Readers Pick the Discontinued Cars That Deserved a Second Shot

Auto fans love to imagine what could have been, and a recent call for readers to name discontinued vehicles that deserved a second generation brought a flood of responses. Many pointed to the Big Three, with dreams of a Detroit that never happened.

The Pontiac Aztek, called deeply ugly but ahead of its time, got votes for a sequel that could have been either more palatable or even stranger. The Chrysler Prowler, discontinued in 2002, was seen as a perfect candidate for a V8 upgrade, especially since a 345 hp Hemi arrived just a year later.

The Chevrolet Beretta sold well early on but was killed off when sales dipped, and readers noted the rarity of a practical coupe. The Subaru XT and Baja both earned mentions, with the Baja praised for its all-wheel drive and trucklet versatility. The Dodge Magnum’s demise was tied to the 2008 financial crisis, while the Volvo C30 and Corvair also appeared, with the Corvair reportedly having a third-generation model on the drawing board that GM scrapped.

The AMC Eagle was highlighted as the first American AWD crossover wagon, and the Honda Element was called a huge mistake to cancel just before the CUV segment exploded. The Pontiac Fiero got a nod for a 1988 test mule with a DOHC engine that outperformed the Corvette. Some readers admitted their picks were just interesting one-offs, not necessarily deserving of a sequel.