Here’s question of the Week: What’s an Unremarkable Car or Truck You Now Find Remarkable?—WINNER’S UPDATE
WINNER’S ANNOUNCEMENT:
Happy Monday! We’re back to announce the winner for our Question of the Week, where our victor will accept a $25 credit for a hat or T-shirt from the BaT Gear Store and the acclaim of their peers.
Our question was: What’s an unremarkable car or truck you now find remarkable?
Thanks to everyone who chimed in! Daily commuters, family haulers, and rugged off-roaders resoundingly filled the discussion thread, with a few enthusiast cars mixed in.
That said, finding a belated appreciation for what was once considered ordinary is inherently subjective, so this week we’re leaning heavily on the People’s Choice—the most-liked comment. That honor goes to BaT member @Wkordo for an oddball wagon:
It’s only when you dig in a little deeper that you find these quirky little wagons stand on their own merits. Congratulations, Wkordo! Be sure to check your email to claim the prize.
Of course, remarkability is in the eye of the beholder, and there were many other notable answers in the comment thread:
“AMC Gremlin.”
“Y’all saw this coming… but here goes anyway. 2003 Chrysler Town and Country minivan. I know – but be real. Cross-country vacations, soccer team hauls, my son’s college “manly van” (THE pre-game, camping, rock climbing, party ride of choice) then my construction vehicle until I finally sold it for $3500 (paid like $21k new). Great comfort, meat-locker A/C, decent mileage and handling, no repairs in 18 years, haul anything. Go ahead and hate.”
“1994 – ‘97 Toyota Previa SC mini van supercharged engine stuffed under the front seats, tilted on its side like it’s doing yoga. Hooked to Toyota’s WRC rally‑bred All‑Trac AWD system and its peak 90s futuristic aerodynamic hardboiled egg aesthetic. It could plow through snow, mud, ice, and the apocalypse while carrying seven people, a golden retriever, and groceries.”
We’re happy to see we had enough minivans this week to form a quorum!
“1990 Nissan Axxess. Fun size minivan. A one-year (in the US, at least) wonder. A prettier Stanza IMHO. Peppy, and handled well. Decent gas mileage too.”
“Honda Odyssey minivan. No one says they are cool and they don’t turn heads, but ours has proven to be a remarkably versatile and useful vehicle for:
-Countless family excursions all over the country
-Hauling 4 kids and all their stuff to and from college
-Towing
-Make-shift pick up truck duty at the home supply store
-Spare commuter car
-My wife sold homemade bread out of it for 2 years
-Emergency hotel duty once with Walmart sleeping bags stretched out on the floor
It now carries our…”
Did we mention minivans?
@velocity with his top pick and a few lucky strike extras:
Well…(me leaning back with arms folded, looking smug) I’ve got plenty of experience with ‘unremarkable’ vehicles😄 My current top spot for this question:
1) 2011 Ford Flex – We bought this new as a family truckster. After some typical Ford warranty work right off the bat, I have to say that it’s been awesome. Endured 10 years of abuse with momma driving it like an F1 car and my boys trashing the interior, then became my daily work beater 5 years ago. Only took about a week for me to think to myself – waaait a minute – this is gonna work out just fine! Really a well-engineered and sorted package IMO. Firm but not harsh ride, decent power with the n/a 3.5, excellent appropriately sized brakes, and tons of room in the back. As a bonus, it is by far the best road trip vehicle that I’ve ever owned!
2) 2007 Honda Element SC – Although relegated to spare status now as the Flex is more comfortable, I’ll always say the Element is the best car I’ve ever owned. Daily work beater for over ten years, college car for my son, unbelievable utility and practicality, and only routine maintenance items my entire ownership! Made me a Honda believer! I’m sure there will be some other Element shout-outs to this question.
3) 1997 Ford Taurus Wagon – Ugly jelly bean body style, but it was a free hand-me-down from my Dad after he repossessed it from my brother. Great ride, brakes, utility, and a V6 that was so quiet my carpool partner often thought we had stalled at red lights😄 Got 8 good years out of it before mystery electrical gremlins took it out – would’ve driven longer otherwise.
Honorable mention: 1998 Chevy S10 Blazer – My Mom’s daily for years that has now been a dedicated spare for years, serving both immediate and extended family. I hate paying the insurance on it, but when you need it, man is it nice to have it!!
“The Saab 900 convertible turbo. This car didn’t attract my attention when it was new (in the late 1980s). Then in 2004, the film Sideways was released and I my affection for this car sprouted and grew. I would even go so far as to say that Miles’s Saab was an important supporting character in this excellent film.”
“1985 ford F250 RWD 6.9 L diesel four speed transmission. When I received that truck new as a company truck I was very disappointed that it wasn’t four-wheel-drive and I didn’t like the diesel 400,000 miles later. my favorite truck by far? I’ve got a new company truck every 1 to 3 years for my entire career in 1985 simple diesel motor. The truck got 22 to 28 miles to the gallon. Simple reliable.”
“2003-2008 Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe. Based on the Corolla. 30+ MPG all day. Handles better than it has any right to and comfortable seats for a 6000+ mile road trip. Fold down the front passenger seat and rear seats, pop open the hatch glass and haul a 24’ extension ladder better than my friends full sized Ford Transit. If you can find a XRS or Vibe GT you get the same 8200 RPM and 6 speed as a Lotus Elise. Starts chirping the tires when the VVTL-I comes up on the cams at 6000 rpm!”
Thanks again to everyone who participated! Congratulations once again to our winner, Wkordo. We’ll be back with a new Question of the Week soon!
ORIGINAL POST:
Welcome to the BaT Question of the Week! For those unfamiliar, here are the rules: we ask an automotive-themed question, and the author of our favorite answer from the comments is awarded a $25 credit to the BaT Gear Store.
This week, we’re asking: What’s an unremarkable car or truck you now find remarkable?
For many, our automotive tastes evolve. Sometimes, it happens in the most unexpected ways, and the cars we once dismissed as mundane suddenly hit differently years later. As it turns out, vehicles like a five-speed, rear-drive Ford Aerostar don’t look so unremarkable anymore.
Tell us your suggestions in the comments, and give a thumbs-up to any nominations that grab your attention. We’ll announce the winner on Monday.
“The 4wd Toyota Tercel wagons. What at face value is nothing more than an oddly proportioned 80’s wagon, is really a ski trip rockstar with selectable 4wd and low range. I had never looked twice at the tercels, but impulse bought one as project car on Craigslist years ago. Once I got it running I quickly realized just how cool those little oddballs are. That little car is still one of the most fun I’ve owned.”
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Wkordo commented on Question of the Week: What’s an Unremarkable Car or Truck You Now Find Remarkable?—WINNER’S UPDATE