’s too small to be practical, has Honda’s terrible AWD system so it’s no good off road and it’s quite slow. But it looks like a friggen toy car and I would love to get one someday:
bwp240
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 13:55 |
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big, hot, loud, uncomfortable, no practical value, but does it look good in a driveway
Pickup_man
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 14:14 |
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I’m a jelly bean lover. A lot of people think it’s one of Fords least attractive designs, but I think it’s one of the best. I think it’s aged better than anything to come after it. The 2v 5.4 was a beast for it’s time making a lot of torque, way down low. (345 lb-ft @2300 rpm, compared to GM’s 315 lb-ft @4000 rpm, (M.Y. 1999)). It was a drastic styling change for Ford, and IMO was the truck to really kick off the crew cab trend.
If you wan’t to dive even deeper down the rabbit hole, I particularly love the Harley Davidson edition trucks.
Plus the 2nd gen Lightning was a jelly bean, and that’s one of the coolest trucks ever.
I’ve very strongly considered building a custom crew cab, 6.5' bed version of one of these trucks as an option for my next truck, instead of just buying a newer model. (If I was going all out it would also get the 3.5 eco boost, and the six speed auto.
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MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> Bvnni
10/12/2016 at 14:19 |
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the Ecoboost twin turbo V6 is more than powerful enough for the application.
Oh, and the famous Livernois tune you can do on the Taurus SHO works on the MKT if you want more power. I hope my next vehicle is an MKT with said tune.
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MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> mazda616
10/12/2016 at 16:59 |
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Haha, well he DID ask for the car there’s no purpose for that we like anyhow.
IanZ - limited-slip indifferential
> Future next gen S2000 owner
10/13/2016 at 21:57 |
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Spotted a brand new one in maroon the other day. It really is a handsome machine.
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IanZ - limited-slip indifferential
> mazda616
10/13/2016 at 22:19 |
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I used to love that gen Thunderbird but I think it’s done the opposite of grow on me.
I’ve got a few I love that aren’t really “enthusiast cars” in any sense of the word.
2016 Renault Espace
Toyota Sera. Yes I know it’s just a heavier Paseo with complicated doors. I DON’T CARE