10 Cars That Should be Remade Today

To put it simply, car manufacturers need to wake up. Especially American car makers. Detroit continues to slip in the ratings. Unbeknownst to them, this has little to do with the quality of the cars they are producing. After all, most people these days don't keep their cars for more than 5 years anyway. Why would quality be a factor to such a fickle market?

Lately, most people buy cars for the coolness factor, as well as to satisfy their need to reminisce. Good design is what sells cars today. On that note, here are several cars that manufacturers should be focusing on. Because if the reintroduction of the VW Bug and the Mini Cooper are any indication, there are several models that have attained an archetypal status with the consumer. These cars, for whatever reason, hit a mark with buyers. People like them. And the quicker these cars are remade, the more succesful the car makers will be.


10. Toyota MR2 (80's model)
Who knows what fueled the success of the 80's MR2's. They were not especially fast. What they did do was capture a certain post-modern flavor that people liked. The angular body and the pop-up headlights were charming. This car looked fast on a budget. The rear engine was a nifty novelty that survives well into today with their slightly larger Spyder model. The compact nature of this car made for fun driving. With today's safety features, it would be a certain hit.

9. Jaguar E-Type
On the higher end, but a definite remake candidate for the same reason as the MR2. It was fun to drive. And nothing seemed to exude style as much as the Jaguar. Since the US now owns this brand, it would be wise for them to can the Oldsmobile-looking thing and roll an updated version of this out for all those new Wall Street high-rollers.


8. Citroen DS
Perhaps no car on this list screams to be remade as loudly as the Citroen DS. This car drips class. With today's safety features, the Citroen could be the new American family car. Just look at the comfortable interior with that enormous, panoramic view. Who wouldn't enjoy a roadtrip in a car like this?

7. BMW 2002
Yet another masterpiece of engineering. The BMW 2002 was the most affordable BMW around. As such, it functioned as a gateway to the higher end models. Is there anything being produced by BMW that fits this function today? What made the BMW 2002 so great was a solid, quality interior. The simplicity of the engine is well-renowned to this very day. Remake it, dammit!


6. The Honda Civic (1977)
Nothing could tear into the youth market better than an ultra-mini vehicle like this. With today's tech, a car like this could be made that got 70+ MPG. So where is it? Spare us the bright plastic and aerodynamic shell of the modern Civics. This is what we really want! Only more modern.


5. VW Bus
Do some people not learn from their success? VW, perhaps moreso than any other car maker, seems to understand the zeitgeist of car making. After all, this is the company that has given us the Bug and is currently rewrapping the Golf in shiny new metal for our consumption. But this all really begs the question: why haven't they remade the BUS? Sure, there might be safety issues, but with today's modern airbag systems, this car is begging to be remade for a new generation that has lost touch with the smell of patchouli. Just think of what you could do to this car with some tinted glass and 20" dub wheels.


4. Pontiac Trans Am
Because every man in his 30's wants to relive Smokey and the Bandit. There is no car that oozes cool moreso than the 1977 Trans Am. I don't know what drugs the people at Pontiac are on, but they clearly need to dump the ugly G series and get back in touch with the 70's. note: okay, so the Solstice is hot; don't let it go to your heads.

3. Honda CRX
Why ruin a good thing? The Honda CRX got killer gas mileage and it was zippy as all get out. Whoever decided to kill this model should have been given the hara-kiri treatment. Not only would CRX's make great tuner cars, they would appeal to students who want cooler alternatives than their parent's hand-me-down minivans. The CRX is a truly hot car that is begging to be brought back from the dead to reclaim its place in the pimp pantheon.

2. DeLorean DMC 12
Too bad DeLorean had that coke problem in the 80's. But if his "issue" was the inspiration behind the DMC 12, I forgive him. Because there has clearly not been a car made since that is this far ahead of its time. There was a reason it played center stage in all those Back to the Future movies: because it looks like it should have been made today, not back in the 80's. Gull-wing doors, aluminum stainless steel exterior, this car should be remade just to show it can be done even better with today's technology. In fact, I dare you to try!

1. Toyota Supra (Mark IV) 1993-2002
Who knows when Toyota lost their minds and decided to abandon this great vehicle to leave behind the crappy, gutless Celica. Ever since, however, tuner fanboys have been pining for the glory days of the Supra. Rightfully so. The turbo version of this car could do 180 MPH with all stock parts! This car is one of the most popular tuner cars available. For under $1000 US, the stock horsepower could be cranked up from 320 to 500+. If anyone ever offers to sell you one, snatch it up real quick like, as they are rare. Toyota stopped producing these in the US in 1998 and cut off production in Japan in 2002.

These are just a few of my personal favorites. Do you have any? Let me know in the comments.


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