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Alan Cesar
Alan Cesar Associate Editor
10/16/13 2:23 p.m.

The late '70s and through the '80s is full of crap FWD cars: Omni, Escort, Cavalier. What are the good ones, the cars that will hold value long after the abused ones have been discarded?

I'm sure the VW GTI is on everyone's short list. What else you got?

I'll open up discussion into the '90s and put my suggestion (which will surprise no one): I know the world won't care, ever, but I'll always have a soft spot for the Mazda BG-chassis Ford Escort GT, '91-'96.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
10/16/13 2:26 p.m.

Civic Si. Integra GSR and Type-R.

Edit: The Scirocco in any form I think will be a classic.

Tahoe
Tahoe New Reader
10/16/13 2:31 p.m.

'91 Lotus Elan aka M100

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltraDork
10/16/13 2:57 p.m.
93EXCivic wrote: Civic Si. Integra GSR and Type-R.

These would be my top picks. Nostalgia from the import scene at its peak. I'd also like to add the CRX Si and Prelude VTEC.

Non-Honda possibilities:

First generation VW GTI, possibly later ones.

Dodge Omni and Charger GLHS.

Turbo DSMs, although the AWD ones will probably command a premium over FWD.

Marjorie Suddard
Marjorie Suddard General Manager
10/16/13 3:01 p.m.

What if it started out FWD, but got switched to RWD with added power? My favorite hot hatch is the Renault R5 Turbo. If you're talking future classics from the 1980s, it has to be discussed, even if you're talking FWD--or especially if the subject is FWD: It demonstrates the extent to which tuners still hadn't gotten their heads around how to make the format work. And it's awesome.

Margie

Travis_K
Travis_K UltraDork
10/16/13 3:08 p.m.

I think all GTIs though 92, they pretty much disappeared in the last 10 years, now they are quite expensive already. Then of course the Civic and CRX SI, Integra Type R and GSR and probably at least some of the nicer and more rare turbo dodges (GLHS, CSX, etc).

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
10/16/13 3:13 p.m.

Yugo.

Leo  Basile
Leo Basile Reader
10/16/13 6:26 p.m.

Id love to have an Omni GLH...Its a real Shelby!

Leo

Ian F
Ian F UltimaDork
10/16/13 6:42 p.m.
93EXCivic wrote: Integra Type-R.

Going by the grief I got when I was considering buying one of these to use as a DD, I'm definitely going with this one (for the record, the one I was looking at is sold).

Considering the last R5 I saw for sale had an asking price of around $50K, I'd say those are already deep into "collectable" territory. The local Lotus dealer sold one for about $40K, but that was about 8 years ago.

Believe it or not, I've seen clean and original Cavalier Z24's show up at the occasional car show.

oldeskewltoy
oldeskewltoy Dork
10/16/13 6:54 p.m.

The FX-16... short wheelbase AE82 based 3 door model. Nice ones are rare... but rebuildable ones are plentiful

TR8owner
TR8owner HalfDork
10/16/13 8:22 p.m.

Should never have sold my 69 Cooper S or my 87 GLHS.

Rob_Mopar
Rob_Mopar SuperDork
10/16/13 9:51 p.m.

I have an '87 Turbo Daytona in the collection. It's the only FWD in the fleet.

I've noticed the prices on clean Daytonas have been climbing.

bravenrace
bravenrace UltimaDork
10/17/13 7:31 a.m.

Alan Cesar
Alan Cesar Associate Editor
10/17/13 1:18 p.m.
Marjorie Suddard wrote: What if it started out FWD, but got switched to RWD with added power? My favorite hot hatch is the Renault R5 Turbo. If you're talking future classics from the 1980s, it has to be discussed, even if you're talking FWD--or especially if the subject is FWD: It demonstrates the extent to which tuners still hadn't gotten their heads around how to make the format work. And it's awesome. Margie

Oh my. That might be a winner. Fantastic example, too.

ransom
ransom UberDork
10/17/13 5:31 p.m.

Re: R5 Turbo. Want. Want badly. I've had them on the brain recently and I don't know what brought them to mind...

I can't believe nobody's mentioned Saab 900s yet... I'd love a 900 Turbo, if only long enough to try it on for size.

Ian F
Ian F UltimaDork
10/17/13 6:06 p.m.

In reply to Alan Cesar:

I would agree, except the R5 already is considered a classic.

mdshaw
mdshaw New Reader
10/18/13 5:46 a.m.

1st gen Civics. Just finished putting BCR coil overs, bigger front discs, rear Prelude discs, urethane bushings, converted from 120mm bolt pattern to 100mm, Mini wheels. All in preparation for the 11:1 ported D16Z6 & Si LSD transmission going in.

Gearheadotaku
Gearheadotaku UberDork
10/18/13 10:13 a.m.

1987 Cavailer Z24 Hatchback, and the Citation X11. If you can fine clean examples of either Maybe Saturn SC2?

Storz
Storz Dork
10/18/13 10:43 a.m.

The X-11 is kinda cool

Jeff
Jeff SuperDork
10/18/13 11:41 a.m.

I really don't see any of the Japanese FWD cars becoming classics. To bland and to damn many of them. YMMV

rconlon
rconlon HalfDork
10/18/13 12:09 p.m.

Oldsmobile Toronado, Citroen 2CV, Alfa GTV and spider, Lancia Zagato, Lancia Fulvia, Honda Del Sol,

bravenrace
bravenrace UltimaDork
10/18/13 12:44 p.m.
Jeff wrote: I really don't see any of the Japanese FWD cars becoming classics. To bland and to damn many of them. YMMV

CRX-si prices are already on the rise.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
10/18/13 3:11 p.m.
rconlon wrote: Honda Del Sol,

I don't think the Del Sol will be particularly collectable compared to a number of the other Hondas.

Jeff
Jeff SuperDork
10/18/13 4:38 p.m.
bravenrace wrote: CRX-si prices are already on the rise.

Yeah, I don't get that at all.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
10/18/13 4:46 p.m.
Jeff wrote:
bravenrace wrote: CRX-si prices are already on the rise.
Yeah, I don't get that at all.

Because they are berkeleying awesome.

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