Automotive Guilty Pleasures

[Brutaka]

I will agree that the base Prius isn't the prettiest car but I really like the interior design.

 

[TexRex]

Particularly when fitted with the alloys pictured above rather than the BBSes of the LSC.

 

[Razor440]

Speaking of Lincolns...

 

[Turbo]

Speaking of Lincolns...

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It looks much slower than it is in actuality. The LSC model made 295 horsepower.

 

[Razor440]

It looks much slower than it is in actuality. The LSC model made 295 horsepower.

A Mustang GT of the time would have made 215 hp, but you might want to consider the fact this is a big coupe made by Lincoln.

 

[MedigoFlame]

With recent news that the Lexus CT200h will no longer be sold in the US, I'm a little sad. I quite liked it and honestly would consider it as a daily commuter sort of car. Though, after driving one it was pretty disappointing.

Love it in Ultrasonic Blue.

 

[Turbo]

With recent news that the Lexus CT200h will no longer be sold in the US, I'm a little sad. I quite liked it and honestly would consider it as a daily commuter sort of car. Though, after driving one it was pretty disappointing.

Love it in Ultrasonic Blue.

Those were even made in a gold-ish yellow... who even bought it in that color?

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

It wasn't a bad looking car and considering how the Prius looks now; I would take a CT200H over one easily. Though, I personally found the F Sport model a bit underwelming.

 

[05XR8]

Particularly when fitted with the alloys pictured above rather than the BBSes of the LSC.

This and the 5.0 T-bird. The velour interiors were/are the best.

 

[Doog]

With recent news that the Lexus CT200h will no longer be sold in the US, I'm a little sad. I quite liked it and honestly would consider it as a daily commuter sort of car. Though, after driving one it was pretty disappointing.

Love it in Ultrasonic Blue.

I too liked the idea of the CT200h and even like the way they look in the right color, but man, driving them is such a letdown. They feel surprisingly loud and unrefined for a Lexus, and the regenerative brakes are super grabby.

 

[titleguy1]

It's so perfectly ugly.

 

[05XR8]

It's so perfectly ugly.

Heh, almost looks like the precursor to the FT-1/Supra.

 

[MedigoFlame]

I too liked the idea of the CT200h and even like the way they look in the right color, but man, driving them is such a letdown. They feel surprisingly loud and unrefined for a Lexus, and the regenerative brakes are super grabby.

I do wonder if there will be some oddball engine swaps in the near future once these drop in prices. I'd love to see what people could do to these.

 

[ToyGTone]

With recent news that the Lexus CT200h will no longer be sold in the US, I'm a little sad. I quite liked it and honestly would consider it as a daily commuter sort of car. Though, after driving one it was pretty disappointing.

Love it in Ultrasonic Blue.

I only saw this car like twice in my entire life. Probably the same car but interestingly (or not) is that it's actually one of the first hybrids Toyota & Lexus ever made it available for the Gulf state/middle east market. Before Prius and other toyota hybrids.

TBH, if they just made a petrol only option then it would definitely have sold more over here. Hybrids are too expensive to justify the purchase.

 

[homeforsummer]

Those were even made in a gold-ish yellow... who even bought it in that color?

There's a taxi driver near me who has one in that colour. I quite like it - the original LF-Ch concept was in that shade:

I like the CT in general. As @Doog says it's not very refined by Lexus standards, but after the stuff it's equivalent to over here (diesel A3s, 1-series etc) it feels pretty quiet and smooth. I like the interior (I'm a fan of almost all Lexus cabins) and the F-Sport one I tried handled okay, though the "Sport" bit is still a bit optimistic.

A quick google suggests they look pretty good with some well-chosen wheels and a set of coilovers, too.

 

[MedigoFlame]

I do wonder if they'll drop down to the price where tuners can afford them. I'd love to see what people would try for engine swaps on the CT. Wonder if we'll ever see a Lexus with a hatch again... (Not counting the crossovers/SUVs)

 

[ToyGTone]

Speaking of Toyota's, Toyota Century V12

I keep thinking of it as the Japanese version of the VW Phaeton.

 

[05XR8]

I dig that Century. Japan makes such fun cars.


Ford Escort GT
I really liked this car when it got breathed upon. I'm going back some years, but does anyone remember who tuned it back then? Was it Racing Beat, Neuspeed, Rapido, Jackson Racing? I can picture the car: school bus yellow with 16"(?) turbo-fin wheels. Maybe a Mazda tuner added a turbo and suspension kit. It was as close(not even close) to what the states could get in a "performance Escort. Since, we didn't get a Cosworth Escort at the time.

 

[ScottPuss20]

Speaking of Toyota's, Toyota Century V12

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I keep thinking of it as the Japanese version of the VW Phantom.

Phantom or Phaeton?

 

[ToyGTone]

Phantom or Phaeton?

Ops...Auto correction fault.

Yep, i meant the Phaeton.

 

[MedigoFlame]

I honestly like the Mazda5 (before the hideous smiling facelift). I remember Car & Driver was doing a Mazdaspeed3 turbo swap into a Mazda5 at one point. They're pretty good looking people carriers.

 

[TexRex]

 

[MedigoFlame]

Despite my disliking towards the Pontiac Vibe, I am strangely drawn towards it's sibling, the Toyota Matrix. I honestly thought it was a cool car back when it was new, though kind of hard to call it that now. To be specific, I like the first generation, not the ugly second.

 

[Turbo]

The one you have pictured (XRS model) has 180 horsepower and AWD. Pretty good specs for an early-to-mid 2000s hatchback.

 

[MedigoFlame]

The one you have pictured (XRS model) has 180 horsepower and AWD. Pretty good specs for an early-to-mid 2000s hatchback.

My dad had one as a loaner Matrix from the Toyota dealership after we had to get something fixed on our 2003 Camry. I thought it was pretty cool for the time. I even liked the body kit that came on...whichever year model it was. My neighbor has an XRS AWD one.

 

[ToyGTone]

Holden Commodore VT SS

-----
Toyota Camry XV10 Wagon, one of my neighbours used to own one.

The XV20 isn't that far IMO.

 

[MedigoFlame]

Toyota Camry XV10 Wagon, one of my neighbours used to own one.

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The XV20 isn't that far IMO.

Yes! I absolutely love that generation Camry! Especially in wagon form. I still want one to this day as a daily/winter beater.

Speaking of Toyota, I feel like the MR-2 Spyder/MR-S is the unloved Toyota sports car. I used to think it was meh in comparison to the other two generations, but for some reason, I've fallen in love with it. I want one of these as well.

 

[ToyGTone]

Yes! I absolutely love that generation Camry! Especially in wagon form. I still want one to this day as a daily/winter beater.

Speaking of Toyota, I feel like the MR-2 Spyder/MR-S is the unloved Toyota sports car. I used to think it was meh in comparison to the other two generations, but for some reason, I've fallen in love with it. I want one of these as well.

For an late 90's/early 2000, it looks surprisingly modern to me.
I would rather own that MR2 than the Celica from that Era. Looks like a Baby Porsche too.

Now here's a true guilty pleasure, talked about it a lot of time's:
Patrol Y60 & Y61

As for why I love the Y61? Well it's not about the looks or the sound or the off roading capabilities (although that's a bonus for me) or speed but due to people doing stupid and silly things with it...

... like these for example:




Man we are really insane...

 

[homeforsummer]

I honestly like the Mazda5 (before the hideous smiling facelift). I remember Car & Driver was doing a Mazdaspeed3 turbo swap into a Mazda5 at one point. They're pretty good looking people carriers.

If we're talking MPVs, the Mitsubishi Grandis could be considered a guilty pleasure of mine. See them on the road very occasionally, and always think they look pretty good:

Another excuse to post my old car...

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Had the one of the best rides of anything I've driven. Nice car, but I bought a poor example (in hindsight I'm fairly sure it had been a minicab in Leeds...). If I had the space and the finances I think I'd buy another, but it'd need to be V6 and auto rather than the diesel/manual I bought. ZT appeals too, but top of the pile are the V8 versions of each. Handsome, well-built, but with an engine that seems entirely appropriate for the look of the car.

 

[MedigoFlame]

If we're talking MPVs, the Mitsubishi Grandis could be considered a guilty pleasure of mine. See them on the road very occasionally, and always think they look pretty good:

View attachment 656816​

I'm glad I got to see those in person when I was visiting family in Vietnam, they really are attractive MPVs. I do also like that purple-ish color as well.

Another MPV I forgot to add, the Toyota Voxy.

And the Toyota Sienta