OK, so I've really been putting a lot of thought into this recently, trying to figure out why I like the Challenger the best, why lots of people like the Camaro (which I just don't care for the looks of), and why everybody perennially loves the Mustang. (And why people still drive the New Beetle! Just throwing it in there for you, Bandi!) They're all 2-door "sports" coupes as far as insurance shows (esp. with the turbo Bug).

Here's what I've come up with:

New Beetle: The original modern "retro" car. VW needed something new in their small car segment in North America (where safety is a bigger concern) and wanted it to be meaningful and iconic. This is what we got. And it's both a faithful reproduction of the original while being something new and better that was so much more (for most people at the time... the design is getting a little stale, but it's the fucking Bug... hard to really compete with the tug at your heart strings...)

Mustang: The pony car that never left us. Each next generation has been loved by all because of what it represents. It pretty much started the muscle car wars, has always had its own unique style, and each next generation carries on the spirit of the brand. It's as much an all-American car as the Corvette. The newest generation (2010-present... think sequential rear turn-signals) is many people's favorite because it just works in all the right ways. Who cares if it has a v-6 or a v-8? It's still a sharp car that will get you noticed and some respect from the average Joe. It's a truly faithful rendition of the SPIRIT of the Mustang, while also drawing on some of the most popular elements of all the previous generations.

Camaro (2010+): The pony car that designers in the late 60's would have thought a 2010 Camaro looked like. It's retro-futuristic. It looks at the game like "OK, we're not gonna play this whole retro thing like the other guys". And it clearly works for them. I may not like the looks that much (nose too pointy, rear looks unfinished to me), but clearly they are doing something right because they were outselling Ford at the end of last year. It's got a very modern feel and certainly delivers the same pony thrills that people expect, but doesn't play to the emotional side like a more direct retro copy.

Challenger: The pony car that designers in the late 00's designed to look like the original. It's pure retro, nearly an exact cutout of the original (while being a bit fatter, actually improving upon the original with things like the front clip... look at a 71 challenger from the front, it's not nearly as attractive). The inside is what you'd expect in a muscle car... kinda stripped, but still very functional. The seats even have the ribbed look. The colors are retro. It's all just very much a remake using modern tech and materials. But the beauty of this car is that it still carries every bit of the original Mopar spirit (relatively poor sales at the start, a little expensive considering the competition, Mopar _(un?)reliability...) but one day we'll look at this car and it will be like how we look at the 70's models.

Thoughts? Comments?


Reader's Digest version for you lazy fucks:

New Beetle - original modern retro. Very much the spirit of the whole VW brand here in the US (and, I would assume, Canada).

Mustang - Evolution of the whole brand, very American look and feel. Retro elements while incorporating the newest and greatest. Popular because Ford listens to what people like?

Camaro - Retro-futuristic. Kind of like watching old cartoons that were depicting what life would be like in the future. Still has the pony car spirit but some more future-y looks.

Challenger - Pure retro. Taking what we had, fitting it to modern specs. Kind of had to like the original to like the new one.

most of the guys here will say that the reason I like the Camaro best is because I am a brand whore/slave to Chevrolet/GM. Not true. I loved the Mustang redesign in 2005 and feel that that the evolution so far is keeping tight to the Mustang of the past. It's just when I was a kid, my parents had a 1969 Camaro Z28 and I loved that car so much. After growing up with the 2nd Generation F-body, and the 3rd Generation F-body that did so much for mullets and guidos alike, and the fourth Generation that looked like an overgrown Geo Storm... this new one is just sex by comparison. It has the look, the attitude, the technology, the quality... it just really is one of the best interpretations of the term modern muscle. It's docile enough for your grandmother to drive, but eager enough to go out and run from the cops without fear or hesitation.

I think with the Mustang, the emphasis was always on the retro and the packaging rather than the powertrain or suspension. The 4.6L Romeo V8 is a turd and will continue to be a turd until Ford returns to architecture more akin to the tried and true Windsor V8's. It's a very small displacement by comparison and it shows in real world thrashing. BUT, the car has that magic... Mustang has been with us since the 1960's, through the dismal and disappointing 1970's (who could forget the magic horror of the Mustang II?), the weird 80's, weirder 90's and first part of the new century. Forty-plus years of Mustang! Still, even despite it's powertrain deficiencies, the Mustang STILL delivers that ponycar magic. When it comes down to choosing between the Camaro and the Mustang, it's still personal preference because both cars are worthy of their sticker price.

and of course this leads me into the Challenger... ah, yes, the old Challenger, the magic mopar, the R/T that led Kowalski into the Vanishing Point. Where to begin? I think that my esteemed colleague has hit the nail on the head by saying that the Challenger is by far the most direct 'retro' car to be introduced. It looks like it's 1970 all over again... just a little fatter, a little heavier and a little more user friendly. However, it does not have a 426 Hemi, 440 6-Pack, or 383 Magnum to move it around. It's stuck with a family of small displacement engines more used to being in pickups than a pony car. After driving both the V6 and V8 models, man, you have to be a Mopar fanatic to shell cash out for this car. First off, the power just isn't there. In 6 or 8 trim, the Camaro and Mustang are showing you tailights in the first 200 feet. It seems to wind readily enough, but once out of 2nd gear, the engine just seems like your winding it against nothing... you just beating the tach off the high side even though you're not really creating anymore power. The interior feels like a Caliber rental and the seats feel like an overstuffed Barcalounger that's shoving you into the overplump steering wheel... Driving the car was like driving a Dodge van, all shriek and understeer. Where as Ford and Chevy got the balance somewhat right on their ponycars, Mopar I think rushed this car to market, not getting the front end quite right.
Still, despite all this, it's hard not to want one of these cars in white, with the license plate OA 5599 on it...

Despite all the homosexual connotations of the New Beetle, it's a fun little shit to drive. I really thought it was a neat little car. VW needed that car much like the need to bring back the Corrado or the Scirocco.

I would also add the Mini Cooper and the PT Cruiser to the list.

Posted by yokes I would also add the Mini Cooper and the PT Cruiser to the list.

other retro cars:
the Chevy HHR (Heritage High Roof)- was supposed to be reminiscent of the 40's and 50's Chevy Nomads/suburbans.
The Chevy SSR-- can you say MARKETING BLUNDER. I knew you could.

I agree with Mini, PT, HHR and SSR. Add your opinions! Add to mine! Clearly Sam and I agree overall (although he does love the Camaro while I love the Challenger).

I see it as a culture thing more then a car thing. The "everything old is new again" mentality coupled with a lack of unique vehicles available throughout the early to late 2000's and you've got a run of successes.

What was there to drive? sedans, vans, SUV's & pick up trucks. There was a serious lack of anything creative and differnt in terms of styling. Huge gap in the affordable sports car/muscle car segment. Then we ended up with baby boomers and early retirees who grew up with that stuff.....they're living the consumable lifestyle where there's disposable income and the stereotypical mid life crisis....and VOILA.... you have a wave of success for unique automobiles.

Posted by oddspot I see it as a culture thing more then a car thing. The "everything old is new again" mentality coupled with a lack of unique vehicles available throughout the early to late 2000's and you've got a run of successes. What was there to drive? sedans, vans, SUV's & pick up trucks. There was a serious lack of anything creative and differnt in terms of styling. Huge gap in the affordable sports car/muscle car segment. Then we ended up with baby boomers and early retirees who grew up with that stuff.....they're living the consumable lifestyle where there's disposable income and the stereotypical mid life crisis....and VOILA.... you have a wave of success for unique automobiles.

is that why the Corvette never left us?

I love the New Beetle (and the 2011 re-design is allegedly going to be more Beetley), as well, they're talking rear (or mid) mounted flat four by 2017.
When it came out, they had an ad campaign that said "The engine's in the front, but it's heart is in the same place"

It's true. It's a still a Beetle, still has the charm of the aircooled Beetle, and I love them both.

Half the fun of owning one is watching people get punched when you drive by.

The HHR is too much like the PT Cruiser (and designed by the same guy), but has some features I really like that the PT Cruiser was lacking, like the low windows, and the availability of a panel version. Plus I like the taillights more.

Challenger? Absolutely love it.

Mustang? Loved the previous generation, it was perfect, but they've ruined the look of it now with the "squinty" lights.

Camaro? Love it, although it doesn't really resemble any previous generation of Camaro too much. I still love the way they look, drive, sound, etc.

SSR - Kill it with fire.

New Mini - Pretty cool, and the Cooper S is a blast to drive.

and hey, what about the Fiat 500?


Want. Badly.

Fiat?
surely you jest.

Posted by bandi and hey, what about the Fiat 500? Want. Badly.

Rumors of the Fiat 500 with a bigger turbo returning to Dodge as...

you guessed it!

Omni GLHS

I think my beloved jeeps have always been retro

... and Plymouth Prowler
... and 2002 Thunderbird

I rented an HHR once. Was pleasantly surprised that it didn't suck.

Even the Caravan got a retro look look now! It looks like the original T115 Caravan!

Posted by Samurai Fiat? surely you jest.

I like my Failed Italian Automotive Technology, thank you.

Apparently Fiats are pretty good now. I dunno, I'd buy an Abarth 500.

Posted by Agent Skelly Even the Caravan got a retro look look now! It looks like the original T115 Caravan!

Hahahaha...


I'm glad you said it before I did.

Nissan 350z, also a retro car, my favrite is the new Camaro

Posted by musket boy Nissan 350z, also a retro car, my favrite is the new Camaro

aside from the Z name plate how is it retro? It looks like a modern low slung Japanese coupe (which I love)

Posted by musket boy Nissan 350z, also a retro car, my favrite is the new Camaro

The concept for the 350z (from 1999ish) actually looked like a 240z. Too bad they canned that idea.

VW should do a retro Karmann Ghia based on the Porsche Boxster.

That's a great idea.

Or chop the roof of a Scion xB, kick in the sides a bit, and make a Thing.