In theory, new cars are just better. You get the latest safety features, upgraded technology, a better powertrain and the satisfaction of knowing other people know you got the new one. And to some degree, that’s true. Anyone who says they’d rather be in a car from the late 1970s in a crash instead of a brand-new crossover is either lying or doesn’t know what they’re talking about. That said, there are definitely cases where the older, recently canceled version of the car is still more desirable, causing you to wish the automaker had just kept building it.
The most obvious example is probably the Volkswagen GTI. Some of the competition may have had advantages when it came to power or on-track handling, but even close to the end of its run, the MK7 GTI was still one of the most well-rounded enthusiast cars that you could buy. It was practical, well-built and still a hoot to drive even up in the canyons. Even if you could afford something far more expensive, you still had to respect the GTI.
Then Volkswagen introduced the MK8 GTI, with front-end styling that could probably best be described as drowsy. Enthusiasts probably could have gotten past that, but VW also decided to make the GTI’s controls almost entirely touch-based, getting rid of the intuitive buttons and knobs. Even though on paper the MK8 GTI is the better car, that decision means there’s still a ton of demand for the old one, especially the facelift MK7.5 models. It might not make sense from a business perspective, but it sure would be nice if you could buy a new, old GTI at the dealer again.
What about others, though? Are you kicking yourself because you missed your chance to buy a new Audi R8 or Acura NSX? Are you frustrated that the only way to buy a Hyundai Veloster is on the used market? Is the Toyota Crown simply not an acceptable replacement for the Avalon for you? Let us know down in the comments.