Ford Focus 1st gen. My dad has one, and I love it. Everyone else just thinks, "Oh, whatever.". It's not whatever. The independent rear suspension makes the handling very verry good. The little base SPI engine buzzes and whirs, and the shifter is fluid and direct.
I've always thought the same about the original Renault 5. (imported from here) The car, or its exterior at least, wouldn't look too out of place if it came out in 1990 or so, but this design is from 1971. Same applies to the Citroen CX. Something that looks like a product of the late 1980s but is actually a product of the early 70s.
Yup, I can attest to this. One of my best friends has a gray Focus like that, ZTS trim, and it is the definition of perfect suspension tuning. Rides as smooth as my Maxima, handles like a go-kart, and it can still clear curbs.
I'd only make a Focus knockoff to smash the crap out of it because it's hideous. Good car, but I need eye bleach every time I see one.
What do you think about the hatch? Because the sedan looks like it was an afterthought of the hatch where they just extended the boot and nothing else. Looks slightly too tall to be a sedan like most hatch-sedan-variant cars you get. I think the MK1 RS and ST170 in particular are nicely styled, a hell of a lot nicer than the sedan at the very least. (imported from here)
The interior is the worst: Just kill me It looks like a blindfolded man had a bunch of interior components with glue on them and hurled them in random directions
Hahaha, it's not that bad in person though...I own a mk1 focus hatchback and the interior really grew on me. Especially the materials. While it's not leather it's also not this really cheap rough plastic material you see on many cars. *cough*renault... I agree on the handling though..it feels really responsive and it's just fun to drive. Also the hatch has style...I would also kill myself if I would own the sedan ^^
Seeing those compelled me to check out what the Ford Ka's interior looked like during its first generation. (imported from here) I regret being compelled to check it.
I loved the front end of those, but never liked the exaggerated "lean" of the slope in the rear end. It's so far forwards that it's almost like a BMW X6 as a hatchback.