This week we’ve taken a look at buff book coverage on the new cars–and trucks–rolling out for the 1997 model year. This post also marks the last installment in our “7 Series,” where we’ve revisited car enthusiast magazine new model introductory issues for years ending in “7,” going back 60 years. Hopefully you’ve all enjoyed this trip through time–certainly a lot changed decade-by-decade in the American car market during the second half of the 20th Century. Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting! But we still have one more Question of the Day to cover: what new 1997 vehicle would you have bought?
For me, there were a few clear cut winners, one sedan and one SUV. In each case, these vehicles have proven to be some of my all time favorites. First up: the all-new 1997 BMW 5 Series. For one of BMW’s best-ever editions of the sports sedan, look no further than this E39 5 Series. In either 528i or 540i guise, these BMWs combined excellent handling, ample performance, supple ride comfort, luxurious interiors and contemporary styling. My wife and I were already big BMW fans, and when the E39 was introduced, we thought it looked fantastic. In 1998, in our DINKS (dual incomes no kids) phase, we decided to splurge and leased a 540i.
Ours was an Arctic Silver 540i with the Gray Montana leather, like this car in the 1997 brochure. The 5 Series was primarily for my wife to drive, and she wanted an automatic as she had to contend daily with heavy city traffic. No complaints, however, as the 5-speed auto box mated wonderfully with the V8.
One of my favorite aspects of the car was the beautiful interior. The cockpit was still driver-oriented in the BMW tradition, while a polished strip of walnut wood trim wrapped across the instrument panel and curved down the doors. There was a little sliding wood panel above the stereo controls which retracted to reveal the graphic equalizer and cassette player, but could be covered–simplifying the look–when not in use. Like this photo-car, ours also had the BMW Comfort Seats, which offered 16-way adjustments, including articulating upper back support. They still rate as some of the best car seats I’ve ever enjoyed.
Of course, products from Bavarian Motor Works should always showcase great engines, and our 282 horsepower, 4.4 Liter 32-valve V8 did not disappoint. The car was wicked fast and very smooth. Great handling and great brakes were also key to the experience. To this day, we remember that 540i fondly.
If I were to get a “do over” for this car in 1997, however, I might change a few things. First, I’d go for the 6-speed manual instead of the automatic. The 6-speed 540i came standard with the sport suspension and more aggressive wheels and tires. Maybe for a crazy late-1990s flourish I’d have the car in Aspen Silver (gray metallic with a slight purplish tint) over an Aubergine (very dark purplish black) interior. Not a color combo you’d find today! So that would be my sedan pick for 1997, now on to the wildly popular 1990s vehicle choice, the SUV.
The other vehicle on my 1997 wish list would be a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I love the design and capability of the ZJ Grand Cherokee. It was a great size and performed like a mountain goat in terms of bad weather drivability. I had an extended time with one–a 1995 model, that belonged to a good friend. He was sent overseas on a work assignment, and asked if we’d be willing to keep his Grand Cherokee for 6 months while he was away. We loved having that Jeep, and always counted on it for hauling and bad weather duty–exactly the sort of rugged utility it was designed for. When my wife got pregnant with our first child in 1999, we decided that when we got a “family truckster” it would be a Jeep, and that’s how we came to buy our 2000 WJ Grand Cherokee (that one was a mixed bag–many quality/reliability issues, but still excelled at all the traditional Jeep attributes).
For my 1997 Grand Cherokee, I’d specify the Limited in Dark Forest Green Pearl with tan leather interior, 5.2 Liter “Magnum” V8 and Quadra-Trac full-time 4-wheel drive. Timeless styling and Jeep capability, hard to resist.
So those are my picks from 1997–and I know from first-hand experience that they would have been good choices (circa 2016, we continue to have a BMW 5 Series and a Jeep Grand Cherokee in our driveway, so yeah, you could say we’re fans). What vehicle(s) from 1997 would you have brought home?
I was shopping for a car in ’97. I was moving into a house and starting a family, and the ’94 Miata probably wasn’t the best vehicle for a single vehicle household. I wound up with a used ’96 Mystique, five speed, V-6. I really enjoyed the car until it ran into some cheap bits (wiring harness). But it soldiered on until about 2008, when the fatal flaw of the Duratec 2.5 reared its ugly head: con rod big ends open up and eat the bearings.
Had I been buying new, I rather liked the 318ti, but figured the Mystique would hold me over for a couple of years until the 328 touring was available. That never happened, but lately, I’ve been shopping for an e36 convertible.
Well, I bought a brand new “cockroach of the road” Cavalier in 1999. I probably would have done the same in 1997.
So many favorites in 1987 I had to make a long list. The only repeat ten years later is the Porsche 911.
* 1997 Porsche Carrera 2 (2nd to last year for air-cooled)
* 1997 Lexus SC300 5-speed (love an inline-6)
* 1997 BMW M3
* 1997 Lincoln Town Car (last year for boxy bodystyle)
No more Volvo because no more boxy. No more Honda because no more mojo. No more Camaro and Taurus because the 90s models were unattractive. No more Mercedes because no more Bruno Sacco styling, diesel or inline-6. No more Buick (GNX) because no more RWD with attractive long hood styling, and that American style that you only see in trucks and pony cars these days.
If the cutoff was ’94 instead of ’97 I would have included the Sentra SE-R, Maxima 4DSC, 300ZX and 1st gen Infiniti G20, products that came from more of an 80s mentality.
The Chrysler Cirrus and Grand Caravan were incredibly well done though I would not have chosen one for myself.
I think I had more favorites in 1977 than I did in 1997. If you ask me the real malaise era was 90s – early 00s.
Another nice job this week GN, thanks.
I wouldn’t say that ’77 was great shakes, but I can verify that late 90’s to early oughts was pretty lousy. Trucks, truck, and more trucks. And yet, not really trucks. No towing capacity. No cargo capacity. Little suspension travel. Sure, there were the old standby Wranglers and the like, but rather than the grand old cruisers of yore, we get Escalades, CRVs replacing the Civic SI, and enough badge engineering to drive some nails into coffins.
It was a dull decade. Can’t believe I forgot the original Audi A4. Audi was trying so hard back then, to recover from the unintended acceleration fiasco. They were one of the few companies that was. Most of the time great products come only when your back is against the wall (Audi, Chrysler in the 90s).
The boxes weren’t dead yet at Volvo for ’97. Last year for the 850 before it got rounded off and renamed S60, and if you’re a RWD traditionalist (not a thing wrong with that) the v90/s90 were in their penultimate year, fresh off a name change from 960.
The 850 facelift for 1998 was called S70. The radically different S60 was new for 2001.
You’re right, my bad. S70/V70.
I loved the 850 styling. I could have even tolerated the FWD since Volvo’s RWD wasn’t super sporty. What killed the 850 for me was the noodle-like body structure, at least compared to the old 740. Taking one into a driveway once, I heard the dash creak from all of the body twist.
In general yes I hated the soft, organic designs from this decade. If there could be a poster child for all that was wrong with the 90s it would be the Dodge Neon. Cheap, round and decontented, it started it all. The headlights were cute for about a week.
It’s funny how time changes things. Back in the 90’s when they were new, I didn’t care much for the styling. But now when I see a car from the late 90’s, I really appreciate the simple, clean, and functional styling compared to what we have now. I’ll have to see if my opinions of today’s cars change after 20 years have passed.
Well, had I had the opportunity to choose what I liked, it would have been a Chrysler Intrepid. However, necessity led to a 1996 Cavalier (regrettable), and in 99, a Ply Voyager on lease.
We purchased the Intrepid, slightly used from the company I worked for. Got a smokin deal, as I was looked upon as not as wealthy as a ceo…I was a labourer…go figure. It was one of the “fleet executive” cars as they exchanged every year for the newest autos. (Must be nice). Anyway, it was an excellent buy. No problems. Always maintained. We yanked out the catalytic converter and spooked the window. It would tear out plenty fast. What I loved best was it allowed me to speed shift the automatic by letting up ever so slightly on the accelerator, it would then up shift itself and wait for just a milli-second so I’d smash the throttle again. Each shift the car lurched forward with increasing speed. We’d always let up cause the speed would get out of hand(it wasn’t THAT fast), with short curvy roads. …in the end, t- boned and totalled by a…’97 Taurus that blew through a stop sign. Well, it was totalled as well.
Since I owned a 1997 Honda Accord and it proved to be a pretty good car overall, I’d buy one again as a family vehicle. Although this time, I’d probably get a wagon which would be more family friend, while I’d keep the 2.2 L 4 as it had decent power and MPGs.
For a Truck, I’d buy a Chev/GMC 1500 ext cab 4×4 with a 350. The GMT-400 is one of my all time favourite trucks and although not paragons of reliability, they are relatively easy to fix and I am very familiar with them.
For a fun car, I’d have to go with a C5 Vette. I remember driving these when they first came out, they blew me away with how much better they were than a C4. And a C5 was actually tall person friendly unlike the horribly cramped C4. Make mine a 6-speed though.
I have the 2500 version of that truck and it has proved to be a paragon of reliability. It does have the 4L80 trans and manual transfer case. By ’96 those GMT-400s were fully sorted out. Yes, I would buy one new if it was 1997.
I owned, and loved, a ’96 Lincoln Mark VIII, though it was quite a few years old when I got hold of it. The styling refresh for ’97 wasn’t an improvement in my eyes but it looked good in dark colors, plus the headlamps were now actually useful. So if I had to pick just one ’97, make mine a Mark VIII LSC in Dark Navy Blue metallic, Ivory interior, with the polished “octastar” alloys.
To pull in a few other categories:
Sporty Coupe: Honda Prelude Type SH
Midsize Sedan: Subaru Legacy 2.5GT
Family Hauler: Volvo 850R Wagon (hey, nobody said it had to be boring…)
Sports/Luxury sedan: BMW 540i-6
+1 on the Mark VIII, Chris. I remember your COAL on that car, and had I been able to afford it, I would’ve bought that instead of the ’97 T-Bird (pictures a few posts below). My ex’s ’94 T-Bird was the same color as yours too, that Pearl Opalescent or whatever Ford called the color. That 4.6 was a sweet running engine. Sadly, my ’97 ‘Bird had the Essex motor. The color combo you describe sounds awesome. That would be a pretty MN12 Lincoln.
Minor nit, the Mark VIII platform was called FN10, rather than MN12.
That’s right… I forgot. It also had the 4.6L with 32 valves, as opposed to my ex’s T-Bird which had 16 valves. That 4.6 must’ve been very configurable. I seem to recall that the Mustang’s 4.6 had 24 valves. I guess that’s why they called it ‘modular’.
The 24V version of the 4.6 actually came later–it replaced both the 16V and the 32V in the Mustang sometime around 2004 IIRC. The 16V version stuck around in the Panthers and maybe the trucks though, which didn’t make a lot of sense to me–unless it was a packaging issue why not give the Town Car and the P71 the more powerful 24V motor? And it shouldn’t have been a packaging issue considering the exceptionally wide 32V fit just fine in the Marauder with no clearance mods.
Do not question Ford on questions of engine choices; that way lies madness.
05 for the Mustang.
I’ve always had similar criticism about sticking with the 16 V past it’s sell by date, but having done a SOHC 16V to DOHC 32V valve swap on my Cougar I think the problem may have been height, as width was is actually very close on all 4.6s (the exhaust camshafts on the DOHC are in the same plane as the SOHC camshafts). The 2V was pretty low, and the Marauder DOHC is only a little taller, both with the runners dipping into the dry valley, but the 3V manifold is almost like like an old school tunnel ram, with the runners pointing up and the throttle well above the alternator. The 05 Mustang engine compartments were quite deep due to the high beltline and in Explorers and trucks they’re even deeper obviously, but the Panther’s circa 1992 hood was pretty low, I’m thinking a low profile manifold would have been required to work on them and that just couldn’t be amortized on a single car line.
Too bad the Coyote didn’t come out sooner, those are more compact in addition to being MUCH more powerful
I can understand that could have posed a problem for the TC and civilian production Crown Vic/Grand Marquis. But for the interceptor version? Just give it a domed hood. John Q. Public probably wouldn’t have noticed the difference on an unmarked unit, and on a marked cruiser, who cares?
Found a photo with the right color and wheel choice (harder than you might think, Dark Navy Blue was one year only and the octastar wheels were not standard on either trim level and consequently rather rare.)
Actually, in 1997 I brought home a new Chrysler Cirrus LXi. Dark green with a tan interior. It was really sharp-looking, handled well, very reliable, and was quite comfortable until I totaled it in 2000.
I don’t think people appreciated how well these cars handled. Very pliant, French-y suspension, with weighty, accurate steering.
For me, these were among the most frustrating of Chrysler’s “alllllmost, but …” ’90s phase. They looked great — I saw one yesterday and it’s still an outstanding shape — and they had a great chassis and steering. And unlike the Mondeo/Contour, they were a pretty good size. Then the “buts” begin: drum brakes even in top models, longish stopping distances, no powertrain combination that suited me, and various indications that Chrysler had cut corners in too many places. It was so close to being a brilliant car that it was exasperating that it wasn’t quite.
You could argue that’s just standard Chrysler procedure. Every time they’re on the verge of excellence, but there’s always something holding the cars back from being amazing. Granted it was more obvious in some time periods and products than others, but it always seemed like Chrysler was the “Car company that could”
A Plymouth Breeze would have been my first choice, monotone white with blue accents, but I really wanted a Dodge Intrepid!
We did buy a 1999 Stratus. Good car,but we only kept it less than 3 years. Wifey wanted a CUV.
The next year I bought a new-for-1998 Accord Coupe, but I wouldn’t have bought the outgoing ’97 design- never liked either the coupe or sedan of that generation (although chances are it was far better built than the one I had.)
I probably would have gone with the Prelude, or if I had more cash at the time, a 3 series coupe.
compact car Honda Civic EX 2 door w/5 speed
midsized car Toyota Camry XLE V6
luxury car Lexus LS400
sporty car Chevy Camaro Z28
large SUV Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 5.4 Liter V8
midsize SUV Toyota 4Runner
For me, if I got a do-over, I might have done things a little differently, but probably would’ve picked the same two cars I actually owned (pictured below in a collage).
The T-Bird, I actually bought in 1997, slightly used in the late summer of 1997. As for the Grand Prix GTP, I bought that car in the summer of 2000 when the T-Bird’s transmission started to slip at 118K, exactly HALF the mileage I got out of the ’88 5.0L ‘Bird that preceded it (236K at trade in).
In hindsight, I still probably would’ve bought my last T-Bird ever, albeit with the 4.6L that my ex’s 1994 T-Bird had in it. Interestingly, hers had transmission trouble too around the same time and she traded it in for a 3.0L Taurus.
As to the Grand Prix, while I loved the car, I’m more of a Ford man and was happy to trade it in on my 200″7″ (to keep with where this theme could’ve gone next ;o) Mustang.
Note the “That 90’s Teal” paint on both of my 97’s. While everyone was making fun of that color, as its ship had sailed by 1998 or so, I bet you all wish you could get cars in cool colors like that now! Everything is so monochrome these days.
+1 on liking teal. That shade is a bit dark for my liking, too much like a forest green.
The teal offered on the ’97 Wrangler COULD look good, if properly executed. Basically, what makes a lifted and beefed up Jeep stand out in a crowd, would make a stocker look like its owned by a 16 y/o girl. So the right touches, and a heap of self confidence make it work. Id rock this right now:
I like that color, man. Yeah, the T-Bird’s color was called “Pacific Green Clear-Coat Metallic” and was more of a blue than a green. I am not sure what Pontiac called their teal, but in the sun, it screamed TEAL!!!! rather loudly….
Funny how people perceive colors differently. I know that shade very well and I would call it way more green. The gold wheels draw the green out of it a lot too.
Back before I got my digital camera (a year or so after buying the Grand Prix) I took a 35mm shot the day I traded the T-Bird in of BOTH cars parked on the lot together as they switched the tags. (Sadly, I don’t know where that print is, or I would scan it to a jpeg to share). The T-Bird was noticeably BLUE compared to the Grand Prix that was definitely GREEN, just showing the wide range of teals that were available at the time. IIRC correctly, BOTH of these cars in ’97 came in TWO shades of teal, and I chose the darker color each time. The T-Bird’s lighter shade of teal was more green, while the Grand Prix’s lighter teal was more blue… the exact opposite of my cars. In that picture, my car looks almost Emerald Green.
Despite all the debate in this week’s round of articles, I actually can find desirable pics in almost every catagory for 1997. The nineties I do agree was a dividing line, largely being the archetype for today’s automobile standards, but as a transition there were some truly great or interesting cars before the buying public watered them down on beige and silver, consequently 97 for me was the bookend of cars I found truly appealing, and within a few years my list would be much shorter, with most of my choices either gone, withering on the vine or grotesquely updated.
1997 Ford Thunderbird or Mercury Cougar with the 4.6 and sport package, (sadly the last year for the MN12, and arguably the best all round year for it after all the troublesome 3.8s and choked 5.0s)
1997 SVT Mustang Cobra – 32 valves of awesome, finally giving street cred to the SN95 bodystyle. These had quite possibly the coolest looking hood of all time for high performance Mustangs.
1997 Mazda RX-7 – The sports car catagory had stiff competition for me still, with the 300ZX/3000GT/Supra(all my all time favs) but the FD just looks timeless.
1997 Civic SI – A car I dare not admit fondness for as a Muscle car kid in the 00s, but these were fun little compacts if you didn’t ruin them with wings, fart cans, hot air intakes, cut springs, spray painted interiors, clear taillights, unpainted bodykits. The coupe versions in that electric blue color though, with the VTEC script on the quarter panel, I always liked.
1997 Nissan Maxima SE 5 speed – last great Maxima IMO, I couldn’t imagine settling for any other sedan for 97, my Dad certainly didn’t.
1997 Lincoln Town Car – the last Lincoln that looked like a Lincoln, and the only full sizer I can think of since I realized while writing this that the Impala SS’s last year was 1996 (Doh!)
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Same reasons cited by the author, I don’t like SUVs, and haven’t liked the later generations to date but these nailed it. Truly capable on or off road, and look the part, just like a real SUV should.
1997 F150 short cab stepside – Last of a dieing breed, certainly the last bodystyle of F150 with that combo. I’m not a pickup truck guy, so maybe that’s why the most impractical cab/bed configuration appeals to me, but you gotta admit, these looked pretty good (especially in lightning form, which, like the Impala, I would have submitted before I realized 99 was the first year lol)
I would have had the RX-7 on my list too, as I still think the FD is drop-dead gorgeous and supposedly it’s a fantastic driver’s car. But I think its last year in the US market was ’95. I could be wrong though, I know it lived on past 2000 in Japan.
Looks like that’s the case, I’ve always been a bit unclear on the end year of the RX7 here. 300ZX will substitute, that’s my second favorite
Alas, the 300ZX was also gone in the U.S., expiring after ’96. It was selling so poorly that Nissan decided it wasn’t worth the cost of updating it for newer emissions standards.
I really like the FD RX7’s and the Civic Si coupes as well, but the FD was gone after 1995 and the Si did not come about until 1999.
Man I should have fact checked more, but that timeline adds up better. I would have started middle school and riding the bus starting in 1999, and I first became aware of that generation SI from one on the route I’d see every day.
Loved your comment on the Lincoln. I was a hardcore European sport-sedan guy back then but the new Town Car caught my attention. It was traditional and at the same time very contemporary. And they got the door handles right, that’s important.
Years later I read something like that was originally intended to be a design for Bentley?
I always considered this generation Town Car as Lincoln’s W126. I agree completely, it looked thoroughly modern but retained it’s identity to a tee. Similarly, both it and the W126 even in used form from today’s perspective exude more presence, just I can’t say the same for the 97 Continental or Mark VIII
My parents had a ’97 Maxima SE. Auto, unfortunately, but it was a very well-made car which handled well and was super quiet. It was one of the nicest cars we had owned at the time, and had given us zero problems up until the time it was traded in 8 years later with 125k miles. Still miss that car. Pricey, though, for $27K with no Bose or ABS, let alone leather (the standard cloth was very rich and preferable, though).
My parents leased a beige 1997 GXE Maxima in 1997. I believe the car was the absolute base model. Still being Nissan’s top model it was fairly well equipped with power windows, locks, cruise control, tape deck, etc. The car was comfortable and treated them well, so when it was time to turn it back in, they bought a used fully loaded, black on black leather, 1997 SE model with the 5 speed. Now that was a nice car, a blast to drive, and even though I know people aren’t too keen on the jellybean-ish styling, I thought it was still a sharp car (though I do agree the previous generation is still the best looking Maxima).
If it was 1997, a Maxima SE with the 5 speed would be near the top of my list of new cars. I’d probably go with the black and black combo too. I do like the one year only red color for that generation, but I’d have to wait 2 more years for that.
The GXE was the middle model. The base had plastic hubcaps rather than alloys and could not be had with a sunroof, but could be had with a 5-speed unlike the GXE. Not aware of any other differences, although I imagine there were fewer color choices, etc.
I thought the Maxima SE with its 5-spoke 16″ alloy wheels really stood out. That was a large diameter back then and looked nice with the lean body.
The Maxima wasn’t immune to trim line inflation. By 1997 the GXE was the base trim. From there you could either move up to the GLE (luxury) or SE (sport) trims. I don’t know all the differences, but the SE got things like a stiffer suspension, standard fog lights, alloy wheels, and the oh-so-90’s spoiler on the trunk. The GLE got things like wood grain in the interior, a softer suspension and fancier grill. The GLE also came with a standard automatic which made it less interesting to me at the time.
The GXE my parents got was cloth seats, no sunroof, no spoiler, no fog lights, tape deck only, 5-speed. I honestly don’t remember what wheels it had so it’s possible it had alloys.
I remember the GXE’s and SE’s being more common, and the GLE more rare. Part of that was probably because some GLE buyers went over to Infiniti and got an I30 instead.
Ours was an auto too, my parents were the inverse from the norm, my Dad hated driving stick, while Mom preferred it. It was fairly stripper for an SE, with cloth interior and no sunroof, although it did have Bose. My friend’s dad had 5-speed ones before us, that was where the interest started.
I liked the styling almost as much as the 4DSC, it basically just looked like a softened up version of it, unlike the 2000 restyle with the goofy lights and gaping grille and it’s truly appalling blob generations thereafter.
The funny thing about the 2000 Maxima restyle is that while I didn’t really care much for it either, I thought they really good job when it came to adapting it to the Infiniti I30 (and later I35), as they smoothed out some of the lines, gave it a much better looking front end, and ditched those goofy lights in the rear.
This also had the advantage of making look less like the Maxima, unlike the previous generation I30 which totally looked like a Maxima but with a different grill and trunk lid.
+1 on the maxima! Although you didn’t need the SE in my experience. I had a 1997 base model with a 5-speed and I loved it. The engine was hugely powerful at the time, when 190 horsepower was a lot, and it sounded like a BMW to my then untrained ears (at the time I didn’t really understand the different torque curves or balance profiles of V6 versus inline 6 engines).
My brother had a 1995 SE 5-Speed and apart from looks I didn’t find the differences all that significant in most everyday driving conditions.
Biggest weakness of this maxima generation was somewhat vague on center steering.
Some very good possibilities this year….
SUV: A Jeep Cherokee
Pickup: Dodge Ram 1500 4×4, regular cab, 8′ bed, and 360 V8
Reasonably priced family car: Ford Crown Victoria. With the King Kong of trunks, there is a certain overlooked utility with these cars. Yes, I said that last week, too, but it was still in 1997 (and 2007 for that matter).
High priced car: 5 Series BMW. I’ve always liked them despite never professing my fondness for them.
Two Door: Ford Thunderbird. I bought one in ’96, so I would have done the same in ’97.
That 5 speed automatic was GM made.
I bought a new 1995 Buick Riviera. Then later on bought a used 1998 Aurora. Both were available in much the same state for the 1997 model year.
Great choices. My father had a few Rivieras and a 2001 Aurora. I’d buy the last year 1997 saab 9000 aero with a stick and in white.
BMW seemed really to be shaking off the threat from Lexus by getting back to there basics by building cars like the new 5 series. In real life, I bought a jet black 318ti in 1997 but the dealer also had a jet black 840i that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. The V8 8 series were somewhat simplified and far lighter than the V12s, very tempting.
When the ’97s came out in fall of ’96 I had just taken off for University of Memphis…away from home, a huge new chapter of my life and all new adventures. I was a focused Jeep fanatic and I only had eyes for the new TJ Wrangler. I never really liked the YJ with its wrong-looking squared off styling and those craptacular square headlights. The TJ was a revelation…best suspension in a Jeep, off-road capability that would even make Aunt Edna a rockstar off pavement, finally a beefier rear axle upgrade. It finally LOOKED like a Jeep again too! Parked next to a CJ-7, you’d think that ’87-’95 abomination never existed…maybe as an eastern bloc knockoff but that’s about it. With still no V8 option and a too-modern dashboard that looked like every other half melted blob of plastic inside ’90’s era vehicles, I guess you can’t win em all.
If I could have even REMOTELY afforded it, Id have pulled the trigger. I was obsessed with these. A Sport with the first ever full steel doors/soft top combo, heavy duty suspension, off road package, and manual trans would have been my pick. Some good colors were on deck for ’97 too: midnight blue or teal would have been on my radar as well as the very throwback Citron Green. With a white soft top that retro combo may have beaten out blue…and that’s saying something.
I really liked (and still do) the mini-Ram Dakota. One of those or a Ram 1500 would have been a great choice too. Either way, make mine a single cab shortbed 4×4 with the biggest engine and manual trsns. Dark blue ext, black int.
‘Regular’ cars weren’t on my radar so much. Contemporary pony/muscle cars had regained performance but style-wise…..YUCK. The organic blobby aborted whale fetus look is something I can’t get far enough away from. A Neon R/T coupe would have been a sweet ride once the head gasket issues were behind you. I liked the looks of the Avenger and still do, but a weak Jap V6 with mandatory slushbox and fwd is a bonafide FAIL when up against rwd V8s. OTOH, one of the last Talons would have been a solid investment if its a turbo/manual/AWD.
You all know my answer…none of ’em.
Range Rover, Jaguar XJ6, Lexus LS400, Toyota Land Rover, BMW 7-Series. I’d consider a 5-Series, but would then go buy a 7 anyway.
In ’97, I was really considering an Accord. 4 Cylinder EX 5-speed, no leather. Didn’t pull the trigger though, kept my ’88 Impulse until early ’98 when I wrecked it.
Nissan 240SX, but with a mind to modify the powertrain.
Straight up stock, however, the Integra GS-R was always satisfying.
VW GTI VR6 or Jetta GLX, which just needed some springs, dampers and thicker anti-roll bars, didn’t need much in the way of modification.
Contour SE V6 with 5-speed was underrated and satisfying and would just need some light exhaust and suspension mods to really sing.
And of course, the Miata was perpetually delightful. You could supercharge them aftermarket then, and still can today.
If I had to choose one of the above for daily use, straight-up stock, I guess the Integra would win out.
Audi A4 Avant 2.5 V6 TDI 24v.
I had a ’98 Grand Cherokee with the 5.2 V-8 from 2001 to 2008. Great package in a terrific indigo blue that glowed purple in bright sunlight. Marred by crummy quality control. It leaked into the fuse box from somewhere, and would not start when that happened (the likely culprit was the sunroof, but no one could ever determine that). Multiple trips to the mechanic, including one in which the entire cowl was deconstructed, like Gene Hackman’s apartment in “The Conversation”, could not stop the leak. I also made the mistake of driving it in 4WD all the time, thinking that you could do it in the Grand but not in the Squarokee. Wrong. The transfer case gears wore down to the point that, at 91,000 miles, the drivetrain would take a “set” after a long drive, and would balk at turning… until it cooled down. Lastly, a friend who owns a body shop told me that with that particular generation of Grand Cherokees, the radiator is extremely vulnerable in relatively light front end collisions.
1997 Mazda MPV Allsport 4wd. My family still has our ’98 that we bought in 2011. 15 years of faithful service but life in a northern climate has been starting to take its toll. Many many wonderful memories of road trips to the Florida Keys in that car.
40th Anniversary Toyota LandCruiser. Locking diffs front and rear, last year of the revered 80 series. A thirsty and somewhat clumsy truck on-road, but one of the most overbuilt vehicles ever sold in the US. Keep salt away from it and it will last for decades and decades.
I was only a toddler in 1997, so these cars were new when I was relatively new. That being said, every car I can think of that I like had problems in some way. But nevertheless, I found a couple.
BMW 325i: It was a choice between this or a 750il, but the 7 series is just way too complicated and labor intensive, so I have to go with the 3 series. Given my love of soft riding barges, a 3 series may be a surprise, but I really do like this generation of 3 series. Certainly much more than the later 3 series, and if I wanted something with some sports credentials on a semi affordable budget, that’s what I would choose.
Jeep Grand Cherokee. I had forgotten about the Grand Cherokee for the most part, and I’m not sure why because I like it a lot compared to the litany of 90s SUVs. Sharp styling, genuine off-road capability (Not that I would ever use it), great engine selections, and decent build quality all make it a great choice.
Cadillac STS: I’m probably suicidal for picking this, given I already have a Northstar powered Cadillac I worry about. But, maybe I’m just really stupid. Anyways, despite the litany of problems, I still have a soft spot for the Seville. Plus, 1997 was the last year you could get the original body style, as the refresh for 98 just never looked as good.
Lincoln Town Car: The last traditional American car that holds my interest. Despite having rear air-suspension equipped (The one thing I despise on any luxury car for being a maintenance headache), this was the last year for the Town Car’s bodystyle, especially for the gorgeous 95 restyle. Like the Seville, once 98 hit, the restyle became a blobby joke that has me immediately lose any and all interest. Unlike the Seville however, I can drive the Town Car without fear of the engine going Chernobyl on me.
Oldsmobile Aurora: Much like the Seville, it has it’s own laundry list of problems, and much like the Seville, I have a soft spot for it. What can I say? My domestic bias shines through sometimes, even against common sense.
Mercedes Benz W140: It was my dream car when I was a little kid, it was the last Mercedes Benz S-Class that I have any fondness for, of course I would consider owning one.
I have to agree that the 92-97 Seville was a better looking car than the updated 98 version. I found the Aurora disappointing in that the interior space seemed cramped (at least relative to the Riviera or 2002 Seville).
Boy, where some of you see a a bucket of nuthin, I see an embarrassment of riches. I have owned two 1997s, and would consider either of them again – the last year NA Miata and the first generation Odyssey.
I could also see a Grand Cherokee or the smaller Cherokee Sport. And let’s not forget that this was also the peak of Chrysler’s minivans.
I will agree with some others who locked onto the final “fat” Town Car. Or, if on a budget, the Crown Vic with the 59 Chevy taillights has always appealed to me. And even after some decontenting, the Mustang GT was always appealing.
Final answer – a loaded-up Suburban, maroon with beige leather.
Back in that time period I still was a GM loyalist, but if I was doing it over I would choose almost anything else. Without a doubt, now I would choose an Acura Integra. I liked them then, and really like them now. I admired the ones my neighbors had, and if I bought one then, maybe I’d still have it now.
1997 was very much a transition year in my opinion. If I were picking for 1996, I’d include vehicles like a LT1 Caprice, Park Avenue, K2500 with a Vortec 5700, or a 2.2 Camry (preferably 5 speed). If it were 1998 or 1999, I’d like an Accord 5 speed, K1500 (99), Tracker/Grand Vitara 5 speed (99), Camaro LS1 6 speed, Intrigue 3800 or an E46 3 Series.
Sticking to 1997, I’d consider a Dodge Ram or Ram Wagon, Lumina LTZ, Grand Am GT sedan 2.4 5 speed, Geo Prizm LSI 5 speed, Maxima, 626, and a Honda Odyssey. Perhaps a Corvette if I really felt like splurging!
Paul’s comment about the ’97 Camry earlier this week regarding its popularity due to reduced admission price is sensible, but it certainly did nothing to increase my interest in cars that followed in its footsteps. That Camry ushered in a decontenting spree in the 2000s (some models took longer than others to get there) that marked a transition to hard, brittle interior plastics, self-destructing drivetrains and cloth seats with all the suppleness of a burlap sack that we may never fully recover from. My choices above reflect the avoidance of models thusly affected. Hard to say for sure what I would’ve bought at the time had I been spending my own money, but nowadays I’d certainly go for a 96 Camry over a 97, a 97 Corolla over a 98, and a 98 Odyssey over a 99.
96 also would allow for the last of the old Ford F series as well as the Club Wagons before the nasty decontenting. The Ram Wagon is a very tempting choice.
If I had the choice, I was 16 in 1997, I probably would have bought a Dodge Neon, because they were the new cool small car, thankfully I didn’t ever get one, a friend did, she hated it. a few years later I bought a 97 Ford Ranger XLT. It was a great little truck with a 3 liter V-6 and 4 speed auto. Regular cab short bed. It was the perfect little street truck, decent on gas easy to park and could haul the stuff I needed to haul. So I would buy one again, But with an extended cab this time.
I bought a Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab pickup in the spring of 1997. The ’97 F-150’s were the first year of the new “jellybean” look and also the first year for the SLA front suspension, replacing the legendary, tire eating, twin I-beams. I was experiencing some serious back issues then and had to get out of my Camaro; actually that was the problem, I could barely get into and out of the Camaro, and needed something that sat up higher. I actually looked at a Crown Vic but didn’t think I was old enough for one of those.
My F-150 had the 4.6 V8, four speed AOD transmission and was two wheel drive. It was a comfortable vehicle and was not unpleasant to drive, at least in a straight line. The biggest downside I found was the size of the beast; we had assigned parking spots in the lot at work and if I didn’t get there before the people on either side of me it was a chore getting the truck docked. The size did come in handy at four way stops however, you seldom feel intimidated when you are driving a vehicle that weighs 5500 pounds.
We did get quite a bit of use out of the truck, at least for a couple of years. My wife went through a phase of buying and selling antiques so the F-150 found itself making plenty of road trips, we went to places that Rand-McNally had never heard of. Eventually though I came to realize that 98% of the time the only thing I was carrying around in the bed of the truck was air. That revelation, plus the steady 12 MPG I got driving in town, made me realize that it was time to move on to something else.
No cars. Either a Dodge Ram 4X4 318/5 speed or an XJ Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0 HO
I bought this one new in 1996 and still have it 204K miles later. I would have liked a 4X4 but couldn’t swing the extra payment.
Didn’t really give the 90’s too much thought about cars as my 1986 626 was running fabulously well. However, off the top of my head two cars that would have interested me would have been the Chrysler Concorde and Ford Thunderbird. The only knock against the Thunderbird would have been the de-contenting of the dash gauges that final year. Of course, the big problem with them is no 5 speed manual that I require and helps avoid the inevitable automatic troubles down the line.
The 5 speed would no doubt lead me to more import choices and I won’t burden my brain with thinking about that. I do know one thing, after last weekend, and that is BMW would be off my list always whether 5 series or not.
Well, not that it’s something that would have been known 1997, the 4R70w automatics had most of the issues sorted out by then. The early 93-95 ones were the worst, the changes for 96 were a big improvement and by mid 97 they were pretty much as robust as the ones used in the 00s
1997 Oldsmobile Aurora LOADED with extended warranty.
One of the last great Oldsmobile sedans.
Agree,…nice cruiser!
The Mazda RX-7 FD has already been mentioned, but it was a truly beautiful car so worth repeating. The Subaru SVX would also be on my list, I’ve always loved that greenhouse and would have to live with the gearbox.
On the saloon front, I’m surprised there’s no mention of the Audi A8, Audi’s first credible challenger to the S-Class / 7 Series; a S8 would definitely make my list. And I’ve always had a soft spot for Alfas, so a 164 Super 24v (Dark Grey with Red Leather) would have to be there too, despite its flaws and being a little long in the tooth by 1997. I owned one a few years later in Black and when it was on song (and not overheating and trying to steam me to death!) it was a wonderful car.
An S8 would have been on mine as well but those weren’t available in the US until the 2000 model year. Europe got ’em for ’97 though. Serious Q-ship and the 1st gen A8 body was a timelessly elegant design, if perhaps too understated.
1997???
-Seconded on the E39. One of the most gorgeous BMW’s ever. A 540i in dark red over black and burl wood would nail it.
-Volvo S90 3.0 24V: I don’t know if the color was available, but that “Ocean Race” navy blue looked so pretty on a 2015 V40 that it would be my color for any Volvo. Over tan, and burr walnut trim, please!
-Audi A6 1.9 TDI: The most daring design on Euro sedans by that time, with a real gem of an engine. That way, I would avoid the unreliable 2.5 V6 TDI (a bullet Volvo dodged by not putting it in the S80. Instead they put the 2.5 I5 TDI that was around since 1989, and was one helluva solid motor. One of those TDI Volvos can go to 600,000 mi and go on. Trust me)
-RX7 FD. No words to describe it.
-and, as a sensible choice, was the Toyota Avensis already around by that time? A 2.0TD would be good. One of the last Toyotas engineered in their golden era, and a truly great car. It had such an equilibrated design. It doesn’t make people fall in love but I wouldn’t change a thing to it, especially after the 2000 restyling (pictured). Oh, it had to be a sedan. The lift back looked hideous.
Europe may have gotten the C5-generation A6 for 1997, not sure, but we still had the older C4 car at that time. And while an S6 Avant of that generation would have been tempting, I wouldn’t have bought one knowing the new car was just around the corner. The ’98-’04 A6 is still an absolutely gorgeous design to my eyes–I strongly considered buying an ’00 2.7T in 2006 but the reliability concerns of an Audi nearing 100K miles scared me away. As a new car, were I in the market at the time, it would have been nearly impossible to resist!
1997 was indeed the year when production started. Probably it was MY98 but in my neck of the woods the year of the car is the registration year 🙂 here the diesels were the one to have, (and the later RS6, but that’s another league)
Our ’89 Thunderbird was aging by ’97, and suddenly it had kid responsibilities as well. We had spent some years thinking of upgrading to a V-8 ‘Bird, so that was a possibility. But, we had thoughts of a second kid, and minivans suddenly looked meaningful to us. As it turns out, the T-Bird was traded for a ’99 Town and Country.
The 90’s were not a car decade for me…..I always bought Chevies, but switched to trucks from 90 to 2000…….I owned a 1991 Full sized Blazer through the decade but I had an eye on the newer K Blazers, renamed Tahoe…..In 1997 I was checking out the Chevy lots for 2 door Tahoes….I wanted a Black 2 door with the Sport Package…..or else the similar GMC 2 door Yukon GT…..
I ended up sticking with my 91 K Blazer until late 1999 when I bought a 2000 Silverado pickup.
Perhaps a 1997 Buick Lesabre. I owned one for a few years and it was very reliable. I had no trouble at all with the car which had over 80,000 miles on it. I see no reason to doubt that the car would have been as reliable brand new.
The 1997 Mazda Miata as it was the last year for the classic original version.
Perhaps a Ford Probe, I have been having a lot of fun with my 1994, I think I would have liked the 1997.
Mom is still driving her 1998 BMW 528. Loves that car and won’t part with it. Only 80k miles on it – and hopefully someday it will be mine! Still looks great, drives great and has been very reliable over the years.
I like my ’05 Park Avenue so much I would have to say a ’97 PA would be it.
1997…hmm…
Well, for a 4×4 fullsize truck, it’s down to two: a Ram 2500 with the Cummins, or an F-350 with the 7.3 Power Stroke. Honestly, I’d be happy with either…extended cab/longbed, work truck interior with vinyl seats and no carpet, steel wheels, manual shift, plow prep, rear limited slip, and tilt/cruise. Medium blue for the Ford, either dark green or khaki for the Ram. Immediately upon purchase, full undercoating.
Also in the truck section would be a 2WD Dakota. Base model (steel wheels, gray plastic grille) RC/LB with the 318, 5-speed manual, 3.92 limited slip, A/C, tilt/cruise, and towing package (rear swaybar). Add a snap-on tonneau cover, and hit the boneyard for a pair of extra wheels. On weekends, this truck would be seen at New England Dragway with a pair of ET Streets on the back, and a dial-in quicker than 14 seconds on the windshield.
Small car: BMW 318ti. Kind of out in left field, but it’s a compact. 5-speed manual, Sport package, and what would make the car incredibly rare today: no sunroof. Get a set of spare wheels for snow tires.
SUV: Jeep Cherokee. Base (SE) 2-door model with the 4.0, 5-speed, rear limited slip, no ABS, no carpet…only options being A/C, gauge package, tilt/cruise, cassette stereo, and tinted glass.
Cargo van: Chevy Astro. 10-year-old design that still works.
Big van: E-350 with the Power Stroke diesel.
Minivan: Toyota Previa. (Seriously.) Base model RWD DX with second-row bench, the 2TZ-FE and A340 have 400,000+ mile durability, superb interior, very comfortable ride, decent handling, rear A/C I think was standard, and the now-standard intercooled supercharger eliminates the biggest problem the van had: the overburdened 2.4 litre engine. (The blower engine is also good for 190lb/ft at only 3600RPM, instead of 140lb/ft at 4000.) Note the Previa’s supercharger uses a computer-controlled clutch…which would concern me from just about anyone except Toyota.
I’d go for a Chrysler LHS. A nice comfy car that was a looker too.
1. Lincoln Town Car- last of that generation, last of the luxo-barges
2. Buick Park Avenue – I think it’s better looking than the Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria even as I prefer the size and construction on those cars. Great engine. Not really that big.
3. Chevrolet Suburban – fully optioned. The luxo-barge for the new era and probably what I’d buy new today.
I think I’m right there with you on a BMW 540i being my first choice in retrospect, though I’d take mine in Oxford Green (which I’m not sure was even offered on the 540, possibly only the 528; special order in that case)
I also must place the 750i high on my list, as it appeared in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, and is still one of my favorite BMWs and my favorite Bond Car of all time.
If we’re going purely on what we’d buy in our own 1997 mindset though, it would be hard to not to list the 1997 Mercedes SLK, which I lusted after as a 4-year old in 1997. Here I am with it at the 1997 New England Auto Show with my cousin (I’m the left).
Brendan, another great picture from your archives! I remember that bright yellow SLK color well–I think they used it a lot to promote the car.
I also loved Oxford Green. You could get that color on any 5 Series, though BMW did charge extra for metallic on the 528i.
And here are swatches of the interior and exterior 5 Series colors for 1997.
Thanks for this info! I really do miss Oxford Green (it was also offered on the MINI Countryman a few years back), but unfortunately green just doesn’t sell on luxury cars these days. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that Aubergine leather in person before.
BMW does of course still charge extra for metallic colors. Standard-finish Alpine White and Jet Black are of course the mainstays, having been offered for decades. My 228i is Jet Black 🙂
And I had sever car models of the SLK in that yellow as a child, including a 1/18 scale with a working retractable hard top! I think I still have it stored away somewhere.
Back in 1997 the only car to remove my gaze from the LH Chryslers or the Cloud Chryslers was the Grand Prix GT. I can still remember seeing one drive down my street, it absolutely stopped me in my tracks. I knew it was a Pontiac because of the spy photos I’d seen in magazines, but the real thing was just incredible.
Actually, in 1997 I bought a 1995 Dodge Dakota SLT Club Cab. It was a good choice for me back then as I did a lot of home improvement stuff and my kids were little. But I’m really not a pickup truck kind of guy, it was a pragmatic choice because of my duties at the time. But once the kids started to grow, the drawbacks of the Club Cab made themselves known. We ended up needing something with a lot more leg room…
My real lust was for a Neon ACR to go play in the North Georgia twisties, but with a mortgage and two young kids, the ACR was off the menu. A good compromise would have been the Dodge Stratus with the V6, with enough doors to deal with booster seats and the rest of life. However, I thought the truck was way more appropriate for my life at the time.
I lived in Atlanta when the revised U-vans were released. I’d seen one in traffic near the Doraville assembly plant (in fact it was an Opel Sintra version) and was very excited to see that GM was taking Chrysler seriously (or at least more seriously than the Dustbusters). Had I really been smart, I should have bought either the extended GM mini or one of the extended Chrysler minis instead of the pickup truck. I could have gotten all of the mulch delivered, still hauled home all of the home improvement materials and had a vehicle that was effectively child growth proof (the Dakota was not) and saved me lots of $$’s back in those days…
Oh the hell with it. Gimme a Viper coupe and let’s call it good.
My dad bought a new car in 1997 and I might go along with his choice. He ordered a Victory Red 4X4 Tahoe LT 4 door with beige interior. The color was important to him as it needed to match his bass boat. He had to special order it due to 4WD not being common in stock in Texas and he wanted the tailgate option as opposed to the barn doors. I remember that was the first car my family owned with a CD player…he only had it 2 years and sold it my brother. My Dad replaced it with a 99 Pewter 4X4 Tahoe LT with the barn doors…he’s on his 4th Tahoe now. I’m not a huge truck or SUV fan but I think I would have and still would go with a Tahoe or Yukon if I had the need and I also learned to drive in those Tahoes along with my mom’s Navigator. I think people always have a slight affinity towards the first car they ever drove.
Love the BMW E39’s. My parents have one – though it is a 2001 525 so it doesn’t have the big V8 nor is it especially fast. But it has that balanced handling of a RWD sedan, and that inline six is pretty smooth (don’t see I6’s these days much). My SIL drives it now.
Plus the subsequent Bangle Butt models just turn me off, style-wise.
BMW 318ti w’ California roof option.
My realistic, I-coulda-swung-it-as-a-23-year-old-if-I’d-been-willing-to-take-on-a-car-loan pick would be a Honda Civic; the base CX hatchback was/is my favorite body style, was already “well equipped” by the standard I had grown up with (cloth seats – 90s Honda mouse fur wore like iron – FM radio and a 5-speed).
My “current means and needs” pick would be either a Stratus or an Accord, my dream pick would be a Supra.
My parents had one (Civic CX hatch), which they just sold. It was very basic, but it held up for 20 years and its new owner will probably get at least a few more years out of it.
exactly what I am driving today!
1997 jeep grand Cherokee limited
4.0l six
silver inside and out
but with an odometer that read 0km, not 309,000!!
I would pick last town car or a v8 cougar. If I didn’t.know anything about cars I would buy the mist beautiful of them all the Chrysler.lhs
Gee, I think the 1990s were some of the very best years for Japanese cars and the last of the traditional full-sized American cars went out with a bang. I really would have liked a Lexus SC400. Or the cheaper SC300.
I agree on the Japanese cars, although the unfortunate thing is that a lot of the coolest ones ended up being hammered by demographic shifts and didn’t sell well.
1997 Accord Wagon
Lincoln Town Car. Classy looking vehicle before it went jellybean and frumpy, imo.
Nothing like validating one’s judgement with empirical experience. I’d have bought what I did buy: my indefatigable Camry LE which is now approaching 20 years of low-cost, reliable service. My prior ride was an ’86, which was passed on to a teenage driver who piloted it through the trials of high school, college and early adulthood years.
I will confess to having affection for the ’97 ES300 which bore the base genealogy as the Camry with some further refinement but glad I stuck with the Camry.
In 1997, I bought a Toyota Camry CE. Most trouble free car I have ever owned.
However, if I had had the money, I would have bought the Olds Aurora.
If I had waited one year, I would have bought the Intrigue. I so liked that car.
I’m a dissident voice on this generation of BMW 5 series. I can’t think of a single car I wanted to like more, as BMW was my favorite car company at the time. I owned two classic BMW’s in 1997 (1974 2002 and 1983 633csi) and my father had owned both a 1992 525i and a 1997 530i which I loved.
I just found the styling boring in front and ugly in the rear. It was pinched looking and the interior was small. I assumed I would love the driving experience, but when I finally drove one, a 2001 525i automatic wagon, I found it boring to drive as well. I’m sure a 540i six-speed would have been more exciting than a 525i auto wagon, but if I could afford a 1997 German sedan I’d take a Mercedes e420 as my dad did. That was the single greatest sedan I had ever driven at the time!
Correction: 1994 530i
Then? Well, in 1997 I bought a house in one of Silicon Valley’s most expensive towns. With a ’93 and a ’95 in the stable, no new cars for me for a few years. Now? The Suzuki Sidekick 16V, a 40th Anniversary Toyota FZJ80, a 4WD Ram Diesel, or an SVT Mustang. I have briefly driven a 540i 6 speed of this era, and while very nice to drive, not really my style as the above list shows. Well, maybe a Touring wagon …
Since this was a bad period for pass cars my choice would undoubtedly be a Ford Excursion Eddie Bauer. Diesel because this was the reaching the swansong for diesel engines that weren’t godawful for complexity.
I’d be looking for a sporty coupe. If I had a big budget, I’d go for a BMW 850Ci. If I had less of a budget I’d go for a Lexus SC400 or a Toyota Supra Turbo.
I know what I actually wanted in 1997, which was an Acura Integra SE four-door, dark green, five-speed. (The SE was a better-equipped version of the GS that included the GS-R alloys, but not the powertrain.) I wouldn’t have bought the GS-R because while it was fun, but the 142 hp engine was about as quick in normal driving and non-GSR-R models didn’t suffer quite as much from Honda’s penchant for silly final drive gearing.
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
1997 you say? Let me think… 😀
I would only purchase one vehicle from 1997.
Volvo 960 sedan. Fabulous car, best European car from that year.
Having bought and sold a boatload of cars during all of the 90’s I would probably look closely at a Riviera with the SC 3800, a T-Bird or Cougar with the 4.6 and suspension upgrade. Honorable mentions to the redesigned Grand Prix or Regal GS. The Park Aves, LeSabres and pretty much any of the H/G body cars of these years were customer favorites. Also the Town Car was a nice in it’s last year.
If it was a sport Ute the Grand Cherokee with the long lived 4.0 L-6 was a reliable bet engine wise with the good old Suburban/Tahoe with the powerful Vortec 350 as a good more than 6 passenger option. We sold boatloads of the above vehicles and many had well over 200K miles and still ran and drove quite well.