1987 OnRoad 4WD Comparo | Retro Review

[@ggroff73]

Am I the only one who grew up in the 80's who gets caught up watching these?

[@illinoisbanks1470]

No

[@slicaltimistic1]

😁You not by yourself.

[@chrisgnonya]

A nice reminder of a better time 🙂

[@coreyjones1518]

No. Reminds me of watching it with my mom on Saturday mornings. I miss that. This series and This Old House.

[@rorycahill]

"An automatic is not available". Such a beautiful sentence...

[@skylinefever]

That is great for some enthusiasts, but not for normies.

[@coastaku1954]

@@jeffel80 Yep, we found the old fart! Ever driven a modern Manual? I was trying out my cousins 2016 (I think) Civic sport and the clutch was so light that I barely even noticed it. Plus a 2 speed is HORRIBLY inefficient, slow, and outdated. At that point you might as well go for a CVT or in your speak, a Dynaflow.

[@bradnimbus4836]

@@coastaku1954 Looks like we found the weeb! Remember when people didn't take everything so literal?

[@coastaku1954]

@@bradnimbus4836 Actually I'm not a weeb, I haven't watched enough Anime for me to consider my self one. And what part of his comment wasn't serious?

[@bradnimbus4836]

@@coastaku1954 lol, You're not the sharpest bulb in the drawer, are ya?

[@MrSdotbowman]

My mom had a AWD 91 topaz. It was a soft robins egg blue. I remember that little car trooping through that NY snow. It was a good car for her for a long long time.

[@4-LOW]

1987...when a "high-output" engine netted you 100 horsepower. :D

[@alexyoungberg5232]

And an AWD turbo 5 cyl goes 0-60 in 9.5 seconds 😂😂

[@Nobody-xh5qe]

Lmao hell ya

[@justinluttrell1769]

1967: when a 289 V8 in a Mustang made 276hp and did 0-60 in mid 5 second range without even fuel injection, according to Car&Driver. Even in '87 the Mustang had 225hp and 300lbft and did 0-60 in 6.5. I think the '80s was just a really, really shitty era for compact cars.

[@moejr1974]

@@justinluttrell1769 There was alot of BS in those 60's road tests. Trust me that 289 Stang didn't do mid 5's 0-60

[@RockandrollNegro]

That was about right. Compared to the Honda (73 hp and 740 pounds heavier) that was a pretty speedy little Tempo.

[@justinvasko3577]

Holy shit. I never knew there was an AWD Tempo/Topaz!

[@robsrandomness7824]

Yeah, they were real popular. LOL

[@hank1556]

me neither. I bet its crazy rare today!

[@black98rt]

I always wanted to do an SVT awd tempo with the turbo 2.3. Nobody would expect that lol

[@apollogeerman9078]

They were very slow

[@drivecfl]

The 0-60 times are unreal. 15 seconds to 60. You could get to 60 2.5 to 3 times with some of today's cars in 15 seconds that are not considering hardcore sports or muscle cars.

[@snakehandler87]

These retro reviews are the best

[@hank1556]

I simply can't get enough of these retro, 80s, cheesebox car reviews!

Yee yee!!

[@saturn0660]

I remember when my mom bought her 1989 Merc Topaz.. I tried and tired to get her to buy the awd.. Knowing that it would be mine in 4 years. She didn't bite.

[@joshseiter8526]

Awwww super gay story

[@jeffmorse645]

My mom had a 1989 Mercury Topaz. I begged my parents to get a Camry or Accord, but "Ford man" dad wouldn't bite. What an awful car the Topaz was.

[@rodmunch69]

I can't believe anyone would admit to buying, or even wanting, a Topaz. It was truly an awful car, just ugly, and more ugly, stacked on top of ugly. Even at the time it was a hideous car, and now, it's one of the worst looking cars from that generation.

[@johnfarel3152]

That Subaru was loaded. Push button suspension lift in that era had to be pretty rare-never mind that it was for a sedan. 15000 in ‘87 equals about what you’d pay for the Forster wilderness today.

[@rturner4205]

You'd pay the 2001 equivalent of $39000 for a Forester S with the premium package. And it's about the same as a Forester Touring. (Source, I work for a dealership, and own said 2001 Forester)

[@adamwilling2457]

0-60 in 10.3 brisk. Oh the 80's.

[@ibdustin15]

Adam Willing now a car does 0-60 in 9 seconds and people say it’s unsafe to merge onto a highway lol.

[@aaronbays4]

@@ibdustin15 Speed limit was 55mph back in the 1980's, speeds were much slower then. Now days traffic moves at 70-80mph in my neck of the woods, go to some parts of Texas and traffic moves at 85-90mph.

[@ibdustin15]

Aaron Bays I’m a local class A driver. I promise if I can merge a 70 foot vehicle that does 60 in 25 seconds you can do it in a car.

@@ibdustin15 REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

[@CeeStyleDj]

Did you keep watching the video? How about the 0 to 60 on VW Van? Lol. Cool looking vehicle though. Btw- 10 sec 0-60 was pretty normal back then.

[@iLXR2]

RIP AMC Eagle.

[@JosephByrne]

A car show about cars and not clowns. I miss those days.

[@CesarAbeid]

Holy crap, the underside of that Topaz looks like it's 20 years old already.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

That's exactly what i was going to say!👋🤣👍

[@manthony225]

Ikr Why is there rust already?

[@will2993]

Driveshafts usually look like that, even on rust free cars

[@MrMike95113]

Like what will2993 said...Also the show was shot in Maryland. I'm sure that east coast weather had something to do with it as well.

[@CenobiteBeldar]

I was going to say the same thing. Why does that drive shaft have a rusty color look to it?

[@seththomas9105]

In the mid Eighties we were just glad to have a temp. gauge back, never mind a volt/amp. or oil pressure. Idiot lights from the late Sixties and Seventies died a hard death with American auto makers.

[@wiibaron]

Not Mopars...

[@eriklarson9137]

@@wiibaron Correct. Mopars were pure garbage way before the 80s.

[@engineer_alv]

My 1984 Nissan 720 4x4 had oil pressure and volt meter gauges. Today's cars are worse, my MIL's Outback doesn't have a temp gauge, neither my mom's Mazda

[@skylinefever]

I remember the 1985 Nissan Maxima having a volt meter back then. It didn't really help, what would have helped is a reliable electrical system. The 1985, 86, and some of the other early FWD Maximas were constantly destroying their batteries and alternators due to flawed design.

[@mcearl8073]

They didn't die as much as they changed form to make people think they have a gauge. A lot of gauges are just dummy lights in disguise. They really only have two readings, where a light would be off the gauge reads normal, when the dummy light would be on the gauge would read maxed out. They are dummy gauges basically

[@yuriypodgorniak2728]

I always loved retro MotorWeek!!! Cars of that era for me personally a lot more interesting than the new cars

[@12ealDealOfficial]

The way John Davis speaks is a personal goal of mine. Gentleman is so darn articulate!

[@CenobiteBeldar]

Man, I really like that Audi and the Subaru.

[@jamesmorgan3212]

I haven’t seen a tempo or topaz In forever. I can’t even remember the last time I saw one . When I was a kid they where everywhere.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Had a co worker who replaced almost every part on the Tempo...it did run though

[@gary19222]

Sad...they're all in the junkyard or maybe Mexico?

[@freddyhollingsworth5945]

My Aunt had a 1986 Topaz 2x4 diesel and she was getting 45mpg overall avg out of a 1986 4Dr car with a big trunk, very impressive back then and still today. She got 52 mpg on the highway. We went to go get a Tempo Diesel in 1988, but Ford deleted the diesel engine by this time unfortunately.

[@wildbill23c]

Yes, the diesel option was very short lived, and extremely rare to find one equipped with the diesel.

[@therealjayseh]

Those were Mazda Diesels I believe.

[@jeffsfleet]

Ahh, the days of the 20 second quarter mile times.

[@lancetheb.m.c]

And that was considered "fast" back then....

[@list3058]

I watched this show as a kid in the Eighties, seen these videos dozens of times. More retro reviews, please!

[@tonyrichards254]

They were still making the best of the original on-road 4x4 cars, the AMC Eagle.

[@eriklarson9137]

wat. The subaru's were 4x4 in 72. The Eagle didn't come around until 79. Nice try tho.

[@tonyrichards254]

@@eriklarson9137 Eagles were full-time AWD from the start, on- or off-road. Shift-on-the-fly came shortly thereafter. At the same time, Subarus were tin cans with a manual, part-time 4x4 system. The Eagle was a more complete package, and a better car. It had more of the characteristics of a modern crossover earlier than any other model.

[@kevinwong6588]

By '87 Eagle sales were low, basically "made-to-order" from the factory in Brampton. Less than 5,000 in the model year, plus 2,306 1988 Wagons rushed out to finish off existing inventory.

[@kevinwong6588]

1980 (first year) was full time, '81-84 manual shift case, full shift on fly in '85-88.

[@tomasnokechtesledger1786]

Commanche and Grand Wagoneer.

[@CeeStyleDj]

Was surprised how well that little topaz handled! Was not expecting that.

[@wildbill23c]

I had the Tempo, well 2 of them actually. I had a 91 and a 93...unfortunately too new to have the AWD option, but they handled great in all weather conditions, and got great fuel economy even with the 3 speed automatic. I wish I would have kept them...I wish I could find an AWD model now though, but they're pretty hard to find and usually trashed unfortunately when you do find them.

[@stephendrivick840]

Holy Body Roll! Remember when cars used to heave around like that? :)

[@JDMHaze]

Stephen Drivick lol

[@skylinefever]

I especially remember the Dodge Caravan being bad.

[@apl175]

5:32 you can hear the air pump running for the "ELECTRO-PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION with HEIGHT CONTROL"

[@benscampers1818]

People whining about the cars being bad - they were excellent for the time. The cars we think are good now will be lauged at in 30 years too.

[@jsciarri]

I'm already laughing at them now rolling off the showroom floor. Good luck trying to fix the many electronics that brand new cars have 20 years from now.

[@Trance88]

@@jsciarri exactly! If anyone knows anything about computer technology is how fast it goes out of date!

[@eriklarson9137]

Well Ben either proved he's a union guy, or young. I was there. The cars form the big three were laughable compared to Honda and Toyota. This was the era when import sales skyrocketed. Drive an 88 topaz, then drive an 88 civic. If you can't tell the difference, there is no helping you.

[@benscampers1818]

Erik Larson - nobody is arguing that the Topaz is better than a Civic - both foreign and domestic are featured in this video. Point is, all of them were state of the art for the time.

[@tinkynine3351]

Actually I see the opposite, with all these retro reviews. People are acting like we should still want cars like this.

[@6.thedollar415]

Back when speedometers had a [55] on them.

[@skylinefever]

I only remember seeing them on American cars. I don't recall any kind of Datsun/Nissan Maxima having one for example.

[@AWDfreak]

My auntie's old 3rd generation Honda Civic sedan (which didn't even feature a passenger-side mirror) had that quirk. Back when all roads in the USA had speed limits no more than 55 MPH...

[@CenobiteBeldar]

And I'm sure had to be calibrated somewhere.

[@matt9759]

Even my 1995 Taurus has the 55 highlighted hahaha

[@pcwizzy460]

@@matt9759 1995 was the last year of it.

[@zanesutherland406]

I own an ‘87 Ford Tempo sedan with AWD 😀

[@Rampant_Colt]

I'm sorry

[@pcwizzy460]

Sweet!

[@rodmunch69]

Wow, that's got to be worth $200, maybe $220. Congrats.

[@JeffKing310]

Do you still have it?

[@FLJAMESFL]

The Honda always cracked me up with the option of a passenger side mirror.

[@ggroff73]

😂😂😂😂

[@juliogonzo2718]

Buddy of mine had a Mazda 323. It only had one mirror

[@skylinefever]

I once worked on a Saturn SL1 that had only one mirror. I'm not sure when all cars got a passenger side mirror in the USA.

[@tonij4073]

😆

[@kd7cwg]

Ford did that too!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Love it! I don’t know why I’m spending my weekend off watching this but yolo

[@nobodynoone2500]

Lol, just watched one of your vids before this one. 80's car programs have an odd charm don't they?

[@BokBarber]

1987: The "giant" Audi 5000 cs turbo quattro weighs 2844 pounds. 2020: The smallest US Audi offering, the A3, is 3197 pounds in its lightest configuration.

[@nobodynoone2500]

Yup. Blame government standards and distracted drivers making them nessarry.

[@rodmunch69]

Yeah, it's called the government telling automakers what their 'safety' standards need to be. It's why all cars are so big and heavy now. Side impact, front impact, rear impact, roll over protection, dual airbags, side impact airbags, etc etc etc. To me, I wonder how many accidents could have been avoided had people had smaller and lighter cars where they'd be able to maneuver out of situations. At the same time with the giant SUVs you have everywhere, and considering women are driving most of them, you need safety features if you expect to survive some dumb house wife running over your sports car in her Escalade XL because she was doing her makeup in the mirror.

[@tomj4731]

Love the Civic wagon with those big tall windows all around"

[@xxbonrockxx]

Man I love this channel!

[@JDMHaze]

subaru was a whole 4 secs faster than the topaz lol... dam and i didnt even know they made a AWD topaz lol

[@ggroff73]

I was as shocked as you, I never knew they made an AWD Topaz..🤔

[@engineer_alv]

The 3 spd auto bogged down the Tempo AWD, too bad it couldn't be optioned with the 5 spd, since those GLS coupes were fairly quick at the time. The Subaru would have added at least 1 second if it also had an automatic transmission. Then there's the Turbo and less weight compared to the Ford.

[@wildbill23c]

It was an option for a few years, up until 1991...but most people never optioned their Tempos or Topazs with the AWD because that cut into their cigarette/beer budget. Sadly most of the AWD models have long been trashed and gone, I'd love to get a hold of one. I've owned 2 Tempos a 91 and a 93. Miss them both. They're not fast, but they did get pretty good fuel economy...I managed 41mpg in my 93 Tempo on a 300 mile trip, and that was on the freeway with the AC going, I was surprised when I got home and checked the fuel economy and found that 40+mpg number...and it was with the 3 speed automatic, which impressed me even more...didn't know those cars would get that kind of fuel economy....although it probably helped that my 93 Tempo was in excellent condition inside and out and very well maintained by the previous owner and myself. Really should have kept that car. My 91 Tempo was given to me because the lady just wanted it off her property. I drove it for about a year before the head gasket blew, and my terrible idea of trying to fix it myself went south :(.

[@JDMHaze]

@@wildbill23c It's impressive for a 3 speed That is phenomenal mpg ,

[@wildbill23c]

@@JDMHaze I agree, course back then there wasn't much to a vehicle, nothing like all the electronic gadgets and nannies in today's cars that struggle to get 20mpg and 10 speed automatic transmissions LOL. If I recall the car only had like 93HP but it cruised right on down the freeway just as anything built today would do. The trunk was huge for the size of the car, it was comfortable, it was simple, and it worked. I miss that car. It had power windows and locks that was about as fancy as it was...I did upgrade the radio in it to one that played CD's but otherwise I kept it like it was...the factory radio had a short in it was the only reason I replaced it, and it was only AM/FM didn't even have the cassette player option LOL.

[@vee950]

I like looking at old car videos like this as well as old movies it's fun taking a blast to the past technology and filming

[@josemontano7767]

I had a 85 Tempo 5 speed, one of the best cars I ever owned, $5 gas would last me all week.

[@gypsychris1031]

I learned to drive with one..it was my sister's lol

[@alfresco4976]

I still have a Tempo 5 speed and the plan is to never get rid of it!

[@torotimemaster8983]

My mother had a 5 speed Tempo back in the day, she loved it.

[@FawleyJude]

I had one also, it wasn't a bad car at all, for the price. I don't remember having to do much service on it and it was comfortable enough for long road trips. I finally sold it when it had 102,000 miles.

[@eastpantherbenz]

I had an 87 Tempo in 1997, biggest POS I've ever owned!

[@fhantazm]

12:09. The mob on their way to give someone a pair of cement shoes.

[@douglasb.1203]

Love the 5000CS Quattro.

[@MatrixDiscovery]

Those were the good old days before the SUV's started to become a cancer to our roads.

[@Tool0GT92]

What's your problem with SUVs?

[@eightosaurusspelunk1598]

@@Tool0GT92 Are you serious?

[@Tool0GT92]

@@eightosaurusspelunk1598 Yes, why do people hate SUVs?

[@H31MU7]

@@Tool0GT92 I don't hate SUVs but I bet a lot of the crossovers in their new 2019 test are nowhere near as good off road than most of the clunkers in this video :)

[@Tool0GT92]

@@H31MU7 most people don't drive SUVs or crossovers to go off road. I have a crv for the spacious interior, ability to drive through snow, and I can pull my utility trailer. It gets reasonable fuel economy and it's very practical.

[@wildbill9919]

Back when cars had manual transmissions, had character, and were cool.

[@jamesmcintire3800]

Gotta love 80's cars! Those 0-60 times are downright pitiful today but at the time were considered pretty good! 0-60 in under 15 seconds? WOW!!! That's race car territory there!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

My favourite cars here are the Subaru GL-10 Turbo, the VW Vanagon Syncro, and the Audi 5000 CS Quattro. This was when cars were great. I'd buy any of these cars any day over what's being sold today.

[@sudmuck]

Me too! 80's & 90's cars are my world.

[@SANYUR]

I remember Pontiac had an AWD Sedan the 6000 87 or 88

[@toussantlbisso]

Was'nt four wheel steering also available from Pontiac ?

[@HWolfeIII]

Pontiac 6000 STE Great car. They were popular, but apparently the decision was made to keep 4WD on SUV's, probably bigger profit margin

[@Johnny_Socko]

I'm enjoying people freaking out over the spare tire in the Subaru engine compartment. :P I guess I got used to it since my family & friends owned Subarus back then. Subaru used that configuration for about 10 years IIRC. Oh, and Subaru claimed that it actually *helped* with safety, because the tire would act as an additional impact absorber. [shrug] Regardless, Subies were some of the most capable cars that you could buy back then. Had their share of head gasket & timing belt issues (family experience), but man were they solidly put-together. Although the 1980-84-ish amber instrument cluster was the best, don't know why they dumbed-down the gauges after that (as seen in the video). Anyway, I remain impressed that MotorWeek is still going with John Davis & Pat Goss since frickin' 1981, when I first started watching as a kid! :O

[@MrWolfSnack]

It wouldn't because it would just smash the dashboard and firewall into your legs and entrap you in the car.

[@edgarbeat2851]

Also another issue was synchro ring wear. The T25 VW also claimed extra safety with the front mounted spare.

[@lijoima]

Omg!! Look at that rust already on that diff at 1:57!! 😂😂

[@NJW1973]

I had a buddy in high school who parents had a AWD Tempo. It was great in the snow. However, it was very slooooow.

[@wildbill23c]

You really don't need or want fast in the snow in the first place, that's why you see all the idiots in their 4x4's and AWD's off the sides of the roads in the ditches every time it snows LOL.

[@LukesVintageRC]

“ the rear seats are comfortable for full size adults” meanwhile the guy looks sardined 😁

[@shigeolincolntaco]

My mom had one of those awd topaz's thing was a fricken billy goat.

[@darringusko8539]

$12,000 Topaz comes standard with a limited slip rear...my $44,500 Ranger has open cog with an optional e-locker..that I dont have.

[@TombstoneChris]

Cars back then sure did have a lot of places to hide your pot.

[@nutsackmania]

Pot was more illlegaller in then so hide it

[@wildbill23c]

Wish they'd bring the Syncro back.

[@Cheezwizzz]

Can’t get enough of this wonderful stuff 🚘

[@jasona1599]

Gonna add the Topaz AWD to the (short) list of cars my 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage would smoke in the quarter mile!

[@Mr_Chris77]

Ah yes. The Mercury line. For those that are too rich for a Ford, too broke for a Lincoln.

[@RockandrollNegro]

@@Rampant_Colt actually, you didn't comprehend the OP's sentence. He clearly conveyed that the Mercury buyer had more money than a Ford buyer, but not as much money as a Lincoln buyer.

[@rodmunch69]

That Topaz was one ugly car back then, and I think its even uglier today.

[@rodmunch69]

@@RockandrollNegro yeah, Mercury was the Buick of Ford. You got slightly upgraded stuff over Chevy, but not in the same league as Cadillac.

[@rickdavid6758]

My grandparents bought a brand new 87 tempo AWD

[@brianc5537]

The first gen tempo/topaz looked so much better than the 2nd gen. Too bad they're hard to find.

[@CeeStyleDj]

That interior surprised me. Looked pretty good.

[@zanesutherland406]

I have an ‘87 AWD one I’m selling soon 😄

[@energizer1036]

@@zanesutherland406 sell it to me

[@bernardyancey4467]

2gen for me

[@csj9619]

That's funny bro!

[@adamn7516]

The Toyota Tercel 4WD Wagon predates all these cars by 4 or 5 years, the exception being the Subie. The Toyota was a body 4 door wagon very similar to the Civic Wagon in design.

[@chrisgnonya]

I had an 89 Mercury Topaz front wheel drive. The best word to describe that car was "Ooooffff". At least the seats were comfortable.🤣

[@nobodynoone2500]

A shitbox by any other name...

[@4v3ng3r1987]

Cool. Never knew the Subaru had an air suspension available.

[@DM-hw4cr]

Subaru xt did have air suspension

[@davidkline4372]

Yes. And they were crap. Once they failed, driving was like driving without any suspension at all and they were very expensive to repair. We had a mechanic just covert our old subie wagon to a standard sick and strut set up to eliminate future headaches

[@bullitt3980]

We made a lot of money off selling wear parts for Tempos and Topaz's--I can still remember the part numbers for pads, rotors, wheel cylinders and exhaust.

[@omartinoco9930]

Yeah if that's all that was replaced i'd say it was a pretty good car.

[@EricFortuneJr.]

“A 100 horsepower high output engine..”

[@jamesnoble8205]

Nothing high about that output lol

[@engineer_alv]

@@jamesnoble8205 it was a 16% power improvement compared to the regular 2.3 LOL

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Cars like these would be perfect for Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Northern California) areas, where you don't need a big lumbering SUV or a truck based 4wd truck to get around, but like the ability to switch between 2wd and 4wd as needed, when it snows, etc.

[@sudmuck]

I live in Washington state, Those cars are still pretty common here, & we're known as "subaru country".

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@sudmuck I know what you mean. I also live in Washington state. Born and raised.

[@321CatboxWA]

@@sudmuckI too live in the Evergreen and servicing Subaru's put dinner on the table . However you state that " we're known as "Subaru Country" . Who is this we? I was under the impression this is "Rust Truck Country" Second only to Detroit. HMMMMMMMMMMMM? :)

[@321CatboxWA]

NW Wa, Had the Honda Wagon 2wd. Forget driving it in snow , grass, gravel and wet pavement. Worse than a Empty 1/2 ton with car tires crossing the yard.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@321CatboxWA I agree. I live in Gig Harbor, and we don't get very much snow, or very often. But when we do, it's difficult to get out of the driveway, let alone drive around town.

[@TypeTuber]

That rear differential looks a wee bit delicate :)

[@garbage854]

I remember all these 😀

[@kartickanungo8486]

most of them disappeared around 1999-2001 in Canada/usa

[@McRocket]

I imagine this was a very useful episode back in the day.

[@keithnewton8981]

This awd system on the ford cane from the European division where 4x4 family saloon cars car have been using the system since the early 1980 Vw had this on then golf and Passat of this time as well

[@JJsgarage3131]

I love the cute rear diff on the civic "4wd".

[@gary19222]

Ya a solid axle like a pickup would have!

[@Coyote-pj1iu]

Never knew Honda ever put a solid rear axle in a car !

[@mcqueenfanman]

Yeah, I wonder where they sourced that from.

[@gary19222]

Badass!!

[@german2669]

I like that little civic

[@Shishizurui]

when you realize that compared to these the Subaru Impreza is a fricken modern marvel

[@NazbolCaliphDonaldaddeenTrump]

Well yeah, Imprezas are from 1992-2019, these cars are all late 80s

[@m1t2a1]

How did we ever get by without AWD crossovers?

[@DanTheMailman330]

My grandma had one of the Topaz GS all wheel drive. Was great here in northeast Ohio.

[@csj9619]

Remember when A/C was an option? When manual transmission was base model, automatic extra? Now it cost more to get a manual somehow. (If you can even get it). Yes, yes, these are the cars on the road when I was growing up. I wonder if there are any Ford Tempos and Hyundai Excells still runnin'?

[@wildbill23c]

My 91 Tempo was on the road still as of last year, not sure if its still going or not. I see one around once in a while in town...haven't seen an AWD one for several years now, and I'd love to have one, they have more ground clearance than most of today's "crossover AWD" soccer mom cars.

[@weallfollowmanutd]

Very lucky the car has 4wd with all that power and wheelspin

[@chrisdooley6468]

The GL 10 did the quarter mile in almost the exact same time as the 83 Trans Am I just watched lol. I miss the eighties

[@larryfernand5436]

The best car reviewer .

[@majorcalvary6515]

My drivers ed car was a Ford Tempo. Hey. It had more hp than my dad Toyota Tercel, mighty 66 hp. Tempo had 98hp, and there was a 3L V6, mighty 130hp.

[@skylinefever]

My dad had a 1987 Hyundai Excel, and I think it had even less HP than a Toyota Tercel.

[@majorcalvary6515]

Skyline Fever 😀 thanks for sharing.

[@robsrandomness7824]

My driver's ed car was an '86 Reliant

[@wildbill23c]

My driver's ed car was a Ford Tempo as well, and wasn't the AWD model, but took driver's ed at the right time of the year we drove in rain, sleet, snow, freezing rain...when we drove in the snow we asked our instructor if we were still going to get to drive that day because of the weather, he says umm hell yes you are, and what better time to do so. Car did fine in the snow I was surprised how it handled given it was just a front wheel drive car. I've owned a 91 and a 93 Tempo sense then. Miss them both.

[@rxwhat33]

My cousin had an awd topaz, always had problems.

[@WPMontgomery]

I want one just to drive every third day. Cool.

[@jlang8213]

That Vanagon looks like it wants to tip over.

[@RoadCone411]

I'd love a Vanagon Syncro like that now, in mint condition of course...flaws and all

[@scdevon]

Don't worry. It will.

[@TombstoneChris]

The hippie bus!!!

[@jlang8213]

@@TombstoneChris you mean "Tippie bus"

[@mfree80286]

That would be because it wants to tip over.

[@allFordchannel]

Best cars ever

[@blairwilliams136]

Love that suby, so many cool features

[@black98rt]

That ABS off button on the Audi should still be on cars. About trashed a WRX on a gravel road because the ABS just wouldn’t slow me down. Thankfully the e-brake locked up the tires.

[@nancyblanchard9175]

That was going to be my comment

[@willohwhite2372]

Early WRX cars had dreadful ABS programs. I remember talks of class action lawsuits and trying to force a recall, neither of which flew from what I remember. My 02 WRX was almost lost a couple times when ABS was engaged unnecessarily on rough tarmac.

[@_justsomedude]

You can disable the abs by simply pulling the main fuse which should be in the under hood box. (done it on a 94 and 97 legacy so far)

[@black98rt]

Danny Gustafson hard to do while you’re driving though

[@keithbender2061]

Interesting that all are available with a manual, except the Tempo/ Topaz.

[@kd7cwg]

I test drove a 5 speed topaz in the early 2000’s. Much better ratios. Almost had it for $500, but the guy could not find the title……(I think he decided he didn’t want to sell it)

[@wildbill23c]

You could get the front wheel drive with auto or manual but the AWD models only were equipped with the automatic.

[@zythr9999]

@@kd7cwg You dodged a bullet

[@seththomas9105]

Vanagon!!!

[@matty_o]

Spare donut under hood🙀 Constant complaints of no oil or volt meter read Outs Locking diffs 👌🏾 Limited slip diffs👌🏾 Those days were technically nicer than we thought

[@Nobody-xh5qe]

Damn am FM cassette😯got to get me one of those topaz's

[@JDMHaze]

Nobody lmaoo 😂😂😂

[@mfree80286]

If that's your reasoning, you're going to be disappointed. That head unit... ugh. Belt driven cassette mechanism, I snagged a pile of them from a junkyard to swap in for a nonfunctional one in my '84 Tbird in the dirt-poor high school days and good god, not a single damn one of the cassette mechanisms worked.

[@MixingGBP]

Yep, no 8-track player for you! :)

[@Trance88]

The Audi is the obvious alpha in this pack. It's got the most power, the best handling, and has stood the test of time in its design the best of all the other cars. I think its the only one offering ABS. I guess for almost $70k in today's money, it better be the best and most refined! My favorite of the pack is the Honda, though. I just really like the styling. Wish I could find one!

[@edgarbeat275]

Totally agree with you on that. I do like the Honda also. In Scotland where I live is a farming area they used to be loads of those 4x4 Hondas driven by old farmers. I kinda miss seeing them. Now it's big flashy Range rovers and L200s

[@Doc1855]

4WD or AWD are a must for our 5-6 feet of snow we get every winter

[@earnedmystripes2382]

That Subaru had some features that were way ahead of its time.

[@sunilayya8948]

No luck with an oil pressure gauge or volt meter yet?

[@djkenny1202]

Cars still don’t come with those things. I see complaints about lacking power seats on basic or mid level cars in some reviews and laugh a bit.

[@wildbill23c]

Hell people never read the gauges anyways.

[@kylethestyle]

How do I get one of those blue sports jackets? They're snazzy.

[@oliverdelgado6952]

Gzz seems like every guy wore those in the 80s

[@bms1117]

The address is MotorWeek, Owings Mills, MD 21117 🤣🤣🤣

[@1hackmodeller557]

😂

[@MARTIN-fe2bw]

Was rust on the drive shaft and other drive train components included from new on the Topaz? :O

[@HereForAStorm]

That's why all of these cars are gone today. It was a race between the motor blowing and the rest of the car rusting out.

[@PrettyChrome]

This is so good!

[@wiibaron]

After all that, I'm Audi 5000...see you later.

[@DM-hw4cr]

Those civic motors could take a beating

[@landshass2849]

Wait a minute!!🤔 Tire Rack and Rock Auto where there in the eighties? Or maybe the intro was edited for the You tube?

[@JJsgarage3131]

I hope to find a review on the '86 Toyota Camry turbodiesel.

[@JJsgarage3131]

Totally nonexistent now

[@skylinefever]

I didn't know the USA got one. Sounds interesting. I'm guessing some people either didn't replace their timing belt, or they had a problem only diesel experts could fix, and the car was then sent to the junkyard.

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

I was 3 years old at the time. Honda won the 1980's by far, along with Toyota and Nissan.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Toyota had a way more diverse lineup with rwd corollas, celicas, supras, Camry, mr2....legendary trucks and the mighty land cruiser and 4runner

[@kevinwong6588]

I'd have (opinion) the Eagle Wagon, as the best value over these selections. With base retail price at $11,943 (1987) with good cargo room and sharing quite a bit of engine and drivetrain with Jeep, making it quite serviceable.

[@wildbill23c]

Those were great cars. Most of the mail carriers in my area drove them on their mail delivery routes because of their great 4WD capability. I don't think I ever seen one chained up in the snow...now the stuff they drive you see them running chains on them all the time LOL. Newer isn't always better HAHA!!!