Automotive Pleasant Surprises

I will third the Miata. Being a larger guy, I never thought that I would fit. Plus, I was raised around lots of V8s, and it was just a little four... I went to a dealer auction to buy a Ciic with intentions of flipping it, but the were all in poor shape, or aweful colours. Called my Insurance company about an Outback, too much. Called them about an Impala SS (GULP). Way to much. Called about a Miata, of which there were several. Wholly intended to sell it come spring (it was the end of convertible season), but fell in love on the drive home. Still have her, eleven years on.

'77 Monza Spyder w/ 5.0 V8. Dang that thing was quick. I've often suspected that it wasn't really a 305. Totaled it and sold the remains before I could learn the truth

Escorts, the US type. Very reliable transportation, the EGT and then the ZX2, became a fun car. My 2000 SR was run hard, DD, track days, ice racing etc for 10 yrs and 75K miles. Was told two different times at track days that the car shouldn't be that fast. Sometimes I regret I sold it. My Fiesta is fun.

01 Jetta. I went to the Honda dealer fully intending to by a Civic. I drove one was was disappointed when I started the engine. I was more disappointed when I pulled out of the parking lot and headed down a 4 lane.

The pleasant surprise was when I went on down the road and drove a Wolfsburg edition Jetta. I loved that car. It came with a 1.8T engine, stiffer suspension, comfortable cloth seats, BBS wheels, and 4W disk brakes. Turned 31mpg on the highway and would pull a steep incline at cruise speed loaded with the cruise on. That was the biggest surprise. I still miss it.

I guess surprise implies it happened suddenly but i have had a few cars that i didnt especially like at first, but after years would look back and say 'that is a surprisingly good vehicle' because it held up remarkably, because the styling didnt age badly, because it was more useful than i had expected, etc.

I would say 2g dakotas fall into that category. Too bad about the turning radius, though.

Not a surprise since it was the car I picked out to buy new in 1989 ahead of all other candidates. It never failed to impress me. The 5-speed Mazda 626/MX-6 was the pinnacle of automotive development that has not yet seen its equal.

I perhaps am exaggerating, but only a little.

Every Suzuki from the '80's/90's Yes, I've owned a couple(/Geos)

Our GMC Yukon XL has been a pleasure. And the 91 Saab 900 convert is maybe the most overall satisfying car I've ever owned.

I've fallen in love with FC RX7s. Just that rotary thing I don't really like. A great car with a horrible engine. Ford should have bought it from Mazda and turned it into the Mustang. Thinking about S2000s. I might have to try one. They seem to do pretty good lap times. I also really like my C6 Corvette. Four hundred at the wheels for under $50k. Sometimes under $40k. I don't understand how someone could pay that money for a Mustang. It's a great $20k-30k car. Speaking of which, the 2011 V6 Mustang with the track package really sounds like a deal for someone who can't/won't spring for more.

My 98 Ford Explorer

I was brought up a GM guy, but I couldn't stand that era of Blazer/Jimmy (nice concole part that stuck into the side of my leg).

Picked up a used one with 39K kms on it. Still own it 11 1/2 yrs later with 212 k kms. Its my DD and it serves me well. I have had to put $2500 in front end work everything else just wear items (brakes, etc.)