Totally not related but ive looked and unless im blind you havent done a review on a first gen mr2! I highly recommend you to check one out if possible they're great ;)
How could you forget the PT Cruiser GT high output? They put the SRT 4 engine in a damn PT Cruiser and offered it with a 5 speed manual. Those boys at Dodge were drunk.
Stinger owner here. I was SO hesitant buying a Kia, but damn... I'm so happy I did. Fairly practical with the lift back and tons of backseat space. The upgraded interior is nice and you can get 450 horsepower to the wheels with simple bolt-ons and a tune. I get a little over 29 mpg on the highway with the 3.3 TT.
I've been saying it for almost ten years now, Kia today is early 90's Toyota. Practical, reliable, affordable. My entire friend group has 150-200k mile Kias for beaters!
Funny i just happened to see a stinger on the highway this morning and thought it was a Kia-- ive been scouring the classifieds for a cheap'ish gti or mazdaspeed3 etc, might have to expand my search
@Koreer Lets see, Both started out as poorly-received Asian manufacturers, both fought an up-hill battle to gain recognition, both moved production to the US without making a big deal out of it, both reimagined how a warranty can effect brand image. Seems pretty similar. If you don't know what you're talking about, just say so.
Yea I don't think ima watch this video judging by the comments, 86, caliber srt? I mean fuckin duh, especially if you consider the car world when they were made
I'm so glad someone actually talked about the caliber. It's weird, but even the base model can make 400hp with a well-implemented turbo and a tune (swap out the ass-quality cvt for the srt4's manual first).
@@chipdiesel9788 It can, in theory. I have one and I really wanna see just how much power its little 2liter can actually handle. I was told 400 if I'm lucky and no more than 450hp before it breaks. I'm expecting it to max out between 300 and 350hp. I don't actually know if it can even handle 400 or if I was being told SRT4 numbers.
im very positive that the internals like rods and pistons are different, i really doubt you can push even 250 on that thing, i dont want to come off as rude but honestly, the caliber is a pos and you really shouldn’t waste time or money attempting to do that
GR Corolla really surprised me. I have not driven it, they are hard to find, but I am very surprised that they actually did that and made the hot-hatch available in the US. I want one!
Tell me about it I’m 3 deep rn and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon hhr SS or lnf sedan is next on the list already have a lnf coupe a lsjt and a l61 ion
I haven’t owned a Hyundai, but I’ve heard you have to stay on top of the oil changes every 5k miles. Never heard anything bad from someone who actually owns one and I see a lot of older Hyundais out on the road. And Velosters look totally sick. If you can swing it and get a decent APR dude go for it.
You cant mention KDM without mentioning the most underrated coupe, the Genesis Coupe BK2. About 2015 the R-spec comes with 350hp, limited slip, either a turbo 4 or v6 engine, and all in a reliable, somewhat good looking package.
And so easy to work on. I did some work for a buddy on one and had the trans out by myself within 90 minutes. It was insane how easy it was and how roomy the engine bay is. As someone that works on their own stuff I'm on the hunt for one now.
Nice list David! I agree with you about the Taurus SHO, the Cadillace CT4, CT5, and the Kia Stinger. They surprised me when they came out. I would say both recent generations of Ford GT, Alfa Romeo Giulia, and the Jaguar Project 8 had surprised me.
The last gen beetle was underrated. It actually got driving dynamics down, could be modded easily with vw family parts and is a substantially better looking car.
I gotta say that the most surprising car to me is the chrysler pt cruiser gt, total sleeper, and the oddest car for chrysler to smush an srt-4 into. Unfortunately they are super scarce these days, especially a manual 🙃
@@Theeeeea where does your bro live i got a Neon SRT-4 with stage 3 upgrades from Turbo Toys and Mopar im pushing around 340hp or so wondering if he wanted to run it if he lived in Bama but i doubt it !
I've thought about getting one myself. I've heard they're quite reliable, which is my biggest concern. With some bolt ons and a tune, they can make 250-300 hp easily, and become a rocket essential.
I absolutely love my Veloster, the only thing I wish was different was that I had a turbo, the basic 2.0 is plenty of power for a daily, but it leaves me wishing for more. That being said, Matt's VN is the complete opposite and makes me love my platform more. Who knows, maybe someone crazy will swap the Kona AWD system into the Veloster... 👀
I recently got a VN, and omg is it absolutely fun, I love every second I spend in it, It can be a nice practical daily if you want, but if you want to rip some corners you just need to press a button Everything from the custom K&N intake I put for like $70 to the stock exhaust and stock pops sounds amazing
@@janlego007777 my buddy used to have a VN performance, he let me drive it. I didn’t want to give him the keys back because it was surprisingly so much fun to drive
Kona n? The Kona n doesn't have AWD Kinda what us mini guys do swap and chop a countryman AWD system and shafts for the cooper jcws mini Cooper s or first gen fwd jcw clubmans
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee track hawk, 707 hellcat engine, all wheel drive, with the drag mode. Blew my mind to know that thing rips and the way it rockets off the line makes me really want one, I honestly cannot believe how cool it is, I love the modern fast SUVs
I think Hellcats are worth mentioning. We didn’t expect them and now they’re a household name and every time you see what you can’t help but stare. Just bonkers to buy a 700-800 HP car off the showroom floor. They kicked off this race of who can build the biggest baddest muscle car which gave us the new Gt500, the ZL1 1LE, and then the Demon and all the other variations within dodge. Pretty wild. I also think the C8 corvette is worth mentioning. Never saw a mid engine corvette coming and I actually think they’re the best looking corvette in years.
Hell naw to the Hellcats they are so big and heavy plus the fact that a built Honda can ABSOLUTELY smoke those things is so funny and embarrassing for Dodge ! You can buy a new Hellcat for 80 or 90 grand and have 800 hp or you can buy a 1000 dollar honda hatch or something, build a motor and install it for thousands cheaper than that and it'll dominate a Charger/Challenger any day of the week ! Rather have the ragged out Honda !
@@shannacollins4741 first of all, to each there own. But I’d much rather a car with full leather interior, all the bells n whistles, heat and ac, a sound system, and still runs just about anything on the street… Have fun in your turboed Honda with a gutted interior and no a/c that sounds like a wet fart. I love Honda’s too honestly but its just silly to say you’d daily something like that as opposed to a freakin Hellcat given the choice.
Don’t forget the demon. Like wth was that 808hp out of factory and it was relatively cheap if I remember correctly. And the other guy is a hater or something, it’s hard to deny how cool the hellcats are.
@@bluestang9530 Yeah i understand all that about having a nice car and nobody said anything about stripping the interior out of the Honda man I am just stating that you can buy a cheap car and build it for way less than you just go out and buy some 4000 pound shitbox that they had to throw a 700 hp motor into just to make it respectable or get that Honda for whatever , buy a K24 stroke it out with a stroker kit and throw some boost at it and you can make up to over 1000 hp easily ! I mean if a Dodge Charger or a Clean Honda Civic making hella turbo noises were driving down the road in traffic together which one would you look at and wonder about ?
@@nigelmaynard1641 and dude im not a hater its just anything Dodge makes is shit thats all sure they look cool but they have numbers of problems with them plus the fact they are so completely overpriced and marked up considerably that the company just turned me away from it plus the fact that they dont do but two different motorsports NASCAR and NHRA now ! They just aren't a cery exciting company anymore ! The Demon starts at 101,000 dollars dude thats not cheap plus your dealer markups, destination fees, factory options its gonna be probably around 150,000 dollars total for a Dodge ! NAH ILL PASS !
I think saying the Ferrari FF had a "Great" 4WD is quite the overstatement. It cuts out in top gear, or at a set mph , and the front drive system was SOOOO over complicated, overengineered, and caused so much parasitic power loss
Closest I could find two a extremely fun turbo wagon with a manual was a 2013 r55 clubman jcw hard to find because it didn't have the garbage engine but it was based on a similar engine block with vanos and better fuel injection along with no timing chain issues etc 2800 pounds 211 hp, manual, limited slip. Great gas milage I had a 2013 ford focus st2 before. Amazing car. Does the longer wheelbase take away from the lively/tossable rear end on the wagon?
@@Modmaann Not at all 😅 . It's terrifying sometimes when Im whipping around corners. Also it's pretty stable at high speed on the Autobahn easily get to 250kmh ( 155mph)
@@fuzzymuffinsthe3rd love it man! Another car the states was rejected from lol... Bummer part is once cars like that are eligible to enter the states is after so many years people start to notice cars like it and the price reflects it. Wanted to buy a 90s Ford escort RS cosworth whale tail ( still want to buy one once I have more of a financial cushion) But price spiked the final 3 or 4 years before it was eligible with people seeking out older wrc like automobiles. Have fun man and wagons for life right 😂
For me the number 1 is the Alpine A110. It’s a very nice and close successor to the Rally Legend back then. After Renault closed up Alpine we thought we will never hear anything from this great Manufacturer again but they revived it and made this Porsche 911 killer
I really like the Veloster N, it's just a little too pricey for me so I went for a used mk7 GTI. Maybe I'd get one when they start to depreciate a little more
@ethibodeaux7 I guess there just weren't many on the market when I was looking. I could only find them in the high 20s when I was looking a few months ago and I just checked now and found plenty in the low 20s which is in my budget.
I would say the C7 Z06 and ZR1 or just in general the C7 GM finally gave the Corvette a much better interior and build quality definitely one of the best performance cars when it came out
Yes, the c7 was like a swan song to the front engine rear wheel drive sports car platform. Chevy basically showed that they did all they could with the RF layout and perfected it the best they could.
Cadillac STS-V, Hummer EV truck, that sweet new Escalade V, Jeep Trackhawks, Dodge Demon, GM and Ford bringing back big displacement V8s into the lineup in lieu of diesels in some cases (6.6 and 7.3 gas engines), the new Grand Wagoneers, C8 Corvettes being mid engine, the list goes on.
Most people dismisses them because their Hyundai's but yeah they can fall apart also a main issue is the people who buy them then not to know what servicing a car is , Hyundai owner mentality , but yeah newer Hyundai's are becoming less reliable
MB GLA 45 AMG, such a fun and unexpected car. Hot hatchy SUV thing making nearly 400 hp stock with a crackle tune, carbon fiber interior bits, and Recaro seats. It is just fun personified.
The E92 M3 when it came out was so wild to me... a small, V8-powered BMW coupe? Yes please! Also, the E60 M5 (despite its known engine troubles) was a crazy decision by BMW. They were really doing things different back then, for better or worse. But in the case of the E60, the sound alone was worth it.
Looking forward to this video of you talking about the mining of electrics, and hopefully the practicality of them. With dodge sunsetting “muscle cars.” I think it will all be a short lived experiments. The reality is they work to an extent currently, but there is no chance of them scaling to a mass level
I think cars will be replaced by cat-drawn carriages. Teams of 80-100 cats making your daily commute with you, feeding them recycled plastics, and lots of trained raccoons roaming the streets to eat their shit. Can't wait.
I have a neighbour with 4 MINT pt cruiser gt’s and he loves them. He has one that’s a built bottom end big turbo, crazy street car build and then the rest are just stock with candy paint and chromed out trim.
The dogde caliber srt. Was suppose to be a re badge lancer. They share the same block and after that trims are identical. Base FWD 2L na, sport FWD 2.4L na and high performance evo/srt awd Turbo 2L. Remember Mitsubishi was with dogde in the early 2000s. Take a look at the Mitsubishi Raider lol.
i think corvettes are a surprise considering how many people iv talked too in the last 3 years since i got mine, everyone seems to be surprised at how good on gas and how much room they actually have
The Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST is absolutely love it 😍 its ton of fun like Ken block cars and EVEN u tuned that badboy up and I truthfully respect it 👏 keep up work @TheDudeinBlue 💪💙
Sho/Fusion Sport/MKZ 3.0T are insane dollar per value. Picked up a fully loaded 17 FFS for 19.5 in 2021 with 24k miles on it. Tune/front rear sway bars/strutt brace/After market filter and intercooler (with a Turbosmart VTA for some noise) nets 370+ Hp and a stupid amount of torque for a family sedan safely and reliably.
My first brand new car was a 13’ focus ST loved it! Would have loved to know about the octane academy lol first I’m hearing about it being free with the purchase 😢
Look past? They're still having issues. It feels like every few years people say "Yeah they used to have bad engines", no, they didn't use to, they do. They have brand new cars blowing stock engines, look it up if you don't believe me. Cheap trash cars
Their engines are still super crappy and they fail really often. Problem is they don't always keep their word on warranty and they'll think of ways to not Honor it.
@C I've heard about that from a guy who used to work on Hyundai's, when he came to the mercedes dealer I work at he was saying all that same stuff and how they pretty much have to replace the engines on most cars because some crazy failure.
04-08 Acura TL. Not the autotragic, THE MANUAL. There's something about a J series attached to a manual transmission and it literally "waking the car up." I've driven the KB1 Legend/RL which is great fun with the auto and AWD but a friend threw me the keys to his TL and I was sold. Looking for one now as we speak. 👀
As a Hyundai Elantra N owner, I’d definitely say the N cars. I never thought I’d own a Hyundai. Period. But here I am. The reviews were so good, and the price was so reasonable, I had to check one out. Easier said than done since they’re mostly all spoken for before they even hit the lot, at least they were when they first came out. So I put a deposit on one, and as soon as I took it for a test drive I was sold. The handling, the spilt personally, the tech… it all was so good I couldn’t not buy it. Almost 15k miles in and it’s been amazing. No issues with mine other than Hyundai service, which absolutely blows, but if you can do your own maintenance then I’d highly recommend one!
The new demon 170 is a crazy version of a demon which was already a crazy version of the hellcat, which was already the crazy version of the challenger
Nice, I had a GTP and a turbo 4 ATS. I shopped the Stinger, SHO, and Focus RS but didn’t end up with any of them. The one that caught me off guard and I actually owned was the turbo Soul. Sadly it’s dead now. The Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky is also in this arena. I loved my Red Line but it was teeny tiny even by small car standards.
Most surprising: GT350. EVERY journalist loved it, or were shocked that a Mustang was the best drivers car from America. Sound unlike any other, a moment in time car
I think the vehicles that surprised me the most and the ones you didn't mentioned are the Chevy HHR SS cargo van, the Nissan Juke Nismo RS, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, 4th gen Toyota 4 Runner with a V8, the mid 2000s Mazdaspeed Miata with a factory turbo, the 2014 - 2018 Chevy/ Holden Commodore SS, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, the Honda Accord Sport V6 manual coupe, the Escalade V, the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the new Ford Bronco, the supercharged V8 Ford Raptor, the mid 2000s Dodge Ram SRT 10 pickup truck, and the 2002 - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg with a massive TDI V10 that sounds like a friggin school bus. And also the early 2000s Renault Clio Sport V6 even though we don't get that in US/ Canada
I love that you gave the dodge omni glh some love. Such a great car that never gets any attention. To this day the only car that I've rolled up on and it left me like I was standing still.
Definitely a Cadillac xts. I was working at the dealership when we got our first awd tt one off the truck and was blown away on how much power the little 6 could muster stock. A Granny car that could haul more than just groceries
You missed a really wierd one......the infinity fx50 S. The 5.0 v8 built off the z platform with awd, 4 wheel steering, the 5.0 (which only appeared in this car). Highly sought after by those who know.
Id say the dodge challenger demon, SRT 10 ram, 392 wrangler, and ford raptor. Also jaguar f-type and Lexus RC. Honorable mention to BMW for making the 4 series a 2 door coupe for the 3 series and then proceeding to make the 4 series a 4 door coupe.
The Pt cruiser was so easy to fall in love with. It has lots of personality, the Turbo model is the only one really worth your time though. I have 2 turbo models. a 03 GT 5 speed and a 04 lite auto. The one thing that is a bitch is working on the engine. I just did a timing belt on my 03 and it was a MF man. But I forgave it as soon as it fired back up. One of the strangest cars of the last 20 years. I also have a 500hp stinger and its so so good.
I almost bought a Veloster N. Ended up with a GTI instead and I’m happy with my decision. More practical, and has a more founded aftermarket and reputation. Yeah, the Focus ST being gone left a bit of a hole, but I think the GTI is forgotten about when you say that. I will say the Veloster has a sportier, more aggressive look to it like the ST did, though. But with a few exterior bits, the GTI can be made to look pretty aggressive too.
Have owned a Veloster N since 2020. With a thicker rear sway bar the car really handles. Hard to believe that a practical hatch getting 30mpg has LT-1 C4 performance.
I had the '89 SHO when I was 19. THAT car was a blast and I gapped a ton of dudes back in the day. Wish I had never sold it. Torque-steer... you either become a better driver, or you crash!
I think surprised me the most was the fiesta ST. Never gave a normal size fiesta a second look here in the USA. Then they made the St. Fell in love with them so I bought one
2017 ford fusion sport. one of my favorite cars. they may not be the fastest, but putting awd and a twin turbo v6 in a fusion i personally think is cool af
You cant forget about how the 2012 tesla model s changed the game. It was an absolute throw down that has taken 10 years for everyone else to catch up. Tesla is a big part why new cars have really intuitive touch screens in them. In 2012 the iPhone 5 was just coming out and here was a new car with a 17 inch touch screen, 7 seats, there is no engine, and its super fast and looks cool. 11 year old me thought it was the coolest thing. Most cars in 2012 had garbage interiors with terrible tech. Build quality aside, it was impressive and put the industry on notice.
The fun Toyota people forget about: The Corolla/Matrix XRS. A Celica GTS 2ZZGE in the humble Corolla/Matrix of the early 00s. It made more power than the USDM Civics of the time and was pretty on par in the suspension department using a torsion beam rear with the only difference between it and CE/LE/S is different springs and a couple chassis braces. Not sure if you've driven them, but the hot versions of the Camry are kind of unexpected, and by all accounts are actually good to drive for a full size sedan I was also a little surprised, not so much by the cars themselves, but the tech in them, by VW's Golf GTi & Golf R. Think about the leap in technology for affordable cars with the DSG. Love it or hate it, it shifted faster and was more efficient than a manual gearbox, if a little more complex, but it was Ferrari level tech in a cheap entry level sports car
Pontiac grand prix gxp. 5.3l v8 fwd, heads up display, paddle shifters on a 4 speed auto, and the front tires were wider than the rear from the factory. I wish I never sold mine.
When V8 was exciting in Australian sedans with LS1 in Holden Commodore vs 5.0lt V8 Coyote in Ford Falcon outcomes grandpa axe 4.0lt straight six turbo In F6 Typhoon, what monster of engine.
They've made plenty of impressive street cars and have won Hella big races wym, supercars don't really mean much, corvettes win more races than most professionally and most people can't afford a supercar
My only beef with the Veloster N, is I'm just not a fan with the way they and regular Velosters look. I couldn't justify buying a new car that I didn't like to look at just because it was kinda fun to drive lol
What car surprised you the most?
All ev's honestly
Timestamp 11:52 where you showed footage of a "Pontiac Regal"
Totally not related but ive looked and unless im blind you havent done a review on a first gen mr2! I highly recommend you to check one out if possible they're great ;)
The Dodge Omni GLH because that car is way more than 20 years old...
Camry TRD
The 03-04 Terminator Cobra. It brought the muscle back into the Mustang.
Only one worth buying was the cobra r
@@ViperMods_216 wrong
@@ViperMods_216 why is that
You could actually buy an 03-04 Cobra, The 00 R was a poster car.
Just not worth it today 😂.
By the way don’t ever say “Pontiac regal” I totally meant to say Buick Regal😂
Oh well. You win some you lose some
I was gonna say..
I thought it was a new model...lol jk. Also, wasn't the GLH made in the early 80's? I thought this list was cars from the last 20 years.
11:52 Thank you, I thought I heard that. 😂❤
That's the moment I decided to "like" the video.. I will continue to drive my Pontiac Regal GS with pride
I agree with the regal. I have a black gs as my first car and I will love it forever 😅
How could you forget the PT Cruiser GT high output? They put the SRT 4 engine in a damn PT Cruiser and offered it with a 5 speed manual. Those boys at Dodge were drunk.
Right? I got excited seeing the thumbnail. Mother fucker.
He also didn't mentioned the Chevy HHR SS cargo van, the rival to the PT Cruiser GT
@@jonlosito2004 The same guy designed both the PT cruiser and the HHR.
Stinger owner here. I was SO hesitant buying a Kia, but damn... I'm so happy I did. Fairly practical with the lift back and tons of backseat space. The upgraded interior is nice and you can get 450 horsepower to the wheels with simple bolt-ons and a tune. I get a little over 29 mpg on the highway with the 3.3 TT.
I've been saying it for almost ten years now, Kia today is early 90's Toyota. Practical, reliable, affordable. My entire friend group has 150-200k mile Kias for beaters!
Funny i just happened to see a stinger on the highway this morning and thought it was a Kia-- ive been scouring the classifieds for a cheap'ish gti or mazdaspeed3 etc, might have to expand my search
@Koreer You took that personally.
@Koreer Lets see, Both started out as poorly-received Asian manufacturers, both fought an up-hill battle to gain recognition, both moved production to the US without making a big deal out of it, both reimagined how a warranty can effect brand image. Seems pretty similar. If you don't know what you're talking about, just say so.
@shawnindustries5897 Stingers are great bur think Cadillac not light and nimble Mazda speed. They are excellent freeway cruisers.
The Ram SRT 10. An 8.4 liter v10 in a work truck.
My Caliber SRT-4 Was pretty rare and surprisingly lot of fun. In an 18 STi now
Loved mine too!
was it reliable
@@ReeshaRacing No.
Have a friend that said many many year ago, “dodge makes stupid shit that’s real fast.” That quote still holds up today.
Gr86 owner here, and I absolutely love this car. My first ever new car and real sports car, and a blast to learn with as a beginner car guy 😊
“Sports car”
@@canadian128 where’s your “sports car”?!?
Better yet what do you drive?
@@canadian128 how could you argue that it's not a sports car? The GT86/BRZ/FRS were all sports car as well, albeit quite slow ones.
@@junjin8763 ford cmax and that nigga hauls ass
@@bentracy7463 probably one of those people who think sports cars have to be fast
I honestly don't think many things on this list come off as weird. Especially the Q50. Huh? That's like, the most not-weird car Infiniti makes.
Yea I don't think ima watch this video judging by the comments, 86, caliber srt? I mean fuckin duh, especially if you consider the car world when they were made
Title says weirdest cars, then he talkes about the most surprising cars of the last 20 years..... while mentioning cars that are 30+ years old
I'm so glad someone actually talked about the caliber. It's weird, but even the base model can make 400hp with a well-implemented turbo and a tune (swap out the ass-quality cvt for the srt4's manual first).
I'd love to see a non SRT4 caliber making 400hp lmao
@@chipdiesel9788 It can, in theory. I have one and I really wanna see just how much power its little 2liter can actually handle. I was told 400 if I'm lucky and no more than 450hp before it breaks. I'm expecting it to max out between 300 and 350hp. I don't actually know if it can even handle 400 or if I was being told SRT4 numbers.
im very positive that the internals like rods and pistons are different, i really doubt you can push even 250 on that thing, i dont want to come off as rude but honestly, the caliber is a pos and you really shouldn’t waste time or money attempting to do that
@@J.Gainez Yes, modifying the caliber is a stupid idea, BUT most of the other cars in my area are either pos or overpriced.
Caliber was one of the ugliest cars ever. Looks like a small minivan and even worse, it’s a DODGE!
GR Corolla really surprised me.
I have not driven it, they are hard to find, but I am very surprised that they actually did that and made the hot-hatch available in the US.
I want one!
The Ferrari ff really was something else. Watching the videos of it being ripped thru a desert blew my mind
Chevy HHR SS changed me. Such a fun, cheap to modify sleeper. Ecotecs are hard platform to leave once you get one.
Tell me about it I’m 3 deep rn and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon hhr SS or lnf sedan is next on the list already have a lnf coupe a lsjt and a l61 ion
I really wanted a Veloster N for a while but I had concerns about the reliability long term.
If it's not a gdi engine, it's good
I haven’t owned a Hyundai, but I’ve heard you have to stay on top of the oil changes every 5k miles. Never heard anything bad from someone who actually owns one and I see a lot of older Hyundais out on the road. And Velosters look totally sick. If you can swing it and get a decent APR dude go for it.
@keelinblackburn3546 I work at a valvoline, almost 9/10 gdi hyundais are out of oil after like 3k miles. They just eat oil
You cant mention KDM without mentioning the most underrated coupe, the Genesis Coupe BK2. About 2015 the R-spec comes with 350hp, limited slip, either a turbo 4 or v6 engine, and all in a reliable, somewhat good looking package.
And so easy to work on. I did some work for a buddy on one and had the trans out by myself within 90 minutes. It was insane how easy it was and how roomy the engine bay is. As someone that works on their own stuff I'm on the hunt for one now.
As a Elantra N owner, thank you for covering the KDM side of things!
Sry to hear 😆
@@ramonbriones4487 and what do you drive?
Sadly they suffer the same as all the rest of the kdm cars that came before they all could be good but not enough people modify them.
Nice list David! I agree with you about the Taurus SHO, the Cadillace CT4, CT5, and the Kia Stinger. They surprised me when they came out. I would say both recent generations of Ford GT, Alfa Romeo Giulia, and the Jaguar Project 8 had surprised me.
The last gen beetle was underrated. It actually got driving dynamics down, could be modded easily with vw family parts and is a substantially better looking car.
And yup. I own one
I gotta say that the most surprising car to me is the chrysler pt cruiser gt, total sleeper, and the oddest car for chrysler to smush an srt-4 into. Unfortunately they are super scarce these days, especially a manual 🙃
My brother has one, insanely fun, straight piped, bigger turbo injectors etc, everybody loves it
@@Theeeeea where does your bro live i got a Neon SRT-4 with stage 3 upgrades from Turbo Toys and Mopar im pushing around 340hp or so wondering if he wanted to run it if he lived in Bama but i doubt it !
@@shannacollins4741 ny sadly
@@Theeeeea dang lol that sucks i wish he was closer maybe we could have ran them oh well hopefully one day !
As a Fiesta St owner you made me cry for mentioning it in this video :)
I've thought about getting one myself. I've heard they're quite reliable, which is my biggest concern. With some bolt ons and a tune, they can make 250-300 hp easily, and become a rocket essential.
Dunno, why you didn't include Pontiac's last Hoorah with performance before it was shut down, the reborn GTO and G8 GT, or even the Chevy SS?
I absolutely love my Veloster, the only thing I wish was different was that I had a turbo, the basic 2.0 is plenty of power for a daily, but it leaves me wishing for more. That being said, Matt's VN is the complete opposite and makes me love my platform more. Who knows, maybe someone crazy will swap the Kona AWD system into the Veloster... 👀
I recently got a VN, and omg is it absolutely fun, I love every second I spend in it, It can be a nice practical daily if you want, but if you want to rip some corners you just need to press a button
Everything from the custom K&N intake I put for like $70 to the stock exhaust and stock pops sounds amazing
@@janlego007777 my buddy used to have a VN performance, he let me drive it.
I didn’t want to give him the keys back because it was surprisingly so much fun to drive
Kona n? The Kona n doesn't have AWD
Kinda what us mini guys do swap and chop a countryman AWD system and shafts for the cooper jcws mini Cooper s or first gen fwd jcw clubmans
@@Modmaann not an N, I’d take the 1.6t AWD system and just properly build the motor.
I'd tiburon 2.0 swap one with a turbo I'd make all the jam and be a true kdm lol.
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee track hawk, 707 hellcat engine, all wheel drive, with the drag mode. Blew my mind to know that thing rips and the way it rockets off the line makes me really want one, I honestly cannot believe how cool it is, I love the modern fast SUVs
I think Hellcats are worth mentioning. We didn’t expect them and now they’re a household name and every time you see what you can’t help but stare. Just bonkers to buy a 700-800 HP car off the showroom floor. They kicked off this race of who can build the biggest baddest muscle car which gave us the new Gt500, the ZL1 1LE, and then the Demon and all the other variations within dodge. Pretty wild. I also think the C8 corvette is worth mentioning. Never saw a mid engine corvette coming and I actually think they’re the best looking corvette in years.
Hell naw to the Hellcats they are so big and heavy plus the fact that a built Honda can ABSOLUTELY smoke those things is so funny and embarrassing for Dodge ! You can buy a new Hellcat for 80 or 90 grand and have 800 hp or you can buy a 1000 dollar honda hatch or something, build a motor and install it for thousands cheaper than that and it'll dominate a Charger/Challenger any day of the week ! Rather have the ragged out Honda !
@@shannacollins4741 first of all, to each there own. But I’d much rather a car with full leather interior, all the bells n whistles, heat and ac, a sound system, and still runs just about anything on the street… Have fun in your turboed Honda with a gutted interior and no a/c that sounds like a wet fart. I love Honda’s too honestly but its just silly to say you’d daily something like that as opposed to a freakin Hellcat given the choice.
Don’t forget the demon. Like wth was that 808hp out of factory and it was relatively cheap if I remember correctly. And the other guy is a hater or something, it’s hard to deny how cool the hellcats are.
@@bluestang9530 Yeah i understand all that about having a nice car and nobody said anything about stripping the interior out of the Honda man I am just stating that you can buy a cheap car and build it for way less than you just go out and buy some 4000 pound shitbox that they had to throw a 700 hp motor into just to make it respectable or get that Honda for whatever , buy a K24 stroke it out with a stroker kit and throw some boost at it and you can make up to over 1000 hp easily ! I mean if a Dodge Charger or a Clean Honda Civic making hella turbo noises were driving down the road in traffic together which one would you look at and wonder about ?
@@nigelmaynard1641 and dude im not a hater its just anything Dodge makes is shit thats all sure they look cool but they have numbers of problems with them plus the fact they are so completely overpriced and marked up considerably that the company just turned me away from it plus the fact that they dont do but two different motorsports NASCAR and NHRA now ! They just aren't a cery exciting company anymore ! The Demon starts at 101,000 dollars dude thats not cheap plus your dealer markups, destination fees, factory options its gonna be probably around 150,000 dollars total for a Dodge ! NAH ILL PASS !
I think saying the Ferrari FF had a "Great" 4WD is quite the overstatement. It cuts out in top gear, or at a set mph , and the front drive system was SOOOO over complicated, overengineered, and caused so much parasitic power loss
Got a focus st wagon in Germany... Love it
Closest I could find two a extremely fun turbo wagon with a manual was a 2013 r55 clubman jcw hard to find because it didn't have the garbage engine but it was based on a similar engine block with vanos and better fuel injection along with no timing chain issues etc
2800 pounds 211 hp, manual, limited slip.
Great gas milage
I had a 2013 ford focus st2 before. Amazing car.
Does the longer wheelbase take away from the lively/tossable rear end on the wagon?
@@Modmaann Not at all 😅 . It's terrifying sometimes when Im whipping around corners. Also it's pretty stable at high speed on the Autobahn easily get to 250kmh ( 155mph)
@@fuzzymuffinsthe3rd love it man! Another car the states was rejected from lol...
Bummer part is once cars like that are eligible to enter the states is after so many years people start to notice cars like it and the price reflects it. Wanted to buy a 90s Ford escort RS cosworth whale tail ( still want to buy one once I have more of a financial cushion)
But price spiked the final 3 or 4 years before it was eligible with people seeking out older wrc like automobiles.
Have fun man and wagons for life right 😂
@@Modmaann perfect family car. Even though we just got a Opel van as well recently
For me the number 1 is the Alpine A110. It’s a very nice and close successor to the Rally Legend back then. After Renault closed up Alpine we thought we will never hear anything from this great Manufacturer again but they revived it and made this Porsche 911 killer
Wait . . . Weirdest car of the last *20 years,* but the dodge omni is from the 80s, o er *30* years ago.
Hi from Puerto Rico. For me was the ford with the coyote motor
I'm going with the Regal. Friggin gorgeous and cool as hell. Love em
“You feel like grandpa clappin somebody on the street” gotta love outta context David😂
I really like the Veloster N, it's just a little too pricey for me so I went for a used mk7 GTI. Maybe I'd get one when they start to depreciate a little more
You won't regret it they are amazing
Too pricy? The Veloster N is cheaper than my Elantra N, then again. Everyone has a different Budget
@ethibodeaux7 I guess there just weren't many on the market when I was looking. I could only find them in the high 20s when I was looking a few months ago and I just checked now and found plenty in the low 20s which is in my budget.
I would say the C7 Z06 and ZR1 or just in general the C7 GM finally gave the Corvette a much better interior and build quality definitely one of the best performance cars when it came out
Yes, the c7 was like a swan song to the front engine rear wheel drive sports car platform. Chevy basically showed that they did all they could with the RF layout and perfected it the best they could.
Disappointed PT cruisers didn’t make the list, weird, cool and awesome!👌😎
Honestly, the GR Yaris blew my mind, because of the boring reputation toyota received. The ceo even had to say “NO MORE BORING CARS”
The Ferrari Purosangue looks just like the new Mazda suv that just came out ! Lmfao ! No way it looks like an updated Mazda !
I have a friend with a Kia stinger making over 400 whp. That thing is an ABSOLUTE thrill to ride in.
Cadillac STS-V, Hummer EV truck, that sweet new Escalade V, Jeep Trackhawks, Dodge Demon, GM and Ford bringing back big displacement V8s into the lineup in lieu of diesels in some cases (6.6 and 7.3 gas engines), the new Grand Wagoneers, C8 Corvettes being mid engine, the list goes on.
People dismiss KDM cars because they fall apart after 2 years. Also, you showed the VQ Q50 with the 370Z drivetrain, not the V6 Turbo one :D
Most people dismisses them because their Hyundai's but yeah they can fall apart also a main issue is the people who buy them then not to know what servicing a car is , Hyundai owner mentality , but yeah newer Hyundai's are becoming less reliable
MB GLA 45 AMG, such a fun and unexpected car. Hot hatchy SUV thing making nearly 400 hp stock with a crackle tune, carbon fiber interior bits, and Recaro seats. It is just fun personified.
The E92 M3 when it came out was so wild to me... a small, V8-powered BMW coupe? Yes please! Also, the E60 M5 (despite its known engine troubles) was a crazy decision by BMW. They were really doing things different back then, for better or worse. But in the case of the E60, the sound alone was worth it.
The ONLY BMW I’d ever buy
Looking forward to this video of you talking about the mining of electrics, and hopefully the practicality of them. With dodge sunsetting “muscle cars.” I think it will all be a short lived experiments. The reality is they work to an extent currently, but there is no chance of them scaling to a mass level
I think cars will be replaced by cat-drawn carriages. Teams of 80-100 cats making your daily commute with you, feeding them recycled plastics, and lots of trained raccoons roaming the streets to eat their shit. Can't wait.
"Pontiac regal" -Famous quotes from David
I have a neighbour with 4 MINT pt cruiser gt’s and he loves them. He has one that’s a built bottom end big turbo, crazy street car build and then the rest are just stock with candy paint and chromed out trim.
The dogde caliber srt. Was suppose to be a re badge lancer. They share the same block and after that trims are identical. Base FWD 2L na, sport FWD 2.4L na and high performance evo/srt awd Turbo 2L.
Remember Mitsubishi was with dogde in the early 2000s. Take a look at the Mitsubishi Raider lol.
One of dads colleagues called the HHR the Hershey highway roadsters
Thanks for loving on the hyundais David!!😊
The Caddy. And the hellcat swapped Magnum.❤❤😅😊
i think corvettes are a surprise considering how many people iv talked too in the last 3 years since i got mine, everyone seems to be surprised at how good on gas and how much room they actually have
The Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST is absolutely love it 😍 its ton of fun like Ken block cars and EVEN u tuned that badboy up and I truthfully respect it 👏 keep up work @TheDudeinBlue 💪💙
Sho/Fusion Sport/MKZ 3.0T are insane dollar per value. Picked up a fully loaded 17 FFS for 19.5 in 2021 with 24k miles on it. Tune/front rear sway bars/strutt brace/After market filter and intercooler (with a Turbosmart VTA for some noise) nets 370+ Hp and a stupid amount of torque for a family sedan safely and reliably.
Honestly Hyundai's N line is making some cool stuff. I'm obsessed with the Elantra N right now.
I've got a 2008 SRT-4 in storage back in the US. I'm looking forward to getting back into it after my Pacific tour!
@11:52 The Pontiac Regal. I love it.
My first brand new car was a 13’ focus ST loved it! Would have loved to know about the octane academy lol first I’m hearing about it being free with the purchase 😢
the problem with kia/hyundai has always been reliability. It's hard for people to look past the years of bad engines.
Look past? They're still having issues. It feels like every few years people say "Yeah they used to have bad engines", no, they didn't use to, they do. They have brand new cars blowing stock engines, look it up if you don't believe me. Cheap trash cars
THANK GOODNESS they have basically the best warranty in the business. lol
@@ThatDudeinBlue what about when the warranty goes up or someone modifies it to where it voids warranty? Tell me about that?
Their engines are still super crappy and they fail really often.
Problem is they don't always keep their word on warranty and they'll think of ways to not Honor it.
@C I've heard about that from a guy who used to work on Hyundai's, when he came to the mercedes dealer I work at he was saying all that same stuff and how they pretty much have to replace the engines on most cars because some crazy failure.
I own a regular 2014 focus hatch 2.0 with bolt on’s and a tune and I will never let it go so much fun
04-08 Acura TL. Not the autotragic, THE MANUAL. There's something about a J series attached to a manual transmission and it literally "waking the car up." I've driven the KB1 Legend/RL which is great fun with the auto and AWD but a friend threw me the keys to his TL and I was sold. Looking for one now as we speak. 👀
As a Hyundai Elantra N owner, I’d definitely say the N cars. I never thought I’d own a Hyundai. Period. But here I am. The reviews were so good, and the price was so reasonable, I had to check one out. Easier said than done since they’re mostly all spoken for before they even hit the lot, at least they were when they first came out. So I put a deposit on one, and as soon as I took it for a test drive I was sold. The handling, the spilt personally, the tech… it all was so good I couldn’t not buy it. Almost 15k miles in and it’s been amazing. No issues with mine other than Hyundai service, which absolutely blows, but if you can do your own maintenance then I’d highly recommend one!
The new demon 170 is a crazy version of a demon which was already a crazy version of the hellcat, which was already the crazy version of the challenger
The only thing about the Taycan that surprised me was what Porsche actually made it work.
Nice, I had a GTP and a turbo 4 ATS. I shopped the Stinger, SHO, and Focus RS but didn’t end up with any of them. The one that caught me off guard and I actually owned was the turbo Soul. Sadly it’s dead now. The Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky is also in this arena. I loved my Red Line but it was teeny tiny even by small car standards.
Most surprising: GT350. EVERY journalist loved it, or were shocked that a Mustang was the best drivers car from America. Sound unlike any other, a moment in time car
I know a guy that owns a Grand Prix GTP, that supercharged V6 is no slouch for the time period
I think the vehicles that surprised me the most and the ones you didn't mentioned are the Chevy HHR SS cargo van, the Nissan Juke Nismo RS, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, 4th gen Toyota 4 Runner with a V8, the mid 2000s Mazdaspeed Miata with a factory turbo, the 2014 - 2018 Chevy/ Holden Commodore SS, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, the Honda Accord Sport V6 manual coupe, the Escalade V, the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the new Ford Bronco, the supercharged V8 Ford Raptor, the mid 2000s Dodge Ram SRT 10 pickup truck, and the 2002 - 2010 Volkswagen Touareg with a massive TDI V10 that sounds like a friggin school bus. And also the early 2000s Renault Clio Sport V6 even though we don't get that in US/ Canada
Surprised the gtr wasnt on this. Absolutely mind blowing when it was released. Spanking every super car on a budget.
I love that you gave the dodge omni glh some love. Such a great car that never gets any attention. To this day the only car that I've rolled up on and it left me like I was standing still.
Last 20 years? Isn't this an 80s car?
@_Suburban_ very true. Jesus, I didn't realize how old they are. Fuck I'm old.
@@TheSuburban15 that one had me scratching my head, cool cars but not sure why he talked about it in this vid
Cobalt SS (LSJ-SC, LNF-TC) I own an LSJ with ZZP entry level kit TC 300,000 plus original kms and still going strong. I love it.
Not sure why they didn't make it awd go with a rally
Definitely a Cadillac xts. I was working at the dealership when we got our first awd tt one off the truck and was blown away on how much power the little 6 could muster stock. A Granny car that could haul more than just groceries
It was a 1984 ford turbo EXP. Only because it was my first car. My 2010 camaro I was surprised at how well it actually handles.
Pontiac Bonneville 2000-2005 had an 3.8 supercharged option and 04,05 had a v8 northstar option as well
You missed a really wierd one......the infinity fx50 S. The 5.0 v8 built off the z platform with awd, 4 wheel steering, the 5.0 (which only appeared in this car).
Highly sought after by those who know.
Veloster N was fun as hell to drive.
I have a modified Corolla Hatchback for practicality, but holy shit was that fun to drive.
Id say the dodge challenger demon, SRT 10 ram, 392 wrangler, and ford raptor. Also jaguar f-type and Lexus RC. Honorable mention to BMW for making the 4 series a 2 door coupe for the 3 series and then proceeding to make the 4 series a 4 door coupe.
07 Corvette Z06. Absolute monster of a car! Super car destroyer!
The Pt cruiser was so easy to fall in love with. It has lots of personality, the Turbo model is the only one really worth your time though. I have 2 turbo models. a 03 GT 5 speed and a 04 lite auto. The one thing that is a bitch is working on the engine. I just did a timing belt on my 03 and it was a MF man. But I forgave it as soon as it fired back up. One of the strangest cars of the last 20 years. I also have a 500hp stinger and its so so good.
Missed the Cobalt SS clan with the Sky Redline and the HHR SS manual GM offered that Stage one kit back in the day.
I almost bought a Veloster N. Ended up with a GTI instead and I’m happy with my decision. More practical, and has a more founded aftermarket and reputation.
Yeah, the Focus ST being gone left a bit of a hole, but I think the GTI is forgotten about when you say that. I will say the Veloster has a sportier, more aggressive look to it like the ST did, though. But with a few exterior bits, the GTI can be made to look pretty aggressive too.
Have owned a Veloster N since 2020. With a thicker rear sway bar the car really handles.
Hard to believe that a practical hatch getting 30mpg has LT-1 C4 performance.
The veloster 3rd door killed me. 😮
When i heard you said hoonigan and saw ken block's ford escort mk2 i rememberd the first time i saw ken block
I had the '89 SHO when I was 19. THAT car was a blast and I gapped a ton of dudes back in the day. Wish I had never sold it. Torque-steer... you either become a better driver, or you crash!
I think surprised me the most was the fiesta ST. Never gave a normal size fiesta a second look here in the USA. Then they made the St. Fell in love with them so I bought one
2017 ford fusion sport. one of my favorite cars. they may not be the fastest, but putting awd and a twin turbo v6 in a fusion i personally think is cool af
Yea they're dope, and don't qualify it like that, it's quick as hell, car kids now think of a car doesn't go 200 and run a 9 it's slow lol
You cant forget about how the 2012 tesla model s changed the game. It was an absolute throw down that has taken 10 years for everyone else to catch up. Tesla is a big part why new cars have really intuitive touch screens in them. In 2012 the iPhone 5 was just coming out and here was a new car with a 17 inch touch screen, 7 seats, there is no engine, and its super fast and looks cool. 11 year old me thought it was the coolest thing. Most cars in 2012 had garbage interiors with terrible tech. Build quality aside, it was impressive and put the industry on notice.
Great video! The GLH is much older than 20
Exactly. 1990 was the last year they were produced.
@Byron N. that's 33 years ago. The video says "of the last 20 years"
11:52
Pontiac Regal 💀
Antonio’s escort is my personal favourite you should so do a re review when he has it back together, Mo Powa Baby
I thought the cover was a GR Corolla and the first car after the video starts is one 😂
The fun Toyota people forget about: The Corolla/Matrix XRS. A Celica GTS 2ZZGE in the humble Corolla/Matrix of the early 00s. It made more power than the USDM Civics of the time and was pretty on par in the suspension department using a torsion beam rear with the only difference between it and CE/LE/S is different springs and a couple chassis braces. Not sure if you've driven them, but the hot versions of the Camry are kind of unexpected, and by all accounts are actually good to drive for a full size sedan
I was also a little surprised, not so much by the cars themselves, but the tech in them, by VW's Golf GTi & Golf R. Think about the leap in technology for affordable cars with the DSG. Love it or hate it, it shifted faster and was more efficient than a manual gearbox, if a little more complex, but it was Ferrari level tech in a cheap entry level sports car
one of my few regrets in life was buying a Scion TC instead of a Matrix XRS
@@gregorysteffensen3279 The 2ZZGE is so good. It's a shame it wasn't in more cars
The Omni GLH was made 40 years ago in the mid 80’s. Undoubtedly a game changer and an awesome car, but doesn’t really fit on this list.
Pontiac grand prix gxp. 5.3l v8 fwd, heads up display, paddle shifters on a 4 speed auto, and the front tires were wider than the rear from the factory. I wish I never sold mine.
When V8 was exciting in Australian sedans with LS1 in Holden Commodore vs 5.0lt V8 Coyote in Ford Falcon outcomes grandpa axe 4.0lt straight six turbo In F6 Typhoon, what monster of engine.
The original title was "The most surprising cars". For me it was the Audi R8.
Im still in love with the Ford Focus ST and pissed Ford dumped cars altogether in the USA.
Had a set of civic kids yell at me getting out of my Veloster N say nice Honda don’t think somthing could hurt so much.
My q50 is a ton of fun and surprises a ton of people but I wish it was a manual.
The Lexus LFA really surprised me that Toyota can do just about anything, even make a supercar
They've made plenty of impressive street cars and have won Hella big races wym, supercars don't really mean much, corvettes win more races than most professionally and most people can't afford a supercar
My only beef with the Veloster N, is I'm just not a fan with the way they and regular Velosters look. I couldn't justify buying a new car that I didn't like to look at just because it was kinda fun to drive lol