In order of appearance (not the actual cars pictured):
Trabant 601 universal - The classic. Actually, quite a bit of fun. Raaaaap rap rap raaaaaap rap rap rap rap.
Wartburg 1.3 - Totally “meh”. Aside from the windshield wipers, quite a reliable and solid family car of the day.
Polski Fiat - Cramped, uncomfortable, under-powered (even compared to the Trabant)… but still managed several 1500 km road trips!
Daihatsu Applause - One of my favourites! Surprisingly strong, fast and efficient for its day, advanced engine tech (one of the first mass-produced engines with 16v)… and that liftback is simply one of the best features of any car I’ve ever had. More sedans should have a full liftback! Also: the car I learned to drive in.
Subaru Mini Jumbo - A fun little car, although don’t sit in the rear. Just… don’t. The front is fine.
Ford Taurus - The third gen bulbous one. Yeah, it’d make a great addition to the Bad Car Design Challenge. Comfortable, but unreliable.
Mazda 323 - A really fun hatchback, and a tank in terms of handling, stability, and reliability. Would recommend 100%.
My top three?
- Daihatsu Applause. Just an all-round solid car with good performance (for its day). Super practical, reliable, and easy on gas too. Its looks have aged, but for its time it was modern and sleek.
- Mazda 323. Seriously fun to drive, relatively comfortable up front. Just a well-executed hatchback that I wouldn’t mind owning and modding into a true hot-hatch.
- Trabant 601. I mean… who wouldn’t want to own one of these classics of a bygone era?