Ever notice that there are some cars that used to be everywhere not too long ago, that you now almost never see? Not talking about stuff that was rare to begin with, or REALLY old and long since a rarity.

1. Ford Probe, either generation

2. DSMs

3. Civic hatch or 240sx that isn't riced out all to hell and back or the victim of being a half-baked and unfinished "project"

4. VW cabrio

5. Cadillac Catera

6. Mazda MX-6, 929

7. Porsche 968

8. 1st-gen Prius


I guess after a certain point, you need a combination of at least a baseline level of reliability/longevity and retained desirability (Toyota pickups/4Runners, Miatas, Jeep CJ/YJ, Porsche 944, E30/E36, etc) to survive and not have every example become disposable. Having one of those qualities in spades can overcome a deficiency in the other (90s Accord or Volvo 240, or the obvious opposite example being the 3rd-gen RX-7).

Then there are your Civic hatches and 240sx, that are victims of their own success, where you pretty much can't find one that hasn't been loved to death by some series of dumbfucks. DSMs are kind of in this category too, plus being aggravated by maybe lesser build quality to begin with, coupled with the ability to make tons of power easily + AWD causing a lot of broken drivetrains that never get fixed (and then the non-turbo models have disappeared because they don't have that combination of quality + desirability).

What I can't figure out are, say, Porsche 968s. Why do you see 944s, but basically never a 968? Why do you see 300ZX TTs reasonably often, but rarely a Supra TT? (C4 'Vette is easily explainable; they produced them for 15+ years).

What's some other stuff that was everywhere 10 years ago, and now more rare than an Italian supercar?

[Edited on May 20, 2017 at 12:44 AM. Reason : ]

5/20/2017 12:39:40 AM

Quote :

"Toyota pickups/4Runners, Miatas, Jeep CJ/YJ, Porsche 944, E30/E36"

I think a big part of the explanation is all the vehicles you don't see any more are way less desirable than the ones you have listed here.

[Edited on May 20, 2017 at 12:51 AM. Reason : I'd love to drive any of those vehicles over a Probe, and I was a huge fan of them back in the day]

5/20/2017 12:50:13 AM

yeah, i mean, it's obvious why in that case. i was partly just thinking aloud, "when's the last time you saw a Ford Probe?"

5/20/2017 1:12:53 AM

Mazda 929 hasn't been sold in the US for 20+ years, and it was just a regular family car with no cult following, so of course you won't see it now. That's like asking why the Cressida is not seen on the roads anymore!

Same with the Probe, Catera, and some of the other discontinued cars (or generations) which never really had a proper cult following, and thus are dropping off as time goes by, as any other discontinued car would. Cadillac STS? DTS? Oldsmobiles?

Supra is a legit question. And so is 3000GT. Both in relation to 300ZX. I don't know the numbers, but I am guessing far less Supras and 3000GTs were sold compared to the Nissan.

5/20/2017 1:55:02 AM

subaru svx

5/20/2017 5:07:33 AM

It's pretty easy to miss a 1st gen Prius. It doesn't have a very distinct styling.

5/20/2017 8:42:48 AM

You still see the occasional 3000GT

[Edited on May 20, 2017 at 10:32 AM. Reason : They also still make half the vehicles on your list of the ones you do still see ]

5/20/2017 10:18:41 AM

^^^ yeah, good call. haven't seen one of those in years.

^^ Yeah, maybe, but I think I'd spot one pretty easily.

Quote :

"Mazda 929 hasn't been sold in the US for 20+ years, and it was just a regular family car with no cult following"

Right, of course, but there's plenty of stuff of comparable age that isn't nearly extinct. Pickup trucks, for example, of just about all kinds (domestic/japanese, full-size and compact...with the exception that you don't see many early Dakotas any more). Accords, Camrys...you still see those, along with Chrysler-family minivans.

[Edited on May 20, 2017 at 10:48 AM. Reason : ]

[Edited on May 20, 2017 at 10:56 AM. Reason : ]

5/20/2017 10:43:13 AM

Quote :

"Pickup trucks, for example, of just about all kinds"

Those are useful, regardless of manufacturer or model or age. Every homeowner wants a pickup.

Quote :

"Accords, Camrys...you still see those"

I'm not gonna look up production numbers, but I feel like they made a ton more of those than 929's...also they were 100% bulletproof. I doubt the 929 was on that same level.

5/20/2017 11:25:56 AM

Porsche 968 was a very rare car to begin with...

5/20/2017 12:08:05 PM

Cadillac Catera was a hunk of shit. Good riddance.

5/21/2017 9:40:30 PM

I think the 929 falls into the hole of being fancier/more complicated than an average family car, while not having iron-clad reliability or huge initial sales to make up for it. (As to the Cressida comparison, I see those much more frequently than 929s, but both sold better and had that Toyota reliability.)

Of that list, I feel like I still see VW Cabrios here and there though.

I'd add 1st-gen Tauruses that don't look like they've been through a war (or 1st-gen Sables in any condition), Mitsubishi Monteros, Chevrolet Berettas, and Geo Storms. I also feel like 90's Chryslers are disappearing en masse--the Sundance/Shadow is a rarity now, the cloud cars (Stratus/Cirrus/Breeze) are mostly gone, and lately I've seen very very few 1st-gen LH cars (Intrepid, Vision, Concorde). The higher-end stretched LH models (New Yorker/LHS) now outnumber their more plebian bretheren, at least in my recent experience, despite being far fewer when new.

5/21/2017 9:57:25 PM

Also, 929 was in the class above the Camry and Accord, which are equivalent to the Mazda 6 formerly 626.

Toyota has the Crown above the Camry, but did the Crown ever come to the US? And Honda has the Legend which was and is sold as an Acura (Legend -> RL -> RLX) in the US, so at a premium as it was sold only under the luxury sub-brand in the US.

5/22/2017 2:49:41 AM

5/22/2017 8:43:46 AM

This thread is like a memory bank of every car in my high school parking lot circa 99-00.

5/22/2017 10:38:58 AM

i guess all of the k car's have died by now

5/22/2017 11:02:16 AM

Quote :

"Toyota has the Crown above the Camry, but did the Crown ever come to the US? "

I think the Avalon is the next step up from a Camry.

I never see any Honda Civic del Sols anymore, I used to see those ugly shits everywhere. Same goes for original black plastic Pontiac Azteks. And some of you are naming goddamn 30+ year old cars. Of course you don't see many first generation tauruses now.

Quote :

"with the exception that you don't see many early Dakotas any more"

i still see them all the time. in fact i probably see 1st generation ones more than 2nd and 3rd.

5/22/2017 11:03:07 AM

The last generation of 929 that Mazda sold in the US was basically their luxury car. Mazda almost launched their own luxury car brand, called Amati. But it never happened (and was probably a good thing, as it's failure could probably have bankrupted the company). I believe the 929 and Millennia were supposed to have been Amati's first vehicles.

As to the Porsche 968, less than 5,000 were sold in the US over the span of 4 years. There just aren't a lot of them period - though I'd imagine that most of them still exist because they're Porsche sports cars.

Another one to add to the list is the 1st gen Neon. A LOT of those were sold and they're all basically gone at this point. And when's the last time anyone saw a Ford Escort? haha.

5/22/2017 12:40:54 PM

Quote :

"Another one to add to the list is the 1st gen Neon. A LOT of those were sold and they're all basically gone at this point. "

How many other 30+ year old Chryslers do you see on the road (excluding the classics, obviously)?

5/22/2017 1:00:29 PM

well the neon didn't exist until the mid 90s so its not quite that old.
another car I'll throw in is the pontiac sunfire.

5/22/2017 1:02:21 PM

Ok I'll revise that question to 20+ year old Chryslers

[Edited on May 22, 2017 at 1:32 PM. Reason : and pontiacs for that matter]

5/22/2017 1:32:11 PM

Don't see many Honda Preludes on the road anymore.

5/22/2017 3:40:28 PM

Quote :

"1. Ford Probe, either generation"

Still easy to find on clist of you want to buy one... My first car was a '93 probe SE. I abused the hell out of that car, and it held up to it before I moved on to the 944. Was a fun car. Wish I had taken better care of it in hindsight...

Quote :

"3. Civic hatch or 240sx that isn't riced out all to hell and back or the victim of being a half-baked and unfinished "project""

Some local forum boys...

Quote :

"6. Mazda MX-6, 929"

I miss this car... Wish it wasn't a '97 OBD II car. If it was a '95, I'd still have it today. Drove so super smooth and felt sportier than it really was.



Spent too much time like this:

Quote :

"Why do you see 944s, but basically never a 968?"

Production numbers help out A LOT. very few 968's in comparison to the 944s. Only some ~2,400 total produced between 1992 and 1995 for the US. About 1200 were Coupes and 1200 were cabriolets. Of those that were coupes, I think only half of those were manuals. I saw a 968 manual coupe for sale for only $14k and thought, "wow, that's actually a pretty decent deal for that car..." One of the largest 4 cylinders in it's day (3L), plenty of power, great handling and balance... I'd love to have one if I have the money, one day. All the people that own them now sunday drive them the 1 or 2 days a year it's perfect.


Let me add the E90 Corolla All-Trac Wagon. and Toyota Tercels. I have a Tercel wagon, but it's only 2wd. I know, fail. BUT it's in really good shape, got it for near nothing... Was talking with a seller on her Corolla All-Trac Wagon, but she decided to keep it.

I'm having a thing for old Japanese 4x4 Wagons.


I'm in the market for a Honda RT4WD, but they are in the following state:

a) Rusted out to shit and practically garbage
b) Way overpriced (like on the border of insanity)
c) Really riced out
d) Pretty clean and straight, and beyond Way Overpriced (seller on some of dat 190% good shit)

SO. If you guys FIND a nice RT4WD, let me know... I'm in the market. K thanks



[Edited on May 22, 2017 at 5:20 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on May 22, 2017 at 5:21 PM. Reason : .]

5/22/2017 5:08:13 PM

Here's another one to add to the list:

Infiniti M30 coupe or convertible.

Bet some of you don't even recall what those look like without googling

5/23/2017 10:16:13 AM

I never see these huge POS's anymore.

5/23/2017 12:15:56 PM

YES!

I still see early Dodge Caravans (& their Mopar clones) as well as a surprising amount of Ford Aerostars. Don't see many Chevy Astro bands anymore though.

5/23/2017 2:49:19 PM

to this day, i've never seen a 323gtx or isuzu impulse rs.
as of the last 10 years, i don't see any isuzus or diahatsus on the road

5/24/2017 12:40:19 AM

Nissan Pulsar
Nissan NX2000
Nissan Sentra SE-R (early 90s)

Infiniti J30

Lexus ES250

5/24/2017 8:19:59 AM

90's Ford Explorers. Those things were everywhere back in the day.



80's Crown Vics like cops used. I know that's 30+ years ago, but I don't think I've seen one in 15 years
The 90's Crown Vics are getting rarer as well. I still see Grand Marquis every now and then.


[Edited on May 24, 2017 at 9:26 AM. Reason : ]

5/24/2017 9:18:22 AM

Cash for clunkers took a lot of those old SUVs

5/24/2017 12:06:01 PM

5/25/2017 9:04:29 AM

I traded one of my motorcycles for a 1992 Sentra SE-R the other day that's set up nicely as a track car, it's really fun. Definitely don't see many of them, although hilariously Matt Farah did a One Take on a red one just like mine a week or so after I got it.

5/25/2017 1:02:55 PM

Off the top of my head, so I know I am missing a few more

Acura Vigor
Acura Legend

Aston Martin Lagonda

Audi original TT
Audi all models from 80s/90s

Bentley Mulsanne all models before resurrection

BMW Z3 Roadster and Coupe
BMW 6-series (old)
BMW 8-series

Cadillac Catera
Cadillac STS
Cadillac DTS

Chevrolet Corvette C4
Chevrolet Impala from 90s
Chevrolet Caprice Classic from 80s, 90s
Chevrolet Lumina

Chrysler Town and Country from 90s

Daihatsu all models any era

Dodge Caravan from 90s

Ferrari all models from 80s/90s

Ford Mustang from 80s/90s
Ford Thunderbird from 80s/90s

GMC Syclone
GMC Typhoon

Honda CRX
Honda Civic del Sol
Honda Prelude

Hyundai Stellar
Hyundai Scoupe
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Hyundai Excel
Hyundai Tiburon
Hyundai Sonata first few gens
Hyundai Elantra 1st+2nd gen

Infiniti G20
Infiniti M30
Infiniti J30
Infiniti Q45

Isuzu all models any era

Jaguar XJs pre-radical transformation
Jaguar S-Type first gen

Kia Amanti
Kia Clarus
Kia Spectra
Kia Sephia
Kia Sportage 1st gen

Lamborghini Diablo

Land Rover Discovery 1st + 2nd gen
Land Rover Range Rover Classic

Lexus IS 1st tgen
Lexus ES 1st gen
Lexus GS 1st gen
Lexus LS 1st gen
Lexus SC both gens

Lincoln Town Car from 80s
Lincoln Mark VII
Lincoln Mark VIII

Lotus Esprit

Maserati models from 80s, 90s

Mazda 626
Mazda 929
Mazda MX-3
Mazda MX-6
Mazda Millenia

Mercedes Benz all models from 80s, 90s

Mercury Cougar from 80s/90s

Mitsubishi Pajero
Mitsubishi 3000 GT
Mitsubishi Starion

Nissan Sentra SE-R from 90s
Nissan 300ZX
Nissan 240SX
Nissan NX2000
Nissan Altima from 90s
Nissan Maxima from 80s, 90s
Nissan Laurel
Nissan Cedric

Oldsmobile all models from 90s

Pontiac all models from 90s, especially GrandAm

Porsche 968
Porsche 928
Porsche 944
Porsche 924
Porsche Cayenne 1st gen

Rolls Royce all models before resurrection

Subaru Legacy 1st+2nd gen
Subaru Impreza first gen
Subaru SVX

Suzuki most models any era

Toyota original Camry
Toyota Cressida
Toyota Supra
Toyota Celica
Toyota MR2
Toyota Matrix
Toyota Solara

VW original Beetle
VW Scirocco 1st+2nd gen
VW Corrado

Volvo 400 series
Volvo 700 series
Volvo 850
Volvo 900 series
Volvo S40 from early 00s
Volvo S60 from early 00s
Volvo S80 from early 00s


[Edited on May 25, 2017 at 4:00 PM. Reason : ]

5/25/2017 3:33:30 PM

Quote :

"Aston Martin Lagonda Bentley Mulsanne all models before resurrection"

you mean you saw these more than once in the last 30 years?

5/25/2017 10:10:03 PM

I've seen quite a few of those regularly. And, it's implied from the title that some of these are cars one used to see often... So, an Aston Martin of any kind is going to be disqualified, c'mon man!

5/25/2017 11:18:39 PM

You know, I haven't seen a Duesenberg in a while.

5/26/2017 12:22:28 AM

Nissan NX2000, you say? I agree. I saw one a few days ago and actually found it worthy of a photo.


(Yes, it could actually be an NX1600. Same car, smaller engine.)

[Edited on May 26, 2017 at 1:43 AM. Reason : m]

5/26/2017 1:42:40 AM

LOL I know I went a bit overboard with that list, but considering the OP included these in his list:

Quote :

"5. Cadillac Catera 6. Mazda MX-6, 929 7. Porsche 968"

And since by any objective measure they did not "used to be everywhere", I take it to mean "cars that have significantly dropped in numbers as a percentage of their numbers 10-20 years ago".

Quote :

"you mean you saw these more than once in the last 30 years?"

I grew up in the Middle East, so yes I did. In fact, used to see a Bentley or RR in the 80s and 90s quite frequently, 1-2 times/month. And as a family we did not go out much, otherwise would have seen even more.

As for the AM Lagonda, far rarer than Bentleys and RRs of the time, but still probably saw one 1-2 times/year. Maseratis probably once a month, in the 80s and 90s.

Once the 00s hit, such cars all but disappeared.

Quote :

"I've seen quite a few of those regularly."

Not contesting that, but "regularly" is highly subjective in reference to place and time!

5/26/2017 6:07:13 AM

i don't ever see any Packards driving around now. Sad.

[Edited on May 26, 2017 at 8:39 AM. Reason : But I do occasionally see a Zimmer Golden Spirit.]

5/26/2017 8:25:20 AM

Did you ever see them?

5/26/2017 10:35:09 AM

Yeah my great uncle had a 36 packard.

He also had a 64 1/2 mustang convertible and a 69 corvette.

5/26/2017 12:25:44 PM

the world needs more LeBarons

5/26/2017 2:24:02 PM

Quote :

"Ford Mustang from 80s/90s"

Do you live in the Triangle? 'cause these things are still everywhere in Charlotte/Concord


90's S-10 and Blazers
90's Rangers
(funny, the 90's Dakotas still pop up every now and then)

5/26/2017 10:47:57 PM

Nah I have been in Louisiana since 2014 and before that I was not in the US.

5/27/2017 1:17:18 AM