Cars You Like But Know You Shouldn't

[SlimKlim]

Fess up, what's your guilty pleasure? I know Jake likes pretty much anything he can drive that's awful in some way, but as far as normal people are concerned, we all have a model or two we have a huge soft spot for and probably shouldn't.

For me, Mercedes Benz W124 E-classes. Why? I don't know. I have a general distaste for almost any Mercedes unless its very old, very unique, or very powerful (Like that new SL Black thing). Most of them are incredible boring. However, we have a little Burgundy 280E that we use as a parts/customer/errand runner. It's miserably slow, features mule-kick shifts, the odometer is broken and the paint is seriously lacking. The radio works when it feels like it and the a/c is abysmal. However, I drive it every time I get the chance, and love it to death. Can't explain it, can't justify it, but I know if my boss walked up and asked if I wanted to buy that thing for $500, I wouldn't even think about it.

I also have a dirty love for Jaguar E-types. I know they are complete rubbish. We got a british racing green 1969 in at the shop and the lucas electronics and oil leakage jokes started flying. But when I detailed it to prep it for the lot I started appreciating the little nuances of the design of the thing. And then when I got a chance to drive it for a few minutes I was head over heels. hitting 40mph brings an irresistible, illegal smile to your face, and it doesn't go away until you shut the car off, or when it breaks down...

[WRXtranceformed]

The new MDX. It's such a mommy-mobile but they are sick as hell!! I test drove a fully loaded one but I couldn't justify the $200+ per month more than what I'm paying now.

[Apoc]

[Jake]

I know Jake likes pretty much anything he can drive that's awful in some way

Hey now :roll:

I have a few, I guess. The most widely-publicized (and hated by Joey) is the BMW E34. Yes, everyone loves the E36 because it is wonderful and the interior falls apart and the M3 is amazing, but something about the E34 with some good wheels and a little suspension drop gets me every time. They look boring and old with the stock 15" wheels - a set of M-Parallels or similar really makes the car. The M50 inline-6 is reliable, and you can get that or the V8 in a manual transmission.



Really, I appreciate any sleeper. Note I said appreciate, not like. Like the 540, or Taurus SHO, or ZJ Grand Cherokee 5.9, or whatever. Blowing doors off of unsuspecting fanbois in Integras with your family sedan or truck is just bawlin.



The other one that falls under Joey's criteria is the Grand Wagoneer. They are massive, only seat five, have a billion-liter V8 that is not known for great reliability, were never updated much, get -13 mpg, are too big to be really "nimble" off-road, and have fake woodgrain down the sides. And that's exactly why I like them. Really, they're oh-so-late-70s and oh-so-80s-Mopar which isn't necessarily the best combo. Really, they could only be better if they had the Chrysler voice alert system from the K-Cars. But damn, just like the E34s, the looks get me every time.

I mean, come on now, this just has an element of cool that an Explorer or RAV4 can't match:

[CaptainHenreh]

FD.

[SlimKlim]

Add mid ninties range rovers to my list, horridly unreliable but oh so mega bawwlin in an english countryside, tweed sort of way.

[goodWIN]

Add mid ninties range rovers to my list, horridly unreliable but oh so mega bawwlin in an english countryside, tweed sort of way.

OMG..that's what I was going to say!! I love those!!! so many windows and so roomy!

Oh and the old hummers..(I had to google it)-the H1 to be exact. Like in an annoying yellow...hell yeah. I saw some kids at concert with one and they had loud speakers on it and it was bawlin. and it was awesome and military like and I just wanted it. And it's like having a pickup truck, without having a pickup truck.

..that's all I can think of for now

[.RJ]

Flip top lunchbox

[HAULN-SS]

+juan

[D_Eclipse9916]

Flip top lunchbox

Why is this not suprising at all :wink:

Actually they have damn good grip for what it is in autox with even the stock tires. I was impressed to say the least when I rode in one.

[SlimKlim]

Flip top lunchbox

Why is this not suprising at all :wink:

Actually they have damn good grip for what it is in autox with even the stock tires. I was impressed to say the least when I rode in one.

I can't fit. At all. Like seat slid all the way back, my knees are 9 and 3 on the steering wheel, and stepping on the clutch would inevitably get my knee stuck behind the wheel, causing me to die in an enormous fireball. Or something.

[ViPER1313]

Late 80s / early 90s V12 Jaguars, both the 2 and 4 doors.
Maserati Bi-Turbo
Dodge Spirit R/T
Mitsubishi Starion

I guess I just have a thing for old broken unique cars.

[Steve85]

Killed as it started to get good...well as good as any mid-engine 80's GM could get. A bit of foreshadowing for the marque..

[Ken]

Jeep SRT-8



Scion tC.... just kidding.

[Jake]

I can't fit. At all. Like seat slid all the way back, my knees are 9 and 3 on the steering wheel, and stepping on the clutch would inevitably get my knee stuck behind the wheel, causing me to die in an enormous fireball. Or something.

I sat in one at the DC Auto Show a few years back and had the same experience. I guess I got my legs where they should be, but it was definitely not a comfortable car for the more vertically gifted among us.

[NTIman]

Agreed.

[Goodspeed]

Bumpity. I finally found out what the hell this thing is. I've seen a few around town and they look really, really cool in person, including a black one that looks like sin.

1963 Studebaker Avanti.

[Mike]

you've seen a few around town? wtf town do you live in?

[Goodspeed]

you've seen a few around town? wtf town do you live in?

This is in Hburg. There is a black one and a white one that I've seen several times around my area, and the other day I saw a red one parked also in town. Pretty crazy considering only a little over 4k were built, with who knows how many left today.

[Maengelito]

I saw one at Barber last year but I don't think it was on track. Just cruising around the paddock. True story, bro!