Midsize luxury of the 1980s

[Submariner]

I just did some research of the E cabrio, and it based at $79k in 1995.  Amazingly expensive!

Yes indeed.  But it was and still is a lot of car. 

It's the last mid-sized cabrio they built.  The closest thing we have today is the C-based CLK.

[nickdrinkwater]

You sure that Town Car is from the 80s?  Looks older than that.

I vote 5 Series, but closely followed by 190E and 405, since we've had both in our family.

[93JC]

Tough call between the 5000 and the 164, but I went with the 5000.

[280Z Turbo]

I'd take an '87 Saab 9000 Turbo 5 speed...with the airflow body kit.

I miss mine.

[J86]

You said yuppie, right?

Gimme the Saab, closely followed by the Volvo...but man it's gotta be a wagon.  I miss our '94 940 BOX

[Madman]

The Peugeot you should have nominated is the 505, since the 405 is a size smaller compared to the rest of the cars in this poll.

Also, the Alfa Romeo 164 doesn't belong here either because it was sold in the US from 1991-95.  You could have used the Alfa Romeo Milano (US version of the Euro-spec Alfa 75).  But, the Milano was also a smaller car, about the size of the Peugeot 405.

Here's the Alfa Romeo 75/Milano.



And the Peugeot 505




Madman of the People

[the Teuton]

I changed the Peugeot, but I'm not going to substitute an otherwise beautiful car for a fugbox in the smaller Alfa.

[pommes-t]

The Photo of the 505 makes it pretty obvious, that it's not really a luxury car...

[the Teuton]

The Photo of the 505 makes it pretty obvious, that it's not really a luxury car...

But people in America didn't exactly shop them against Chevies, either.

[Madman]

The Photo of the 505 makes it pretty obvious, that it's not really a luxury car...

In America, Peugeot pitched the 505 against the BMW 5 Series, Audi 5000 (100), Volvo 740/760 and the W123 and W124 Merc E-Class.  My old 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo was certainly a match for my current 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo.  The Peugeot actually had better ride quality and better seats.  In many ways, the 505 was the last true luxury car to come out of France.  It should also be noted that the 505 was the most successful French car ever to be sold in America.

Unfortunately, the 505's relative success in America deluded Peugeot into thinking it could market itself as a premium brand in the States.  This lead to Peugeot completely missing the boat on the launch of the 405.  When the 405 was launched here in 1989, it came with a BMW 3 Series-sized price tag.  The 405 itself got excellent reviews over here but when the subject of price came up, nobody could justify why it should cost so much.  Naturally, sales never took off, leading to Peugeot's eventual demise in America.  The real shock came when Peugeot announced that the 605 (due to be released here in mid-1992 as a 1993 model) was to carry a $40,000 price tag.  The motoring press howled with laughter!  With the arrival of Lexus, Peugeot saw the writing on the wall and bailed out of North America.  The 605 never made it over, but with a window sticker at 40-grand, they wouldn't have sold many anyway.

An interesting thing happened after Peugeot's departure, though.  Peugeot gave $6,000 rebates on the 405 (a record at the time) and sales suddenly took off!  Peugeot recorded it's best monthly sales in years, despite buyers knowing full well that they were latching themselves to automotive orphans.  This only goes to prove that the 405 could have been a roaring success if only it had been priced right in the first place!


Madman of the People

[ChrisV]

I would have voted for the 5er if it was the 535, out of the rest, I chose Alfa. Stunner of a car and a great driver's car. I had a chance to drive a couple and fell in love with it.

[nickdrinkwater]

In America, Peugeot pitched the 505 against the BMW 5 Series, Audi 5000 (100), Volvo 740/760 and the W123 and W124 Merc E-Class.  My old 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo was certainly a match for my current 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo.  The Peugeot actually had better ride quality and better seats.  In many ways, the 505 was the last true luxury car to come out of France.  It should also be noted that the 505 was the most successful French car ever to be sold in America.

Unfortunately, the 505's relative success in America deluded Peugeot into thinking it could market itself as a premium brand in the States.  This lead to Peugeot completely missing the boat on the launch of the 405.  When the 405 was launched here in 1989, it came with a BMW 3 Series-sized price tag.  The 405 itself got excellent reviews over here but when the subject of price came up, nobody could justify why it should cost so much.  Naturally, sales never took off, leading to Peugeot's eventual demise in America.  The real shock came when Peugeot announced that the 605 (due to be released here in mid-1992 as a 1993 model) was to carry a $40,000 price tag.  The motoring press howled with laughter!  With the arrival of Lexus, Peugeot saw the writing on the wall and bailed out of North America.  The 605 never made it over, but with a window sticker at 40-grand, they wouldn't have sold many anyway.

An interesting thing happened after Peugeot's departure, though.  Peugeot gave $6,000 rebates on the 405 (a record at the time) and sales suddenly took off!  Peugeot recorded it's best monthly sales in years, despite buyers knowing full well that they were latching themselves to automotive orphans.  This only goes to prove that the 405 could have been a roaring success if only it had been priced right in the first place!


Madman of the People

It's a shame Peugeot didn't take their chance in the US market while they were still making good cars.

[TBR]

I really want a 164 and have since I ever set eyes on it, but it wouldn't make any sense to have. I wouldn't want to use it as a daily driver because I drive too much and having a sedan as a second car would just be odd.

[Raza]

I really want a 164 and have since I ever set eyes on it, but it wouldn't make any sense to have. I wouldn't want to use it as a daily driver because I drive too much and having a sedan as a second car would just be odd.

I want a 164 as a daily driver!  It's an Alfa, if it doesn't break down, it's not working right!

[goldenlover1101]

300e

[FordSVT]

This thread makes me remember how much cars sucked in the 80s.
-FordSVT-

[850CSi]

I really want a 164 and have since I ever set eyes on it, but it wouldn't make any sense to have. I wouldn't want to use it as a daily driver because I drive too much and having a sedan as a second car would just be odd.

Plus it would probably murder you in maintenance costs... Coolest money pit out there.

[850CSi]

It's an Alfa, if it doesn't break down, it's not working right!

Doesn't that go for pretty much any Italian car?

[Raza]

Doesn't that go for pretty much any Italian car?

I can get a 164 Q in my price range, it's making me think.  22mpg though...

[nickdrinkwater]

Don't do it.  You can do much better IMO.

[Raza]

Don't do it.  You can do much better IMO.

Yeah, but it's not like there are going to be opportunities for me to get an Alfa again.  I mean, they're not coming back to the US.  If they do, it will be with some unprofitable supercar that will not do well, and then they're retreat again.

[omicron]

Yeah, but it's not like there are going to be opportunities for me to get an Alfa again. I mean, they're not coming back to the US. If they do, it will be with some unprofitable supercar that will not do well, and then they're retreat again.

Get a GCL version, just so you can have a disgracefully long name to fill holes in conversation - Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio Gold Clover Leaf Edition.