NFB: Worst car mistakes ever?

[Dave M]

The Model T, GTO, Corvette, and Viper, among others, were all amazingly successful cars in their times for their own reasons. They will be remembered as classics and shed a positive light on their manufacturers, often even turning around the company's fortunes. We all know what the classic cars are... my question is what were the biggest car mistakes of all time? The ones that just never should have been. For me the Pinto comes to mind, but that was more of a business decision mistake than a car mistake. The car was popular enough.... A more modern mistake, for me, is the Aztek. I think people will shake their heads and wonder what Pontiac was thinking there for a long time to come. What are some others.... remember I'm looking for car mistakes, not business mistakes (like killing off the f-body). What were the worst cars for their time (the 80's saw a lot of bad cars, but were their any that were horrendously bad even for the 80's?)

[Benm109]

I actually saw a book about car mistakes not too long ago. Half of the cars in the book I had never even heard of (I think that's the point, though ).

There's only one car that comes to mind at the moment: Mustang II

[Christopherrr]

The Subaru Baja...kill it please!

The Aztek is ugly...though the concept version was actually quite eye candy. Although the Buick version is actually doing quite well.

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

In the late 70s - The Plymouth Aspen/Roadrunner, Ford CobraII, AMC Pacer, Matador, Hornet, and the 80s - Plymouth Champ, Cadillac DeVille with deisel or 8-6-4, and later, the tiny Pontiac LeMans. And, yeah, the Aztek is butt fugley as is the new boxy and obnoxious Toyota Scion.

[raroZ28]

I'd say the F body... What were they thinking putting that junk on the market?

[Black97]

In the late 70s - The Plymouth Aspen/Roadrunner, Ford CobraII, AMC Pacer, Matador, Hornet, and the 80s - Plymouth Champ, Cadillac DeVille with deisel or 8-6-4, and later, the tiny Pontiac LeMans. And, yeah, the Aztek is butt fugley as is the new boxy and obnoxious Toyota Scion.

The Pontiac LeMans was a knock off from the European GM produced Opel Kadett. It was very popular and it had tons of ground effects and spoilers. The last one I remember was a 16 Valve 2 liter 4 cyl. with 150+ HP. Those were flying pretty good.



Don't know why they came up with such a lame version over here in the US and Canada???

[fastTa]

I am going to attach several hundred pounds of C4 to the Scion xB series SUV plant where they are rolling out these fine looking rides! NOT I can just picture a middle eastern Osama-Bin-Laden-like man wearing a turbine on his head drving this thing.



It think the Honda Element is just as bad also.

[96z28]

I am going to attach several hundred pounds of C4 to the Scion xB series SUV plant where they are rolling out these fine looking rides! NOT I can just picture a middle eastern Osama-Bin-Laden-like man wearing a turbine on his head drving this thing.



It think the Honda Element is just as bad also.

You beat me to it, Honda Elements are terrible they look like Rubber Maid designed them. Grimlins and Yugo's were crappytoo and lets not forget Deloreans

[casey02ws6]

How about the last generation of the Ford Taurus / Mercury Sable? Not sure what years they were made but they decided to try to design a car without a straight-edge. It was a laughable combination of ovals!

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

How about the last generation of the Ford Taurus / Mercury Sable? Not sure what years they were made but they decided to try to design a car without a straight-edge. It was a laughable combination of ovals!

HAHAHA! That's hilarious.

In all honesty, I don't thik GM has a clue about how bad the Cavalier/Sunfire was getting compared to the rest of its class. Go for a drive in a late model Cavalier, and then take a spin in a late model Corolla. Shocking, really.

I would say the re-incarnation of the Ford Thunderbird has turned out to be a pretty big mistake.

[Joe 1320]

The Gremlin.

[Nightrage]

The Geo Metro and the H2.

[Z Ya Later]

Ummm, are we forgetting the YUGO?!?! lol

[Black97]

It think the Honda Element is just as bad also.

That's the one I first thought of but couldn't remember the name of it. Didn't some car magazine call it the automobile of the year when it came out???

[SFC AL]

the NEW chevy NOVA.. whew they stunk up the place