Workplace parking garage today - the baby Seville I showed some time ago, with a very clean 2nd gen Prelude in the background. Like a little time warp from 1987. Cars survive here:
Also on the road saw a 67 (I think, couldn't get the angle for a side marker) Mustang, ~70 Beetle, 80s S-10 Blazer.
On my drive home a clean Infiniti M30 convertible, pearl white, black top and a very nice medium blue Shelby Daytona with T-top and pop up head lights.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
This morning, while at a red light, I saw a Chevy Corsica go past in the heavy highway traffic. One thing that struck me about it was how it really stood out, because of the blue color. It wasn't the loudest blue they probably offered back then; I'd say it was close to this hue...
However, it made everything else on the highway just look like a washed-out sea of gray. Even if there were other blue cars, red cars, etc out there, it seems like they manage to infuse those colors with a bit of gray to tone them down. It probably didn't help that today is a cloudy, misty day, so everything else just sort of blurred together with the sky and the pavement.
And, I know I've mentioned it before, but it also drove home the point of how much automotive styling really HASN'T advanced, in later years. This car could have been as much as 32 model years old, yet other than the bright color, really didn't stick out. Cars have gotten taller, with higher beltlines and thicker roof pillars, and less of a rear deck, but even there, you could open up a picture of a Corsica in Photoshop, distort it a bit, and having it look like a modern car.
In contrast, when the Taurus came out, a 32 year old car would have been a 1954 model. No amount of photoshopping in the world would make a 1954 car resemble a 1986.
I didn't care for the Seville, or any of those shrunken E/K bodies when they first came out. But, nowadays, I think the style is pretty classy. Nice proportions, good amount of glass area, etc. It loses the neoclassic/pimp-factor of the '80-85...but some people might say that's not a bad thing!
Yeah, I think the final Seville was definitely a looker. I didn't think the Eldorado carried over quite so well to that style, though. Even though the styling was similar, I think the Seville's front-end was a bit more attractive. And I never cared for the quarter window/C-pillar treatment of the Eldorado. I think, if the rear window was a bit less rakish, with the base moved forward a bit, and if the leading edge of the C-pillar had a bit more rake to it, the proportioning would have been nicer.
My thought process has always been that with a 2-door car, you give up some practicality for style, compared to a 4-door. But once it got to the point that the auto makers were making the 4-doors look just as good, suddenly the 2-door became obsolete, unless you're talking niche markets like 2-seaters, pony cars, etc. And in my opinion, the '92+ Seville just looked nicer, overall, than the Eldorado, so if I was shopping at the time, I probably would have gone with the Seville. Or, once the '95's rolled out, a Riviera...I always liked that '95-99 style.
I kind of like the wheels on the baby Seville, as they are wheels and not cheapo looking wire caps. I also have respect for someone who obviously likes the car, and is maintaining it to a decent standard - this and the Prelude appear to be daily drivers, I see them a bit.
I suppose that blue Corsica would be a 92-93 with those hubcaps, funny that I recall these details. Back in the day we had one as a rental car, a decently equipped 3.1 (I think). The throttle tip in was amusing, it would shoot off the line and felt quite fast, but in typical period style, would loose a little oomph before speeds became too illegal.
I agree about 2 doors. When I’ve looked the big doors and restricted access to the back have been a turn off. Unless it is a purely toy/sports car for the fleet.
All the 3.1 and. 3.3 cars felt faster than they were. We had a 92 Buick Century in the family with the 3.3 and it felt like a rocket ship off the line then fell on its face fairly quickly.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
All the 3.1 / 3.3 cars felt faster than they were. We had a 92 Buick Century in the family with the 3.3 and it felt like a rocket ship off the line then fell on its face fairly quickly.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
I'm seeing bright metallic blues similar to that Corsica on more and more cars of late, typically smaller models. Elantra, Cruze, some small Toyotas and Hondas come to mind.
That '72 Gran Torino Squire wagon with 450 miles on it that I posted here last week is closing on BaT in a few hours, bids are up to $32,000 and probably will go even higher.
All the 3.1 and. 3.3 cars felt faster than they were. We had a 92 Buick Century in the family with the 3.3 and it felt like a rocket ship off the line then fell on its face fairly quickly.
I think some GM cars of that era had a throttle linkage that opened the throttle faster for a given accelerator pedal movement- 10% of pedal travel got you 20% of throttle opening, or similar.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport 2020 C43 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
All the 3.1 and. 3.3 cars felt faster than they were. We had a 92 Buick Century in the family with the 3.3 and it felt like a rocket ship off the line then fell on its face fairly quickly.
I think some GM cars of that era had a throttle linkage that opened the throttle faster for a given accelerator pedal movement- 10% of pedal travel got you 20% of throttle opening, or similar.
My Dad's '03 Regal, which has the 200 hp 3.8, feels sort of that way, too. From, say 0-60 it feels pretty quick, but above that, it feels a bit sluggish. Highway passing, for instance, isn't so hot. In contrast, my old 2000 Intrepid, which also had 200 hp, but from a tiny 2.7, was slower from 0-60, but felt much more responsive at higher speeds.
Oddly, the old '82 Cutlass Supreme I had, which just had a 110 hp 3.8 2bbl, seemed pretty responsive at higher speeds. It was a bit of a dog from, say 0-60. The closest test of the time I could find was an '85 Regal with the same setup, and Consumer Guide said "about 13 seconds", but even though the cars spec out the same, I have a feeling the '82 was still slower, since they were still trying to work the kinks out of the computers, emissions controls, and such. But, once you got into 3rd gear, if you needed to stomp on it, in mid-range situations where it would still kick down, that sucker felt like it had some guts. And it was a good highway cruiser, as well.
Although, maybe part of that Cutlass experience was psychological. It started off kind of lame, but at higher speeds didn't suck any worse. Whereas with the newer cars, they give you some guts at the low end, but then when you need it on the highway, it lets you down. The newer cars still probably had better higher speed responses than my '82 Cutlass, but because of that let-down compared to the lower end response, I noticed it more?
Yesterday, I parked next to a burnt orange McLaren 570S at a cafeteria-style eating place. Man, that thing was low. I was surprised anyone eating in a cafeteria (normally old folks, me included) could bend low enough to get in it. I don't think I could have. But, it was sure purty.
I really don't care for them but I know a lot of people love the Grand Nationals. That one is essentially new so that drives a lot of the price. It is probably 2 or 3 times what a nice but driven one would go for. My buddy up country has one that he bought last year, I think it's been driven twice this summer.
Well basically the dealer wants a 50% premium over "show" condition for the ultra low miles. Seems like a stiff add-on for a....Buick. But go find another with 74 miles on it.
Here's one for $14,000 less with only 10,000 miles on it.
The problem of course with these ultra-low-miles cars is-----what do you do with them? If you drive them very much, you are eating away your premium. If you don't drive them, then you are on the lawn-chair circuit at Buick festivals.
That '72 Gran Torino Squire wagon with 450 miles on it that I posted here last week is closing on BaT in a few hours, bids are up to $32,000 and probably will go even higher.
and this one is really cool. Lots of provenance. I would not do it exactly like this, but I always wanted to build a sported up 140 some day. Yeah, I got issues.
I dunno about "dream" car. Perhaps if it had my Q7's drivetrain. Mmmmmmm.......
However, that's the one to have in terms of (real) drivetrain and features! This one has the most boring color combo, and is a first gen (would prefer 2013+).... There's lots out there, though, so not too hard to find a well-optioned example.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
That white Seville fintail posted fairly recently really looks nice to me--and distinctive. Considering I couldn't stand them when they came out, I'm surprised how nice it looks to my eyes now.
The last year or two of that iteration Eldorado I like too--the ones where the rear quarter 'fins' were elongated some.
I liked the larger new '92 Seville, too. The Eldorado that came out that year was a dud IMHO. It didn't look any more stylish than the Monte Carlo that came out a few years later IMHO. The interiors of the '92 and later Seville and Eldo disappointed though. In an effort to look European or Asian, far-less brightwork seemed to adorn the inside. If you're an old-soul like me, that was disappointing.
I like original and low-mileage--the reason I bought my '66 Studebaker Cruiser--but that price on the Gran Torino wagon is beyond-insane to me. But hey, it's his money I guess. My sister and first husband had a '73 Gran Torino Squire for awhile. Brown with woodgrain. Seems to me it needed trans work fairly early.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
a mid 70s rolls royce sedan. Period dark brown. Looked like early year of 5 MPH bumpers. Amazingly, it was driving around town. Under it's own power!
a later, parked at the curb, a Viper GTS (I guess, it was the coupe model, 2nd generation I think). That was odd seeing in a lower priced neighborhood just street parked.
Well, as of last night, there's one less Panther in the world. And I'm kind of in possession of it! Here's the background on that one. Last night, my buddy with the '09 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate, who had an '04 Crown Vic LX before that, and a '95 Grand Marquis GS before that, got into an accident last night. He tangled with an F350, and, naturally, lost.
That should buff out, right? Anyway, because of its age and mileage ('09, and 188,000), my friend had dropped full coverage on it earlier this year. Unfortunately, because of that, the insurance company would have nothing to do with it, so the place he was originally going to have it towed to would have been $50 per day, although I think they did long-term storage of $100 per month. If he had full coverage, the insurance would have at least covered storage until an adjuster made the decision as to whether or not it was totaled. Oh, and going with liability-only, now that he needs a rental car, he got a bit screwed because the insurance company won't cover collision/comprehensive on the rental, so that's another $22.95 or whatever per day.
Anyway, I had the tow truck driver bring it out to my house and drop it, and told him he could worry about disposing of it from there, rather than having to deal with storage fees. But, anyway, what do y'all think...this is a total, right?
given the street value of a 10 YO 188K one of those, has to be. though without insurance coverage, unless he can sue the other guy as at fault, total doesn't really apply. Just, how much does he want to spend to get it back?
if it was mine, I would be calling the Knackers yard to come take it away for parts or scrap.
Yep, that's a total all right. Hood, grille, headlight assembly, fender inner and outer, frame pull, maybe door hinges sprung---put a fork in it, sorry.
Obscure cars today - saw a 55-56 Ford 2 door wagon parked in what appeared to be a car hoarder's driveway, and a 2nd gen Paseo convertible, which appears to be quite rare.
Comments
Also on the road saw a 67 (I think, couldn't get the angle for a side marker) Mustang, ~70 Beetle, 80s S-10 Blazer.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
However, it made everything else on the highway just look like a washed-out sea of gray. Even if there were other blue cars, red cars, etc out there, it seems like they manage to infuse those colors with a bit of gray to tone them down. It probably didn't help that today is a cloudy, misty day, so everything else just sort of blurred together with the sky and the pavement.
And, I know I've mentioned it before, but it also drove home the point of how much automotive styling really HASN'T advanced, in later years. This car could have been as much as 32 model years old, yet other than the bright color, really didn't stick out. Cars have gotten taller, with higher beltlines and thicker roof pillars, and less of a rear deck, but even there, you could open up a picture of a Corsica in Photoshop, distort it a bit, and having it look like a modern car.
In contrast, when the Taurus came out, a 32 year old car would have been a 1954 model. No amount of photoshopping in the world would make a 1954 car resemble a 1986.
I didn't care for the Seville, or any of those shrunken E/K bodies when they first came out. But, nowadays, I think the style is pretty classy. Nice proportions, good amount of glass area, etc. It loses the neoclassic/pimp-factor of the '80-85...but some people might say that's not a bad thing!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
IMO the next generation was a looker. I still like those today.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My thought process has always been that with a 2-door car, you give up some practicality for style, compared to a 4-door. But once it got to the point that the auto makers were making the 4-doors look just as good, suddenly the 2-door became obsolete, unless you're talking niche markets like 2-seaters, pony cars, etc. And in my opinion, the '92+ Seville just looked nicer, overall, than the Eldorado, so if I was shopping at the time, I probably would have gone with the Seville. Or, once the '95's rolled out, a Riviera...I always liked that '95-99 style.
I suppose that blue Corsica would be a 92-93 with those hubcaps, funny that I recall these details. Back in the day we had one as a rental car, a decently equipped 3.1 (I think). The throttle tip in was amusing, it would shoot off the line and felt quite fast, but in typical period style, would loose a little oomph before speeds became too illegal.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport 2020 C43 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
1. We have lots of freeways and we drive 100 miles for a good taco.
2. We are bigger than they are...a LOT bigger.
Oddly, the old '82 Cutlass Supreme I had, which just had a 110 hp 3.8 2bbl, seemed pretty responsive at higher speeds. It was a bit of a dog from, say 0-60. The closest test of the time I could find was an '85 Regal with the same setup, and Consumer Guide said "about 13 seconds", but even though the cars spec out the same, I have a feeling the '82 was still slower, since they were still trying to work the kinks out of the computers, emissions controls, and such. But, once you got into 3rd gear, if you needed to stomp on it, in mid-range situations where it would still kick down, that sucker felt like it had some guts. And it was a good highway cruiser, as well.
Although, maybe part of that Cutlass experience was psychological. It started off kind of lame, but at higher speeds didn't suck any worse. Whereas with the newer cars, they give you some guts at the low end, but then when you need it on the highway, it lets you down. The newer cars still probably had better higher speed responses than my '82 Cutlass, but because of that let-down compared to the lower end response, I noticed it more?
https://inventory.davisautosports.com/vehicles/26/1987-buick-regal-grand-national
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Here's one for $14,000 less with only 10,000 miles on it.
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1147186/1987-buick-grand-national-for-sale-in-dearborn-michigan-48120
Or...$20,000 less with 16,000 miles on it:
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1136340/1987-buick-grand-national-for-sale-in-apopka-florida-32703
The problem of course with these ultra-low-miles cars is-----what do you do with them? If you drive them very much, you are eating away your premium. If you don't drive them, then you are on the lawn-chair circuit at Buick festivals.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
wish it was original colors, but man, I would love this. Not that I could ever afford the final price.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-porsche-911sc-12/
and this one is really cool. Lots of provenance. I would not do it exactly like this, but I always wanted to build a sported up 140 some day. Yeah, I got issues.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-volvo-142-2/
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Of course, A/C is still mostly theoretical.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
https://www.subaruofcherryhill.com/used/Ford/2010-Ford-Flex-cherry-hill-nj-f0a0fa000a0e0a6b3da2e12b5db71a65.htm
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
However, that's the one to have in terms of (real) drivetrain and features! This one has the most boring color combo, and is a first gen (would prefer 2013+).... There's lots out there, though, so not too hard to find a well-optioned example.
The last year or two of that iteration Eldorado I like too--the ones where the rear quarter 'fins' were elongated some.
I liked the larger new '92 Seville, too. The Eldorado that came out that year was a dud IMHO. It didn't look any more stylish than the Monte Carlo that came out a few years later IMHO. The interiors of the '92 and later Seville and Eldo disappointed though. In an effort to look European or Asian, far-less brightwork seemed to adorn the inside. If you're an old-soul like me, that was disappointing.
I like original and low-mileage--the reason I bought my '66 Studebaker Cruiser--but that price on the Gran Torino wagon is beyond-insane to me. But hey, it's his money I guess. My sister and first husband had a '73 Gran Torino Squire for awhile. Brown with woodgrain. Seems to me it needed trans work fairly early.
https://youtu.be/y3rHl4DH-fY
a later, parked at the curb, a Viper GTS (I guess, it was the coupe model, 2nd generation I think). That was odd seeing in a lower priced neighborhood just street parked.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
That should buff out, right? Anyway, because of its age and mileage ('09, and 188,000), my friend had dropped full coverage on it earlier this year. Unfortunately, because of that, the insurance company would have nothing to do with it, so the place he was originally going to have it towed to would have been $50 per day, although I think they did long-term storage of $100 per month. If he had full coverage, the insurance would have at least covered storage until an adjuster made the decision as to whether or not it was totaled. Oh, and going with liability-only, now that he needs a rental car, he got a bit screwed because the insurance company won't cover collision/comprehensive on the rental, so that's another $22.95 or whatever per day.
Anyway, I had the tow truck driver bring it out to my house and drop it, and told him he could worry about disposing of it from there, rather than having to deal with storage fees. But, anyway, what do y'all think...this is a total, right?
if it was mine, I would be calling the Knackers yard to come take it away for parts or scrap.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Obscure cars today - saw a 55-56 Ford 2 door wagon parked in what appeared to be a car hoarder's driveway, and a 2nd gen Paseo convertible, which appears to be quite rare.