These Discontinued Cars Deserve A Second Chance, According To You

There are some cars that deserve a do-over. For whatever reason, they didn't capture the imagination of the world on their first go-around, so they were canceled unfairly before their time. That idea is what led me to my question from last week.

I wanted to know what discontinued car you all felt deserved another chance, as well as how you'd modernize it for today's automotive landscape. Boy, did you folks deliver. We've got all sorts of different cars that you, the dear readers, feel should be brought back today.

There's everything from discontinued sports cars and SUVs that deserve a comeback to compact cars reborn as electric vehicles and entire segments of cars that should be back on sale.

Anyway, that's enough out of me. Start clicking to find out what discontinued cars your fellow Jalops want to see back on showroom floors.

Honda Fit...but make it an EV. Honda can borrow Chevy's electric tech from the upcoming Bolt (like they did with the Prologue) and make a new Fit now with even better interior packaging and flexiblity.

Tom starting us off strong. An EV Fit would be such a great car, and it would hopefully be better than the current Honda-Chevy mashup Prologue EV.

Submitted by: Tom McParland

Take the Charger EV look and make it longroof...it totally works.

And since we're drowning in nondescript BOWs—boxes on wheels—I like thinking that customers are tiring of the boxes and a sleek wagon would be just the thing. And if there should be a ultra-powerful Banshee-version of the Magnum wagon, that would the icing on the cake.

I've always loved the Dodge Magnum. It came out before I was aware that wagons are generally superior to sedans, and I still loved it.

Submitted by: the1969DodgeChargerFan

400+ 6.2L V8, RWD, manual transmission, understated styling, relatively comfortable, decent handling, big trunk – what more could we ask for?

I spend a worrying amount of time looking at used Chevy SSes on the internet. It's a damn shame they still cost so much.

Submitted by: ejp

My CX-5 is okay, but sliding doors would be nice.

I haven't seen a Mazda 5 in a while, come to think of it.

Submitted by: Maymar

Sure, according to performance numbers, the C8 is superior to the previous models in a lot of ways (most of them, I'd imagine) but to me the styling doesn't say 'Corvette'; it looks more like some teenage boy's fantasy car drawn during study hall.

Porsche has room in their lineup for multiple sports cars, surely there's room for an old-school 'Vette priced about $50K?

I honestly kind of love this boomer-ass take.

Submitted by: Earthbound Misfit I

Wagons, all of them. Camry wagon, Accord wagon, A4 and A6 Wagon, 3 series and 5 series wagon, C class wagon, Jetta wagon, all of them.

From your mouth to God's ears. Too bad no one here in the U.S. is listening.

Submitted by: klone121

Chevy Cruze. The Opel-based first generation, not the Daewoo-based second generation shit box. My first generation Cruze was a hoot to drive and cornered like it was on rails – could never get the tires to chirp. I could start the automatic in first, second, and even third gear (for reasons unknown), and would upshift on command. When downshifting, the engine rev matched. I could squeeze every horse out of that little turbo engine.

Unfortunately, I gave it to my daughter when she got out of college and went and bought the second generation model. Skinnier tires and a transmission that did all the thinking. What a letdown.

There are a lot of cars I'd revive before the Chevy Cruze, but I appreciate the fact you were creative with your answer.

Submitted by: I'm a Dude Playing a Dude Disguised as Another Dude

Mitsubishi needs to reintroduce the Eclipse. And no, no more SUVs, stop it! Make a BRZ/86 fighter tier manual 4 banger and bring back the VR-4 moniker with a 500hp hybrid model.

I don't care what anyone says, the third and fourth generation Eclipses were cool!

Submitted by: darthspartan117

Fiat did the 124 on the Miata platform, and the Giulia and Maserati Granturismo share the Giorgio platform. They could make a shortened version with their great 2.0T engine, give the brand a legit Z4/Supra competitor with coupe and roadster options that would undercut the Boxster in price. Even if it was auto only, it would probably be a hit being a way to go Italian roadster without having to go up to Maser.

To me, the GTV is one of the prettiest cars ever made, and I would absolutely love it if Alfa brought it back.

Submitted by: give_me_a_manuel_alpha_romero_you_cowards

Supposedly a couple recent Honda patents suggest they may be working on a new Element.

I think the Honda Element was a fantastic little car, and honestly I wouldn't be too surprised if Honda either revives the name or comes out with a spiritual successor sooner rather than later.

Submitted by: Stephen

The concept was a bit too far ahead of the technology, but with modern batteries this could be the ultimate urban work/delivery truck.

It's not a concept! Chevy actually made some, but there just aren't very many left.

Submitted by: theart

KIA Stinger. But with a manual. I know it won't happen, both because the business case for it is non-existent and because we live in the darkest timeline and cannot have nice things.

But hope springs eternal, hope that will invariably be crushed under the merciless bootheel of mediocrity! Behold the GT4 Stinger Concept!

You would be shocked at how few manual Stingers Kia would be able to move if such a thing actually existed.

Submitted by: Give Me Tacos or Give Me Death

Coming from a Lexus fanboy, but the Lexus GS. I know, the demand for sedans is dying, but between the non-existent 2nd row of the IS and the too-boatlike-ride of the ES, there's not a good inbetween for some of us who want something with more rear legroom but also sporty (hint hint bring back the GS-F). I know Lexus was asking way too much for it new, but I wish it were still here (seems like all of us are guilty of feeling this way once an enthusiast car comes out then goes out of production, *cough* A90 Supra *cough*).

I still think the GS I pictured above is a great-looking car. It's also probably one of the best used car buys you can make.

Submitted by: aznriptide859

Hard to pinpoint an exact model but I'd say large American sedans – eg. Taurus, Imapala, G8, Lucerne, etc. This is what the American brands have done well, and now they're mostly gone. Even the Avalon is gone at this point!

All of the people who want to buy these died 9 years ago.

Submitted by: Adam

Some sort of K-5 blazer like thing, but not quite as big as the originals and with an EV powertrain. And removable top, of course.

Chevy really fumbled the bag when it brought back the Blazer as a little crossover. There's so much money to be made with a GM competitor to the Wrangler and Bronco.

Submitted by: ReluctantFloridaMan

Maybe not the car, but the concept: the Nissan Pulsar. A 2-door coupe with a a useable cargo hatch during the week and notchback or fastback for the weekends. With turbo-charging and electronic controls and DSG transmissions, it would be easy to make a car that got 40+mpg all week while shuttling kids around and getting groceries, then swap out the hatch, the tires, hit the Sport+ button, and hit the autocross or track night.

The Pulsar has never done anything for me. I'm not sure why.

Submitted by: PostOMatic2000

Too many to list. Honda S-2000, Fit, and Element. Air-cooled and water-cooled VW "Station Wagons"/Vans/Type 2s and Vanagons. The OG BMW i3. The OG Ford Ranger. Pontiac Fiero. Buick Riviera. Olds Toronado. COE Jeeps. Chevy Volt and Corvair . . .

I appreciate the scope of your thoughts.

Submitted by: JimmyZZZZZZZ

I've always thought the GM Kappa twins (Solstice and Sky) deserved a second chance. With the Camaro being sunsetted, GM doesn't have an excuse for "unnecessary overlap" in their affordable performance division. Heck, the Bolt is rumored to be making a comeback in 2025. Build a roadster on the Bolt platform, give it dual motors with about 400 total HP and challenge the Tesla roadster when it comes back to market.

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes x 1,000,000,000

Submitted by: Hankel_Wankel

Another one for Mitsubishi. Bring back the Mighty Max. Make it about the size of the Ford Maverick, towing capacity about 2500lbs. Make it Hybrid, even a mild hybrid like the Maverick should be fine, with Super AWC, manual pavement princess, 200hp. Then make another Version, lets call it the Dakar Package; slightly lifted, off-road tires, mud flaps, shoot put the 4B11T from the Evo in there with a stronger hybrid system and you have a winner in my book. If you make it look good and comfortable and keep the price around 40K$ at the highest, I don't see why it wouldn't sell decent.

Buddy, Mitsubishi will never make this, but it's nice to dream.

Submitted by: darthspartan117