90's cars with no particular following

[egg]

I'm thinking about cars from the 90's era, that despite some approaching or exceeding 25 year old classic* status, have almost no following in the retro car world (the mainstream one, of course, not here).

 

Things that came to mind were:

 

- almost all non-sporting 90's Fiats

- most Japanese family car fodder (non sporting or exec)

- Ford Granada Mk3s

- Vauxhall Calibra (barely mentioned on even these hallowed pages)

- Most Renaults

 

What else is there from this 'long decade' (measured by some historians from when the Berlin wall fell to 9/11) that is either undervalued or underappreciated? Maybe even by us lot...?

[bramz7]

I always thought poverty spec Subaru's have no following.

 

For example, that tidy (slightly rusty) base Impreza GL sold for £429 on eBay the other day.

[clayts450]

Rover 600

 

No owners club, amazingly.

[pandamonium]

Ahem.

 

 

AE86 good, AE92 meh.

 

I'd dare to say that the advent of front wheel drive was the killer of older cars being sought after - after the mid-80s.

[25v6turbo]

Safranes have next to no following at all,no owners club,a forum with very few members and a lot of people who don,t like them or even knew Renault built such a model...

Even with my efforts to try and get a feature in a few car mags,I have achieved next to zero success.

Once Renaults most expensive car you could buy with at the time many "first time"features has resulted in next to no following at all.

Totally different story overseas though,forums,restoration and higher prices.

[skoda_fan]

Virtually anything run of the mill from the 90s falls into this category. That's why there are so many bargains to be had from this era.

[egg]

Volvo 440 is another one that seems lost and lonely.

[egg]

Virtually anything run of the mill from the 90s falls into this category. That's why there are so many bargains to be had from this era.

 

Agreed, but even the Mondeo has its little group of fans, Skoda Favorit definitely, anything with a Rover badge. But there's some stuff where a google search will reveal nothing.

[Gazebo]

Rover 600

 

No owners club, amazingly.

 

I had a new 600 as a company car and it was amazing (apart from a brake failure on the M6).  They seemed like they would be bullet-proof with the Honda engine link.  Not may of them left now, but one of the most comfortable cars I've ever had.

[Tamworthbay]

Volvo 440 is another one that seems lost and lonely.

Even the 480s seem to have disappeared. I had one and it was a stunning car. Wrong badge though for some.

[Ohdearme]

Saw an R reg 626 LXi in a Wilko car park the other day, just doing what it was built for 21 years after it was registered.

 

Had a new back box on it (oem not chav) so getting some love but otherwise ignored by the world.

[egg]

Daihatsu Applause

Fiat Regatta

Hyundai anything

Protons have a following on here and in Malaysia at least

[Timewaster]

Front wheel drive does seem to be a cult killer.

[Lacquer Peel]

Saw an R reg 626 LXi in a Wilko car park the other day, just doing what it was built for 21 years after it was registered.

 

Had a new back box on it (oem not chav) so getting some love but otherwise ignored by the world.

I saw this one the other day, I liked its shabby but solid appearance.

[Tamworthbay]

Front wheel drive does seem to be a cult killer.

Didn’t harm the mini, or the golf, or the RS turbo, but generally I would agree.

[blakey79]

Toyota Starlet

VW Jetta

[bramz7]

I saw this one the other day, I liked its shabby but solid appearance.

I haven't seen a saloon in yonks.

 

Those pre A6 100s seem practically forgotten about too. I had hoped to try one out through the forum but I suspect it won't happen now. Fingers crossed still.

[egg]

Vauxhall Vectra of course...

 

Well most Vauxhalls.

 

But the Corsa will get there won't it?

 

Astra maybe not.

[mitsisigma01]

The Mitsubishi Sigma, 91 > 96 so lonely that even Autoshiters don't mention it . Some even think a Sigma is a Galant but it's not . Any sightings and photographic evidence, preferably owners contact details as well of any Sigmas saloons or estates please let me know . Sigmas need love too !!!

[egg]

But seriously, what is it with the Calibra? Straightforward mechanically because of it's underpinnings, radical design at the time, variety of engine options.

 

Should be more highly prized no?

[Rusty_Rocket]

Plenty out there who love their Calibras!  The turbo 4x4 is now making big money and the V6 ones are getting more desirable now.  Most 'redtop' Calibras (and Cavaliers) got ripped apart for their engines in the late 90s/ early 00s

[fordperv]

But seriously, what is it with the Calibra? Straightforward mechanically because of it's underpinnings, radical design at the time, variety of engine options.

 

Should be more highly prized no?

I think they are a handsome motor and Much better looking than a probe

[egg]

Plenty out there who love their Calibras!  The turbo 4x4 is now making big money and the V6 ones are getting more desirable now.  Most 'redtop' Calibras (and Cavaliers) got ripped apart for their engines in the late 90s/ early 00s

 

I've just noticed one of the Japanese importers is bringing them over, so looks like more than a following than I thought, if it is worthwhile for them.

 

For £3k this would be a stylish way to chase the Corsa's down the front.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-calibra-SE5/132898984354?hash=item1ef16591a2:g:K6wAAOSwyYRcInTd:rk:4:pf:0

 

[Tamworthbay]

I think they are a handsome motor and Much better looking than a probe

To be fair most things were, Capri replacement? I think not. Still waiting for a new decent ford coupe to come along.

[Rocket88]

Vauxhall Omega.............pretty much forgotten, every bit as good to drive as equivalent Merc or Beemer

[lesapandre]

1. Some cars - so few left or imported that there is not much chance of a big following developing as there are so few to get enthusiastic about - they just become a 'what's that' car. Fiat Chroma, a lot of Alfa's spring to mind. Will the Citroen BX go that way?

 

2.Some cars seem to fall into a trough too as repair costs start to get significant or spares become a pain. The Citroen XM has not really nudged a few 100's unless exceptional and seems a bit down. Not being dragged up by the DS values.

 

3. Or cars that don't seem to catch the enthusiast because there are so many interesting models from the same marque already. Citroen AX makes peanuts whilst the 2CV probably makes ×10 as much. Citroen ZX suffers from this. Will the Xsara go the same way. All are interesting.

 

IMHO....

[Brodders]

I would say that Calibras have a following and are already on the up, as are Mk3 Granadas. Annoying in that they are two cars I would love to try out and will now need to pay a bit of a premium to do so, but it will hopefully save their numbers from falling further.

 

Aside from that, I agree with all the cars named on here. Others I think deserve an honourable mention are the Renault 19, Megane and Laguna, Daewoo Espero and Nexia, Citroen ZX, Mazda 626, 323 and 121, Chrysler Neon and the wide mouthed Ford Scorpio (although only myself and Junkman seem to like these, Ford scene tax is already being applied to those on eBay).

 

I guess it comes down to the fact these are all still relatively modern looking cars. If you were to park one of these in a supermarket car park, very few people would notice them at all, let alone register they were well over 20 years old. As a result, they just don't attract that much of a following (apart from on here).

[egg]

Kia Mentor...

 

I guess it comes down to the fact these are all still relatively modern looking cars. If you were to park one of these in a supermarket car park, very few people would notice them at all, let alone register they were well over 20 years old. As a result, they just don't attract that much of a following (apart from on here).

 

This is a good point, but has its advantages - in that you don't attract unnecessary attention.

[pandamonium]

Hyundai Lantra

Daewoo Espero

Suzuki Baleno

Daihatsu Applause (yes, I know it has already been mentioned)

Kia Mentor

Proton Wira

 

See a pattern? Asian saloons that were typical bought by older 'sensible' people. The only reason the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer escaped this curse was the WRC connection. 

[320touring]

My Seat Toledo..