Digging for Diamonds: These 6 unloved cars are actually fantastic
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Digging for Diamonds: These 6 unloved cars are actually fantastic We like to think of them as “the best of the worst of the best”
Article content Every iconic nameplate has its black sheep. Over the whole range, a particular car may be regarded as a success — but there’s always a few model years that manufacturers wish they could take back or erase entirely. You know, like that haircut you had in tenth grade.
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Article content But perhaps that’s unfair. Sometimes the worst versions of the best cars are actually pretty good. Maybe they’re overshadowed by overachieving siblings, but that alone doesn’t make them underachievers. And sometimes you’ll find the black sheep of the family has a charm which others lack. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Digging for Diamonds: These 6 unloved cars are actually fantastic Back to video Here’s a look at a few examples that prove being the worst of the best isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 996-chassis Porsche 911 Let’s start with an obvious example. Nearly every Porsche 911 is beloved for its performance, relative practicality, and prestige. The first 911s to get water-cooled engines did not get a lot of love. Partly, it’s the looks. Every other 911 has round headlights, while the 996 got these oblong shapes with a sort of tear-duct attached. The early ones are still called fried-egg headlights, and not as a compliment.
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Article content Then there’s the interior of these cars, which rarely age well. Older 911s are spartan inside, but they wear well. 996s tend to look beat up even after modest use. It’s all the brittle plastic. And then there’s the Achilles’ heel of the car: the infamous intermediate shaft bearing. If one of these goes, so does your engine. Porsche engine rebuilds are not cheap. Actually, Porsche anything isn’t cheap. The 996 might be the least expensive way to get into 911 ownership but buying a basket case and trying to keep it on the road is a path to financial ruin. So, is there redemption here? Yes. Most versions of the current 911 are large and very fast grand tourers. The 996 is quick, nimble, and light. Maybe this next part needs to be whispered — but the 996 GT3 is actually more fun to drive than its modern cousins.
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Article content Get a good one if you can (if budget can be stretched, the 996 Turbo is still a relative bargain, and has a sturdier engine) and get to know a specialist mechanic. The 996 might not be as fancy as other 911s, but it’s still great. NC-chassis Mazda MX-5 Of the four generations of Mazda MX-5, the one sold between 2005 and 2015 was the largest and heaviest. Since the whole point of a Miata is to be lightweight fun, clearly this is the worst one. But not so fast. While the new MX-5 is smaller, quicker, and lighter on its feet than the model it replaced, it also has a more-cramped cabin and a little less storage. The NC is more comfortable on longer drives, very nearly as much fun to drive, and there’s something else. Whereas you can only get the current car in a soft-top or folding targa roof, the NC was available with a full power-folding hardtop. So equipped, this roof adds a bit of extra security when parking on the street combined with full open-topped motoring at the push of a button.
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Article content Seeing as the original NA Miata is having a bit of a collector car moment as it creeps up in age, values of the original MX-5 are rising. The NC, though, remains just a used MX-5: in other words, good, cheap fun. Chevrolet C4 Corvette An angry man in a Hawaiian shirt is probably going to throw his Birkenstocks at me, but the Corvette built between 1984 and 1996 is probably the worst of the breed. For not much more money, you can get a fifth-generation car that is much faster and looks better. Or, go with one of the earlier cars for a rowdy classic. Having said that, I come not to bury the C4 but to praise it. These cars still look seriously cool and some of the non-chrome wheel options are just excellent. Sure, the performance didn’t quite match the looks until engines were beefed up in the early 1990s, but small-block V8 rumble makes a great soundtrack to a beach cruise.
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Article content Also, there’s the original ZR1. With its Lotus-designed, all-aluminum 32-valve V8, these Corvettes are highly collectible. Yet people don’t seem to notice! A good condition ZR-1 will cost at least double a regular C4, but prices have been falling lately. If you find one in good condition, snap it up. They’re very cool. Volkswagen Mk 4 Golf GTI Mark Four? More like Mark Fat. When the fourth-generation GTI arrived with a complexity and curb weight that besmirched the original GTI’s badge, many people were angry. Some still are. Thing is, the Mk IV is not all that terrible to drive, and it made for a very comfortable daily driver in-period. There were numerous interesting special editions, and its looks have held up over the years. Keeping an old Volkswagen on the road is… well, you should either have a trusted mechanic or a small shrine to sacrifice livestock to the gods of VW electrics. Or actually, let’s go with both. You’re going to need both.
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Article content But, if you find a half-decent model, these are cool little hatchbacks. With some preventative maintenance and light modification to the suspension, it can be a blend of practicality and fun — just as a GTI is supposed to be. Even better, try to track down one of the US-only R32s. These were a VR6-powered version of the Mk 4; they hold their value extremely well and sound great.
E90 BMW M3 A controversial choice perhaps, but bear with me. When asked which is the worst BMW M3, some Bimmer fans will point to the current car, which has a nose like it just road-killed a TIE fighter, or the second-generation M3 known as the E36. But the latter is unfairly maligned, and finding a good one is hard to do. No, I’d say that the worst M3 is the one made between 2008 and 2013, simply because it was so heavy. The convertible versions (E93) are particularly corpulent. To deal with all this mass, BMW shoved a high-revving 4.0L V8 under the M3’s hood. That’s double the cylinder count of the revvy barely-disguised-DTM-racer original. Too big, too heavy — basically a 5-series.
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Article content However, the sedan version, equipped properly with 18-inch wheels, is the hidden gem of the M3 range. It’s as fast as anything but demands you rev it out to an 8,000-rpm limit. The steering is talkative in a way no modern BMW is anymore, and both transmissions are either involving (manual) or really quick (dual-clutch automatic). Being complex means an M3 can be a real mechanical headache, so you’re going to want to shop carefully. However, the car is such a good all-rounder that it deserves a second look. GR-chassis Subaru WRX/STI The WRX brings everyday, all-weather performance to the everyman. With rally car performance on snow or tarmac, Subaru has built a huge fan base in Canada, and you’ll find a few hoodscoop-equipped Subies in any parking lot.
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Article content The first of them were zippy and raw, the current ones are fast and edgy. The versions built for the 2008 to 2014 model years, sadly, were a bit doughy around their middles. I should know: I have one. The steering in my 2012 STI is relatively quick but doesn’t offer much in the way of feedback, and the seats have all the lateral support of a church pew. The powertrain has plenty of shove, and it’s a riot in the snow, but the modern version is considerably sharper to drive with a far more responsive chassis. Pending a new WRX set to arrive on an even stiffer platform, this one will always be the runt of the Subaru litter. It does have, however, one hugely redeeming feature: it’s a hatchback. The fact that Subaru no longer makes a WRX/STI hatchback is a constant irritant to everyone who wants maximum practicality in their everyday performance machine. I would buy one tomorrow, and I know many of you would too; for some reason, Subaru won’t believe us. For the foreseeable future, then, only the worst years of STI marry hatchback practicality with rally-bred performance. Perhaps that means the GR STI models, like the rest of the cars on this list, aren’t actually the worst after all.
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Beautiful Gold And Diamond Rings That Will Be A Cherished Part Of Your Jewellery Collection
When it comes to precious jewellery, we can never say no to some new diamond pieces, and nothing beats the charm of diamond rings. Investing in diamond rings can be a task and as we do not buy them regularly, it’s a priority to pick the best ones. From keeping in mind the budget to looking for the latest design, we have a full-fledged list when it comes to buying precious rings. To help you get started, we have curated a list of best gold and diamond rings that you would love to adorn every time and trust us, you won’t regret these.
Stunning Diamond Rings For Women
It’s the perfect time to upgrade your jewellery collection with these diamond rings.
- Mia by Tanishq 14KT Rose Gold and Diamond Ring for Women
This ring is made of 14KT rose gold and is adorned with real diamonds. It features a beautiful heart shaped diamond on it.
- Malabar Gold and Diamonds 18KT (750) Rose Gold Ring for Women
This ring is made of 18KT (750) rose gold and is BIS hallmarked. It has a beautiful sleek design with diamond embellishments over it.
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This beautiful ring is made of 18KT white gold and verified by BIS hallmark. It is adorned with real diamonds which are certified and have an SGL certificate. It features a sleek design with three stunning diamond studs over it.
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- Kisna Real Diamond Jewellery Gold Diamond Ring For Women
Crafted with real diamonds and 14KT gold, this stunning ring features an abstract design and is BIS hallmarked.
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