What cars become 20 years old in 2018?

[flat4alfa]

What cars become 20 years old in 2018?

 

1998.  What was that about?  Well, for starters BMW bought Rolls-Royce cars for $570 million, Microsoft was the biggest company on the planet at $261bn, the Rouble lost 70% of its value, the Yangtze broke its banks and 12,000 chinese people died, while President Clinton got himself impeached and Google was founded.

 

 

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Penned by an Englishman in Coventry, from when Swedes showed manufacturers they need to think of Moose and Elks when designing suspensions. Small platform, premium brand, cutesy* looks; when are these going to be classic/collectible then? 

 

 

Ford Focus

At last the shonky Escort was put to bed. Penned by a Frenchman named Mr Lobo, it was intended to be called the Fusion.  Endeared by yobbos worldwide

 

 

Jaguar S-Type

Penned by a man named Geoff, this retro-pastiche was, believe it or not, the platform sister to the Ford Thunderbird. Polarising looks: to some it looked like it just driven off a set of The Sweeney, to others is was a gopping cod.

 

 

Fiat Multipla

Another gopping polariser, the press loved them and so did all the mums. Three-abreast seating with great egonomics elsewhere, this was probably the modern-day Austin Maxi.  So good, Honda made a copy.  Cheap too, starting at £13k (betrayed by the plastics) and owners kept them for years. I've still got one.

 

 

There must be others new for 1998

[tul66]

Alfa 166

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Some old bollocks from Cowley or Longbridge or somewhere not in Solihul, lovely Honda engines and a pipe rack. Basically an e39 BMW really just front wheel drive , optional telly and open fire were loved by the Germans , would have taken America by storm but Ford bribed the Goverment to protect S-Type sales. Black sills, ooh jumpers for goalposts, Personal line piped commode. Peter Stevens , crashed through Ripspeeds window , but not till later, 3/4 scale Bentley for people that dressed and talked like Mr Mainwaring.

Gang of Four, thieve's, project drive . End of a marque.

[Hendry]

The mk4 Astra was launched in 1998, one of the dullest cars ever made.

 

As was the mk4 VW Golf, see above ^^^

 

Daewoo Lanos too I think. The Nubira and Leganza might have been too. 

 

Fiat Seicento. 

 

Mk2 Renault Clio.

 

Toyota Avenis I think.

 

Land Rover Freelander. 

 

those are just off the top of my head. 

[Junkman]

Well, dah.

 

[stonedagain]

K11 Micra diesel. LHD only, (never sold in UK) Peugeot 1.5 engine & gearbox (as fitted to Pug 106, Citroen Saxo & Rover Metro).

[Junkman]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ghosty]

 

The Smart, seen here is the Call My Bluff edition.

 

[Junkman]

 

 

 

 

 

[Felly Magic]

Bugger was just going to say the re-invention of the original Nazi staff car, but used recycled Golf underpinnings, not a wheezy air cooled engine in the boot. They also launched the VW Boring, which in Septic land they still called it the Jetta, the 205 finally shuffled off, replaced with the 206

[Junkman]

 

 

[Junkman]

 

 

[Felly Magic]

Bus wise, this fucking abomination was launched

 

[Junkman]

[Junkman]

Bus wise, this fucking abomination was launched

 

 

 

Show me anything launched in 1998, or after 1986 for that matter, that isn't an abomination.

[Ghosty]

[Felly Magic]

Ghosty I think you missed the mark here

[Ghosty]

[Felly Magic]

Honda Passport 2nd gen, aka a fucking Fronterror, how desperate were Honda to have an SUV in their lineup?

 

[danthecapriman]

Jesus Christ! The 90's really were a dull forgettable period for cars weren't they!

I think I'd rather walk than drive any of them. And I hate exercise!

[Junkman]

The 90s really were a dull forgettable period, full stop.

And it only got duller and more forgettable since.

[tooSavvy]

I like my Toyota*

 

*that is, of course, from a TS perspective

 

 

TS

[Datsuncog]

Toyota Avenis I think.

 

Yeah, the launch ad (May '98) featured Iggy Pop's 'The Passenger'. Seems to imply that the Avensis has self-driving capabilities - just imagine the legal bother if this was aired today.

 

 

The song (album track and b-side from 1977) was issued as a single with a cover featuring stills from the TV spot and prominent Toyota branding - because obviously the teen market was the #1 target for a medium-sized Japanese saloon/hatch...

 

 

 

That said, the father of a friend who was massive Stooges fan owned the first one I ever saw, so maybe there was something in it...

[Vince70]

I Always wanted a TT and it’s the time to buy now.

I saw a really nice straight early 98 one the other month for £1100 and it didn’t have the boot spoiler but I imagine it must of been removed rather than escaping the retrofit update.

[Sir Snipes]

If the IS200/Altezza is 20 years old then that means “Lexus lights” has also been a thing for 20 years!