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Quintessential Mid 90's Loser Cars - READ ONLY

197 messages,  Last post on Oct 06, 2010 at 9:43 AM

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#1 of 197 Quintessential Mid 90's Loser Cars by pf_flyer HOST

Sep 14, 2009 (3:59 pm)

OK, here's a strange request from an old college friend who's a writer. He's working on a script and he called me to try and come up with a car from the mid 90's that just the mere mention of brings to mind thoughts like "loser, you're still driving THAT?" etc. Not necessarily an ugly car, but one that if you were, say, instant messaging with someone you were trying to impress, and they asked, "What do you drive?" and you said X, they would immediately sign off.
 
I figure more than a few people here will have a few nominees

#2 of 197 Re: Quintessential Mid 90's Loser Cars [pf_flyer] by fintail

Sep 14, 2009 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Sep 14, 2009 3:59 pm)
Metro and Aspire are obvious choices. The period Excel models don't exactly bring up visions of success either, along with the Daewoo line (late 90s I know) - especially the Lanos - both of which are virtually extinct today.

#3 of 197 Re: Quintessential Mid 90's Loser Cars [fintail] by fezo

Sep 14, 2009 (4:50 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 14, 2009 4:41 pm)
Are we talking cars made in the mid-90s or ones that would be around then?
 
Heck, you still get a Yugo in that time frame.

#4 of 197 Re: Quintessential Mid 90's Loser Cars [fezo] by pf_flyer HOST

Sep 14, 2009 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: fezo (Sep 14, 2009 4:50 pm)
Cars that were made in the mid 90's... something you would ridicule someone for driving TODAY
 
And he's looking for something that instantly brings an image to the mind of the general population, not just an "enthusiast"

#5 of 197 Re: Quintessential Mid 90's Loser Cars [pf_flyer] by fezo

Sep 14, 2009 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Sep 14, 2009 4:57 pm)
OK. That's what I thought but I was holding out for that Yugo....
 
Give me a bit here...

#6 of 197 Re: Quintessential Mid 90's Loser Cars [pf_flyer] by la_writer

Sep 14, 2009 (6:47 pm)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Sep 14, 2009 3:59 pm)
And to clarify the question even more, or more likely, just add to the obfuscation, think of what would be the mid 90s version of the AMC Pacer or Gremlin. Cars which just by name immediately evoke an image and an eye roll, especially if it was being driven today.

#7 of 197 Re: Quintessential Mid 90's Loser Cars [la_writer] by nippononly

Sep 15, 2009 (7:28 am)

Replying to: la_writer (Sep 14, 2009 6:47 pm)
Yeah, my first thought was of an AMC Pacer, but of course it wasn't a 90s car.
 
Anyone remember the VERY cheap and quick-to-fall-apart Mercury Capri convertible?

#8 of 197 What about the first-gen Neon? by andre1969

Sep 15, 2009 (7:42 am)

They were actually pretty well-received at first, and popular for awhile, but the early ones were very troublesome. They tended to shed their paint pretty quickly, especially in that bluish-purple color that seemed all the rage.
 
In later years, I started to associate the Neon with financial catastrophe, mainly because I knew a few people who fell on money problems, and it seemed like they'd always end up wtih a Neon! And, I gotta admit, at one point when I was still under water from a bad marriage, one night my '68 Dart died on me while on a pizza delivery run, and I got so fed up with it I asked my grandmother that night if she'd co-sign for me on a loan for a new Neon!

#9 of 197 Not sure if they were mid-1990s... by lemko

Sep 15, 2009 (7:48 am)

...but I'm thinking of the Honda Passport which was really an Isuzu Rodeo in disguise and the Mazda Navajo which was really a Ford Explorer in diguise. I don't know if they're losers but they are pretenders.
 
How about that weird space ship-looking Mercury Cougar? I'd throw in the Ford Probe which was an effeminate alternative to the Mustang.
 
One I definitely nominate is the Cadillac Catera. Bland design that looks like a Lumina, questionable reliability, and a super-stupid marketing campaign.
 
I didn't care much for those "two-door Lumina" Monte Carlos of the time.
 
Don't know if I call them losers, but Infiniti had a pretty confused identity back then while Lexus whipped its butt. J30, M30, G20?

#10 of 197 Metro LSI was a dog by larsb

Sep 15, 2009 (7:50 am)

The Metro LSI was a dog back in the day, but you have one now, getting 40+ MPG, you look less like a Loozar and more like a smart dude.
 

Messages Page 1 of 20

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