Aug 25, 2011 | American
The 2 door SUV is a dying breed in today’s family-oriented, car-based SUV marketplace. The Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon were the last full-size SUVs available in the United States. Personally, I am a huge fan of 2 door SUVs. They have a shorter wheelbase, making them better for off-roading, and lack the soccer-mom look that 4 door SUVs are synonymous for. In 1995, the full size 2 door GM SUV went though some significant changes. The Blazer had it’s name changed to Tahoe, and both the Yukon and new Tahoe received a completely redesigned interior that was much more modern and ergonomic. In 1996, both trucks received the updated Vortec 5700 V8 that offered up 255 horsepower as the base engine. Four wheel drive was optional, but almost every 2 door Yukon and Tahoe came equipped. According to Wikipedia, A 5 speed manual transmission was available, but I have never seen one, nor could I locate one online anywhere. It is a shame, because that would be a fantastic truck.
Sadly, the Yukon GT was killed off in 1997, and the Tahoe 2 door was axed in 1999. A shifting marketplace and high gas prices are to blame. It’s really too bad, because these trucks are so damn cool.
My ideal version of one of these trucks would be a Yukon GT, mostly because I think GMCs are generally cooler because they aren’t as prevalent. A Tahoe sport would be adequate also, because they had a sport appearance package that made them look pretty modern. I think it would be perfect with dual exhaust peeking out below the rear bumper, and mufflers that allow a little bit more of the small block V8’s tone to be heard. It would be a truck that looks fantastic, and is just not all that common anymore. This is why it is on my list.
I stole photos for this post from:http://www.edmunds.com. If you are the owner of these photos and would like me to take them down, I will gladly do so. jj@doublejslist.com
Aug 24, 2011 | Asian, Japanese
Back in the late seventies, Subaru introduced a small, car based pickup truck to the market called “Brat.” It might be easier to think of it as a Japanese El Camino. It disapeared into automotive folklore shortly after sales stopped in 1985. That was until spy photos of a Subaru Outback based pickup truck surfaced in car magazines in the early 2000s. Media dubbed it “Outbrat” as it seemed to weave the concepts of the two vehicles into one. When it was released in 2003, Subaru decided to not take the media’s idea, and simply call it “Baja.”
The non-turbo Baja was pretty fascinating all by itself. It featured a folding rear seat, and a door behind the seatback that opened up to the bed. This feature allowed for the ability to carry longer items by letting them invade the passenger cabin. Also, the tailgate mounted rear license plate was mounted on a hinged bracket that allowed the plate to be visible, if traveling with the tailgate down. Most importantly, the Baja, was car based. This meant that you had some of the utility of a pickup truck, without having to live with a pickup truck everyday of your life. It drove like a car, rode like a car, and achieved fuel economy, like a car. Also, it had all-wheel drive like other Subarus of the era.
With all of the neat features of the non-turbo Baja, it is likely that it would have made my list if the turbo version had not been made. But a year after the original Baja was introduced, Subaru unveiled a 210 horsepower turbocharged flat 4 cylinder, that took a neat vehicle to the next level. With the manual transmission, it is like having a WRX with a nicer Legacy interior, and the utility of a pickup bed. How the sales of this brilliant little pickup didn’t become record breaking, I will never know. I can’t think of a vehicle that has ever been on the market that has been good at doing so many things. In the morning you can drive it to work. In the afternoon you can pick up the kids from soccer practice. Friday night you can take your wife out on a date in it. Saturday, you can fold the seats down and pick up a few pieces of long building materials for that home improvement project you have been working on. On Sunday, you can take it on the backroads and have some fun in the twisties. This is why it is on my list.
I stole photos for this post from: http://www.boston.com http://autos.yahoo.com http://www.netcarshow.com http://www.import-heaven.net. If you are the owner of these photos and would like me to take them down, I will gladly do so. jj@doublejslist.com
Aug 24, 2011 | European, Swedish
The automotive company Saab started off as a project by a Swedish defense contractor, that primarily produced fighter jets. Saab’s often had design features that paid homage to it’s fighter jet roots over the years. In 1999, Saab decided to make a very special version of the 9-3 model, naming it after the famous fighter jet; Viggen.
Viggen translates into English “lightening bolt” and this car most certainly was. The displacement of the already powerful 9-3 turbo engine was bumped from 2 liters to 2.3 liters, and the amount of turbo boost was increased. To help cope with the added power, Saab modified the brakes, interior and driveline. Here is a fairly detailed explanation of the changes:
Perhaps I have such a strong pension for these cars, because it shares a platform and pedigree that my beloved 1995 900 had. To this day, I miss the quirky nature, power, practicality and fuel economy that these cars offer. Saab stopped making hatchback versions of the 9-3 in 2003, which took away an odd, yet ingenious design element from the car, to appeal to the masses. Sadly, it has just about turned me off of the brand, along with many other true enthusiasts of bucking the norm with class and practicality.
On a more positive note, resale values of Viggens have been drastically dropping during the past few years. What was a $40,000 sport luxury hatch when it was new, can now be had for as little as $5,000 for a well maintained example. In my eyes, it is a fantastic bargain for someone looking for something powerful, practical and delightfully different. Wether it is the 3-door sport coupe, 5-door sedan, or the convertible, there is a Viggen for everyone. This is why it is on my list.
On a fun note, check out this ridiculous promotional video Saab produced to introduce the Viggen to dealers:
Viggen Promotional video on Youtube
I stole photos for this post from: http://www.autogaleria.hu , http://saabworld.net. If you are the owner of these photos and would like me to take them down, I will gladly do so. jj@doublejslist.com
Aug 22, 2011 | American, Asian, Japanese
In 1991, Ford unveiled the second generation Escort to the American marketplace. At the time, Ford owned a significant portion of Japanese automaker Mazda. The first generation Escort was barely adequate as a contender in the subcompact segment of the US market against foreign competition. Since Ford had such strong ties to Mazda, they decided to co-develop the platform the new Escort would use. The end result was one of the best small cars that has ever worn the blue oval in the US. The icing on the cake was the GT model that was released at the same time as the other models in the second generation lineup.
The GT model had a lot of upgrades from the standard Escort. It received four wheel disc brakes, sport tuned suspension, a handsome body kit, fog lights, it’s own grille and sport seats. Perhaps the greatest upgrade was from the single cam ford engine, to the double overhead cam 1.8 liter Mazda engine. This was the same engine that was used in the Miata (MX-5). Anyone familiar with that engine knows how spirited, and reliable it was. The collection of changes transformed the mundane econo-car into a very competent hot-hatch, ready to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen GTI, and Honda Civic Si.
It is seldom that these automotive gems are seen on the road anymore, however, when one is spotted, it is similar to spotting an endangered species that is still thriving in the wild. The idea of any hot hatch is usually enough to trigger excitement in a true auto enthusiast’s heart. The concept of a truly competitive American branded hot hatch, is inspiring. This is why it is on my list.
Honorable Mentions:
The First Generation Escort GT:
They usually looked pretty good, but were lacking in performance and feel that could make them steal sales from the competition.
I stole photos for this post from: http://www.productioncars.com, http://www.escortfocus.comhttp://www.cargurus.com . If you are the owner of these photos and would like me to take them down, I will gladly do so. jj@doublejslist.com
