Some cars haven’t changed much since their introductions. That may or may not be a good thing, depending on who you ask and what vehicle it is. Sometimes the charm is in its age. Other times modern features mixing with an older vehicle can make it worse.
We asked readers what cars on sale today are the most old school, but with a pretty broad definition of what that might mean. These were their answers.
The WRX STI. Does old tech equate to old school? The EJ25 has been around the block a time or two over the past +/- 20 years. Only comes in a manual, and can cost upward of 30K and not have power seats.
Suggested by: MTNorville
Lexus GX460 - on sale in base form since 2010. Body on frame, old in-efficient V-8, and until the 2022MY an infotainment screen in the dash - not sticking up. The non US version - Toyota LC Prado (j150 model) debuted in 2009.
The current GX is only on its second generation, debuting for the 2010 model year. It received refreshes in 2013 (also gaining the Predator grill), 2019, and slight updates for 2022.
Suggested by: Taco Shackleford
I’ll put my vote on the Acura ILX, naturally aspirated 2.4 & essentially an unchanged Civic SI. Base model is barebones as it gets.
The ILX is old. It’s based on a Civic Si from two generations ago. And up until 2016, the last time it had a refresh, it shared the same 2.4-liter K24Z7 engine as the ninth generation Si. It currently uses the direct-injected Earth Dreams K24V7 2.4-liter engine.
Suggested by: Serghei Vlàdyslaw (Facbeook)
The Mitsubishi Mirage and the Chevy Spark. Both are small, simple, older (relatively speaking) designs. You can even buy a new Spark with manual windows. I’d call them two of the last “disposable” economy cars on the market. Not to say they won’t run a long time if taken care of, but a lot of Mirages I see appear to lead hard lives. Still, I can’t blame anyone for wanting to buy either car new. The reliability of a new car combined with a warranty at that price point is a good deal for folks who just need basic, dependable transportation. Before the market went nuts you could pick up a brand new Spark or Mirage for around $11,000 thanks to dealer markdowns.
Suggested by: Clark_B
Yes, it’s huge and full of tech and comfort now, but it’s basic purpose and layout hasn’t changed in nearly a century - bigger than most vehicles on the road at the time, can carry 7-8 people, cargo-hauling king, big engine up front, RWD (eventually 4WD offered in 1957), based on a truck chassis, “lifestyle” vehicle.
Suggested by: dbeach84
Not available in the US, but the Land Cruiser 70 Series is up there. Modernity is a thin veneer applied over a brutalist core designed in the early 1980s, itself in turn little more than an angular 40 series. Fully boxed ladder frame, 2 solid axles – one of which is affixed on leaf springs with all the love and give of an iron girder. 100% bulls**t free interior — even the modern plastic landscape is fixed to the old façade with a web of self-tapping screws.
Drivetrain: 2hi/4hi/4lo. No electronic frippery, no driver assists. It barely has ABS now. The XJ70 is what happens when the “features“ that are required are resilience and reliability, rather than cup-holders and “car-like“ handling. And that‘s why the US will never have it.
Suggested by: Dominic von Stösser (Facebook)
Since a lot of good choices have been said already I’ll put in something different: the Lexus LC500.
Big comfortable RWD GT car with a N/A V8 with meh technology and a focus on style rather than practicality. It’s probably the most Italian the Japanese have ever gotten, as it’s basically a Lexus GranTurismo. The entire concept is extremely anachronistic and unfortunately, that is reflecting in its poor sales.
Lexus sold just under 1,300 LCs last year.
Suggested by: jtpesto
RWD V8 large, powerful highway mile-eating road machine.
No focus on corner-carving, skidpad gs or ‘Ring times. Just comfortable cruising in a 4-door sedan package that is the last of a dying breed.
The 300 is another car that, despite being on sale forever, is still somehow just on its second generation. Introduced in 2011, it received a refresh for the 2015 model year. Despite hardly any changes, its stuck to its old school, big V8 rear-wheel drive roots.
Suggested by: Sector 7G-Wagen
The Chevy Express/GMC Savana are more or less the same vehicles they have been since the 90's.
The Express is the last body-on-frame van available from an American automaker. Aside from the 2003 refresh that gave it the front facia you see today, it’s essentially the same van that’s been on sale since 1995. It’s old school in the best workhorse sense though, with things like panel or 15 passenger versions, a choice of three engines one of which is a huge 6.6-liter 400 horsepower V8, near 4,300-pound payload capacity.
Suggested by: panthercougar
Morgan Pus 6. Even with a modern chassis, it is still an old school car.
The Plus Six is the successor to the Plus Eight, which was discounted in 2018. Even with modern features like an all-new platform and a modern engine in BMW’s twin-turbo I6, it still embodies classic British road cars from years prior.