The Forgotten Cars Thread

[GranTurNismo]

1993-1997 Honda Rafaga









The Rafaga was a short-lived, forgotten-about sedan that was larger than the Civic, but not quite Accord sized, that was sold exclusively in Japan. The only engines available were five cylinders; the 2.0L made 160hp, and the 2.5L made 180hp.

Of course, a Mugen package was available too.

​

 

[VXR]

Fascinating that it had seemingly a bespoke 5 cylinder engine.

 

[GranTurNismo]

Fascinating that it had seemingly a bespoke 5 cylinder engine.

Yep, the only other cars that used those engines were the Vigor and Inspire. Strange that it was never used in the Accord, Legend, or any other Honda or Rover models.

 

[TexRex]

Fascinating that it had seemingly a bespoke 5 cylinder engine.

Not entirely, as it saw use in other models. A girl I dated in college had an Acura Vigor with it.

 

[TexRex]

It's not terribly surprising since I suspect most have gone to seed, but I can't remember the last time I saw a Nissan Stanza.

On the other hand, I actually still see Toyota Tercel wagons (4WD or not) from time to time.

 

[GranTurNismo]

On the other hand, I actually still see Toyota Tercel wagons (4WD or not) from time to time.

People actually bought those in Texas? Then again if you're in Austin it might not be too surprising to see...

 

[GranTurNismo]

The 5-door variant of the '90-'95 Nissan Pulsar is quite forgotten about, having been overshadowed by the Primera. It's a rather attractive looking body style, at least in my view.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Does anyone here have appreciation for the Infiniti QX4 like I do?

I feel like these things should be trending now, but they very aren't.

The Pathfinder it's based on seems appreciated, somewhat, so why not the leather wrapped version resplendent with 3 spoke alloys and handsome exterior accouterments?

I think they look particularly fetching in Silver, Black, or Burgandy.

Then again, I am a sucker for late 90s, early 00s machines.

 

[05XR8]

Celtics GT-S. Saw one today.

They came with (the beloved and stolen, in The Bronx)Supra seats and Supra wheels, but not the inline-6.

 

[Liquid]

The 5-door variant of the '90-'95 Nissan Pulsar is quite forgotten about, having been overshadowed by the Primera. It's a rather attractive looking body style, at least in my view.

These were everywhere when I was growing up in the 90s. Front looks great but I never liked the rear end. The Almera that replaced it was far better looking, in my opinion at least, even though we only got the hatchback in the UKDM. When I first saw an Almera saloon in Greece I was stunned at its existence; I took it as read that the Primera was the saloon variant of the Almera and vice versa.

 

[MedigoFlame]

The first "New Beetle" in 2002 as the Turbo S. I never really cared too much for the first New Beetle, other than the RSI model. But seeing these have always interested me, if I ever saw one. I barely see these on the road and when I do find one, I get all excited. The slightly different headlights and bumpers always intrigued me. As do the wheels.

 

[GranTurNismo]

Saw these four forgotten cars today while car spotting downtown, so I guess I'll put them here.

Hyundai Nexo





This could perhaps be the most forgotten new car offered in America. Only about 300 of these have even been sold here! Other than the Mirai, this is the only fuel-cell vehicle one could buy. Though it may look like a typical compact crossover, it's actually quite expensive, starting at nearly $60k.

Toyota Paseo Convertible





[URL='https://www.convertibletopguys.com/convertible/1077/1996-98-Toyota-Paseo'][/URL]

One of those "why was this even made" type of cars. A convertible version of a subcompact economy car seems quite unreasonable, but Toyota figured there would be a market for it. The convertible option was only offered for the second-gen model, and only a few thousand were sold.

Ford Aerostar Eddie Bauer Edition





I remember in the 2000s, Ford Aerostars used to be relatively common, but now they've basically vanished. The Aerostar was essentially Ford's answer to the Dodge Caravan before the Windstar came out, but it was too truck-like and utilitarian to catch on. The Eddie Bauer (a lifestyle brand) package was offered on the Aerostar in the mid-1990s, along with the Explorer, Ranger, Expedition, and F-Series; it featured different wheels, two-tone colors, "Eddie Bauer" branding throughout, and a leather interior.

Ford Probe GT, first-generation







The GT package was the more expensive and sporty of the two options available on the Mazda MX-6 based Ford Probe, and it was powered by a 2.2L turbocharged I4 making 145hp. Although the Probe is generally looked down upon for being the proposed Mustang successor, I quite like it; though it may not be an exceptionally great car, it is handsome to say the least.​

 

[05XR8]

The 5-door variant of the '90-'95 Nissan Pulsar is quite forgotten about, having been overshadowed by the Primera. It's a rather attractive looking body style, at least in my view.

From 2007- about 2011, these were everywhere in New South Wales.

Saw these four forgotten cars today while car spotting downtown, so I guess I'll put them here.

Hyundai Nexo





This could perhaps be the most forgotten new car offered in America. Only about 300 of these have even been sold here! Other than the Mirai, this is the only fuel-cell vehicle one could buy. Though it may look like a typical compact crossover, it's actually quite expensive, starting at nearly $60k.

Toyota Paseo Convertible







One of those "why was this even made" type of cars. A convertible version of a subcompact economy car seems quite unreasonable, but Toyota figured there would be a market for it. The convertible option was only offered for the second-gen model, and only a few thousand were sold.

Ford Aerostar Eddie Bauer Edition





I remember in the 2000s, Ford Aerostars used to be relatively common, but now they've basically vanished. The Aerostar was essentially Ford's answer to the Dodge Caravan before the Windstar came out, but it was too truck-like and utilitarian to catch on. The Eddie Bauer (a lifestyle brand) package was offered on the Aerostar in the mid-1990s, along with the Explorer, Ranger, Expedition, and F-Series; it featured different wheels, two-tone colors, "Eddie Bauer" branding throughout, and a leather interior.

Ford Probe GT, first-generation







The GT package was the more expensive and sporty of the two options available on the Mazda MX-6 based Ford Probe, and it was powered by a 2.2L turbocharged I4 making 145hp. Although the Probe is generally looked down upon for being the proposed Mustang successor, I quite like it; though it may not be an exceptionally great car, it is handsome to say the least.​

I remember reviews in magazines, that engine had more like 180hp.
A friend had a black MX-6 GT auto. His parents owned a convenient store/arcade in my old neighbourhood. Got the thing brand new and would go against M3s. A few years later, he got smacked up by a Plymouth Laser and traded up for the Eclipse GSX.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

My grandfather used to have an Aerostar. I don't remember much about it, but his was a white panel van he owned for at least a year.

 

[TexRex]

looked down upon for being the proposed Mustang successor

This doesn't sound like an actual thing. Not the proposal, mind, but this being a driving force behind public opinion of the Probe.

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

Keep forgetting about these Cadillac STS V

Saw this one today.

 

[homeforsummer]

Hyundai Nexo​

​

​

I think this has been brought up before, probably by me, but I figure we should probably give cars a chance to have been on sale for more than a year or two before we can consider it "forgotten".

It's a low-volume fuel-cell car. It's less "forgotten" than it is "not particularly well-known".

 

[GranTurNismo]

Here are five forgotten new cars which are still available to buy in the US.

Acura RLX- 1,019 sold in 2019.





Buick Regal TourX- roughly 3,000 sold in 2019 (it's first model year) compared to over 140,000 Subaru Outbacks being sold that year.





Jaguar XF Sportbrake- 510 sold in 2019



[URL='https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/jaguar/xf-sportbrake-0'][/URL]

Kia Cadenza- 1630 sold in 2019.





Kia K9- only 354 sold in 2019.

 

[-Fred-]

It had probably been a good 15 years since I'd last seen a Dodge Colt when I saw one exactly like that yesterday. Couldn't tell if it was a turbo model or not, but man, that took me back.

 

[GranTurNismo]

It had probably been a good 15 years since I'd last seen a Dodge Colt when I saw one exactly like that yesterday. Couldn't tell if it was a turbo model or not, but man, that took me back.

Thanks for reminding me. Spotted a 1991 model Dodge Colt in the fall.

 

[05XR8]

This is kinda forgotten
https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/or...fVVy82qMvR1a1hlvUrGHYQt-YZ2LX7Lbs3WsA5_2UlNNQ

 

[GranTurNismo]

1985-1989 Toyota Carina ED. It really was the "four-door Celica", both cars having used the same platform and the 2.0L 3S-GELU I4 making 160hp. Strangely, the "ED" in the name was an acronym for "Exciting & Dressy".

 

[Liquid]

Whilst looking at some archive photos of North Wales Police, this Ford Orion stood out as an unusually uninteresting sight. The entire segment the car belongs to has been forgotten and is obsolete.

For a very brief time in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there was a trend for European carmakers to make a proper saloon version of their hatchback in addition to whatever their actual full-size saloon offerings were, but give them an entirely different nameplate.

The Ford Orion is the saloon version of the Ford Escort, and is not the same as the Ford Granada, Ford Cortina or Ford Sierra, Ford's "proper" saloons of that time and the time just before.

The Vauxhall Belmont was a saloon version of the Vauxhall Astra, in addition to the full-sized Vauxhall Carlton saloon.

The Volkswagen Vento/Jetta was a saloon version of the Volkswagen Golf.

The Rover 200, although nothing more than a renamed Honda Ballade, started out as a saloon version of the Austin Maestro in addition to the Rovers 400 and 600.

Eventually, the separate nameplates were discontinued altogether as the market trend towards hatchbacks took hold and although some mini-saloons persisted into the 2000s, they did so mainly as one hatchback with different configurations rather than two different cars.

 

[7up747]

They still make this saloon body style out of hatch in Russia, some eastern Europe countries, South America and some other markets.

Astra H for example (not the newest one but still).

On topic.

Audi 80 b2

 

[Aiado]

The Suzuki Equator. I remember when it first came out, but I haven't seen one in a long time.
View attachment 517382

I have never seen this car before.
I didn't even know that Suzuki made pickups.
The only Suzukis in my country are the small hatchbacks; Pixo, Swift, Celerio, Alto and Baleno.

 

[Aiado]

A long time ago I saw this Fiat/Lada/Seat with narrow tail lights, like those on a Peugeot 309, but just smaller.

I haven't seen one of those in about 20 years.

 

[ScottPuss20]

SSC Ultimate Aero

It was the fastest car in the world at one point, but hardly anyone remembers it. Everyone knows about the Veyron, but show this car to someone and they'll have no idea what it is. I feel like some enthusiasts have forgotten it as well.

 

[StreetHawk555]

SSC Ultimate Aero
View attachment 900153
It was the fastest car in the world at one point, but hardly anyone remembers it. Everyone knows about the Veyron, but show this car to someone and they'll have no idea what it is. I feel like some enthusiasts have forgotten it as well.

Ah! I remember this car from Forza 4! It also had a lot of cars in that game that you didn't know existed.

 

[Aiado]

Thanks for reminding me. Spotted a 1991 model Dodge Colt in the fall.

View attachment 887703

View attachment 887704

View attachment 887702

My dad had one of these about 20 years ago.
It was the original Mitsubishi Colt version, and it was a great car to drive in.

 

[GranTurNismo]

1994-2010 Mazda B2500/B3000/B4000-Series. Saw one of these today at the beach. Obviously, they are a rebadge of the US Ford Ranger. Throughout its sixteen years of production, it received two minor facelifts, one in 1998 and another in 2002. By the late 2000s, these were hilariously outdated looking on the outside, even more so than the Ranger. In fact, in model years 2009 and 2010, less than 1,000 were sold in the entire US. In most other years, sales averaged around 3,000-6,000 each year, making them sort of rare.

1994-1997:

1998-2001

2002-2010