A Guide to 1984 Cars

The best 1984 cars include models from Audi, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Mazda.
Written by Brenna Swanston
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
We name the Audi 5000S the best overall car of 1984—but that year also saw strong performances from Honda, Ferrari, Toyota, and Nissan, among others.
From tough-as-nails pickup trucks to iconic Ferraris, 1984 put some high-quality vehicles on the road. As Jeep and Ford began producing family-friendly sport-utility wagons, we can even trace back modern SUVs to some of 1984's big 4x4s.
Let's dive into the best 1984 cars. And if you're looking to add a classic '80s car to your garage, you're in the right place. We've got all the details on 1984's best vehicles and how to insure one on the cheap. 
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The best cars of 1984

We saw the beginnings of modern SUVs in 1984, along with solid family sedans and sports cars that doubled as cultural icons. Let's take a look at some of 1984's best models. 

The best car of 1984: Audi 5000S

Average price: $2,925
Powertrain: 2.0L Line-5 with five-speed manual transmission
What makes it special: 
In 1984, Car and Driver called the
Audi
5000S "about as close as you can get to the car of the future." Nearly 40 years later, let's see how that claim holds up. 
The 5000S offered a smooth, quiet ride, complete with an aerodynamic build and a luxurious interior. This little Audi sedan delivered 100 hp with 107 lb-ft of torque. You could also opt for the Turbo version, which cost more in exchange for a bit more power and higher-quality performance overall.

The best luxury car of 1984: Mercedes-Benz 300D (turbodiesel)

Average sales price: $6,125
Powertrain: 3.0L OM617.912 Line-5 engine with four-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special: 
The
Mercedes-Benz
300D was a midsize luxury sedan with a turbocharged diesel engine. In 1979, Mercedes became the first manufacturer to produce a turbocharged diesel engine for passenger vehicles, making the 300D among the first of its kind.
The 300D was part of Mercedes-Benz's W123 series. These vehicles became the manufacturer's most popular to date, with buyers sometimes waiting nine to 12 months for their pre-ordered cars to arrive. The Mercedez-Benz 300D put out 123 hp of power with 184 lb-ft of torque.

The best SUV of 1984: Ford Bronco

Average price: $14,250
Powertrain: 5.8L HO V8 with three-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
SUVs, as we know them, hadn't quite emerged by 1984, but we can spot their beginnings in 4x4s like the
Ford Bronco
. This sport-utility wagon featured 210 hp with 305 lb-ft of torque and seated up to six passengers
The 1984 model was part of
Ford
's third generation of Broncos, based on the seventh generation of
Ford F-150
s. The Ford Bronco is still in production, now in its sixth generation.

The best luxury SUV of 1984: Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Average price: $28,800
Powertrain: 5.9L V8 with three-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special: 
Many say modern SUVs derive from
Jeep
Wagoneers, which offered ample passenger space and cargo volume, four-wheel drive, and a luxurious driving experience. The Grand Wagoneer made its debut in 1984 as "the gold standard" for SUVs of the time. It wasn't the fastest vehicle on the road—it took an average of 15 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph—but the Grand Wagoneer put out 144 hp with 280 lb-ft of torque. 
Given its luxury edge, the Grand Wagoneer's original MSRP was $19,306.

The best family car of 1984: Honda Accord

Average price: $1,725
Powertrain: 1.8L four-cylinder Line-4 with five-speed manual transmission
What makes it special: 
The
Honda Accord
has been a solid family car for decades, and its 1984 iteration was no exception. This vehicle came as both a four-door sedan and a two-door hatchback. The Honda Accord is a reliable, long-running car with stellar fuel economy (especially for its time): 32 mpg city, 45 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined. The 1984 Accord put out a modest 86 hp with 99 lb-ft of torque
This was only the Accord's second generation of models.
Honda
still produces Accords, which are now in their 10th generation.
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The best sports car of 1984: Ferrari Testarossa

Average sales price: $127,426
Powertrain: 4.9L Tipo F113 flat-12 with rear-mounted, five-speed manual transmission
What makes it special: 
The Italian-built Ferrari Testarossa debuted at the 1984 Paris Motor Show and went on to become an iconic mid-'80s supercar. Miami Vice heavily featured a 1986 Testarossa, contributing further to this model's legendary status. The vehicle also played a major role in the 1986 video game Out Run.
Ferrari produced nearly 10,000 Testarossas between 1984 and 1996, which was the coupe's final model year. The Testarossa featured a rear mid-engine design, which resulted in high stability, improved cornering abilities, and relatively even weight distribution. 
From 1984 to 1986, Testarossas produced for the Europe market represented the model's most powerful iteration. The vehicle performed with a 287 kW output, or 385 bhp, with 354 lb-ft of torque.

The best truck of 1984: Toyota standard half-ton pickup

Average price: $2,825
Powertrain: 2.4L I4 with five-speed manual transmission
What makes it special: 
Before the
Tacoma
and the
Tundra
,
Toyota
produced a truck that's as basic as it gets: a standard half-ton pickup (that's right—it didn't even have a model name!). Still, this pickup was reliable as can be and got the job done. 
You had your choice of a standard or extended cab, long or short bed, and rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. As for fuel economy, you could get 20 mpg city/24 mpg highway on this little truck, which put out 105 hp with 137 lb-ft of torque with the two-door, standard cab, short-bed, rear-wheel-drive model.

What cars came out in 1984? 

1984 saw everything from no-frills half-ton pickups to eye-popping sports cars. Here's what else you might have seen on the road in 1984:
Model
Vehicle type
Engine
Average price
Notes
Honda Civic CRX
Coupe
1.5L Line-4
$1,200
Best EPA mileage estimate in the U.S. at the time (51 mpg)
Coupe
4A-C four-cylinder
$1,800
Available as both coupe and liftback
Sports car
1.8L inine four-cylinder
$2,050
Described by Consumer Reports as a "very desirable sports car"
Nissan/Datsun
pickup truck
Truck
2.4L four-cylinder
$3,075
Considered very reliable
Toyota Cressida
Midsize sedan
2.8L inline six-cylinder
$1,850
Available as four-door sedan or four-door wagon
Nissan/Datsun 200SX
Sports car
1.8L Line-4
$1,650
Known as reliable and inexpensive to maintain
Dodge
Daytona Turbo
Sports car
2.2L four-cylinder
$1,650
Speedy coupe that competes with the Camaro and Firebird
Notchback coupe
2.0L Line-4
$1,875
Budget-friendly and fun to drive
Pontiac
6000STE
Sedan
2.8L V6
$1,250
Last Pontiac model to carry a numeric designation
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How to save money on classic car insurance

You're in luck: generally speaking,
classic car insurance
is much cheaper than regular car insurance. Most insurance companies consider classic cars to be between 20 and 40 years old—so if you've got a 1984 model in mind, you're still in classic territory.
Jerry
can help you find the best insurance policy for your classic car at an affordable price.
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car insurance
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FAQs

Coupes, sedans, and wagons were popular vehicle types in the mid-80s. In a day on the road in 1984, you probably would have spotted a Chevrolet Cavalier, Honda Accord, Honda Prelude, and maybe an Audi 5000S.
Yes. By most definitions, a classic car is more than 20 years old but not older than 40 years. Cars from 1984 are just under 40 years old now, meaning they still qualify as classic cars.
Coupes, sedans, and wagons were popular vehicle types in the mid-80s. In a day on the road in 1984, you probably would have spotted a Chevrolet Cavalier, Honda Accord, Honda Prelude, and maybe an Audi 5000S.
Yes. By most definitions, a classic car is more than 20 years old but not older than 40 years. Cars from 1984 are just under 40 years old now, meaning they still qualify as classic cars.
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