Question to start off the week. What's the most underrated car, and why?

My vote goes to the Lincoln LS. It proved there was a market for RWD cars when everyone was still hellbent on FWD & was perhaps the last new Ford introduction that was relatively trouble free. It's also a really pleasant car to drive, well made, and with the new versions doing 6.3 to 60, it's also very quick.

The problem is it's in the shadow of the CTS, which has a more spectacular design, and next year (according to test results I've read so far) quicker than the current standard Corvette and about as fast!

But it's biggest problem is that Ford is miscasting the Lincoln LS. It's not BMW quality, and doesn't cost as much as a BMW to make (as far as I know), yet it's priced right up there with them. As a base Lincoln, I feel it should be no higher than the mid $30Ks. It would also make an exceptional Crown Vic replacement as Ford's top car (the new LTD) at $30-32K range, or even both.

 

I agree. I love the Lincoln LS, yet I hardly ever hear anything about it.

 

As far as the last decade goes, I'm thinking the early 90's Turbocharged MR2's. You rarely hear about them. They've got tons of potential, make decent stock Hp, is mid engined, and handles like it's on rails.

 

Subaru SVX (1992-1997)- A unique looking (cool windows) AWD drive sports car with a boxer-six that had a nice smooth powerband. Too bad it came out almost 10 years before people thought Subarus were cool (thanks to the WRX). There were only 14,257 SVXs built over 5 years so its a very rare car.

SVX specs- http://www.cars101.com/subaru_svx.html



Eagle Talon - Another great AWD car that never got the credit it deserved since its sister car (Mitsu Eclipse) got most of the attention. (I owned one from 1990-1994)

 

Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and Super Coupe.

 

The Lincoln LS has a wonderful chassis, but it was totally let-down by its lack of power upon its introduction. Sure, that's been partially rectified with the new V8, but you still can't get a manual unless you go with the super-weak V6. Too bad. Oh, and the car is now much too expensive.

The same was true for the previous-gen Thunderbird. Sure, it was overweight, but the chassis handled that weight rather well and it was very sophisticated for the very reasonable sticker price. But, once again, it didn't have enough motor.

My pick for the most-underrated car? That's damn tough, considering that it's possible to say something nice about most cars nowadays, and the typically "optimistic" automotive press doesn't miss many opportunities to do so. Mine's going to be a bit weird - the GM full-size vans. They contain GM's excellent powertrain, they're cheap, and they kick the butt of just about any SUV in any measure of practicality. And with the introduction of a left-side passenger door and AWD for '03, there's no reason not to buy one if you're serious about owning a practical vehicle.

 

The Turbo Coupes were wildly popular when they were out, and the SC was popular the 1st few years, then seemed to drop off everyone's radar. They sold 12,700 in 1989, but only 2,600 in 1994 (the rarest bird of all is the 95 manual at only 574).

Though my SC is for some reason a ricer magnet (I'd say once every other week, someone tries to challenge it ), and it does weigh about 3,800 pounds, it is very deceptively quick, amazingly fast, and with the right tires it is one mean handling car.

I think it's that both cars have been forgotten, and that makes for some fun street contests!

 

Mid eighties to early nineties turbo Dodges.

 

I will add in the 92 thru 95 sho taraus. at its time it was a very fast car and still quick to this day. they drop the ball on the 96 thru 99. the sho's v8 was a nice idea but it should have had 260 hp instead of 235 and a five or a six speed standard trans.

 

Whoah. This man has won.

 

How can the Lincoln LS be underated when it is overpriced? "Underated" implies being more than you would expect and overlooked. At BMW prices people would expect something >= BMW. It's pretty clear why it's being overlooked.

I'll cast my vote for the '88 Fiero GT and Formula. Exceptional handling, good acceleration for the day, styling that is still current, and a huge following despite misinformation and a poor reputation.

 

I think he's talking quality wise when he said it isn't comparable to the BMW's.

Let's see a 280hp v8/6 in a regular 3-series. That is 96hp more than the base 3's 2.3L I6 and 55hp more than the top/optional 3.0L. From what i've heard, the Ls sport handles just as good (if not better) than a comparable 3-series. The DEW chassis/platform is excellent, and the styling is comparable to that of the conservatively styled 3-series as well. On many parts, it's just as good if not better than the 3-series. These are the things that are overlooked. The 3 series has already made a reputatoion for itself, but the LS has yet to do that. For this reason, it may be overlooked when compared to the Lexus/BMW's and such.

It's not a bad car. Improve on the overall interior quality and the 40k price would be more justified.

 

starion/conquests that came under mitsubishi and chrysler/plymouth/dodge names respectively 83-89
they are really nice cars and good ones can be had for like 5 grand or less in really really exceptional condition
check this for more info
www.starquestclub.com
they also are severely fast with mild bolt ons and handle exceptionally well
one of those might be my next purchase

jus my .02

 

The Lincoln Mark VIII. Everything that you can do to a Cobra you can do to this car, and ride in luxury at the same time. The car is a converter and gears from low-mid 14 second slips.

 

My vote is for the 94-2002 Dodge Neon ACR. For about $12k you got Koni adjustables, 4 wheel disc brakes, a special computer with no top speed govenor ( I had mine doing 130MHP+) stiffer springs, adjustable camber, and bigger sway bars. It was a fun car, handled great and was pretty quick ( my best was a 15.3 @89MPH stock). My favorite moment was when I blew away a 71 Buick GS 350 at the track, the guy couldn't believe it was bone stock.