I remember being mad as a teenager because a 91 lumina was my first car when my mom got a 67 Camaro as her first car. But I made the most of it. In high school I got paid to give people rides to school so they didn't have to take the bus. So with the bench seats I got 5-6 people in the car giving me a few bucks each so I never had to worry about gas.
Just got my RCA DSS satellite system for only $700 with a 18" dish! Amazing how small they are now. Can't wait to get it installed, but the Lumina is in the shop the third time this month with an ABS light on.. It's 1994 and things are looking sweet, except for the Lumina issues.
The coming out of the dressing room and ask your mom "ok mom, how do I look?" touched me. My mom died when I was a kid, I remember asking her the same question doing the same thing. I still miss her. Thanks for the memories.
Yea, that hit me too. In my case, Mom asking me to take her to the store on Sunday as the games were starting. I'd drop her off at the door and park, then go in and wait as she looked at EVERYTHING. She's been gone over 5 years now and what I wouldn't give to drive her to CVS right now.
@@Bartonovich52 If you got a 3rd or 4th Gen with an AX4N 4 Speed automatic. Every other transmission they offered was rock solid. But I have a '97 SHO with the original AX4N and over 250,000km, so... Eh.
@ Sheehy Yeah I guess you’re right. My sisters friends mom had a 1st gen wagon and they didn’t have to walk. They drove 100km at 70 km/h in 2nd gear with the engine screaming because it wouldn’t upshift anymore. GM had by far the best transmissions of this era. The only Ford transmissions that were durable were the C4 and C6.
My friend's mom had one of these when I was a kid. I was in the back seat when it got rear-ended by a brand new Cadillac in 1995. It took the hit like a champ.
1990's Cadillacs were known to spill burning hot oil on the driver's legs in front end collisions. I read that in one of my dad's car magazines, and that thought was burned in my head ever since.
The dreaded A-pillar bloat, because car companies can't figure out how to get better ratings in the roll-over test any other way. And may as well shove an airbag in there and make the visibility even worse just because.
It's not just pillars. High belt lines mean you can't see anything on the ground closer than 15 ft. High hoods mean you have no idea where your front end is (and we can't have hood ornaments, either). I blame these changes for why people suck at parking.
It's nearly impossible to make cars nowadays any other way due to safety standards. Believe me, I'd love to design cars with thin pillars, but people would die in a rollover.
An old boss of mine had one of these as a daily driver back in the day - he always referred to it as, “The car you buy when you’ve given up hope!” Of course, in those days, I was driving a ‘78 Dodge Aspen with the slant-six and about 200,000 miles on the odometer, so I actually thought it was the cat’s meow.......lol
This car reminds me of road trips with my grandparents and eating turkey sandwiches my Grandma made. A sandwich which I had to eat inside a McDonalds as my Grandpa took a crap in the bathroom because Grandma was too cheap to just buy me a burger.
Alternating between Motorweek retro reviews and regular car reviews of the same car is extremely entertaining. First you get the initial impression and motivation of the manufacturer and then the regular car review is what it actually turned out to be 😆
I own a 95 lumina with 350,000 miles, and it shows. I removed the 3.1 v6 because I discovered the transmission bell housing was the same as the Cadillacs 4.9L 300ci V8. It is a power house and I love it.
I got my '90 Lumina in '94. GREAT CAR! Had a lot of zip, decent on gas, stock stereo sounded great(I was 19 so that mattered), and it didn't need anything but basic maint. until the transmission finally crapped out at 190k. Btw, the bench seat is great because your gf can scoot up next to you. :-)
My theory is that the sound systems were better in stock American sedans because A.) none of them used Bose components, and B.) cloth seats helped with acoustics.
How the fuck do you make these reviews worth watching? I mean really, I just watched a review of a '90 Lumina and thoroughly enjoyed it... the same with the rest of these god awful cars you review... What type of sorcery is this? Whatever it is, keep it up!
You're probably locked in a bubble of high end automobile enthusiasm. Stuff like peak HP numbers of a Nissan GT-R or the Mclaren P1. It's an easy rabbit hole to fall into, talking shop and all that. But then we forget what it's like to just drive one of these forgettable cars, how we could be proud of a Lumina or Cavalier despite their flaws, because of what it represented. The raw emotion of these cars, little time capsules into their decade, discussing why they even sold in the first place and who is still driving them, it's all part of the automotive culture that we forget when we advance into higher platforms like sports cars. We forget the little guy, the ones who gave us our first true taste of freedom and adulthood, the regular vehicles that almost all of us had a deep connection to. Sure it may be fun to have a 300HP vehicle now, but I still miss the buzzy 1.6L SOHC in my old Civic, having to rev to 5500RPM to merge into traffic. Or my old Caprice, which was far from perfect, but rode like a cloud and allowed me to cram 9 people into one car, which is important when you're a teenager. 2 bench seats and a trunk that could fit 3 people without making things too weird whenever I hit a bump.
Mr Regular is an absolutely impeccable writer and story teller. You can tell he's a smart guy with a solid English education. Also his voice is sexy as hell.
The smell of an old GM is the smell of my childhood. My dad had a diesel Chevette, an S10, and a Le Sabre, my mom had a Roadmaster, my uncle had a Lumina of almost every generation, my cousin had several Buicks, and my babysitter drove a Grand Prix. Those cars may not have been top sellers, but there's a certain charm to them that you have to experience.
My dad had a 94 Century with a 3.1 in it. Took my driver's ed exam in that car, spent a lot of weekends in the backseat going to grandma's house or Kmart...so I think you nailed the ambience of middle American 90s GM family movers pretty well. 😊
Had a 1993 EURO model - My first family car when I got married w/46K on it. Drove it for just over 8yrs and sold it with 165K - sold it to a buddy - he drove it to 265K. Say what you will about '90's GM products - It was honestly a damn good reliable car.
Yoooo I have a 93 euro with the 3.1 right now! The euro was the loaded up with options version. It has these weird seatbelts that come out of the doors so you don't need to undo your seatbelt to get out of the car, a trunk popper button, floor console instead of the column shifter, a different cluster, spoiler, different rims, and bucket seats, there's probably other things but I forget. Idk, a cargo net?
sidefx996 im pretty sure im the only person in america who hasnt owned one. i honestly think they're one of the ugliest Ford ever put out, but they must be pretty reliable considering i see one just about every damn day still.
Thevalley Rodriguez normally I'd agree, it's just I have a shitty commute. I spend most of my time in traffic and I'm not getting the opportunities in my daily drive to really open her up
Martin Skoda exactly! That's what I'm saying. Its nice having a car you don't give a fuck about as a second car. I used to have an Hyundai Accent and I wish I still had it along with my 335i so i could use it for my shittier drives. That's why I said I wouldn't mind having this Lumina as a beater car
Back in 2003 I test drove one of these with 28k. I was about to go back and buy the car and then, while driving... the engine caught fire. Glad it was honest enough to catch fire before I bought it. :-)
I used to secretly love when my dad's old Lumina broke down for the umpteenth time on the way to school because it meant I had a legitimate reason not to be there
This took me back! I was raised by my Aunt who bought her first new car in 93 and it was a new Lumina. It was very similar to this one but had a updated grill and the eurosport rims. We were king of the neighborhood! I learned how to drive in that car. The head gasket blew in 2011 and sold off to the junk yard a few months later. I miss that thing!
Reminding me of the stupid muffler not-mufflers that GM used on these, particularly Pontiacs. Pleasant days and evenings interrupted by gargling noises from GM cars.
Honestly.. I like the sound of a GM V6. I’ve owned four of them.. including a new to me 2019 Chevy Impala. Growing up the 80s and 90s.. four cylinders were the sound of disappointment. We drove them because we had to drive them. They didn’t rev (pushrods, all of them). No power... acceleration was glacial. V8s were mostly associated with old pieces of crap that even poorer people drove. Running on 7 cylinders because of a misfire or bad valve. Exhaust manifolds leaking. Couldn’t rev worth anything because they were all still emissions choked or running 1 barrel carbs. And nobody revved them anyways because of increased fuel consumption and reduced reliability (remember.. this was still a generation of 1970s cars that only lasted 100,000 miles before going to the demolition derby or the scrap yard). Blub blub blub blub blub blub blub. The few muscle cars were aspirational... but no family had one. They were as attainable and practical as a Lear Jet to most of the middle class. But V6s. If you had a V6 in late 80s or early 90s, you’d made it! You could do _the speed limit_ going up hills! Your first time driving one surprised you as you were met with instant throttle response (lots of times because it was port fuel injected as well and didn’t hesitate, stutter, or wait to make up its mind). 0-60 in under 10 seconds! And that sound. Particularly the GM V6s. Not the annoying buzz of a four cylinder. Not the sounds-like-it’s-going-to-explode V8. Just throaty. And honestly today.. it’s the same thing as four bangers now dominate. I have the only V6 car on my block except the retired neighbor across the way with a decade old V6 Mustang. All the cars and SUVs are four cylinder.. and while most of the trucks are V8, they are all much older, and slower than my car.
I got a '85 2.3 Sierra as my first car and it's honestly the same as the lumina, that era of cars that could be described as "beige, is all beige, the FEEL IS BEIGE" is just such a trip Trying to sell it and save for a '99 Move now but one gotta love those fridges with wheels
honestly at first i watched your shit cuz it was different and brutally honest and dark humor and it grew on me like that white mold on cheese but you still say fuck it, slice it off and eat the cheese and now i realize I seek it out cuz it is different and brutally honest and dark humor af. your doing somthing great man and your the only one out there i can think not trying to be like every other car video. pure gems man, thanks
Pretty sure it's lighter, smaller, and has more power than at least a V6 Camaro with a DOHC 3.4L V6 and Getrag 5 speed transaxle. But I bet it listed for more than a V6 Camaro new....
@RegularCars Love the point you make about the Lumina being a save point in our memories. For me, it was a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera (my parents owned 3 of them). If you could find one of those and make a video that would be awesome.
My Dad had a Lumina station wagon. It was maroon. It was rusted. You needed a piece of wood to unlock the driver's door. The windshield wiper toggle was broken, so a switch was installed to toggle them off or on. That wagon took us to a lot of little league baseball games. It drove well in the snow. Then finally one day... it was traded in for a Ford Ranger. It was 2001 btw.
We had two growing up in the 90's....one lasted my older brother until 435,000 miles with minimal maintenance original engine and trans...the second one is still running in 2019 with almost 300,000 miles for my younger sister....they dont die easy!
dude this review really hit me in the feels at the part when he's talking about mothers trying on clothes, I have a 1996 Lumina and honestly it this review legit brought back memories of mom, RIP I love you Mr. Regular :)
My "first car" was a 1996 Lumina. It wasn't ever my car, but it was my mom's. I learned to drive in it, and drove it around without a license all the time when I was 14-16. Many late nights and good stories with this car. The fuel gauge didn't work so we had to count miles carefully, and we ran out of gas all the time. Had to push it up-hill all by myself, run and hop in as it sped down hill with no power steering or brakes. Used to take it down by the lake and just floor it on those long open roads, I can't ever forget the sound that V6 made at wide open throttle, the best thing it would compare to would be somebody screaming through a rusty pipe with some holes scattered throughout it, lmao. One the saddest moments of my life was seeing this thing sold for $800.
It always puts a smile on my face when I hear a story about someone who keeps their simple daily driver nice and clean. To me it takes a special kind of appreciation, because it's obvious you want to baby your Datsun 240z, or your BMW M3 because those are collectible cars that a lot of people desire and it's value keeps going up. It shows that they can appreciate a simple but sturdy car, and seeing one of these regular commuter cars in top shape is something I love seeing more over a wide body rocket bunny GT-R.
WOW! So much to say here! My first car was/is 93 Lumina Euro I got in 98 when I was 16 with 80k on it, and am still driving today, in 2018 with 283k miles. Still getting 24 mpg highway! Yes I'm not entirely happy with the mono leaf rear suspension, and the paint, but couldn't ask for better car. Years ago I met a guy who built GM cars who saw my car and said "that is the best we ever made." Mine has 3 speed trans without overdrive but Euro package with rear spoiler and alloy wheels. I've been auto technician for 20 years and haven't seen more reliable vehicle. And compare it to a early 90s Taurus? They where lucky to make 100k before the trans imploded. In my opinion this is the height of GM production. Long live the road warrior!
Yes, GM sedans were quality in that time, Lumina, Corsica, Beretta, Buick Century, Pontiac Bonneville, Oldsmobile Cutlass were all similar drivetrain with minor suspension, and styling differences. It's just sad to see how far downhill they have gone since, Toyota and Honda a close 2nd is all I trust now. I am a Toyota tech and have seen some issues on the newer stuff, but they stand behind it more than others.
My grandpa had a 1998 Lumina. They were good with servicing their car, and not abusing the car. Their transmission broke above 100,000 miles (not too sure on mileage because I was only a kid in elementary school). This is in New York too. They were not good cars in reliability. He told me he always had repairs and once the transmission broke he junked the thing and got a new 2009 honda civic. That’s been a great car for him.
I had a Lumina in 1992... as a rental. It was my first trip to America. I drove it from Montreal to Boston and back, and loved every minute of it. It was a metallic maroon one, it looked gorgeous and was very confortable and nice to drive on the motorway.
The trouble is the back of the car does not match up well with the front. It's almost like two different cars were glued together. The trunk line is too low and it's too angular compared to the smooth line of the front going into the windshield. The back part of the rear door also seems to be far too large for no reason at all. Not one of GM's better efforts.
I grew up with a 3.1 Euro. Bought it in Idaho, then it made the journey to Korea where it was horriblly large for tight pedestrian filled mountain roads, made the trip from Korea to Illinois and finally off to Hawaii where my mom eventually sold it. I actually saw it a few years ago where some beach bum was living out of it and the clearcoat was gone and light surface rust showing through it. Was still going strong oddly enough.
My mom had an 89 Pontiac Grand Prix. I can remember riding in the back with my best friend and when you wanted to roll the window down we had to share the last remaining window switch "peg" (went under the rocker on each side to activate the switch). Hand it back and forth to roll the windows up or down
All those old Saturday afternoons, Sundays morning church, the good days when summer was fun and not annoying nuisance... Oh, boy, they go by so fast indeed.
I had this car's predecessor - an '84 Chevy Celebrity - and was INCREDIBLY impressed with its comfort and drivability as just a regular, run-of-the-mill 4-door sedan. The engine died at some point but it was well over 100k at that point. I do miss it, sometimes. Well. . . let's rephrase to say that I look back at it fondly.
been a mechanic for nearly 40 years, and you really got me when you compared the Lumina to the taurus. it's broken springs, collapsed seat cushions and subframe mounts that rusted out. I have two Luminas with a combined 500,000 miles. My only complaint is that the heaters seem to be less than North Dakota demands, but I keep them both! You can drive the Taurus!
You want to hear the SAAB story? It involves spending two weekends in my parents' garage pulling the transmission to rebuild a leaky slave cylinder. Despite all the headaches I still couldn't bear to sell the damn thing - it's in storage now.
My first car had a newer generation 3100 SFI V6 and it was not difficult to work on at all. The Taurus or the same year (2001) though? The belts didn't have enough clearance from the frame to fit a traditional breaker bar. Everything was a pain on that one.
Goddamn it Mr. Regular...I had a 1990 chevy lumina EURO complete with CAR PHONE that I wanted to show you but last year it got totaled. It was my daily driver. Bought it off an old lady in Phoenixville for $500.
Had one of these in 1998. It has a ‘cool’ factory spoiler and side skirts. One evening I was racing my friend in his camaro (had no idea at the time of the suspension similarities) and I ended up blowing a radiator hose! Haha! But I’ll forever remember driving my first v6 car!
I had a ‘91 Lumina with Euro trim. It was a lot better looking than the base trim. Got it used in ‘94 after I got my first real grown-up job, and it’s my first grown-up car. Not a a bad ride overall. The rear view mirror just fell off one day. Another expensive repair and I got rid of it in ‘97 for a Dodge Neon.
Once again, this is a car that goes 300,000 + miles , bulletproof , gets you to work relaxed and your ready to kick some ass ! If you were a young dad this is the car that bridged you to a management job at $ 100,000 per year .
My mom had this car when we were growing up. Broken exhaust and you could hear it from 3 blocks out. “Oh shit, moms coming!” My friend still does an impression of the way that car sounded.
I bought a 1995 Chevy Lumina LS brand new, still driving it now 22 years , still going strong! Only 95,000 miles, no issues! Love it! Great video guys!
I learned to drive in a 93 Lumina. When it was relatively new it seemed pretty nice to my teenage mind. These days I haven’t driven a gm product that had confidence inspiring brakes, or steering, in many years
This was my dad’s company car. Well, it was a 92 lumina Eurosport. It was the coolest family car we ever had. Or it felt like that when I was 12. Lol He worked in sales for a printing company. That car was super comfortable to be in.
I remember the night I went to see Days of Thunder in the theater. They rented a Lumina's in the scene where they were late for that meeting at a restaurant lol
Yeah, my Dad rented a blue one--with that red striping everywhere and the EURO 3.1 badge so prominent. He made the mistake of letting me drive it when we had to run a few errands. He saw a side of his son he'd never thought existed, may he rest in peace.
My dad bought one back in 07 for my sister but kept it himself for about $800. He drove that thing until last year when he finally got tired of fix everything. When he first bought it he'd let me drive it and at 19 it was the best handling thing I'd ever driven. But I'll tell you, after the latch broke on the tilt column that thing was a bitch to drive
The Chevy lumina is an incredible car had a few of them over the years had a 90 model with 532000km on it before I lost 2nd gear in the transmission them 3.1 litre engines are incredibly durable as well good to see there is people acknowledging these vehicles after all these years 😀
Comment from a Swede: This car looks like every American car ever. It looks VERY generic. It looks nice. A bit different from the 740's that Volvo barfed out during the same period.
Tobias Hopstadius. perspective is funny, I have a very clear image in my mind of the generic European car, and its not exactly pretty. Its always a squat little hatchback in refrigerator white with faded black trim everywhere. manual trans of course though mated to an uninspiring 1.5L on the mid level trim that needs to rev to move but lets you know it doesnt like it. god....makes me want to go buy a Buick Roadmaster!
Very different. The 740 is made like 1970s GM... RWD, big, boxy, heavy... and cheap and breakable plastic interiors. The W bodies were modern front wheel drive with lots of creature comforts. I loved my 85 740... was super comfortable but very slow---my Olds Cutlass was much faster. My 740T estate was faster still... but had lots of problems related to the turbo. My wife's Lumina Z34 was also nothing but problems related to the engine.
DrewLSsix My mother drove a 1991 Toyota Starlet for a long time. Refrigerator white, with a 1.3l 4 cylinder. Faded black trim, 90's blue plastic interior and an unhappy engine coupled to a 3 speed automatic. A large bump in the front right fender after a drunk kicked the car. It's not a European car, per se, however, it's a very common vehicle type in Europe. Expensive gasoline and heavy vehicle taxes here in Sweden shape the people's view on cars.
Bartonovich52 Yeah, Volvo has had an amazing transformation from a utility-focused car brand into the luxurious family market. Glass knobs for the start switch? An iPad for heater controls? 20 years ago Volvo still produced the beloved 940.
If I'm not mistaken, I do believe they're still technically allowed in cars, but I'm sure safety and interior space make a big difference too. Vehicles have large, complex center consoles nowadays, and most are far too narrow to accommodate a full bench in the front. Just take a look at rear seats in modern cars - there isn't even enough space for the middle passenger to be comfortable in most, so imagine that in the front along with all of the modern tech garbage.
I've thought this too, a bench seat somewhat forces people closer together instead of being separated by a wall of plastic. A center console only divides and segregates passengers. It makes more sense with a FR layout where a trans tunnel and driveshaft need to be raised into the cabin, but in todays world of FF cars a center console is pretty much completely unnecessary. A column shifter or dash mounted shifter alleviate the need for it. I believe it's mostly a style choice with people viewing bench seats as old fashioned. My '67 buick has a bench seat so the car can seat 6 people comfortably.
I've got one of these in white, and i love it! I only got it because i needed a cheap car.... then it grew on me lol it's just a solid runner, nothing fancy and that is perfect.
Back in 1990 or 91, as I was attending the University of Wyoming in Laramie WY, one of my friends worked for one of the local rental car companies. I, and two other friends, helped drive new Luminas from the Lander airport. And, the Luminas got tried out. We drove at over 100 mph all the way back. One of the Luminas didn't handle the fast driving, and a transmission cooling line blew off the radiator about 15 miles out of Lander. I still have my sister's 1991 Buick Regal, and it out handles my 2011 Chevy Impala hands down. That single leaf spring independent rear suspension does work, at least in a two door Regal. Especially when new, the Regal would hold the curves even on the most curvy rural Nebraska Sandhills roads. And, you can actually see out of the back of a 91 Regal, unlike a 2011 Impala.
I remember being mad as a teenager because a 91 lumina was my first car when my mom got a 67 Camaro as her first car. But I made the most of it. In high school I got paid to give people rides to school so they didn't have to take the bus. So with the bench seats I got 5-6 people in the car giving me a few bucks each so I never had to worry about gas.
I would still be mad
Im already mad because I just realized this car does not have tandem wipees. It has opposed wipers?!
@@JGProductions6581 yep all these first gen w bodies do. I have 2 regal coupes with them a 91 and 95 and my 98 GTP has tandem
Wtf you paid to give people rides to school when I did it for free. Fucking entrepreneur here!
So, you were Uber before its time. Cool.
this is one of those cars that just by looking at the interior you can smell it.
The 90s had a unique smell of either cigs or unrelenting depression
-deeeeep sniff- Smells like old man...
It smells like grandma and cigarettes, lol...
It smells like cigarette tar fermenting in humid air.
Pew Car Smell.
Why does " _we're gettin' a satellite dish!_ " make me laugh every time
its a pretty big upgrade from cable tbh
Just like the narrator going in asking for a pack of Salem Slims for his mom sitting in the car.
Because its definitely something you can picture actually being said by your parents in a bragedocious way.
"WE'RE GETTIN' A SATTELITE DISH."
Makes me bust out in laughs every time.
In high school, my family had both a Lumina and a Satellite Dish...and they both were awesome.
Just got my RCA DSS satellite system for only $700 with a 18" dish! Amazing how small they are now. Can't wait to get it installed, but the Lumina is in the shop the third time this month with an ABS light on.. It's 1994 and things are looking sweet, except for the Lumina issues.
Legit great comedic move
InvictvsNox a Trailer Park Boys-esque moment lol
Cool. Yeeah! DAYS OF THUNDER!!
For me that's what gets me
The coming out of the dressing room and ask your mom "ok mom, how do I look?" touched me.
My mom died when I was a kid, I remember asking her the same question doing the same thing.
I still miss her.
Thanks for the memories.
Yea, that hit me too. In my case, Mom asking me to take her to the store on Sunday as the games were starting. I'd drop her off at the door and park, then go in and wait as she looked at EVERYTHING. She's been gone over 5 years now and what I wouldn't give to drive her to CVS right now.
Loool the car u see at liquor and dollar stores
The official car of "roll up your windows"
The official car of living in your car.
That's a good one sir lmao
1990: Chevy Lumina-The official car of it's not a Taurus but it beats walking.
victor bozzo
But you end up walking anyway...
In the Taurus you walked because of widespread transmission failures.
@@Bartonovich52 If you got a 3rd or 4th Gen with an AX4N 4 Speed automatic. Every other transmission they offered was rock solid. But I have a '97 SHO with the original AX4N and over 250,000km, so... Eh.
Victor Bozzo- The official guy that thinks he's an intellectual by watching Rick & Morty.
@ Sheehy
Yeah I guess you’re right. My sisters friends mom had a 1st gen wagon and they didn’t have to walk. They drove 100km at 70 km/h in 2nd gear with the engine screaming because it wouldn’t upshift anymore.
GM had by far the best transmissions of this era. The only Ford transmissions that were durable were the C4 and C6.
The car I was brought home in the first time, and my first memory of being upset about getting rid of a car.
That blue interior though.😎
ThatDudeinBlue I’m having this issue, my baby Luna, she’s been an amazing cat and she still is kicking it. But mine is a 94,
Cat?
Donovan Campbell And I was obviously making a joke... you idiot.
my first memory of getting upset at getting rid of a car was when we sold our old nissan d21 hardbody. god i loved that thing
Hey david, come here often😉😉
My friend's mom had one of these when I was a kid. I was in the back seat when it got rear-ended by a brand new Cadillac in 1995. It took the hit like a champ.
1990's Cadillacs were known to spill burning hot oil on the driver's legs in front end collisions. I read that in one of my dad's car magazines, and that thought was burned in my head ever since.
I like those front turn signals hiding behind the grill.
I know right? I was really not expecting that
Bet they're a bitch to change
not at all, just reach them from behind.
dedede666 same as any other. They're all done behind anyway.
@@dedede666 indeed they are a bitch to change
mr reguiar is so genuine about the childhood stuff it just makes me wanna give him a hug
Now THIS is a regular car. Thank you.
SalveMonesvol this is a shitbox. Thank you
@@s.i2898 Nah...still better built than an 8th gen Civic
"Visibility is good in this thing" Something car manufacturers care dick about today.
The dreaded A-pillar bloat, because car companies can't figure out how to get better ratings in the roll-over test any other way. And may as well shove an airbag in there and make the visibility even worse just because.
I know, I try to back out of a parking spot and I can't see anything, I'm like "Fuck it I'm going"
ehhem 5th gen Camaro
It's not just pillars. High belt lines mean you can't see anything on the ground closer than 15 ft. High hoods mean you have no idea where your front end is (and we can't have hood ornaments, either). I blame these changes for why people suck at parking.
It's nearly impossible to make cars nowadays any other way due to safety standards. Believe me, I'd love to design cars with thin pillars, but people would die in a rollover.
Actually shed a tear in the last moment. "Ok mom, how do I look?" Actually miss those painful moments now 😢
An old boss of mine had one of these as a daily driver back in the day - he always referred to it as, “The car you buy when you’ve given up hope!” Of course, in those days, I was driving a ‘78 Dodge Aspen with the slant-six and about 200,000 miles on the odometer, so I actually thought it was the cat’s meow.......lol
That mad had a way with words.
Called my mom right after the video
This car reminds me of road trips with my grandparents and eating turkey sandwiches my Grandma made. A sandwich which I had to eat inside a McDonalds as my Grandpa took a crap in the bathroom because Grandma was too cheap to just buy me a burger.
Yeah, that's freaking cold hearted.
Could have at least got you some fries maybe.
@@moonbeamskies3346 off the dollar menu better than nothing
She did you a favor by not letting you eat crappy McDonald’s.
Paul Lunsford I agree. I always pack a lunch for work and sneak in my own food/snacks when I go to the movies 😂🤷🏻♂️.
THIS CAR REMINDS ME OF MY DAD
BECAUSE I DONT LIKE MY DAD AND HE LEFT ME WHEN WE HE HAD ENOUGH MONEY FOR A TRANS AM
Hah! Super Kami Guru!
Can't blame him for it
My dad has 4 trans ams 1 camaro and corvette c6 zr1 I live with both my parents
Alternating between Motorweek retro reviews and regular car reviews of the same car is extremely entertaining. First you get the initial impression and motivation of the manufacturer and then the regular car review is what it actually turned out to be 😆
That’s a good idea🤣
I own a 95 lumina with 350,000 miles, and it shows. I removed the 3.1 v6 because I discovered the transmission bell housing was the same as the Cadillacs 4.9L 300ci V8. It is a power house and I love it.
Nice
I got my '90 Lumina in '94. GREAT CAR! Had a lot of zip, decent on gas, stock stereo sounded great(I was 19 so that mattered), and it didn't need anything but basic maint. until the transmission finally crapped out at 190k. Btw, the bench seat is great because your gf can scoot up next to you. :-)
haikarate4 No way that stereo actually sounded great. No offense, but it only sounded great for people without an ear for good audio.
I had a 93 or so. Yeah the stock sound system was pretty kicking.
Cake wrote a song about the glory of bench seats.
@@PeugeotRocket or you never heard one lol the regals had a pretty nice sounding system in it at least idk about the lumina
My theory is that the sound systems were better in stock American sedans because A.) none of them used Bose components, and B.) cloth seats helped with acoustics.
How the fuck do you make these reviews worth watching? I mean really, I just watched a review of a '90 Lumina and thoroughly enjoyed it... the same with the rest of these god awful cars you review... What type of sorcery is this? Whatever it is, keep it up!
allen_nightmare5oh lol! ikr!? 😂
You're probably locked in a bubble of high end automobile enthusiasm. Stuff like peak HP numbers of a Nissan GT-R or the Mclaren P1. It's an easy rabbit hole to fall into, talking shop and all that. But then we forget what it's like to just drive one of these forgettable cars, how we could be proud of a Lumina or Cavalier despite their flaws, because of what it represented. The raw emotion of these cars, little time capsules into their decade, discussing why they even sold in the first place and who is still driving them, it's all part of the automotive culture that we forget when we advance into higher platforms like sports cars. We forget the little guy, the ones who gave us our first true taste of freedom and adulthood, the regular vehicles that almost all of us had a deep connection to.
Sure it may be fun to have a 300HP vehicle now, but I still miss the buzzy 1.6L SOHC in my old Civic, having to rev to 5500RPM to merge into traffic. Or my old Caprice, which was far from perfect, but rode like a cloud and allowed me to cram 9 people into one car, which is important when you're a teenager. 2 bench seats and a trunk that could fit 3 people without making things too weird whenever I hit a bump.
allen_nightmare5oh when you talk about a car, you rarely talk about the car, you talk about the story behind it -Mr Regular
Mr Regular is an absolutely impeccable writer and story teller. You can tell he's a smart guy with a solid English education.
Also his voice is sexy as hell.
@@JimmyTheMachine well put
A 1990 Chev Lumina should never look that good in 2017. That is an owner who really cares for his car. Bravo.
The smell of an old GM is the smell of my childhood. My dad had a diesel Chevette, an S10, and a Le Sabre, my mom had a Roadmaster, my uncle had a Lumina of almost every generation, my cousin had several Buicks, and my babysitter drove a Grand Prix.
Those cars may not have been top sellers, but there's a certain charm to them that you have to experience.
This is the official car of throwing your crack pipe out of the window bc you got pulled over for having a tag light out.
LMAO
Bahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lmffffaaaaaoooooooooo I can see this on an old live pd episode now
W body: the official car of compact demolition derbies
Thanks guys, I appreciate all the effort. One of the best channels on UA-cam.
HagbardCeline allahu hagbar
Jackie Chan
Aloha Snackbar!
r
alalalalalalallalalallaaa!!!
I like the interior and I like how this particular car was so well cared for.
My dad had a 94 Century with a 3.1 in it. Took my driver's ed exam in that car, spent a lot of weekends in the backseat going to grandma's house or Kmart...so I think you nailed the ambience of middle American 90s GM family movers pretty well. 😊
Had a 1993 EURO model - My first family car when I got married w/46K on it. Drove it for just over 8yrs and sold it with 165K - sold it to a buddy - he drove it to 265K. Say what you will about '90's GM products - It was honestly a damn good reliable car.
How was the Euro version different (just honestly curious). A buddies mom had a Euro version.
@@sandknobrestorations440 IT HAD........a ...trunk spoiler..... yep that's about it. oh and red & black badge logos saying EURO....lol
Yoooo I have a 93 euro with the 3.1 right now!
The euro was the loaded up with options version.
It has these weird seatbelts that come out of the doors so you don't need to undo your seatbelt to get out of the car, a trunk popper button, floor console instead of the column shifter, a different cluster, spoiler, different rims, and bucket seats, there's probably other things but I forget. Idk, a cargo net?
Lots of cab cars
You made me miss my mom with this script.
you better do one on the Taurus now.
dosbox907 #3rd gen
he did the sable it close enough
YES PLEASE HAHAHA. 1990 Taurus, I miss mine. Ok not really...
sidefx996 im pretty sure im the only person in america who hasnt owned one.
i honestly think they're one of the ugliest Ford ever put out, but they must be pretty reliable considering i see one just about every damn day still.
dosbox907 they dont die.... except the transmissions and the Vulcan
Wtf 41k miles and it's a 1990 car. Damn
Martin Skoda I'd happily use it as a daily driver to avoid putting unnecessary miles on my 335i
asif naseri fuck that dude i drive my G8 everyday fuck miles life too short to not enjoy what you have
Thevalley Rodriguez normally I'd agree, it's just I have a shitty commute. I spend most of my time in traffic and I'm not getting the opportunities in my daily drive to really open her up
Martin Skoda you've never owned a beater car before, have you?
Martin Skoda exactly! That's what I'm saying. Its nice having a car you don't give a fuck about as a second car. I used to have an Hyundai Accent and I wish I still had it along with my 335i so i could use it for my shittier drives. That's why I said I wouldn't mind having this Lumina as a beater car
Back in 2003 I test drove one of these with 28k. I was about to go back and buy the car and then, while driving... the engine caught fire. Glad it was honest enough to catch fire before I bought it. :-)
Most GM victims aren't so lucky.
I used to secretly love when my dad's old Lumina broke down for the umpteenth time on the way to school because it meant I had a legitimate reason not to be there
The official car of "I'll send in those alimony checks next week for sure "
I teared up with that ending. Thank you for the amazing work, guys.
I love these reviews, I always feel so cozy and comfy after watching them....most of the time.
Yeah, nothing like that dick flavored capri sun to make you feel all cozy inside.
My dad had a 2000 lumina in dark green , i get goose bumps just by the name lumina , so much memories
This took me back! I was raised by my Aunt who bought her first new car in 93 and it was a new Lumina. It was very similar to this one but had a updated grill and the eurosport rims. We were king of the neighborhood! I learned how to drive in that car. The head gasket blew in 2011 and sold off to the junk yard a few months later. I miss that thing!
Thanks! This was my first car. I miss that rhaspy exhaust note that these cars made.
pushrod V6
Yes that is ear candy for sure.
Reminding me of the stupid muffler not-mufflers that GM used on these, particularly Pontiacs. Pleasant days and evenings interrupted by gargling noises from GM cars.
Honestly.. I like the sound of a GM V6. I’ve owned four of them.. including a new to me 2019 Chevy Impala.
Growing up the 80s and 90s.. four cylinders were the sound of disappointment. We drove them because we had to drive them. They didn’t rev (pushrods, all of them). No power... acceleration was glacial.
V8s were mostly associated with old pieces of crap that even poorer people drove. Running on 7 cylinders because of a misfire or bad valve. Exhaust manifolds leaking. Couldn’t rev worth anything because they were all still emissions choked or running 1 barrel carbs. And nobody revved them anyways because of increased fuel consumption and reduced reliability (remember.. this was still a generation of 1970s cars that only lasted 100,000 miles before going to the demolition derby or the scrap yard). Blub blub blub blub blub blub blub. The few muscle cars were aspirational... but no family had one. They were as attainable and practical as a Lear Jet to most of the middle class.
But V6s. If you had a V6 in late 80s or early 90s, you’d made it! You could do _the speed limit_ going up hills! Your first time driving one surprised you as you were met with instant throttle response (lots of times because it was port fuel injected as well and didn’t hesitate, stutter, or wait to make up its mind). 0-60 in under 10 seconds!
And that sound. Particularly the GM V6s. Not the annoying buzz of a four cylinder. Not the sounds-like-it’s-going-to-explode V8. Just throaty.
And honestly today.. it’s the same thing as four bangers now dominate. I have the only V6 car on my block except the retired neighbor across the way with a decade old V6 Mustang. All the cars and SUVs are four cylinder.. and while most of the trucks are V8, they are all much older, and slower than my car.
the official exhaust note of poverty
This was beautiful. Born in '85 and you took me back. My favorite review yet, amazing writing throughout. Thank you.
ROMAN! your killing it in the outro. An RCR Album would be awesome.
I got a '85 2.3 Sierra as my first car and it's honestly the same as the lumina, that era of cars that could be described as "beige, is all beige, the FEEL IS BEIGE" is just such a trip
Trying to sell it and save for a '99 Move now but one gotta love those fridges with wheels
honestly at first i watched your shit cuz it was different and brutally honest and dark humor and it grew on me like that white mold on cheese but you still say fuck it, slice it off and eat the cheese and now i realize I seek it out cuz it is different and brutally honest and dark humor af. your doing somthing great man and your the only one out there i can think not trying to be like every other car video. pure gems man, thanks
Damn that comment at the end about childhood with my parents was deep and made me nostalgic for those times
I had a lumina z34. The poor man's Camaro
Sure. Let’s make the Camaro big, heavy, and slow.
@@Bartonovich52 wait so they just rereleased the camaro?
@@user-jh1jj9rj3g Lmao
Nice 370Z
Pretty sure it's lighter, smaller, and has more power than at least a V6 Camaro with a DOHC 3.4L V6 and Getrag 5 speed transaxle. But I bet it listed for more than a V6 Camaro new....
Mom asks outside the fitting room, "Do you have enough room in the crotch?"
@RegularCars Love the point you make about the Lumina being a save point in our memories. For me, it was a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera (my parents owned 3 of them). If you could find one of those and make a video that would be awesome.
My Dad had a Lumina station wagon. It was maroon. It was rusted. You needed a piece of wood to unlock the driver's door. The windshield wiper toggle was broken, so a switch was installed to toggle them off or on. That wagon took us to a lot of little league baseball games. It drove well in the snow. Then finally one day... it was traded in for a Ford Ranger. It was 2001 btw.
Intro song = final fantasy 9 intro
Nailed it. I knew it sounded familiar.
Holy shit! It clicked but I couldn't place it.
Roman knows which final fantasy is best final fantasy.
I had to whistle it to remember it.
I was looking for this comment.
it's definitely in the top 3 FF games.
We had two growing up in the 90's....one lasted my older brother until 435,000 miles with minimal maintenance original engine and trans...the second one is still running in 2019 with almost 300,000 miles for my younger sister....they dont die easy!
What happened to the first one, rust accident, or mechanical failure? Is the other Lumina still running?
dude this review really hit me in the feels at the part when he's talking about mothers trying on clothes, I have a 1996 Lumina and honestly it this review legit brought back memories of mom, RIP I love you Mr. Regular :)
"oh good my babysitter is here"
My "first car" was a 1996 Lumina. It wasn't ever my car, but it was my mom's. I learned to drive in it, and drove it around without a license all the time when I was 14-16. Many late nights and good stories with this car. The fuel gauge didn't work so we had to count miles carefully, and we ran out of gas all the time. Had to push it up-hill all by myself, run and hop in as it sped down hill with no power steering or brakes. Used to take it down by the lake and just floor it on those long open roads, I can't ever forget the sound that V6 made at wide open throttle, the best thing it would compare to would be somebody screaming through a rusty pipe with some holes scattered throughout it, lmao. One the saddest moments of my life was seeing this thing sold for $800.
It always puts a smile on my face when I hear a story about someone who keeps their simple daily driver nice and clean. To me it takes a special kind of appreciation, because it's obvious you want to baby your Datsun 240z, or your BMW M3 because those are collectible cars that a lot of people desire and it's value keeps going up.
It shows that they can appreciate a simple but sturdy car, and seeing one of these regular commuter cars in top shape is something I love seeing more over a wide body rocket bunny GT-R.
This was beautiful thank you. Made me think back to those Saturday afternoons with Mom as a small kid. Almost teared up. Beautiful...
Seriously dude: this is a great review of a not-so-mundane car. You're able to highlight the very soul of each vehicle.
WOW! So much to say here! My first car was/is 93 Lumina Euro I got in 98 when I was 16 with 80k on it, and am still driving today, in 2018 with 283k miles. Still getting 24 mpg highway! Yes I'm not entirely happy with the mono leaf rear suspension, and the paint, but couldn't ask for better car. Years ago I met a guy who built GM cars who saw my car and said "that is the best we ever made." Mine has 3 speed trans without overdrive but Euro package with rear spoiler and alloy wheels. I've been auto technician for 20 years and haven't seen more reliable vehicle. And compare it to a early 90s Taurus? They where lucky to make 100k before the trans imploded. In my opinion this is the height of GM production. Long live the road warrior!
Corsica's were very reliable as well
Yes, GM sedans were quality in that time, Lumina, Corsica, Beretta, Buick Century, Pontiac Bonneville, Oldsmobile Cutlass were all similar drivetrain with minor suspension, and styling differences. It's just sad to see how far downhill they have gone since, Toyota and Honda a close 2nd is all I trust now. I am a Toyota tech and have seen some issues on the newer stuff, but they stand behind it more than others.
My grandpa had a 1998 Lumina. They were good with servicing their car, and not abusing the car. Their transmission broke above 100,000 miles (not too sure on mileage because I was only a kid in elementary school). This is in New York too. They were not good cars in reliability. He told me he always had repairs and once the transmission broke he junked the thing and got a new 2009 honda civic. That’s been a great car for him.
I had a Lumina in 1992... as a rental. It was my first trip to America. I drove it from Montreal to Boston and back, and loved every minute of it. It was a metallic maroon one, it looked gorgeous and was very confortable and nice to drive on the motorway.
IM SO EARLY I THINK MARILYN MANSON STILL HAS ALL OF HIS RIBS
1990: Chevy Lumina - the official car of poor proportions
JK061996
Yes, in retrospect, I have to say this car looks better than most of the mainstream sedans of the era.
Give me one.
I submit to you the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage for consideration.
Better proportioned to what, other contemporary American cars?
The trouble is the back of the car does not match up well with the front. It's almost like two different cars were glued together. The trunk line is too low and it's too angular compared to the smooth line of the front going into the windshield. The back part of the rear door also seems to be far too large for no reason at all. Not one of GM's better efforts.
4:06. I thought you were just going to just keep driving straight into the ditch.
I grew up with a 3.1 Euro. Bought it in Idaho, then it made the journey to Korea where it was horriblly large for tight pedestrian filled mountain roads, made the trip from Korea to Illinois and finally off to Hawaii where my mom eventually sold it. I actually saw it a few years ago where some beach bum was living out of it and the clearcoat was gone and light surface rust showing through it. Was still going strong oddly enough.
My mom had an 89 Pontiac Grand Prix. I can remember riding in the back with my best friend and when you wanted to roll the window down we had to share the last remaining window switch "peg" (went under the rocker on each side to activate the switch). Hand it back and forth to roll the windows up or down
All those old Saturday afternoons, Sundays morning church, the good days when summer was fun and not annoying nuisance... Oh, boy, they go by so fast indeed.
ill always be waiting for that acura legend review
I see a new RCR video online, I press like. Now let me watch it.
I had this car's predecessor - an '84 Chevy Celebrity - and was INCREDIBLY impressed with its comfort and drivability as just a regular, run-of-the-mill 4-door sedan. The engine died at some point but it was well over 100k at that point. I do miss it, sometimes. Well. . . let's rephrase to say that I look back at it fondly.
been a mechanic for nearly 40 years, and you really got me when you compared the Lumina to the taurus. it's broken springs, collapsed seat cushions and subframe mounts that rusted out. I have two Luminas with a combined 500,000 miles. My only complaint is that the heaters seem to be less than North Dakota demands, but I keep them both! You can drive the Taurus!
well now i want to know about his SAAB
You want to hear the SAAB story? It involves spending two weekends in my parents' garage pulling the transmission to rebuild a leaky slave cylinder. Despite all the headaches I still couldn't bear to sell the damn thing - it's in storage now.
What model? I own 2 Saabs, and haven't had any problems.
1995 9000 CSE 5-speed with 100k miles. Two new problems for every one I fixed.
When you actually fix it, it will be worth it. I have a 1996 9000 aero with 160k.
The 9000 is one of my favorite all time cars. No joke.
As expensive as my saab is to own its the best damn car I've ever been in. And well it's cheaper than my lumina was
My first car had a newer generation 3100 SFI V6 and it was not difficult to work on at all. The Taurus or the same year (2001) though? The belts didn't have enough clearance from the frame to fit a traditional breaker bar. Everything was a pain on that one.
My Olds Cutlass with the 3.1 it was an interference fit to get the breaker bar into the tensioner. And water pump replacement was brutal.
Brings back bad memories of being a mechanic in the 90s. Obd 1 with vacuum nightmares. Transverse engine bay's without any clearance room.
Goddamn it Mr. Regular...I had a 1990 chevy lumina EURO complete with CAR PHONE that I wanted to show you but last year it got totaled. It was my daily driver. Bought it off an old lady in Phoenixville for $500.
That sucks. Those cars were FAST! Believe the Euros were packing an extra 30 hp over the base models.
Had one of these in 1998. It has a ‘cool’ factory spoiler and side skirts. One evening I was racing my friend in his camaro (had no idea at the time of the suspension similarities) and I ended up blowing a radiator hose! Haha! But I’ll forever remember driving my first v6 car!
I had a ‘91 Lumina with Euro trim. It was a lot better looking than the base trim. Got it used in ‘94 after I got my first real grown-up job, and it’s my first grown-up car. Not a a bad ride overall. The rear view mirror just fell off one day. Another expensive repair and I got rid of it in ‘97 for a Dodge Neon.
This was a strangely poignant episode. Must be winter in Pennsylvania talking.
How's that? The snow and cold makes one ponder their life's choices?
@@dhoerst like why did they choose to live somewhere cold for another winter
We need to see the van version.
YEEEEESSS, WE NEED THE DUST BUSTER VAN
this review reminds me of my dad's 98 Camry
I still miss you
Jason Leung
Except the Camry was a good car.
Those GM 2.8 and 3.1 engines were very peppy, had the coolest induction and exhaust sounds of any V6 too.
Once again, this is a car that goes 300,000 + miles , bulletproof , gets you to work relaxed and your ready to kick some ass ! If you were a young dad this is the car that bridged you to a management job at $ 100,000 per year .
If you still got that old Toyota Cressida, please do a full review on it.
Beautiful closing line. " ... Okay, Mom, how do I look?"
This car was supposed to compete with the Ford Taurus? I think you mean the *CliTaurus* amirite?
All Hail Nannerpuss haha....
HAHAHAHA that's what my friend used the call mine.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Sounds like someone found his first one in the back of a Ford to me...
My mom had this car when we were growing up. Broken exhaust and you could hear it from 3 blocks out. “Oh shit, moms coming!” My friend still does an impression of the way that car sounded.
I bought a 1995 Chevy Lumina LS brand new, still driving it now 22 years , still going strong! Only 95,000 miles, no issues! Love it! Great video guys!
He must not like it that much because I just found it on craigslist for $1995
Did you really find that exact one?
You know the battery below the strut brace. I work a lot on uplanders from about 07-08 and yeah they still have it under the darn structure support.
For some reason I love the look of this car
The reason is that you are crazy :-)
I learned to drive in a 93 Lumina. When it was relatively new it seemed pretty nice to my teenage mind.
These days I haven’t driven a gm product that had confidence inspiring brakes, or steering, in many years
This was my dad’s company car. Well, it was a 92 lumina Eurosport. It was the coolest family car we ever had. Or it felt like that when I was 12. Lol
He worked in sales for a printing company. That car was super comfortable to be in.
I remember the night I went to see Days of Thunder in the theater. They rented a Lumina's in the scene where they were late for that meeting at a restaurant lol
Lumina Eurosports were pretty Damn cool.
vector6977 Z-34s were even better
I had a 92' for my first car, and if I ever find a badass grandma that has a mint garage queen example for sale....I will have another one!
Yeah, my Dad rented a blue one--with that red striping everywhere and the EURO 3.1 badge so prominent. He made the mistake of letting me drive it when we had to run a few errands. He saw a side of his son he'd never thought existed, may he rest in peace.
My dad bought one back in 07 for my sister but kept it himself for about $800. He drove that thing until last year when he finally got tired of fix everything. When he first bought it he'd let me drive it and at 19 it was the best handling thing I'd ever driven. But I'll tell you, after the latch broke on the tilt column that thing was a bitch to drive
I test drove a Z-34 with a 5 speed. You can tell that car was never meant to be a manual. Decently quick for what it was but horrible shifting feel.
This is a car for old ladies named Ethel
Actually that would be the Buick Regal and Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme which are based on the same platform.
Yeah, it was Buick. articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-06-20/business/9406200196_1_buick-source-concept-car-key-fob
so?
And Cole Trickle
No. Ethel would have a Buick Park Royal or an Oldsmobile 98.
The Chevy lumina is an incredible car had a few of them over the years had a 90 model with 532000km on it before I lost 2nd gear in the transmission them 3.1 litre engines are incredibly durable as well good to see there is people acknowledging these vehicles after all these years 😀
Referencing Electronic Boutique, lol. Damn, this dude knows what early 90's were like as a teen boy. Subscribed.
Comment from a Swede: This car looks like every American car ever. It looks VERY generic. It looks nice. A bit different from the 740's that Volvo barfed out during the same period.
Tobias Hopstadius. perspective is funny, I have a very clear image in my mind of the generic European car, and its not exactly pretty.
Its always a squat little hatchback in refrigerator white with faded black trim everywhere. manual trans of course though mated to an uninspiring 1.5L on the mid level trim that needs to rev to move but lets you know it doesnt like it.
god....makes me want to go buy a Buick Roadmaster!
Very different. The 740 is made like 1970s GM... RWD, big, boxy, heavy... and cheap and breakable plastic interiors. The W bodies were modern front wheel drive with lots of creature comforts. I loved my 85 740... was super comfortable but very slow---my Olds Cutlass was much faster. My 740T estate was faster still... but had lots of problems related to the turbo. My wife's Lumina Z34 was also nothing but problems related to the engine.
DrewLSsix My mother drove a 1991 Toyota Starlet for a long time. Refrigerator white, with a 1.3l 4 cylinder. Faded black trim, 90's blue plastic interior and an unhappy engine coupled to a 3 speed automatic. A large bump in the front right fender after a drunk kicked the car. It's not a European car, per se, however, it's a very common vehicle type in Europe. Expensive gasoline and heavy vehicle taxes here in Sweden shape the people's view on cars.
Bartonovich52 Yeah, Volvo has had an amazing transformation from a utility-focused car brand into the luxurious family market. Glass knobs for the start switch? An iPad for heater controls? 20 years ago Volvo still produced the beloved 940.
It looks like half the cars in GTA San Andreas.
Whoa! I never knew the turn signals were in the grille
I do miss front bench seats. Why are they not made anymore?
I bet "safety" has a lot to do with it.
And then there's the giant console that they have to fit somewhere.
If I'm not mistaken, I do believe they're still technically allowed in cars, but I'm sure safety and interior space make a big difference too. Vehicles have large, complex center consoles nowadays, and most are far too narrow to accommodate a full bench in the front.
Just take a look at rear seats in modern cars - there isn't even enough space for the middle passenger to be comfortable in most, so imagine that in the front along with all of the modern tech garbage.
I've thought this too, a bench seat somewhat forces people closer together instead of being separated by a wall of plastic. A center console only divides and segregates passengers. It makes more sense with a FR layout where a trans tunnel and driveshaft need to be raised into the cabin, but in todays world of FF cars a center console is pretty much completely unnecessary. A column shifter or dash mounted shifter alleviate the need for it.
I believe it's mostly a style choice with people viewing bench seats as old fashioned. My '67 buick has a bench seat so the car can seat 6 people comfortably.
Grizzly Bear Great for road-head. 👌
wow those are some very good responses. Thank you for taking the time to write them everyone. Every time i ask this people say " I have no idea"
I've got one of these in white, and i love it! I only got it because i needed a cheap car.... then it grew on me lol it's just a solid runner, nothing fancy and that is perfect.
Back in 1990 or 91, as I was attending the University of Wyoming in Laramie WY, one of my friends worked for one of the local rental car companies. I, and two other friends, helped drive new Luminas from the Lander airport. And, the Luminas got tried out. We drove at over 100 mph all the way back. One of the Luminas didn't handle the fast driving, and a transmission cooling line blew off the radiator about 15 miles out of Lander.
I still have my sister's 1991 Buick Regal, and it out handles my 2011 Chevy Impala hands down. That single leaf spring independent rear suspension does work, at least in a two door Regal. Especially when new, the Regal would hold the curves even on the most curvy rural Nebraska Sandhills roads. And, you can actually see out of the back of a 91 Regal, unlike a 2011 Impala.