Uninspiring cars that you would rock in a heartbeat

inspired by this thread , and without searching this topic, i'm starting this thread for cars that you'd rock despite their terrible-ness.  I'll go first:

C3 Corvette.  I've always had a chub for the chrome-bumper cars, and many years ago when i was young and impressionable, i had a chance to drive one.  It was no better, and arguably worse in some ways, than my DD 1972 Monte Carlo.  and you know what?  i didn't care then and i don't care now.  i want one and i will get one and i will drive the berkeley out of it.

Late 90s Corolla. I had one and it was just a happy car to drive.  

Ford Pinto. I had one for several years and loved that little car. 

Just about anything Japanese from before 1990.

I will plus 1 on the Pinto and two others that I loved:

first Gen Chevy Lumina

Dodge K Car (it has to be 4 door though!)

First gen Dodge Neon with a manual.  Doesn't even need to be an R/T or an ACR (although I wouldn't turn that down).

My 08 civic coupe. Non-SI, only 140 horsepower, 2800 lbs. A friend of mine sold me his rear progress swaybar, and koni sport shocks. It's been surprisingly good for autocross, and has run a 1.31 lap at the firm on used three year old tires.

Toyman! said:

Ford Pinto. I had one for several years and loved that little car. 

 

My buddy was way into Pintos and ordered a brand new one - he took a lot of beatings from the muscle car guys but after he added springs, shocks, header, exhaust and European air horns it was a fun car.

This guy got me hooked on little sporty cars.  He also introduced me to some big newspaper called Autoweek.  First time I read one I was blown away. 

Oh for sure any of my old Colt/Summit/Mirage trio. Add in a few evo bits here and there and they were a very fun car to drive and autocross. Light weight even with the "big block" 2.4L swapped in. If I ever found another one, I would make an autocross FSP car out of it in a heartbeat but most have turned to dust. 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:

Just about anything Japanese from before 1990.

I second this motion.

MK4 VW Jetta TDI wagon with a manual. 

Honda Element manual. 1st gen xB, also manual. 2nd gen Prius, Lexus LS. 

The early Saturn Cars with the DOHC engine.  SL2, SW2 & SC2.

Make mine a 5 speed manual please.

Smart Fortwo

1987 Buick LeSabre.  Bland, but boy it would go and go.  Pretty comfortable, and would drive through anything, with decent MPG.

Honda Element (already have)

Kei van, Fiat Multipla, Citroen 2CV, Subie XT6 or Brat, 80s Popup headlight Accord, Series I, II or III Land Rovers.

G-body.  Preferably the Cutlass or Regal variety, but I'd take a Monte or Malibu.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Hold the phone there sir! This was supposed to be uninspiring cars that you would rock. Not some of the finest pieces that Detroit made in the 80's.

I will bid you good day.

Another vote for old J-Tin. I still recall a friend of mine who let me borrow her late '70s Subie GL for a few days so I could get to work (she lived within walking distance of campus and the bar where she worked). I loved that little car more than I thought I would. Felt like it handled well, just because it didn't weigh anything, compared to my broken BMWs.

NY Nick said:

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Hold the phone there sir! This was supposed to be uninspiring cars that you would rock. Not some of the finest pieces that Detroit made in the 80's.

I will bid you good day.

Certainly inspiring to me as well.  Inspiring to drive?  Not so much.

I've had a lot, they're almost always better than people think. 1992 LS400 was great - quick enough, solid, handled well with the fully independent suspension. It was a well nailed together sports car compared to the Buick Roadmaster it replaced:

It was replaced by a 1996 LS400 - more power, bigger, and - get this - lighter!?

Also one that sort of came up in this thread already, the 90s Corolla - except mine was even more uninspiring, it was a 1990 Geo Prizm! Nobody expects Toyota quality from a GM but it was so reliable:

Speaking of the Roadmaster, though: sure, it was solidly in the running for ugliest car ever. And a 90s GM is not a well put together car and it had acres of "leather" and plastichrome inside it, but I loved that car thoroughly. I would never have sold it but a friend of mine came courting when I had five cars and I decided he could have a turn.

Good car? no. Great car? yes.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

I thought it was inspiring when I was 18 rocking this ride but my CRV probably is a lot more "inspiring" to drive. 

80's 4 door box Caprice. I loved the over boosted, single finger steering. Maybe its becauseit was the first car I  drove, and I  was dumb, and fearless, but that car was composed (for what it was) and inspired confidence.

1984 Toyota pickup, short bed, 22R engine, 4 speed, 2WD.

G-Bodies can be reasonably entertaining to drive.