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Waiting For Everyman

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33. The best car ever made in my book

Thu Sep 17, 2015, 12:56 PM

Sep 2015

was the 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo 2+2 T-top automatic, the last year of the original body type, which was beautiful, fast, fun to drive, tough, and surprisingly practical.

I bought mine new, white with red leather and suede interior, and had it for 28 years. I had it rebuilt once and would've done it again if I could've afforded it.

No new car is nearly that cool, or ever will be again. I don't like the new Z's though, or any of the rounded-looking new models. I don't see the point of an intentionally ugly car, and I really hate the ones with almost no visibility out the rear window, as most seem to be now.

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The old cars weren't that great [View all] eridani Sep 2015 OP

Cars are better now than they were 50 years ago? pintobean Sep 2015 #1

A wall phone was advanced! My parents kept the one installed in 1952 csziggy Sep 2015 #25

We had one of those too. The telephone company owned it. yardwork Sep 2015 #45

Yes and it was hardwired into the wall. csziggy Sep 2015 #46

I remember! We called the monopoly Ma Bell. yardwork Sep 2015 #83

Yes, good old Ma Bell or simply The Phone Company csziggy Sep 2015 #116

I remember reading this classic: Blue_Tires Sep 2015 #113

Yes, I found several versions of that story csziggy Sep 2015 #115

Our '48 rotary was replaced only when Southern Bell went to touchtone in '69... Eleanors38 Sep 2015 #51

My uncle worked for Southern Bell and tried to get my parents to update csziggy Sep 2015 #54

Bet it still works One_Life_To_Give Sep 2015 #125

Just an AM radio 1939 Sep 2015 #2

You can still listen to those shows thanks to the internet... Human101948 Sep 2015 #8

It still is on Saturday and Sunday on our local Public Radio...... a kennedy Sep 2015 #12

I have memory's of crossing the country in those cars newfie11 Sep 2015 #3

I love the older Mopars quickesst Sep 2015 #4

+1 pintobean Sep 2015 #5

Guy next door in the dorm had one of those in college. bluedigger Sep 2015 #13

Those muscle cars were faster than hell hifiguy Sep 2015 #79

Always wanted one of those..... quickesst Sep 2015 #29

Still want one of those... Number9Dream Sep 2015 #39

Agreed - that is sweet...nt jonno99 Sep 2015 #95

Always wanted one of those..... quickesst Sep 2015 #89

Had one, loved it but...... Kilgore Sep 2015 #102

I agree with you about the styles. LuvNewcastle Sep 2015 #7

Although not.... quickesst Sep 2015 #15

A big reason sonmany cars look alike today is fuel efficiency Egnever Sep 2015 #37

not just fuel efficiency Angel Martin Sep 2015 #42

The mention of Death Valley brought back memories... Human101948 Sep 2015 #6

yeah. thinking about getting a brand new car. sick of the hassles. mopinko Sep 2015 #9

depending on condition I would snag that up from you, does it have the 360? snooper2 Sep 2015 #10

That's a collectible. bluedigger Sep 2015 #14

yeah, its a love/hate relationship. mopinko Sep 2015 #49

I've owned 2 old Mustangs, a VW Beetle and a 70 Impala. IDemo Sep 2015 #11

i had a '67 mustang, too. my first car out of high school. bedazzled Sep 2015 #17

My son had a '93 Camry with 280000 miles Freddie Sep 2015 #82

My first four cars were foriegn made. trof Sep 2015 #16

Stick with you Acura.... ileus Sep 2015 #18

My kid standing next to my '49 Go Vols Sep 2015 #19

I've always regretted selling my '58 Chevy Apache panel van. OilemFirchen Sep 2015 #50

are those wheels off a 1980 trans am? snooper2 Sep 2015 #52

No,but they do look like them kinda(I had one) Go Vols Sep 2015 #60

Actually they are. Throd Sep 2015 #20

I love old cars... Archae Sep 2015 #21

Just bought a 20-year-old one. Price is better. L. Coyote Sep 2015 #22

I Just Bought A 1997 Concorde ProfessorGAC Sep 2015 #34

drove my last vehicle to 207k miles. still ran like a top. KG Sep 2015 #23

I don't miss vapor lock and vacuum pumps Brother Buzz Sep 2015 #24

The old cars were designed for planned obsolesence, so people would keep buying cars. merrily Sep 2015 #26

66 olds f85 flobee1 Sep 2015 #27

Those were very simple and reliable. The '66 had good styling as well. Throd Sep 2015 #73

I've come to depend on the backup camera Nye Bevan Sep 2015 #28

The fact that they only had 5 digit odometers told you what the reliability was Travis_0004 Sep 2015 #30

That's true, but a guy could work on them. MineralMan Sep 2015 #31

Totally agree... Glassunion Sep 2015 #40

Exactly. The current designs are made to MineralMan Sep 2015 #41

I have an '07 328i Glassunion Sep 2015 #44

Oof. I hate that. MineralMan Sep 2015 #48

Technically, I can work on my 2004 Honda Civic. kentauros Sep 2015 #107

Just like anything made, they just keep making them better. I still B Calm Sep 2015 #32

The best car ever made in my book Waiting For Everyman Sep 2015 #33

I'd have to agree. Glassunion Sep 2015 #36

The Zs had crappy little waterpumps; otherwise, pretty good car. Eleanors38 Sep 2015 #53

If you loved this car, try test driving a nicely appointed BRZ Bonx Sep 2015 #64

I don't think "they don't make 'em like that" has anything to do with backup cameras or air bags. lumberjack_jeff Sep 2015 #35

I'm going to respectfully disagree... Glassunion Sep 2015 #38

I'll pass on AC and take the convertible Angel Martin Sep 2015 #43

Looks like an early 2000s T-Bird, which was a pretty car. Eleanors38 Sep 2015 #58

On the high end $$$$ cars, I may disagree with you... Glassunion Sep 2015 #78

My closing argument Angel Martin Sep 2015 #118

Agreed. Glassunion Sep 2015 #122

Vertigo. Jimmy Stewart. Desoto Texan. Eleanors38 Sep 2015 #55

Didn't he drive a DeSoto Firedome in that flick? Glassunion Sep 2015 #80

May be. I recall the "Texan" being scrawled across a more permanent logo on the side. Eleanors38 Sep 2015 #110

IIRC the "Sportsman" was an interior trim option on the Firedome. Glassunion Sep 2015 #111

The DeSoto Facility Inspector Sep 2015 #120

I fully understand that. However that is not my point. Glassunion Sep 2015 #123

It doesn't suck Facility Inspector Sep 2015 #124

A and C pillars drive me nuts on newer cars PasadenaTrudy Sep 2015 #47

No BMW fan, but I heard good things about the 2002s of that era... Eleanors38 Sep 2015 #62

As a sports car aficionado... Bonx Sep 2015 #56

I love the new cars. I don't see how anyone could pine for Marr Sep 2015 #57

I don't mind tinkering. lumberjack_jeff Sep 2015 #104

Yeah, but nichomachus Sep 2015 #59

Yep Go Vols Sep 2015 #112

Everybody talkin 'bout soul... Ron Green Sep 2015 #61

Exactly. bobclark86 Sep 2015 #63

The reason your '57 DeSoto only had an AM radio Snobblevitch Sep 2015 #65

My first car was a 54 Chevy Warpy Sep 2015 #66

And then there is the safety factor. progressoid Sep 2015 #67

When I was a wee lad in the early 1960s, my dad had a '59 Chevy Impala hifiguy Sep 2015 #81

Ha! I was going to post that video if no one else had! trotsky Sep 2015 #85

Wow - I might have placed a bet the that the Bel Air would perform better. jonno99 Sep 2015 #129

So much easier to work on older model cars. LanternWaste Sep 2015 #68

It's easy now. Laptop and a cable. Bonx Sep 2015 #70

You can fix a water pump with a laptop? Throd Sep 2015 #72

You said tune-up. Bonx Sep 2015 #75

I don't think that will help me replace the plugs. LanternWaste Sep 2015 #88

You don't miss a thing. Bonx Sep 2015 #90

Not starting in cold weather sucked! Flooding them, etc. nt Logical Sep 2015 #106

I drove a Ford Escort wgn for 16 1/2 years, terrible ride, but changed the plugs once HereSince1628 Sep 2015 #93

Tune ups are recommended every 100,000 miles pintobean Sep 2015 #92

Lol, so we're tube TVs, nice criteria there. Nt Logical Sep 2015 #105

I loved my 68 Firebird OriginalGeek Sep 2015 #69

There are several companys that do that. oneshooter Sep 2015 #71

I like watching those shows on TV OriginalGeek Sep 2015 #76

20 years ago my Dad bought his sisters "66 Buick Electra 225 oneshooter Sep 2015 #84

man 51k is nice OriginalGeek Sep 2015 #87

True, but my '66 Mustang Fastback sure was pretty. Zorra Sep 2015 #74

I have a 57 New yorker that I love although I seldom take it out anymore. I will say the recent.. BlueJazz Sep 2015 #77

We had a Ford Fairlane and it vaporlocked all the time. leftyladyfrommo Sep 2015 #86

92-96 Audi S4 wilt the stilt Sep 2015 #91

Getting rid of our 2000 Saab 93t in about 15 minutes. GoneOffShore Sep 2015 #94

That price sounds awfully low. Throd Sep 2015 #99

Ah yes.... but we've been trying for over 4 months on Craigslist GoneOffShore Sep 2015 #103

What a great thread - thanks a bunch! nt jonno99 Sep 2015 #96

My son's uncle on his father's side was building a T bucket and sourced a cherry 409 in California Monk06 Sep 2015 #97

I had my 1989 Nissan Sentra until just a few months ago Samantha Sep 2015 #98

My 1972 Blazer CST will be climbing grades most can't walk long after we're dead. cherokeeprogressive Sep 2015 #100

There was a reason why people who could afford it SheilaT Sep 2015 #101

i put plenty of roadtrip miles on my 82 volvo wagon, no ac or cruise fizzgig Sep 2015 #108

'96 or '98 black Nissan Sentra. Only lasted a lil over 8 years sakabatou Sep 2015 #109

Ok...And? Blue_Tires Sep 2015 #114

I'd never want a "vintage" car. Give me airbags, a safer steering column, all of that... Arugula Latte Sep 2015 #117

In My Day, Ballplayers Were for Shit AngryAmish Sep 2015 #119

Get an after market A/C Omaha Steve Sep 2015 #121

They were junk HassleCat Sep 2015 #126

Wimp, I remember old cars fondly because they were so cheap to own, and hollysmom Sep 2015 #127

The first car I drove was a 1980 Malibu Classic 47of74 Sep 2015 #128

Crash test video 1959 vs. 2009 - shows how much safer cars have become JPZenger Sep 2015 #130

Worth thousands of words. Thanks for adding this n/t eridani Sep 2015 #133

My 65 Chevy would never start in the rain CanonRay Sep 2015 #131

volkswagen beetle skippercollector Sep 2015 #132