What 1990s Cars Still Look And Feel Modern Today?

Vehicle technology has advanced so much that even a vehicle that’s only a few years old can feel absolutely ancient.

There is a quantum leap between vehicles built today and those that came out in the 1990s, but there are a few standouts that managed to offer a driving experience that was way ahead of their time.

We’ve had the opportunity to drive many cars new and old, but a 1997 BMW E39 5-Series owned by a friend of Carscoops sticks out in our minds as a vehicle that still feels modern to this day. BMW has always been very good at creating a modern product, and when it comes to actual interior refinement and driving feel, the 5-Series had it right from the get-go.

The leather interior was comfortable and featured large bolsters to hold you in place, the shifter was perfectly notchy with a short throw, and the brakes provided a good feel for both sporty driving as well as regular traffic.

Read More: QOTD: What Car From The ’80s Or ’90s Would You Daily Drive Today?

Under the hood of our friend’s 5-Series was BMW’s 4.0-liter V8, but you would never know it while you were sitting in the passenger’s seat. Even after he chopped the mufflers off to let more of the V8 growl out, the interior remained comfortable and quiet without any rattles or vibrations.

Obviously, comparing the E39 to something like a modern 5-Series isn’t the same, but in terms of interior refinement and comfort, it’s likely on par with a new Hyundai Elantra or a Toyota Camry, and a heck of a lot more fun to drive.

The only thing that really set the BMW apart is the absence of electronic doodads that we’ve come to expect from today’s vehicles. Some trim levels of the E39 actually featured very early versions of infotainment, but our friend’s only had a CD player and an aux cord.

Unfortunately, the sedan also did another very BMW thing, which was to incur a $12,500 maintenance bill consisting of new struts, tires, timing cover leak, shifter leak, and a new radiator. He ended up selling it for $1,200.

So, what do you think? What 1990s cars still feel modern to you?


The Auto World

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gearhead Nirvana: We Visit Porsche’s Atlanta Workshop Where Classics Get Reborn

Image
Maintaining any car is a duty that different owners approach in vastly different ways. For some, a few zip ties and a rattle can of spray paint is good enough. Far on the other end of the spectrum are owners like the ones who take their car to the Porsche Classic Center in Atlanta. During our trip there to see the new Macan EV in virtual reality , we had the opportunity to tour the Classic Center as it was deep in the midst of multiple repair and restoration projects.  To the owners of these cars and to the Porsche brand itself, what these mechanics, technicians, upholsterers, and painters are preserving is heritage. The center’s mantra “As good as new. But with even more character” is on display for anyone who visits the site. More: 2024 Porsche Macan EV Arrives From $79k, Turbo Is Faster Than A 911 GT3 Directly south of downtown Atlanta and appropriately located at 300 Porsche Ave, the Porsche Classic Center is now a separate building from the main Experience Center that o...
Read more

The New Honda Prelude Will Be A Global Model, But It Won’t Be A Toyota GR 86

Image
Last month, Honda rolled out the red carpet for the the hybrid Prelude Concept , heralding the comeback of a historic name in the motoring world. Now, this car has been given the green light as a global model, set to cater to both right- and left-hand drive markets. However, it might not quite rev up to be the full-throttle sports car many enthusiasts were anticipating Despite being labeled a concept by Honda, the car presented at the Japan Mobility Show (JMS) looked quite production-ready. And if we know anything about Honda, they have a knack for unveiling thinly-disguised production cars as concepts. Take the last two Civics, for example. The 10th-gen Civic Concept was more or less the Civic coupe of that generation with a more aggressive stance and altered bumpers, while the 11th-gen Civic Prototype was virtually the same sedan that made it to production. Read More: The Honda Prelude Is Coming Back As A Hybrid Sports Coupe advertisement scroll to continue Honda Pre...
Read more

As Good As New Porsche 918 Spyder With Just 43 Miles Could Fetch $2 Million

Image
This Porsche 918 has been kept in a climate-controlled storage facility ever since it was delivered. The car is one of just four Hong Kong-spec 918s in existence. Driving the hypercar is a 4.6-liter V8 hybrid powertrain with 887 hp. A 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder that has never been registered will be available at a Hong Kong auction running from April 2-5 and is expected to sell for between $1.5 million and $2 million. The 918 Spyder launched as one of the ‘hypercar holy trinity’ alongside the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. While there are many low-mileage examples out there, few are thought to have been driven less than this one. Over the past decade, it has been driven less than 70 km (43 miles) and has been owned by a single person in Hong Kong. It has also never been registered for road use. The listing doesn’t specify how the car has racked up 70 km without being registered. Read: This Porsche 918 Is One Of Just 2 With A Gulf Oil Livery Nevertheless, this car i...
Read more