Top 10 Cars We Wish Were Still For Sale

Some cars are just impossible to get over.

The ones we never forgot. The cars that seemed just right, but for one reason or another were discontinued without a worthy successor. Sure, there may have been perfectly good reasons from a business perspective to kill off these cars back in the day, but enough is enough; we want them back.

Below are the Top 10 cars we wish were still for sale, and the reasons why they should be revived.

In the mid-1980s, Buick had one of the most exciting performance cars on the market – the Grand National. With a big turbocharged V6 engine unleashing ungodly amounts of torque upon the rear wheels, the Grand National was the modern interpretation of American muscle in the ’80s.

Since then, not much from Buick has got our blood pumping. For a brand in midst of a youthful reinvention, a new, stylish, high-powered, rear-drive coupe would do a lot for brand image even if it isn’t a huge seller.

Although most equate Dodge with muscle cars and the Viper, the brand has had many impressive sport compacts in its history. Vehicles like the Omni GLH, Daytona Shelby Z, Daytona IROC R/T and Neon SRT-4 all set the standards for sport compact performance in their respective days.

Dodge should bring back a high-performance compact car to entice potential customers. The manufacturer needs to build up brand image with younger drivers by taking the battle to the likes of the Elantra N, GR Corolla and Civic Type R.

The Honda Prelude was a bit of an enigma during the 1980s and 1990s, and that’s what made it so cool. A front-wheel-drive coupe, the Prelude could hold its own with plenty of traditional sports cars. When it was discontinued, the Accord Coupe was said to be its replacement, but that car was never more than a two-door sedan as opposed to a dedicated performance coupe.

Has the world moved on from purpose-built high-performance front-wheel-drive coupes? Probably. But it would still be cool to see a modern Prelude built on the Civic Type R’s drivetrain. Honda recently showed off a concept of a such a vehicle, so here's hoping.

Minivans used to be just that, mini. They were van-like vehicles built on smaller car platforms. They offered 7 or 8 passenger seating in the footprint of a mid-size car. Every manufacturer made one, and the were a hit. But times changed, minivans fell out of favor, and the few that still survive are ginormous.

Minivans today are a foot or two longer than the vehicles that made the class popular. We wish there was a smaller choice that still includes sliding doors. Mazda had one for a while, the Mazda5, but its stying was a bit polarizing. The Ford Transit Connect Wagon is the right size, but it's more of a converted cargo van than dedicated passenger vehicle.

Not to be confused with the 180SX and 240SX, the 200SX was a front-wheel-drive sport compact offered by Nissan in the 1990s. A no frills, fun-to-drive small coupe, the 200SX was loved by enthusiasts on a budget for its driving dynamics and low curb weight.

Nissan’s current small car offerings are tepid, to say the least, and a performance variant could really add a shot of excitement to the lineup. Maybe drop the brand's 2.0-liter turbocharged engine into the Kicks or Versa, and create a SE-R version? Heck, even in the Sentra, that engine would be an entertaining option.

In the mid-1980s, there were two affordable, mid-engine commuter cars on the market. We want those days to return. The Toyota MR2 was arguably the better executed of the mid-engine coupes and since Pontiac no longer exists, the Toyota is the only model that even has a remote chance of resurfacing.

A basic, fun-to-drive small mid-engine car like the original MR2 is all we’re asking for. So what if the Toyota GR 86 already exists – we want more! Plus, what car company is interested in making money anyway? Right? Right?