1970 was the best year for cars ever.
1970 was the best year for cars ever.
Strong arguments for 1970:
GM: Finally lifted the stupid 400ci ban, giving birth to the SS454 Chevelle (which has been named the peak of the muscle cars), the Buick GS455 / Stage 1/2 & GSX, the HO455 GTO, and the Olds 442 W-30 455 including the Indy Pace Car. The 2nd gen F-body was released with an absolutely gorgeous body. The Trans Am became a bonified car/option and WS6 first appeared. Chevy Vega appears. High-water mark for SBC with the original LT-1 @370HP. First year of the ZR-1. First 454 Vette.
Ford: Torino got properly pretty. Last year of the Shelby Mustang and Boss 302. Mustang finally started experimenting with a different look. Maverick released. Mercury line up is actually good with the Montego, Marauder, and Cougar.
Chrysler: HEMI 'Cuda and Challenger, do I really need to go on? How about Barracuda and Challenger, period. Last year of the coke-bottle Charger. Duster appears. Superbird bowed.
AMC: Dog-leg heads and double a-arm/strut rod front suspension appear for more power and better handling. Mark Donohue Javelin, last 2-seater AMX, Gremlin, Hornet, Rebel Machine. Arguably the greatest acquisition and growth of a car company comes when AMC buys Jeep.
Imports: 912 makes way for the 914, 911 gets the 2.2. The Urraco appears. 240Z is released!!! RX-2! last year of the S600.
Damn good year.
The 1999 Miata isn't my favorite. Crap headlights, blobby styling and a tendency (when new) to chew up thrust bearings. Oh, and California got a second cat to choke off the engine some. I like the 2001 better. More power. More stiffer. Better brakes. Cleaner. Better headlights. Better seats. More prettier.
There's no one best year for cars in my opinion. Different cars will hit their peaks at different times, and they ALL can be improved - usually by bolting in something from a newer version. Here's how my fleet breaks down:
1966
1967
1972
1977
1985
1990
1990
1994
2000
2002
2010
plus the Locost.
Of course, the 1972 MG has no moving parts left from that era. The 1977 Mini has a mishmash of parts from different eras. The 1994 Miata has a year of No Fixed Address but no parts off a 1999 model when I think about it. The 1985 Vanagon runs an engine out of a 1994 Subaru.
1984
EricM wrote: 1984
This. There was a GRM article at some point that identified 1984 as the year.
cghstang wrote:EricM wrote: 1984This. There was a GRM article at some point that identified 1984 as the year.
Huh? Let's see... The Mustang was a carburetored POS with no power, the Z-car was a bloated boulevard cruiser, and the RX-7 was growing long in the tooth, though finally with an injected 13B. C4 Vette (and Crossfire only, ewwww) was the only new 84 even worthy of remembering. 85 was much better, and 86 even better still.
In reply to Javelin:
Porsche 944, 911 and 928 were all pretty sweet in 1984.
I think our mention of 1984 was it marked the year things started improving.
In the mid to late 80s the auto industry was finally finding out how to deal with emissions / safety regs enough that the cars started getting better again, instead of worse.
I'd say 84 was a great turn-around year, but only the start....It marked the first time since 73 or so that cars were getting better instead of worse.
1984 also had the GTI.
99 you had (in no order, this is how it comes to me)
LS1 f-bodies C5 corvette E36 M3 Acura NSX Mustang Cobra Mr-s Was the second gen lightning available yet?
This is a very valid question. Someone submit this to TopGear!
BoostedBrandon wrote: 99 you had (in no order, this is how it comes to me) LS1 f-bodies C5 corvette E36 M3 Acura NSX Mustang Cobra Mr-s Was the second gen lightning available yet? This is a very valid question. Someone submit this to TopGear!
The 99 Cobra was such a POS that a 2000 didn't exist.
Osterkraut wrote: NOW is the best year for cars. Because you can purchase cars from every year previous. Want the 99 Jeep? Done! Want a Z4 M Coupe? That wasn't around in 1999 but you can buy one today!
/thread
But OP, I'd argue that the '95 versions of those cars are better than the '99's if only for OBD1.
Easier to legally modify, and in NC, don't have to worry about those pesky emissions inspections.
wait, I have a 2001 Jeep XJ, How do I tell if it is low pinion or high pinion?
EricM wrote: wait, I have a 2001 Jeep XJ, How do I tell if it is low pinion or high pinion?
And why does it matter?
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:EricM wrote: wait, I have a 2001 Jeep XJ, How do I tell if it is low pinion or high pinion?And why does it matter?
just curious, I found this over on Jeep forun
"It is really easy to tell, if the driveshaft enters the housing above the axle centerline it is high pinion. If it enters below the center line it is low pinion."
and this: "High pinion was stock on all XJ's up to 2000 to be clear, older ones had vac disconnect. Low pininion is fine if your not lifting high, and I understand the cut of gear can be slightly weaker. Really not a big deal for your average wheeler, certainly not worth discounting a 2000-01 as 30's can be found pretty cheap for a swap to high pinion. 96 and up ensures larger 297/760 ujoints, imo thats the bigger concern."
I am not lifting my xj so I guess it doesn't really matter, carry on people.
Oh.... mine has Dana 30s on it, so i'm guessing i have high pinion.
I'm thinking about lifting ours.... rear suspension could use a little help, thinking about a mild lift just 'cuz. 
1986.
TPI Vette EFI Stang 350 IROC (sadly with auto only) Porsche 944 Turbo Shelby GLHS (Omni) Firebird Formula Cavalier Z24 Fiero GT V6 Fastback (although 88s were better) FC RX7
1989 was great year too.
Shelby / turbo Dodge - Take your pick. Miata bows Best year for Civic . CRX
1965 was the pinnacle of automotive styling:
I agree. A late '90s or '99 E36 M3 is a car that I will own someday.
My '99 Chevy Venture is heading past 200,000 miles and still runs great.
I think 1999 is in that magical place where the cars are still now (to people like us) but have pretty much bottomed out in depreciation. In 10 years, 2009 will be the pinnacle of automotive goodness 
And yes, 1965 looked awesome. I've got 6 cars that look the way thy did in 1965. Can't be a coincidence.
In my opinion anything built after 1979 or so is complete and utter junk and I have no use for it.
Yes I realize that excludes some awesome cars but it is my belief and I hope to not own anything built past then for the rest of my life.
carguy123 wrote: I agree that 1999 was the best year for Miatae. Finally a body that was decent looking. I've had a couple. But there have been several years lately that have produce good cars. I can't agree on the DeTomaso and Cobra. Having had several of them both, they were long on the looks for the time, but have fallen WAY by the wayside in the looks, handling and power department since they were new.
Yeah that 500+hp Cobra(at 2200lbs) is sure behind in it's ability to accelerate. Looks terrible, too. Christ, who would want one of those antiques when we can argue over which Miata is best?
1999 the best year for automobiles? I can always count on an unexpected bit of comedy over here on the GRM forum.
In reply to forzav12:
I thought that had to be a joke. He has owned several Cobras and DeTomasos? Who is he? Jay Leno?
And what car in history has held up better in looks and power than a Cobra?
forzav12 wrote:carguy123 wrote: I agree that 1999 was the best year for Miatae. Finally a body that was decent looking. I've had a couple. But there have been several years lately that have produce good cars. I can't agree on the DeTomaso and Cobra. Having had several of them both, they were long on the looks for the time, but have fallen WAY by the wayside in the looks, handling and power department since they were new.Yeah that 500+hp Cobra(at 2200lbs) is sure behind in it's ability to accelerate. Looks terrible, too. Christ, who would want one of those antiques when we can argue over which Miata is best? 1999 the best year for automobiles? I can always count on an unexpected bit of comedy over here on the GRM forum.
So funny man, put your two cents in. Name another year with significant car that appear to be a departure from the rest of the life cycle of those vehicles.
And I don't pretend to be a Cobra pro but what Cobra had 500+ hp stock? I do agree though that the Cobra and De Tomaso are still easy to look at.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:EricM wrote: wait, I have a 2001 Jeep XJ, How do I tell if it is low pinion or high pinion?And why does it matter?
doesn't unless you're doing a big lift in which case the front drive shaft angle can get crazy...esp when you consider that you'll need to rotate the axle back a few degrees to get the caster dialed back into it. If you don't adjust the caster back, death wobble will occur. True Death Wobble will be the closest thing you've ever experienced to being inside a jack hammer. It' that bad DAMHIK
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