Ten desirable used cars that are impossible to find

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RockRoadKid

RockRoadKid

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St. Louis, Mo.
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RockRoadKid
I happened across this list and found it kind of interesting.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/ten-desirable-used-cars-that-are-impossible-to-find.html?page=1

For those of you who aren't interested in going through the slideshow, I'll do you a solid and put the list here. Keep in mind that this article was written for an American viewership.

10) Isuzu Impulse (both generations)
9) Merkurs
8) Renaults
7) Nissan NX2000
6) Honda CRX (original condition)
5) Dodge Rampage
4) Acura Legend
3) Fiat X1/9
2) Volkswagen Scirocco (both generations)
1) Misubishi Starion/Dodge-Chrysler-Plymouth Conquest

I had all but forgotten about some of these cars. Some deservedly (I'm looking at you, LeCar), and some that I shouldn't have (how could I have ever forgotten about you, Starion/Conquest?).

Others, though, brought back memories. Two of my friends had Sciroccos back in the day and I would probably still have an Acura Legend just like the one in the picture if the bozo I was going to buy it from hadn't totaled it the day before I was supposed to take delivery.

Enjoy the trip down memory lane, my fellow GTPers. Perhaps one day, some of us will get the chance to save one of these endangered species.:sly:
 
There is no way on Earth the Nissan NX is "desirable". It looks like a fat man who was just poked in the eyes.
 
There's probably no place on earth where you could find a Fiat X1/9. Here, Nissan NX (especially non-GTI versions) are easy to find (I actually really like them - they're compact, manouverable, have targa roof and are lots of fun). Lots of Renaults (we had a 19 - awesome car), Sciroccos are not too rare aswell. Large number of CRXs, but finding one in un-retardized condition may prove to be difficult. I'd rather choose a Rover 216 Coupe instead (=CRX in a different body). I've seen a Honda Legend the other day - not a very common car, but it's possible to find one.

My desirable cars that are impossible to find would start with Peugeot 205 GTI, Mazda MX-5, BMW M3 (any generation) and Toyota MR2.
 
:lol: I thought some of the choices were suspect, myself. Even laughable in a couple of cases. Still, it got me thinking. Now I'm trying to remember that wedge-shaped car from the 80's or early 90's that had a window in the side glass that rolled down. It might have been an Isuzu. A real weird-lookin' thing. I saw one for sale in front of a repair shop a couple years ago. I've since wondered how much they wanted for it, but I'm just nosy like that.
 
Famine
There is no way on Earth the Nissan NX is "desirable". It looks like a fat man who was just poked in the eyes.
Click to expand...

Definitely desirable to Nissan enthusiasts.

Jet Badger
My desirable cars that are impossible to find would start with Peugeot 205 GTI, Mazda MX-5, BMW M3 (any generation) and Toyota MR2.
Click to expand...

I think the OP's list was made for the USA.
 
Jet Badger
My desirable cars that are impossible to find would start with Peugeot 205 GTI, Mazda MX-5, BMW M3 (any generation) and Toyota MR2.
Click to expand...

Around here, M3's are readily available and MX-5's are plentiful as well.

I doubt that there's more than a couple hundred people in all of the St. Louis Metro area that would know what a Peugeot (of any kind) was, even if it was running them over.

I was going to mention in the OP that not including the MR2 on the list was a disgusting oversight. Thank you for reminding me (of my own disgusting oversight).
 
RockRoadKid
:lol: I thought some of the choices were suspect, myself. Even laughable in a couple of cases. Still, it got me thinking. Now I'm trying to remember that wedge-shaped car from the 80's or early 90's that had a window in the side glass that rolled down. It might have been an Isuzu. A real weird-lookin' thing. I saw one for sale in front of a repair shop a couple years ago. I've since wondered how much they wanted for it, but I'm just nosy like that.
Click to expand...

Subaru SVX or, more likely, its predecessor the XT.


Nissan NX... the only car to be crashed head on into a forklift truck during the design phase and have that detail kept. As desirable as leprosy.
 
Famine
Nissan NX... the only car to be crashed head on into a forklift truck during the design phase and have that detail kept. As desirable as leprosy.
Click to expand...

Maybe to you, but you cannot speak for everyone else. Like I said, highly desirable in the Nissan enthusiast community. I really don't think they look that bad.

seat1.jpg


seat6.jpg
 
R1600Turbo
Maybe to you, but you cannot speak for everyone else.
Click to expand...

I'll write an article about it for Yahoo! Autos - that way I can speak for the whole of America without having to cite a single thing...
 
Point is they are desirable to someone, so technically that makes them desirable.

And I will say that the front of the NX definitely looks better than the Mazda3 behind it in the photo I posted. :lol:
 
The Fiat 124 convertible is more desirable, and a better car than an X1/9. I liked an X1/9 once. It was owned by a girl named Jessica....Okay, I actually liked Jessica.
But in truth, the X1/9 has less longevity/durability than a Triumph TR7.
 
My dad had two Sciroccos - one black, the other white. Damn near perfect cars - the white one was immaculate, but the black one (What WOULD have been my first car) sadly passed away in Texas when I was eight. Engine blew one day coming home.

We've got the white one still - but it's a track day car now. Still in storage (PA winters are BAD for cars...)
 
Gil
The Fiat 124 convertible is more desirable, and a better car than an X1/9. I liked an X1/9 once. It was owned by a girl named Jessica....Okay, I actually liked Jessica.
But in truth, the X1/9 has less longevity/durability than a Triumph TR7.
Click to expand...

Who wouldn't like a girl named Jessica in an X1/9? :sly:

My sister is a big TR7 fan. She was going to buy one (of the very few available around here) about 3 years ago, but a mechanic friend of hers got her all rattled with a bunch of horror stories, so she didn't buy it. Still kicking herself.
 
Acura Legend is hard to find? Apparently no one looked at craigslist. I honestly get sick of seeing them in my car searches, honestly. They seem to be the most plentiful used Acura out there.
 
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The Nissan NX is also a really good autocross/amateur racing car which it why it's desirable. Per Road & Track magazine the handling was rated in the top ten when the it was new, other vehicles like the NSX, 911 and Mazda Miata were also included on that list.

I've only ever seen one at an autocross event a few years back, I'm guessing they are pretty rare in the States.

The list seems pretty reasonable though, I could see anyone of those vehicles being sought out. I even tried to get my hands on a Merkur without much success though.
 
Looking for a Honda S800 that isn't missing an engine or isn't on EBay or a Austin Mini Cooper that isn't over £4,000 or just a frame...
 
Datsun 510
TA22 Celicas
KP71 Starlets
Toyota Cressida
Mazda 323 GTX (I had a hell of a time finding parts for mine. It's been sitting my my driveway since the middle of January.)

Can't think of any more off the top of my head.
 
Have to say I am surprised with lack of Corolla GTS. And they thought an unmolested CRX was hard to come by.
 
I owned 2 Dodge Daytonas, those are rare and desirable in Turbo trim One was an '88 Shelby Z Turbo II. Another rare desirable car I've owned too, 3000GT VR4. And come go think about it my '98 200SX SE-R was rare and desirable. :lol:
 

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