Top 10 CHEAPEST American Cars of the '90s!

[@stevescarsfish2175]

When you could afford to be poor

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

If you bought a used car, you'd show it off to your friends and be like: "Check out my new car!!😊"! When I bought my 2003 Saturn Ion 3 with factory equipped cassette, cd player, AND a/c, I called her My Cadillac!!😎😎

[@raymond_sycamore]

I drive a Pontiac Vibe I bought a couple years ago for $1,400. You can still afford it, just won't be a new car.

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

@@raymond_sycamore You got a keeper. I still see quite a few Vibes here in the Chicago Road Salt Belt. Plastic doesn't rust.

[@raymond_sycamore]

@@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE the entire exhaust pipe has rusted out on it 🤣😂

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

@@raymond_sycamore N.p. Velasquez Mufflers & Brakes'll fix it!😎😎

[@thatoneguy6555]

My dad was at lowest of lows back in the 90s. His shitbox Subaru was totaled by a drunk driver and he had no car and no money to get a car. His dad came in and offered to get him a car and gave him 2 options: the Geo metro, or the ford festiva. My dad picked the festiva and started to get his life back together. Got better job, got married had kids and now he is set for life, and you could say it was thanks to the festiva.

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

My first Brand New car was a '91 Ford Escort Pony. The 1.9 SEFI Mazda engine is BulletProof. But watching videos of loyal Festiva owners, a piece of me wishes I had bought a First Generation (1986-92) Festiva. Some of their owners are eccentric in a good way.😎🤓 Please tell me your old man kept his??

[@thatoneguy6555]

@@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE sadly he did get rid of it as do most people, but he did continue to buy econo cars like his 03 Corolla and then a Prius.

[@Userxxx840]

W dad

[@metalmike570]

Awwwwe, poor shitbox Subaru! Congrats to your Dad, a Cinerella story.

[@boogitybear2283]

Nice! Salute to Pops!

[@Bmovie5000]

I remember a newspaper ad in the 90’s for the Geo Metro. It showed a picture of the car and simply stated, “Hey, it’s better than taking the bus “. 😅

[@maxschlotter4596]

Lmao I’m not sure if you’re kidding or not 😂

[@maxschlotter4596]

Lmao I’m not sure if you’re kidding or not 😂

[@LegacyIvyTerascale]

you wont see an ad like that today all cowards now

[@DEEZEEMTB]

I had a friend that drove a Geo into the ground. Commuted 97 miles each way 5 days a week.

[@cmc5394oparva]

A buddy of mine bought one after some crazy chick he didn't want to date ended up setting his old car on fire in the parking lot at work. The Metro was actually an upgrade from the hooptie he was driving before, so the psycho ultimately did him a favor.

[@kellingtonlink956]

My Ex drove a ‘90 Pontiac Firefly (the non-turbo manual base model). Noisy, frustrating at times and oddly smelled funny… but enough about Her. The car was great. I (we) drove regularly from Toronto to Montréal. I’ve never had a better or seen another vehicle that used so little petrol. Probably around 45(?) miles per gallon - even when driven mildly aggressive. Oh yeah… She (the Ex again) was also aggressive too. Thanks for the video.

[@Hagebuddne983]

Lmao you got me in the first part.

[@InfiniteFacts18]

John 3 16-21! 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

[@Kwall4life]

My first brand new vehicle was a 1992 Ford Ranger XLT 4 cylinder with 2wd, power steering, power brakes and a 5 speed manual. I paid $7,200 for it.

[@hueyfreemaniii6214]

With todays market, it would probably be worth just as much today if it were very clean and sub 100k miles lol

[@john_barnett]

@@hueyfreemaniii6214 even adjusted for inflation it would be worth more

[@aaadamt964]

Ive been abusing those 2.3 5speed rangers since the late 90's. Off road toy, truck, gokart all in one.

[@metalmike570]

Now it's 58 grand!

[@tompotter5981]

I bought a 1992 Isuzu pickup with only a rear bumper for $6,600. I bought it in November of that year and the dealer wanted to get rid of it. I only replaced a headlamp and the fuel filter the whole time l owned it.

[@StinkzMehaff]

He never misses. Quality content as always

[@GreenHawkDrive]

Thanks man!

[@ella71971]

i agree!!

[@justinkase1360]

My neighbor had a Metro when I was a kid, blue with plastic bumpers. One time I rode with him to the store, but we discovered that the underpass close to our house was significantly flooded. There was zero chance of us making it. However, he made sure I had my seatbelt on and hit the gas. We floated/skimmed right across the water to the other side. It was a brand new car at the time...but I guess it was cheap enough that he wasn't worried. There is something to be said about being light weight. I would love to see videos about the comparative weight of vehicles throughout the decades.

[@GreenHawkDrive]

What an interesting story man, thanks for sharing it

[@1337penguinman]

Light weight combined with front wheel drive means pretty much the entire weight of the car is on the drive axles. Which makes for great traction.

[@NikkiWrightVGM]

Still laugh at that scene in Vegas Vacation where the prize cars are a Viper, Hummer, Mustang, and for some reason an Aspire xD

[@tommysmith2719]

Truth

[@jlcii]

For those that "Aspired" to win an actual prize 😂

[@Project_Low_Expectations]

I never noticed that, but you’re right

[@NicholasTaylor-y4v]

haha right?? like why lol

[@InfiniteFacts18]

John 3 16-21! 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

[@milesdyson]

Remember when you could get by on a full time job?

[@rickbackous1041]

You mean back in the day when everyone in the household didn't need their own bedroom, TV, computer, cell phone, play station, every app available, subscriptions to all forms of TV and went to a restaurant maybe a few times a year and didn't travel all over the place staying in hotels and eating out so your kids can play a basketball or baseball game. Yeah, I remember.

[@greggc8088]

@@rickbackous1041 💯

[@joeyjohnsonson4341]

@@rickbackous1041 a full time job today gets you a crappy 1 room apartment with no vacations or eating out. I think you've got it flipped

[@jacknasty6940]

Still can Sorry about you life

[@aquilinorodrigo]

Poor money management. My grandpa earned 7k (different currency) in the 80s, and rent was already 800 a month. How he managed it, I dont know. ​@@joeyjohnsonson4341

[@muddywater6856]

I still see more GEO metros on the road than all the others.

[@ugeballs]

I remember taking mine to a mechanic for a service. I got a phone call saying changing the spark plugs would cost me a fortune because the 4th must be underneath the engine. I explained its a 3-cylinder. The mechanic was stunned. LOL.

[@golfguy25]

I still see the 2nd gens quite frequently in Idaho.

[@silverxstar01]

Really? I never, ever see them. From this list, I definitely see the Saturn most.

[@muddywater6856]

@@silverxstar01 away from the rust belt, they last forever. Living in a remote area, they are popular for commuting. Cheap high fuel milage cars.

[@silverxstar01]

@@muddywater6856 I do live in the northeast, so that would explain it. Would be cool to see a Metro or two puttering around, but alas.

[@RobertAdairWorkshop]

I had a '95 Neon Highline with a 5-speed and hand crank roll-up windows. It was on 13" wheels. But it had a CD player, cruise control and air conditioning. And getting 40mpg wasn't unheard of with it if you drove it carefully enough. It was a good car.

[@hueyfreemaniii6214]

The economy sucks so bad now that I still drive a cheap 90s econo shit box

[@Brian-yk5kx]

Bro I would love to have a 90 econo shitbox. My 06 Ram v6 is reliable and simple but not economical

[@kameronmckinnon5527]

I love my 99 Tercel, cheap to repair run and gets decent mpg will having enough power to go up a hill lol

[@hueyfreemaniii6214]

@@kameronmckinnon5527 I got a 99 Mitsubishi Mirage so I’m barely getting up those hills lol

[@miket.220]

Fix it and baby it, the lack of tech in that car is a BIG advantage.

[@member57]

Wishing I could find one...

[@justclassicglam]

I love that in the 90's, car companies cared about people enough to offer them affordable cars on the lot as well. Now-a-days, the cheapest new cars you can buy on the market will run you 20-25k minimum. Allowing people who are lower income to ALSO own their own brand new 0 milage cars without having to worry the previous owner didn't take care of it or that it would break down was something I wish we still cared about as a society, but it is all about money and making the top 1% rich family dynasties even richer.

[@Kwall4life]

@@justclassicglam government regulations drove up the price of vehicles the past 35 years. Some of those regulations are helpful (Airbags, antilock brakes, etc,) others not so much. Cheers

[@michaelw6277]

Right but there are a few cars available that compete with these for price, when adjusted for inflation. The difference between now and then is the lack of options… but because Nissan Versas aren’t exactly flying off the lot I’m guessing car manufacturers don’t care to compete in the space.

[@neal1964]

My mom had a Dodge Colt. No frills and certainly not fast, but a really reliable and solidly built car. I think the fact that she had the five-speed manual helped with the peppiness.

[@mattg7952]

My mom bought one too, an 87. The colt was a Mitsubishi rebadge. Thing never broke down and she had it until 00 when she leased a Tacoma.

[@thomaslgoodwin3]

I owned TWO Geo Metros and had NO ISSUES!

[@fehlrock]

My dad bought my mom a 1971 Dodge Dart swinger special. Beautiful gold metallic, power steering, power brakes, slant 6 automatic trans. NO RADIO. Over 20 mpg. It would blow the doors of any Datsun or Toyota. Inexpensive wonderful car 😉

[@raymond_sycamore]

they're never going to give us cheap cars again. They don't want us driving, honestly.

[@Hagebuddne983]

Rightfully so.

[@My_Old_YT_Account]

>You vill own nothing and you vill be happy

[@mf.danger9235]

The entire american infranstructure is built on the notion that everyone would be driving. Sprawling suburbs, cities hours away, no amtrak, even in sprawling metropolises in the westcoast you need a car. The only viable cities you dont need a car are old east coast cities that were built around horses and buggies. Dont get me started about canada, its worse.

[@raymond_sycamore]

@@Hagebuddne983 gfu

[@raymond_sycamore]

@@mf.danger9235 I WANT A CAR. why do all you socialists dream of not driving?

[@tall_dude1233]

I know it's not in this list, but I remember when Kia Rio's first came around in 2001. They were $9999 in 2001. Under $10,000 for a new car. Although it was the last car with MANUAL steering.

[@behindthewolfseyes]

My frugality-driven uncle bought one of these as a daily and raved about the mileage. He put over 45 thousand aggressive miles on it in a year and it was starting to rattle a bit. Unc hit a dog doing about 30mph and totaled the car. It was undrivable, with a cracked windshield and some impressive crumpling of the front end. The dog , a cocker spaniel, survived with a moderate limp and left the scene under their own power.

[@metalmike570]

Kia's sister company is Hyundai and they're first hit was the Excel. It deserves to be on the list but anyways, it could definitely be number 11. I had one and I won't forget it.

[@BlueMax717]

I remember when Kia had a “buy one get one free” special. You bought a higher end Kia and you got the 2nd car free. It was the cheapest car they had. No power windows. No extras or anything but you got a free car

[@metalmike570]

@@BlueMax717 Good incentive!! That could be the answer to selling today's ridiculously priced vehicles.

[@davidjackson2524]

5:50 Ford Escort, not to be confused with the European Ford Escorts, a slightly different car.

[@danielbilorian2243]

More than slightly

[@Timico1000]

@@danielbilorian2243 Almost completely.

[@KRAMITDFROG]

Let's put this in perspective, though. Using 1994 as a basis since you mentioned that during the Cavalier segment, the average new car cost roughly $19K. That's $42K today. By comparison, you are looking at $48K today, but you're getting way more car and that figure is pushed up by all the expensive EVs, pickups, and SUVs flying off dealers' lots. I mean, we're talking Saturns with one mirror here. Things weren't necessarily any cheaper. Minimum wage was $4.25. In 1996,, I remember I was making $5/hour wearing a shirt and tie to work as a pharmacy tech. They gave me an extra $0.50 because I had a degree in Chemistry. Just some perspective for those thinking things are so dire nowadays because they're told that by the Internet.

[@danielreigada1542]

The base Escort was a Pony, keeping in line with all of the "horse/cowboy" type names in Ford history. The Mustang, the Pinto, the Bronco, the Maverick, etc.

[@metalmike570]

Did you know that Hyundai Excels were popular then, and should have been on the list. Hyundai says the Excels overseas were called Pony too.

[@danielreigada1542]

@@metalmike570 I *think* that the Hyundai Pony was rear wheel drive and sold in Canada but not here in the USA. The Excel was the model sold here in the USA and was front wheel drive.

[@metalmike570]

@@danielreigada1542 Yet in Canada in would definitely need FWD. Yet you could be right, but I never heard it was rear wheel drive outside of the USA.

[@izntmac]

The stripped version of the Pinto in the late 1970s and 1980 was called the Pinto Pony. That is where Ford originally used the Pinto name.

[@geraldscott4302]

In 1993 I bought a brand new base model Chevy S-10 pickup (real pickup, 2 doors, long bed) I did get the 2.8L V6 engine, I needed a bit more power than the 2.5L four. But I could have gotten a 4.3L V6, and chose not to. The 2.8L has been just fine. I also got air conditioning. I live in Phoenix, AZ, where it is 110 degrees 5 months of the year. That's it. Not a single other option. It has a manual 5 speed transmission. It came with an AM radio standard. It came with 14" steel wheels and dog dish hub caps, which it still has. I have added a rear bumper and a sliding rear window. I paid under $9000 OTD. I lucked out by getting the 1993. Not only does the original body style look much better than the 1994 Japanese style body, but I got the last year before airbags and ABS. I still have this truck, with 277,000 miles on it. I have replaced the clutch once. It still runs fine. Being in AZ, it has zero rust. I will replace the engine, transmission, whatever it takes to keep this truck going. I absolutely love it. All of the cars in this video is what we desperately need today. They are just normal cars, without all the TRASH technology of the GARBAGE car companies are making today. It is amazing, and downright scary just how far downhill vehicles have gone in such a short time.

[@BassRacerx]

Japanese body style???

[@geraldscott4302]

@@BassRacerx The first gen S-10 is very square. The second gen (1994 and up) is very rounded, and at least to me has a very Japanese look to it.

[@marcelgaud]

I've owned Geo Metro's from '95, till 2020.. They were GREAT little cars, (for what they were). The power out of those 3 little squirrels .....wow, was TREMENDOUS! For around town, they were great. On one of mine that I had found, an XFI transmission, had it rebuilt, installed, from Phoenix, to Yuma, Az, I got 74.6 miles per gallon, doing 68mph, with a slight headwind of about 7mph. Going from Yuma, to San Diego sucked though , at times, I had to downshift into 3rd gear (from 5th), because of the slight power.

[@nottiification]

Agreed, the Metro was a fantastic little car. It was roomy inside too. They must've anticipated people complaining about that, because it had tons of headroom & the front seats slid wayyy back into the back seat. I'm a tall guy, the Metro was one of the only cars I've ever had that i didnt have to run the seat all the way back to the stops.

[@HaveGunWillTravel00]

Right after H.s. graduation, my family gifted me a brand new 90 Hyundai Excel hatchback. 90 horsepower and had the nerve to put an economy button on it(which made it even slower)! I tinted it out and luckily, it was the beginning days of big sound systems. I put 2 12's in the hatch and got all kinds of attention lol. My buddy had a metro hatch stick shift. He blew his motor and we practically pulled the motor out without an engine hoist. My back still gives me problems to this day. 😂

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

In 1991 my now ex-g'friend bought what I call the Geo Metro station wagon (5-door hatch). People don't believe me when I say she could spin the tires on takeoff. She drove like red lights and stop signs were suggestions.😯

[@metalmike570]

I don't know why they don't make these again.

[@metalmike570]

@@HaveGunWillTravel00 Th Excel was Hyundai's first hit in the USA. One of the cheapest and strongest little cars, I had one too. The only thing was mine needed a wheel alignment, it was pulling badly to the right. So what does my wife do, she ran it up the curb and hits a pole!! Totalled. She was okay but was shook up of course. These days she drives a Hyundai Tucson, a million times better.

[@catlover15301]

I had a 92 Geo Metro 4dr Automatic transmission AND AC. If you had 4 people in the car on the highway and were going up a hill, you needed to turn off the ac and floor it. Still would lose about 10mph. 65 to 55 at the top. I usually got mid 30s MPG. But the best was on a trip to MN, going through Chicago doing 75 to 80MPH (you would get run over if you didn't) I averaged a little over 40mpg. It was a fun little car. Tires were 155 sr 12.

[@markmartindale7215]

I bought a 1991 Geo Metro convertible (yellow!) new. That car was a blast to drive! No mechanical problems during the nine years and 100K+ miles I put on the odometer. Had it until I collided with a red-light runner on my way home from the supermarket. ❤d that little ride! Averaged about 40 mpg consistently.

[@GreenHawkDrive]

Man, how well did the Metro protect you?

[@markmartindale7215]

@@GreenHawkDrive it was a low-speed impact. I came out unscathed. It actually had airbags! Given the age and mileage on the Metro, it was a total loss.

[@dupe3d]

$500 cars were my jam, those days are gone. An unloved Honda, $4-600, put a few more hundred into it, great vehicle for a year. I do miss those’d days.

[@SkylineFTW97]

They can still be had, I've done it twice this year alone. Bought a 2009 Hyundai Accent base model (3 door hatch, manual transmission , manual everything) for $375 at an auction. Didn't crank, but it bump started and drove off the lot. I bump started it exclusively for about a week until the starter I ordered arrived ($70 or so, I did the labor myself). Ended up spending a weekend fixing it up and flipping it. And I bought another one just yesterday, a 1996 Infiniti G20 base 5 speed. Got this one even cheaper, $300 at the same auction. And this one allegedly runs and drives. It will need work of course, but all cheap cars do. Back in 2019, I dailyed a 1994 Honda Civic EX 5 speed coupe I bought for $250. It had 273,000 miles, countless dents, a rebuilt title, a tendency to burn oil, and an unresponsive fuel gauge, but it ran like a clock. Even with me treating it like a rally car on my pizza delivery runs. I miss that car.

[@joeyjohnsonson4341]

@@SkylineFTW97 What auctions do you go to? Doesn't sound like you've got a dealer's license?

[@SkylineFTW97]

@@joeyjohnsonson4341 No dealer's license. Only local public and police auctions that anyone with a driver's license can attend

[@mcarlkv53]

bought a brand new cavalier in 1990...2.2 4 cylinder engine, 99hp....it had no power brakes or power steering, no radio, no A/C, roll up windows,etc...brand new it was $8600...loved it! it was durable and dependable...never had a problem!

[@maxschlotter4596]

Finally I found a channel that uses model/trim specific photos . Great video, just subscribed!

[@sniklaceladelyk]

My parents bought an '89 LeMans LE, brand new, right before my dad got stationed in Germany. It was the sedan version, not sure about the engine but that little guy would handle the autobahn on the regular without issue. In fact, I don't remember it ever having any major mechanical issues the 6 years we had it.

[@metalmike570]

Maybe it had the V6. Not that small of a car.

[@sniklaceladelyk]

@@metalmike570 it was a sub-compact. Plenty for myself (4-8) and my baby brother (0-4) in the back seat, but it was still not a big car. I don't think it ever came in a V6 though. It wasn't exactly "quiet" on the autobahn, but it handled it beautifully. I'm sure my dad picked it because of it's European/Korean roots, and since we were moving to Europe finding a mechanic wouldn't have been much trouble. He also bought an old brown colored manual 3-series to get around in so my mom could have the LeMans at home for us. THAT car is probably responsible for my love of cars and speed to be honest lol

[@metalmike570]

@@sniklaceladelyk Interesting, then what do you drive now?

[@sniklaceladelyk]

@@metalmike570 I daily a '15 Accord but I have an old Audi TT that's my toy. Stage 3 clutch/flywheel and upgraded cooling with an overboosted turbo.

[@metalmike570]

@@sniklaceladelyk Audi's are luxurious, at least that's what I think I see, it sounds fast. Is it a manual transmission?

[@Bhaerts]

The Pontiac/Daewoo was a rebadged European Opel Kadett. Fun to watch. Thank you.

[@RV-ed3ky]

Yeah. The Fords in the video are actually Mazdas, and the Geo Metro is a Suzuki Swift.

[@GuitarAudiologist]

My first car was a '93 Festiva L 5-speed. I mowed lawns all summer and bought it in 1997 for $700, with 40K on the clock and in great condition. (Shows how much the value depreciated in 4 years!) It was bare-bones, no AC, no options, no passenger mirror, and if I remember correctly, it had 12-inch tires. They cost about $100 to replace all 4! I made a lot of good memories in that little car though. It taught me how to drive a stick, and I let several friends learn on it too. We'd pile into that thing regularly, and take it to the woods and beat the hell out of it! Reverse-donuts in the sand, and it was nimble on trails. If we got stuck, it was light enough that we'd all get out and just lift it out of the holes! At one point I even put a killer stereo in it with subs in the back, as we all did back then. It lasted me about 2 years until all my abuse caught up with it. In the end at 70K, it was leaking 2 quarts of oil per hour from the rear main seal, and the clutch was shot, surely due to red-lining it racing dirt tracks and other dumb stuff a 16 year old does. Limping it to the junkyard, I stopped by a yard sale, and I ended up trading it for a stereo and $50. My next car was an '87 Crown Victoria, and I LOVED that car. If I were to buy one car again, it would be the Crown Vic. It was like driving a Lazy-Boy on a cloud.

[@bobcantstandzyobitz9778]

Those were fun cars. My friend had one. We drove the heck out of it. It had 400,000 miles when he sold it.

[@beatrixbrennan1545]

My 17 year old does all that crap in his 2013 kia rio with 300k miles. Although his driving worries me, it makes me smile knowing he has so much fun.

[@jamestoepfer7601]

My first car was a 1990 Ford Festiva L. Dad bought it brand new and handed it down to me my senior year in high school. 1.3L I-4, 5 speed manual. No power steering, no power windows, no power seats, no A/C, and no passenger side mirror, but had those badass automatic seat belts. Radio was a dealer option. That car was a tank, and was nearly indestructible. Survived my teenage driving habits like a champ.

[@vwkaferman]

Yay neon made the list! My super clean 99 R/T sits in the garage, former Auto X playcar. They might have been throw away cars but they had guts for the day. So much so they dominated in SCCA racing for a good amount of time.

[@GreenHawkDrive]

That’s awesome you still have one

[@peachyclean93]

That's awesome I loved my neon!

[@larrysutton925]

Chrysler actually made an SRT version of the Neon...it was a pretty fast little car!

[@vwkaferman]

Drove the R/T to work today. Came back with a note on the car, dude has an Iceman intake and other parts. Lol awesome. I love/hate driving it. So much fun to drive, knuckleheads on the road not so much.

[@SShowkeen]

I just happened upon your video and I was thrilled to see the entirety of it with a smile. I remember driving a Dodge Neon back in 2003. This video brought back memories. Thanks for making it. Very, very informative!

[@solitaire5142]

I had a `95 Saturn SL-1. Great car, I loved it!

[@sorenm6610]

The cavalier is such a fun little car. Easy to drive, basic but sporty (super easy to break into, thankful for the dozens of times i've locked myself out), and just cool

[@ChrisSpatz]

Don't forget the Shelby GLH Omni(Goes Like Hell) model

[@johnjones393]

The last GLHS was produced in 1986. Even though the Omni made it to 1990, the GLHS did not so it shouldn't be included on this list.

[@ChrisSpatz]

@johnjones393 Was still on the Omni chassis and they went thru the trim levels of the cars it should have still been mentioned. Imo

[@metalmike570]

@@johnjones393 Hyundai Excels weren't on the list and I think it's an oversight. It's an American car im my opinion.

[@ChrisSpatz]

@metalmike570 my sister had 1, 2 door hatchback fugly thing so she had the windows double limo tinted cause it was like being in a fish bowl inside that thing. 1st year she had also think was like a 91' she had. Hyundai has come a loooong way

[@jcarr0314]

I owned 3 first generation Saturns We also went to the Homecoming in Tennessee summer of 1999 😅

[@GreenHawkDrive]

Right on man! Didn’t they make a special edition for that event?

[@jcarr0314]

@@GreenHawkDrive yeah that had special wheels and black background Saturn emblems instead of red

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

Dude!! ANY First Gen. Saturn I consider to be a museum piece, now!!

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

I hate to tell you Generation Y & Z'ers this but All of the manufacturers charged extra for passenger-side mirrors on base models WELL into the 80's and early 90's. Even Honda and Toyota. Exceptions probably included Cadillacs, Lincolns, LTD Crown Victorias, and the like. Because back then you Still had to check your blind spot. As such they weren't seen as essential equipment. I DO remember they were optional on late 70's and early 80's Caprices and Impalas. In defense of the First Generation (1981-90) Escorts, there were composite/halogen headlights added in 1985 and another refresh in 1988.😎🤓And in Chicago, if your car had air conditioning AND a cassette player, you were KING Of The WORLD!!😊

[@RomanJockMCO]

Great times!

[@Timico1000]

Same in Europe! Passenger mirrors were an option on most base models (even Audi, BMW and Mercedes) as they weren't mandatory until the late 80s.

[@bc5441]

It’s strange that even BIG cars once had a drivers-side mirror only.

[@Maximus20778]

Wym hate to tell us?

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

@@Maximus20778 Well I mean I hate to bust y'all's bubble. A LOT of what's standard equipment on a car today wasn't so in the 90's and even a radio with only AM reception was standard on an '03 Saturn Ion 1. I bought the 3.

[@bokesnmokes]

I don't know if I've ever seen one of your videos before, but I have to say I LOVED AMC! I was stationed at the Great Lakes Navy base when I was a young lad just out of high school and brand new in the military and me and my buds had finished training and were all leaving to go to our first ships but first we went up to Kenosha for the weekend because one of our best bros was marrying a girl from there and we were all going to be in the wedding. Long story short he knew what an AMC nut I was and they made sure to drive me down that road! We were all half lit so I was cheering and stomping my feet all excited because I was checking out the factory where my Rambler and Hornet were made. We all got out and danced a little jig under that bridge-tunnel-overpass thing. Man it was awesome. In the years since I've had another Hornet - a Sportabout wagon, in fact, which was the absolute most reliable used car I've ever owned, and a Jeep J-10 pickup truck with the Honcho trim package which I LOVED! I tell ya man, I check on Google every now and then and if I found a good priced Hornet or Pacer in decent shape I just might get me one more AMC before I rock off into the sunset! 😊

[@robjones8733]

Cool story! Good times man!

[@bobcantstandzyobitz9778]

My piano teacher had a Ford Escort and my friend's father had a Ford Festiva. The Festiva lasted 400,000 miles, and was a manual. When we learned to drive, we revved the heck out of that and drove it like we were trying to break it (to clarify, he bought the car from his father as a second vehicle, so we weren't beating up his dad's car ). It was actually quite peppy. He sold it for 600 dollars after we were done playing around with it.

[@stickynorth]

This video really brings me back since my mom owned a Chevy Cavalier, a Dodge Colt, A Dodge Omni and for a while leased a Pontiac Firefly... So basically most of the 90's when we had wheels it was in one of these cars on the list... She also wanted to buy a Ford Aspire but her credit wasn't good so we probably dodged a bullet/lemon with that one!

[@stickynorth]

And for the record the Pontiac Firefly/Geo Metro here in Canada got around 50 MPG highway and it was super cheap to run since gas at the time was about 39.9/L or $1.30/gallon CAD or under $1.00 USD/gallon at the time... This was 1994/1995...

[@fredschriks8554]

Pontiac Le Mans looks quite good. Just an Opel Kadett.

[@autochatter]

but built under licsence by Daewoo

[@the_kombinator]

I'm surprised it didn't make it here. Then again, I'm the only one with a Daewoo Matiz in Canada ;)

[@Steve-gc5nt]

​@@the_kombinator The Matiz is a great econobox. We had one here in the UK and it was a ballsy little car.

[@the_kombinator]

@@Steve-gc5nt Last time I went to Romania, it seemed that like 40% of the country ran on those ;)

[@Timico1000]

@@the_kombinator It was. I´m not canadian, but i read somewhere that for a short period GM sold some of its cheaper models under the "Asuna" (or Asüna) brand in Canada. The Le Mans / Kadett / whatever was sold as the Optima or Passport Optima.

[@joaquinpinon2872]

Thanks for the great content. I remember those days with a smile on my face. How far we have come. Keep up the good work

[@ProJanitor]

I actually spotted a neon this week being worked on at a local mechanic shop.

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

ChicagoLand Road Salt killed all the ones around here.☹

[@ProJanitor]

@@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE the last time I saw one before this week was easily two decades ago. Very rare car to find indeed.

[@peachyclean93]

​@@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDEthat's what killed mine!

[@SkylineFTW97]

I had a 1998 Dodge Neon R/T. Even as a Honda guy, I love the 1st gen Neons.

[@TommyMG96]

I have a 94 Chevy Cavalier, 75k miles runs great, 1 previous owner, got it at 46k driven 30k miles with no issue besides a water pump replacement. I got a Base Coupe too!

[@bc5441]

Great video! I agree that it was difficult sometimes to tell how Dodge and Plymouth stacked up. It did seem that Plymouth was the entry-level brand, but looking back to the 60s, Plymouth had muscle car pretenses before Dodge, or at about the same time. And if Plymouth was the entry-level marque, it puzzled me as to why it was in the same division and sold at the same dealerships as Chrysler, the premium offering-except that it gave Chrysler dealers a way to sell to first-time buyers. Dodge dealers had vehicles of every size. As for the Colts and Neons, I think they were priced the same whether badged as Dodges or Plymouths. Apparently it had been determined that the brand nameplate was less important thing in the buyer’s mind. Back in the 70s the Mitsubishi captive imports (Plymouth Sapporo and Dodge Challenger, Plymouth Champ and Dodge Colt) were priced the same and differed in trim and colors. Omnis/Horizons and Aries/Reliants were probably priced the same also.

[@suspeh]

Man i love econoboxes, i miss econoboxes, well, in latam, You can still buy/get some. chevy Kadett 🥰

[@raymond_sycamore]

I miss the days of a cheap escort. I got quoted $2,000 for a half hour last time I inquired. I just beat it instead.

[@milesdyson]

So you opted for a Suzuki swift?

[@the_kombinator]

LMAO

[@raymond_sycamore]

@@milesdyson I'm turning Japanese I am turning Japanese

[@SupaEMT134]

This was an awesome video! Can uou please make a video about cars drom the 1990s? I'd definitely enjoy it

[@lucwolf1]

In Canada we had the Pontiac Fire Fly. It was a dressed up Geo Metro. I put 91,000 miles on it and never replaced anything except the tires. I put a little set of white walls on it. Pretty dressed up. It was a lot of fun. It would go 87 mph with the top up, and 84 with the top down. It had no backseat. There was a passway from behind the driver seat into the trunk, and if two people sat on the floor facing backwards they could put their feet into the trunk. I had a lot of fun with that car. You could not pass anything in it on a two lane roads or death was near. Where I live is very flat, so driving was not a problem, but once I went on a road trip that had a few mountains in it and with the accelerator pedal to the floor and the transmission in second gear there was a huge line of cars behind me. Very embarrassing. I’d buy another one tomorrow if I could.

[@nickgee7291]

I love that you and me have the same taste and interest for cars in the era. My first car was a brand new from Mitsubishi Blainville , 2016 Mirage base es manual with no options for $8995 CAD

[@ateam8083]

I had an neon acr 4 door Custer purple car that ran 13's all day in the quarter mile

[@the_kombinator]

Considering I got a Hyundai Pony to run a 15.8 at St Thomas, I believe it. :P

[@victorm3237]

I had a 1990 Cavalier Z24, it was an amazing fun car to drive!

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

Ive sold cars for a long time now and no matter HOW much the cost goes up for vehicles over the years, 70% of people STILL look to have the same monthly payment they did 20yrs ago .... "I want my payments to be $250 ... $300 MAX" 😂 Never fails ! ( btw i pay 275 a month for mine )😐

[@xcaret-ns3pb]

😂😂😂👍👍

[@joeyjohnsonson4341]

You can have that payment... you'll just have it for a whole lot longer

[@stephengiannone5449]

Motorweek! Love watching the retro reviews.

[@superchargedautism7693]

My 84 Corolla 87 Chevy Nova 91 Civic wagon and 96 Tercel all didn't have passenger mirrors it was popular on base model economy cars of the time. Tbh I'm shocked my yugo has a factory passenger mirror.

[@RobCamp-rmc_0]

Yeah, the poverty-spec Civic (the CX hatchback) was offered without a passenger-side mirror even in the 5th generation model, from 1992 to ‘95. I had a ‘96 CX but it did have the mirror. Base models were sold without radios well into the ‘00s, I recall seeing an ‘06 Civic DX with a blank panel in the space where the stereo headunit would be, so you’d have to opt for a dealer-installed unit or aftermarket.

[@amamey1]

Memory lane! My first car was a ‘91 Ford Festiva L. My sister and I both learned to drive on that car. Dad got it for $4,995 with a trade-in. It had something like a 9-gallon gas tank, so it was ~$10 to fill it from dead empty. It was a perfect rectangle inside and had amazing acoustics…we have a huge sound system in the truck for a number of years. Lasted 13 years, finally gave it up after our 4th set of wheel bearings seized. Absolutely loved that car!

[@JM-gz8me]

The cars of today are forced to meet mandatory safety standards as a result they weigh twice as much as our beloved death traps of the 90s. But honestly I much prefer the death traps. I miss the carefree days before cellphones. People often said about my festiva being a death trap and I said I didn’t buy it for safety I bought it because I liked it. Safety should be a choice made by the consumer not our government.

[@anthonyrowland9072]

A new Miata is only a little bit heavier than the original while also being a much nicer car. You can keep weight down if you want to, they usually don't though...

[@alexlane6522]

Was fortunate to be poor and experience the drive of nearly all of these automobiles lol

[@IAmAnAdowablePanto2190]

14:00 i remember the Geo Metro by Mike Judge's sitcom King of the Hill in the very first episode. that car looked like an amphibian

[@07Sandia]

Bought the Dodge Neon brand new first year. Horrible car. What didn't break? You don't see them today because they were known for head gasket failure . Had a friend that bought the brand new Festiva in 1990 - so much fun - zero options. The most plain car imaginable. About the same as a VW Bug but reliable.LOL!

[@peachyclean93]

That's weird my sister had a 95 the year that they came out and never had a problem with it! I had a neon for 11 years best car I've ever owned! Sounds like you didn't take care of it!

[@07Sandia]

@@peachyclean93 That's the odd thing - it was my first new car and I was so proud of it - it was even that cool strawberry color, 2 door. The computer went out twice, then the passenger door automatically locked while open and we could pry the lock open so had to drive to the dealer with passenger holding the door, then out of the blue the master cylinder failed and I almost ran over a dog. Luckily my uncle owned the dealership so I traded it in for a Miata. It was only 2 years old and in perfect shape. They told me an older guy bought it and never had any issues at all. Maybe it was possessed - it sure didn't like me.

[@adamtrombino106]

To this day, my 96 Neon was the worst car I've ever owned. Everything you could think of failed or just plain broke, besides the a/c and the transmission. When it ran, it got good mileage and pretty good power for a base model, but once the warranty ran out, I dumped it. That being said, I took care that car above and beyond. Maybe it was built on a Monday..

[@helloish12321]

I owned a 1990 Ford Festiva in 2017. Bought for $450 at 305k miles. The best car I have ever had. It was so kind to me. Cheap to run at near 50mpg highway. Cheap to insure. Cheap to repair. You could haul anything in that trunk. Control arms were $12.50 on rock auto and I remember using a $10 timing belt on its non interference engine. I bought new 12 inch tires for $32 a piece. The headlights were made of glass! I miss it often and it was running great when I sold it. Great credit to Mazda for the design of that car and Kia for the manufacture. It was truly a rock solid car. Ford can KMA.

[@member57]

Not a 90s model, but owned in the 90s, a 1986 Cavalier Z24 Hatchback. One of the few cars I would take back in an instant.

[@marksweather]

I remember my brand new 1993 2 door Chevy Cavalier well! I got it for just under $10,000. No AC, it did have power door locks, roll down windows. I added a Sunroof (used to love taking that out), and added a massive AMP and Subwoofers in the back. I put over 140,000 miles before trading up to a 1998 Ford Ranger.

[@christopherbowen1836]

2:01 my dad had a Dodge Neon absolute base model - no power steering, no power windows, no power locks, manual transmission. I got it from him a decade later. Fuel gauge stopped working so you just had to fill it based on when the trip odometer reached 300 miles. 10:43 - before the Neon, my dad owned one of the last Omnis. Absolute tank of a car. Felt sporty even if it wasn't. Once again, specially ordered the most basic package imaginable. Came with a tape player though.

[@Hetzer508]

I currently drive an Escort wagon, although mine is a ‘98, and an SE with some options. I love how simple it is, drives like a little go cart, good on gas, and does everything I need it to.

[@JM-gz8me]

I drove the ford aspire when they came out and decided to buy a used festiva instead. The aspire was a complete dog and just felt like a turd. My festiva got me 42 mpg on average it was a base model no a/c and manual transmission. I put 200k on the it and sold it and the next owner put another 100k on it. The festiva was the Best car I ever owned and still to this day buy one should they still be made. The car was so simple yet so well engineered, the passenger space was incredible cargo space was great love love loved that car it never missed a beat.

[@AnthonyParrilloRI]

I appreciate the time you put into the top 10 videos. They really are great, but nothing wrong with the more focused ones.

[@WooHoo-itsGaryGnu]

I had a 1986 Escort Pony... It had 4 speed manual, A/C and a tape deck... I was living Large at 16... That hting lasted in our family for 200k miles with one clutch replacement, and 1 alternator and a water pump. It went from me, to my sister in 1988 when I bought my Mustang LX 5.0, My sister drove it until she was 24, then it went to our cousin, she drove it until 1999, it then went to her brother who drove it and killed it in 2002. It was well maintained, minimal rust even being an upstate/central NY vehicle. was great on gas and a fun budget car. Of course as moved to my cousin she started stickering it up and doing some crazy tacky interior mods, to her brother painting it flat black, cutting the springs down and putting much wider wheels and tires on it. IIRC he also fitted a turbo on it at one point, but the one thing none of them touched was the modified audio system I put in it back in 1988 before I got my mustang, the only thing switched out was the head unit so it could have a CD player. That thing was not killable! Even when my cousin blew the headgasket he had it in the driveway pedal mashed to the floor temp gauge peaked and it never blew up, he ended up draining the oil and filling it with a mix of gasoline and water and then floored it for 10 minutes and it went Kaboom. The Escort was known as a TIMEX, took a licking and kept on ticking.

[@xxbambamxx7261]

07:45 "Pontiac" its a Opel Kadett with US trim and engine...

[@fenix9187]

Here in Brasil we had the Chevrolet Kadett. 1992-1998.

[@jameswalsh6131]

Excellent video Greenhawk! I never owned any of these but I do remember the Escort GT and how good it looked. It's amazing to me that the base level prices parallel the current base models. Of course those are so well equipped to those rides back in the day. I would love to see your 80s comparison even if you don't get 5,000 likes but I sure hope that you do!

[@ramonsanders2562]

Of you look at these cars with a Europeaan glass on you see a lot cars they have a different name but the same car: Geo metro- Suzuki Swift The Dodge - Mitsubishi colt Ford escort -Ford escort Dodge Neon-crysler neom Dodge omnium-talbot horizon Also chemo cars in europe …… Nice video! Thanks greats from the Netherlands

[@allux8236]

American escort is completely different from european model

[@BlueEmberDarkHorse]

I like when Carroll Shelby got a hold of those Dodge Omnis and the Chargers....the GLH and the GLHS!...I've seen these things built that they would just burn the front tires off!....the aftermarket is pretty strong for these cars too!

[@Chocolate_dragon]

I grew up with these cars. My parents had an 84 escort hatch. 91 they bought a base caviler. 94 they bought a base metro 5 speed. 96 they got a z24 caviler. My mom drove that caviler from 1996 to 2009 when she bought a cobalt that she still owns. I loved dodge neons in the late 90s and early 2000s. I had a 97 r/t DOHC. Pulled the motor, forged internals, flat top pistons, port and polish, turbo, megasquirt standalone, and a tough clutch. That thing was an absolute monster. I also had a 96 sedan sohc. I bought it with 350k sold it with 480k and my buddy took it to 580k before he totaled it. Great vehicles.

[@metalmike570]

I guess the Hyundai Excel would have been number 11. On the other hand Hyundai wasn't considered an American car yet. Now they are because the plants got built here.

[@JayA-k7m]

Man, I love this content. It’s just amazing what you can do with AI these days. Car is not having passenger side rear view mirrors was pretty common from my memory. Nothing beats when GM made those cars that had windows that didn’t roll back down in the back, that was great. Those funky hatchbacks that weren’t actually hatchbacks. I know it’s worn out but it’s just never gonna get old to me that people think that you’re AI because it’s so obviously not

[@adamward3100]

The 5 speed 3 cylinder Chevy Sprint (Canada) barebones model that my ex brother in law had would average 62 mpg (combined city highway) the 3 cylinder engine mated to the 5 speed manual gearbox made it "peppy"

[@michaelelmore5103]

I had a 89 Escort ES I bought new in 89. I remember getting it for 7500 bucks. I really liked it. It did good in snow and got really good gas mileage. I remember alot of these cars you showed. I remember looking at a Suzuki Swift GTi back in 89. Don't remember what the price was,but found out it was what the Geo Metro was. Except it had a 16 valve 4 cylinder versus the Geo Metro 3 cylinder engine. Another reason you don't find too many cars pre 2000s is because of the "Cash for Clunkers" deal the government put out to get rid of older fuel inefficient cars and trucks. Always wanted to get a Neon SRT4 or a Rampage 2.2. Great video!👍

[@bobjakubik4381]

Thanks for this! Had me thinking about my two door 87 Plymouth Sundance 😊 and the whole Chrysler K Car era. Good times!

[@Spnlgrl1985]

The first car I bought when I got a decent paying job was my red '91 Chevy Cavalier RS 4 door sedan, and it was so nice. It was so exciting to get my own car and I still have great and fond memories of that car!

[@eppyz]

In 1991 I bought a 1991 Honda Civic Hatchback Base Model for $6800. It had no power steering, no power anything, no radio, no right hand mirror, no A/C, 4 spd manual and averaged 48 MPG's. Loved that car. Would be nice to just be able to buy a basic car without all the tech crap on it just so you have reliable inexpensive transportation. Now? A base Honda Civic Hatchback, well Honda doesn't really have a "Hatchback" any longer, they have a "Liftback" design now, but still your talking almost $30k US. CRAZY!!

[@TearlessGosling]

was an enjoyable first video, keep it up!

[@Atreides217]

My first brand new car was a bright blue 92 Geo Metro 3-door manual transmission hatchback that came with heat and keys. I put in a radio and never had any issues the 4 years I owned it. Regularly got 45-50 mpg and loved that little car!

[@XiraProjects]

I still have the window sticker to my dad's 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier VL, no radio, no passenger side mirror, stick shift. The only "option" was all-season tires. I can definitely relate to the struggle of finding pictures. I still can't find a picture of the dark blue exterior paint, only light blue. Interestingly, adjusted for inflation, a base 2024 Camry is 25% cheaper than a base 1998 Camry. But good luck finding a base 2024.

[@eharris6347]

My cousin had an early to mid 90’s Ford escort , stick shift Couldn't k I l l that thing it was tough as nails He’d smoke the front wheels He popped the clutch and power shifted that car every where he went

[@Sammydx1]

Now. Your on my level !!! I started driving in 1996. 16 years old.!

[@4drturbo85]

Had a 1999 Dodge Neon Highline. 2.0 DOHC, 5 speed manual. Only thing I did was put lightweight wheels on it from the factory steel wheels. I ran premium fuel. One summer I got 40 mpg a couple of times. Mainly upper 30s. 75% highway. What was nice is the car was very light and it had power with that motor, 150 hp is what the 2.0 DOHC was rated at, probably the quickest car in your list. It had 165,000 mi on it when I sold it. No major problems. Car was such a blast to drive! Only thing that concerned me was the safety in it If I were to get into a bad accident I would be toast more than likely.

[@nickadamson6053]

My grandmother had an 89 Festiva with a 5-speed. We took a road trip from California to Michigan, got great gas mileage and was surprisingly not tortured by it. Kind of wish I had it these days. Super basic, white, grey interior, good little car that would pretty easily burn out in first.

[@BryanFarwana]

Blow this channel up!!! I can only imagine how great you could make your content with more capital. I'll say it again, great job keep up the great work.

[@GreenHawkDrive]

Thanks man!

[@travislivengood7443]

Grew up with Festiva L in the house. I recall loving that little box and going on road trips in it. I also recall it having zero issues. Ever.

[@NoName-nj8zy]

1st time see your video i love this format , i will subscribe

[@GreenHawkDrive]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@thelonelywolf88]

8:39 that's an INSANE amount of body roll😮

[@ChryslerHyper]

Thing is literally DRIFTING and SLIDING

[@thelonelywolf88]

@ChryslerHyper I guess sway bars are an option?

[@ChryslerHyper]

@ wouldn’t be surprised 😹

[@sethmaki1333]

I had a 1991 Mercury Tracer that I bought in 1999 for $1200. Shortly after I picked it up, I did a little bit of research on the car and learned that while the standard engine was the Ford 1.9L pushrod four cylinder, what I had in mind was a DOHC 1.8L Mazda engine that made nearly twice as much power as the 1.9L. Ooh and she was a SCREAMER too. With a 7000 RPM redline, a 5spd, four wheel disc brakes, and fully independent suspension, she ran and rode far beyond her weight class. I even once beat a 1987 Mustang that had a V6 automatic in a drag race. That poor horse never even stood a chance.

[@yaboykris2118]

My coworker has a 1st gen Escort hatch. Yes you read that right. HAS one. It’s super clean and it’s stanced on some good looking wheels. I personally wouldn’t stance any car but this car is so slow it fits it perfectly. 😂

[@GreenHawkDrive]

What the! A stanced first gen escort, I don’t believe it😂

[@yaboykris2118]

@@GreenHawkDrive best believe it! I wish I could attach pictures on KZbin. There is no aftermarket support for this car so everything he did to it other than the wheels had to be self fabricated or bought from another car that had the aftermarket support and then adapted to his Escort. I would know I had to help him on the control arms and springs. But him and his dad did majority of the work such as making a custom plate for the coil overs to attach to and custom sway bar and end links and steering knuckles for the coils overs and other suspension stuff and axles. It’s super clean and like I said I’m not really into stanced cars but this one looks so good. This particular model does not have A/C or power steering. It’s white with gold rims. It’s his pride and joy lol it’s the definition of built not bought.

[@GreenHawkDrive]

Dude, I have to see photos. My instagram is greenhawkdrive, my email is [e-mail]

[@SavageHungarian]

One of my good friends got a Geo Metro stick (manual transmission) back in '93. Probably rode home from school with her a couple hundred times in that car. MPG was a huge thing in the early 90s so she actually kept track. I remember she regularly got over 50mpg. It was slow and gutless but it could drive forever!

[@derekohio9871]

I paid $12500 for a 98 civic DX hatchback. 5 speed. The dealer added AC .Still got it for 12500. Unfortunately it was totaled when I hit a deer on freeway.

[@kevinbuja8105]

I love watching. Kudos on such good work on top of being full time college student, especially if your major is in the hard sciences.

[@GreenHawkDrive]

Thanks man and it sure is😂

[@scottyg7284]

I was thinking of moving to Canada from Scotland in 1996, a Ford Aspire was $5995 Canadian just Under £3000 Uk at the time.

[@3Dsjk]

My first car was a hand-me-down 1984 Dodge Omni, which was basically the 1990 Omni with different trim. Other than my 'first car' nostalgia, it wasn't good, and it was a Southern car, so no rear defroster and no windshield wiper. It's hard to compare cheap cars in 1990 to 2024 when the minimum level of equipment is so much higher; every car now has A/C, ABS, electric windows, and airbags standard (not to mention the backup cameras, ESC, better radios, and MUCH better crash ratings). Those 1990 cars with the same specs are easily as more or more than 2024 cars. I don't think the absence of these completely stripped-down model is such a bad thing.