Underwhelming Cars

Most people have largely forgotten the early 80’s cars with give or take around 100 hp and a 3 speed automatic transmission. Their bad driving experience was often matched with equally poor quality.

Those cars were brought about by regulations and severe reactions to OPEC driven oil production cuts. There are parallels to the current quality issues with engines from GM, Toyota, and others.

I drove a Chevette for a couple years during college when I had very little money. It was crap as far as comfort or performance, but as long as you knew how to adjust the clutch and change out the plastic retainer ring for the shifter, it would keep going. Alternators were also an issue, but not as often.
I used a long handled screwdriver to shift it for the last few months I had it. And there was a hole in the floorboard between the driver’s seat and pedals that I covered with an old license plate.

I still see some of these on the road now and then that have been well kept.

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If I remember right, didn’t the windows on the K-Car only roll down half way?

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There were lots of 4 door cars with rear windows that did not go down all the way or at all. It was a miserable experience to ride around in a hot car when the windows couldn't go down.

This was another way to cut weight and try to help work towards the newly introduced gas mileage standards that went into effect in 1978.

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The new Honda Prelude.

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As a former 3rd gen and 5th gen owner, this was a huge disappointment

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Phil Hartman was hilarious and I still miss that guy!

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Unfortunately his wife didn't.