Having lived through the 90s, the main complaints at the time were how thin metal rusted out faster and how the computerized systems with electric everything made fixing them difficult.
Nah Rustproofing got good in the mid 2000s. My e90 has close too zero rust, while my e38 and especially my e46 coupe have so many rust problems. Still love those cars
We have to have all this safety crap on cars today because morons can't stay off thier cell phones while driving and kill about 5000 people in accidents every year just in the U.S. alone.
90s supercars are still untouchable in terms of reverence and mystique. They were still analog, sounded amazing, look beautiful, and still had that wild edge that makes them unforgettable
the only cool 90's supercar is the mclaren f1, or maybe some ultra rare italian cars, even the best sports cars were not that hot, the corvette zr1 with the 400hp 32v v8 was special, other than that almost all other had trucks or even more lamentable engine like the nsx with his odissey engine, what an fucking joke, the new nsx is a much better car, cant even compare, same for the supra and gtr even if its extremely outdated, its still a much better car than the r33 or r34 junk that broke all the time even at 300hp
Being born in the 80s and not getting my license until the early 2000s I was able to take advantage of all the used cars from the 90s and late 80s that had that rock solid reliability. Back then the "beater" car was the best value for anyone who just started driving. When my kids are ready to drive I doubt their will be anything comparable on the road for them.
The part that really hurts my soul is how many perfectly good 90s cars were destroyed by the government in the cash for clunkers programs to bail out failing domestic brands just to be replaced by unreliable disposable newer cars that are intentionally more difficult to fix
im 22 and just bought my first car the best thing i could find in my area is a 2001 toyota camry with 100,000 miles on it for 1600$ its ran perfectly fine for me so far and I feel like i got pretty lucky considering the price
No one's gonna see this, but i drive a 97 Mitsubishi Lancer (75hp), been driving it for years and it never fails me, i once had the trunk and back seats full of bags with leftover wood to burn at home, overtook a Lexus like that, most proud moment ever. Also extremely easy to work on, added AC by myself to it, and it still works 3 years later
All the bells and whistles in newer cars simply make cars heavier, harder to work on, and more expensive. I always appreciate the moderation in old cars
@@stefanstoic I just bought an -04 mk1 Citroen C5 V6 3.0l with 300k km on it. It has some french electrical issues with right front door, but otherwise everything works perfectly. It even has the later suspension with sport button. I don't know anything about cars, but I hope I made a good decision. And it passed inspection on June so it should be roadworthy.
@@deluge6479 now the pump for the suspension blows the fuse immediately and there was already a 60A fuse instead of a 40A. And the drivers side inside handle broke off. Window still works. And I raise the car with a wire instead of a fuse when it starts to hit the rubber stoppers. I would just need to clean the pump (motor full of carbon dust), but can't get it out. 😂
Those commercials were also great. Before the disclaimer "Don't be stupid and try these stunts at home" apparently wasn't enough to save companies from liability.
All car adverts are basically the same these days. The car driving on some long, open stretch of road shown with different camera angles while some boring narrator tells us some of its more impressive specs.
@@Gaius_Claudius lifestyle ads have proven to be more effective than anything else "buy product, be a consumer and maybe your life will be kinda like this artificial fictional character our cooperate hivemind has created to show you"
@@Gaius_Claudiusthey don’t even show any features anymore, it’s just some chick saying she can drive anywhere, anytime and be there as fast as she can be
I feel like that sums up the 90's as a whole and why it was arguably the best decade/era overall. You had a lot of good technology but it didn't overwhelm us as we were still in control of it all - it was balanced.
Agreed. No more tuning your carburetor. No more cleaning ignition points. Distributors and timing lights were on their way out. Maintenance was easier and less frequent. You could get both 30mpg and a sub 10 second 0-60. The technology we did have was to make the engine run good, not for us to get distracted by going down the road. We got OBD1 and then 2 diagnostics to make everyone's life easier. No one ever got frustrated at the responsiveness of their radio in the 90's. Nobody had their car bricked due to a failed update. Nobody had their automatic wiper blades go tits-up. Nobody had a dual clutch transmission that exploded at 60k miles (looking at you, Ford). 100k miles CVTs weren't heard of yet in a mass produced commuter car. Electronic parking brakes didn't get stuck engaged. I could go on and on. As someone who has owned and daily driven at least a dozen 90's (and a handful of 80's) vehicles, I can say woth certainty that they are some of the best engineered vehicles on the road. I still wouldn't turn down a crazy good deal on a late model sports car, but you bet I'll still have a 4th, 5th, or 6th generation Accord for daily driver duty (in a 5th currently)
@@backroadsquid5280 late 80s weren't bad either as they were mostly pushrod so more reliable. the 90s cars went twincam and tended to break timing belts. some of the 90s cars were non interference engine so they lasted a long time when they broke a belt. the cars were smaller were light on fuel parts were cheaper since you only had a 18 inch square radiator and 30 amp alternator.
It's definitely the amount of control you have. With ai on the rise you never know. Plus the fact that all modern things suffer from the loss of original purposes. Cars are not multimedia boxes on wheels. It's a mode of transportation that should strive to give you a decent driving experience, not entertain you (definitely not while holding the steering wheel) I don't want a big ass screen on my center console. Yes it may be cheap to manufacture, but designwise its a disaster. And it is one extra thing that could break leaving you without anything it is useful for.
Computer design and simulation was advanced enough to make cars reliable, but not yet advanced enough to "value engineer" parts until they only lasted just part the warranty period!
Diagnostic auto technician here! Cars from the 90s provide such a simple joy to service and fix. By and large they were simple to disassemble and put back together, almost like they were made to be fixed. They also provide just enough computer data (post OBD2 at least) to easily solve running issues but not so much computerization that it becomes an issue. Modern cars are harder to fix and are much more expensive and often not even worth the cost of repair. 90s was absolutely peak car from my professional standpoint. Favorite car I ever owned was my 99 Outback with a 5 speed. If I ever find another one in good shape it’d be very hard for me to not just buy it.
I agree on the fact that car culture has changed. I didn’t live yet during the 90s but according to some videos I watched, people were then more in love with their cars. Today, I have the impression that most people just buy a Ferrari or a Lamborghini or whatever because of the brand and without any genuine interest for the car
"Yup," I say as I look in my garage and see my 1998 Jeep Cherokee, 1994 Land Rover, and 1986 Suzuki Samurai. All are manual transmission and windows. They are so much fun to drive. 1990s cars forever!
Very nice! My mother had a 5 speed 98 Cherokee for over 20 years. That truck never let us down & it's what I learned to drive stick in. Somehow, we never even needed to put a clutch in it despite that. They're amazing little trucks.
I had a manual 96 XJ Cherokee that was still running like a top when I sold it at 308k miles. My manual 94 Accord was still mechanically sound and getting me 80 miles per day when it got stolen at 245k. My current 97 Accord has 208k and is still serving me faithfully. I'm in Oregon, so rust isn't an issue
Agree, you are correct. Bought my 97 Civic EX used in 2001 and I'm still driving it, since I take care of it. Nobody ever says, "I love making monthly car payments."
Isn't that the truth. I have a 2014 Mazda2 That i bought in cash for 4,500$ with 65K miles and I've driven the hell out of it. All I've done is maintained it and she's great. Cheap Insurance, Cheap to maintain. I had a 98 EX sedan, 5 speed and I regret selling it.
I’m 32 years old, been a mechanic my entire career and I don’t own anything newer than 1998. I rotate between a 95 and 96 gmc half ton depending on seasons/weather/abuse and have a mint 98 chevy half ton for Sundays and going golfing. All 3 trucks combined cost less than the down payment on a new one. All 3 are reliable, comfortable, modern enough to daily drive and simple and cheap enough to keep on the road. Long live the 90s
I’m about to be30 in a few weeks and own 1995s , 1996, 1997 ,1963 and I would agree on that I wouldn’t wanna own anything over 1998. I can work on them and keep them on the road just fine
The problem with multiple vehicles is the insurance and registration! The vehicles are inexpensive but they require so much to keep them legal for the road. My current daily driver is a '90 Honda Accord that I'm trying hard at preventing from getting rusty which is nearly impossible!! I put a hitch on her for a trailer, but the weight limit is very low!!
I’ve been into cars for a many years , I’m beginning to share your sentiments now the more I see with the modern vehicles, not even going to discuss price, I have to be returning a Mazda lease (which has been good little crossover) shortly and it’s pretty serious when I’m now considering going for 95 or earlier ford f150s , or nineties models gm trucks!
Shade tree, but my '99 Tahoe was my favorite vehicle I've ever owned. I've got an '04 Tahoe now along with a '00 F450 7.3/ZF6, '96 Formula 6 speed, '12 Malibu and '12 F150. For comfort, ease of repair, reliability, quality, leagues of difference between the old(ish) and (not so) new. I can imagine how much different 2020's vehicles in comparison.
i drive a 2004 volvo, and while its not technically from the 90s it features a lot of the same technology and stylings as one, but slightly updated. I love the thing. Very reliable every day, and an absolute dream to drive. No annoying beeps or lights flashing in my face while driving, just whats necesarry to get me down the road with a few amenitiies. Got a friend with a '91 accord with over 260k miles on it and still going strong. overheaded like 6 times and still runs
As a former owner of a Golf V6 4motion, built 99 and registered 2000, I can only agree to the general sentiment. 90s cars hit just the right spot between simple cars and modern amenities, both technical and comfort. Still easy to drive no-brainer cars like from the 80s, but several comfort upgrades like proper quality former "luxury" features such as really good ergonomic seats, 16/24V engines with proper ECU and etc., but without the more recent diseases of annoying the driver with ridiculous demands like only starting the engine if the clutch is pressed, or loud alarms like undone seatbelts even if you're simply maneuvering for parking. Many 90s cars hit the perfect sweet spot between freedom, comfort, and reasonable safety. I'll miss them.
@@ropeburn6684 if you work on cars yourself they can get annoying after 2000 as manufacturers started to become very savvy on getting cars serviced by official dealers. Suddenly even changing spark plugs meant taking off lots of ducting and covers. Often with flimsy plastic clips which if break means replacing a whole cover. 90-99 is a sweet spot for some awesome machines that you can maintain yourself fairly easily.
Everything you said is 100 percent true. It's exactly what I've been trying to say all these years. Fast isn't special anymore. Everything is fast. Everything looks the same everything seems to be an SUV. Trucks are shiny and expensive, what's a cool car nowadays? Every car had it's own lane back then now everything is blurred. It's a really depressing time for car enthusiasts. Nothing is affordable.
"Fast isn't special anymore," true indeed. I finally bought my dream car last year, 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack in Go Mango orange. It's fast, but it's not going to beat a lot of the fastest electric cars with their direct acceleration. But it's not just about fast, you also have to consider the soul of a car. I got the Challenger because I love the way it looks. It's a unique looking car, unlike all the generic, amorphous blobs that most of the electric cars look like. The Challenger has a great retro look to which is a nod to the muscle cars of the past. I think it's a perfect balance between performance and looks. But I'm still not getting rid of my old 99 and 2000 trucks. I love the simplicity of those old cars too.
Couldn't agree more regarding "fast" and the changing car scene. I used to gravitate toward the exotics and high-powered performance cars at shows and meets. However, speed is not unique or exclusive anymore. These days, restored classics (or better yet, survivors) from the 70's, 80's and 90's catch most of my attention. Not only because they connect me to my youth but also because many have a story. Much more impressive than the person who dropped $100+ large to buy their show piece. Nothing against money or modern tech but modern vehicles have largely lost their soul.
Fast for most is how it feels on a day to day basis. People get fast but massive SUV trucks now.. they lose that visceral excitement of driving..its both boring and also makes you inconsiderate of your driving as you just want to plow past everyone to get it all over with. Get a car that rewards the driving experience and it's fun.
I live in Europe and our car is a 20 year old Toyota from 2004 and it's working perfectly. We just service it once a year for cheap and it keeps going smoothly. Some of the buttons are starting to not work and the seatbelts are getting stiff but those can be replaced. No fancy electronics here and we love it. Simple, reliable, manual, easy to service. Just perfect
Used to have a 2004 Toyota Celica GT-S stick-shift. I had the "action package" trim and have seen ONE car like that in 10 years since. Worked great. Sold it 'cause, eh... wanted a "cooler" car. Got a BMW 335i. More power, sure. But it was an ongoing pain in the arse for 4 years till I sold it and got a 2013 Lexus SUV. Another 3.5 years later - no issues with the SUV. Although it's beaten on in it's own ways (the sports cars got floored and driven hard, the SUV gets to go offroad and wrangler-worthy doubletrack... but still holds up!)
@@fortheloveofnoisewhy would you build a Nissan Sentra? Genuine question, I'm a Honda guy so the only Nissan engines I rly know anything about are the sr20s and the RBs
@@mtmesa390?? The ‘97 Sentra literally came with the motor you just mentioned. As a guy who dedicates his identity to an econobox brand, what’re you doing asking people why they built an econobox?
@@goga.games18 yep! I was extremely lucky. An older lady took great care of it in her garage and used it as a grocery-getter. I actually just rolled over 130k earlier this week because I drive so much. I’ve had it for a year and a half now.
I sold my 2014 gmc truck and went back to driving exclusively mid 90s gm trucks, 3 suburbans, and 2 pickups. Never have i been happier with my transportation situation. Just way more practical vehicles than the new models
Agreed that car culture has become toxic. Social media is the main driver of this, in my opinion. Even at real car meet-ups, people are so stuck in this 'mine is better, faster, more expensive', or 'if its not xxx brand, its crap'. This is sad as, regardless of your preferences, true car people see the value and merit in almost all of the cars made (sporty, luxury etc...).
Agreed! I came up in the car culture before social media existed; we still hated on each other, but it wasn't the backbone of the culture. The cars were, and DRIVING the cars. It was social by nature, and we just aren't a social culture anymore.
If you go to a track or autocross, things are still just as fun and friendly. You wanna challenge someone, you share your times on the spot, and that keeps people humble. You go to a meet up, you got people talking trash non-stop because nobody has to prove a thing sitting around in a parking lot.
@@PURENT True, I've only been to a handful, but the experience is largely as you have described. One of my goals is to save up and to do Pikes Peak one day, I've heard it is a genuine blast and the people are amazing. Next year, I'll do the Simola Hill Climb (I'm from South Africa), if you haven't seen it, check it out, it's like a mini Pikes Peak but with equally insane cars, and good variety too.
what is also insane is that my 91 lifesize-hotwheels-civic gets equal or better gas mileage than any of the SUVs and crossovers - including hybrids - that anyone in the extended family drives. Climate change WAS a concern then, and the CAFE rules existed because of it. Consumers have been scammed by this loophole... how is this progress? Even the Prius has only recently been able to get massively better gas mileage than my civic in real-world driving.
@@tid418yeah it was fundamentally flawed, all cars should have to follow the same regulations, rather than those regulations getting tougher and tougher on smaller cars, all it did was encourage car companies to make their cars bigger to avoid the stricter regulations, making the issue worse.
I've been daily driving a 1996 Ford Thunderbird since 2006. I got into my first accident last year when a Subaru Forester pulled out in front of a side street when I was going 40 mph. It destroyed the front end of the Forester, but I was able to replace my fender and turn signal housing for $150 to make the Thunderbird as good as new.
1997 was a really good year for the LeSabre. Outstanding cars that were generally driven by very old people so they made great used cars. You can still find them in the obituaries when the former owner moves on. My friend has been driving his 96 since 2004.
I'm driving the '98 Oldsmobile 88 which is the same car with Aurora styling cues. It was cheap to buy, though it did need significant fixes over the 3 years I've owned it, but that was mostly from sitting around, not from overuse. I live in a rural area of mountain foothills, where everything is 20 minutes away, and I get 25 mpg combined. It handles and rides much better than I thought it would, is supremely comfortable and has never left me on the side of the road. I even changed from preferring cars with buckets and consoles to become a fan of a 60/40 bench seat. If the front subframe is solid and you've changed out the Series II Intake manifold with an upgraded one as soon as you smell coolant in the exhaust, there's little that can go wrong with it.I agree with those who think cars got overly complicated after the early 2000's. I also think having everything on a central screen causes lapses in attention that simple switches separated by geography on the dashboard prevent.
Thanks for making this video. I've been trying to explain to my brother why old 90's cars are still cooler than any of the new stuff that comes out. All the research and work you put into this really shows.
I’m 21 now, so 90s cars are before my time. But I have such a fascination with them! I’ve owned 3 cars since getting my license, all of them have been 2nd generation Acura integras. They are the coolest cars ever made in my opinion; simple, lightweight, fun to drive, reliable, engaging, fun to drive, great gas mileage, beautiful styling, comfy interior and FUN TO DRIVE! There really is something so special about cars from the 90s and I totally agree that this is when cars peaked.
Me and my ex GF got Honda Civic Hatchback that was sooooo fun to drive, when the head gasket blew and it had to disappear on back of a tow truck she actually cried like a family member just past.
The integra was amazing. Alot of cars tried to do that fwd sports car thing but none hit it like the Integra. It was a upscale make and model compared to civics, it looked amazing compared to anything under 35 grand back than, it was very light and it loved to sing like a song bird. The entire aftermarket seemed built around that car until the k series were created. The RSX was amazing in its own right but it never achieved the cult status of the integra. By the time the RSX came out, the Celica was close on its tail and every maker had some sort of fwd sports car port to offer
I currently daily a 1991 Miata and drive an ‘89 Corvette during the weekends. I currently hate the state that the American car industry is in right now. People are getting worse at driving, vehicles are getting bigger and more expensive, and most of the cars I enjoyed are being discontinued or have been discontinued for a while. I envy Europe because they still get the vehicles I prefer and they don’t have the problem of people driving “status symbols” like the Ford F-150 Raptor or the Cadillac Escalade, and the Ram 1500 TRX.
Crossover SUVs are becoming popular there as well. Instead of F-150, it's Porsche Cayennes and BMW X5s. And in a lot of places the taxes are outrageous, if you wanna buy a new Toyota GR86 in France, it's 100k USD.
American auto manufacturers killing off the affordable, small passenger vehicle was a symptom of the rot of greed that currently infests that industry.
@@PURENT Bro where are you getting that $100k price on an 86? I found several 86s in France for sale under 40k euros. Maybe you heard about the Supra with the I6 costing that much due to the displacement tax, but what you wrote is verifiably nonsense.
@@garythecyclingnerd6219 It's called the malus ecologique. It's a registration tax paid on new cars exceeding the emissions limit. The penalty for a Mini Cooper at 126 g/km is 230 euros. The penalty for a Corolla at 159 g/km is 4000 euros. The penalty for a Megane RS 2 at 182 g/km is 26,000 euros. The penalty for a Miata at 189 g/km is 43,000 euros. The penalty for new cars above 193+ g/km is 60,000 euros. The GR86 is 249 g/km. You purchase a GR86 brand new in France, you're paying a 60,000 euro tax to get it registered. It used to be limited to 50% of the price of the vehicle, so the GR86 tax for 2023 was half of the price of the car, now it's no longer limited. Here's a funny one, Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, 700 hp 4 liter v8, 42 g/km, 0 penalty.
Cars today are using the iPad-on-the-dashboard approach not because it's better for the driver, but because it's much cheaper to manufacture. I love my older cars with actual buttons, that I can push while driving, and don't have to take my eyes off the road.
I recently switched from a 2004 Accord to a new Accord. (My 2004 was totaled 🥲) I really miss the simple button control and its simple intuitive layout. The leather was DEFINITELY more premium. And little touches like dim overhead lighting on the center console... the 20 year old car had a lot of thought put into everything (you could just tell) even the most minor design cues - it all felt intuitive to me from day one. I'm strongly considering getting rid of my new Accord and picking up one of those mid 2000's releases
That is actually the engineering perspective for control systems.. it begs belief that firms put cars out there with touch screen control for actual ancillary driver controls. Dangerous direction for such big devices
The sad thing is people still buy into it because it looks cool or comes with bragging prowess about "look what this does! Isn't it cool?" About something totally innocuous to actually driving a nice car to drive.
my father was raised during the great depression in the state of Colorado he had a moddel t car when he moved to San Francisco California way back when plus a model a plus a Plymouth fury in later years I'm into classic cars as well use to play grand theft auto the series plus gta online plus mafia 12and 3 I enjoyed driving classic cars in mafia 1 and 2 plus gta online sorry for getting carried away plus sorry for getting off topic.
I’ve never owned a vehicle manufactured in the 21st century. My 1990 Isuzu Trooper has 305k miles on it; she’s getting a little worn out, but is totally restorable.
The 90s were a perfect blend of new and old technology. No overcomplicated electronics, simple mechanical parts. No wonder Majority of these cars were reliable, good MPG and most importantly to car culture: EASY TO WORK ON!!
I upgraded from a 2003 Avalon to a 2015 Avalon. I do like the newer car a lot, but the 2003 was unquestionably more comfortable. Softer seat, better insulated (less road noise), smoother ride. I miss that car. Some dumbass teenager rear ended it on the freeway and totaled it.
Last good Jeeps for sure. I had a '99 Wrangler sport that would EASILY handle 2 foot snow at 40mph, drive up the side of a building, got great gas mileage, wickedly easy to work on, simple structure overall, and solid. Lasted almost 300k, and only ever had to replace the driveshaft and a waterpump. Jeeps after 2001 look like Lego cars, there's so much plastic on them. Not to mention all the digital horseshit, and clunky "NotAHummer" versions.
My friend’s mom had a 1999 Toyota sienna. They had that sienna for over 20 years, it withstood 4 boys and 300,000 miles and it was still running strong when they sold it.
I too am a 90s kid. My mom drove a 1997 Honda accord sedan she bought new. Incredible car. I’m driving a 1996 Tacoma with 300k miles now. You simply can’t beat Toyota and Honda from that era.
I'm in the UK and we're now starting to follow the American trend of buying SUVs and pickup trucks over small cars. The Ford Focus, Fiesta and Mondeo used to be the staples of British motoring and they're all being cancelled in favour of SUVs based on the same platform that do precisely nothing better. Out of all the cars I've ever driven, my favourite is honestly a 1996 Toyota Paseo. It's comfier than so many modern cars, weighs 900kg/2000lbs, feels fast, takes up very little space and still returns 40mpgUS/50mpgUK, and best of all, it's *involving* to drive. You are part of the experience.
Ehhh not necessarily. The UK isn't buying up pick ups & are still mainly buying small hatchbacks. Small crossovers like the Qashqai are popular now. Ford Puma & Vauxhall Mokka are popular but those are really hatchbacks if you look at their dimensions.
@@Lando-kx6so Yeah, except they're wider than the hatchbacks they replace, and are 100kg+ heavier, while offering nothing of substance. A Ford Kuga is nearly 300kg heavier than a Focus, and it's wider, while the interior space is pretty much the same. The issue is that hatchbacks and wagons do what we need just fine. SUVs do exactly the same thing with a bunch of plastic and bulk stuck on and offer nothing except a slightly higher seating position which isn't necessarily good. Plus surely you've noticed that new quad-cab pickups are more popular than ever here? The top 10 best selling cars in the UK used to be made up of sub 1200kg hatchbacks with a few saloons. Now it's almost all SUVs and only 2 cars on the top 10 list weigh less than 1300kg, most weigh closer to 1500. The Ford Fiesta used to be the best selling car and now it's the Puma which is over 200kg heavier than the Fiesta, nearly 20cm longer and 7cm wider. Doesn't sound like much but makes a big difference around town and on our narrow roads.
This is why I love my newer Mazda 3. You can tell from the moment you sit in the car and drive it that it is a drivers car. No touchscreen, the screen is nice and unobtrusive and it is controlled with an easy to use knob. The gauge cluster is traditional and analog looking but there is a useful screen in the middle. There is alot of buttons and it even has a favorites buttons too. Also the build quality and the material choices in the interior is fantastic, no rattles and feels like borderline luxury car. The steering feels like a hydraulic set up with good road feel. No CVT, just a reliable 6 speed automatic which is pretty responsive. The best part is that it is actually fun to drive and even kinda engaging too. Yes it has a turbo and a decently fancy tech but how could it not, it is a higher trim level of a Mazda 3.
Excellent video man. I was born in 1987 and I grew up in these kind of cars. Many of my friends and I drove these cars in high school. This took me back to a better time. Thanks man.
And they’re fun to drive too. My ‘98 Accord Coupe 4-cylinder 5-speed has 368k miles and is so fun to drive. And yes the NSX has been my dream car since I was 7.
My grandfather bought a 98 tacoma new off the lot cash in hand. He passed back in 2022 but the truck still runs like the day he bought it. I learned to drive in that truck and I'll be damned if anyone tries to get rid of it.
My favorite car of all time is the Renault Twingo. I love the bubble design and the digital panel, it looks like a great combination of technology and simplicity. I wish we had more cars with personality like cars from the 90s.
Mk1 Twingo is possibly the greatest city car design ever. As usual with Renault and great French cars in general, lack of engine diversity kind of toned down it's greatness.
I have a 1992 Cadillac Seville (Base) It has the Cadillac 4.9 PFI V8, and a 4 speed FWD Automatic Transmission. This is a year and a half before the Northstar engine released (so no head gasket issues) This engine along with the car is such a piece of beauty. Say what you want about Cadillac and General Motors around this time. But the engine and car itself is incredibly reliable. Restoring this engine to where it's at today, has been a blast. It's a straight up beast on the road and it's slick. No rust, 160k near 170K miles. I bought brand new Chrome rims, white walls, paint still new (Dark Polo Green) paint. I learned so much from working on this car, and it made me realize on how much 90s had the best cars. There's not alot of sensors, complicated parts. Super expensive. It's reliable
Wow, mate. I loved your video. I was born in 79 and started driving in the 90s. This took me back to the vehicles loved, hated, pushed to the limits and sometimes destroyed. Those were the cars. Thanks!
The 1990s was a special decade in my life. I had boundless energy of youth, enthusiasm and a positive outlook to what the future had in store. The 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo residing in my garage is a relic of that time so far removed from the present.
I bought my 91 MR2 about 3 years ago, and now I despise modern cars. Before that I owned a 2019 Civic and it really put into perspective how trash modern cars are, and how far manufacturers have fallen. I've pretty much completely rebuilt and retrofitted my MR2 for half the price of my civic and have been dailying it since I've owned it. I've told myself I'm never buying a modern car again for many reasons I can't briefly explain and currently rebuilding a 4-AGE for a gen 1 so I can get around to finally 2-GR swapping my gen 2. I'm either gonna ride to the end with cars from this era or sip fuel with em till I can't anymore
I definitely agree, though I'd argue it started in the mid-1980's and carried on through the 90's. Pretty much everything you said is spot on. There are a few cars from today that still feel like 90's era, the Miata and the Toyota 86, small, lightweight, manual transmission. I owned a 2013 Scion FR-S (same as a Toyota 86) and it's rare to have a car that simple. That year didn't even have any steering wheel buttons for the radio, etc.
Agreed. I've always had sports coupes and sadly an Amazon truck ran the red light and totaled my 2017 BRZ, so I just got a 2024 GR86 which is nice but my main annoyances have to do with the Eyesight camera system often interfering and annoying me about things that are not a problem and you can't even permanently disable it, and if you temporarily disable any of them, you get bright red warning lights as if I'm crazy to try to drive a car how I always have without electronic nannies. Even the auto-high-beam feature rarely works right. They made all this a standard feature even with the manual transmissions now in order to try and increase their manufacturer "safety" scores. And it seems clear that by the end of this model run in 2030 or so, if they don't just completely discontinue it, the new model will probably just turn into another big, heavy, complicated, hybrid, self-driving car like everything else.
I heard people (Younger) complaining that those cars are not as fun to drive because they aren't as raw. They complain about the drive by wire through gear shift and steering feel not feeling mechanical...there may be some delay in the throttle for emissions...I don't know, most of them want to sell the Miata and 86 to get a Honda S2000 for a better feel.... Im no expert it's just what I've heard people say.
@@sheldonlamey7010 recently drove my buddy's FR-S / 86, yes it did feel way less raw than my mk3 MR2, but I was surprised that it hasn't got a lot of rev hang (especially compared to my 2013 focus ST) and throttle response is pretty good as well, in gear it's even better than my cable-driven mr2, but needs more aggressive inputs to rev match downshifts, and aggressive upshifts feel a bit more violent than I would like it (still way better than the ST lol, that car reel like crap tbh)
Cars have continued to comfortable over the years, that's one thing they have done. If anything they've become way too comfortable. With little to no emphasis on the driving experience, or driving position and visibility. Great video bro, keep it up!!
The prices of the 90-00s are going to skyrocket in the next 5 years. Was lucky enough to pick up a 05 Honda s2000 recently and the prices they are going for right now is pretty nuts lol
I'll forever keep my beat to hell integra because working on it is actually fun. It's like an over glorified go kart. Easy to work on, easy to maintain, a blast to drive, and styling that's timeless.
I'm rocking a '99 S-10 Blazer and I absolutely love it. She was my first vehicle, bought her wrecked in 2018 and fixed her up over that summer. Love her to death for pretty much everything you listed. The simplicity, reliability, ease to work on, cheap, and there is a HUGE aftermarket supply of parts for them. There are times I wish I had the pickup variant instead of the SUV, but she does everything I need her to do, with the added bonus of being able to sleep in the back. She offroads great, hauls trailer loads well, is comfy enough to enjoy multi-hour trips, and has been anamazing vehicle for me for the past 6 years
Define better. Modern cars are safer, more powerful, and more efficient. Noise, vibration, and harness are down. They are - statistically - more reliable as well in spite of people's bellyaching. But better is subjective. My 2003 911 doesn't do anything better on paper than a new 911. It's not more reliable, faster, can't corner as hard, worse safety, no aids, not even automatic headlights; but I am very pleased with the car because of the size, price, performance, and feel. The one objective measure that 90's cars have is ease of maintenance. Packaging has gotten most sophisticated and working most new cars can be a challenge; although I'm pretty sure you could stand in the engine bay of a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage with the engine.
@@garythecyclingnerd6219 Well the amount that cars have gotten better since the 90's is much smaller. Except horsepower. Stuffing cars with ever more electronics and driving aids don't make the experience better, It makes it more sterile. Its more like driving a simulator than a car. Cars are little more than expensive appliances made to be swapped out every 2-5 years. And stuffing it with electronics makes cars heavier, more sterile and balloons the cost. Then putting everything on the center I-pad is infuriating to deal with having to go through menu after menu just to find the charge port unlock on a tesla. or turning on the radio. And using streaming like spotifiy or apple car play i don't see as an improvement you still get ads and crap. Rather just have a Cd-player,radio and knobs to control the acessories without sifting through 5-6 menus to do it. flick a knob to turn on the A/C and done. OR turn a dial to get to a radio station and done in like .5 seconds. instead of minutes trying to turn your dial and navigate 5-6 menus on a mercedes.
@@garythecyclingnerd6219batter is keeping it's value and reliability after a decades of use. I want 30 years old car to be almost as reliable as a new one.
@@garythecyclingnerd6219The cars wouldn't need to be so much safer if everyone stopped caring only about horsepower. The weight of a car is more important to how fun it is and if it's not very quick in the first place you wouldn't need as much safety. I think kei cars would've been the solution but everyone cares too much about horsepower so they only sell them in Japan. Also the cars extra safety from the massive pillars just block off more off your visibility which is less safe. To me it just seems like trying to win by sprinting in a marathon. Especially with the narrow roads and lower speed limits it makes no sense to have a boat of a car.
Yep, sit in an E39 and any new BMW and you'll notice how much cheaper everything feels in the new one. Plus if you've got the E39 528i or 530d you can do 500k-1mil relatively easy if you got the manual.
not quite 90's but I have a 2002 Civic that I got in 2003- had 35,000 miles (was a lease car)... has 200,000 miles now, and this thing is bullitt proof, 5 speed, gets 40 mpg- fun to drive (SLOW- but fun) LOVE IT
Early 2000 cars up to 2002 still are considered 90's cars. They are based on the models made in the 90's. Example 1998 - 2002 are the best and final era of Build quality fit and finish and most of all reliability for most manufacturers. But specifically JDM Cars, Trucks, and Minivans. Example remember the the Venable and extremely versatile Mazda MPV Minivan 1988 -1999? My Vietnamese neighbors had one and wow was I impressed. I went for a ride in that sweet vehicle and omg it was awesome, and they came with optional 4 wheel drive which actually took you offroad in comfort and reliably.
"Slow" cars with manual transmissions are the most fun to drive. You can rev them out everywhere and mash the gas pedal as much as you want. The problem with fast cars is you are never able to drive it to the fullest potential. There is always this slight frustration as you have to tone back revving it or pulling through gears.
To be fair...fatalities were lower because mid 90's cell phone usage was really a non-issue. Cell phones were very, very rare. Speed limits were a lot slower too.
Make sure to stay up on your timing belt! Love my 97 5 gen accord. Has over 400k on it and it’s been a champ.. but it’s about to have its 3rd engine (as far as I know) 😅
Really good video that sent me to a nostalgia trip. I agree with all your points made. I daily a first gen NSX and hang out with a lot of 90s JDM car people. The simplicity and raw driving feel is what makes us love these cars. I drove many modern way faster cars, and they all feel cool but very similar and “muffled”. They are rockets that feel like airplanes more than gokarts. I don’t get tired roadtripping the NSX because it’s so engaging, but I do get really sleepy in modern cars and can’t do as long trip just because I’m bored. I’m not saying everyone should drive 90s cars, that would be kinda terrible but the cars as an “emotional” machine really peaked in the 90s. Thanks for the vid! Subscribed.
i think you nailed it with the "feel like airplanes more than go karts". there was a sense to those 90s sports cars that just felt like you were on the edge of performance compared to the "safe" feeling you'd get from the more modern ones.
The sad thing is that we had almost all the good features in the early 90s that we do now. My 93 Volvo has power windows and sunroof, heated real leather seats and mirrors, a locking rear differential, ABS, a turbocharger, power seats with 3 built in memory settings, a decent sound system, the lights turn off with the car, on board diagnostics, the hood stays up on its own and can has latches so it can be lifted 90° for more room to work on the engine bay, an engine known for making it 300-500k miles, and the body is zinc coated prior to paint so it's less rusty than a lot of 2005-2010 cars Im sharing the road with up north. It's easy to work on, the parts are always ridiculously cheap and not generally hard to find, it's not fast but it's RWD and still does great in the snow because of the locker, steering and brakes feel great, just overall a pretty good experience all around. The only downfall of these older cars is that they require a lot of maintenance because all the rubber parts and seals degrade over 30 years. If you can pick at the problems here and there, the cost of owning them is far cheaper than a car payment and I still prefer the feel of driving it over brand new cars. Great safety ratings and the insurance is cheap too.
I drive a 22 year old Blazer and a 32 year old Buick, and they're the best cars I've ever had. They were cheap, and they're still cheap. I have 2 because sometimes (rarely) I need to work on one, so I have the other one to drive. Saying that, I'm lucky enough to live in a house with a driveway and not a city with difficult parking. I've decided I never want a vehicle with a screen on the dashboard, and I'm going to do my best to stick to that. I like working on my cars.
I was in high school during the late nineties. Before you put this into words, I figured it was just nostalgia, but I certainly agree with everything you said. You have given me a lot to think about.
90s cars are a lot easier to work on, I have an old 97 accord with over 400k on it and it drove great. But the engine failed on it so I’m putting a slightly bigger faster motor in it by myself. It’s pretty plug and play with the right tools. And if you don’t know theses cars have been out for so long all the info is all online
There is one more factor to consider in increased death rates nowadays - cars getting bigger means cars getting taller and more top-heavy. That in itself results in more cars on the roads that are more prone to roll-over accidents, and those types of accidents are typically associated with a higher mortality rate.
I fell in love with small 90s cars, had some project cars such as the 1987 Toyota MR2, 1995 Miata, and 1988 Honda CRX, all under 2300lbs. When I had to spend money on a new, safe, and reliable car in 2020 the only new car that spoke to me and closest to a 90s car was the 2020 Miata, 2334 lbs, 4 lugs, fun to drive, simple, good mpg.
Bought a V10 Dodge Ram and it’s still in my barn. The things has given me 0 issues, I put a newer set of aluminum heads, tubular headers and a viper cam in it. The 80’s and 90’s were great car decades.
I drive a 97 Honda del Sol. 1.6 liter V tec Sohc engine making barely 127 HP. I LOVE the simplicity of this car, and reliability that it provides. It’s slow but yet it makes you feel like you’re in a gokart ! It’s just amazing how great this little Honda is.
I parked my 2003 Suburban 2500 (a massive truck by 90s/early 2000s standards) next to a 2024 Silverado 2500 recently, and it struck me how tiny my Suburban looked next to it. I can stand on the ground and work on my Suburban, but the height of the grille/hood on the brand new Silverado is so ludicrously tall you literally would need a ladder just to see over it.
Chevy trucks definitely peaked in the 00's with the GMT800's. I'd hold onto that Suburban 8.1 forever. My future truck is likely to be an '02-06 Avalanche or Escalade.
@@hakeemsd70m I have an 03’ 2500 6.0 with quadrasteer. If it wasn’t for the rust I’d keep it forever. It’s reliable, cheap to fix and isn’t loaded with ridiculous electronics that will be obsolete/unfixable in 10 years Best/most comfortable seats GM ever put into a truck.
I’ll never own anything new, great video! As a c4 corvette, Mazda truck, and ef hatch civic owner, it was nice to see all of those vehicles in the video!
As someone who has a 99 RAV4, it’s the best car I’ve ever driven and I love it. It’s small, spacious, and comfortable. Even after my car accident it runs like a dream.
Had an '88 Integra LS Special Edition (REALLY regret selling that one), and currently driving a '98 Integra, just hit 215k miles, still runs like a top.
@@timmyyyy999 although i appreciate them trying to revive the integra again i can't say i'm a big fan of the new one. I'm sure its a good car but that older design through the late 80s and 90s were just more exciting. Even the RSX was a better evolution into the 2000's for the design choices compared to what they've released now. It just looks like another lexus style sedan.
Wholeheartedly agree with you. I still have my 1995 Integra, E36 M3 and a 2000 Prelude. I love them all. New cars today are just too complicated and numb in driving feel, thanks to everything driven by wire.
i absolutely love my 1990 LS400 and was happy to see it mentioned. It drives better than many newer cars, has a better ride quality, not to mention features like heated seats and actually good speakers. It feels so "refined". That is, everything except for the small cup holder size.
90s cars had small cup holders for the 12oz soda cans. And the ls400 feels refined because lexus/toyota went ALL OUT on making that thing as perfect as possible to compete with bmw, merc, etc. New Lexus are no as good quality.
Hell yeah, my '02 Camry has 220,000 miles on it and only just NOW needed some parts replaced for maintenance reasons, it's a beast and I don't need or want a screen or cameras or heated seats if it works that well. It doesn't look as cool as the classic cars from the 50's and 60's but for reliable daily drivers cars from those days can't be beat
I have two experiences with cars from the 90s. My 1990 Honda Civic Wagon was a marvel of packaging that allowed me to carry 3-4 adult passengers on road trips and was enjoyable to drive. It wasn't quite the model of 90's Honda reliability and had a few gremlins but it kept going during some of the more interesting times in my life. Ironically the PT Cruiser that replaced my Honda was more reliable and even more flexible than my Honda. I know, the PT was built between 2001-2010, so it was not a 90s car but it was simple (a base model with a stick), contained the things I wanted, like air conditioning and a good stereo but didn't have the useless garbage that moderns have. I occasionally regret replacing it when it had only 120,000 miles but I wanted to get one last new car with a stick shift. 90s cars were good at the things you wanted them to do. New cars are mostly good for making profits for manufacturers.
Two of my exes had civics, one was a 1994 DX manual sedan, and the other was a 2008 EX manual coupe. Guess which one was way more fun to drive and felt sportier? The 08 felt slower despite having around 40 more horsepower, the shifter felt way less notchy, the handling felt less responsive, and I flat out hated it both visually and from the way it drove. There was nothing redeemable about that car from an experience perspective, and it's hard to imagine anyone really wanting one like they did for the 80s to 2000 model Civics that are still built by enthusiasts to this day.
My first car was a 1991 Accord EX with a manual transmission and a burgundy interior that my dad handed down to me. It was perfect. Your videos are great. So much nostalgia watching them. I’d go back to the 90s in a second and leave all this madness behind.
i drive a 2016 challenger hemi but still own my very first car i bought when i was 16, a 1998 chevy malibu. still in perfect condition and the paint job is still looking brand new! i always tell people the best way to learn to drive is in a 90s car. the simplicity, the ability to see out of all windows and mirrors makes it so much easier to learn.
I'm an 80s baby, my first new car was a 2000 Civic Si. It was the last year of the Civic model that came out since 1996. It had a B16A2 1.6L 160hp 8000rpm engine 5spd manual. 100hp per liter. Lightweight at 2500lbs, no abs, no traction control, no stability control, to air bags, it had a cd player, power windows and mirrors, that was it. It was so simple to work on and those DOHC VTECH will go on forever, matter of fact the car is still running now on it's 4th owner. It wasn't fast by today's standards, but it was fun has hell to throw your own gears at 8000rpm. You can't find cars like that anymore. My Mazda3 awd weighs 3200lbs has a Skyactiv engine with a 13:1 compression ratio which means it has a shitload of sensors to make sure the engine doesn't knock. Lane departure warning, TC, ABS, stability control, automatic collision braking, lane keep assist, TPMS warning, infotainment, back up cam with cross traffic detection, torque vectoring AWD, digital gauges, radar cruise control, sports mode, voice command, so much stuff in it for a pretty much base model and difficult to work on if the electronics go bad. I wanted a somewhat bare minimum new car that was still fun to drive, I guess this is what bare min is by today's standard. With grippy tires, it's fun to drive, but doesn't hold a candle in terms of making me feel one with the car unlike other cars I've owned, such as the 00 Civic Si, 88 FC RX-7, MKII Supra, 89 240sx, 97 BMW 528i (simple compared to today's BMW), and even my 78 Mercedes 450SL coupe. Those were simple and yet had a really cool feel to them. I really miss cars from the 80s and 90s. Cars now are way too complicated, way too many gadgets. It's like driving an appliance now and not a car.
I share the same sentiment. You lucked out on a first car since that model is kind of the magnum opus of Civics in the US market. I really don't like FWD and avoid those at every turn, but even I like the late 80s to 2000 Civics and CRX. They were really fun to drive and felt like they were punching above their weight. The newer civics and new cars in general are most concisely summed up with the word geriatric. No matter what the spec sheet says or how much power they have, they just aren't fun at all. Electric steering and throttle make them feel like fake imitations of older cars, and I've found that even the expensive brands have rock hard seats and just aren't comfortable at all. I dont envy anyone putting down a monthly payment on any of these cars; they can keep them until I'm forced to "upgrade" from my early 90s car, which will only be because some new law forces me to because I'd much rather keep swapping out used engines and transmissions than to ever be in debt for something that feels like crap.
@@StreetForged I share the sentiment especially when it comes to seats. My 2004 Honda Accord Tourer (Wagon) basemodel has better/more comfortable seats than any of the new luxury cars I've sat in
@@MrBluePoochyena it's insane, I kind of stick with Volvos after coincidentally getting two that I liked, and my mother also had had a few more modern ones. My old 2006 S60R seats were phenomenal, while the 940 and 240 seats are pretty good too with the 940 coming in last in terms of comfort. My mother has had a 2012 and 2016 XC60 R-design and a 2018 V60 and all those seats felt terrible, all of them were slippery and hard. The hardness has been the case for every modern car I've sat in, even my grandfather's 2022 raptor which you'd expect to have nice seats being a near 6 figure truck. The steering wheels also have fake plastic chrome that started to peel up on one of the XCs and one day I cut my hand moving the car in the driveway and actually bled fairly significantly. Modern styling absolutely sucks from a comfort or common sense perspective.
@@StreetForged A lot of the actual racing seats have been more comfortable than the few modern more luxury oriented cars I've sat in, like the 2016 Kia Optima Hybrid or The 2017 M-B E350D I've sat in or drove.
@@MrBluePoochyena my 240 has a bucket seat and a seat from an S14 for the passenger so I can also attest to this lol. I dailied that for 4 winters with no interior, welded diff, coilovers and all the bushings replaced with spherical joints and delrin. If I complain about comfort, there's a major problem. It really wasn't all that bad, have driven it at the furthest an hour and a half each way so no over the road trucker experiences, but I didn't find it to be very bad at all. It's ridiculous for a stock car designed for the average consumer to not feel comfortable. Suspension seems like it's getting stiffer too, or it could just be that modern cars have moved on to low profile tires and oversized wheels and that's the main contributor of why there aren't any cars anymore that feel like you're riding in a cloud. I always equated luxury to a smooth ride, and I don't think I've really seen that in anything after the mid 2000s
Have owned a 91 CRX with a JDM b16 for 13 yrs now as my weekend car. Every time I think I should sell and start test driving new cars, I realize nothing will give me the fun and engagement of my CRX.
It's the computer assisted design tools that were used in nineties. Those tools got by then good enough to make it possible to design car parts that are lightweight and strong but not good enough yet to design those parts to break just after the warranty has expired. That is why nineties cars are fast, economical, comfortable and safe enough and have that extra durability built into them. Now this extra durability is gone and you are supposed to buy a new plastic car every three years to keep automotive industry rich and be poor yourself.
I have a 2020 dacia duster and i really appreciate that dacia is pretty much the only brand that i know that makes straightforward and barebone cars nowdays (at least the base models) compared to other cars,no screen,analog gauges,physical buttons it’s just simple and perfectly functional
I’ve kept my dad’s - now decommissioned- ‘98 Merc W202 that served as a taxi cab for 26 years with him behind the wheel. It’s got a whopping 870.000km, no rust (it’s still painted in the single stage beige color Portuguese and German cabs used, rather than the infamous metallic paints Mercedes started to use and poorly sealed the metal) and original gearbox. I had to replace the engine (the one reason it was headed to the junkyard) because it had overheated due to a mistake by the mechanic that led to not replacing a faulty radiator that ended up bursting, warping the head.
Agree Bought a 1991 miata in the early 90s. No AC, roll up windows, no airbag and other than FI, no technology. Infotainment was the am fm radio. I still own the car and it still starts and works perfectly (including the radio!). In 30 years of ownership, other than oil changes, tires and batteries, the only repairs were a rear main seal, a new clutch and a wiper motor. Let's see if any of the modern iphone on wheels blob cars can do that.
If car corporations wanted to they could easily lobby to get rid of a lot of these regulations, especially the cafe standard, but they dont want that. They lobbied for it to come into existence so that they dont have to compete.
Great video, and couldn't agree more with your sentiments. I've had around 20 cars, and aside from 3 pickup trucks which I drive at the weekend and on car club days, my current daily driver is a 2000 Toyota Avalon. Simple, reliable, well built, bulletproof. I've owned at least 8 vehicles from the 90s and early 00s, all of them have done sterling work with minimal fuss.
I was born in 75 and got my license in 91. I've been a car/truck/motorcycle guy my whole life, and have been in various groups and clubs for various types of vehicles. Please believe me when I tell you that there were plenty of vehicles from the 90s that were utter crap. Lol... Honda, Toyota, the NEW Lexus, and Nissan were absolutely amazing. American cars were definitely getting better because they had to compete with the imports, but they fell behind consistently in every catagory; the most obvious of which was build quality. Some of the models that you cited for their reliability must have been anecdotal examples (i.e. the Monte Carlo). The small trucks in the 90s were GREAT, and I wish there was still a small truck class today... but most of the full size trucks were built like crap! The interiors of the mid to late 90s Dodge trucks I think were the worst in history. The Cummins engines were fantastic, but the trucks literally fell apart around them. The Fords and Chevys had slightly better interiors, but after a few years all that plastic got brittle and started breaking. I don't "like" modern cars, but I think you have blinders on if you say that GENERALLY SPEAKING they aren't BETTER. as far as car culture, it was ruined, like so many other things have been, by social media.
Every era has it winners and stinkers. The rose tinted glasses hide the filth, I'd peg popularity of 90's cars would be down to it being the era when Japanese cars became good and it being the most the era of touring car racing. Not overlooking Gran Turusmo, Initial D, and the first few Fast and Furious movies to pump up the JDM hype.
*cars definitely peaked in the 1990's* I've had S Class Mercedes from the 80's 90's 200' and 2010's and the W140 [94->] was hands down THE BEST, no notes. The build quality, the reliabilility, the luxury, the comfort - it is literally the best car I have ever owned. Ther 2012 S Class coupe was so bad I GAVE it away 3 years ago as a none runner.
Back then 1) climate concerns werent much of a public concern 2) laws to increase protection werent as strict 3) functionality was more important then today 4) technology wasnt as advanced as today but advanced enaugh
The problem with the climate concerns is China and India aren’t going to change, the climate is still going to warm as a result. We need to adapt in the west to rising temperatures, not nuke our own economies with green boondoggle tech that clearly isn’t ready/will be used to control us.
I drive a '98 Civic Hatch as a 20-year-old. She's reliable and fun to drive, and I love that I can see all around me. She was recently totaled, but I'm working to fully repair her. Probably the only thing I didn't like about her was that she didn't have CarPlay, but I fixed that with a new head unit.
Agee - reliability, rustproofing, and not overly complex are all signatures of the 1990s.
Having lived through the 90s, the main complaints at the time were how thin metal rusted out faster and how the computerized systems with electric everything made fixing them difficult.
@@Uruz2012If computerized systems were difficult then, I can’t imagine the hell it is today
Nah Rustproofing got good in the mid 2000s. My e90 has close too zero rust, while my e38 and especially my e46 coupe have so many rust problems. Still love those cars
I agee as wll
My dads 2012 civc has like no rust other than the Bottom of the doors and it just Surface rust
It’s very true-vehicles today are loaded with crap you don’t need.
We have to have all this safety crap on cars today because morons can't stay off thier cell phones while driving and kill about 5000 people in accidents every year just in the U.S. alone.
even better: vehicles today are still loaded with most of the same crap from back then
Plus they're all hybrid 3 cylinder suvs that weigh more than a tank
Oh it's so much too. Want to turn left with a barrier next to you? Listen to the lame change alert, peasant. Like bruh
Yeah and today's vehicles have all the EPA regulations
90s supercars are still untouchable in terms of reverence and mystique. They were still analog, sounded amazing, look beautiful, and still had that wild edge that makes them unforgettable
and best part you have to actually drive them ... they don't drive themselves like to days nanny cars
the only cool 90's supercar is the mclaren f1, or maybe some ultra rare italian cars, even the best sports cars were not that hot, the corvette zr1 with the 400hp 32v v8 was special, other than that almost all other had trucks or even more lamentable engine like the nsx with his odissey engine, what an fucking joke, the new nsx is a much better car, cant even compare, same for the supra and gtr even if its extremely outdated, its still a much better car than the r33 or r34 junk that broke all the time even at 300hp
95 Cobra R is 🔥
Drive an E Ray.
@@retrocompaq5212🤡
Being born in the 80s and not getting my license until the early 2000s I was able to take advantage of all the used cars from the 90s and late 80s that had that rock solid reliability. Back then the "beater" car was the best value for anyone who just started driving. When my kids are ready to drive I doubt their will be anything comparable on the road for them.
The part that really hurts my soul is how many perfectly good 90s cars were destroyed by the government in the cash for clunkers programs to bail out failing domestic brands just to be replaced by unreliable disposable newer cars that are intentionally more difficult to fix
No kidding!!! Imagine being a high school kid trying to find a cheap affordable yet reliable EV☠️
im 22 and just bought my first car the best thing i could find in my area is a 2001 toyota camry with 100,000 miles on it for 1600$ its ran perfectly fine for me so far and I feel like i got pretty lucky considering the price
@@guts3154if it’s really only 1600 for 100k miles flat you got the deal of your life buddy
@@guts3154if it really was 1600
Go buy a lottery ticket
No one's gonna see this, but i drive a 97 Mitsubishi Lancer (75hp), been driving it for years and it never fails me, i once had the trunk and back seats full of bags with leftover wood to burn at home, overtook a Lexus like that, most proud moment ever.
Also extremely easy to work on, added AC by myself to it, and it still works 3 years later
I see you - I drive 98 corolla, if not for rusting I'd drive that thing forever
@@Pioware Same, i got rust on the roof, my painter gives it some treatment but the rust keeps coming back after a few years
@@Pioware 98 corolla gang
Added AC. Amazing. Current cars would look down on you hahaha
2000 Acura TL. The most reliable machine I've ever owned. Wife will not depart with it..
All the bells and whistles in newer cars simply make cars heavier, harder to work on, and more expensive. I always appreciate the moderation in old cars
my 05 crv is perfect, light, strong k20 motor, all wheel drive, plenty of room, easy to work on etc.
@@stefanstoic same story with my 02 accord, such an ease to maintain and a 3 liter that wont quit
@@stefanstoic I just bought an -04 mk1 Citroen C5 V6 3.0l with 300k km on it. It has some french electrical issues with right front door, but otherwise everything works perfectly. It even has the later suspension with sport button. I don't know anything about cars, but I hope I made a good decision. And it passed inspection on June so it should be roadworthy.
@@oskar6747oof good luck 😂
@@deluge6479 now the pump for the suspension blows the fuse immediately and there was already a 60A fuse instead of a 40A. And the drivers side inside handle broke off. Window still works. And I raise the car with a wire instead of a fuse when it starts to hit the rubber stoppers. I would just need to clean the pump (motor full of carbon dust), but can't get it out. 😂
Those commercials were also great. Before the disclaimer "Don't be stupid and try these stunts at home" apparently wasn't enough to save companies from liability.
All car adverts are basically the same these days. The car driving on some long, open stretch of road shown with different camera angles while some boring narrator tells us some of its more impressive specs.
@@Gaius_Claudius lifestyle ads have proven to be more effective than anything else
"buy product, be a consumer and maybe your life will be kinda like this artificial fictional character our cooperate hivemind has created to show you"
@@Gaius_Claudiusthey don’t even show any features anymore, it’s just some chick saying she can drive anywhere, anytime and be there as fast as she can be
my man, what a sentence ! @@RogueCowTurd
That VW ad with the old lady was a pretty recent Dutch ad. It is NOT from the nineties.
We met the perfect balance of mechanical parts and technology in cars
I feel like that sums up the 90's as a whole and why it was arguably the best decade/era overall. You had a lot of good technology but it didn't overwhelm us as we were still in control of it all - it was balanced.
Agreed. No more tuning your carburetor. No more cleaning ignition points. Distributors and timing lights were on their way out. Maintenance was easier and less frequent. You could get both 30mpg and a sub 10 second 0-60. The technology we did have was to make the engine run good, not for us to get distracted by going down the road. We got OBD1 and then 2 diagnostics to make everyone's life easier.
No one ever got frustrated at the responsiveness of their radio in the 90's. Nobody had their car bricked due to a failed update. Nobody had their automatic wiper blades go tits-up. Nobody had a dual clutch transmission that exploded at 60k miles (looking at you, Ford). 100k miles CVTs weren't heard of yet in a mass produced commuter car. Electronic parking brakes didn't get stuck engaged. I could go on and on.
As someone who has owned and daily driven at least a dozen 90's (and a handful of 80's) vehicles, I can say woth certainty that they are some of the best engineered vehicles on the road.
I still wouldn't turn down a crazy good deal on a late model sports car, but you bet I'll still have a 4th, 5th, or 6th generation Accord for daily driver duty (in a 5th currently)
@@backroadsquid5280 late 80s weren't bad either as they were mostly pushrod so more reliable. the 90s cars went twincam and tended to break timing belts. some of the 90s cars were non interference engine so they lasted a long time when they broke a belt. the cars were smaller were light on fuel parts were cheaper since you only had a 18 inch square radiator and 30 amp alternator.
It's definitely the amount of control you have. With ai on the rise you never know. Plus the fact that all modern things suffer from the loss of original purposes. Cars are not multimedia boxes on wheels. It's a mode of transportation that should strive to give you a decent driving experience, not entertain you (definitely not while holding the steering wheel)
I don't want a big ass screen on my center console. Yes it may be cheap to manufacture, but designwise its a disaster. And it is one extra thing that could break leaving you without anything it is useful for.
Computer design and simulation was advanced enough to make cars reliable, but not yet advanced enough to "value engineer" parts until they only lasted just part the warranty period!
Diagnostic auto technician here! Cars from the 90s provide such a simple joy to service and fix. By and large they were simple to disassemble and put back together, almost like they were made to be fixed. They also provide just enough computer data (post OBD2 at least) to easily solve running issues but not so much computerization that it becomes an issue. Modern cars are harder to fix and are much more expensive and often not even worth the cost of repair. 90s was absolutely peak car from my professional standpoint.
Favorite car I ever owned was my 99 Outback with a 5 speed. If I ever find another one in good shape it’d be very hard for me to not just buy it.
I agree on the fact that car culture has changed. I didn’t live yet during the 90s but according to some videos I watched, people were then more in love with their cars. Today, I have the impression that most people just buy a Ferrari or a Lamborghini or whatever because of the brand and without any genuine interest for the car
"Yup," I say as I look in my garage and see my 1998 Jeep Cherokee, 1994 Land Rover, and 1986 Suzuki Samurai. All are manual transmission and windows. They are so much fun to drive. 1990s cars forever!
The samurai is so cool. X-90 is kinda my dream car, I imagine everyday I go outside and see it I would grin. Lol
Very nice! My mother had a 5 speed 98 Cherokee for over 20 years. That truck never let us down & it's what I learned to drive stick in. Somehow, we never even needed to put a clutch in it despite that. They're amazing little trucks.
90’s land rovers were notoriously unreliable. And are even more unreliable today.
Cherokees are one of the most reliable cars ever made they just get horrid fuel economy but a 4.0 will run forever with peoper maintenance
I had a manual 96 XJ Cherokee that was still running like a top when I sold it at 308k miles. My manual 94 Accord was still mechanically sound and getting me 80 miles per day when it got stolen at 245k. My current 97 Accord has 208k and is still serving me faithfully. I'm in Oregon, so rust isn't an issue
Agree, you are correct. Bought my 97 Civic EX used in 2001 and I'm still driving it, since I take care of it. Nobody ever says, "I love making monthly car payments."
Isn't that the truth. I have a 2014 Mazda2 That i bought in cash for 4,500$ with 65K miles and I've driven the hell out of it. All I've done is maintained it and she's great. Cheap Insurance, Cheap to maintain.
I had a 98 EX sedan, 5 speed and I regret selling it.
@@LukeMorningsI have 2014 Mazda6 with 90k mile and love it!
I’m 32 years old, been a mechanic my entire career and I don’t own anything newer than 1998. I rotate between a 95 and 96 gmc half ton depending on seasons/weather/abuse and have a mint 98 chevy half ton for Sundays and going golfing. All 3 trucks combined cost less than the down payment on a new one. All 3 are reliable, comfortable, modern enough to daily drive and simple and cheap enough to keep on the road. Long live the 90s
I’m about to be30 in a few weeks and own 1995s , 1996, 1997 ,1963 and I would agree on that I wouldn’t wanna own anything over 1998. I can work on them and keep them on the road just fine
I’m sorry
The problem with multiple vehicles is the insurance and registration! The vehicles are inexpensive but they require so much to keep them legal for the road. My current daily driver is a '90 Honda Accord that I'm trying hard at preventing from getting rusty which is nearly impossible!! I put a hitch on her for a trailer, but the weight limit is very low!!
I’ve been into cars for a many years , I’m beginning to share your sentiments now the more I see with the modern vehicles, not even going to discuss price, I have to be returning a Mazda lease (which has been good little crossover) shortly and it’s pretty serious when I’m now considering going for 95 or earlier ford f150s , or nineties models gm trucks!
Shade tree, but my '99 Tahoe was my favorite vehicle I've ever owned. I've got an '04 Tahoe now along with a '00 F450 7.3/ZF6, '96 Formula 6 speed, '12 Malibu and '12 F150. For comfort, ease of repair, reliability, quality, leagues of difference between the old(ish) and (not so) new. I can imagine how much different 2020's vehicles in comparison.
i drive a 2004 volvo, and while its not technically from the 90s it features a lot of the same technology and stylings as one, but slightly updated. I love the thing. Very reliable every day, and an absolute dream to drive. No annoying beeps or lights flashing in my face while driving, just whats necesarry to get me down the road with a few amenitiies. Got a friend with a '91 accord with over 260k miles on it and still going strong. overheaded like 6 times and still runs
As a former owner of a Golf V6 4motion, built 99 and registered 2000, I can only agree to the general sentiment. 90s cars hit just the right spot between simple cars and modern amenities, both technical and comfort. Still easy to drive no-brainer cars like from the 80s, but several comfort upgrades like proper quality former "luxury" features such as really good ergonomic seats, 16/24V engines with proper ECU and etc., but without the more recent diseases of annoying the driver with ridiculous demands like only starting the engine if the clutch is pressed, or loud alarms like undone seatbelts even if you're simply maneuvering for parking.
Many 90s cars hit the perfect sweet spot between freedom, comfort, and reasonable safety. I'll miss them.
@@ropeburn6684 if you work on cars yourself they can get annoying after 2000 as manufacturers started to become very savvy on getting cars serviced by official dealers. Suddenly even changing spark plugs meant taking off lots of ducting and covers. Often with flimsy plastic clips which if break means replacing a whole cover. 90-99 is a sweet spot for some awesome machines that you can maintain yourself fairly easily.
Everything you said is 100 percent true. It's exactly what I've been trying to say all these years. Fast isn't special anymore. Everything is fast. Everything looks the same everything seems to be an SUV. Trucks are shiny and expensive, what's a cool car nowadays? Every car had it's own lane back then now everything is blurred. It's a really depressing time for car enthusiasts. Nothing is affordable.
"Fast isn't special anymore," true indeed. I finally bought my dream car last year, 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack in Go Mango orange. It's fast, but it's not going to beat a lot of the fastest electric cars with their direct acceleration.
But it's not just about fast, you also have to consider the soul of a car. I got the Challenger because I love the way it looks. It's a unique looking car, unlike all the generic, amorphous blobs that most of the electric cars look like. The Challenger has a great retro look to which is a nod to the muscle cars of the past. I think it's a perfect balance between performance and looks. But I'm still not getting rid of my old 99 and 2000 trucks. I love the simplicity of those old cars too.
Fucking everything is a crossover or suv… SUCKS.
Couldn't agree more regarding "fast" and the changing car scene. I used to gravitate toward the exotics and high-powered performance cars at shows and meets. However, speed is not unique or exclusive anymore. These days, restored classics (or better yet, survivors) from the 70's, 80's and 90's catch most of my attention. Not only because they connect me to my youth but also because many have a story. Much more impressive than the person who dropped $100+ large to buy their show piece. Nothing against money or modern tech but modern vehicles have largely lost their soul.
@@CGJ7755 Electric CUV's yup it's boring
Fast for most is how it feels on a day to day basis. People get fast but massive SUV trucks now.. they lose that visceral excitement of driving..its both boring and also makes you inconsiderate of your driving as you just want to plow past everyone to get it all over with. Get a car that rewards the driving experience and it's fun.
I sold my 2016 F80 M3 for a 1997 E36 M3 and it was the best car decision I ever made. Speaks for itself honestly.
hey i have the same one!
@@khairilfiqri you dont have the same one, you the same model.
@@alexstromberg7696 thanks capt. obvious.
@@alexstromberg7696 🤓
I have a 97' M3 as well. Fantastic car.
I live in Europe and our car is a 20 year old Toyota from 2004 and it's working perfectly. We just service it once a year for cheap and it keeps going smoothly.
Some of the buttons are starting to not work and the seatbelts are getting stiff but those can be replaced. No fancy electronics here and we love it. Simple, reliable, manual, easy to service. Just perfect
Used to have a 2004 Toyota Celica GT-S stick-shift. I had the "action package" trim and have seen ONE car like that in 10 years since.
Worked great. Sold it 'cause, eh... wanted a "cooler" car. Got a BMW 335i. More power, sure. But it was an ongoing pain in the arse for 4 years till I sold it and got a 2013 Lexus SUV. Another 3.5 years later - no issues with the SUV. Although it's beaten on in it's own ways (the sports cars got floored and driven hard, the SUV gets to go offroad and wrangler-worthy doubletrack... but still holds up!)
We have a built in 97 Nissan Sentra manual, 2002 Mazda Miata manual, and a 1970 Dodge Dart
@@fortheloveofnoisewhy would you build a Nissan Sentra? Genuine question, I'm a Honda guy so the only Nissan engines I rly know anything about are the sr20s and the RBs
@@mtmesa390?? The ‘97 Sentra literally came with the motor you just mentioned. As a guy who dedicates his identity to an econobox brand, what’re you doing asking people why they built an econobox?
I have a 24 year old Lexus ES300 and it’s been the most comfortable, reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned. Picked it up for $4k with 102k on it last year.
Only 102k?!
@@goga.games18 yep! I was extremely lucky. An older lady took great care of it in her garage and used it as a grocery-getter.
I actually just rolled over 130k earlier this week because I drive so much. I’ve had it for a year and a half now.
@@Dailyfiber_98 that shit is brand new mate ‼️congrats
I sold my 2014 gmc truck and went back to driving exclusively mid 90s gm trucks, 3 suburbans, and 2 pickups. Never have i been happier with my transportation situation. Just way more practical vehicles than the new models
Agreed that car culture has become toxic. Social media is the main driver of this, in my opinion. Even at real car meet-ups, people are so stuck in this 'mine is better, faster, more expensive', or 'if its not xxx brand, its crap'. This is sad as, regardless of your preferences, true car people see the value and merit in almost all of the cars made (sporty, luxury etc...).
Agreed! I came up in the car culture before social media existed; we still hated on each other, but it wasn't the backbone of the culture. The cars were, and DRIVING the cars. It was social by nature, and we just aren't a social culture anymore.
If you go to a track or autocross, things are still just as fun and friendly. You wanna challenge someone, you share your times on the spot, and that keeps people humble. You go to a meet up, you got people talking trash non-stop because nobody has to prove a thing sitting around in a parking lot.
@@PURENT True, I've only been to a handful, but the experience is largely as you have described. One of my goals is to save up and to do Pikes Peak one day, I've heard it is a genuine blast and the people are amazing. Next year, I'll do the Simola Hill Climb (I'm from South Africa), if you haven't seen it, check it out, it's like a mini Pikes Peak but with equally insane cars, and good variety too.
All the older car guys moved onto autocross and tracking.
That's no different than back in the day
All of this is bang-on. That CAFE loophole should have been closed by 2005, when the implications became obvious...
what is also insane is that my 91 lifesize-hotwheels-civic gets equal or better gas mileage than any of the SUVs and crossovers - including hybrids - that anyone in the extended family drives. Climate change WAS a concern then, and the CAFE rules existed because of it. Consumers have been scammed by this loophole... how is this progress? Even the Prius has only recently been able to get massively better gas mileage than my civic in real-world driving.
@@ef_baum5307 Civics get incredible mpg especially the coupes cause they are lighter.
CAFE itself should go away post haste.
CAFE should have been repealed.
@@tid418yeah it was fundamentally flawed, all cars should have to follow the same regulations, rather than those regulations getting tougher and tougher on smaller cars, all it did was encourage car companies to make their cars bigger to avoid the stricter regulations, making the issue worse.
I've been daily driving a 1997 Buick LeSabre for six years. It's a freakin cockroach. It's even ugly like a cockroach.
I've been daily driving a 1996 Ford Thunderbird since 2006. I got into my first accident last year when a Subaru Forester pulled out in front of a side street when I was going 40 mph. It destroyed the front end of the Forester, but I was able to replace my fender and turn signal housing for $150 to make the Thunderbird as good as new.
1997 was a really good year for the LeSabre. Outstanding cars that were generally driven by very old people so they made great used cars. You can still find them in the obituaries when the former owner moves on. My friend has been driving his 96 since 2004.
My birth year, Buicks from that era are some of the most reliable cars I'll see.
The Buick 3.8 is as bulletproof an engine as you can get. I properly maintained one will outlast probably any engine made today.
I'm driving the '98 Oldsmobile 88 which is the same car with Aurora styling cues. It was cheap to buy, though it did need significant fixes over the 3 years I've owned it, but that was mostly from sitting around, not from overuse. I live in a rural area of mountain foothills, where everything is 20 minutes away, and I get 25 mpg combined. It handles and rides much better than I thought it would, is supremely comfortable and has never left me on the side of the road. I even changed from preferring cars with buckets and consoles to become a fan of a 60/40 bench seat. If the front subframe is solid and you've changed out the Series II Intake manifold with an upgraded one as soon as you smell coolant in the exhaust, there's little that can go wrong with it.I agree with those who think cars got overly complicated after the early 2000's. I also think having everything on a central screen causes lapses in attention that simple switches separated by geography on the dashboard prevent.
Not just cars, everything peaked in 90's. Sport, Pro wrestling, movies, tv shows, music...
In my opinion, specifically American car design hit its nadir in the mid 80s - early 90s
@@mihneaiordan1813 Are you kidding me? The interiors alone make me question that statement. Especially GM with their grey buttons, ugggg.
TV shows even had twin peaks
Thanks for making this video. I've been trying to explain to my brother why old 90's cars are still cooler than any of the new stuff that comes out. All the research and work you put into this really shows.
I’m 21 now, so 90s cars are before my time. But I have such a fascination with them! I’ve owned 3 cars since getting my license, all of them have been 2nd generation Acura integras. They are the coolest cars ever made in my opinion; simple, lightweight, fun to drive, reliable, engaging, fun to drive, great gas mileage, beautiful styling, comfy interior and FUN TO DRIVE! There really is something so special about cars from the 90s and I totally agree that this is when cars peaked.
Me and my ex GF got Honda Civic Hatchback that was sooooo fun to drive, when the head gasket blew and it had to disappear on back of a tow truck she actually cried like a family member just past.
The integra was amazing. Alot of cars tried to do that fwd sports car thing but none hit it like the Integra. It was a upscale make and model compared to civics, it looked amazing compared to anything under 35 grand back than, it was very light and it loved to sing like a song bird. The entire aftermarket seemed built around that car until the k series were created. The RSX was amazing in its own right but it never achieved the cult status of the integra. By the time the RSX came out, the Celica was close on its tail and every maker had some sort of fwd sports car port to offer
I currently daily a 1991 Miata and drive an ‘89 Corvette during the weekends. I currently hate the state that the American car industry is in right now. People are getting worse at driving, vehicles are getting bigger and more expensive, and most of the cars I enjoyed are being discontinued or have been discontinued for a while.
I envy Europe because they still get the vehicles I prefer and they don’t have the problem of people driving “status symbols” like the Ford F-150 Raptor or the Cadillac Escalade, and the Ram 1500 TRX.
Crossover SUVs are becoming popular there as well. Instead of F-150, it's Porsche Cayennes and BMW X5s. And in a lot of places the taxes are outrageous, if you wanna buy a new Toyota GR86 in France, it's 100k USD.
American auto manufacturers killing off the affordable, small passenger vehicle was a symptom of the rot of greed that currently infests that industry.
Well they got other options of transportation besides just driving.
@@PURENT Bro where are you getting that $100k price on an 86? I found several 86s in France for sale under 40k euros. Maybe you heard about the Supra with the I6 costing that much due to the displacement tax, but what you wrote is verifiably nonsense.
@@garythecyclingnerd6219 It's called the malus ecologique. It's a registration tax paid on new cars exceeding the emissions limit.
The penalty for a Mini Cooper at 126 g/km is 230 euros.
The penalty for a Corolla at 159 g/km is 4000 euros.
The penalty for a Megane RS 2 at 182 g/km is 26,000 euros.
The penalty for a Miata at 189 g/km is 43,000 euros.
The penalty for new cars above 193+ g/km is 60,000 euros. The GR86 is 249 g/km.
You purchase a GR86 brand new in France, you're paying a 60,000 euro tax to get it registered. It used to be limited to 50% of the price of the vehicle, so the GR86 tax for 2023 was half of the price of the car, now it's no longer limited.
Here's a funny one, Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, 700 hp 4 liter v8, 42 g/km, 0 penalty.
Cars today are using the iPad-on-the-dashboard approach not because it's better for the driver, but because it's much cheaper to manufacture. I love my older cars with actual buttons, that I can push while driving, and don't have to take my eyes off the road.
I recently switched from a 2004 Accord to a new Accord. (My 2004 was totaled 🥲)
I really miss the simple button control and its simple intuitive layout. The leather was DEFINITELY more premium. And little touches like dim overhead lighting on the center console... the 20 year old car had a lot of thought put into everything (you could just tell) even the most minor design cues - it all felt intuitive to me from day one.
I'm strongly considering getting rid of my new Accord and picking up one of those mid 2000's releases
That is actually the engineering perspective for control systems.. it begs belief that firms put cars out there with touch screen control for actual ancillary driver controls. Dangerous direction for such big devices
The sad thing is people still buy into it because it looks cool or comes with bragging prowess about "look what this does! Isn't it cool?" About something totally innocuous to actually driving a nice car to drive.
@@AnHebrewChildmy first car was a 2001 accord lx. It was so nice for a thousand dollars
my father was raised during the great depression in the state of Colorado he had a moddel t car when he moved to San Francisco California way back when plus a model a plus a Plymouth fury in later years I'm into classic cars as well use to play grand theft auto the series plus gta online plus mafia 12and 3 I enjoyed driving classic cars in mafia 1 and 2 plus gta online sorry for getting carried away plus sorry for getting off topic.
I’ve never owned a vehicle manufactured in the 21st century. My 1990 Isuzu Trooper has 305k miles on it; she’s getting a little worn out, but is totally restorable.
23:52
Whoah, dude. My first car was an s-10; my second car was a ‘97 mustang.
That’s so crazy.
The 90s were a perfect blend of new and old technology. No overcomplicated electronics, simple mechanical parts. No wonder Majority of these cars were reliable, good MPG and most importantly to car culture: EASY TO WORK ON!!
This is the only reason I could care less if we all go electric, it's almost impossible to work on modern engines anyway so fuck it
@@CastorRabbit same. I also have not intention of buying any newer cars anytime soon. I’ll stick to my pre 2000s rides
90s is so fire lit
1995-2005 were some of the best vehicles made
1985-2005. There is a lot of good cars 1985-1994
100% agree. Don’t sleep on them first few years of the 2000s
1995 GMT400 was the pinnacle of trucks. Still see these on the road today and a bunch of them
I upgraded from a 2003 Avalon to a 2015 Avalon. I do like the newer car a lot, but the 2003 was unquestionably more comfortable. Softer seat, better insulated (less road noise), smoother ride. I miss that car. Some dumbass teenager rear ended it on the freeway and totaled it.
Last good Jeeps for sure. I had a '99 Wrangler sport that would EASILY handle 2 foot snow at 40mph, drive up the side of a building, got great gas mileage, wickedly easy to work on, simple structure overall, and solid. Lasted almost 300k, and only ever had to replace the driveshaft and a waterpump.
Jeeps after 2001 look like Lego cars, there's so much plastic on them. Not to mention all the digital horseshit, and clunky "NotAHummer" versions.
90s and 2000s cars were pretty good in terms of cost and the variety, nowadays its sad seeing that it's ruined by huge suvs and trucks
24 minutes and 25 seconds of my life well spent, thanks for the video.
My friend’s mom had a 1999 Toyota sienna. They had that sienna for over 20 years, it withstood 4 boys and 300,000 miles and it was still running strong when they sold it.
I too am a 90s kid. My mom drove a 1997 Honda accord sedan she bought new. Incredible car. I’m driving a 1996 Tacoma with 300k miles now. You simply can’t beat Toyota and Honda from that era.
I'm in the UK and we're now starting to follow the American trend of buying SUVs and pickup trucks over small cars. The Ford Focus, Fiesta and Mondeo used to be the staples of British motoring and they're all being cancelled in favour of SUVs based on the same platform that do precisely nothing better. Out of all the cars I've ever driven, my favourite is honestly a 1996 Toyota Paseo. It's comfier than so many modern cars, weighs 900kg/2000lbs, feels fast, takes up very little space and still returns 40mpgUS/50mpgUK, and best of all, it's *involving* to drive. You are part of the experience.
Daihatsu still continues
Ehhh not necessarily. The UK isn't buying up pick ups & are still mainly buying small hatchbacks. Small crossovers like the Qashqai are popular now. Ford Puma & Vauxhall Mokka are popular but those are really hatchbacks if you look at their dimensions.
@@Lando-kx6so Yeah, except they're wider than the hatchbacks they replace, and are 100kg+ heavier, while offering nothing of substance. A Ford Kuga is nearly 300kg heavier than a Focus, and it's wider, while the interior space is pretty much the same. The issue is that hatchbacks and wagons do what we need just fine. SUVs do exactly the same thing with a bunch of plastic and bulk stuck on and offer nothing except a slightly higher seating position which isn't necessarily good. Plus surely you've noticed that new quad-cab pickups are more popular than ever here? The top 10 best selling cars in the UK used to be made up of sub 1200kg hatchbacks with a few saloons. Now it's almost all SUVs and only 2 cars on the top 10 list weigh less than 1300kg, most weigh closer to 1500. The Ford Fiesta used to be the best selling car and now it's the Puma which is over 200kg heavier than the Fiesta, nearly 20cm longer and 7cm wider. Doesn't sound like much but makes a big difference around town and on our narrow roads.
This is why I love my newer Mazda 3. You can tell from the moment you sit in the car and drive it that it is a drivers car. No touchscreen, the screen is nice and unobtrusive and it is controlled with an easy to use knob. The gauge cluster is traditional and analog looking but there is a useful screen in the middle. There is alot of buttons and it even has a favorites buttons too. Also the build quality and the material choices in the interior is fantastic, no rattles and feels like borderline luxury car. The steering feels like a hydraulic set up with good road feel. No CVT, just a reliable 6 speed automatic which is pretty responsive. The best part is that it is actually fun to drive and even kinda engaging too. Yes it has a turbo and a decently fancy tech but how could it not, it is a higher trim level of a Mazda 3.
Mazda makes incredible cars, only new manufacture I'd buy from, they still care about making an enjoyable car to drive and own.
I Ike that they all have HD Radio
@@JordanPeverelliExactly. People sleep on this brand, I never knew good they were until I discovered the Mazda 3.
Not a big fan. Too harsh suspension, under powered and too much road/wind noise. I'll stick with my 01 GTI German made.
Excellent video man. I was born in 1987 and I grew up in these kind of cars. Many of my friends and I drove these cars in high school. This took me back to a better time. Thanks man.
And they’re fun to drive too. My ‘98 Accord Coupe 4-cylinder 5-speed has 368k miles and is so fun to drive. And yes the NSX has been my dream car since I was 7.
My grandfather bought a 98 tacoma new off the lot cash in hand. He passed back in 2022 but the truck still runs like the day he bought it. I learned to drive in that truck and I'll be damned if anyone tries to get rid of it.
My favorite car of all time is the Renault Twingo. I love the bubble design and the digital panel, it looks like a great combination of technology and simplicity. I wish we had more cars with personality like cars from the 90s.
Mk1 Twingo is possibly the greatest city car design ever. As usual with Renault and great French cars in general, lack of engine diversity kind of toned down it's greatness.
I love the Peugeot 205 GTI.
The 3000GT was indeed *MIND-BLOWING*.
Most underappreciated JDM.
VR4 was tits!
@@redslateis300
Most definitely not. That is very well known. More sought after than the GS@@nleloggineverbrokeagain9922
@@redslateyes!!
I have a 1992 Cadillac Seville (Base)
It has the Cadillac 4.9 PFI V8, and a 4 speed FWD Automatic Transmission.
This is a year and a half before the Northstar engine released (so no head gasket issues)
This engine along with the car is such a piece of beauty. Say what you want about Cadillac and General Motors around this time. But the engine and car itself is incredibly reliable. Restoring this engine to where it's at today, has been a blast. It's a straight up beast on the road and it's slick. No rust, 160k near 170K miles.
I bought brand new Chrome rims, white walls, paint still new (Dark Polo Green) paint.
I learned so much from working on this car, and it made me realize on how much 90s had the best cars.
There's not alot of sensors, complicated parts. Super expensive. It's reliable
Wow, mate. I loved your video. I was born in 79 and started driving in the 90s. This took me back to the vehicles loved, hated, pushed to the limits and sometimes destroyed. Those were the cars. Thanks!
Before I even start the video I'm gonna say this is my favorite era of cars.
The 1990s was a special decade in my life. I had boundless energy of youth, enthusiasm and a positive outlook to what the future had in store. The 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo residing in my garage is a relic of that time so far removed from the present.
Beautifully put, and as a 33 year old millennial that grew up in the US, I wholeheartedly agree.
Yup 90s sci-fi, music and movies are also the best
I'm in love with the Toyota MR2, I can't get over how beautiful it is.
I bought my 91 MR2 about 3 years ago, and now I despise modern cars. Before that I owned a 2019 Civic and it really put into perspective how trash modern cars are, and how far manufacturers have fallen. I've pretty much completely rebuilt and retrofitted my MR2 for half the price of my civic and have been dailying it since I've owned it. I've told myself I'm never buying a modern car again for many reasons I can't briefly explain and currently rebuilding a 4-AGE for a gen 1 so I can get around to finally 2-GR swapping my gen 2. I'm either gonna ride to the end with cars from this era or sip fuel with em till I can't anymore
I definitely agree, though I'd argue it started in the mid-1980's and carried on through the 90's. Pretty much everything you said is spot on. There are a few cars from today that still feel like 90's era, the Miata and the Toyota 86, small, lightweight, manual transmission. I owned a 2013 Scion FR-S (same as a Toyota 86) and it's rare to have a car that simple. That year didn't even have any steering wheel buttons for the radio, etc.
Agreed. I've always had sports coupes and sadly an Amazon truck ran the red light and totaled my 2017 BRZ, so I just got a 2024 GR86 which is nice but my main annoyances have to do with the Eyesight camera system often interfering and annoying me about things that are not a problem and you can't even permanently disable it, and if you temporarily disable any of them, you get bright red warning lights as if I'm crazy to try to drive a car how I always have without electronic nannies. Even the auto-high-beam feature rarely works right. They made all this a standard feature even with the manual transmissions now in order to try and increase their manufacturer "safety" scores. And it seems clear that by the end of this model run in 2030 or so, if they don't just completely discontinue it, the new model will probably just turn into another big, heavy, complicated, hybrid, self-driving car like everything else.
I heard people (Younger) complaining that those cars are not as fun to drive because they aren't as raw. They complain about the drive by wire through gear shift and steering feel not feeling mechanical...there may be some delay in the throttle for emissions...I don't know, most of them want to sell the Miata and 86 to get a Honda S2000 for a better feel.... Im no expert it's just what I've heard people say.
@@sheldonlamey7010 They're not entirely wrong, maybe other than throttle response. I love the S2000 and second gen MR2 but they're getting old.
@@sheldonlamey7010 recently drove my buddy's FR-S / 86, yes it did feel way less raw than my mk3 MR2, but I was surprised that it hasn't got a lot of rev hang (especially compared to my 2013 focus ST) and throttle response is pretty good as well, in gear it's even better than my cable-driven mr2, but needs more aggressive inputs to rev match downshifts, and aggressive upshifts feel a bit more violent than I would like it (still way better than the ST lol, that car reel like crap tbh)
I own and daily-drive a 1991 Honda Prelude just like the one that appeared briefly at one point.
couldnt agree more. just bought a 96 4runner with 144k miles, one owner. better than any new car on the market
Cars have continued to comfortable over the years, that's one thing they have done. If anything they've become way too comfortable. With little to no emphasis on the driving experience, or driving position and visibility. Great video bro, keep it up!!
The prices of the 90-00s are going to skyrocket in the next 5 years. Was lucky enough to pick up a 05 Honda s2000 recently and the prices they are going for right now is pretty nuts lol
I'll forever keep my beat to hell integra because working on it is actually fun. It's like an over glorified go kart. Easy to work on, easy to maintain, a blast to drive, and styling that's timeless.
15:28 Your hypothesis does not take into account distracted drivers and texting and googling while driving. That just wasn’t a thing in the 90s.
Bro my truck is as old as I am - never had any real problems with it. Rusty but trusty. 1993 GMC K1500. Best $1500 I ever spent.
I'm rocking a '99 S-10 Blazer and I absolutely love it. She was my first vehicle, bought her wrecked in 2018 and fixed her up over that summer.
Love her to death for pretty much everything you listed. The simplicity, reliability, ease to work on, cheap, and there is a HUGE aftermarket supply of parts for them. There are times I wish I had the pickup variant instead of the SUV, but she does everything I need her to do, with the added bonus of being able to sleep in the back. She offroads great, hauls trailer loads well, is comfy enough to enjoy multi-hour trips, and has been anamazing vehicle for me for the past 6 years
It’s not just nostalgia. They were built differently then and honestly better
Define better. Modern cars are safer, more powerful, and more efficient. Noise, vibration, and harness are down. They are - statistically - more reliable as well in spite of people's bellyaching. But better is subjective. My 2003 911 doesn't do anything better on paper than a new 911. It's not more reliable, faster, can't corner as hard, worse safety, no aids, not even automatic headlights; but I am very pleased with the car because of the size, price, performance, and feel.
The one objective measure that 90's cars have is ease of maintenance. Packaging has gotten most sophisticated and working most new cars can be a challenge; although I'm pretty sure you could stand in the engine bay of a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage with the engine.
@@garythecyclingnerd6219 Well the amount that cars have gotten better since the 90's is much smaller. Except horsepower. Stuffing cars with ever more electronics and driving aids don't make the experience better, It makes it more sterile. Its more like driving a simulator than a car. Cars are little more than expensive appliances made to be swapped out every 2-5 years. And stuffing it with electronics makes cars heavier, more sterile and balloons the cost. Then putting everything on the center I-pad is infuriating to deal with having to go through menu after menu just to find the charge port unlock on a tesla. or turning on the radio. And using streaming like spotifiy or apple car play i don't see as an improvement you still get ads and crap. Rather just have a Cd-player,radio and knobs to control the acessories without sifting through 5-6 menus to do it. flick a knob to turn on the A/C and done. OR turn a dial to get to a radio station and done in like .5 seconds. instead of minutes trying to turn your dial and navigate 5-6 menus on a mercedes.
@@garythecyclingnerd6219batter is keeping it's value and reliability after a decades of use. I want 30 years old car to be almost as reliable as a new one.
@@garythecyclingnerd6219The cars wouldn't need to be so much safer if everyone stopped caring only about horsepower. The weight of a car is more important to how fun it is and if it's not very quick in the first place you wouldn't need as much safety. I think kei cars would've been the solution but everyone cares too much about horsepower so they only sell them in Japan. Also the cars extra safety from the massive pillars just block off more off your visibility which is less safe. To me it just seems like trying to win by sprinting in a marathon. Especially with the narrow roads and lower speed limits it makes no sense to have a boat of a car.
Yep, sit in an E39 and any new BMW and you'll notice how much cheaper everything feels in the new one. Plus if you've got the E39 528i or 530d you can do 500k-1mil relatively easy if you got the manual.
not quite 90's but I have a 2002 Civic that I got in 2003- had 35,000 miles (was a lease car)... has 200,000 miles now, and this thing is bullitt proof, 5 speed, gets 40 mpg- fun to drive (SLOW- but fun) LOVE IT
Early 2000 cars up to 2002 still are considered 90's cars. They are based on the models made in the 90's. Example 1998 - 2002 are the best and final era of Build quality fit and finish and most of all reliability for most manufacturers. But specifically JDM Cars, Trucks, and Minivans. Example remember the the Venable and extremely versatile Mazda MPV Minivan 1988 -1999? My Vietnamese neighbors had one and wow was I impressed. I went for a ride in that sweet vehicle and omg it was awesome, and they came with optional 4 wheel drive which actually took you offroad in comfort and reliably.
"Slow" cars with manual transmissions are the most fun to drive. You can rev them out everywhere and mash the gas pedal as much as you want. The problem with fast cars is you are never able to drive it to the fullest potential. There is always this slight frustration as you have to tone back revving it or pulling through gears.
Better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow!
man my civic got almost 400k
@@edytz4 NICE
Just purchased a 95 Mustang GT. Loving it. Had a 90 Nissan 240SX also. Great car
To be fair...fatalities were lower because mid 90's cell phone usage was really a non-issue. Cell phones were very, very rare.
Speed limits were a lot slower too.
Big cars are a big factor as well tho. Thats been proven.
1998 5th gen Honda Prelude. Love it. All black leather interior. Vetch. Custom sound system. So amazing. Smooth shifting.
Make sure to stay up on your timing belt!
Love my 97 5 gen accord. Has over 400k on it and it’s been a champ.. but it’s about to have its 3rd engine (as far as I know) 😅
Really good video that sent me to a nostalgia trip. I agree with all your points made. I daily a first gen NSX and hang out with a lot of 90s JDM car people. The simplicity and raw driving feel is what makes us love these cars. I drove many modern way faster cars, and they all feel cool but very similar and “muffled”. They are rockets that feel like airplanes more than gokarts. I don’t get tired roadtripping the NSX because it’s so engaging, but I do get really sleepy in modern cars and can’t do as long trip just because I’m bored.
I’m not saying everyone should drive 90s cars, that would be kinda terrible but the cars as an “emotional” machine really peaked in the 90s. Thanks for the vid! Subscribed.
i think you nailed it with the "feel like airplanes more than go karts". there was a sense to those 90s sports cars that just felt like you were on the edge of performance compared to the "safe" feeling you'd get from the more modern ones.
Because after this point we started to see diminishing returns in terms of features vs MSRP, maintenance cost and complexity.
Bingo. Nice
The sad thing is that we had almost all the good features in the early 90s that we do now.
My 93 Volvo has power windows and sunroof, heated real leather seats and mirrors, a locking rear differential, ABS, a turbocharger, power seats with 3 built in memory settings, a decent sound system, the lights turn off with the car, on board diagnostics, the hood stays up on its own and can has latches so it can be lifted 90° for more room to work on the engine bay, an engine known for making it 300-500k miles, and the body is zinc coated prior to paint so it's less rusty than a lot of 2005-2010 cars Im sharing the road with up north.
It's easy to work on, the parts are always ridiculously cheap and not generally hard to find, it's not fast but it's RWD and still does great in the snow because of the locker, steering and brakes feel great, just overall a pretty good experience all around.
The only downfall of these older cars is that they require a lot of maintenance because all the rubber parts and seals degrade over 30 years. If you can pick at the problems here and there, the cost of owning them is far cheaper than a car payment and I still prefer the feel of driving it over brand new cars. Great safety ratings and the insurance is cheap too.
Best car video I’ve seen in recent times. Wonderful job my guy
I'm currently using my first handed Toyota Hilux based SUV "Sportrider" 99 (local model for Thailand). Listening to this video is like a blessing !
I drive a 22 year old Blazer and a 32 year old Buick, and they're the best cars I've ever had. They were cheap, and they're still cheap. I have 2 because sometimes (rarely) I need to work on one, so I have the other one to drive. Saying that, I'm lucky enough to live in a house with a driveway and not a city with difficult parking. I've decided I never want a vehicle with a screen on the dashboard, and I'm going to do my best to stick to that. I like working on my cars.
I was in high school during the late nineties. Before you put this into words, I figured it was just nostalgia, but I certainly agree with everything you said. You have given me a lot to think about.
90s cars are a lot easier to work on, I have an old 97 accord with over 400k on it and it drove great. But the engine failed on it so I’m putting a slightly bigger faster motor in it by myself. It’s pretty plug and play with the right tools. And if you don’t know theses cars have been out for so long all the info is all online
There is one more factor to consider in increased death rates nowadays - cars getting bigger means cars getting taller and more top-heavy. That in itself results in more cars on the roads that are more prone to roll-over accidents, and those types of accidents are typically associated with a higher mortality rate.
I fell in love with small 90s cars, had some project cars such as the 1987 Toyota MR2, 1995 Miata, and 1988 Honda CRX, all under 2300lbs. When I had to spend money on a new, safe, and reliable car in 2020 the only new car that spoke to me and closest to a 90s car was the 2020 Miata, 2334 lbs, 4 lugs, fun to drive, simple, good mpg.
Bought a V10 Dodge Ram and it’s still in my barn. The things has given me 0 issues, I put a newer set of aluminum heads, tubular headers and a viper cam in it. The 80’s and 90’s were great car decades.
I drive a 97 Honda del Sol. 1.6 liter V tec Sohc engine making barely 127 HP. I LOVE the simplicity of this car, and reliability that it provides. It’s slow but yet it makes you feel like you’re in a gokart ! It’s just amazing how great this little Honda is.
I parked my 2003 Suburban 2500 (a massive truck by 90s/early 2000s standards) next to a 2024 Silverado 2500 recently, and it struck me how tiny my Suburban looked next to it.
I can stand on the ground and work on my Suburban, but the height of the grille/hood on the brand new Silverado is so ludicrously tall you literally would need a ladder just to see over it.
Chevy trucks definitely peaked in the 00's with the GMT800's. I'd hold onto that Suburban 8.1 forever. My future truck is likely to be an '02-06 Avalanche or Escalade.
@@hakeemsd70m I have an 03’ 2500 6.0 with quadrasteer. If it wasn’t for the rust I’d keep it forever. It’s reliable, cheap to fix and isn’t loaded with ridiculous electronics that will be obsolete/unfixable in 10 years
Best/most comfortable seats GM ever put into a truck.
If I could pick one car to own for free it'd be early 90s NSX. It is both a beautiful dream car and one I can actually daily reliably.
I’ll never own anything new, great video! As a c4 corvette, Mazda truck, and ef hatch civic owner, it was nice to see all of those vehicles in the video!
As someone who has a 99 RAV4, it’s the best car I’ve ever driven and I love it. It’s small, spacious, and comfortable. Even after my car accident it runs like a dream.
92 honda integra here, it does everything i need it to do and works like a charm! love it
Had an '88 Integra LS Special Edition (REALLY regret selling that one), and currently driving a '98 Integra, just hit 215k miles, still runs like a top.
Integras are legendary 🔥🔥🔥
@@timmyyyy999 although i appreciate them trying to revive the integra again i can't say i'm a big fan of the new one. I'm sure its a good car but that older design through the late 80s and 90s were just more exciting. Even the RSX was a better evolution into the 2000's for the design choices compared to what they've released now. It just looks like another lexus style sedan.
@@musek5048 ye 100% agreed
It's not only about the cars. Take the movie industry, music, video gaming, etc. )
You talking about the Avalon is exactly why I bought my car
Outstanding. To this day, I still daily drive a '99 Camaro Z28 convertible 6 spd manual. When it finally dies I'll just rebuild it.
Wholeheartedly agree with you. I still have my 1995 Integra, E36 M3 and a 2000 Prelude. I love them all. New cars today are just too complicated and numb in driving feel, thanks to everything driven by wire.
i absolutely love my 1990 LS400 and was happy to see it mentioned. It drives better than many newer cars, has a better ride quality, not to mention features like heated seats and actually good speakers. It feels so "refined". That is, everything except for the small cup holder size.
90s cars had small cup holders for the 12oz soda cans. And the ls400 feels refined because lexus/toyota went ALL OUT on making that thing as perfect as possible to compete with bmw, merc, etc. New Lexus are no as good quality.
Hell yeah, my '02 Camry has 220,000 miles on it and only just NOW needed some parts replaced for maintenance reasons, it's a beast and I don't need or want a screen or cameras or heated seats if it works that well. It doesn't look as cool as the classic cars from the 50's and 60's but for reliable daily drivers cars from those days can't be beat
I'm planning on putting cameras in my car, but that's because of the ever-increasing threat of police misconduct.
@@DarkElfDivaALWAYS have a dash cam(2 way) to deal with the police and insurance companies.
"It doesn't look as cool as the classic cars from the 50's and 60's" To be fair, Toyota Coronas from the 1960's had pretty dorky styling anyway, lol.
I have two experiences with cars from the 90s. My 1990 Honda Civic Wagon was a marvel of packaging that allowed me to carry 3-4 adult passengers on road trips and was enjoyable to drive. It wasn't quite the model of 90's Honda reliability and had a few gremlins but it kept going during some of the more interesting times in my life. Ironically the PT Cruiser that replaced my Honda was more reliable and even more flexible than my Honda. I know, the PT was built between 2001-2010, so it was not a 90s car but it was simple (a base model with a stick), contained the things I wanted, like air conditioning and a good stereo but didn't have the useless garbage that moderns have. I occasionally regret replacing it when it had only 120,000 miles but I wanted to get one last new car with a stick shift. 90s cars were good at the things you wanted them to do. New cars are mostly good for making profits for manufacturers.
Two of my exes had civics, one was a 1994 DX manual sedan, and the other was a 2008 EX manual coupe. Guess which one was way more fun to drive and felt sportier?
The 08 felt slower despite having around 40 more horsepower, the shifter felt way less notchy, the handling felt less responsive, and I flat out hated it both visually and from the way it drove. There was nothing redeemable about that car from an experience perspective, and it's hard to imagine anyone really wanting one like they did for the 80s to 2000 model Civics that are still built by enthusiasts to this day.
My first car was a 1991 Accord EX with a manual transmission and a burgundy interior that my dad handed down to me. It was perfect.
Your videos are great. So much nostalgia watching them. I’d go back to the 90s in a second and leave all this madness behind.
i drive a 2016 challenger hemi but still own my very first car i bought when i was 16, a 1998 chevy malibu. still in perfect condition and the paint job is still looking brand new! i always tell people the best way to learn to drive is in a 90s car. the simplicity, the ability to see out of all windows and mirrors makes it so much easier to learn.
I'm an 80s baby, my first new car was a 2000 Civic Si. It was the last year of the Civic model that came out since 1996. It had a B16A2 1.6L 160hp 8000rpm engine 5spd manual. 100hp per liter. Lightweight at 2500lbs, no abs, no traction control, no stability control, to air bags, it had a cd player, power windows and mirrors, that was it. It was so simple to work on and those DOHC VTECH will go on forever, matter of fact the car is still running now on it's 4th owner. It wasn't fast by today's standards, but it was fun has hell to throw your own gears at 8000rpm. You can't find cars like that anymore.
My Mazda3 awd weighs 3200lbs has a Skyactiv engine with a 13:1 compression ratio which means it has a shitload of sensors to make sure the engine doesn't knock. Lane departure warning, TC, ABS, stability control, automatic collision braking, lane keep assist, TPMS warning, infotainment, back up cam with cross traffic detection, torque vectoring AWD, digital gauges, radar cruise control, sports mode, voice command, so much stuff in it for a pretty much base model and difficult to work on if the electronics go bad.
I wanted a somewhat bare minimum new car that was still fun to drive, I guess this is what bare min is by today's standard. With grippy tires, it's fun to drive, but doesn't hold a candle in terms of making me feel one with the car unlike other cars I've owned, such as the 00 Civic Si, 88 FC RX-7, MKII Supra, 89 240sx, 97 BMW 528i (simple compared to today's BMW), and even my 78 Mercedes 450SL coupe. Those were simple and yet had a really cool feel to them. I really miss cars from the 80s and 90s. Cars now are way too complicated, way too many gadgets. It's like driving an appliance now and not a car.
I share the same sentiment. You lucked out on a first car since that model is kind of the magnum opus of Civics in the US market.
I really don't like FWD and avoid those at every turn, but even I like the late 80s to 2000 Civics and CRX. They were really fun to drive and felt like they were punching above their weight. The newer civics and new cars in general are most concisely summed up with the word geriatric. No matter what the spec sheet says or how much power they have, they just aren't fun at all. Electric steering and throttle make them feel like fake imitations of older cars, and I've found that even the expensive brands have rock hard seats and just aren't comfortable at all.
I dont envy anyone putting down a monthly payment on any of these cars; they can keep them until I'm forced to "upgrade" from my early 90s car, which will only be because some new law forces me to because I'd much rather keep swapping out used engines and transmissions than to ever be in debt for something that feels like crap.
@@StreetForged I share the sentiment especially when it comes to seats. My 2004 Honda Accord Tourer (Wagon) basemodel has better/more comfortable seats than any of the new luxury cars I've sat in
@@MrBluePoochyena it's insane, I kind of stick with Volvos after coincidentally getting two that I liked, and my mother also had had a few more modern ones.
My old 2006 S60R seats were phenomenal, while the 940 and 240 seats are pretty good too with the 940 coming in last in terms of comfort. My mother has had a 2012 and 2016 XC60 R-design and a 2018 V60 and all those seats felt terrible, all of them were slippery and hard. The hardness has been the case for every modern car I've sat in, even my grandfather's 2022 raptor which you'd expect to have nice seats being a near 6 figure truck.
The steering wheels also have fake plastic chrome that started to peel up on one of the XCs and one day I cut my hand moving the car in the driveway and actually bled fairly significantly.
Modern styling absolutely sucks from a comfort or common sense perspective.
@@StreetForged A lot of the actual racing seats have been more comfortable than the few modern more luxury oriented cars I've sat in, like the 2016 Kia Optima Hybrid or The 2017 M-B E350D I've sat in or drove.
@@MrBluePoochyena my 240 has a bucket seat and a seat from an S14 for the passenger so I can also attest to this lol. I dailied that for 4 winters with no interior, welded diff, coilovers and all the bushings replaced with spherical joints and delrin.
If I complain about comfort, there's a major problem. It really wasn't all that bad, have driven it at the furthest an hour and a half each way so no over the road trucker experiences, but I didn't find it to be very bad at all.
It's ridiculous for a stock car designed for the average consumer to not feel comfortable. Suspension seems like it's getting stiffer too, or it could just be that modern cars have moved on to low profile tires and oversized wheels and that's the main contributor of why there aren't any cars anymore that feel like you're riding in a cloud. I always equated luxury to a smooth ride, and I don't think I've really seen that in anything after the mid 2000s
Have owned a 91 CRX with a JDM b16 for 13 yrs now as my weekend car. Every time I think I should sell and start test driving new cars, I realize nothing will give me the fun and engagement of my CRX.
It's the computer assisted design tools that were used in nineties. Those tools got by then good enough to make it possible to design car parts that are lightweight and strong but not good enough yet to design those parts to break just after the warranty has expired. That is why nineties cars are fast, economical, comfortable and safe enough and have that extra durability built into them. Now this extra durability is gone and you are supposed to buy a new plastic car every three years to keep automotive industry rich and be poor yourself.
Nailed it!
I have a 2020 dacia duster and i really appreciate that dacia is pretty much the only brand that i know that makes straightforward and barebone cars nowdays (at least the base models) compared to other cars,no screen,analog gauges,physical buttons it’s just simple and perfectly functional
I’ve kept my dad’s - now decommissioned- ‘98 Merc W202 that served as a taxi cab for 26 years with him behind the wheel. It’s got a whopping 870.000km, no rust (it’s still painted in the single stage beige color Portuguese and German cabs used, rather than the infamous metallic paints Mercedes started to use and poorly sealed the metal) and original gearbox.
I had to replace the engine (the one reason it was headed to the junkyard) because it had overheated due to a mistake by the mechanic that led to not replacing a faulty radiator that ended up bursting, warping the head.
Agree Bought a 1991 miata in the early 90s. No AC, roll up windows, no airbag and other than FI, no technology. Infotainment was the am fm radio. I still own the car and it still starts and works perfectly (including the radio!). In 30 years of ownership, other than oil changes, tires and batteries, the only repairs were a rear main seal, a new clutch and a wiper motor. Let's see if any of the modern iphone on wheels blob cars can do that.
That sounds great! Did you manage to avoid the "short nose crank" issue that afflicts some NA Miatas?
If car corporations wanted to they could easily lobby to get rid of a lot of these regulations, especially the cafe standard, but they dont want that. They lobbied for it to come into existence so that they dont have to compete.
My 2005 Honda s2000 is a 1999 design. So it's still technically a 90s car.
Just the next gen of the S500 S600 S800 - in a certain light - it's a 60's cars!
I have a 99 Trans Am that's my daily driver when there isn't snow on the ground, and I love that car.
Great video, and couldn't agree more with your sentiments. I've had around 20 cars, and aside from 3 pickup trucks which I drive at the weekend and on car club days, my current daily driver is a 2000 Toyota Avalon. Simple, reliable, well built, bulletproof. I've owned at least 8 vehicles from the 90s and early 00s, all of them have done sterling work with minimal fuss.
I was born in 75 and got my license in 91. I've been a car/truck/motorcycle guy my whole life, and have been in various groups and clubs for various types of vehicles. Please believe me when I tell you that there were plenty of vehicles from the 90s that were utter crap. Lol... Honda, Toyota, the NEW Lexus, and Nissan were absolutely amazing. American cars were definitely getting better because they had to compete with the imports, but they fell behind consistently in every catagory; the most obvious of which was build quality. Some of the models that you cited for their reliability must have been anecdotal examples (i.e. the Monte Carlo). The small trucks in the 90s were GREAT, and I wish there was still a small truck class today... but most of the full size trucks were built like crap! The interiors of the mid to late 90s Dodge trucks I think were the worst in history. The Cummins engines were fantastic, but the trucks literally fell apart around them. The Fords and Chevys had slightly better interiors, but after a few years all that plastic got brittle and started breaking. I don't "like" modern cars, but I think you have blinders on if you say that GENERALLY SPEAKING they aren't BETTER. as far as car culture, it was ruined, like so many other things have been, by social media.
I blame social media too! The irony of how I make this reply is not lost on me.
Every era has it winners and stinkers. The rose tinted glasses hide the filth, I'd peg popularity of 90's cars would be down to it being the era when Japanese cars became good and it being the most the era of touring car racing.
Not overlooking Gran Turusmo, Initial D, and the first few Fast and Furious movies to pump up the JDM hype.
*cars definitely peaked in the 1990's* I've had S Class Mercedes from the 80's 90's 200' and 2010's and the W140 [94->] was hands down THE BEST, no notes.
The build quality, the reliabilility, the luxury, the comfort - it is literally the best car I have ever owned. Ther 2012 S Class coupe was so bad I GAVE it away 3 years ago as a none runner.
Back then
1) climate concerns werent much of a public concern
2) laws to increase protection werent as strict
3) functionality was more important then today
4) technology wasnt as advanced as today but advanced enaugh
The problem with the climate concerns is China and India aren’t going to change, the climate is still going to warm as a result. We need to adapt in the west to rising temperatures, not nuke our own economies with green boondoggle tech that clearly isn’t ready/will be used to control us.
I drive a '98 Civic Hatch as a 20-year-old. She's reliable and fun to drive, and I love that I can see all around me. She was recently totaled, but I'm working to fully repair her. Probably the only thing I didn't like about her was that she didn't have CarPlay, but I fixed that with a new head unit.
Venturi 300 Atlantique and Lotus Esprit Turbo were great sport cars back then.