Automotive Pleasant Surprises

Dodge Grand Caravan, latest version.

I got in a rental one to take my friends to a Frisbee tournament expecting to have to flog it down the straights and have it on its doorhandles in the boonies with my teammates complaining of seasickness.

Not even close. The thing bombed down the road at 85 steady as she goes and barrelled through the corners with no drama whatsover. Its road manners would be comfortably in the top quarter of midsize sedans. I would not hesitate to autocross one and would be surprised if I couldn't trophy in H-stock with it.

The YUGO. Not going to make it sound like a Town Car. The bottom line is I got my first one to save on gas. It was nothing i would ever pick to drive. At the time I had a 400 mile drive to go home every weekend. My tricked out 1980 Sun bird was needing too much fuel. My first Yugo was 4 years and $400 "?" My first one is the only one that ever let me down,It lost a valve. But in a new valve drove it for 4 years after that.I just keep the belt and oil changed and they keep going.

I had no money and no education. A wife and 2 Small kids. I can honestly say the Yugo has keep me out of prison.

racerdave600 wrote: Last gen Supras. I was pretty much an Italian car snob when we got a TT version to run the Speedvision Cup. Tearing it down was an eyeopener, as everything fit together, and there were no sheet metal screws in sight! Driving it though was something else. It did everything well, and it never broke. To this day I think it is the most underrated car ever; handling of Miata, speed of a 911. It's not just for bling anymore!

But but but.... they're good for being nothing but dyno queens!!!!!

'74 AMC Matador. Ugly as all get-out, manual steering old boat, until you get it on the highway. Then it turned into a mile devouring joy for road-trips. Decent mileage too, nearly 20mpg with an AC 360 and auto trans, even over 80mph....

Fiat 126. Bought it 'cos it was cheap, and 'something different'. Was half expecting a cheaply-built Polish piece-of-junk. Turned out to be an extremely fun, endearing, solid little car that became my daily transport for a while.

Both of the cars in our driveway are pleasant surprise cars. The first we bought was the Saturn Astra. It's quick enough to get out of its own way, has a leather interior and a manual, and it handles pretty darn well for a MacPherson strut suspension in the front and torsion beam in the rear car. The 138HP motor isn't huge and won't win any races, but it revs nicely and likes to be wound up.

The other surprise is a repeat for this thread. We bought an 89 Jeep Cherokee as a beater vehicle because we needed something cheap for a spare vehicle. We've had to replace a lot of parts due to neglect on the previous owner's part, but now that I've corrected its problems with poor maintenance, it's become one of the most reliable things I've owned. It goes just about anywhere, and isn't too bad on the highway, save for needing some suspension work, again from neglect. I'll be buying another later on that's in nicer cosmetic shape because of how much I like my current one.

I was pleasantly surprised with the difference between the '03 and '04 F150s. So much so, I have '06 now and love it. The interior is nicer than the '00 A6 I got rid of to get my truck (<- my opinion).

I had a '92 Cherokee and detested it, mostly because of the constant corrections required to keep the damn thing in a straight line. The later ones (95-up) aren't like that, so maybe that would help if I were to drive one now. I still can't overlook the primitive brakes for towing and the cramped (to me) headroom. So I still would not buy another one today, even cheap.

But having said all that, during my stint at the Jeep dealer that was the one vehicle people loved above all. They would go to enormous lengths and considerable expense to keep them running. Grands would get dragged out with bad axles, transmissions etc. (particularly the 99-04 version) because people did not want to put $ into something they did not really want. Wranglers were more valued than the Grands but not in the same league with the Cherokee either.

I handled a repair on a '99 Cherokee which needed a whole front clip (the headlights were held in with drywall screws!) that the guy spent $3800 on an engine.

Years ago I went to Miami on business and rented an 88 Toyota Supra. I was quite chuffed to be able to drive it for a few days, but I wasn't all that impressed. A while later I returned to Miami for the same project and was upgraded on the rental car to a Chrysler New Yorker. This was a pimped up K car. Boy was I impressed. It was more fun to drive than the Supra. Honest! It may have been that I was worried that someone was going to steal the Supra.

Im gonna say yugo too.

Everyone rips on it, books are written about how it sucks, there is a list of jokes a freakin mile long.

That being said, i dont see the problem with it. Its probably no worse then any other economy car of the time and with the exception of a weird tilted steering wheel, it was comfortable and fun.

Heres to the Yugo...Cheers

A girl I worked with a long time ago had a Yugo and she loved it! It finally expired when some critters built a nest in the timing cover and at startup the TB jumped, bent every valve in the head and cracked a couple of guides. It was going to be more expensive to fix it than to trade it, so away it went. She actually cried.

nocones wrote:

DaveEstey wrote: Toyota Prius.

I don't know if this is legit or not but I agree. I drove one at an autox and have spent some street miles in them. Good economy spacious drive well enough (faster than I would have thought at autox) comfortable not unobtainably expensive and oh yeah good fuel economy. It seems like it would be a soul crusher but that is reserved for the insight (4 door)

Nope I was dead serious. When I started dating my live-in ladyfriend she told me she had a Prius and I had to hold back my laughter.

I've been tooling around in it for a while now and it's really great little car. Not dynamic, but it doesn't have to be. Also its ability to swallow two people, a medium sized dog and two sets of tires with room to spare is impressive.

My truck.

Who would have thought that a bare minimalist who removes things like carpeting and air conditioning from daily drivers would be happy tooling around in a 7000 lb diesel with power lumbar support?

for me, it was November 2001 and I test drove the "new" 2001 Elantra GLS. Was the bosses demo and I had to deliver some parts an hour away. I was pleasantly suprised. I took the job with the attitde "I'll always have a job because there pieces of crap suck" and was quickly suprised by how solid of a car they were. We bought a new 02 in April of '02 and it has been the most dependable vehicle I've owned to date.

My stepdad's 2010 Hyundai Sonata. He was a Crown Vic/Grand Marquis guy for years, he's also 6'4" when he got this I figured he'd hate it immediately and go back to the big RWD boats. I was prepared to be underwhelmed as well.

Surprise: sure it's an appliance but it's an overall nice appliance. I'd put the fit and finish on a par with current Hondas and that's a good thing. Decent power for a 4 banger, the transmission shifts well, it's stable and confidence inspiring in normal driving situations. (I haven't had an opportunity to try it in an emergency or any type of performance driving- yet. ) No problem with headroom for him. It even has enough rear seat legroom for me with the front seats all the way back. I'd put it on my short list if I was appliance huntin'.

Another Miata vote. I mocked others I knew who owned them until I actually drove one. The first one I drove was overheating (now know it was probably a water pump) so I could only drive it around the block. In that short trip I realized 3 things: 1. Convertibles are just cool 2. I could actually comfortably fit in an NA Miata, even with the top closed and 3. it had the lightest, most precise handling of any car I had ever driven. Bought mine a few weeks later and don't plan to ever get rid of it.

I'll reiterate some of the minivan comments: 04 Toyota Sienna.

Super comfy, highway-stable, ergonomics were good, all things you would expect. What I didn't expect was how well the engine allowed you to throw your passengers around.

i just KNEW i was going to like my '03 Maxima when i bought it in '06, i had no idea how much. Now five and a half years later, it still gets better mileage than the 4 cylinder altima it replaced. It's never, ever been broken. And then there's that sweet sweet VQ.....

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: My truck. Who would have thought that a bare minimalist who removes things like carpeting and air conditioning from daily drivers would be happy tooling around in a 7000 lb diesel with power lumbar support?

Mine's not a diesel, but I like driving my truck as a DD much more than I ever thought I would.

Of course, I wouldn't have purchased one had it not been an edict from SWMBO.

Forester XT.

I always thought that Foresters were hippy carts in general and would be the most boring thing on four wheels. Then I got a chance to drive a 2004 with a 5 speed.

I now own a 2004 with a 5 speed and have no plans to every trade it for anything. Aside from a minor quibble regarding gas mileage, it is a perfect utility vehicle. It totes the entire family, all our gear (including our kayaks on top) and remains pretty fun to drive while doing it.

Yeah, I hated Foresters when they first came out, but I'm starting to realize that they'd probably be the perfect DD to replace my Bronco.

I have been pleasantly surprised by how hard i can turn my 1g insight. After putting some tires on it i've been hard pressed to find the limits (on good surfaces), even though it rolls like no tomorrow. 1900 lbs is sort of magical.

Also, my 1990 5-spd caravan. That and the Insight are the best vehicles i've ever owned (out of ~45 ranging from 1975-2006).

I helped my mom buy an 03 Volvo s80. I wasnt prepared to like it as much as i do.

Chevy Volt

I was prepared for it to be a major let-down, but it turns out it is an amazing technological showpiece that happens to also be a good car. It was comfy, nicely detailed, pretty darn good looking, and not a penalty box to drive.

Agreeing with Mr. Voth, the Ford Fusion is another seemingly bland-mobile that turns out to be a really good car. I especially like the Hybrid Fusion as it makes tech fun instead of frustrating and obtuse. (I'm looking at you BMW)

I have a bunch, but my 91 Suburban really stands out right now. I used to make fun of people driving big suvs, then I got this cheap.....and wow what a great vehicle.

As a side note, somehow I've managed to start a collection of GM square body trucks. I currently own:

75 Chevrolet shortbed 4x4

76 GMC Casa Grande 4x4 (factory camper)

84 diesel blazer 4x4 (m1009 cucv)

91 Suburban 4x4

For some reason I'm just drawn to these trucks.

1988RedT2 wrote: Volvo. Absolutely hated everything Volvo. Then somehow made myself drive a 5-speed 850. Loved it! Actually bought and drove for a while a '94 945T which blew my socks off! Not sure how their new stuff measures up, but I'm a fan of the late 80's, early to mid 90's Volvo's.

Driving a 2012 S60 T6 AWD sedan. 300 hp, great seats, you can actually make a u-turn, great car