GRM Trifecta

I remember some time ago (probably more than a decade ago) we talked about the GTM trifecta, the 3 perfect cars. It's been some time since I heard mention of it, perhaps the cars have shifted over time, but the trifecta as I recall it was.

Miata, E30, and P71. 

Well, last weekend I acquired the last of the holy Trinity. No, I don't still have the others.

First I had an E30. Not the greatest example, but I bought it off this forum when I needed a college ride. It was an 86 325e 4 door automatic. It served it's job well, but it never really seemed to run right and/or the trans needed work. I sold it to acquire the next piece of the trifecta. 

Next up, I replaced it with a 95 miata that saw me through the end of college, I drove it away from my wedding, and had it right up till I sold it 6 years ago because miatas don't work as daily drivers when you have babies. I miss it, I sold it to my brother's brother in law. 

So, the next piece...  My wife has been daily driving a Mazda5 for about 8 years. She likes it, but always disliked FWD (she went to that from an Impreza) and it's general lack of power. Due to certain changes to our commute habits for reasons I believe are not open to discussion on this forum, we need another vehicle to facilitate our childcare solution to the addition of 2 hours worth of commuting 5 days a week. (Though mileage impacts are largely a bus ride because of insufficient and outrageously expensive parking). Additionally, due to uncertainty about the stability of both of our jobs, again due to reasons I believe are not open to discussion on this forum, we wanted cheap, easy to maintain, and highly durable. Whelp, a panther is gonna be the right intersection there. So, my wife's new ride has been acquired.

Not a P71, but hey, close enough. An 09 grand marquis. Only 120k on it and a bunch of recent work including the intake manifold, plugs, rear springs, and shocks. It needed a few things, like the HVAC blend door actuator and the passenger window regulator, but it came with the parts. I did the blend door actuator this evening ( what a pain that was). It'll be fun to get some driving in it once I get tags for it.

So, what's considered the trifecta these days? I know E30's have long passed into memory as affordable fun. 

Has the gen 2 Prius made it into the mix for cheap econo-box appliance? 

I assumed the GRM trifecta was just three miatas.

What if I don't want an E30?

I guess two out of three aint bad

The old GRM Pentaverate was 

Miata, soft top fun

E30, hard top fun

Panther or P71, 4 door fun

Jeep XJ, off-road fun

Chevy Astro, good mix of space and towing, cheap

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Aside from the fact that prices on them have gone nuts, I see the merits in the platform. While mine was not the best drivetrain, when I floored it it cleared up and ran pretty darn well. Handled confidently, just never really felt like you were going that fast because it was that confident. The inside always felt beyond huge for how truely small it was on the outside and the trunk was way bigger than you would think. 

It wasnt as mind reading as a miata (the miata always felt like an extension of you), but you could see it had more torque and it was definitely more practical as a daily while still being very handy. Plus there was just something about the thunk sound when you closed the doors. 

In reply to John Welsh :

I always thought it was Cherokee over Wrangler though?

Is a Suburban (with an LS) the current go to for a cheap tow pig?

In reply to Indy - Guy :

Maybe something with the Atlas?

What would it be in this time and place? I mean, at the time the E30 was the old car out at 15-20 years old when I remember it being a thing. The miata was about 10 years, and they were still building Panthers. 

NC miata because its the right age and affordably?

Frs/BRZ?

I have a feeling the modern trifecta would include a MK7 GTI

I've had two of the three, and ironically, considering what a Ford guy I am, the one I haven't had is the P71. Honestly, I've driven a few Panther cars, and I will never understand the love they get in the enthusiast community.

Our own little take on the GRM trifecta: My wife and I have a Miata, Civic Si and a BMW 3 Series. 

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

They do need a few minor things to be fun when driven in anger. But drifting the back end sideways, in a 4000 lb pig, does have a certain apeal

23+ mpg on a road trip, in a car that can actually seat 6, (and I mean us fat 'mericans, not skinny eye-tallions) was another, before MPG on the larger Jap designs caught up. 
But, they are definitely an acquired taste, and a throwback to the land yachts of yor!

Althoug, the OP has gone the right direction, the comfort of the Merc (or civilian CV) and do the upgrades that the P71 would need anyway!

Or, leave it alone, and enjoy the drivable couch!

John Welsh said:

The old GRM Pentaverate was 

Miata, soft top fun

E30, hard top fun

Panther or P71, 4 door fun

Jeep XJ, off-road fun

Chevy Astro, good mix of space and towing, cheap

I'm 100% on board with the merits of that list! Minor tweaks, for person tastes, and current availability of non trashed examples, but it's a GREAT list!

In reply to Apexcarver :

If she happens to decide it's not the right appliance for her, (although I truly hope she does) keep me in mind, as I'd love to replace mine with a nicer one, instead of "restoring " mine... and then mine becomes a MAJOR mod hot rod!

TravisTheHuman said:

I have a feeling the modern trifecta would include a MK7 GTI

now I'm curious, what is the modern Trifecta?  

thinking about it...

Hard top fun/soft top fun/tow rig & family hauler...

Hard top fun = toyoburu twin / c5 corvette

Soft top fun = miata / 986

tow rig / family hauler = i'm thinking something Toyota v8 powered (tundra, sequoia, gx470, etc) 

I think a 128i could take the E30 spot on the list.

I'd say 128i, NC/ND MX5, MK7 GTI

 

The only one I haven't had is the Miata, because I can't understand how people above 6'2" fit in it, especially if you are torso tall. Even sitting in the newest version my head is close to the roof line basically I would smack my head if I flipped it.

I can speak only to my version: 

1.) NC Miata for all around fun

2.) GMT800 suburban for hauling/camping

3.) 2nd Prius for DD duties 

4.) something old and European for wrenching fun (currently 1985 Saab 900. Easily could be substituted with similar vintage Volvo, BMW, or Mercedes) 

My bias is obvious here, but I'll throw in a vote for the early S197 as part of the modern trifecta. V8 fun and noises, a good chassis with a ton of aftermarket, there were a lot of them made, and they are pretty cheap, especially compared to the later 5.0 cars, regularly under $10k with some miles on them. Plus, they now have their own spec class and a GRM project car.

trigun7469 said:

The only one I haven't had is the Miata, because I can't understand how people above 6'2" fit in it, especially if you are torso tall. Even sitting in the newest version my head is close to the roof line basically I would smack my head if I flipped it.

Foamectomy on the older ones, seat lowering kit on the newer ones.  It makes a huge difference.  
I'm luckily 6'0" and I fit perfectly in them, but a few more inches would NOT help..

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:

My bias is obvious here, but I'll throw in a vote for the early S197 as part of the modern trifecta. V8 fun and noises, a good chassis with a ton of aftermarket, there were a lot of them made, and they are pretty cheap, especially compared to the later 5.0 cars, regularly under $10k with some miles on them. Plus, they now have their own spec class and a GRM project car.

Somewhere I might have photos of the Miata, Civic Si and Mustang project car in our driveway together. 

I think 2nd-gen Prii should be included, as should the Sienna or Fit for "Box that just hauls everything without every breaking, and easy to fix if it does."

maybe in the spirit of march madness we should do a bracket style event...

we can have a bracket for each category (soft top fun, hard top fun, box/family hauler/tow vehicle, off road)

pick the top 8 cars for each bracket, stack rank based on nominations, and build a bracket.