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RWD & AWD Throwaways/FWD Keepers


LosAngeles

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Basically, our attitude and unwritten rule here is that front-drive cars are throwaways, while rear-drive is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But let's flip it for a second. I'm sure plenty of us can think of front-drive cars that are absolute jewels to drive and own for a lifetime, while there are plenty of cars that may put power to the rear wheels, but are complete wastes of road. So let's name some off... The only rules: -If it's already been named, don't put it on your own list (this keeps the clutter down) -All entries are open to dispute (e.g. "You can always swap that V-6 out of that Mustang and slip in a 351 for the dragstrip") Go. RWD/AWD throwaways: -Ford Granada/Mercury Monarch/Lincoln Versailles (the first generation, pre-Fox)--you replace the great, the beautiful Maverick and Comet with THAT? -Subrau XT6--emphatically NOT sexy -AMC Eagle--lifted for basically no reason at all. -Anything with an Olds Diesel--nuff said. -Mazda GLC--it would be a different story if it had a decent engine. FWD keepers: -Chrysler turbo K-cars--as long as they have sticks, a gasoline turbo is always worth it. And if you properly tune the suspension, you're golden. -80s Ford Escort GTs--I always found them pretty cool myself. -Toyota Corolla FX16--looks good enough, but the 4AGE engine puts it over the top. I turn it over to you for now.... Edited by LosAngeles
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RWD Throwaways
Chevette (though with today's technology, that would be an awesome package.)
Dodge Aspen
Just about any RWD Lexus (if I want a Benz, I'll buy one, thank you very much)

FWD Keepers
Cobalt (Did any of you think I wouldn't mention this?)
Intrigue
all Auroras
98-up Seville
the last Eldorado
Bonneville GXP
and my token Japanese entry, the TL.
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I'm sure blackviper will be along shortly to beat you over the head. :P

[post="8067"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]


No he won't. He'll just kill more cats. :P :lol:

Plus, I doubt he will care too much about 84. If you say 88 GT or Formula, he'll be in action. Edited by ToniCipriani
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RWD Throwaways
Toyota Cressida
1984MY Pontiac Fiero
Cadillac Catera


Gotta disagree:
-Cressidas pack great sixes (shared with Supras), the 5MGE from 82-88, and the 7MGE from 89-92.
-I'll give you an 84 left stock, but you can still kit it.
-It's hard for me to consider Omega-based cars useless...and that Ecotec V-6 was never really explored (maybe Steinmetz would have somethign to say about that?)
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RWD/AWD throwaways:

Ford Pinto and Mercury Bobcat
Chevrolet Chevette

FWD keepers:
Honda Prelude Gen3, 4, 5
Acura Integra Gen1

[post="8063"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Wait a minute....the Pinto 2.0/2.3 four was buildable...the basis for the 80s turbo Fords and the almighty Cosworth. I once went to a musclecar parts shop and saw a built Pinto four with a blower stacked on top of its intake.

What about the second-generation Prelude? Si Hondas were always straight with me. As are ALL Integras.
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RWD Throwaways
Dodge Aspen
Just about any RWD Lexus


Oh, come on....

There's nothing crappy about any rear-drive Lexi. Even a '90 LS400 is still beutiful to this day, plus there's still potential in that V-8. Not to mention they have bodykits for them in Japan.

And I have three words for rear-drive Chryslers: Viper crate motor.

Besides, I think Aspen/Volare coupes and wagons don't look half-bad.

FWD Keepers
98-up Seville

[post="8066"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

What are 93-97 N* Sevilles, chopped liver?
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FWD keeper
97-03 Grand Prix GTP

[post="8077"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I'd think as long as you had a 3.8, you're all good....you could always find a blower at a junkyard, and even then, an NA version is buildable.
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Gotta disagree:
-Cressidas pack great sixes (shared with Supras), the 5MGE from 82-88, and the 7MGE from 89-92.
-I'll give you an 84 left stock, but you can still kit it.
-It's hard for me to consider Omega-based cars useless...and that Ecotec V-6 was never really explored (maybe Steinmetz would have somethign to say about that?)

[post="8108"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]


I'm merely considering how they existed in production. Cressidas were very inglorious-looking until the last few years. Those, I can appreciate actually, so I'll modify my response to pre-'89 (I guess) Cressidas.

Fieros catch fire.

The Catera was pretty useless in the first years especially. They're odd, filled with counterintuitive buttons, and ding weirdly for random reasons. However, the restyle made them look nice and damnit, the Steinmetz was indeed hot. The 3.0l stock version was totally 'meh'.

I'm going to throw this down now:

AWD Throwaways
Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe - not only a horrible engine (1.8l), but an even more gutless version in AWD versions. What gives? 120-some whopping horsepower - watch out Aerio!

Gotta disagree:
Even the Marauder?

Town Cars are cool for lowrider/DUB cruiser duty.


Especially the Marauder. Still porky with casino boat handling. Mercury even admitted by the numbers that the 8 year-old Impala SS outclassed it. Plus, it had the exact same interior as a Crown Vic LX Sport except a floor shifter, drab plastic trim, and dopey PepBoys guages mounted low on the center stack for unknown reasons.

Grand Marquis is just...yeah.

Crown Vic is cool...for cops.

Town Car is about a decade behind the 2000 DeVille in style and technology.
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Oh, come on. You people have probably never even owned a Chevette.

[post="8096"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Unless you import a European engine for racing, I have to disagree....and the first-gen is just nasty-lookin'...
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I'm merely considering how they existed in production. Cressidas were very inglorious-looking until the last few years. Those, I can appreciate actually, so I'll modify my response to pre-'89 (I guess) Cressidas.

I still find decent style in those 80's Cresses....the sharp lines lent well to loweruing and adding some wheels....plus again with the engine and independent supenseion...also there was a lot of good luxury equipment for the buck. The only snag was how they seemed to be overall packaged to market to old men....

AWD Throwaways
Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe - not only a horrible engine (1.8l), but an even more gutless version in AWD versions. What gives? 120-some whopping horsepower - watch out Aveo!

[post="8120"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Yeah, too bad it didn't get the Celica GTS engine. And the Matrix is the Vibe's ugly twin....the Tercel tall wagon revisited.
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Crown Vic is cool...for cops.

Town Car is about a decade behind the 2000 DeVille in style and technology.

[post="8120"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

The Crown Vic is pretty difficult to defend. One could see bringing it to a 98 and up, but it just has a stance that doesn't lend very well to things like big wheels and all those things that make Caprices look beautiful.

Town Cars from 90 on up can be made to look great...it ain't for the dragstrip, but it has its merits for nights on the town.....
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Thought of some more:

RWD Throwaway:

Chrysler 300 with the 2.7 V6

FWD Keeper:

Volkswagen GTI

[post="8136"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I'd say about all Golfs with sticks are worth the trouble. I remember a crew that built up a bunch of A1s, and would likely spank any A2 and up GTI out there....

I co-sign on the base 300, and add the base Magnum.
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RWD throwaways ? They have been crushing them for decades the list is huge, how about the Chevelibu, at one time they polluted the highways like Civics and Preludes did 10 years ago. But then that makes them good cars right ? FWD keepers - Cord, G1/2 Toronado, G1/2 Eldorado, Saab's including Sonnett, Auroras, Intrigues, any 3.8 powered post 86 Buick/Oldsmobile C, H, E and W, how simple is that. All rice is disposable road kill
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Many of the last generation of K-Car descendants (before the LH's and the Cloud Cars arrived) were actually pretty decent automobiles. I'm talking about the Dodge Spirit, Plymouth Acclaim & Shadow, Chrysler LeBaron, etc. Roomy, decent power for their time, pretty reliable, and, when things do break, they're dirt cheap to fix. Shadows were really hot little cars in their day; they could be ordered with a V6 and 5-Speed Manual. Other FWD keepers: -Nissan Altima. They may be ugly and small (by today's standards), but they're tough cars. The Altima's predecessors, the Stanza and Axxess Van, are tough, too, but are becoming difficult to find. Nevertheless, something about a van with a stickshift intrigues me. :D -Any Toyota made between 1992 and 1996. Those were the best years for Toyota, and, ever since then, they've been riding on their reputation. -Ford Probe/Mazda MX-6 was a good performance car for its time. Watch out for crappy body integrity and biodegradable exhaust systems, though. The only RWD/AWD throwaway I can think of right now (gimme a break, it's 11:30 PM!) would be pretty much any Subaru more than 10 years old. They aren't bargain priced to begin with, deliever weak performance, and are a nightmare to service and repair because many independant garages won't touch 'em... Which means you have to go to the dealer. Cha-ching!
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More: worthwhile fronties: -Neons with sticks--get them ready for the compact drags or the parking lot races -Cavalier Z24--untapped potential late 80s Cadillac Seville/Eldo/89-93 de Ville/Fleetwood--the V-8s of that period still make me curious...but hey, you can always trade up to the Northie (can they fit, however?) -Suzuki Swift GTi crappy rear-drives: -The first Mazda 929--I just can't be convinced. -70s Mercedes--the look just doesn't do it for me....neither do the engines -70s/80s SLs--why were these cool in the 80s again? -Fiat/Triumph/MG roadsters (US market)--electrics, tinny bodies, what is there to like? Edited by LosAngeles
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RWD throwaways ? They have been crushing them for decades the list is huge, how about the Chevelibu, at one time they polluted the highways like Civics and Preludes did 10 years ago. But then that makes them good cars right ?

As much as the musclecar boys like pre-73s and 78-85s, and as much as the cruiser crowd likes the 73-77s, they're not worth having?

All rice is disposable road kill

[post="8146"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Is that your way of saying you don't like Asian cars?
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As much as the musclecar boys like pre-73s and 78-85s, and as much as the cruiser crowd likes the 73-77s, they're not worth having?

Is that your way of saying you don't like Asian cars?

[post="8165"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]


Its simply the truth, the pre X Datsun Z cars excluded. Nothing else out of Japan has ever been worth taking off sun glasses to look closely at. Maybe the 3000 or 300, that European clone what was it ? Some kind of Nissan, NSX or something like that ?

I mean if engine is all you care about well I guess the Acclaim and Shadow are great :unsure: but I like a little styling and class and could care less about what I would have if I spent a few thousand on some unreliable engine.

Reference to Civic and Prelude sums up the Chevellibu syndrome, they are like rice, popular because they are abundant and you can buy any part you want. Sheeple cars. Now take a Skylark and a Cutlass and you have something worth talking about, restoring and truely being proud of. Not one every corner, not a whole row of them at the local car show. thats what Im talking about.
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Uhhhh... Escort GT? Are you serious LA? :blink: RWD Throwaway: - 1976 Pinto - 1978 Dodge Aspen - 1975 Ford Gran Torino - 1963 AMC Ambassador - 1979 Ford Granada - 1982 Ford Fairmont and the king of them all by leaps and bounds: The Mustang II. Any year any condition! FWD Keeper: - SRT4 - VW Rabbit/GTi Mk.1 - Cobalt SS SC - 1959-2006 Mini: Austin/Rover and the new BMW cars - 1992 VW Corrado - 1989 Cavalier Z24 (don't ask it's an emotional thing) - 1991 Honda CRX
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Crown Vics? No match, I mean NO MATCH for the 1992-96 Caprices. Even the new ones, which are basically taking the same boring design and refreshing it a million times.  Those Caprices, especially in the LTZ trims, looks elegant and what a full size sedan should look like.

[post="8189"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]


While I agree with you for the most part, at least Ford still HAS a RWD BOF car! <_< :angry:
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Its simply the truth, the pre X Datsun Z cars excluded. Nothing else out of Japan has ever been worth taking off sun glasses to look closely at. Maybe the 3000 or 300, that European clone what was it ? Some kind of Nissan, NSX or something like that ?

Nice dismissive attitude, but if that's how you feel, do you...

I mean if engine is all you care about well I guess the Acclaim and Shadow are great  :unsure: but I like a little styling and class and could care less about what I would have if I spent a few thousand on some unreliable engine.

Was this a take relating to me saying turbo K-cars are OK?

I think Lancer, later Daytonas and LeBaron coupes, TC, Spirit R/T, Omni, and Shadow/Sundance had pretty nice styling. I wouldn't think of them like 10s, but like that slacker type that cleaned up pretty nicely when shaven with the Sunday best thrown on.

Reference to Civic and Prelude sums up the Chevellibu syndrome, they are like rice, popular because they are abundant and you can buy any part you want. Sheeple cars. Now take a Skylark and a Cutlass and you have something worth talking about, restoring and truely being proud of. Not one every corner, not a whole row of them at the local car show. thats what Im talking about.

[post="8195"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I don't carry the same favoritism towards Chevy that I do for BOP, so I agree....

Camaro and Chevelle, for example, were no match for Firebird and Tempest/LeMans/GTO EVER in my mind....the Chevys were always the second choice to me (and often third, if an Olds or Buick found its way in)

Chevy was simply too basic to win the war against BOP in my mind.....and oftentimes they were the choice of those who lacked imagination. But I guess that bowtie symbolizes machismo to a lot of people.
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[quote name='Sixty8panther' date='Sep 1 2005, 08:19 PM']Uhhhh... Escort GT? Are you serious LA?  :blink:[/quote]
Decnt engine (ask Allen Engineering), and I liked the styling enough....
[quote]RWD Throwaway:
- 1975 Ford Gran Torino[/quote]
I like the body on it enough to go after one, and I have seen lots of potential in it for a while now....why do you consider it worthless?

[quote]- 1982 Ford Fairmont[/quote]
I will never clap to anyone saying that a Fox Ford is no good....if it can go on a Mustang, it can find its way onto any other Fox's chassis.

[quote]and the king of them all by leaps and bounds: The Mustang II. Any year any condition![/quote]
Pinto 2.0/2.3...that's all you need. But yeah, the look is just not the business...

[quote]FWD Keeper:
- 1989 Cavalier Z24 (don't ask it's an emotional thing)[/quote]
Does it pack the 2.8?

[quote]- 1991 Honda CRX

[post="8199"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

[/quote]
Gotta add 88-90, and the 84-87 Si. And their Civic hatch counterparts. All as long as they're sticks.
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While I agree with you for the most part, at least Ford still HAS a RWD BOF car!  <_<  :angry:

[post="8202"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Are you complaining about the unibody LX Chryslers?

As long as the car isn't tinny and collisions won't intrude into its cabin, frame construction means nothing to me.
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More useless RWD/AWDs: -70s and automatic Beetles--difference from 50s and 60s manual Bugs is night and day. See front end for the biggest offense these cars commit. -Porsche 924--the slab-sidedness compared to the 924 is just tragic. -Dodge Challenger/Plymouth Sapporo--basically disgusting, and I can't even see an engine saving its life. -78-81 Toyota Celica fastback--among the ugliest Toyotas of ALL TIME, if not ugliest cars in general. -Honda Civic wagon 4WD -68-75 Jaguar XJs--the body just isn't my cup of tea...and hey, if it's British, every system on it may as well be mechanical, because I can't trust anythign electric. -70s Rolls Royces that aren't Camargues--leave those to the uber-Rolls Royce fans. front-drives I'd check for: -Chevy Celebrity--just looks so good with low-profile wheels, especially with the later nose and a 2.8. Good luck finding a stick however. -Legend (88 and up sedans, all coupes)--just a great car to sit in and drive....and they must be preserved for future generations. -80s Cutlass Ciera/90s 2-door Ciera/Century/Century T-Type--again, like the Celeb, one for the "cleans up nicely" file (as long as it's got the 2.8). -Quad 4 GMs with sticks--most all of them looked decent enough, and that engine is worth the trouble...if you can deal with the noise it makes. -the Twin-Dual-Cam V-6 GMs--just a personal fave, that's all...GTP, Z34, the Cutlass Supreme versions, I liked them all, even with the slushbox. -Grand Prix Turbo--the body mods that lived on in the first GTP, those lovely wheels, and...it's a turbo!! Plus, hey, the engine still lives on in today's 3.5 and 3.9 -Buick Regal after 88 with the 3.8--love the body, and even in normal aspiration, that car can at least get out of its own way. -88-95 Ford Taurus SHO--you were stuck with a stick, and that was how it was gonna go.
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LA: The Granada, Fairmont & mid-70s Grand Torino is so ugly to my eye that it makes me want to hurl. LX cars are awsome... a BOF Chevy C.C./Impala SS LT1 replacement would be great too!
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a BOF Chevy C.C./Impala SS LT1 replacement would be great too!

[post="8380"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I guess you want it to have a solid rear axle with a 9" Ford rear end too?

It's not gonna happen...this car has to please more than the dragstrip crowd. Ford is just cheap like that...for GM and DCX, a BOF car would be a step back.

But this isn't about that debate....back to our exceptions post.
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Not dismissive, Japanese styling has not been much to get excited about. I named the few that I thought were decent most of which were combo clones. Were all aware that Japanese styling has been copy cat. No ? I used the acclaim and shadow because they were handy, I cnat name all the cars that I cant stand to look at that may haVE "engines that can be built ". My point was just as the paragraph said = " I mean if engine is all you care about well I guess.................... I like a little styling and class and could care less about what I would have if I spent a few thousand on some unreliable engine." Will never agree about the Firebird being anyting the Camaro was not. Unless your talking about unusual frontal styling :P. theres not one generation of Firebird that I desire, Camaro is another story. All because of the frontal view. The Smoky and the Bandit age of TransAm is the only passable header panel. Still I like the V pointed Camaro better. The Camaro and Corvette were Chevys worthy of taking notice, Impala and Chevellibu were worthy of making lots of sales at Chevy dealers, nationwide. Thing with me is when I was young those Chevelles and Malibus and Novas were so abundant as well as being wore out junk, I cant get it out of my head. Kinda like the Honda thing or the minivan thing. Its an implanted image. Oh yea, BTW rice sucks !
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Correction: 1st & 2nd Gen. Eclipse GSX (AWD) is an exception. The base FWD odls have all the performacne of a Geo Metro. My budies old '96 went 0-60 in about 15 seconds. I coulds have beat him in my Brougham. Slow as molases, loose suspensions and crappy steering/brakes/handeling. Just an all around shitbox. And thats' not the only Eclipse I've driven that has given me that impression.
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Correction:

1st & 2nd Gen. Eclipse GSX (AWD) is an exception.

The base FWD odls have all the performacne of a Geo Metro. My budies old '96 went 0-60 in about 15 seconds. I coulds have beat him in my Brougham. Slow as molases, loose suspensions and crappy steering/brakes/handeling. Just an all around shitbox. And thats' not the only Eclipse I've driven that has given me that impression.

[post="8439"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

This post isn't about cars with rear-wheel power of some sort worthy of praise....it's about the garbage ones.

We all know the base Eclipses were crappy. But are you saying that the front-drive turbo models are no good? Because I would have to disagree. Oftentimes, the mags (I know, they're some kind of authority) would recommend the front-drive turbos over the loaded AWD models....save some bucks, plus the car is less complicated.
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FWD keepers:

Saabs
most euro FWDers that I haven't driven are probably keepers too
Mini coopers
Prelude, Integra Type R
Eclipse 1st and 2nd gen
Coronado, GTI
Mazda6
Cobalt, Focus SVT, SRT-4, Contour SVT (that may have been AWD?)

[post="8424"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]


Pretty good list though I'd add the RSX-S on their too.. I could take or leave the Mazda6. All nice FWD vehichles for their time.. Cobalt SS is decent but came 5 years late. I didn't think the Eclipses were that great in FWD form. AWD were nice though broke a lot. Edited by frogger
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  • 5 weeks later...

RWD Throwaways
Cadillac Catera

[post="8058"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]


Gotta dispute this. WHEN THEY WORKED, absolute blast to drive. People either love these Cateras to death, or hate em with a fiery fiero passion. No middle ground. I always liked em myself...
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forgettable RWDers: '81-82 Granada and Cougar 4dr/2dr (haven't seen one of these in years), '80s Malibu sedan (beyond bland), '80s Bonneville G (a LeMans in fancier clothes), '80s Plymouth Fury and Dodge Diplomats (another that's beyond bland), '70s Maverick, Comet, Granada, Monarch Keeper FWDers: Buick Riviera '79-85, '94-97, Olds Toronado '67-85, Olds Aurora, Cadillac Seville: '92-97, '98-04, Cadillac Eldorado: '67-85, '92-03, Taurus SHO, Bonneville GXP, late '80s Electra T-type, VW GTI R32, various current Alfas (GT, GTV, 155, 166), Acura Legend coupes, current Acura TL, Chrysler 300M, Dodge Intrepid R/T, Chrysler LHS.. Keeper AWDers: most any Audi... esp. the S and RS models. Subaru WRXes, BMW iXes, Mercs w/ 4-matic. Porsche Carrera 4s, of course. etc, etc, etc Edited by moltar
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forgettable RWDers:  '80s Malibu sedan (beyond bland)

[post="23418"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]


Don't forget the fact that it blew up in many rearenders due to fuel tank being behind the rear axis a mear 12 inches away from the rear bumper, a characteristic it did not share with any of its platform mates!
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