The Most Significant 1980s Cars | Window Shop with Car and Driver | EP114

Pearley The Cherokee -it absolutely changed the sales trajectory of SUV sales, size, capability, etc. BUT surprised no one went for a Chrysler mini van? LOVE the shows: appreciate the time taken to do them!

Suggestion: cars you only ever see falling apart on the road

Hooray! Our friends are back!

Episode suggestion. The best cool car for taking the kids to school. Budget: $30,000.

episode idea: since the average new car price in the USA is now $50,000, find the nicest used cars you can at that same $50,000 price point

Thank you for another wonderful episode!

The Rabbit convertible also made an appearance in several years of Remington Steele.

Been wtg too long for another window shop! Thanks guys!

Every time I see how far the engine is ahead of the front axle on an 80s Audi, it makes me wince

1982 Mustang GT brought not fast but furious back to the car scene. It was the relaunch of muscle cars even if it was slow as sin by today’s standards.

The Audi Quattro is the winner of this group. For sure it had influences to this day with performance sedans/coupes, it is for sure an icon of the era. The Cherokee is a good second choice as started the 'small' SUV concept, a closed body 4 WD vehicle with car like interiors.

I love these shows. Keep them going.

1987 Turbo Buick Grand National.

If we're talking purely significance/importance...then I think it comes down to four: BMW E30, 3rd Generation Honda Accord, Jeep Cherokee, OR the Chrysler minivans. The E30 really cemented the reputation that would carry BMW though the 2000's as THE manufacturer of sport sedans and cemented the sport sedan as the aspirational image of an entire generation. In addition to being one of the best looking and most efficient designs of all time, the 3rd-gen Accord elevated the game for family sedans. It was elegant, refined, well engineered, reliable, and I think positioned Honda as the anti-Toyota in a way...still Japanese reliability but showed that mainstream cars didn't have to be appliances. Pearley made the case for the Cherokee--it was predictive of the future in multiple ways as set the model for the prototypical family car that continues today. Finally...the Chrysler minivans literally created a whole new segment, played a major role in saving Chrysler, and simultaneously made wagons irrelevant (to the dismay to those of us who consider ourselves enthusiasts). Honorary mention: Ford Taurus...frankly there's probably as strong a case for this as any of the other four. I was surprised no one in the video chose this, I fully expected to see an SHO right out of the gate.

Miatas were delivered in May 1989. Just called 90 to sound newer. K.C. wins. Also, had the unibody cute ute, first.

I love this show! Car people through and through

Suggestion: Best car from a movie or TV show.

I liked all the contributions, but my pick would've been the Fox Mustang with the return of the 5.0. Yes, the Fox was a late 70s creation, but it didn't receive the 5.0 until the 80s (the Rabbit was also a 70s creation, but only gained the convertible in the 80s). The Mustang 5.0 represented nothing more than salvation for people's desire for affordable speed following an absolutely dismal decade. Was it well made? No. Did it have perfect dynamics? Of course not. But, it was affordable, sounded awesome, and showed Americans there was hope for enthusiasts going forward. That seems awesome and significant to me.

Suggestion: Cars bad drivers buy. Ones to watch out for on the highway. Ex:// 2015+ Jeep Grand Cherokee, VW Atlas ect.

The Audi Quattro was probably the most significant car of the 80s along with the Jeep Cherokee. Both would sit behind the most significant car ever made which was the Suburban