It's 1980. What do you buy?

"AMC/Renauledge" (n2skylark) 06/21/2019 at 13:36 • Filed to: None

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Given Torch’s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on the 1980 Chevette relative to its competition, it got me thinking about what entry-level shitbox I would have bought if I were in the market in 1980. What would you have chosen in the ‘80 Chevette’s class?

I’d have probably chosen either a Plymouth Champ or an AMC Spirit sedan.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:11

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Out of those three I'd say  put me in the Champ camp. But if probably rather have a Rabbit, even if it was one of those bastardized ‘Murican ones.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:15

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im in europe.... so probably one of these

and pretending its one of these

AMC/Renauledge > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 06/21/2019 at 14:16

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The Rabbit would be a good choice. But it was definitely the most expensive car in its class.

fintail > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:17

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Probably a Corolla or Civic, if those weren’t considered a step up due to almost non-negotiable MSRP (at the time) and option costs. Fiesta was still around then, but I don’t know how they were to live with.  The twin stick Colts are interesting, not sure what year they got the feature.

Was a Horizon considered a step up as well? My dad had one when I was a little kid, it was pretty solid for a cheapish commuter box , and according to him, the best snow car he ever owned (80 model shown) :

InFierority Complex > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:17

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Fiat please. I’d prefer an X1/9 but those were a bit more in price and not really true to the spirit of the question.

AMC/Renauledge > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 06/21/2019 at 14:18

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In the US, the 5 was an option, as well, in the form of the 198 0 LeCar. American use patterns made it a less-than-reliable choice. But they’re still pretty damned cool, I think.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:18

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Well, the article didn’t say new, so change my answer to a used 1978 German- made Rabbit. That should be in the same price class...

Aremmes > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:19

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KP60 Starlet, of course.

AMC/Renauledge > fintail 06/21/2019 at 14:20

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The Horizon was definitely an option, and used the VW 1.7L four in 1980. The Civic and Corolla probably would have competed for the same buyers, too.

AMC/Renauledge > InFierority Complex 06/21/2019 at 14:23

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Have you seen this?

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:23

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i wasnt sure they were sold there but i have seen lecars before

your user name suits you lol

CalzoneGolem > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:28

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Buick Skyhawk

InFierority Complex > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:32

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I hadn’t but that is good. That has quite a few.... quirks. The steering wheel off center by about 90° is a nice touch.

AMC/Renauledge > InFierority Complex 06/21/2019 at 14:37

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It’s all that Italian character. At least with a manual transmission, they could get it going.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:39

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The base Mustang was around $5300. One of those.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:43

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150 HP V8!

Or—black gold

and 100 more > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:44

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Nothing. If it’s before April, I haven’t even been conceived by that point.

That said, probably this:

because I’m not fiscally responsible at -1 years old, but it looks cool as fuck.

UPDATE: Sorry, reading comprehension banks on the fact that someone has read what was written, which i didn’t, obviously. Let’s take it back a notch, then:

WilliamsSW > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:47

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Literally any car built in 1970 or earlier. Fuck the shitty entry level crap that was available in 1980.

Note: I got my license in 1984 and did exactly this. $1850 for a 65 Cutlass >>>> any 80s econobox at any price

punkgoose17 > InFierority Complex 06/21/2019 at 14:47

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I did not even realize these were sold in the U.S.

AMC/Renauledge > WilliamsSW 06/21/2019 at 14:51

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Even though gas prices were stratospheric?

WilliamsSW > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 14:55

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In 1984 (when I actually did buy that Cutlass) gas prices were only a few cents cheaper than 1980.  

InFierority Complex > punkgoose17 06/21/2019 at 15:02

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I don’t think many people knew at the time either ;)

In 1980 Fiat’s US lineup was the X1/9, Spider 2000, the Strada, and the Brava (131 basically) as far as I know. The Brava ended US sales in 81 and the rest were gone the following year.

Of course the X1/9 and Spider soldiered on for a few more years because of Malcolm Bricklin’s efforts.

Jason Spears > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 15:02

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Vega GT wagon. A few years out of production by 1980, but still loved by a mustachioed few.

fhrblig > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 15:04

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Import: Datsun 310GX.

Domestic: AMC Eagle Kammback.

punkgoose17 > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 15:07

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I am buying an Isuzu. I can’t even find a picture of a 1979 or 1980 Buick Opel sports coupe. Here is a ‘76 coupe.

punkgoose17 > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 15:11

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Watching the Motorweek classic review they needed a 5th gear for American roads.

facw > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 15:13

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I wish you had given a list to pick from. I’d like to know how much of a shitbox we are talking about here? Anyway, maybe a Rabbit?

AMC/Renauledge > punkgoose17 06/21/2019 at 15:15

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This is a solid choice. It’s the same platform as the Chevette, but with more standard equipment, better appointments, better styling, and actual build quality.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 15:20

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I would have bought a Dodge Colt with the twin stick. 

AMC/Renauledge > facw 06/21/2019 at 15:22

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OK!

AMC Spirit

Buick Opel Isuzu

Chevrolet Chevette

Datsun 210/B210

Datsun 310

Dodge Colt

Dodge Omni/O24

Fiat Strada

Ford Fiesta

Ford Pinto

Honda Civic

Mazda GLC

Mercury Bobcat

Plymouth Champ

Plymouth Arrow

Plymouth Horizon/TC3

Renault LeCar

Subaru hatchback

Toyota Starlet

Toyota Tercel

Toyota Corolla

Volkswagen Rabbit

AMC/Renauledge > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 06/21/2019 at 15:24

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Me too. Or the Plymouth version. It was almost certainly the best small car on the market at the time. Brilliant and underrated design.

AMC/Renauledge > punkgoose17 06/21/2019 at 15:25

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Here’s the video of the 1982 road test, for reference.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 15:28

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Quite fun to drive as well despite the very low power. They were light and the twin stick was geared very well, so they felt quite quick, while being pretty nimble for an 80s econobox.

I still lust after a 1984 Dodge Colt GTS Turbo, utter amazingness!

facw > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 15:35

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Hmm the Corolla liftback looks rather striking (though that little window in front of the B-pillar is a bit odd, you wonder why they didn’t just make the door longer, maybe to use the same door as the 4-door, though the window on the door look different ?) :

I don’t even remember these running around at all.

punkgoose17 > punkgoose17 06/21/2019 at 15:36

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fhrblig > InFierority Complex 06/21/2019 at 17:07

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YASSSSSSSS

Grindintosecond > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 17:13

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Plymouth Arrow. Red and was a badged Lancer I believe. Rally cred too

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 17:21

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It’d be a GLC, because I’m Mazda’s whore, basically. If given a little more money, a Montrose 626 coupe would actually be first choice. (Yes, even over the RX-7, because three-box coupes do things to me that other cars can’t.)

MrSnrub > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 17:27

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Sur prised nobody’s mentioned Mazda yet, I’ve heard good things about the GLC.

The best part is that if you keep it for 35 years, you can tell people you drive a GLC and they’ll think it’s a Mercedes!

gmctavish needs more space > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 18:26

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A used 1979 GTi, because Canada got the euro GTi in 1979. Rare as hell, this is the best photo I can find of one. 

AMC/Renauledge > Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious 06/21/2019 at 18:31

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As they say, the GLC was a great little car.

AMC/Renauledge > MrSnrub 06/21/2019 at 18:32

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The RWD wagon version hung around until 1986. It was very nearly my first car.

ranwhenparked > AMC/Renauledge 06/21/2019 at 20:55

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If I’m limited to US-market cars, I would probably wan t a Corolla or a Civic, but would look at the “market value adjustment” on the window stickers and run over to a domestic brand dealer instead and wind up with maybe a Chevy Monza Spyder or AMC Spirit AMX.

not for canada - australian in disguise > AMC/Renauledge 06/22/2019 at 01:42

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Two car garage, Lada Signet (as a daily);

And an ARO 10 for rougher stuff;

Both could be bought at the shadiest car dealerships ever in early 80s Canada. Maybe also an Innocenti Mini to round things off (also the closest thing you could get to an original Mini in Canada after 1980. Which means, depending on when the Mini was actually axed in Canada, I could potentially get one of those too for good measure.

AMC/Renauledge > facw 06/22/2019 at 05:03

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This small window next to the B-pillar  thing was actually a trend with Japanese cars at the time. The Corolla’s just happened to be extra small. The front doors were the same length as the 2-door sedan model, but longer than the 4-doors.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 06/22/2019 at 07:24

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Think I’ve mentioned it before but my parents had a 4-door Colt with the twin sticks. Must’ve been about an 83 or 84. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > AMC/Renauledge 06/22/2019 at 08:12

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“put your foot down” like you’d have a choice, the access pedal will need to be welded to the floor they were that slow

bhtooefr > AMC/Renauledge 06/22/2019 at 08:20

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OK, so with the help of the historical EPA fuel economy data, I’m going to pick two cars.

If it has to be an American brand, it’ll be the Dodge Colt/Plymouth Champ.

In 1.4 liter 4-speed manual form, they are the most efficient American-brand cars for MY1980 (never mind that they’re actually Mitsubishi Colts). For that matter, the only gasoline-powered things that beat them that year are the Datsun 210 MPG, and the 5-speed manual Civic.

EPA rating was 36.7 city, 47.1 highway... but that’s in the 1978 test cycle. 33.0/36.7 in the 1985 test cycle, or 28.2/33.4 in the 2008 test cycle.

But that’s not the powertrain I’ll take. I’ll give up a bit of EPA-rated efficiency (and get beaten in efficiency by the 4 -speed Civic, too) to get the TWIN STICK . (I’m pretty sure they tested it in low range only...) Original EPA ratings for that are 34.6 /44.6, so 31.2/34.8 in 1985, 26.8/31.7 in 2008. (Note that the high range gearing on the twin stick is taller than the base car, so yeah.)

Now, let’s expand things to what’s available in the US market in general.

That Datsun 210 MPG is a sedan , and the fastback and the wagon aren’t anywhere close.

So, it’s down to the Civic or the Rabbit Diesel. And, frankly, it’s gonna be the Rabbit, even though that’s the bad decision - I have a soft spot for the damn things even though I should have learned my lesson.

Original ratings of 41.9 city, 56.5 highway. So, that translates to 1985 ratings of 37.7 city, 44.1 highway, or 2008 ratings of 31.8 city, 39.7 highway. But it’s worse - diesel fuel has 13% more energy, so equivalent efficiency (on the 2008 figures) is 28.2 city, 35.1 highway, although diesel was much cheaper fuel back then, so it was cheap to fuel even if it wasn’t that much more efficient (and was ultimately less efficient than the Datsun 210 MPG).

AMC/Renauledge > bhtooefr 06/22/2019 at 13:39

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I like how thoroughly you’ve thought about this.

For me, maximum mileage wouldn’t be the #1 concern. Value for money and character would be large factors.

The thing about the Champ/Colt is that, especially for a Japanese car of this era, it was both extremely efficient AND had plenty of character. That styling is so fresh and so right. And the Twin Stick would be the obvious choice.

The Spirit sedan would be both rare and unkillable, whether the engine was the Iron Duke 2.5 or the AMC 4.2. 4-speed. After 10 years of slapping this body together, all its bugs had long since been worked out. And with Ziebart factory rust protection, it would survive many winters and trips to the coast. With the DL and Limited trims, you got Cadillac levels of interior appointments in a car that was inexpensive and fairly economical.

So that’s my logic.

bhtooefr > AMC/Renauledge 06/22/2019 at 15:25

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I mean, I chose the Twin Stick to get the character even though it lost me some efficiency.

The Rabbit... so two of my first three cars were early VW diesels, and the third was a Civic that I hated. That’s the entire reason I did it that way.

...I was almost going to put a third choice in - one not available in the US , that was purely a character (but the character is from something that in 2019 would be considered a very bad thing) choice, but I was finding absolutely dreadful fuel economy numbers compared to these - either of the Volvo 66 GL 3-door or the Volvo 343 DL automatic.

For when you want not one, but two transmissions. And they’re both CVTs. And the thing has a differential so the reason for it having two CVTs (the original DAF cars used one CVT for the left rear wheel, one for the right rear wheel) was removed anyway.

KnowsAboutCars > AMC/Renauledge 06/25/2019 at 17:48

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From European point of view.

Out of the available cheapo cars I think the Peugeot 104 would tickle my fancy most.

But really I’d probably try to buy an used e12 BMW 5-series. Volvo 140-series wagon or Saab 95 .

kls525 > AMC/Renauledge 07/26/2019 at 11:03

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1980 Dodge Colt. My girlfriend at the time had a red one with nothing more than a set of T&A radials and an attitude if it ran more than four quarts of oil . Great little car ( even with a manual)   in the city. Would love to shoehorn a 426 and AWD into one.