The unders (underated & unappreciated)

[brachunky]

The last couple of days has had yours truly pondering on those not so moderns/almost retro cars that were taken with a pinch of salt and rarely got a second glimpse in terms of appreciation. Many were made in vast numbers, others not so but in fairness, were not bad cars at all. Most of us like the underdog such as for example the older Volvo's but time has shown that as they get on in years, desirability often increases! Many like Cavaliers have almost vanished considering how many were built.

Due to the first post image challenge, my contribution is below!

[johnthesparky]

Starts to sweat in Anticipation

[brachunky]

So enter the 2000-2007 Mondeo! I have had two as company cars and did some good miles in them. Seats were not the most comfortable for me but overall a cracking reliable and pretty well built car popular as fleet drives.Somehow, they have never received any "modding" credentials or following despite thousands being on the road which I always thought was disappointing as its not a bad shape and can look sweet with a few bits done to them.As a bonus, they also never attracted the boy racer brigade!

The humble Mondy


And a couple who were "loved" a bit more:

[absolutepony]

Can't post an image unfortunately as I'm on my phone and can't figure it out.

The Toyota Corolla TSport. Not as sweet to drive as a Civic Type R, but the engine was a peach and with a short shift kit, some coil overs and extra bracing they are a great car.

Also along the same lines the Yaris Tsport. Cracking little car.

[MkX]

Toyota Corolla E110.

No looker but has redeeming qualities in spades:-
They don't rot, (easily).
They go on forever, soaking up abuse & neglect.
VVTi versions are pretty quick.
Frugal.
Handle well.
Flexible useful interior layouts.
One of the earliest cars in this price range to come with airbags.
You can buy a decent one for pocket money.

[bmcnut]

The humble k11 micra. From bread-and-butter shopping trolley.





To almost any flavour of awesome you like



They are appreciated by some, but you either know, or you don't. I know because Ive owned 2, they are bombproof and fun. Popular in various types of motorsport. Mabie they arnt quite underrated, but possibly underappreciated. They are also tough little things which means they are starting to disappear. If I could find an early 3dr manual non-everything like the green one above, I might have to buy it

[MkX]

Dec 22, 2019 20:48:11 GMT bmcnut said:

The humble k11 micra. From bread-and-butter shopping trolley.





To almost any flavour of awesome you like



They are appreciated by some, but you either know, or you don't. I know because Ive owned 2, they are bombproof and fun. Popular in various types of motorsport. Mabie they arnt quite underrated, but possibly underappreciated. They are also tough little things which means they are starting to disappear. If I could find an early 3dr manual non-everything like the green one above, I might have to buy it

Most mechanics I knew used to run old Micras, rarely broke and were cheap & easy to fix.

[MkX]

Good thread by the way!

[grizz]

Berlingo and cousins??

[stealthstylz]

Nobody knew what it was and they seem to have all but disappeared.

[Woofwoof]

I reckoned these were underrated.




[a href="323 by Johnny Slow, on Flickr"]link[/a]

[deano123]

Dec 22, 2019 22:43:06 GMT stealthstylz said:

Nobody knew what it was and they seem to have all but disappeared.

Always wanted a Satria GTI as a kid, tuned by Lotus werent they

[rickygolf83]

^^^ i mind Dan Anslow (?) from Max Power had one. 👍

[comfortablynumb]

Dec 22, 2019 20:48:11 GMT bmcnut said:

The humble k11 micra. From bread-and-butter shopping trolley.





To almost any flavour of awesome you like



They are appreciated by some, but you either know, or you don't. I know because Ive owned 2, they are bombproof and fun. Popular in various types of motorsport. Mabie they arnt quite underrated, but possibly underappreciated. They are also tough little things which means they are starting to disappear. If I could find an early 3dr manual non-everything like the green one above, I might have to buy it

Problem with these is that, certainly locally, the banger boys and exporters have taken a liking to them, so they're going the same way as mk2 granadas and austin cambridges, and so forth😬

[ratchart]

I suppose I should put a word in for the humble Fiat Panda (169), the sensible grown up sister to the 500 (Are they still trendy?) Most of the oily bits are common to the 500 and last version of the Ford Ka and in standard form they're super cheap (compared to most cars) to run. It's clearly not retro in the true sense of the word, but it has an old attitude to the design having the bare minimum of electronic driver aids, windows you can actually see out of, decent use of limited interior space etc. 

But that's not the fun bit, because see how good they look with a few choice mods:-



(I'd leave off the roof rack but otherwise.....)



The real achilles heel on these is the rear axle which can be a bit of a rust trap. The Ka or 500 axle is a smidge wider but can fit a normal Panda but not a 100hp version.

[Kron]

Dec 23, 2019 18:54:45 GMT ratchart said:

I suppose I should put a word in for the humble Fiat Panda (169).

I have a 1.3MJ version, it's hilarious fun to drive.

[bmcnut]

Dec 23, 2019 6:53:15 GMT comfortablynumb said:

Dec 22, 2019 20:48:11 GMT bmcnut said:

The humble k11 micra. From bread-and-butter shopping trolley.





To almost any flavour of awesome you like



They are appreciated by some, but you either know, or you don't. I know because Ive owned 2, they are bombproof and fun. Popular in various types of motorsport. Mabie they arnt quite underrated, but possibly underappreciated. They are also tough little things which means they are starting to disappear. If I could find an early 3dr manual non-everything like the green one above, I might have to buy it

Problem with these is that, certainly locally, the banger boys and exporters have taken a liking to them, so they're going the same way as mk2 granadas and austin cambridges, and so forth😬

Yeah, that's what I meant by tough little things starting to disappear. Its a shame, but if it wernt the micra it'd be something else. With so many micro meeings going on it doesn't help, then you've got grasstrack, junior rods, rallying, junior stock cars. Its true to say you don't know what you've got 'till its gone.

[pauly22]

Vauxhall omega. I saw one today,

An early one with a v6 and manual gearbox would still be great daily driver now.

[mondeogrd]

Hello all,
I think there is a clue somewhere as to my contribution! I thank the OP for his contribution and would like to raise him the 1996-2001 Mondeo Mk2, but i am biased. Thanks to a certain T. Blair, these cars have bit of an issue with image thanks to comments made. However, if you can see past the Mondeo Man badge, i think someone open minded enough could see the potential in them.



This is my 2lt Ghia X hatch, and although it is a heap, it is the comfiest car i have driven. Still has a good turn of speed and can handle a trip to IKEA, or a parts run to support the other 2.





My pride and joy! Another 2lt Ghia X but in saloon form. Dropped 30mm has turned an already well regarded chassis into a fantastic car to drive.



I didnt want a v6 when i started the search that lead to the saloon, but when this ST24 in the right colour popped up and i drove it, i couldnt resist! Needs some work, but Ford still have parts, motor factors have the usual consumables, and they are probably the last of the cars that you can still work on and work out how to fix it without a computer.

Some models are becoming rare, and Ford Tax is starting to hit the ST24 and ST200, but the Zetec, Zetec S, Ghia and Ghia X are definitely in the unsung hero category!
All the very best,
Geoff.

[retrolegends]

Owned an Alfa 145 years ago and I would definitely have another, great cars that are still dirt cheap to buy. Boxer engined for the first two years of production, oohhhh that noise!!!