Car Lust: A Look Back at Automobile Magazine’s 1994 All-Stars
The other day I happened to be leafing through the All-Stars story in Automobile Magazine’s Feb. 1994 issue. While doing so it struck me that I’d rather have a pristine example of many of the chosen vehicles than those models' new replacements. This has to do with my impression that today’s cars have become little more than complex collections of electronic gadgetry enclosed in a structure that, when pressed, can be made to move from place to place. With that in mind, here’s my take on each all-star, presented in the order they appeared back in ’94. When researching current value in each case I used kbb.com’s “suggested retail value” for an excellent 100,000 mile example.
BMW 325is
In 1994 the 325is coupe deserved its “ultimate driving machine” appellation. Its sublime 2.5-liter inline six delivered a modest (by today’s standards) 189 horsepower, but its variable valve timing spread that power over a broad rpm range. Electronic nannies didn’t get between the driver and the steering and suspension, and the result was a car that responded predictably and rewarded skillful driving. It was a wonderful car for $35K. It’s an even more wonderful car today, when pristine examples change hands in the $5K range. The usual caveats apply when looking at a 15-year-old car, but you’d be hard-pressed to get more bang for the buck for your five grand.
Eagle Vision TSi
The sporting version of Chrysler’s first-generation LH car made the cut based on what it offered in terms of value for money. For $25K (sticker, well equipped) you got a large, roomy, and reasonably powerful sedan that didn’t wallow the way Detroit’s other large, roomy, and reasonably powerful sedans did. The benefits of hindsight reveal that those first-generation LH cars were put together with baling wire, duct tapes, and high hopes. Folks who leased them did well, being able to walk away when the warranty expired. Subsequent owners were not so lucky. Today, Kelly Blue Book suggests that an excellent example will set you back $1,650. Too much, I think, since even an excellent example is likely to slide into the “what was I thinking” column in pretty short order.
Ford Probe GT
Setting aside the unfortunate name for a car that was, believe it or not, intended as a replacement for the Mustang, the second-generation Probe was an excellent front-drive sports/touring coupe. At $20K, fully equipped, it was a more sophisticated alternative to the six-cylinder versions of the Mustang and Camaro, providing similar dynamics (despite front drive) without the social stigma often attached to those pony cars. Probes have held their value pretty well, and you could do far worse for the $3,000 an excellent Probe GT will set you back.
Geo Prizm LSi
GM’s Geo Prism was built alongside the near-identical Toyota Corolla in the California plant set up as a joint venture between those parent companies. At the time, the Prizm undercut the Corolla’s price by a good ten percent, which made a good case for choosing the Geo. Of course, bearing a GM nameplate the Geo it depreciated more quickly, but for those intending to keep the car for many years, the choice was simple.
In 1994 the Prizm LSi was one of the best deals in a compact sedan, and I can’t imagine that anyone who bought a new one was disappointed. Fifteen years later, you'll still save a few bucks by choosing the Prizm over an equivalent Toyota, with an excellent Geo booking at $2600. Given its Toyota underpinnings, you could probably expect to keep one running for quite a while longer, assuming it doesn’t rust out from under you.
Lexus SC300
A case can be made for placing the SC300, along with its V-8-powered SC400 stablemate, on the short list of the very best cars ever made by anyone. Everything about it is as perfect as could be achieved at the time, which makes it considerably more perfect than most of what’s been achieved today. The feature compliment doesn’t sound like much by today’s standards, which makes it ideal by my standards. Frivolities such as adaptive cruise control, lane minder, and built-in (and soon to be outdated) navigation leave me cold. Give me the first-generation SC’s drop-dead gorgeous styling, comfy chairs, fine sound system, and responsive air conditioning, and I’m a happy guy.
When new, the 1994 SC was fast, quick, smooth, and quiet. It was designed to last for years and years, and built with bank-vault solidity that allows it to be fast, quick, smooth, and quiet 15 years and 200,000 miles down the road. Find an excellent five-speed with 100K on the clock, buy it for eight grand, and it should still be turning heads in 2019. Compare an SC300/400 with today’s decidedly odd-looking SC430 and you’d be hard-pressed to justify buying the new one.
Mazda Miata
From the outset, the Miata was the quintessential mid-sixties British roadster brought into the modern era by a company capable of retaining the best of that genre, and jettisoning all that was awful. The Miata always started and ran; didn’t drop important bits on the road; kept its vital fluids inside the components that needed them; and kept its occupants dry in the rain. Sybarites could order air conditioning and a fine sound system, and four-season drivers could specify a removable hard top. And fun? The Miata was so responsive to the driver’s wishes that the steering wheel felt almost redundant. By 1994 the first-generation Mazda had undergone a slew of under-the-skin improvements, including some much-needed structural stiffening. It can be argued that today’s Miata (now called MX-5) cleaves closely to the mandate of the original. Still, with the cost of a new one pushing $30K, a pristine ’94 for under five grand is an appealing prospect.
Mercedes-Benz C280
It’s been said, sometimes by me, that the W124 E-Class was the last Mercedes-Benz built to a standard, rather than a price. After a good look at the first-generation C-Class I’m inclined to include that model in the mix. Intended as a replacement for the all-wrong 190 class (introduced in 1984), the C-Class exhibited the carved-from-billet solidity that characterized all Mercedes-Benz automobiles until the company’s engineering and marketing departments reversed roles. Subsequent generations of the C-Class were more lavishly equipped, but they lost the built-to-last solidity and steamroller-on-steroids aplomb that had characterized the marque for most of its existence. Add to that the extended teething problems associated with various electronic gimmicks fitted to later models, and the Ur-C becomes even more attractive. Buy one (again, with 100K on the clock) for about five grand, budget half that for first-year freshening, and you’ll be king of the road for years to come.
Nissan Sentra SE-R
Given what the Sentra has become, it’s hard to believe that in 1994 the SE-R was considered to be the spiritual successor to BMW’s genre-defining 2002 sport sedan. By 1994 the SE-R had been on the market for five years, and had proven itself to be a serious player in that niche. Based on the plain-jane Sentra, the SE-R was fitted with a 140-horsepower in-line four that was good for zero-to-sixty in 7.6 seconds. With four-wheel disc brakes and a viscous limited slip differential, it was an exceptionally well-balanced car and a serious contender on both autocross and road-racing tracks. And then, when the racing was over, it would take the driver and his family home in comfort. An early favorite of the tuner crowd, many SE-Rs were modified for the track. Finding one that has been used but not abused might be an adventure, but at the end of the road you should be able to get on the road with an SE-R for about three grand.
Nissan 300ZX Turbo
The date: March 29, 1990. The place: Nassau Coliseum, just after the Grateful Dead (with Branford Marsalis sitting in) tore up the joint. The goal: to reach the parking lot exit without getting caught in an hour-long nightmare. The car: a brand-new Nissan 300ZX Turbo.
To this day, I don’t know how it happened, but when I slid behind the wheel of that four-wheel stealth fighter and fired up its 24-valve, 300-horsepower V-6, I became (and remain to this day, ask anyone) a Parking Lot God. As I guided the ZX towards the exit, cars, VW Microbuses, dogs, hackey-sacking hippies, and assorted lawn furniture and charcoal grills parted like the Red Sea, clearing my path. It wasn’t fear on the part of those who yielded, for I wasn’t moving fast enough to inspire that emotion. Nor was the ZX large and imposing enough to intimidate to those in its path. No, something else was going on that evening, and whatever it was got me onto Hempstead Turnpike in what has to be record time. To duplicate that feat today, in an excellent ’94 Twin Turbo, would cost me nearly nine grand. Truth to tell, though, I’d probably opt for a naturally-aspirated example, saving $1,500 at the outset, and quite a bit more in maintenance. And, of course, the likelihood of finding a turbo that hasn’t been well and soundly wailed upon is pretty slim.
Volkswagen Corrado SLC
To get a feel for the Corrado’s place in the VW firmament it helps to remember the Karmann Ghia, and then triple the power of that little cutie’s engine. The Corrado was based, in great measure, on the Golf, but it was a Golf that never forgot to take its vitamins. Its narrow-angle V6 delivered 178 horsepower, but did so over a very broad power range. Truth to tell, the Corrado SLC is the only one of the ’94 All-Stars I’ve never spent serious time driving, so it helps if I think of it as a faster, quicker, and tighter GTI. Unfortunately, I can’t help also thinking of it as a VW whose powertrain is out of VW’s mainstream, which means that ongoing maintenance could be more of a nightmare than I’d care to endure. But I’ve been wrong before.
The Bottom Line As a big fan of used cars in general, and moderately interesting cars in particular, I can look at Automobile’s 1994 All Stars and find five models that I’d be absolutely delighted to own, and a couple more that I could live with without complaining. It’s fashionable, even borderline necessary in a web-centric world, to dump on the automotive print media and to question its relevance. But 15 years ago the good people at Automobile Magazine pretty much nailed it.
--David Drucker
Photo Credits:
BMW: madattheinternet (via Flickr)
Eagle: splattergraphics (via Flickr)
Probe: splattergraphics (via Flickr)
Prism: annetics (via Flickr)
Lexus: Mhofmann (via Flickr)
Miata: Frits van den Dop (via Flickr)
Mercedes: icatena.net
Sentra: warehouse motors
300ZX: ssip.net
Corrado: yourvolkswagencars.blogspot.com
Cookie the Dog's Owner on July 29, 2009 at 05:21 AM
Well done, David. Aaron Severson at "Ate Up With Motor" just did a piece on the Lexus SCs that pretty much agrees with what you said about it being "on the short list of the very best cars ever made by anyone."
http://ateupwithmotor.com/model-histories/luxury-and-personal-luxury-cars/181-lexus-sc-coupe.html
I agree with you that in-car gadgetry is running amok these days. My GTI has functions I've never bothered to access in nearly two years of ownership.
Steaming Pile on July 29, 2009 at 06:42 AM
I had a cube-mate once who collected Ford Probes. He would cruise eBay looking for drivable ones that he could fix up, and then he would look for junkyard heaps that he could glean parts from.
They sold these cars in Germany without changing the name, which is comical because "probe" in German means "try." In other words, it is as if you were buying a car from a trial run that was run around a test track and was supposed to be crushed afterwards. Marketing fail.
HDTVSELLER on July 29, 2009 at 07:45 AM
It's a great classic cars on currently, I like these.
David Colborne on July 29, 2009 at 08:48 AM
HDTVSELLER: Not bad for a Markov Chain spam generator! That sentence was ALMOST intelligible! That said, your user name is a dead giveaway. A for effort!
I'm trying to think of the last time I saw a Corrado and I'm drawing a big, BIG blank. That probably means something.
I'm a little more lukewarm on early '90s cars. On the one hand, it was the beginning of our most recent automotive renaissance - everybody finally figured out smog controls, fuel economy, safety, and ergonomics well enough (yes, even Detroit) where some attention could finally be redirected towards performance. On the other hand, every single car of that time period looked like a jellybean with wheels. I mean, if you want to draw a Miata, Probe, or 300ZX, just draw three ovals of varying lengths and add wheels on the bottom. Make sure the rear part of the oval is a little bigger than the front and you'll nail the shapes perfectly. Sure, I get that works great from an aerodynamic standpoint, especially compared to the flying wedge formation everybody used in the '80s, but it still puts me to sleep.
Zane on July 29, 2009 at 11:10 AM
I drove a '93 Prizm LSi w/ manual for many years. I would have cloned that car if I could. Sold it with 190k miles on the clock, and it soldiers on today.
Ken on July 29, 2009 at 12:00 PM
You will get no argument from me on your choices. I clearly remember dodging a big bullet - having almost leased a '94 Chrysler LHS. It was, at least on paper, a great value. However when I test drove it and looked closely at how nothing on the car really lined up, decided that build quality was suspect. Ended up as you will recall, with the '94 BMW 540i, still the best car I have ever had.
Johnny I on July 29, 2009 at 04:33 PM
That is a great list-- had a NA 300ZX. Great stuff and a great shopping list!
993Dave on July 29, 2009 at 04:41 PM
I lusted after the Corrado. It seemed to me to be a proper successor to my dearly departed Mk1 Scirocco. VW had pulled the plug by the time I was ready to buy, though. I ended up with a '96 Probe GT, my first new car. It was a great car: affordable, roomy enough for the newlywed guy, good styling (especially the dash), very comfortable, and reasonably sporty. As it aged, though, I discovered that finding parts for this Ford/Mazda blend (neither of which sold in great numbers) was an increasing problem. I sold it after eight years of mostly trouble-free miles, and don't regret a single minute that I had it.
Mikey NTH on July 29, 2009 at 05:15 PM
After 1990, the cars just got better, didn't they?
I write that having driven or owned 1970's and 1980's cars.
After 1990, the cars got better.
Dagpotter on July 29, 2009 at 05:28 PM
I and the wife bought a 1994 Geo Prizm that year. Not the LSI but a more stripped model with a four speed manual. Great car for about $14K and we drove it for eight years and 106,000 miles. No real problems and it hauled a family of four up and down the Northeast Corridor many a time. Cannot recall any real servicing on it at all.
John B on July 29, 2009 at 05:35 PM
A great article!
I can relate to it because I've actually owned two cars on the list...and had close encounters with two others.
a first generation Miata and C-Class Mercedes.
Both were great, with all the attributes David mentions.
The C Class was an outstanding (smaller) sedan. Just the thing if you want four doors but something a bit above an Accord or Camry. In five years it had only the most minor of issues and I hated to see it go. I traded it for a new CLK which is far prettier and more fun to drive but clearly not as well built (the carpeting would be a disgrace in an econobox). I bought the CLK new and its depreciation has made it so I'll probably keep the car
until I die or go into a home. It's worth more to me than as a trade in.
For those of you keeping score, that's a life lesson on the value of even great new cars after a few years.
And the Miata...well nothing else comes close...the perfect small sports car. Memories of driving to work on early summer mornings in Ohio through a county park and along farm roads will always be a favorite automotive memory. It was eventually replaced with a rerstored CJ-5 (as a go to work vehicle) and an old roadster.
When I bought the Miata, a new 300ZX was next on my shopping list ( I still have the sales brochure). Only its price kept it out of my garage. It was, at the time, the finest car I'd ever driven. Fast, great handling, and a comfortable ride worthy of a luxury sedan. What more is there? If I could find one that hadn't been trashed by nearly two decades of onwers, I'd be tempted. However, I'd bet that exept in terms of raw power, my CLK pretty well fills its shoes.
A friend just bought an early 90s SC400...after all these years it still looks and runs great. It spent most of its life in the garages of a pair of senior owners...something that probably isn't uncommon for the type. If your'e not lucky enough to have a rich uncle going to a retirement community, look in the classified or check the bulletin boards at the local country club. For the money, a great buy.
Mike on July 29, 2009 at 07:01 PM
I bought an Eagle Vision TSI new in '94. I traded it in in 2001 for a Chrysler 300m. The Eagle was a terrific car. Never had mechanical problems. The only thing that ever went wrong with it was the batery went south after about 2 yrs. The thing ran like a bat, and handled great once you got used to front wheel drive.
SteveM on July 29, 2009 at 10:33 PM
"Of course, bearing a GM nameplate the Geo depreciated more quickly"
Which speaks poorly for the intellgence of buyers, who frequently buy a nameplate rather than a car.
KirkG on July 29, 2009 at 11:07 PM
I have a '97 SC300 five speed, bought new. The last year it had the manual option. Twelve years, 57K miles - it ought to last me a while still. It's been a great car. The fancy shmancy Nakamichi deck, which I optioned up for, ate itself after a decade, but hey Car Toys put in a USB deck, 4GB thumbstick, the likes of which I couldn't have predicted in '97.
J on July 30, 2009 at 06:40 AM
I'm just curious: Where's the Volvo 740/940 on this list? It deserves to be listed among great early '90s cars too!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater on July 30, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Which speaks poorly for the intellgence of buyers, who frequently buy a nameplate rather than a car.
Not necessarily, perhaps the buyers preferred the Toyota dealership/service/owner experience over that of the red-headed Chevy stepchild, Geo?
On a different topic, IIRC 1994 was the first year of the W140 S-class, which was truly the last Benz designed with cost as no object. After that, the Lexus effect took hold and quality began a drastic decline... I'm glad to own a W126, and I'd even consider a W140 if I could find an early diesel without the 3.5l cylinder warping and rod throwing..
Cecil Moon on July 30, 2009 at 08:07 AM
I know it's not a car but rather a truck but the '93 Explorer I took to town yesterday looks brand new and runs like the same. I have 3 (a '98 and '04) and at 248,902 miles it is just fine thank you.
My grandson once asked, "If money was not a consideration, what would you drive?" He is still processing my response: "This '93 Explorer would be my choice." He's still shaking his head.
J on July 30, 2009 at 01:35 PM
Dr. Kenneth,
What year and what model is your Mercedes W126? I always admired those cars.
1992 was actually the first year of the W140 Series. Technologically advanced at that time, it put other cars like the Saab 900 and Volvo 240 to shame.
CarZ on July 30, 2009 at 03:59 PM
Like other Mercedes-Benz models, significant price pressure and overall competition from the likes of Lexus forced Mercedes-Benz to make notable price reductions thereby effecting quality. The 1994 C280 originally had a base retail price of around $35,000 which would be over $50,000 in today's dollars. Today, brand new 2010 E-Class sedans start for less than that and 2009 C-Class models start under $35,000.
Would people spend over $50,000 on a C-Class today to get the build quality of the early 1990s? Probably not but imagine how good their cars could be today if priced at 1980s and 1990s figures and adjusted for inflation.
Anyone for a $204,000 "1992 600SEL"?
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater on July 30, 2009 at 05:11 PM
1987 300SDL, I'd only replace it with a 1987 300TD wagon fully loaded, if I could find one in good condition.
Limo-length, gets 25-30mpg on average (the 300SEL equivalent gets more like 18-20mpg premium), ABS, power driver/passenger seat with memory, driver airbag, all it's missing IMO is seatwarmers.
And if diesel starts topping $4/gal again, it'll run on B20..
CJinSD on July 30, 2009 at 09:36 PM
I've got extensive experience with a couple of these 1994 all stars. In 1996-1997, I had a Lexus SC400 as a company vehicle. It had 40,000 miles when I got it. It was a shop rat which used up Bridgestone RE92 Potenzas every oil change IN PALM BEACH FLORIDA. There were no curves or hills, except the odd cloverleaf interchange. It also had a power antenna that adjusted it's length to the frequency you were listening to, which caused it to self destruct every couple weeks. Then there was the matter of 8 to 12 mpg, while every unplanned fuel stop put me in a gas station in West Palm Beach or Miami, where people were regularly being killed by carjackers at the time. Then there were the cheesy factory polished lip wheels, which attracted street walkers every time I was caught at a light in West Palm Beach. And did I mention that it had no suspension damping action with only 40K miles? It was like a Buick Grand National that didn't rattle. Quick in a straight line, but don't expect the rubber to spend much time in contact with the road. Also, I didn't fit. I needed to take extreme actions with the seat and steering column to wedge in there, and I'm only 6'2". One of the most disappointing cars I've encountered.
We've had a 1994 BMW 325is since it was new. Not sure how to get rid of it. It gets a new transmission every 30K miles, and it is about due for #4 right now. Last time it was fixed for something, aka last time it was driven, it sat in a lot for a few days because we weren't called to be told it was done. So the sun caused the few un-sundamaged interior panels to delaminate and fall off. It drives better than ANY more recent BMW, but it is almost as bad in quality and durability as their latest offerings. It was the first BMW to have the power windows that retract a bit when you touch the door handle to achieve a good weather seal when you close the door. Almost needless to say, the power windows are rebuilt with new everything every 35K miles on the driver's side and every 50K miles on the passenger side. Who could have foreseen that? How long did BMW stink on ice before we figured it out?
Open Road Rambler on August 01, 2009 at 08:26 AM
Very nice article! I'm a big fan of the 1992-98 BMW 3 Series, especially the four door M3. The M3 and the 300ZX still rank high on my list of cars to own.
stanczyk on August 29, 2009 at 12:51 PM
SC Lexus, Corrado, 300ZX ....Eagle and Miata not so bad either ..:)
tomm on June 21, 2010 at 11:31 AM
The 1994 SE-R was only in its 4th and final year on the B13 platform, not 5th. This was the last 4-year cycle Sentra, however. My B15, was on the market a record [for Sentra] 7 model years, 2000-06. [or 6 and a 1/2 if you are really picky]