Forgotten variants of popular cars

"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin) 03/22/2017 at 08:46 • Filed to: None

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The Trekker post got me thinking. What are some rare and generally forgotten variants of otherwise popular models? I’m not talking about badges or trim levels, but a separate model. Example: most people forget that there was a 2 door version of the 2nd gen 4Runner. It only lasted a couple years, but goddamn is it cool.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 08:50

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The 1G Mazda 6 could be had with a liftback instead of the usual sedan trunk. When it’s closed they look just like the sedan so it’s easy to forget it exists.

duurtlang > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 08:51

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Late 1980s Honda Accord Aerodeck

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 08:53

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Not forgotten by you, I know, but:

jasmits > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 08:54

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I agree the two-door second gens are pretty cool but if you’ve never spent time with a 2nd-gen(I own one) it would be a royal pain in the ass. See, to get into the trunk you need to wind down the electric rear window to open the tailgate. Yeah, it only takes like 10 or 15 seconds each way but to toss shopping or a backpack/briefcase in the back doors are so much nicer.

OPPOsaurus WRX > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 08:56

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I saw one of these today

jasmits > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/22/2017 at 08:57

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yeah people keep telling me these existed and were sold in North America but I won’t believe it till I see one.

duurtlang > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/22/2017 at 08:58

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I didn’t even know those were available as sedans, must be my European perspective.

Ash78, voting early and often > jasmits 03/22/2017 at 08:58

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That’s wild...I see them daily. About one out of every 4 or 5 Mazda6 models that I see from that generation.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > jasmits 03/22/2017 at 08:59

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You won’t see any, they’ve all rusted away to nothing by now.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 08:59

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5-door Geo Prizm (at least in the US. I’m sure they were all over Europe and Asia):

In the late 90s I delivered pizzas with a guy who had a GSi hatchback with a 5-speed and alloy wheels. It was a neat little car.

ateamfan42 > jasmits 03/22/2017 at 09:00

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yeah people keep telling me these existed and were sold in North America but I won’t believe it till I see one.

There are actually quite a few on the roads. With the hatch closed, they look so much like the sedan that most folks won’t notice the difference. The key is to look for the rear window wiper (which the sedan doesn’t have).

Ash78, voting early and often > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 09:00

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I saw one of these at Target the other day, probably the first time in a decade. What a great idea with horrible execution. GMC Envoy XUV.

jasmits > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 09:02

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People in places that aren’t obsessed with weird cars like we are here forget the E36 Compact existed but did you know in Europe, where the E36 Compact was less of a flop, they made an E46 Compact? And no, those are not aftermarket tail or headlights, that is what they came with.

jasmits > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/22/2017 at 09:03

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I live in the Pacific Northwest. Nothing rusts away.

jasmits > Ash78, voting early and often 03/22/2017 at 09:04

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I might just not notice, I looked up pictures with the hatch closed and it’s pretty similar to the sedan.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > jasmits 03/22/2017 at 09:04

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I live in New England. Everything rusts away.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Ash78, voting early and often 03/22/2017 at 09:08

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There’s one of these on my local Craigslist for $3000. It’s tempting.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 09:09

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For I think 1990 and 1991 only you could get an AWD Camry

jasmits > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/22/2017 at 09:10

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Yeah, I kind of lied to simplify things. I grew up in Portland and still spend summers there but I’m in my last few months of my senior year in college in Pennsylvania and there are notably fewer daily-driven old cars on the road out here. Yeah, you’ll see people’s garage queens out in the summer but back home, as an example, I see GM squarebody pickups every day, still in use as gardening trucks. Out here? Zero. My 2nd-gen 4Runner has lots of buddies out on the road, especially up on the mountain(classic ski-bum car out there). Here, it’s one of the only ones I’ve seen(I hope one winter of salt doesn’t hurt her too badly).

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 09:17

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IIRC, it lasted past the facelift in Canada.

Ash78, voting early and often > jasmits 03/22/2017 at 09:31

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Yep, they’re really similar — look for the rear wiper, and I believe ALL the hatches came with a rear wing, while that’s only on some of the sedans.

Stapleface > jasmits 03/22/2017 at 09:53

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I still don’t understand why BMW felt the need to give this thing such ugly lights. Maybe they were penalizing you for buying the cheap model?

Stapleface > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 09:56

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A couple of convertibles I imagine a few don’t know much about.

jasmits > Stapleface 03/22/2017 at 10:00

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I think they made an attempt at market research and thought that because younger car owners stereotypically like to put aftermarket parts on their cars, the model targeted at their youngest buyer should already look like it has tacky aftermarket parts on it. Terrible logic, but that’s the only reason I can imagine.

not for canada - australian in disguise > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 10:05

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2-door Explorers. I’ve seen a grand total of one.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/22/2017 at 10:13

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You could even get it with a manual transmission! When my cousin was looking for his first car one one the popped up, it was supper clean and they only wanted 2500 bucks for it, but he said “I don’t want a boring Toyota” be bought a 325e E30 instead

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > duurtlang 03/22/2017 at 10:15

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Now that’s how yoi make a hatchback.

Nothing > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/22/2017 at 10:16

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I liked mine! The closest vehicle I’ve owned to an actual sedan.

fintail > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 10:18

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Not sure if it counts, but several years of AWD Tempos seem to have vanished both from the roads and from memory:

Not forgotten among enthusiasts, but (due to low production numbers), fintail wagon conversions are kind of out there:

interstate366, now In The Industry > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 10:20

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In Japan, there was a 4-door Integra Type R. I want one.

duurtlang > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 03/22/2017 at 10:20

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Not entirely. The part between the tail lights should be part of the hatch. You have to lift your stuff up too high now.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Stapleface 03/22/2017 at 10:22

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This one too.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > duurtlang 03/22/2017 at 10:22

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That’s true, the 4th gen Civic had the same problem. But I love that the hatch opens with a bit of the roof.

interstate366, now In The Industry > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 10:26

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There was also a luxed-up fixed-headlight version of the 3rd gen Prelude called the INX. They only came with automatics and they’re hilariously expensive, usually in rhe $7-10k range.

http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/HONDA/PRELUDE_INX/700080319430150527001/index.html

Your boy, BJR > Ash78, voting early and often 03/22/2017 at 10:33

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And there’s the 5.3L V8 version for those who remember the XUV exists.

Textured Soy Protein > duurtlang 03/22/2017 at 10:35

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I loooooovvvvveeee the Accord Aerodeck.

Light bulb moment: these are well past the 25 years or older US import window!

Ash78, voting early and often > Your boy, BJR 03/22/2017 at 10:36

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I am suddenly aroused.

Textured Soy Protein > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/22/2017 at 10:39

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I was going to say 4- and 5-door Integras in general. There was a post of a 3rd gen sedan a couple weeks ago where everyone was like, “there was an Integra sedan ?”

gmctavish needs more space > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/22/2017 at 10:42

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I just saw one of these on Sunday

duurtlang > Textured Soy Protein 03/22/2017 at 10:42

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Oh I know. A year or two ago I tried to find one to export to the US but miserably failed. Japanese cars of the 1980s have utterly died out in Europe, especially if they’re not Starlets. I guess it’s a combination of expensive/hard to find parts and RUST.

Edit: Found ONE in Germany.

Der Honda ist bereits ein Oltimer hat eine neue Kupplung es ist auch was dran zu machen ist ein Liehberfahrzeug fuer jemanden der nicht das Gewoehnliche mag

Literal translation: The Honda is an oldtimer has a new clutch it needs some work it’s an enthusiast car for someone who doesn’t like the mundane.

Marc Villanova > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/22/2017 at 10:44

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All-Trac from 88-91 on the Camry. My family had two Camrys of that vintage, not AWD though. One rusted out and the other got wreaked. Miss them both.

shop-teacher > Ash78, voting early and often 03/22/2017 at 10:53

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I find it wild that you see 4 or 5 first gen Mazda 6's in a day. I see maybe 1 or 2 a month.

Ash78, voting early and often > shop-teacher 03/22/2017 at 10:57

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To be sure, they’re still outnumber by the Camcordima trio by 30:1 or more. But I’ve noticed a HUGE surge in new Mazdas in the past few months (most the 6 and the CX models). I guess word is really getting out about how good they are.

shop-teacher > Ash78, voting early and often 03/22/2017 at 11:01

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We saw one recently in traffic. My wife was shocked and horrified.

Ash78, voting early and often > shop-teacher 03/22/2017 at 11:03

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Ironically, these were firmly aimed at women. Smart, strong, sensitive, with an exterior that screams “I AM NOT AN ANIMAL!”

shop-teacher > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/22/2017 at 11:05

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I damn near bought an identical one instead of my Sierra. The dealer wanted too much. Probably for the best.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Marc Villanova 03/22/2017 at 11:06

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Ah my bad.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 03/22/2017 at 11:08

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But it’s an exciting Toyota

shop-teacher > Ash78, voting early and often 03/22/2017 at 11:09

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I see lots of 6's and TONS of CX-5's, including the one we bought for my wife (which I love and wish she would let me drive more). The CX-5 is slowly becoming the official CUV of our middle school’s staff. There are three of them (it’s not a big school), which is the biggest number of any one model out in that lot. A few years ago there were five Cobalts out there. Two of those got replaced with CX-5's, and the other three belonged to people who don’t work here anymore.

shop-teacher > Ash78, voting early and often 03/22/2017 at 11:11

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Ha! She had a few choice words for it. Words I will not type at work.

Textured Soy Protein > duurtlang 03/22/2017 at 11:13

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I feel like the Aerodeck is something more likely to be found in Japan at this point, but I can’t find any on goo-net-exchange. And...now I’m down the rabbit hole of searching goo-net-exchange. I need to get back to work!

Stapleface > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/22/2017 at 11:13

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I’m fairly well versed in Hondas and even I didn’t know they made a Prelude convertible. I want to see a different picture. Looks like they widened the rear wheel area. Or the camera is just playing tricks on me.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Stapleface 03/22/2017 at 11:29

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It was an aftermarket conversion. There are only a handful of 4th gens. Here’s another.

There were also some 1st gen convertibles, which are slightly less rare, I think 100 made.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/22/2017 at 11:44

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Funny enough, that’s the only body style of that gen Prizm I’ve ever seen.

Sweet Trav > shop-teacher 03/22/2017 at 11:51

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You could get these with manuals too.

shop-teacher > Sweet Trav 03/22/2017 at 11:51

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Yep, now that’s a rare beast. The one I was looking at had an auto.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/22/2017 at 12:04

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That’s what I said

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/22/2017 at 13:29

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A co-worker has one with a V6 & stick. He also got it as gift from his daughter.

Bob > mkbruin, Atlas VP 03/22/2017 at 16:16

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I own a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with a manual transmission, a weird 1/2 center console, and rubber floors instead of the carpet. That transmission really squeezes out every last hp and is really quite fun to drive. I’ve never seen another one like it. This pic is one WITH carpet that I found online.

Pistol Whipped Cream > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/22/2017 at 18:19

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I rode in one once!