As much as I love my Land Cruiser, I’ve been fantasizing about a car that’s a bit more fun-to-drive on a daily basis. Right now the LC is the only car in my fleet that’s kid-friendly (four doors, big trunk), but I’d like something that’s a bit more exciting in the traditional sense (sharp handling, three pedals). My son is old enough now that he’d appreciate if driving wasn’t just a slow lumber through traffic.
As a bonus, it would be nice if the car didn’t cost a lot, got decent mileage, and was nondescript enough that I could park it anywhere in LA without drawing attention. I have my AE86, for example, but it fails on the parking, attention, and door count metrics. Whichever car it is, if this ever becomes more than a fantasy, wouldn’t replace the Land Cruiser; I still need that for apocalypse reasons.
What kid-friendly commuter is still fun to drive?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which Japanese classic should be remade for the modern age?“.
We received a surprisingly diverse range of suggestions for this question. Genda Nicolai Yturzaeta Iwakawa wanted a rally legend Celica to be reborn, while ka3 enthusiast asked for a Honda Legend Coupe and Taylor C. wished for a Mazda 929 based on the CX-90 platform.
We like how many asked for cars that weren’t exactly premium (like a Toyota 2000GT) but that are still quirky and rare. In this category fell JJ‘s Mazda MX-6, Franxou‘s Honda Wagovan, Fred Langille‘s Nissan Pike Cars, StreetSpirit‘s Kenmeri Skyline, and RX626‘s Honda Vamos, all great choices. Lee simply desired any wagon — Stagea, Camry, etc. — to make a comeback. We agree with Daniel that a retro-styled Y60 Nissan Patrol would make a great competitor to the Land Cruiser, and Dankan was so close to winning with his reasoning for the Subaru 360.
Finally we have the cars that were so rare to begin with the only way many people will ever get to own one is with a replica/restomod, such as Negishi no Keibajo‘s Mazda Luce Coupe or TheJWT‘s Hino Samurai. As cool as that would be, this week’s winner was speedie, who painted a poignant picture that almost made us weepy:
Mazda Cosmos (1967-1972) – The window is closing rapidly for Mazda to bring back a rotary powered vehicle (not a hybrid). A modern Cosmo would be a nice full circle closure of Mazda’s commitment to making this crazy concept of an engine a viable commercial endeavor. I have been watching Yorkshire Car Restoration’s YouTube videos documenting their restoration of a 1970 Series 2 Cosmo. Not only were there less than 1300 made, but so few actually survived due mainly to them just rusting away, as incredibly shown in the Yorkshire videos. Here is a link to the first part of the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJYTddTDDDc
Mazda could limit production to the same as the original and basically charge whatever price they wanted to turn a profit on it (or at least break even which is close to what the entire rotary program made for Mazda).
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
It’s simple, anything designed to carry more than three people that was created before the spread of the SUV.
I recently purchased a 1988 Toyota Tarago YR22 (aka Toyota Van/Model F/Master Ace Surf) as a fun little project to replace my 1997 Toyota Corolla AE102R sedan. Initially, my very opinionated 5-year-old daughter was disgusted that I could sell the ever-reliable Blue-silver Corolla for a stinky brown van that we couldn’t just get in and drive straight away. With its dented panels, filthy interior and lack of ‘go’, she couldn’t see the potential. But after seeing her dad spend a bit of time working on this car, making it nice to be in, and ensuring it starts, drives, steers, and stops, maybe, just maybe, she can appreciate how a little hard work can go a long way.
Well, I can safely say it is a favoured choice for commuting to and from school, not only because it has a manual transmission (the Corolla was auto), but largely due to the fact you can slide open the roof for the 2nd-row passengers! My soon-to-be 2-year-old son equally goes crazy for rides in the Tarago and has active meltdowns when told he’s going in mummy’s car hahahaha.
One more reason for the choice to go with this unaerodynamic, shitty old 8-seater is the fact the kids can stand up inside, and I’m not banging their heads or straining my back to get them into their car seats. Absolute godsend.
Honda Civic SI
/thread.
As BlitzPig mentioned, it’s the Civic Si for new vehicles. The various Integras would fit the bill too if going up in price.
If you’re looking for older vehicles, a few more options become available. The 2018-2021 (or 2020?) Accord 2.0T 6MT is the last great family car. Fast, big enough for 5, but their scarcity has driven up the price.
Since you’re in a rust-free area, a first gen TSX is sublime and similarly sized to modern Si. That would be my pick for sure. Second gen TSX or the various TL 6MTs would be solid too.
An oddball/unloved option: 2013-2015 ILX 2.4L 6MT. A Civic Si in a tux. With TSXs getting harder to find, the ILX fits the bill of some modern-ish creature comforts (e.g., leather, heated seats, sunroof) but not the same $ as most Sis. Actual buttons and knobs with only a small LCD screen (not a touch screen).
I don’t have kids but we keep a TRD tweaked Gen II Scion Xb for work. It has its faults but man, is it useful& a blast to drive.👍 My previous Gen I Xb would accommodate my late mother’s wheelchair without even collapsing it. Toyota blew it ceding this ground to the Kia Soul. It screams for a hybrid drivetrain over that absolutely hideous 2AZ-FE that left the plant with 👎problems👎.
Because I had a string of B13 Sentra SE-Rs back in the day (and an NX2000!), as well as B14s, but never a P10/P11, this choice is simple for me. Infiniti G20 all the way. P11 chassis with either a NeoVVL head swap or a T28 hidden under the hood.
good call. I had several B13 SE-Rs (and a B15 even). The P10 G20 I had for a bit was really great and I think of the ILX 2.4 6MT hits some of the same notes.
Ben, you always get that “headstart” with the intro pic that you post. I was going to say “old Maxima” but ::fail::, beat me to it.
But yes, If only thinking JNC, i think the family sedans with V6 engines are really good, reliable, and fun-to-drive cars that won’t grab attention. 4-cyl cars just didn’t have enough oomph.
Camry V6 SE, or Maxima SE, or Accord EX (yes, it’s a 4-cyl, but revs hard), 626 ES, or a Galant GTZ with that 195hp V6. I remember a Car and Driver article doing a family sedan comparison and placed the Galant first, over the Accord and Camry. The aforementioned cars (except Galant) all come with a manual transmission, so you can definitely save the manuals and keep the car analog. My parents have an old 1998 Maxima that we’ll borrow when visiting them, and I prefer that over their 2018 Accord. Hearing the VQ wind through the gears is way more engaging than the Accord’s CVT. Plus, it’s less likely to get stolen, that’s for sure. The car’s cheap, Insurance is cheap, and the mechanicals are bulletproof.
If you want some luxury, then an old Lexus ES300, or an old infiniti I30. Not going to mention Integra, as that’s just waiting to be jacked. Not going to include Acura Legend / RL, as it seems to sit in another category.
Four-door sedan, family of four inside, groceries, everything fits in the trunk, punching it on the freeway on-ramp and hearing that subtle growl, what a great example of “all you need and nothing more.”
I REALLY loved my first dip into the Subaru lifestyle: 2005 Subaru Legacy GT. It had all the perks of the WRX without any of the attention. If you can swing it, I’d look into a Spec.B but Subaru people think they’re worth more than they are. Great cars if you maintain them and just enough power to get out of their own way.
I’ll take this one step further and say the LGT wagon. Available with a manual in 2005 and had a revised and improved oil system for 2007. I’ve had my 2007 since 2010 and I’ve used it for everything from road trips, hauling mulch and lumber, cars & coffees, to driving way too fast around corners for no particular reason. With minimal effort it can be perked right up and get every bit of its power to the ground and improve its already quite good handling.
I like mine so much that I already plan replace the engine if ever needed instead of sending it to the scrapper.
Late first generation Infiniti G20, ideally a later model G20t from ’95 or so…5 speed, SR20DE, all the toys you need, none you don’t, 30mpg on regular gas, perhaps the best driving/handling FWDer this side of a GTI, superb build quality, and styling that still looks fresh today. Done.
That’s what I was going to say. I mean, yeah, speedie stole my exact comment. I’m just kidding. Those Cosmos are beautiful.
Something that won’t attract any attention? How about a Mazdaspeed 3? Those are so stealth that those look like regular Mazda 3’s with a sport appearance package. Especially those first gens. Nobody, and I mean nobody knows what lurks under that hood.
Based on your requirements have this three contenders:
Honda civic shuttle AWD, reliable, spacious 4 door and with the right amount of cool.
Honda fit sport second gen, not so ugly as the first one and with the charm of a european wooden shoe.
Honda Element sport manual, OEM fitted with a K series engine, 5 speed and rugged interior to clean easy when kiddos had too much fun with playdoh. Another cool feature is the rear continental doors.
Honda at the rescue, OEM K series, manual, rugged interior for the kiddos when have too much fun with playdoh, and rear continental doors, even have a 5th door!
You are looking for the almighty Element!
I like this QOTW since I am actually thinking about this since a couple weeks as we are soon done with car payments, our needs are changing and we might need to go family-friendlier.
I am thinking about a somewhat old-ish luxury car since they always seems better put together than their affordable counterparts, and their depreciation is mostly over. I had an old Infiniti I30 for a couple years some ten years ago, and it was so good. Very old and worn, but so good. And the stock LSD was amazing for snow driving. A well maintained, rust-free 15 years old luxury barge would be welcome, but not sporty nor engaging to drive.
So for your checklist, I wager a Mazdaspeed 6 would be a great addition to the family. Even though the swollen hood is a tell-tale for this hot sedan, for most people it should seem like nothing more than a hands-me-down mid-size sedan that a teenager tried to soup-up on a weekend job’s budget.
I’ve heard the answer is always “Miata” – so, uh…Miata.
If you’re willing to put your kids in an older car – Nissan Cefiro A31, like an Infiniti M30 except you could have it with a manual and an RB20DET, and people will think its an old Maxima/Infiniti unlike the attention an R32 Skyline might attract.It’s also over the 25 year mark, but good look finding one that hasn’t been drifted to death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Cefiro
Or for an scooby alternative, how about a Toyota Caldina GTT with with the Celica GT4 running gear?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Caldina
If you were able to import younger than 25, I’d say get a Toyota Probox, there is no faster car on Japanese roads. 😉
There are a ton of great choices, most of which are already mentioned. If the kids or yourself aren’t too big, an Integra GS-R is also a great shout. But if it’s all about the school run and then surviving that schlep from home to that soul-destroying cubicle that you’ve signed your life away to, then you’ll need something that makes you smile even when you’re not moving because that idiot in an Audi decided they needed to cut off the big rig carrying 20,000 packs of diapers. And for that, you need something with a great stereo to go with the fun mechanicals. So I think you could not really do better than a Toyota Soarer/Lexus SC300. Toyota’s best straight 6, supernatural build quality, and the classic Nakamichi hifi. Not the best for a winding road, but definitely the best for the 10 minutes late school to work express.
In addition to my LGT entry, how about a Lexus IS300? You can get it in a manual as a gorgeous sedan or in slightly awkward wagon form. It may not get the best MPG but you would have the chance to re-enact the “Pop the hood!” scene from F&F all the time!
First Generation Lexus IS300.
A sedan is decently priced (SportCross no way), it flies mostly under the radar given the IS line before 2010 is almost the same design wise (Didn’t Regular Car Reviews call the IS250 “a bland middle management level car?”), it comes with a 2JZ engine, mods are decent enough with a ton of aftermarket support, and it’s old enough to be “a classic.”
And the best part is that the taillights invokes old “Hot Import Nights” car show modifications where everyone wanted “Altezza-Style Taillights” from APC for their own rides.
As usual, the answer is always Honda (or Acura)
Everytime I think of selling my first gen TSX 6-spd I can’t help coming away smiling after a drive and think, I just can’t do it…
https://www.virtualparking.net/ride/2917/2004-acura-tsx