I Can't Believe I Have To Say This, But 80s Cars Are Good

It could be argued that the 1980s was the greatest decade of automotive production for enthusiasts. Unlike today, manufacturers all around the world were developing street versions of racing cars, compact sports machines, hot hatchbacks, a cadre of analog machines capable of stirring your emotions. Moreover these cars were aimed at appeasing the everyman's desires to have a little fun on the way to and from work, rather than sucking up to billionaires or gladhanding shareholders to pump stock prices.

By comparison, the 1970s (particularly post 1973 fuel crisis) were worse because the horsepower technology hadn't caught up to the demands of international government emissions mandates. In the 1990s, the cars were more capable of producing larger power numbers, but they were increasingly bubble design nightmares and many were fitted with gross sticky plastic interiors.

The average '80s car has the best mix of solidly-built simplicity, driver engagement, and just enough tech to be comfortably driven every day. Great advancements like fuel injection and anti-lock brakes started to become the norm, but you didn't have intrusive driver aides like traction or stability control to muck it up. The driver is in full control, just the way I like it.

When the 1980s come up, everyone immediately jumps to the supercars. Yeah, the 959, F40, Ruf Yellowbird, and Countach are all cool. Duh! But even the more normal workaday vehicles were great. We all forget how great some of these 1980s daily drivers actually were, and some people even have the gall to say basically no good cars came from the 1980s, so here's a few reminders. How about 100 of them, in no particular order?

1. Acura Integra2. AMC Eagle3. Audi Quattro4. BMW M3 (Really, any E30 is good)5. Porsche 9446. Volkswagen GTI7. Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z8. Buick Grand National9. Datsun 280ZX10. Shelby GLH-S11. Ford Mustang Fox Body12. Honda CRX 13. Honda Civic Si14. Jeep Cherokee15. Mazda 323 GTX16. Mazda Miata17. Mazda RX-718. Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen19. Merkur XR4Ti20. Mitsubishi Starion/Chrysler Conquest21. Saab 900 SPG22. Subaru XT23. Toyota Celica24. Toyota Supra25. Toyota MR226. Toyota Corolla FX-1627. Toyota Corolla AE8628. Volvo 740 Turbo29. Chevrolet Corvette30. Chevrolet Sprint Turbo31. Mercedes-Benz W201 190E32. BMW M533. Alfa Romeo GTV634. Alfa Romeo Spider35. Volvo 24036. 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT, specifically37. Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 38. BMW 635 CSi39. Toyota Pickup/Hilux40. Lancia Delta Integrale41. Subaru Brat42. Volkswagen Scirocco43. Honda Prelude44. Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport45. Chevrolet Citation X-1146. Toyota Landcruiser47. Shelby Dakota48. Dodge Daytona49. Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe50. Peugeot 205 GTi51. Renault 5 Maxi Turbo52. Daihatsu Charade GTti53. Nissan March Super Turbo54. Suzuki Swift GTi55. Ford Taurus SHO56. Dodge Caravan (particularly the turbo manual)57. Ford Ranger58. 1989 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo59. Renault Alpine GTA60. Chevrolet Monte Carlo Aerocoupe61. Suzuki Samurai62. Chevrolet El Camino63. Dodge Rampage64. Fiat Panda65. Alfa Romeo Milano Quadrifoglio Verde66. Lancia Thema 8.3267. Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC68. Ford EXP69. Nissan Pulsar NX70. Cadillac Allante71. Citroën BX 4TC72. Fiat X1/973. Nissan Silvia 74. Opel Manta75. Peugeot 505 Turbo76. Ford Escort RS Turbo77. MG Metro 6R478. Porsche 911 Carrera 3.279. Talbot Sunbeam Lotus80. Nissan 300ZX81. Ford Escort GT82. Oldsmobile 4-4-283. Jaguar XJS84. Jaguar XJ4085. Lotus Excel86. Consulier GTP87. Tatra 61388. Dodge Shelby Charger89. Shelby CSX90. BMW 7-series91. Mercedes-Benz S-class92. Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC93. Mercedes-Benz R107 SL Class94. Buick Reatta95. Mercury Cougar XR796. Nissan S-Cargo97. Nissan Pao98. Dodge Raider/Mitsubishi Pajero99. Jeep Wagoneer100. Isuzu Trooper

There were definitely some stinkers from the 1980s, but that's the case with any era. I would be perfectly happy to own any vehicle from this list (and have owned a couple, as a matter of fact). They're good cars. There were many good cars from the 1980s. Go try one out, you might be surprised.