Underdog & Sleeper Cars (Continued)
The “Kia Stinger”: The Best Sports Sedan Nobody Bought.
My friend bought a Kia Stinger GT. I was skeptical, but then I drove it. It had a powerful twin-turbo V6, rear-wheel-drive dynamics, and a chassis tuned by a former BMW M engineer. It felt like a genuine German sports sedan, but for thousands less. It was a brilliant, fun, and stylish car. Unfortunately, most buyers couldn’t get past the Kia badge on the hood. They would rather buy a less powerful, base-model German car for the same price. The Stinger was a fantastic underdog that was ultimately killed by brand snobbery.
Why the Lexus IS F is a Future Classic Hiding in Plain Sight.
The Lexus IS F, from the late 2000s, is a car that enthusiasts are finally starting to appreciate. When it was new, it was overlooked in favor of the BMW M3. But the IS F had a secret weapon: a magnificent, naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine co-developed with Yamaha. It has a glorious sound and is known for its bulletproof reliability. As fast, naturally aspirated V8s disappear, the IS F, with its unique stacked exhaust tips and muscular styling, is now being recognized as a special and rare car. It’s a guaranteed future classic.
The “Stealth Wealth” Cars That Let You Fly Under the Radar.
My CEO mentor drives a Genesis G90. He says it’s the perfect “stealth wealth” car. It has all the luxury of a Mercedes S-Class, but its humble badge doesn’t attract unwanted attention. It allows him to enjoy supreme comfort without projecting an image of excessive wealth. Other great stealth wealth cars include the VW Phaeton and high-end Lexus sedans. They are for people who buy luxury for their own enjoyment, not for the validation that comes from a prestigious German emblem.
I Drove the Most Boring-Looking, Fastest Car I’ve Ever Experienced.
A friend let me drive his modified Volvo V70 R station wagon. It looked like a sensible, boxy car for a suburban dad. It was a sleeper. He had tuned the turbocharged five-cylinder engine to over 400 horsepower. When I put my foot down, the all-wheel-drive system hooked up, and the car launched with ferocious, unexpected violence. It was a completely disorienting experience. The boring, unassuming exterior was a perfect camouflage for a car that could surprise much more expensive sports cars.
The Chevrolet SS: The Secret BMW M5 Fighter from America.
The Chevrolet SS sedan was one of the best cars GM ever built, and almost no one bought it. It was essentially a four-door Corvette. It had a big 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine, rear-wheel drive, and magnetic ride control suspension. It even offered a manual transmission. It was a true American “M5 fighter.” The problem was its styling. It looked like a generic rental car, a Chevy Malibu on steroids. Its bland looks hid a truly special and capable performance machine.
The Volkswagen Phaeton: The $100k VW That’s Now a $10k Bargain.
In the early 2000s, Volkswagen’s chairman decided he wanted to build a car that was better than the Mercedes S-Class. The result was the VW Phaeton. It was a masterpiece of engineering, sharing its platform with a Bentley and featuring a stunning, hand-assembled interior. A fully loaded W12 model cost over $100,000. It was a commercial disaster because nobody wanted a six-figure Volkswagen. Today, these cars have depreciated to almost nothing. You can buy a true, Bentley-level luxury car for under $10,000, if you’re brave enough to handle the maintenance.
The Most Overlooked and Underrated Performance Cars of the 2000s.
The 2000s had some brilliant performance cars that have been forgotten. The Pontiac GTO, a rebadged Australian Holden Monaro, had a Corvette V8 engine and was a fantastic muscle car, but its bland styling held it back. The Mazdaspeed 3 was a wild, torque-steering “hot hatch” that was faster than many of its rivals. And the Cadillac CTS-V, with its Corvette Z06 engine and manual transmission, was a true M5 competitor that never got the respect it deserved. These are fantastic, overlooked cars that offer great performance for the money.
The Ford Taurus SHO: The Original American Sleeper Sedan.
In 1989, Ford launched the Taurus SHO. It looked almost identical to the millions of boring Taurus sedans on the road. But under the hood, it had a secret: a high-revving, 220-horsepower V6 engine built by Yamaha. It was a true “sleeper.” It could surprise much more expensive European sports sedans at a stoplight. The SHO was the original American performance sedan that proved a practical family car could also be a thrilling, fun-to-drive machine.
Why the Genesis G70 is Better Than the BMW 3-Series (and Half the Price).
I test-drove a new BMW 330i and a Genesis G70 with the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6. The Genesis was the better car. It had more power, a more luxurious interior with higher-quality materials, and a more comfortable ride. The BMW felt a bit sterile in comparison. The best part? The fully loaded Genesis was almost the same price as the base-model, four-cylinder BMW. For the money, the G70 offers a more powerful, more luxurious, and more engaging driving experience than its more prestigious German rival.
The Most Powerful Luxury Cars with Zero “Clout.”
My neighbor owns an Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400. The car has a twin-turbo V6 engine that produces a staggering 400 horsepower. It’s an incredibly fast car. Yet, it gets almost no attention or respect in the car community. It has zero “clout.” This is because while the engine is powerful, the rest of the car—the handling, the interior, the technology—is not considered to be on the same level as its German competitors. It’s a car with a supercar-level engine wrapped in a slightly anonymous package.
The Underdog Brands That Build Surprisingly Great Cars.
Everyone thinks you need a German car for a great driving experience. That’s not true. I drove a new Mazda 3, and I was stunned. The interior quality rivaled an Audi, and the handling was fantastic. Mazda is an underdog brand that consistently punches above its weight. Another one is Kia. With cars like the Stinger and the EV6 GT, they are building stylish, high-performance, and critically acclaimed vehicles that can genuinely compete with, and in some cases beat, their more expensive rivals.
The Best “Q-Ship” to Surprise Supercars.
A “Q-Ship” is a high-performance car that looks unassuming. The ultimate Q-Ship today is a Tesla Model S Plaid with the badges removed. It looks like a normal electric family sedan. However, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 2 seconds, making it one of the quickest production cars in the world. I watched one at a drag strip completely humiliate a loud, flashy Lamborghini. The silent, unassuming sedan launching with such impossible violence is the ultimate, modern-day sleeper experience.
The Most Unassuming Designs That Hide a V8 Engine.
I love a car that hides a V8 under a boring exterior. The old Volvo S80 had an optional V8 engine that was developed by Yamaha and mounted transversely. It looked like a car your professor would drive. Another great example is the Chevrolet Caprice PPV, the police version of the Chevy SS. It looks like a simple, fleet-level sedan, but it’s packing a 6.0-liter V8. These cars are the perfect way to enjoy V8 power without the unwanted attention of a flashy muscle car.
The MazdaSpeed6: The AWD, Turbocharged Family Sedan Time Forgot.
In the mid-2000s, while everyone was focused on the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo, Mazda quietly built a fantastic competitor: the Mazdaspeed6. It was a mid-size family sedan, but Mazda gave it a 274-horsepower turbocharged engine, a six-speed manual transmission, and a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. It was a fast, capable, and fun-to-drive sedan that was more comfortable and grown-up than its rally-bred rivals. It’s a brilliant and rare all-wheel-drive sport sedan that has been almost completely forgotten by time.
The Most Underrated Hot Hatches That Paved the Way for Modern Giants.
Everyone knows the VW GTI, but some great early “hot hatches” are forgotten. The Dodge Omni GLH (Goes Like Hell) from the 80s was a tiny, lightweight hatchback with a powerful turbo engine. It was a wild, torque-steering monster. Another one is the Renault 5 Turbo, a bizarre, mid-engine rally car for the road. These early pioneers were crude and often unreliable, but their focus on putting a powerful engine in a small, practical car paved the way for the sophisticated and popular hot hatches we have today.
The “Saab 9-2X Aero”: The “Saabaru” That Was a WRX in Disguise.
In the mid-2000s, Saab was owned by GM, who also had a stake in Subaru. To quickly create a new model for Saab, they took a Subaru Impreza WRX wagon and gave it a new front end, a nicer interior, and a Saab badge. The result was the Saab 9-2X Aero, affectionately known as the “Saabaru.” It had the legendary Subaru turbocharged boxer engine and all-wheel-drive system, but with a more sophisticated, European look. It’s a quirky and rare piece of automotive badge engineering.
The Best Luxury Performance Cars That Have Depreciated to Nothing.
Some incredible performance cars have depreciated so much they are now amazing bargains. A V12-powered Mercedes-Benz CL600, which was over $120,000 new, can now be found for under $15,000. A Maserati Quattroporte with a Ferrari-derived V8 can be had for a similar price. These cars offer true, six-figure performance and luxury for the price of a used Honda Civic. The catch? The maintenance and repair costs are still that of a six-figure car, making them a very brave and potentially ruinous purchase.
Why the Jaguar XJR is the Ultimate Gentleman’s Express.
The Jaguar XJR from the late 90s and 2000s is the perfect “gentleman’s express.” It has a classic, elegant, and understated design. But under the hood, it has a supercharged V8 engine that gives it stunning, effortless performance. It’s a car that doesn’t need to shout about its capabilities. It can be a comfortable, silent luxury cruiser one moment, and a ferociously fast sports sedan the next. It’s a car that perfectly blends old-world charm with serious muscle.
The Most Surprising Cars to See at a Track Day.
I was at a track day, surrounded by Porsches and BMWs. The car that surprised everyone was a Honda Odyssey minivan. The owner had stripped out the interior, installed a roll cage, and upgraded the suspension and brakes. It was hilarious to see a minivan passing sports cars in the corners. It was a perfect example of how, with enough dedication and creativity, almost any car can be turned into a surprisingly capable and fun track machine.
The Best “Bang-for-Your-Buck” Horsepower on the Used Market.
If your only goal is maximum horsepower for minimum money, the answer is a used, V8-powered Dodge Charger or Challenger. You can find a clean, 5-to-7-year-old model with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, producing over 370 horsepower, for well under $20,000. No other car on the used market can offer that level of reliable V8 power for such a low price. It is the undisputed “bang-for-your-buck” champion.
The Most Unlikely Off-Road Hero: The Suzuki Jimny.
The Suzuki Jimny is a tiny, adorable-looking SUV that is not sold in the US. It looks like a toy. But it is one of the most capable off-road vehicles in the world. It has a proper, body-on-frame construction, a solid rear axle, and a true low-range four-wheel-drive system. Because it is so small and lightweight, it can scramble up and over obstacles that would stop much larger and more expensive off-roaders. It is a tiny, unlikely, and incredibly tough little hero.
The Most Reliable and Sensible “Fun” Cars.
My friend wanted a fun, weekend car that wouldn’t be a maintenance nightmare. I recommended two cars. The first was a Mazda Miata. It’s a pure, rear-wheel-drive sports car that is also known for its legendary reliability and low running costs. The second was a Honda S2000. It offers an exotic, high-revving engine and fantastic handling, but with Honda’s bulletproof engineering. These cars offer all the joy of a fun sports car with the peace of mind of a sensible daily driver.
The Cars That Were Hated When New, But Are Loved Today.
When BMW launched the E60 5-Series in the early 2000s, designed by Chris Bangle, people hated it. They called the styling ugly and controversial. Today, many enthusiasts see it as a bold, forward-thinking design that has aged incredibly well. Another example is the Porsche 911 from the “996” generation. People hated its “fried egg” headlights. Now, it’s seen as an undervalued bargain and an important part of the 911’s history. Time has a way of changing our perspective on controversial designs.
The Most Competent Cars That Were Killed by Bad Marketing.
The Volkswagen Phaeton was a brilliant car—a hand-built luxury sedan that shared a platform with a Bentley. It was killed because of its badge. The marketing could not convince people to spend $100,000 on a Volkswagen. The Mazda Miata is another example, but of a different kind. Its marketing often gives it a “soft” or “hairdresser’s car” image, which completely betrays its true nature as a sharp, capable, and legitimate sports car that is beloved by serious track-day enthusiasts.
The Pontiac G8 GXP: The Four-Door Corvette That America Ignored.
In 2009, Pontiac launched the G8 GXP. It was a rebadged version of the Australian Holden Commodore. It had a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 from the Corvette, rear-wheel drive, and an available six-speed manual transmission. It was a world-class sports sedan that could compete with a BMW M5. But it was launched at the height of the financial crisis, and Pontiac itself was on the verge of bankruptcy. The brand was killed off, and this incredible sedan, one of the best GM ever made, disappeared after only one year.
The Most Underrated Japanese Luxury Cars.
Everyone knows Lexus, but some great Japanese luxury cars are overlooked. The Infiniti M45 from the mid-2000s was a fantastic car. It had a powerful V8 engine, rear-wheel-drive dynamics, and a beautiful, high-quality interior. It was a true competitor to the BMW 5-Series but is now a forgotten bargain. The Acura RLX Sport Hybrid is another. It has a sophisticated, three-motor hybrid all-wheel-drive system that is technologically brilliant, but the car was largely ignored by buyers.
The Best “First Performance Car” That Won’t Kill You (or Your Wallet).
The best first performance car is a Volkswagen GTI. It’s fast enough to be exciting, but its front-wheel-drive layout is predictable and forgiving for a new driver. It’s a practical hatchback, so it can still be your only car. And because it’s a VW, maintenance and parts are relatively affordable. It provides a perfect, safe, and sensible introduction to the world of performance driving without the high costs or intimidating dynamics of a more powerful, rear-wheel-drive sports car.
The Most Unassuming Cars with a Manual Transmission.
In an age of automatics, finding a manual transmission in a normal car is a rare treat. The Honda Accord Sport used to offer a fantastic six-speed manual. It transformed the sensible family sedan into a surprisingly engaging and fun-to-drive car. Another one is the base model Porsche Macan, a compact SUV that, in some markets, could be ordered with a manual transmission. These cars are unassuming heroes for the enthusiast who wants the joy of three pedals in a practical, everyday vehicle.
The Most Capable Cars That Suffer from “Badge Snobbery.”
The Kia Stinger GT is the king of this category. It’s a fast, stylish, and brilliant-to-drive sports sedan that is let down by the Kia badge on its hood. Many buyers would rather have a slower, less-equipped, base-model BMW 3-Series just for the prestige of the German badge. The Volkswagen Phaeton is another classic example. It was a Bentley-level luxury car that people refused to buy because they couldn’t justify spending six figures on a VW. “Badge snobbery” is a powerful and often illogical force in the car market.
The Best Car Nobody Knows About.
The best car that almost no one in America knows about is the Skoda Superb, sold in Europe. It’s a mid-size sedan and wagon built on a Volkswagen platform. It offers a level of interior space, particularly rear legroom, that rivals cars in the class above. It’s filled with clever, practical features and has a high-quality interior. It consistently wins “family car of the year” awards in Europe. It’s a practical, comfortable, and well-built car that represents incredible value for money.
The Most Interesting Cars That Were Commercial Failures.
The BMW Z3 M Coupe, known as the “clown shoe,” is a great example. It was a bizarre-looking shooting brake that was criticized for its strange styling and sold in tiny numbers. Today, it’s a beloved cult classic and a valuable collectible. The Renault Avantime, a strange, three-door luxury “coupe-minivan,” was another massive commercial failure that is now appreciated for its incredibly bold and avant-garde design. These cars were too weird for the mainstream market, but that’s what makes them so interesting today.
The “Mercury Marauder”: The Panther-Platform Muscle Car.
In the early 2000s, Mercury took the humble Ford Crown Victoria “Panther” platform and created a surprise muscle car: the Marauder. They put in the high-performance, 302-horsepower DOHC V8 from the Mustang Mach 1, upgraded the suspension, and gave it a sinister, blacked-out look. It was a big, comfortable, old-school American sedan that could do a burnout and surprise people at a stoplight. It was a short-lived but very cool “parts bin” special.
The Most Underrated Classic Cars to Invest in Now.
If I were looking for an underrated classic to invest in, I’d look at cars from the 1990s. The Porsche 968, the final evolution of the front-engine Porsche line, is a brilliant car whose value has not yet exploded like the 911’s. The C4 generation Corvette ZR-1, with its Lotus-designed DOHC V8, is another “supercar” that is still relatively affordable. And the original Lexus LS400, a car known for its legendary build quality, is a future classic whose significance is only now being recognized.
The Cars That Are Way More Fun to Drive Than Their Specs Suggest.
The Mazda Miata is the king of this category. On paper, its horsepower numbers are unimpressive. But to drive it is to experience pure joy. It’s lightweight, perfectly balanced, and provides a direct, unfiltered connection to the road. The original Mini Cooper is another. It feels like a street-legal go-kart. These cars prove that fun is not a number on a spec sheet. It’s about a car’s character, its handling balance, and its ability to make you smile.
The Most Surprising Car I’ve Ever Rented.
On a business trip, I was given a new Kia K5 sedan as a rental. I was expecting a boring, cheap appliance. I was wrong. The car had a stylish, driver-focused interior, a huge, responsive touchscreen, and a surprisingly punchy turbocharged engine. It was comfortable, quiet, and looked great. It was a powerful reminder of how much the “boring” brands have improved. It was a genuinely impressive car that completely shattered my preconceived notions.
The Best “Normal” Cars with a Secret Performance Trim.
Many normal cars have a “secret” performance version. The Ford Fusion Sport was a great example. It looked like a regular family sedan, but it had a 325-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel drive, making it a serious sleeper. The Honda Accord Sport 2.0T is another. It has a detuned version of the engine from the high-performance Civic Type R, giving the sensible family sedan a surprising turn of speed. These cars are the perfect way to have fun without attracting any attention.
The Most Over-Engineered “Economy” Cars.
The original Lexus LS400 from 1989 was an over-engineered masterpiece. Toyota reportedly spent over a billion dollars developing it. Their goal was to build a car that was better than a Mercedes S-Class in every way. The engine was so smooth you could balance a pyramid of champagne glasses on it while it was running. It was an economy car in the sense that it was a fantastic value, but it was built to a standard of quality that was far beyond its price point.
The Underdog Story of How Hyundai/Kia/Genesis Got So Good.
In the 1990s, Hyundai and Kia were a joke, known for cheap, unreliable cars. Their turnaround is an incredible underdog story. They made a conscious decision to invest heavily in quality and design. They hired top German engineers and designers. They backed their cars with an industry-leading warranty to build consumer trust. Now, with their Genesis luxury brand and high-performance “N” models, they have gone from being a punchline to being a legitimate and often superior competitor to the established Japanese and German brands.
The Most Underrated Engine and Car Combinations.
One of the most underrated combinations is the Volvo S80 with the Yamaha-developed V8 engine. It was a transverse-mounted V8 in a very discreet, safe Swedish sedan—a completely bizarre and wonderful pairing. Another is the Lexus GS450h hybrid. It combined a powerful V6 with an electric motor to deliver V8-level performance with much better fuel economy. It was a fast, reliable, and technologically advanced powertrain in a car that was largely overlooked.
The Best Cars That Are Let Down by One Major Flaw.
The Alfa Romeo 4C is a brilliant car. It has a full carbon fiber monocoque chassis and provides a pure, unfiltered driving experience. It is let down by one major flaw: its unassisted steering is incredibly heavy and twitchy at low speeds, making it a nightmare to park and drive in the city. The beautiful Jaguar F-Type is another great car that is let down by its terrible rear visibility, which makes it feel claustrophobic and hard to maneuver.
The Most Impressive Car Built by a “Boring” Brand.
The most impressive car from a “boring” brand is the Toyota GR Yaris (not sold in the US). Toyota is known for reliable but unexciting cars. But for the GR Yaris, they built a completely bespoke, all-wheel-drive rally car for the road. It has a powerful three-cylinder turbo engine and a lightweight body. It is a homologation special, a car built with a pure, obsessive focus on performance. It’s a wild, exciting car that proves that even a “boring” company can create something truly special.
The Cars That Deserve a Second Chance.
The Cadillac CT6 was a fantastic luxury sedan. It had a handsome design, a brilliant chassis, and an advanced, high-tech V8 engine option called the “Blackwing.” It was a true competitor to the best from Germany. But it was a sedan launched at the height of the SUV craze, and it was a commercial failure. It was a great car that was released at the wrong time, and it deserves a second chance in the market.
The Most Unexpectedly Luxurious Cars.
The most unexpectedly luxurious car I’ve been in is the top-trim level of the Kia Telluride SUV. For around $50,000, you get an interior that feels like it belongs in a car costing twice as much. It has beautiful Nappa leather seats, a suede headliner, and a high-quality, dual-screen display. The ride is also incredibly quiet and comfortable. It’s a mainstream family SUV that delivers a genuine luxury car experience for a fraction of the price.
The Best Car for Someone Who Loves Driving but Hates Attention.
The best car for this person is a Volkswagen Golf R. It’s a “hot hatch” with over 300 horsepower, a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, and incredible handling. It’s a genuinely fast and capable performance car. But from the outside, it looks almost identical to a standard Golf. It doesn’t have a giant wing or flashy styling. It allows you to enjoy a thrilling, high-performance driving experience while flying completely under the radar. It is the definition of understated performance.
The Most Underrated Future Classics from the 90s.
While everyone is chasing Nissan Skylines and Toyota Supras, there are some great, underrated classics from the 90s. The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 was a technological powerhouse, with a twin-turbo V6, all-wheel drive, and active aerodynamics. The Subaru SVX was a bizarre but beautiful coupe designed by the famous Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, with a unique flat-six engine. These cars were complex and not huge sales successes, which is why they are still relatively affordable and represent great future potential.
The Cars That Are One Great Review Away from Being Popular.
The Mazda 6 sedan is a car that is just one glowing, viral review away from being a hit. It is arguably the most beautiful car in its class, with an interior that rivals some luxury brands. It also has fantastic handling dynamics. However, it is often overlooked in favor of the more popular Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. If a major influencer were to champion the Mazda 6, it could easily break out of its niche and become the popular success it deserves to be.
The Most Impressive Feat of “Badge Engineering.”
“Badge engineering” is when a company takes one car and rebrands it as another. It often results in a bad car. The most impressive success, however, was the first-generation Lexus LS400. While it was technically a “Toyota,” the company invested so much money and engineering effort into it that they created a car that was superior to the established German luxury brands. It was a feat of badge engineering so profound that it launched a brand that is now synonymous with quality and luxury.
The Ultimate Sleeper Car I Would Build with an Unlimited Budget.
My ultimate sleeper would start with the body of a boring, beige 1990s Volvo 240 station wagon. I would keep the exterior completely stock, right down to the steel wheels with hubcaps. But underneath, I would have a custom chassis built. I would install the all-wheel-drive system and the 840-horsepower, supercharged V8 engine from a Dodge Challenger Demon. It would be a ridiculous, terrifyingly fast car that looks like it’s on its way to the grocery store.
The Most Over-Engineered “Economy” Cars.
The original Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf) diesel from the early 1980s was a simple economy car, but its diesel engine was incredibly over-engineered. It was a slow, noisy engine, but it was known to be able to run for over 500,000 miles with basic maintenance. These were cars built with a focus on durability above all else. They are a testament to an era when even an economy car was engineered to last a lifetime.