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March 6, 2008
Best Cars From 1998?
By Jen
Editor
You’ve probably heard about the fracas going on in Mexico, where a glut of cheap, used cars are pouring over the border from the US and supposedly crippling domestic car sales in Mexico itself. The Mexican government has responded by abruptly banning all imports of cars from the US—except those built in the 1998 model year—to stem what its industry officials have melodramatically proclaimed "the accelerated conversion of our country into the world’s biggest automotive garbage dump."
So what’s so great about 1998 cars that they’re going to rescue Mexico from garbage-dump status? Obviously the point of the exercise is just to limit the numbers of cars imported from the US to Mexico, and the 10-year mark might’ve seemed like a nice arbitrary cutoff. But really—1998? I remember it as a nondescript time for cars, a tweener year you might call it, where body bloatedness was accelerating at a faster pace than power upgrades, and many models were in serious need of redesigns that were still on the horizon. I think the last-body-style Camaro was an exception, the Toyota Supra sure was hot, and the Dodge Dakota pickup was enjoying its prime. I’m sure I’m overlooking a lot of other worthy rides. How about you? If the only vehicle you could buy was a 1998, what would you pick?
Comments
FixItFixItStopIsAnIdiot
Mar 29, 2008 at 1:26 am
Camaro was not a six-year old dog in 1998. More like a 31-year old dog-eating beast.
Tyler
Mar 10, 2008 at 3:13 am
Didnt Escalades and Denalis come out in 1998? If so a Denali
gokart
Mar 10, 2008 at 2:46 am
1998 Acura Integra type R.
GTwildfire
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:47 am
‘98?
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Grand Prix GTP or Firebird.
Ben
Mar 8, 2008 at 1:56 am
I’d get myself a 1998 Volkswagen GTI VR6.
cknarf
Mar 7, 2008 at 10:26 pm
1998 Buick Lesabre
cknarf
Mar 7, 2008 at 10:26 pm
1998 Buick Lesabre
70Javelin360
Mar 7, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Trans am WS6 black on black t-top 6-spd
GTR
Mar 7, 2008 at 5:47 pm
The supra TT, hands down. Come-on people! That car was a beast then, and if you find on now its still a beast.
Tony
Mar 7, 2008 at 4:57 pm
HSV GTS (VT Shape)
Derrick
Mar 7, 2008 at 1:56 pm
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
Jesse
Mar 7, 2008 at 6:21 am
1998 Saleen S351-R
Everything else is just….not even worth comparing
GTwildfire
Mar 7, 2008 at 1:23 am
Mexico got some huevos! Once the unfairness tilts in their direction… then it’s OKAY to shut the door.
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Sometimes I wish freaking Venezuela were just south of the Rio Grande.
Bobby
Mar 7, 2008 at 12:14 am
How about a ‘98 Chevy Cavalier Z24 convertible? lol
nate
Mar 6, 2008 at 10:57 pm
98 eclipse gsx
98 3000gt vr4
98 supra
cknarf
Mar 6, 2008 at 10:04 pm
none?
Nick McDonald
Mar 6, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I would have to go with a 1998 Acura NSX T-Tegra
FixitFixitStop
Mar 6, 2008 at 6:54 pm
1998: VW New Beetle (first year)
1998: VW Passat (major redesign)
1998: Audi A4 (first year)
1998: Audi S8 (first year)
1998: Nissan Sentra SE
1998: 6th-Gen Honda Accord
1998: Lexus IS (first year)
1998: Saab 9-3 (first year)
1998: Dodge Durango (first year)
1998: Lincoln Navigator (first year)
The Camaro was a six-year old dog in 1998.
Eric
Mar 6, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Don’t you remember that 1998 was the year of the new GS LEXUS, and it lasted till 2005, so that was hot. Plus the nissan maxima got upgraded too.