QOTD: Your Favorite Domestic Sleepers

by Derek Kreindler

Published: December 20th, 2012

Domestic cars don’t get enough attention on TTAC, but we can also be prone to heaping too much praise on particular examples; I may be the lone dissenting voice on the roster that does not swear a blood oath to the Panther. The W-Body Impala, which is set to go into Panther-like fleet-only production until mid-2014, is similarly polarizing. Some adore it, some despise it while others reflexively disdain it due to the effusive praise heaped upon it.

Personally, I think the later 3.6L cars are fantastic bargains, and even better sleepers. The “High Feature V6” is a gem, even when hooked up to GM’s pokey 6-speed automatic. The interior and trunk are both cavernous and the massive depreciation occuring within 12 months of their purchase date makes them a compelling used car choice.

From the Blue Oval, my pick would be the Flex Ecoboost. The boosted box-on-wheels is hardly the value proposition that the Impala represents, but it’s pretty hard to argue with a family wagon capable of running high-13s in the quarter mile. The relative rarity of the Flex makes it even sweeter.

Lastly, the Pentastar brand has a wealth of options. Any of the Pentastar cars could be viable candidates. How about a Pentastar powered Dodge Avenger or Chrysler 200? The 6.4 second 0-60 sprint is more than class competitive. Those who want a bit more flash could opt for the V8 powered Chrysler 300C (not the 300S or Varvatos Edition), but my own pick would be the redneck-special Ram Express, driven over some jagged rocks to ensure maximum damage to the mufflers.

Feel free to nominate your favorite domestic sleepers from the past or present. Having been before slightly before the Internet, I delight in hearing my Dad and Uncles tell stories about their old Satellites that they’d race up and down the winding streets of Montreal, or the 440-powered New Yorker that left frequent rubber deposits at every intersection. First person to say “LT1 Roadmaster” loses the game.

#AmericanCars #BigThree #Chevrolet #Chrysler #Dodge #Domestic #Ford #Q-car #QOTD #Sleeper

Derek Kreindler

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APaGttH on Dec 21, 2012

Domestic sleepers - back in the day I ended up being stuck with a Dodge Caravan turbo as a rental. I think those kids in a Celica are still traumatized that they were laid to waste by a minivan - but this is back in 1989 or 1990. A lot of good sleepers called out by all makes/models.

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Wstarvingteacher on Dec 21, 2012

Had a 66 beetle that I put a judson supercharger on. Embarrassed many a v8 owner. Don't know how fast it was but it was quick. Just about everything passed at 80-85 mph. Just about nothing passed until then. I think that is a pretty good definition of sleeper. The engine lid looked broken and the exhaust was not stock but nobody noticed till it was too late.

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- Oldfatandrich on Dec 21, 2012
  
  Starving Teacher, that must have been you I passed in my father's '62 Electra 225 Coupe. Black over red leather. Drive in a straight line, don't turn the steering wheel and don't attempt to stop. Wicked pissah and wicked fast. Still turns heads after fifty years. Very much a sleeper.
  
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