Whatever happened to the sporty $14k japanese car

[amdforever2]

The MX-6
The Prelude
The 300ZX
The old Celica



MURDERED! IN COLD BLOOD!
EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!


Unless I'm mistaken all of those cars when new could be had in the mid teens, now there is either no equivalent to them or the price is much higher.


We have the Scion TC and the Hyundai Tiburon.

Other than that, Asia has forsaken us.

 

[DivideBYZero]

What has the inflation rate been since the early 90's?

 

[pray4mojo]

none of those cars were ever 14k new.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I found the answer:

What cost $14000 in 1990 would cost $20822.74 in 2005.

Inflation calculator

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
The MX-6
The Prelude
The 300ZX
The old Celica



MURDERED! IN COLD BLOOD!
EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!


Unless I'm mistaken all of those cars when new could be had in the mid teens, now there is either no equivalent to them or the price is much higher.


We have the Scion TC and the Hyundai Tiburon.

Other than that, Asia has forsaken us.

The 300zx was never 14k. The base level non-turbo '84 model was $16k. Figure in inflation and that number pushes 30k in today's dollars. Oh, and for that you got a car that could do a 1/4 mile in mid 16's -- impressive at the time but pitiful for a car that's supposed to be 'sporty' today.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: vegetation

Originally posted by: amdforever2
The MX-6
The Prelude
The 300ZX
The old Celica



MURDERED! IN COLD BLOOD!
EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!


Unless I'm mistaken all of those cars when new could be had in the mid teens, now there is either no equivalent to them or the price is much higher.


We have the Scion TC and the Hyundai Tiburon.

Other than that, Asia has forsaken us.

The 300zx was never 14k. The base level non-turbo '84 model was $16k. Figure in inflation and that number pushes 30k in today's dollars. Oh, and for that you got a car that could do a 1/4 mile in mid 16's -- impressive at the time but pitiful for a car that's supposed to be 'sporty' today.

I had an 85 model, fully loaded non-turbo 300ZX 2+2 that had an original sticker price of $30K...

 

[AdamK47]

"Sporty" is one of those words that middle aged soccer moms use to describe their SUV or minivan.

 

[krunchykrome]

You amaze me

 

[Ika]

Whatever happened to the $10k compact japanese car?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I want to know what happened with compacts being small and light.

Eclipse: 3600LBs
VW R32: 3400LBs
Civic: 2900LBs
Celica: 2700LBs

...and the market for these cars complained that the 3500LB Camaro was large and heavy. Even the subcompact Fit is 2500LBs.

 

[ModeEngage]

I love the look of 3rd generation Celicas. I'm sad that Toyota discontinued the line

Now I have to get a supercharged TC

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I want to know what happened with compacts being small and light.

Eclipse: 3600LBs
VW R32: 3400LBs
Civic: 2900LBs
Celica: 2700LBs

...and the market for these cars complained that the 3500LB Camaro was large and heavy. Even the subcompact Fit is 2500LBs.

This is why my next car will be an MX-5

3200lbs is too heavy for me. I may as well go onto vehix.com and say "show me all cars in the world, except the ones weighing over 3200lbs."

 

[Nerva]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
What has the inflation rate been since the early 90's?

avg ~3%

 

[Glavinsolo]

The Yaris has an S on the back of it.

 

[marvdmartian]

Well, concerning the weight, remember too that the US government has laws that state a car has to get a minimum crash test result to hit the road here. Back in the 90's, I believe, they mandated door beams to protect people more against side impact accidents (remember the old 80's toyotas, et al, that had the car doors that 'blipped' when you closed them, versus today's more solid 'clunk!!'??). Well, steel is heavy, and adding more accident protection equipment (front & side airbags, 10mph bumpers, etc) has added quite a bit of weight today's cars.

Honestly, I'd rather had a car built today than one 20 years ago. Chances are you'll survive an accident with much greater odds today! Shoot, I remember seeing older toyotas & hondas in the junk yard (when I lived in Guam), that had slid sideways and impacted the reinforced concrete power poles they use there (for greater typhoon resistance). Imagine the ENTIRE passenger seat are mushed over to the centerline of the car.......now imagine someone sitting there when that happened!!! :shocked:

As far as cost goes, you can likely blame not only inflation, but the fact that all Japanese cars are not built in Japan anymore. In other words, UAW workers building Japanese cars in America likely have something to do with higher prices today! :disgust:

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: n30
I love the look of 3rd generation Celicas. I'm sad that Toyota discontinued the line

Now I have to get a supercharged TC

Definitely agree with you there.

Why did Toyota discontinue the line? It's not like they have a replacement or anything (closest they've got is the Solara.... *barf*)

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
The MX-6
The Prelude
The 300ZX
The old Celica

MURDERED! IN COLD BLOOD!
EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!

Unless I'm mistaken all of those cars when new could be had in the mid teens, now there is either no equivalent to them or the price is much higher.

We have the Scion TC and the Hyundai Tiburon.

Other than that, Asia has forsaken us.

toyota hardtop convertible spider?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I want to know what happened with compacts being small and light.

Eclipse: 3600LBs
VW R32: 3400LBs
Civic: 2900LBs
Celica: 2700LBs

...and the market for these cars complained that the 3500LB Camaro was large and heavy. Even the subcompact Fit is 2500LBs.

Safety and emissions...
But cars don't get too much lighter than 2500lbs. My 73 Super Beetle, with no power anything, no A/C, and very little in the way of safety, still weighs 1900lbs. IIRC, the Lotus Elise weighs about the same 1900lbs.

 

[MaxFusion16]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
The MX-6
The Prelude
The 300ZX
The old Celica



MURDERED! IN COLD BLOOD!
EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!


Unless I'm mistaken all of those cars when new could be had in the mid teens, now there is either no equivalent to them or the price is much higher.


We have the Scion TC and the Hyundai Tiburon.

Other than that, Asia has forsaken us.

i think you mean the 240sx

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I want to know what happened with compacts being small and light.

Eclipse: 3600LBs
VW R32: 3400LBs
Civic: 2900LBs
Celica: 2700LBs

...and the market for these cars complained that the 3500LB Camaro was large and heavy. Even the subcompact Fit is 2500LBs.

This is why my next car will be an MX-5

3200lbs is too heavy for me. I may as well go onto vehix.com and say "show me all cars in the world, except the ones weighing over 3200lbs."

Do you carry your fvcking car around or something?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
The MX-6
The Prelude
The 300ZX
The old Celica



MURDERED! IN COLD BLOOD!
EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!


Unless I'm mistaken all of those cars when new could be had in the mid teens, now there is either no equivalent to them or the price is much higher.


We have the Scion TC and the Hyundai Tiburon.

Other than that, Asia has forsaken us.

The old celica was far from sporty, highest trim was 140hp - unless you are talking 5th gen with the turbo.

But yeah like the others said - inflation.

 

[Tyrant222]

you can still get a sentra se-r specv for 16k new. around 2700lb. will do low 15s.

although its being dumped this year because of a model change. it will be back in 08, much heavier, much slower than before!

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: marvdmartian
Well, concerning the weight, remember too that the US government has laws that state a car has to get a minimum crash test result to hit the road here. Back in the 90's, I believe, they mandated door beams to protect people more against side impact accidents (remember the old 80's toyotas, et al, that had the car doors that 'blipped' when you closed them, versus today's more solid 'clunk!!'??). Well, steel is heavy, and adding more accident protection equipment (front & side airbags, 10mph bumpers, etc) has added quite a bit of weight today's cars.

Honestly, I'd rather had a car built today than one 20 years ago. Chances are you'll survive an accident with much greater odds today! Shoot, I remember seeing older toyotas & hondas in the junk yard (when I lived in Guam), that had slid sideways and impacted the reinforced concrete power poles they use there (for greater typhoon resistance). Imagine the ENTIRE passenger seat are mushed over to the centerline of the car.......now imagine someone sitting there when that happened!!! :shocked:

As far as cost goes, you can likely blame not only inflation, but the fact that all Japanese cars are not built in Japan anymore. In other words, UAW workers building Japanese cars in America likely have something to do with higher prices today! :disgust:

Show me a UAW worker working for a Japanese company making cars in this country.

 

[desy]

1500lb 87 mpg recyclable
Whats not to lub?

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: desy
1500lb 87 mpg recyclable
Whats not to lub?

it's ugwy