This wraps up our week of reviewing all the new 1987 cars from America and Japan. So now it’s time to go shopping! What new 1987 car (or cars) would you have bought? For me, one of my favorite cars from 1987 actually came from Germany. I thought the Mercedes 300E was arguably the best all-round car in the world, and yes, I wanted one. The only problem? Privilege did not come cheap: the Benz started at $38,600 ($84,826 adjusted) with no options. That’s where Japan came in, offering a broad array of great choices across a wide variety of price points. As Gordon Gekko famously said in the 1987 movie Wall Street, “greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” So, I’m going to get greedy with my favorites from 1987.
For 40% less than the bare bones Mercedes-Benz 300E, I would have taken home a brand new top-trim Acura Legend sedan. The Legend’s MSRP was $22,348 ($49,111 adjusted) which was a great value for such a sophisticated, comfortable, fun-to-drive and well crafted car. No, it wasn’t a Mercedes, but it wasn’t priced like one either, and the Acura brand was very hot in 1987. I’d have taken mine in Volcanic Gray Metallic with Gray leather inside.
At the other end of the price spectrum, my favorite subcompact was the Acura Integra. Actually, back in 1987 I thought very seriously about getting one for my first car. I loved them! I went on many test drives and spent many hours poring over the Integra brochure. The one I wanted then is the one I’d pick today: a Rio Red 2-door hatchback with black interior and the 5-speed manual.
Another car I really lusted after in 1987 was the Toyota Supra Turbo. In my mind, it was a cross between a sports car and a grand tourer, sort of a “personal luxury” car of the 1980s. I thought the dark gray leather interior was gorgeous, and would have gone perfectly with the Red Metallic exterior. I would have wanted the newly available ABS brakes too.
For a more pragmatic choice, I loved the 1987 Honda Accord. These were amazing compact sedans and a great example of the best of Honda. The low cowl and expansive glass made the car feel very open and airy, the pop-up lights were a neat touch, and the Accord was very nimble and responsive. How do I know? Well, my brother and sister-in-law had an ’86 Accord, and they loved it–and were nice enough to let me drive it. It was also very comfortable, very nicely finished and completely, totally, continually reliable. Great car, and I wanted one. Please make mine an LXi sedan in Graphite Gray with Gray interior and 5-speed stick.
For a larger family car, I was a huge fan of the Ford Taurus. Though I was a committed import car nut by 1987, a well-done domestic (not that there were many) would have been very appealing, then or now. I’d have gone for a fully loaded Taurus LX sedan with the 3.0L V6 and 4-speed automatic, finished in Dark Shadow Blue Clearcoat Metallic with a Regatta Blue interior (yes, something other than gray!).
OK, that’s a lot of 1987 metal for me, now it’s your turn.
There are a lot of expensive European choices to pick from (If I won the lottery), but a stick shift Toyota Cressida would be hard to beat for me in real world use.
cjiguy
The Cressida
Was a true sleeper, people forget about this little jewel. My best friend in High School grandmother bought a Cressida new (like in 1989 or 90′). She allowed my best friend to to drive the Cressida once he got his license. We would go on double dates dates & joy ride in the car back in the early/mid 90’s.
I remember it driving so butter smooth, very bland to look at visually-but had amazing interior appointments and dash lighting. The over padded cushioned “parlor button” style seats were very Lincoln like for a Toyota!
Thanks for your memories, Mr Hartfield 🙂
These cars were very high end back in their home market; exactly what you recall saying they were Lincoln like. Only the Toyota Crown series was above it for the consumer class in Japan (Which we eventually got as the first Lexus GS later in the early 90’s, but with a dressier suit).
The Cressida was pretty premium priced. OTOH, the economy was booming and everyone I knew had the money to buy cars whose modern day equivalents are mostly leased. My family picked up a new 1987 Porsche 924S and a new 1988 BMW 325 after a series of keeper Plymouths and Dodges that was ruined by a 1985 Dodge Lancer ES Turbo lemon.
I wasn’t car shopping in 1987, but in 1989 I was and the choices at the top of my list were Escort GT and Civic hatchback. At the Honda dealership where I would buy my car, the salesperson tried to interest me in an Accord 2 door. It came across as a nice car, sort of a small, Japanese Chevy Impala. But I was nearly fixated on buying a Civic.
I still think about that Accord and owning a “nice” car doesn’t seem to be the mark of shame it was nearly 30 years ago.
I assume you mean the 2-door notchback Accord that was introduced midway through that generation, selling alongside the two-door hatchback. That was the third and final generation of the hatchback; future Accord two-doors all had trunks, to my dismay. One of my siblings had a second-generation Accord hatch (1984) and another an ’87, and they were very useful cars. I drove the latter (a 5-speed) at 80-90 mph for a half-hour once, and it was very confidence-inspiring.
I’ve also seen photos of the Accord Aerodeck of that generation, sold in the UK and elsewhere, with the same doors as the other 2-door Accords but a long roof and nearly vertical tailgate; a portion of the long rear side windows flipped out (as did the rear quarter windows of both the notchback and U.S. hatchback). I’d have liked to see the Aerodeck style in the U.S.
The Aerodeck was very interesting–the Accord reinterpreted as 2-box hatchback. Or a shooting brake, if you prefer, though the shorter rear overhang might disqualify that term (recalling the discussion in the CTS-V Sportwagon article…)
Also, IIRC, the Aerodeck was the only Euro Accord to get the pop-up headlamps that we had over here. The rest of them in Europe got slim exposed composites, a more conservative look that blunted the effect of the wedgy shape.
Actually, my issue of Car from then shows photos of the Aerodeck with the exposed headlamps; I haven’t seen photos with the pop-ups.
First google image search result below. GIS it yourself–none seem to have the exposed lamps. I wonder if the one in your Car issue is a pre-production or prototype example?
I’d buy a Toyota Cressida. I’d buy a Mercedes-Benz Diesel. I also like the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. Trucks: Toyota, Dodge Cummins Diesel.
BMW 535i with the sport package, or a W124 CE.
Good choices
It is interesting to look back with 20/20 vision, but I can answer not based on what I would have bought, but what I actually did buy. November 1986. I purchased a brand new 1987 Mazda B2000 SE-5. I was a law school student at the time. Lowest cost vehicle I have ever owned. Full purchase price was $7,450. 18 months later in April 1988 when I was wrapping up school and heading off to work and marriage, I sold it for $6,950 and purchased a 1988 Ford Escort GT that had fewer than 3,000 miles as a factory exec car. I would take either one today in a hearbeat if a pristine example ever turned up. In 10 years of casual searching I have found only one B2000 advertised that fit the bill, and have never seen a GT.
Ford Taurus isn’t large at all in the crowd of the ’80s, it’s just something at a barely acceptable size for life, let alone families. When people from another country tried to rent a ford tempo in the US to see the mother in law ( because it’s a decent size by international standard ), a free upgrade to Taurus was made because it’s not very appropriate to see mother in law in a car less than Taurus.
But larger sedans get smaller in the following years and an ’86 Taurus blends into the international size today. However the color interior is a carry over from traditional American interior design, something went extinct in the late ’90s, and more occupied by black/gray/tan interior these days. As black/gray interior isn’t acceptable to me, I wonder how hard it would be for me to buy a car in the future.
Tan seems to be making a minor comeback, and real colors like blue and red are showing up in the premium segment. Also brown seems to be coming back for leather seats, though invariably with black dash/carpet/door panels.
Still nothing like the sea of green that is my ’97 Crown Vic’s willow green interior.
Hmm, I remember being on a business trip in ’86 with several large adult males and we had two rental cars, a Fox body LTD and a new Taurus, and the Taurus was roomier by far. In fact my boss’ boss, who had a BMW E28, was blown away by how roomy and generally nice the Taurus was.
1987 had so many greats, many of them 1 year only models or at the end of their run. Around this time the R&D money went heavily into trucks along with customer interest.
Pick any other year that can compete with this for desirability:
1987 Porsche 3.2 Carrera (2nd to last year for the classic 911)
1987 BMW M5 (1 year only)
1987 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth (1 of 2 years only)
1987 Mercedes 300TD Turbodiesel (1 year only)
1987 Mercedes 190D 2.5 Turbodiesel (1 year only)
1987 Alfa Romeo GT-V6 (last year)
1987 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon
1987 Jaguar Series III (last year)
1987 Honda Prelude Si
1987 Acura Legend Coupe
1987 Toyota MR2
1987 Buick Regal GNX
1987 Camaro IROC-Z 350 MPI
1987 Lincoln LSC HO MPI
It’s sad that prices of primo examples from above have gone through the roof in the last five years. I can’t afford or find any of these any more 🙁
Not on my want list but deserving honorable mention are Accord, Civic and Taurus.
Calibrick
Great list man (good choices). For me my list of 1987 amazing cars would be..
1987 Buick Le Sabre (Gran Sport T-Type with the blackout trim)
1987 Pontiac 6000 STE (AWD)
1987 Corvette ZR1
1987 Cadillac Allante’ (conv)
1987 BMW M3 & M6
1987 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Wagon was amazing)
1987 Ford Mustang GT (All new model)
1987 Nissan Maxima S/E
1987 Saab 9000 CD (Turbo)
1987 Volvo 740 GLE Bertone coupe (Turbocharged)
1987 All new BMW 7-Series
1987 Bentley Brookland Turbo R (gorgeous ride)
A mix of high / modest price standouts that may have been forgotten today.
honorable mention also goes to the Pontiac Bonneville (all new for 87′), Chrysler LeBarron, and Pontiac Fiero GT.
Thanks MH. It was like being a kid in a candy store back then, have no idea why people like dumping on the 80s. We had the best of the 60s (Porsche 911), 70s (GM B and G-bodies, Ford Fox) and a whole slew of wacky new fuel economy ideas. Remember the Mark VII with the BMW diesel engine? Love that stuff. Then came improved fuel injection, mass-market turbos and DOHC. The boxy cars looked great and even the aero ones had plenty of glass. Best of all everything was instantly recognizable as from the brand that made it.
Forgot all about the Allante (pre-Northstar yay!), ZR1 and STE — loved that six light front end. BMW and Mercedes were never better. Well maybe BMW in ’88 when their US-market cars got the smaller ROW bumpers. Loved that Maxima SE too. Nissan had a bad ’87 but recovered nicely in ’89 and helped close out the decade on a high note.
Like someone said it’s impossible to pick one favorite from 1987.
You mean Volvo 780? The coupes were all named that way by ’87. I didn’t realize that the turbo 4 was available then, and it actually was…
It was? I’ve always heard ’88 was the first year for the turbo, at least in the States.
The strength of the top of your list is that they were West German cars instead of German cars, which are modern day PLCs by comparison.
Again, I live in Austria and back then there was really only one vehicle I would have bought: the Ur-Quatro, the best all rounder back then and even today. And here, Audis never had any reliability issues – those were thought of as fairly bullet-proof…
80’s Audi define German reliability. They are reliable if you continually repair it.
I have had several I-5 Audi and they all seem to have the same problems.
Here are few repairs that I am sure every UR Quattro had performed…
* Leaking steering rack
* Leaking hydraulic pump
* Bad pressure accumulator
* Cracked exhaust manifold and broken exhaust head studs
* Door handles
* Window regulators
* Odometer
* Shifting linkage
* Leaking fuel injectors
* Seized brake calipers and hand brake cable
* Rear suspension tie rods
* Exhaust hangers
* Idle surging and CIS problems
The list goes on and on.
How come Europeans dont seems to have these issues with European cars that we in the rest of the world do? Personally, i think that they just wont admit it.
560 SEL!
Cost no object: Mercedes-Benz 300 SDL (W126)
Cost somewhat of an object: Mercedes-Benz 300 D (W124)
Cost an object: (What I did buy) 1988 Mercury Tracer – a dolled up Mazda 323. It was a very nice car but just sort of unraveled after 75,000 miles. I did like that it was a 4-door hatchback though.
I did eventually get my M-B W124 – two in fact. My favorite all time to date was my 1995 E 320 Coupe. I only sold it when maintenance costs just got too high.
Re the Tracer, here’s an ’87 Ford Laser that our kids learnt to drive in. Of course I made my usual suspension and tyre upgrades. My son reckons it still holds the lap record for the Bannockburn roundabout….
In real life, I opted out and bought a 21 year old Plymouth Fury III that had 20K miles and looked like an average 2 or 3 year old car. But that wasn’t your question.
I struggled between “traditional” and “modern” in those years. Part of me would have picked a Ford Country Sedan wagon or maybe a Club Wagon Chateau. Or a Mopar M body Diplomat. And you could still get the Cadillac Brougham. Another part of me liked the new Acuras and the 16V VW GTI. The future Mrs. JPC bought an 88 Accord, so I know firsthand what sweet cars those were.
This is hard. Let’s punt – a new Ram pickup.
Oh wait, Tired Old Mechanic just made me remember the Mustang GT, which I had passed on 2 years earlier. I probably would have done that, a convertible with the stick (and its stronger engine).
Solid choice on the Dodge truck. Actually I believe ’87 was the first year you could get one of the uber cool and stupid rare Rod Hall edition Rams. GIMME!!!!
Red or white, complete with fake hood pins! There was a story there……….
Couldn’t load a pic earlier. Bob B, they were in black too. Cant go wrong with any of the colors, honestly.
Wow, never saw a black one. My local Dodge dealer at the time had both a red and white one. I thought of trading in my nearly new ’86 Ram in for one, but didn’t.
If it has to be a car, I’d take a Mustang LX hatch with the 5 litre 5 speed. (Not sure if that combo was available in ’87 but it was in ’88.)
What I did buy in ’87 was an F-150 XL 2wd pickup. And that’s still my choice today, although this time I’d get the 4.9 six with a manual trans. The HO 5.8 I did get was fun, but I couldn’t afford to keep it in gas. Sold it in less than a year, wiser but poorer. It really was a nice truck though.
Wow. On December 28th 1986 I also bought a 87 F150. Mine was the 300 with a granny 4-speed, dual fuel tanks, digital 2 speaker am radio, cruise, AC, with the base dog dish hub caps and plain old Firestone car type tires. As you will remember, back then the rear bumpers were optional and mine didn’t have one. However the salesman had one at his house that he sold me on the side for $50. Mine was a XL with tan vinyl bench seat and black rubber floor mat, which I actually wanted. It was $9995. I got a $200 trade in on a 74 Pinto wagon and stupidly got talked into the extended warranty. My payments were $265 month/60 months/ 9.9% interest. I worked three jobs to pay for it but by summer 88 it was a untenable situation and my dad used it and his 81 F100 Ranger as trade in’s on his pos 88 Suburban. But he did use my 87 early in 88 to haul his 62 Corvette to a show in Frisco CO. The other corvette club guys had new Blazers and Chevy 350 powered trucks and they all admitted the 300 out pulled all of ’em in the mountains! Dad simply put it in third, put the pedal to the floor, and the governer ( which would cut the fuel off at 4200 rpm) allowed just over 55 mph. Ohhh it would pull. I do miss it. I have some pics I’ll post when I get home in a few days.
I had just purchased a brand new top-of-the-line Impulse Turbo in 1986, and probably would have done the same in 1987. But by 1988, I wished I’d purchased an ’87 supercharged MR2.
This is an easy one-a Buick Grand National. I was 14 in ’87 and that was THE car to have.
The American car party was pretty much over by then. My Mom even bought a new Corvette in 1987; it never appealed to me other than trying to sneak it out when I was teenager to try and impress my girlfriend. I remember when she was shopping for the Vette, there was an all black K5 Blazer, a burgundy IROC and black Monte Carlo SS with T-tops on the lot that I lusted after too but in the end I wanted a GN.
Ford had some decent cars; the 5.0 Mustangs were hot again but I didn’t care for the new 1987 front end (and still don’t, at least compared to the 4-eyed ’86 model) and I wish they had put the 5.0 in Thunderbirds and Cougars, that would have made for a neat car.
Chrysler in 1987, no thanks. I don’t do FWD but I wouldn’t throw a loaded Ramcharger 4X4 SE out of the garage.
By the mid 1980s, we had to take imports seriously and as much as I hate to admit it, the ’87 Accord is a great looking car
Seconding the Grand National. That bodystyle Regal is still one of my favorite cars ever.
+2 on the GN and GNX. I’m a Mopar guy but nothing less than total respect for that badass car.
and I wish they had put the 5.0 in Thunderbirds and Cougars, that would have made for a neat car.
They did, it just wasn’t the 225 horsepower H.O. version found in the Mustang, but rather the 150 horsepower one shared with Panthers. You could get a Sport Thunderbird or XR7 Cougar, which used the previous year Turbo Coupe suspension(no ride control), as well as the 6 gauge analog instruments, so those are kind of the best of both worlds.
Because I couldn’t find any new cars/trucks I wanted to buy in 1986 and also because I’m hard headed and not a little bit stupid , I went to Mexico and bought a brandy new VW Beetle, it was WONDERFUL ! .
I even got it through California smog testing and had license tags on it but in time first the Feds then the AQMD found out about it and sent me a nasty & threatening letter so I returned it to Mexico, I miss it still .
-Nate
As a fan of turbo Mopars there were some decent picks.
The Daytona is my all time fave fwd Mopar, specifically the 4 eye versions up to ’86. The ’87 Shelby Z saw some tweaks under the hood at the expense of a downgrade in styling. Wonder if there was a leftover blue ’86 Turbo Z manual with black leather interior on some lot?
’87 was the last year for the Shelby Charger which is a solid choice. I believe it had the Turbo II, even.
The LeBaron coupe was a credible performance car with the Turbo II and manual. Still for my taste, its a bit…mature.
’87 also saw the debut of the Shelby CSX. ’89 was the best year for that car but an ’87 is no dog. Id be a bit torn between it and one of Carroll’s Chargers.
the LeBaron is such a good looking car, I just hate that it was K-based.
SAAB 900 SPG
An American car!
1987 Ford Country Squire with everything on it!
Three letters. GNX.
As to more pragmatic choices–for a “standard” sedan, Accord LXi. For a premium/luxury sedan, XJ6. For a wagon, it’d be a *very* tough call between a 740 Turbo wagon and an Audi 5000CS Quattro Avant. For a sporty/GT coupe, Mitsubishi Starion.
Reading others’ replies, I’ll also add in a trio of luxury/sports coupes that I don’t know how I forgot. Money no object of course:
-Mercedes 560 SEC
-BMW M6
-Lincoln Mark VII LSC
In any year other than ’87, I’d probably take an M6 over a “regular” Grand National, even as cool as they are. The E24 is perhaps my favorite BMW. But for ’87, that one-year-only wonder GNX has to take the top of the list.
The sad thing is, every car that was available in 1987 I would’ve bought before or after 1987 for various reasons. So, even though my list could theoretically be very big, I’m trying to keep it limited to 1987 exactly.
I guess the first thing that comes to mind is the Grand National, 87 was the last year for them after all and they were some of GM’s better efforts during the 80s so it just seems like a no brainer to me.
I also figure a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with a five speed manual could be a decent pick.
Pontiac Trans Am GTA, I know these cars have a ton of problems, but I still think they look sharp. While the GTA’s performance doesn’t seem that good (215 HP), for the decade, it was at least somewhat decent for something marketing itself as a sports car.
But everything else I can think of I would’ve bought a couple years before, or I would’ve bought it in 1988.
If I was alive then and had my choice of anything…I would’ve chosen something that had 2 doors and a turbo. Would also have to be loaded with the best 1987 had to offer in terms of amenities.
I would have been seriously tempted by a nice two-door BMW E30, still one of the best looking cars ever IMHO.
Too many choices to pick just one…
Pony Car: Ford Mustang GT, any color but white. Manual transmission only.
Personal Luxury: Buick Regal Grand National / GNX. I long had a framed picture of one on my bedroom wall.
Pickup: Dodge Ram 250, 360 4bbl and automatic in any color but white. There is something quite endearing about gas powered pickups that get the same fuel mileage whether empty or overloaded. That, and it would be a new version of the one I had.
Utility Vehicle / SUV: Dodge Ramcharger in any available two-tone that didn’t include white. The name alone makes it great, but I’ll take mine with a 318 and automatic in the LE trim.
Family Car: Ugh, so many choices so I will be a contrarian and say it would be a Ford LTD Crown Victoria in anything but white or that godawful tan. The throttle body injection was gone by then and you can put four 225/70R15 tires, mounted on wheels, in the trunk with room to spare. There is a certain overlooked utility with cars like this.
Or, 800 lbs of bagged topsoil in that 1987 Panther trunk. Personal experience.
I whole-heartedly believe it! My father-in-law put all the tile and cement to redo a rather large bathroom in the trunk of his ’92 Vic.
I think my personal record for the ’97 Crown Vic is 14 bags of mulch, though I’m not certain if they all fit in the trunk or if a couple were in the back seat floorboards. While the body shape of the aero vics is considerably different than the boxes, if I’m recalling my ’91 correctly the trunk inner shape is similar.
The fellow at Lowe’s who helped me load it into the car was impressed at any rate. Truck-like utility.
Two trash cans standing up with the lids on. Ford Panthers had the best trunks.
ANY of those fullsize RWD sedans are more than the sum of their parts. My dad’s company cars were Crown Vics and GM B bodies from the late 70s thru the early 90s. He and the other field service reps begged and pleaded for a truck or even a van due to the amount of heavy tools, gear, and machine parts they had to drag around across the country. Something about ‘corporate image’ B.S. is why the upper mgmt insisted on fullsize cars. While the trunks (and often back seats) did limit the amount of things they could carry on the road, it was truly amazing what those ugly ass hoopties could tote around….all the while returning mpg in the mid 20s or better. There’s a LOT to be said for good old fashioned rwd, V8 power, sturdy frames and all around robust construction.
I cant say Id turn down a cop spec Mopar M body Diplomat or Gran Fury for those same reasons…and the fact that they are perfect platforms to build a sleeper.
A car I actually *did* consider buying, but didn’t, was a Buick Regal with the intercooled turbo V6. Please notice I didn’t say “Grand National”. 1987 was the last year you could custom-order a GM car with a la carte individual options, and the only year you could get the awesomely powerful (for 1987) turbo 3.8 V6 in *any* Regal, not just the Darth Vader black ones with dull grey-and-black interiors. And of course I was ready to take full advantage of that to order the Brougham-out Limited model in burgandy metallic, with burgundy loose-cushion, button-tufted velour 60/40 bench seats and a column shifter. I normally wasn’t a fan of vinyl roofs, but I deemed it essential for this one, along with opera lamps. I would have loaded it up with nearly all the options except the digital gauges. Only the fat blackwall tires and alloy rims (included with the mandatory-with-turbo ‘T’ package) would tip off innocent observers that what looked like my grandmother’s Regal Limited coupe had 355 lb ft of torque under the hood.
Apparently there were only 1,547 standard Regals (not Grand National or GNX) built with the optional 245hp turbo V6, mostly the base model but about 250 had the same idea as me and wanted the full-lux Brougham, oops I mean Limited with this engine. I assume every one of the the last group was custom-ordered; I can’t believe many dealers would have the perverse sense of humor to order up a Regal like this for their lots.
So why didn’t I buy one? I had a few qualms with it. You couldn’t get it with a stick shift (as with the Mustang V8 hatchback I also considered). It was bigger than I liked (tight urban parking where I lived) and rather impractical with an only moderately roomy rear seat, no hatchback, not even a fold-down rear seatback to extend the trunk. I needed to haul my keyboards, guitars, and amps to rehearsals and gigs since I played in a rock band at the time and clearly a Regal coupe wasn’t the ideal car for hauling things. I was worried about GM’s quality control which was iffy in the ’80s. But what I was most worried about – and shouldn’t have been – was paying about $18,000 for a car I was SURE would depreciate to maybe $3,000 in six years. Whoops! I would have had an incredibly rare and valuable muscle car…..
My Favorite Cars of the Era:
American – Personal Luxury Car with Sporting Aspirations: Buick Grand National & Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, the latter of which I did purchase eventually (used) as an ’88 model year in about 1991. (I also bought an ’88 5.0LX Bird in 1990 that I liked better ;o)
Japanese Cars: Acura Integra or Legend Coupe; or the more reasonably priced Honda Prelude Si. I also had a soft spot for the Mitsubishi Starion after driving one (or its Dodge equivalent… I forget now. It was a long time ago, and only one chance at the helm of one of these turbocharged little beasts on a spirited drive around Northern Baltimore County.)
Pony Car: IROC-Z… Having driven a friend’s 1986 with the 305 and found it impressive, when I saw that they were offering up the 350 in 1987, I was intrigued.
My “If Money Were No Object” Choices: Porsche 930 Turbo or Lamborghini Countach
If I had the cash back then, my new ’87 car would have been an Alfa Romeo Milano. (In those days, I would have been skinny enough to fit in one of them, too!)
1987 Pontiac 6000-STE, the OD automatic would give the EFI 2.8 some legit fuel economy cred, and reduce the rpm at highway speed from a busy 3500 to something less. (I had an 86 STE) and the new aluminum heads would be nice to have higher flow rates than the cast iron ones. Failing that, a Buick GNX.
Tommy T
It’s so rare that when I have casual car talk about past fav models. No one (within my circle) seems to remember the hot selling Pontiac 6000 of the 80’s, and the down right amazing 6000 STE. They even offered the 6000 in AWD form. The digital dash was something straight out of the Star Wars movie.
In 1995 I owned a 1987 Pontiac 6000 S/E trim for a short time, a trim level just under the STE. Loved that car!
I remember Car & Drive raving about the STE. I think Pontiac sold something like 7 of them in Northern California over the life of that car.
Without a doubt, a Guards Red 1987 911 Cabriolet. Wait a minute, I have one of those now! Maybe it is 1987!
I think I also would have gone for a XJ6 Vanden Plas (probably a mistake on that one as the maintenance costs would have eaten me alive) and a Honda CRX so at least I would have one that ran.
I suppose the fact that I bought a 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis LS four door sedan does not leave a lot of wiggle room in this answer.
I had been shopping Thunderbirds since the first Aerobird, an eventually bought a 1989 T-Bird LX. So, that counts as a candidate.
The runner up to our T-Bird purchase was a 1988 Mustang LX 5.0 notch back coupe, so that also that also counts as a candidate.
I was obviously seeking some pretty traditional engineering in an American car. And, it paid off in reliability, comfort, and cost effective transportation. When I finally succumbed to modern FWD, even the Americans had it figured out, and I had pretty good luck with a switch to Chrysler in 1995 and 1999.
I had thoroughly kissed GM and Oldsmobile goodbye. And, I’ve never been back to either.
If money were not an object, I’d purchase a M-B 560 SEL.
If money were no object I’d have bought a Ferrari 288 GTO for $85k. Worth a couple million today.
Or an M3. I used to drive by the BMW dealer lot at night to look at it.
I had an Integra from this era, a really fun car. I miss it.
Audi 5000CS (100) quattro wagon. Hands down.
Those wheels look suspiciously similar to the Oldsmobile SSII/SSIII styled steel wheels found on so many Cutlasses over the years. Coincidental, I’m sure, but…I’d rather have the 6-spoke alloys myself.
I can see that. Its easy to tell them apart, but the resemblance is definitely there.
Ill say it again for the gazillionth time: bash GM all you want for whatever reasons, but from the mid ’60s to the early ’90s especially, they had sharp looking factory wheels on total lockdown. Even now on some of the appliance like blobs they put out, some of the factory wheels are really sharp looking, if out of place on the actual cars. The Malibu’s 5 spoke mags come to mind, with how they ape the coke bottle look. The resurrected Camaro’s had some sharp looking steelies on the RS models that evoke the look of those Olds Super Stock wheels and the rally wheels on the S-10 pickups.
The new-for-’87 Mazda RX-7 Turbo II in Sunrise Red.
Any of the Hondas; Acura Legend; Toyota Pickup, Cressida, Van (hey, I’m adventurous); Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (ah, nostalgia); GMC Suburban, Vandura, Sierra; Ford Taurus, Mustang GT, Thunderbird; Mercury Cougar; any of the Lincolns; Mercedes S-Class; Rolls Royce Silver Spirit; Bentley Turbo R.
Had I bought new in 87 there was only one direct replacement for what I was driving at the time so I could have got a XF Falcon panelvan, I didnt though and stayed in the 75 HQ van I already had perfect for its purpose.
Not surprisingly, my answer is the same as it was for 1977. A Volvo 245 would have been my choice in any year from 1975-1993.
I’ll take a Renault GTA in either Black or White please. 🙂 They still look great today.
Interesting choice … but I agree, a very nicely styled and packaged car for the time.
I have to agree. Those things were fragile and I don’t want to even THINK of sourcing parts for one, or maintaining the damn thing, but a clean notchback 2 door with handling and performance…hard to ignore the appeal of that.
Saab 9000 Turbo 5spd Leather
I would’ve taken a red ’87 Prelude Si with a 5-speed. A friend of mine had one and it was MUCH greater than the sum of its parts.
I was in the market.
I bought an ’86 VW GTI 8V.
I’d do it again in a second.
I bought one too! (it was even in 1987, 9 months old).
My 2nd of 3 VWs in a row (for 35 years, since early 1981)…now own a 2000 Golf.
Still my favorite (if I was still 35 years younger) was my ’78 Scirocco, but
the GTi was a real treat too (when I could keep the bolster fabric from wearing out in the seats, and the odometer from mis-behaving).
What I wanted: Mercedes 300E
What I actually bought: Toyota Camry. Toyota’s 2nd generation restyle of the Camry was a real clean design. They did away with the sharp edged boxy styles of the previous generation.
As for the Mercedes, twenty years later, I inherited a 1987 300E. Which I still have, an almost daily driver.
Our family was enjoying better times in 1987 but still getting by with a 74 Dodge Dart Sport. Soon after a 1980 Fairmont wagon came my way for cheap and a 1987 Taurus wagon joined the fleet in 1991. I was a big fan of the Taurus and the wagon was ideal for our family of four.
For my own personal car in 1987 I would have bought a Mustang GT.
I actually bought two new cars in 1987. For the family I agreed with you and we drove the Taurus, but we bought a Sable, both for the fabulous spaceship styling and for the slightly nicer and quieter interior. Both Taurus and Sable had excellent seats and ride, so we could trade in the dreaded ’78 Peugeot 504. (What a relief for me!) The Sable was a very satisfying car, ideal for a family. It had plenty of room for the three of us plus my parents and all our luggage on a week-long trip to the coast.
Reliability was just average, and I learned the folly of buying the dealer’s “Kelley Blue Book” extended warranty. After several years the power steering sprung a leak in an elaborate collection of metal piping that was a single part number and about $300 then. The warranty excluded “hoses” and they firmly insisted this part was a “hose”. I certainly got hosed on that warranty.
My favorite feature of the Sable was its wonderful styling. The light bar of course, and also the blacked-out B and C pillars, which was unique to Sable and just one other car at the time…..
Mike PDX
Both the Taurus & the Sable will go down in history as the cars that changed the entire automotive industry in 1986. In regards to how a successfully designed new car (inside and out) should be executed out the gate.
The design of the Taurus/Sable was so good that the Lincoln Continental (1988) was based off them.
I recall reading an article many many years ago. That the chief designer at Mercedes-Benz at the time was so impressed by the beautiful shape, design, and smooth ride of the Continental. That he personally purchased one and drove it briefly in Germany over the mighty S-Class of the day.
Now if that’s not a compliment to the homage of the Taurus/Sable/Continental I don’t know what is!
…the Toyota Celica, which was the other new car we got in ’87. I really liked the “floating” roof tied thru the A pillar, as if the roof was flying in the breeze. Mine was blue like this one but a GT without the silly spoiler, not the GTS as shown here. Perfect commuting sports coupe, and very practical with the hatchback. Only problem was a leaking water pump after 10 years. New clutch about 8 years in, just after teaching my stepson to drive in it. I drove it daily for 11 years.
I love these too. I would have chose it if I hadn’t bought a 1995 GT coupe for myself that I owned for an amazing 11 years. Nothing ever went wrong with that car. Still had the original clutch when I sold her at 219,000 miles.
BMW 635csi. Mercedes-Benz 250TD. Volvo 780 (and a good mechanic to keep the PRV going)
While 1987 was never one of my favorite years of the automotive industry I would’ve bought
Ford Mustang GT 5.0
Chevy Camaro Iroc Z-28 with the 350
Pontiac Trans Am with the 350
Nissan Maxima SE
Mercedes Benz S-Class (gas versions)
Toyota MR2 or Corolla FX16 or GTS. The Acura Integra was nice, as was a Honda CRX, too. Heck, even a 3 door Civic was a fun, handsome little car. Or a Mazda 323/Mercury Tracer 3 door. There were a number of fun, reliable, small coupes and 3 door hatchbacks that are all gone now; I’ve no love for an SUV or PU.
Well, in real life I had an ’87 Plymouth Reliant. We also had an ’88 Plymouth (aka Mitsubishi) Colt wagon in the family, which wasn’t any different from an ’87. Both cars were very reliable and really not bad for the times. The small wagon was especially handy. But of course with 20/20 hindsight, there are better and more interesting choices. At one point I owned both an ’83 Supra as well as a ’90 Integra, so I guess I can split the difference and go with an ’87 Integra as my choice here. For a family car, I’d upgrade the Colt to a Camry wagon.
The Taurus LX loaded with options was a really nice stealth luxury car – 8-way power seats w/lumbar adjustment for driver and passenger, electrically-heated windshield, cornering lights, the truly keyless pushbutton keypad locks which are still my favorite Ford feature. I’m partial to the split-bench seats that were available. But the Taurus peaked in ’90-’91 when ABS & airbag became available along with the nicer dashboard & door panels
American car: Buick GNX rules all for long term value. But for a personal ride, Lincoln Mk VII LSC.
Import: The Alfa GT V6 always appealed to me. Also liked the Supra Turbo of that generation.
Mustang LX 5.0 notchback
Cougar 20th anniversary
Buick Grand National – I imagine if I were transplanted into 1987 I’d have a hard time justifying the GNX premium.
If I had the money the 1987 Benz below. But I didn’t have the money, so a year later my car of choice was a 1982 R5.
Mustang LX convertible – 5.0 &. 5 speed
I once owned an ’89, and it practically
the same car.
Mustang LX convertible – 5.0 &. 5 speed
I once owned an ’89, and it is practically
the same car.
A G-body Cutlass coupe or Grand National
Thunderbird 5.0
On the economy and practicality side, I’d be happy with a Honda Civic
1987 Buick Grand National….
Reality…1981 4dr Dodge Aspen.
Maxima SE, or a loaded up GXE. Loved those lazyboy style seats in the GXE and all of the features that it had. 300ZX turbo or Mustang GT were good options as well.
Like others have said, it’s hard to pick just one. But one of my measures of a good car is one that can take you through several stages of life and automotive needs. In other words — practicality.
So… my 1987 choice would be a Buick LeSabre T Type. In my opinion, these two-door LeSabres were some of the best-looking cars of the 1980s. I still like them today on the rare occasion when I see one. The performance — while not stellar — was very good for the time, and flexible in a lot of situations. Of course, in a perfect world it would have been available with a manual transmission, but overall I wouldn’t complain one bit about a LeSabre.
And I’d probably still have it today.
Chrysler Fifth Avenue!
Camry. Or on the other end of the 4 door spectrum — 5th Avenue.
Let’s see: 1987 model year car? Hmm… I was all in Chrysler back then, and none of the Japanese cars really interested me at the time, save, perhaps the Camry and Accord.
I did like the Sundance, however…
Problem is, I wasn’t in the market, yet, and our 1981 Reliant was still going strong and was MY car, whereas Wifey got the 1984 E-Class.
I guess my answer would be: status quo with my own cars at that point, because I was so heavily involved raising our two children and that was my chief priority.
George, all great choices, which would be on my list too with the possible exception of the Taurus – a good car but not really my style.
As for my own top choices for this model year, I’ll second Michael Douglas’s “Greed is good” mantra. My top choices, in no particular order would be: the Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC, Acura Legend LS coupe, BMW M6, BMW E30 convertible, Saab 9000 CS, and for kicks, the Alfa Romeo 164, because why not.
Gee Brendan, not a gray market Mini? Rover was still churning them out in Olde England. 🙂
Was the 164 available in ’87? I always thought it debuted in ’88 or ’89 for some reason. Must have looked very modern for the day if so…I don’t remember seeing any that early, but I also probably wouldn’t have known what they were so the memory might not have stuck.
Probably a 5-speed Volvo 245.
Well, as with 1977, my real-world purchase was a year off. I had a Datsun 720 pickup at the time, but wanted something a tad plusher and quicker, so test drove the MY ’86 Jeep Comanche (GM 2.8 V6 only, no 4.0 yet), Chevy S10 and the Ford Ranger with the then new 2.9 V6, and bought the Ford. The ’87 Ranger was unchanged from the ’86. While at the Ford dealer I also drove the ’86 Escort GT and 5.0 Mustang. Within a few months, the MY ’87 Mustang got a nice facelift and more HP, and an ’87 5.0 LX hatchback would be welcome in my fantasy fleet today, as would a 4.0 Jeep Comanche. A Buick GN or GNX would be nice too. In the real world, my wife, whom I didn’t meet until 1988, bought a new 1987 Mazda B2200 long bed pickup, 2.2 liter four and 5 speed. Other cars of that era that continue to appeal to me include the 4 cylinder M3, a Quattro coupe and Volvo 740 Turbo wagon. Or, despite or maybe because of my Ranger experience, a Bronco II.
I was only five years old in 1987 – but if I were old enough to be able to purchase a new car that year, the choice would have been undisputed:
I would have bought a Volvo 740 GLE sedan. After owning four 740s, I believe that they were (and are) the best cars Volvo ever made, and their combination of safety, durability, reliability, and practicality is virtually unmatched. Why am I biased towards ’87 Volvo 740s? I own one. And it’s likely the best $300 I ever spent. It has 170k miles on it but I plan to take it to 300k and beyond.
Also, I think the 740s have the best design and interior space utilization of any European cars sold in the U.S. in 1987.
+1. Except I prefer the wagon.
Long term ownership recommends a non turbo, but that flash of energy on take off sure made the turbo way more fun to drive!
Lincoln town car luxury full sized. Whiteover red.
New Yorker fifth avenue m boys fir mid-sized.
Mercury cougar 5.0 person luxury.
Mustang convertible 5,0 pony car.
Truck Ford f 150 300 with 4 speed.
Compact. Acura legend.
Station waggon. Cadillac full sized cartwheels drive hearse
I was wowed with the refreshed Mustang in 1987. So most likely an 87 LX 5.0. I would have had a hard time walking away from an 87 Turbo Coupe though.
All small cars, all known for light weight and conning-tower visibility in contrast to the iron of 30 years later. In order of descending budget;
* BMW M3 (in its’ signature red/black leather)
* regular BMW 3 Series (slate blue with blue cloth)
* Acura Integra 5-door (ice blue metallic/blue cloth but IIRC a choice of color on a new Honda product in the ’80s wasn’t really happening)
* Plymouth Horizon America (there wasn’t a bad color combo on these, I’m partial to ice blue/blue again because that was what Mom’s ’86 had)
Notice I didn’t pick a “mainstream” subcompact between the “bargain” Omnirizon and “premium” Integra; that’s because there were so many good ones.
The only ’87 I owned was a Dodge Colt DL hatchback in the mid-90s, my first non-clunker.
I also test drove the MY 87 5 door Integra in late 86 and loved almost everything except the seats, which were a match to my Accord’s seats. I was just learning that Honda seats + my back = Sciatic nerve problems. I keep trying, we drove a Fit when we bought our Fiesta a couple years ago, but in 15 minutes my back was sore and my right leg was numb.
I would have bought a 1987 Subaru XT Turbo 4wd GL-10 5 speed manual.
For me, if I were buying cars similar to what I own at present:
Family Car: Chevrolet Caprice 4-door, F41 suspension, NO brougham options
Truck: Ford F-150 Ext-Cab 4×4 short box
Fun Car: Mustang GT, 5-speed
I’d have some runner ups though. I’d also consider a Camry for a family car during this time, especially if the fuel prices were high. My wife had an ’88 Camry that treated her well. I really like the 1987 GM trucks too, especially with TBI, but the bodies were TERRIBLE for rust. The Buick GNX is would also be a great fun car too, if I could afford and find one at the time.
Among U.S.-market cars, I would have taken the Legend coupe with a five-speed and ABS or maybe a BMW 325iS two-door.
This was the last year for the rear-drive Corolla GT-S, so there’s something to be said for that, although the Legend was obviously more civilized.
Given a wider choice, I might take a Toyota Soarer 3.0GT (most of the pluses of the Supra, but more luxury-oriented) or a top-spec Toyota Carina ED, which, unfortunate suffix notwithstanding, was essentially a four-door pillarless hardtop version of the T160 Celica platform, with the same chassis and most of the same engine options.
I would have been tempted to pick up one of the last AMC Eagles.
Since I already had a 300E in 1987, maybe something a bit different to compliment it, like a Tatra 613.
+1
Though by ’87, the “chromka” was replaced by the 613-3, which is a bit less appealing. Still more interesting than Detroit’s offerings by a factor of about 100…
Buick Regal GNX.
I bought an almost new 1988 Plymouth Horizon in 1989. It was about the same thing as a 1987 Horizon. Chrysler had simplified the aging Horizon/Omni range and lowered the price to compete with the far crappier cheap Hundai’s and called them the Horizon and Omni America. The only choices were between the base and the high line model, which had the same seats as a deluxe cab Dodge pickup, plus nice door panels with BMW-ish armrests, real carpeting, etc. A/C and automatic trans were about the only options. P/S and P/B were I think standard.
The Chryslers at that point used the 2.2 liter engine that every other Chrysler model used (originally they used a VW 4, then a Peugeot 4), so given the liters it was geared down for low rpm’s at highway speeds even with the three speed automatic unlike the competition. They were nicer cars than the competition (Rabbits, Escorts) while being much cheaper. I would buy one if I was back then again.
I actually saw a perfect looking one of these the other day in traffic in Brooklyn and I thought “that car looks really good”. No stupid period stylistic crap. Just good design.
Chrysler should have spent a few bucks on updating these cars like they did with the Cherokee: integrated bumpers and a restyled hatchback. But they didn’t.
Heck, maybe PSA would’ve let them had the molds for the Euro Horizon’s composite headlights since they stopped making those in ’86. Throw ’em in for free with one of the shipments of PRV engines they’d soon be buying for the Premier.
I bought an almost new 1988 Plymouth Horizon in 1989. It was about the same thing as a 1987 Horizon. Chrysler had simplified the aging Horizon/Omni range and lowered the price to compete with the far crappier cheap Hundai’s and called them the Horizon and Omni America. The only choices were between the base and the high line model, which had the same seats as a deluxe cab Dodge pickup, plus nice door panels with BMW-ish armrests, real carpeting, etc. A/C was about the only option. P/S and P/B were I think standard.
The Chryslers at that point used the 2.2 liter engine that every other Chrysler model used, so it was geared down for low rpm’s at highway speeds even with the three speed automatic unlike the competition. They were nicer cars than the competition (Rabbits, Escorts) while being much cheaper. I would buy one if I was back then again.
I actually saw a perfect looking one of these the other day in traffic in Brooklyn and I thought “that car looks really good”. No stupid period stylistic crap. Just good design.
Chrysler should have spent a few bucks on updating these cars like they did with the Cherokee: integrated bumpers and a restyled hatchback. But they didn’t.
1987 was a landmark year for us – the year I started college, and the year our first child was born. As such, finances didn’t permit the purchase of a new car. I’d had my eye on a Ford Laser (aka Mercury Tracer, Mazda 323-clone), and would eventually buy a very used one when said first child was of age for legal driving lessons.
Not 1987, but when we needed a new family car in late ’89, we bought a new Mitsubishi Magna (a widened Galant) in base trim with the optional injected motor, aircon and a 5-speed.
I like the Mustang, but realistically would be happiest with an Olds 88 or Buick LeSabre.
Mine would have been a custom order Regal T type. I wanted one badly but still in college so no funds. It would be fun to sit down and fill out the order sheet. I always loved the looks of that car and of course the power. I was still a hard core GM guy then, it wasn’t until a decade later that they had pushed me away.
I’m also almost certain I would have added the Chapman lock and Rusty Jones!
I’d take a Turbo Coupe with a 5-speed, medium red. Obvious other choices would be the Grand National and maybe a Firebird GTA. I actually really liked the Beretta GT when it came out, but I remember that being a short-lived infatuation.
In late 1986, I remember the magazines making a big deal about the new Bonneville, and that seemed like a nice car at first, but they seemed to quickly fade into the woodwork. Of course, I was 9 in 1986, so my critical thinking skills may have failed me.
1987 Westfalia Syncro. I’d still love to cruise the coast in this!
Not a rhetorical question:
In 1987, I bought a new Nissan Pickup. It was a base model stripper. I paid $6995 for it.
It was a great truck!
I’ll take a 16V Jetta GLI. I do have an ’87 Jetta GL, but bought it in 2015 for $700.
Top line Thunderbird.
I would have LOVED to have a BMW 528e, dark gray, red leather, automatic. I was in college and assumed that as soon as I graduated in 1989, I would be CEO someplace and be buying big houses and luxury cars one after another…
I was driving an 85 Ford Escort, 4 speed, dealer installed A/C that would only blow right in my face, bright tomato red with gray cloth. Shitty little car that kept falling apart. It got traded on an 89 Toyota Corolla 4 door…silver, gray tweed seats, 5 speed, dealer A/C and no radio…I installed my own.
I *did* buy a 1987 Dodge Lancer ES turbo, in early 1988. It was a leftover car that a buyer’s credit had evaporated. He had to give it back to the dealership, it sat there for a few months until the dealer got motivated enough to mark down the price. I had a good ten years out of that car. Truly, it had some issues, but was versatile enough to get me through the early childhood raising years. We did occasionally borrow my in law’s 1984 Caravan to help with some trips and such.
There are some obvious answers (especially for folks who know me) like a 350 powered Formula Firebird, a 5.0L LX notch, a Shelby Charger or Daytona.
But for real retro flavor I would love to have a Yugo GVX (yes, the “sporty” one). Hook me up with the dealer installed Frigette aircon, the sunroof and luggage rack. I’ll take the factory Cromodora six spoke aluminum wheels, with the fatter 155 section tires. Throw in a nice Pioneer stereo with four speakers (to match the number of forward gears) and I would be happy to bop around town in that little beastie.
Even today, I would love something like this. To that end, if I can manage it, a nice used Fiat 500 would do the trick…
let’s see, i would like to think id have been sensible (cheap) and adventurous enough to take a chance on fords/kia/mazda new subcompact and bought an 88 Festiva late in 87. in LX trim of course and loaded with all (2) options. the 1st of 5.
In 1989, I bought a 1989 Crown Victoria, so I assume that is what I would have bought in 1987 (when I had a 1985 Escort with the 1.9L). However, in 1987 I loved the Taurus, and by 1989 the Taurus was known for having problems.
I definitely would not pick what my dad bought brand new in 1987…………a Sterling 825.
My choice? Dodge Diplomat/Plymouth Gran Fury AHB (police package)…
Late fall ’86 The Renault dealer about 2 miles from home had a new 85 Fuego in the showroom that I was sorely tempted to make a lowball offer on. Being only 7-8 years removed from owning a Citroen it was not that hard to resist another (soon to be) orphan.
Back in the real world the Colt Vista was a realistic possibility. Spring of ’86 my SAAB Sonnett had undergone catastrophic suspension failure and was hurriedly replaced by an Accord that was the generation older then the Accord owned by the woman I met December ’86 later and am now married to. I have since learned she will tolerate my taste in cars but when we did buy a car together in ’91 she rejected the Vista at about first sight.
She says in ’87 she would have bought another Accord
1987 was the year we moved to the US. My father sold his 2nd hand 1976 Peugeot 604 SL and my mother sold her 1984 Opel Kadett during the summer. We got to the States (in DC) in August. The heat was like nothing I had felt before. But then I remember discovering A/C — a revelation! The family had to make do with a rental Camry for a couple months (I was livid! A Toyota? With those stupid automatic seat belts?) while we settled down.
Then we shopped for a car. The ’88s were out by then, I suppose. But a new car wasn’t on the cards. Dad bought a 1986 Pontiac 6000 wagon with the V6. Mom got a friend’s battered 1980 Toyota Corolla wagon (5 speed and with fake wood trim on the sides).
1987 Skoda 120GLS hands down.
Senior year in high school, could probably name dozens of cars that had that appeal. Never will forget the conversation I had with the top girl in her dad’s Audi 5000 sedan. We had our moment long before she became the top girl. She ended-up getting married very young (and still is). But damn that was a very sexy car.
On the rational side, I convinced my dad to buy a slightly-used repo 1987 Accord LX 5-speed sedan that was otherwise loaded. Accords were scarce in those days and late at night, we watched it driven up on a truck while he decided whether to make the down-payment for the waiting list for a new one. The salesman turned it over ten minutes after it hit the pavement. 340,000 miles and many roadtrips and decades later that Accord finally met its end on the back end of a garbage truck. So I would do it defiantly do it again and get the very low-slung, pop-up lights, manual Accord. Make it an LXi the next time.
I assume that in 1987 I would have made the same choice I made in 1986 – an Acura Integra. It was our second car in America , and first ever new car. We had moved to the States at the beginning of 1985 from Japan, and had made an interesting, if ugly, discovery: The banks understand a bad credit history, and they like a good credit history, but no credit history for a 30 year old guy scares the hell out of them. I had been living outside the states for close to 10 years, and thus was invisible to the Banking System. There was even a funny moment in San Antonio where a little local bank refused to cash a Traveller’s Check because I didn’t have a driver’s license yet… the only ID I has was a passport. Hell NO!, stranger -go away!. So our first car was a 240,000 mile 73 Super Beetle, bought from a Methodist Minister, with the infamous almost-automatic transmission. Actually got beaten in a stoplight drag race by a school bus full of jeering kids in that car.
Anyhow, by 1986 our American life became stable enough that we decided to move some of our savings out of Japan, and I was able to finance a car by securing my loan with cash locked up in a CD as a guarantee of payment. I could have just bought the car,but I needed to build the credit.
So, anyhow, I self-financed an Integra. It was a really excellent vehicle, and Honda, er, Acura were falling all over themselves to provide service in those days. I loved that car, especially that little DOHC with the 7,000 rpm redline. It just loved to scream, and I beat it hard, and it took it and liked it. That car led to a string of Integras (four more) until the 1997 disappointed me and I realized that Acura had lost their mojo
I know what you mean about getting established in the US after being abroad. I grew up in another country and my parents had trouble getting credit and car insurance when they moved back to the US even though they had 15 years of impeccably paying off a mortgage and no car accidents — which were invisible to American corporate computer records because they happened overseas.
If I was into passenger cars back then, It would have been a Mercedes 190E. I drove a Supra and, while a great touring car, it was a bit ponderous around town, kind of like an XKE.
I ended up with a Ford Ranger XLT V-6 for my lifestyle. My first EFI and was impressed with no cold starting or high altitude issues.
Oh, I can speculate, but I know I’d have gone down to M.J. Sullivan and picked up a Cadillac Brougham in triple black or triple navy. The last year they were built at Clark Street.
A distant, distant second, at more than twice the cost, would be a Jag XJ6. But based on how troublesome they were even new (friends had an ’88), I’d go with the Cadillac (I did have an ’87, but many years later).
Repeating what has been said… hard to just pick one, especially with hindsight. I think that if I were of the right purchasing power in 1987, I would have walked home with a 1987 Shelby GLHS.
In 87 I wanted a CRX, but I hadn’t managed to wear out or total my Mazda yet.
The CRX had to wait until 89 – and that was a good time to get one.
I was 14 yrs old at the time, but I remember there being some cars that I liked and would’ve loved to have had a chance to drive. Among my favourites at the time were the Toyota Supra Turbo, the Mercury Sable, the Mercury Topaz, the Merkur Scorpio.