1 – The Mazda Miata/MX-5
Most commonly found in lists that feature the word “enthusiasts” and “under $x000 dollars” with good reason. They are inexpensive when it comes to picking up a nice clean low mileage example, they will run forever and there is a huge aftermarket for them.
Lazy automotive bloggers have hit an issue though with the Miata. If you don’t mention it in a list that should include it, all the comments will be complaining you didn’t mention the Miata. If you do drop it in the list, people will complain in the comments that it was too easy.
Lists are fun but seriously abused so I have zero sympathy…. and the sites make out anyway.
2 – The Pontiac Aztec
We get it. It’s ugly. It’s so ugly that if you’re lazy enough to make a list of ugly cars then it suffers Miata Syndrome. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The good news is that lazy lists are SEO fodder, monetisation fodder and plenty of comments helps all of those no matter what they say.
The Pontiac Aztec was actually the first car I drove in the U.S, and it was fine. The owner, a good friend of mine, loved it. It was rugged as hell and gave him no problems at all. I actually wonder if in another 5 years or so it might become quite the hipster mode of transport given it’s excellent casting in Breaking Bad and how “ironic” it would be to choose to drive.
3 – The Foxbody Mustang
Oh yes, it’s great list fodder. You can pick it up for under x thousand dollars, it’s infinately tunable as a platform with an insanely large aftermarket to support that. It comes under the heading of “muscle car” and, well it’s a Ford Mustang. A marque that long enough history and popularity it’ll support very specific lists of its own.
Unfortunately, it’s not very good as a car unless you’re prepared to spend some cash and work on it or you like driving period cars. Both of which I can respect, but it’s one of those cars you already have to want already.
Which gives me an idea for another list.
4 – Honda Civic
Super reliable and cheap to maintain if you’re writing that kind of list, or infinitely tuneable with an aftermarket to match if not. It really is one of the most versatile cars on the lists – there are versions not available in the U.S so it slips nicely onto some JDM lists. It’s also popular amongst people with no taste as well so there’s always the ricer angle to take.
Everyone says they hate ricers, but you can’t not look and that’s the key to link-baiting.
5 – Nissan GTR
This is the fanboy car to top the list of fanboy cars. From it’s prominence in the Fast And Furious franchise to it’s almost mythical reputation in Japanese drifting… to more recent times with Jeremy Clarkson injuring his neck from the G forces endured while cornering.
Only a fool would leave this off a list it could be shoehorned into.
