Hooniverse Asks- What Car had the Greatest Negative Impact on its Brand?

Robert Emslie

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Aztek

Win one for the Gipper. That’s entreaty attributed to George Gipp whose dying wish was that his beloved Notre Dame teammates win in his name. Pretty selfish, huh? Yesterday, I asked you about car or truck models which might have done the opposite, individually lifting the entire team. You offered up a slew of great nameplates, and one that stuck out more so than most was the Mustang, a car that seemingly has defined the Ford Motor Company, not just since its debut, but for all time.

Today, I want to hear about the cars whose presence has tarnished a brand- the bed seeds, rotten apples, the Cousin Olivers. I fully expect to see a Cimmaron nomination, and who could forget the Chrysler Maserati TC which debased the Italian Company’s name like it was a character from Requiem For a Dream.    

Many brands have offered bad cars, but only a select few have served up cars or trucks of such ignominy that it has tainted the company as a whole. It’s those models that I want today. What model do you think has had the greatest negative impact on its brand?

Image source: Airliners

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Robert Emslie

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178 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What Car had the Greatest Negative Impact on its Brand?”

  1. tiberiusẅisë Avatar
    tiberiusẅisë

    Despite a better than average safety record, many people still think of the Pinto as a death trap. True it was a terrible car, but certainly no worse than its domestic contemporaries.
    [youtube dT0J0rcJTLo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT0J0rcJTLo youtube]

    Reply
    1. $kaycog Avatar
      $kaycog

      Pinto was my first choice.
      <img src="http://blog.powerblocktv.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/23.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

      Reply
  2. danleym Avatar
    danleym

    <img src="http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Stutz/79-Stutz-Bearcat-Conv-DV-09-AP-001.jpg&quot; width=550>
    Sorry, couldn't resist, serious answer to come later.

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Elvis begs to differ:
      <img src="http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/uploads/1/1972_stutz_blackhawk_pearl_white.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        Dean Martin liked his, but wasn't too kind to it.
        <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/405754985_67420fa280.jpg"width=500&gt;

        Reply
        1. Jay_Ramey Avatar
          Jay_Ramey

          The values of Exner-penned Dual-Ghias practically subsist on Dean Martin lore, regardless of model, but I never quite viewed it as an endorsement.
          Or anything else owned by celebrities of the 50s through the 70s, with just a few exceptions.

          Reply
  3. Wolfie Avatar
    Wolfie

    I have to say it is a tossup between Pinto and Corvair,although neither was as bad as the media would have had you believe.

    Reply
  4. Hopman Avatar
    Hopman

    For Ford, how about the bloated, underpowered Mustang II "King Cobra" or the Aspire?
    Toyota: The underpowered not-quite-a-fullsize-but-trying-top-compete-with-the-big-3 T100.
    Pontiac: The 80's LeMans

    Reply
  5. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    <img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2009/09/02/00/10/2005_chevrolet_aveo_lt_hatchback-pic-16144.jpeg&quot; width=550>
    Aveo.

    Reply
    1. Alcology Avatar
      Alcology

      You don't really look like I thought you'd look.

      Reply
      1. muthalovin Avatar
        muthalovin

        Haters gonna hate.

        Reply
        1. Alcology Avatar
          Alcology

          <img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS3edq9ZbWx9UvGgJiJvu_xMZ4QTT2_5Wsy2KfSZAjcXs0Vzm3D&quot; width="600">

          Reply
          1. muthalovin Avatar
            muthalovin

            I prefer my hats flat-billed. Brostyle, yo.

          2. dukeisduke Avatar
            dukeisduke

            Snapbacks.

    2. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      Legit.

      Reply
    3. Jay_Ramey Avatar
      Jay_Ramey

      Chevy marketed these in Texas?

      Reply
      1. MVEilenstein Avatar
        MVEilenstein

        Not with a straight face.

        Reply
    4. quattrovalvole Avatar
      quattrovalvole

      Also,
      <img src="http://www.autopictu.com/images/pontiac-wave-04.jpg&quot; />

      Reply
      1. Devin Avatar
        Devin

        Pontiac was sort of already dead at that point. The Wave was more just defiling the corpse.

        Reply
  6. Josh_Howard Avatar
    Josh_Howard

    Ok.. I'll bite. I'm ready for some criticism on this… GT-R. Why you ask? Sure, it makes Nissan fanboys like myself drool. But, in comparison to the rest of the lineup… nothing gets that sort of special attention. They claim the new Nismo Z will be better and I'm sure it will be. Nissan fails to apply that "special touch and attention to detail" throughout the rest of their line. Hell, even the newer Z cars are parts bin heavy. Now, I say this not to point out that a parts bin car can't be good… but let's be honest… parts bin cars aren't as special as something focused. It looks kind of terrible IMO to have a showroom with a $100k GTR and an Altima in it. I'm actually hoping the Nismo brand goes nuts and can legitimately stand on its own if only to prevent such things from being seen. I guess what I'm trying to say is the GT-R is so awesome… nothing else in the lineup can really compare. There's no halo effect to rub off on anything else I'm seeing. It just doesn't make sense to me. I'm glad it exists… it's just… i dunno… maybe the Z is the better American halo car for that company? Ready for criticism in 3…2..

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman Avatar
      Irishzombieman

      No criticism, just a friendly difference of opinion.
      This was my yesterday answer. I love that they kept the GT-R under the Nissan name, love that Chrysler kept the Viper under the Dodge name. Both are emphatically not luxury cars, distinctively unswanky and positively brutal. Driver's cars, and though a number of douchebags buy each, no one considers either a douchey car.
      Chuck Norris has a GT-R. It hurts my brain to picture Walker, Texas Ranger, sitting in an Infiniti.

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        Did I miss something? I thought the Viper was going to be badged as an SRT, not Dodge. Did they change their mind?

        Reply
        1. Irishzombieman Avatar
          Irishzombieman

          Referring to the past, at inception.

          Reply
          1. danleym Avatar
            danleym

            Gotcha.

    2. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
      Scandinavian Flick

      I'm not really a fan of the GT-R myself, (too much tech to boost numbers, and doesn't really seem like a driver's car) but I have to politely disagree in the context of this question. (thumbs upping you anyway due to an interesting point of view) Nissan as a brand was kinda slipping from the public view shortly before the GT-R was released. They needed something to bring people back into the showrooms and gain attention. I think the GT-R did really well with that. So to state that it had a specifically negative impact on its brand is not accurate, IMO.
      Now, whether it's relevant to the rest of Nissan's line and has any trickle down impact to the lower models… Ehhh…. That's a separate argument, and I could say it may not really happen.

      Reply
      1. Josh_Howard Avatar
        Josh_Howard

        It's not that it isn't awesome… I just didn't like the idea of it in the same showroom back when I sold em.

        Reply
        1. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
          Scandinavian Flick

          But the question is, "what car had the greatest negative impact on its brand?" Since the new GT-R seems to have thrust Nissan back into the public eye, and not in a negative way, I don't think this is it.

          Reply
          1. Josh_Howard Avatar
            Josh_Howard

            But what if a car in a lineup is so awesome that it makes other cars look really crappy? Kind of like the maker didn't try? I should clarify that I think Nissan's cars are much better now that when the GT-R was launched. At the time though, I was so confused. Yes, I realize there's a huge difference between 69k price and a 15k price and the attention to detail. It just seems like it didn't always used to be that way. I will succeed this to more of a personal disappointment though the company is doing better. Perhaps you are right and the GT-R sort of thrust them in that direction? I'm still a 90's, pre Renault merger, Nissan fan. Sorry, but I had to pick an oddball to answer the question with.

          2. craigsu Avatar
            craigsu

            Using your own logic I would think that, in a similar vein, the Corvette would do the same to Chevrolet as the GT-R to Nissan. With that kind of logic I would have to agree with you.

  7. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    <img width=500 src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/2006-2008_Mercury_Grand_Marquis_%281%29.jpg"&gt;
    This is Mercury's lineup in 2008-2009. It's the same as it was for several years before that with only moderate refreshes in styling. While none of these vehicles were particularly bad, they weren't particularly noteworthy, either. That, more than anything, can kill a brand. Letting the product become stale and dated will cause consumers to overlook it. It doesn't help when they are thinly veiled versions of another brand's vehicle, either.

    Reply
    1. Jay_Ramey Avatar
      Jay_Ramey

      Every country needs its GAZ 3102.

      Reply
  8. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    Edsel, but I really, really like them.
    <img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/8007607046_dbc1e5f0a0_z.jpg&quot; width="500">
    Image: flickr by Thomas Dwyer

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      That's a harsh thing to say just today:

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        Link didn't make it… http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/02/28/roy…

        Reply
        1. $kaycog Avatar
          $kaycog

          Holy cow! RIP, Mr. Brown.

          Reply
  9. danleym Avatar
    danleym

    Here's the obvious AMC answer, but I'm not picking it because of it's goofy persona and oft-insulted appearance (I actually kind of like them). Nope, I'm picking it because the Pacer was crazy expensive for AMC to develop, and they didn't really make enough money back after it's release to justify the costs. In fact, the Pacer may well be the car that killed American Motors. It was the last completely new car design that AMC released. Sure, the Eagle and it's 4wd were innovative, but the body was essentially a Hornet wagon, which first came out in 1971. The Spirit and Concord were stylistic retreads, too. At a time when AMC was strapped for cash (which was pretty much always), the money spent on the Pacer was a loss, and prevented AMC from having the capital to keep up with changing times in the 80s. Had the money been spent elsewhere (modern engines, fuel injection, etc.), maybe AMC would still be around.
    <img src="http://www.motorstown.com/images/amc-pacer-05.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      I find it ironic that the radical, spacy styling was not intended to be Pacer's reason for being, but rather was a means of disguising the remarkable length-to-width ratio while accentuating the use of a rotary "engine of tomorrow" (even though it began feeling less and less tomorrow-ish as the Pacer was being developed).
      Even more ironically, the Pacer was quite assuredly more successful overall because the rotary intended for the car was scrapped. In hindsight, the rotary surely would have been a warranty quagmire for AMC and a service nightmare for dealers, who would have been woefully inexperienced with rotaries. Furthermore, a rotary's thirst and lack of torque would have made ownership much less satisfying, especially post-embargo. The tried-and-true AMC inline 6 may have robbed cockpit space and turned the Pacer into just a quirky-looking, utterly conventional car, but at least the engine would run, and run, and run.

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        I never thought about a rotary being a problem from a service standpoint, but I can see that. I still wonder what a wnakel Pacer would have been like. From what I've read, the AMC 6 has a few hundred pounds on the wankel they were going to use, and the redesign for the 6 added a little weight, too- and all of it on top of the front wheels. It could have been a significantly lighter and more tossable car had the wankel made it in there.
        On that thought, if I ever win the lotto I think one of my projects will be to put a Mazda rotary engine into a Pacer. Just because. Now I just need to work on winning the lottory. Which means I need to start playing the lottory. Dammit, I'm already really far behind on this plan.

        Reply
        1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
          Peter Tanshanomi

          It took me a while to dig this up, but this paste-up of an Ambassador is intended to show what a traditional-looking car of the Pacer's proportions would have looked like minus the gumball-machine-from-space styling. I know it's supposed to seem wretched, but frankly I would rock this all the way into next week.
          <img src="http://www.tanshanomi.com/temp/pacer-ambassador-chop.jpg"&gt;

          Reply
          1. danleym Avatar
            danleym

            That would be a blast with a V8. And it only needs a little tweaking on the rear roof line to look pretty good.

    2. EmbracingEntropy Avatar
      EmbracingEntropy

      I hesitate to +1 this one, but truly, danleym has a point. I've defended the Pacer in many an automotive argument, but truly it did cost AMC a substantial amount in development costs (given the abandoned Wankel engine) and in that respect (along with its polarizing looks) became the brand's Achilles' heel. On the plus side, it's an interesting car with good visibility, vastly upgradable running gear, and a useful hatch at the rear. It was unfortunately (like most of its kin) heavy and arguably could have benefited from two extra doors (if you don't have sexy looks going for you, utility is just the ticket). I'll remain a closet fan of the marque, but the Pacer was a disaster that inevitably happened.

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        I like Pacers. I really do. And I'm a huge fan of AMCs- there's only a handful I wouldn't want to own (mid 70s Matador comes to mind- not the Matador Coupe, they're cool, but the fullsize coffin nose ones, and Concord sedans don't do much for me either). I own a Spirit, the same car I called a stylistic retread. I'm just being honest- but I happen to think that retread worked out very, very well.
        Strictly from looking at the car for what an individual example is, Pacers are cool cars in my book. But as far as the whole production run is concerned and the effect on the company, they were definitely a disaster.

        Reply
  10. Aiming Dave Avatar
    Aiming Dave

    I'm surprised no one has mentioned the 2012 Honda Civic. For the first time in the history of mankind, "Civic" became a dirty word.

    Reply
    1. themagicboltbox Avatar
      themagicboltbox

      My question – Having not driven a Civic since about 1995, can somebody confirm that the 2012 Civic was really that bad, or was it another occasion of an automaker giving in to pressure from the press even though the average buyer thought it was fine?

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        It was a step in the wrong direction, but it really wasn't that bad. It was basically the 8th gen car slightly Toyotafied, softer and cheaper. Makes it less great, but as long as it's reliable (it should be), it won't have a real long term impact on the car, especially since softer and cheaper aren't quite dirty words to your average consumer. It just didn't help that for 2012, a number of the Civic's competitors received flashier, more hyped redesigns.
        It's still a good thing Honda has made some improvements to the 2013 car though.

        Reply
  11. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    Thanks to 60 Minutes, nearly sent Audi packing from the US market:
    <img src="http://www.audistory.24max.de/old1/pics/larry3.jpg&quot; width="600">
    (Image used for its awesomeness)
    Pic from: http://www.audistory.24max.de/old1/elarry.htm
    Edit: Yesterday spent searching CL for Subarus. Today it'll be looking for turbo quattros.

    Reply
    1. SSurfer321 Avatar
      SSurfer321

      came here to post Audi 5000. Leaving satisfied.

      Reply
      1. Devin Avatar
        Devin

        I came to post Audi 5000, somehow scrolled past this without making the connection, and posted it anyway.

        Reply
    2. Jay_Ramey Avatar
      Jay_Ramey

      Coming soon to a Hooniverse article near you.

      Reply
  12. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    <img src="http://www.productioncars.com/send_file.php/ad_cadillac_cimarron_red_1984_draw.jpg"width=500&gt;
    Low hanging fruit

    Reply
    1. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      Saw one of these in the parking lot this morning.
      <img src="http://vehiclemy.com/img/Cadillac-Catera2.jpg&quot; width=500>

      Reply
      1. erikgrad Avatar
        erikgrad

        Cimarron II

        Reply
        1. P161911 Avatar
          P161911

          So is the CTS supposed to be the Catera Touring Sedan or the Cimarron Touring Sedan?

          Reply
          1. themagicboltbox Avatar
            themagicboltbox

            In my mind, it's always been Calais Touring Sedan.

          2. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            Catera… sadly.
            Is the ATS the Allante touring sedan?

          3. JayP2112 Avatar
            JayP2112

            Marketing vs the A4?
            I'm surprised it isn't called the C-A4is.

      2. Kogashiwa Avatar
        Kogashiwa

        I don't know that that can qualify as leaving a negative impression for the brand though, since they made essentially no impression of any kind on anyone.

        Reply
    2. Jay_Ramey Avatar
      Jay_Ramey

      Didn't Hall and Oates release "You're Out of Touch" around this time? Like that very year?

      Reply
      1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
        Peter Tanshanomi

        Hmmm…they also released "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" the same time that this came out—
        <img src="http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/cadillac-eldorado-biarritz-v8-6-4-engine_100356525_m.jpg"&gt;
        I think we've stumbled onto a mysterious Hall-&-Oates/Cadillac synchronism here.

        Reply
        1. pj134 Avatar
          pj134

          She's Gone was rereleased when the 60 Special was downsized to the Fleetwood.

          Reply
        2. dukeisduke Avatar
          dukeisduke

          I actually knew someone at the time that owned a V8-6-4, and he liked his (his must have been one of the few reliable ones).

          Reply
    3. jeepjeff Avatar
      jeepjeff

      [youtube JlzJZEtio8o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlzJZEtio8o youtube]

      Reply
  13. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Any car with a an Oldsmobile diesel engine.
    <img src="http://www.classiccarstodayonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Cadillac-1979-SDV-diesel-ad-a1-751×1024.jpg"width=500&gt; These things started turning a whole generation off GM products.

    Reply
  14. SSurfer321 Avatar
    SSurfer321

    <img src="http://static2.consumerreportscdn.org/cro/cdn-resources/images/cars/new-cars/resource-center/sua-unintended-acceleration-recall/head.jpg&quot;, width=650>
    IMG from consumerreports.org

    Reply
  15. rtfact32 Avatar
    rtfact32

    I disagree with the Aztec being the destruction of Pontiac, it was merely the culmination of many years of mis-management. And the Edsel – it's hard to argue that the car itself wasn't ungainly looking, but you also have to take into strong consideration the recession of '57-'58 that hit. ALL car brands took a nose-dive in production, and it was possibly the worst time in the world to introduce a new car.
    I'm going to for a crazy answer here:
    <img src="http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2012/04/1961-Lincoln-Continental-side-view.jpg"&gt;
    Why? Because it's a stylistic high-point that Lincoln (or any car company) would be hard pressed to ever live up to. Look at what's happened with them since.

    Reply
    1. FrankTheCat Avatar
      FrankTheCat

      Lawdy, that car is so beautiful in side-profile. I would love to have one of those in black.

      Reply
    2. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      On that note, Continental as a division lasted only two years, with only one model, the 1956-57 Mark II, available in limited quantities to an exclusive clientele. It was the high point and the low point for the brand, since it was the only point.
      <img src="http://www.elvis-collectors.com/candid-central/mcar2.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
  16. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/00-02_Saturn_L-Series_sedan.jpg/640px-00-02_Saturn_L-Series_sedan.jpg&quot; width=500>
    Saturn L-Series. Not just because it had horrible build quality and timing chain problems. Rather because it was a purely conventional car built conventionally in mainstream GM facilities. It was proof that GM was giving up on creating a "New kind of car company,"

    Reply
    1. themagicboltbox Avatar
      themagicboltbox

      Nailed it. It's not even all plastic!

      Reply
      1. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        Chevrolet management never liked the whole Saturn idea, since it took small car resources away from them. But after the Vega, the Chevette, and the Cavalier, they'd already proven they couldn't be trusted to sell small cars.

        Reply
        1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
          Peter Tanshanomi

          <img src="http://www.tanshanomi.com/temp/chevette-sales-chart.gif"&gt;
          Actually, GM sold an average of 240,000 Chevettes per year over it's life, and more than 350K per year from '78 to '82. That's not a failure by most objective assessments. Furthermore, reliability and owner satisfaction, while not equal to Japanese imports, was on a par with other domestic cars of its era.

          Reply
          1. IronBallsMcG Avatar
            IronBallsMcG

            Oooh, an answer with a graph. This nerd likey.

          2. OA5599 Avatar
            OA5599

            I know a guy who went from a Hemi Charger daily driver to a Chevette, and another guy who went from a Six Pack Challenger to one. Both cars held up relatively well for cheap cars and provided their respective owners with satisfactory ownership experiences.

    2. Devin Avatar
      Devin

      For something to make an impact don't people need to remember it exists? The guy across the street from me actually had one, I drove by it every day, and I still periodically forgot they made it.

      Reply
      1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
        Peter Tanshanomi

        The L-Series was one of the reasons people stopped thinking about Saturn altogether.

        Reply
    3. EmbracingEntropy Avatar
      EmbracingEntropy

      I think given Saturn's status as "The Brand Designed to Fail", it seems academic to try to pinpoint a specific model that shot it in the foot.

      Reply
  17. erikgrad Avatar
    erikgrad

    2007+ Chrysler Sebring
    Certainly not the greatest negative impact, but a great amount of negative impact. Uninspired styling and very poor reliability in a crucial market segment, the midsize sedan. Did it cause the managed bankruptcy in 2009? No, but it certainly didn't help.
    <img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2009/10/03/00/08/2007_chrysler_sebring_4_dr_limited-pic-45788.jpeg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      They took every styling gimmick they had (like the hood strakes from the Crossfire) and threw them on the Sebring. And look at the back end of a Sebring:
      <img src="http://www.leasetrader.com/photos/actual124072/640×480/2008-Chrysler-Sebring-Convertible-Dark-Blue.jpeg"&gt;
      The taillights on the trunk don't match up with the ones on the rear quarters; it's like they're from different year models.

      Reply
    2. EmbracingEntropy Avatar
      EmbracingEntropy

      Can one really pick a single Chrysler model that defines the company's folly?

      Reply
    3. craigsu Avatar
      craigsu

      You're definitely onto something here. Given that Chrysler rechristened the Sebring as the 200 it was certainly carrying some baggage.

      Reply
    4. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      I'd be interested to see the source for the poor-reliability comment. I've been searching for 20 minutes & haven't been able to find anything very persuasive. Edmund's reliability history for the '07-'09 Sebring is decent, and on TrueDelta the '08 Sebring & Avenger both have good scores (that was the only model year they reported, probably due to inadequate sample size for other years.)
      Uninspired? Unattractive? Uncompetitive? I won't argue (much) and I'm in the Mopar Or No Car camp. I'm not convinced it's unreliable though.
      And I'm amazed the cars turned out as well as they did, considering the roadblocks that Daimler imposed:
      *"The programs (both C and D cars) failed miserably, due to the combination of CATIA v5, program management’s lack of direction, irreversable points and decisions, incompatible and incomplete understanding of requirements of the tools and program, and incompatible manufacturing parameters (Mitsu vs. Chrysler methods), and had to be completely restarted (for the design process—the development mule data was still valid, up to a point)."
      *Original is at Chrysler and Mercedes Engineering: From Best Practices in the 1990s to Behind the Curve in the 2000s http://www.allpar.com/neon/engineering.html

      Reply
      1. erikgrad Avatar
        erikgrad

        JD Power and Associates gave the 2007 Sebring two circles out of five, which they consider the bottom 20% of its market segment, and Consumer Reports gave it a below average rating at the time, and as a used car calls it a bad buy. I do take Consumer Reports ratings on new cars with a grain of salt, but they do work off good data on the used cars.
        http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-40541148/a…
        …and yes, Daimler was wholly responsible for this. It's great to see Chrysler moving forward with Fiat. I make a lot of parts for them, and things have changed since the dark days of 2009.

        Reply
  18. superbadd75 Avatar
    superbadd75

    There's one that I can see right now that may well be a problem for Chevy. The 2007-2008 Tahoe/Suburban has had problems with power door locks not working, oil consumption, exterior door handles breaking, interior door handle chrome peeling (creating sharp surfaces that cut hands), and other little things here and there that other Tahoes and Suburbans didn't have. I've had several owners of these vehicles tell me that they've had several Tahoes previously, but the experience with these vehicles is making them think about moving to something else. I can't say I blame them.

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Did they still have the defective gauge cluster stepper motors in 2007-2008? I know this was a problem on most early 2000 GM trucks/SUVs.

      Reply
  19. scroggzilla Avatar
    scroggzilla

    A well engineered car, badly manufactured. I give you the Lancia Beta.
    <img src="http://www.motorstown.com/images/lancia-beta-volumex-04.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      I've always dug the Betas, even the sedans.

      Reply
    2. mr. mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
      mr. mzs zsm msz esq

      That antenna means business.

      Reply
    3. quijoteMike Avatar
      quijoteMike

      Nooooo! The Mk1 Beta saloon did have some rust issues, but the after they altered the engine mounts they were cured. Except for the odd italian habit of rust spots breaking out randomly
      I had an HPE, and like the pic a VX, fabulous car even though I bought it with about 60k on the clock
      But yes, press reports and sheep like UK buyers meant Lancia were doomed

      Reply
  20. quattrovalvole Avatar
    quattrovalvole

    <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6s5DtmDutE/TviWq6EV-6I/AAAAAAAGMhw/6FeprJ3troA/s1600/Dodge-Caliber-15.jpg&quot; width=640 />

    Reply
    1. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
      Scandinavian Flick

      My face involuntarily twitched a little as I scrolled down to this…
      I almost don't know that it had a hugely negative impact on the brand though, since nobody seemed to care enough about it. While it was terrible, it kinda slipped by unnoticed.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        Oddly enough the Caliber appears to be a really well made piece of crap. My father has one as a company car, it has over 200k miles with no major repairs.

        Reply
        1. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
          Scandinavian Flick

          Your dad got an inverse lemon.

          Reply
          1. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            The company bought two or three of them, the others have been almost as reliable. Sadly, they might be disgracing America's roads for years to come.

          2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
            Peter Tanshanomi

            The Caliber, Compass and Patriot have mostly earned average to slightly above average reliability ratings from CR.

          3. 5keptic Avatar
            5keptic

            the more i know about CR, the less i trust anything they say

          4. Maymar Avatar
            Maymar

            Chrysler seems to have the unfortunate habit of either building terrible cars that won't die, or award winners that barely last past the test drive.

  21. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    It has to be the Saab 9-7X….This was a true automotive disaster. The Trollblazer!

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      The Saabrolet TrollBlazer!

      Reply
    2. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      I still want a 9-7X Aero though, a prettier Tralblazer SS.

      Reply
    3. krazykarguy Avatar
      krazykarguy

      Totally agree with this one. The 9-7x was pushed onto Saab dealers that were not looking for, nor needed a large Saab SUV to park on their lots. GM mis-management at it's absolute finest.

      Reply
      1. Mike Avatar
        Mike

        Right! GM was so blind to what Saab really needed they pushed that tin can on dealers and neglected to redesign the 9-3 and 9-5 in a timely manner. Can anyone tell I'm a anti GM Saab owner? lol Strangely enough, I really like the 9-2X esp. the Aero model.
        And the 9-7X was the best looking of that SUV family..the Trailblazer is hideous.

        Reply
        1. krazykarguy Avatar
          krazykarguy

          I has a 9-2x Aero. 😉

          Reply
    4. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      The irony there was that the 9-7X was better looking than the Chevy, GMC, Olds or Buick versions.

      Reply
  22. Irishzombieman Avatar
    Irishzombieman

    The Marina. I haven't been able to even look at any Morris since.
    <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_quSBP7xEq48/TQT_YmD0xwI/AAAAAAAAAGw/C5ExSWhpn-A/s1600/Piano-On-Morris-Marina.jpg&quot; width="500/">

    Reply
    1. Number_Six Avatar
      Number_Six

      They haven't gotten any better.
      <img src="http://www.urban75.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/morris-dancers-01.jpg&quot; />

      Reply
      1. Irishzombieman Avatar
        Irishzombieman

        Had to look it up. So silly it's kinda funny. Hilarious even, if you imagine the sticks are lit torches.
        [youtube RZjLATAUwao http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZjLATAUwao youtube]

        Reply
  23. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    Here's an odd one, since the car was relatively blameless.
    <img src="http://encarsglobe.com/data_images/models/audi-5000/audi-5000-02.jpg&quot; width="500">
    The relatively innocent Audi 5000, which got into the center of an unintended acceleration debacle, complete with 60 Minutes faking the cars accelerating like mad. Audi sales took a sharp decline even though NHTSA concluded that the majority of cases were driver error.

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Well, it got us the shift interlock, which isn't a bad thing.

      Reply
    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      Mine looked just like that, down to the "Zermatt Silver" finish. A great car, much maligned.

      Reply
    3. marmer Avatar
      marmer

      Not entirely driver error. The car was developed for the Euro market with a five-speed and when Audi started bringing automatics over to the US and selling them to Buick owners who wanted a Mercedes-Benz, they didn't move the brake pedal over to the left farther like it is on an automatic. Sloppy-footed Yanks got sloppy about moving their foot deliberately over to the brake and started leaving their foot on the accelerator a little when trying to brake, or shift into drive or reverse.

      Reply
  24. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    The Gulf War was televised. The Humvee was one of the stars. An influential Hollywood and political figure wanted one for his own collection, and the H1 Hummer was born. It was mostly a toy for the rich, but was also frequently used as a fleet vehicle in forestry, emergency medicine, and other public services that required getting people and cargo where roads were not available.
    <img src="http://neonsign.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/hummer-8.jpg&quot; width="500">
    Then the H2 came out. H1 was mostly relegated to dustbin status, and the H2 became the shiny object for the rich. Owners pimped them out to say "look at me" and when people looked, they noticed most of these screaming yellow bling machines were owned by douchebags, except for ones owned by thugs. And the public revolted, with frequent news reports of vandalism committed against these vehicles.
    H3 came out later, to trickle the image down to less-affluent wannabe douchebags who couldn't afford to trick out a $50K off-roader that never left pavement, and plans were made to introduce a smaller and cheaper H4, but by that time, the tide of public opinion had turned. Owning a Hummer would brand you as a "Hummer owner", and that was an unpardonable sin.
    When GM went bankrupt and tried to sell the brand, they were unable to make a deal, they were never able to reach acceptable terms with any buyer, and the Hummer division was written off.

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      I still convinced more H2 Hummers have been made into limos than have been taken off roading.

      Reply
      1. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        The H4 could have been a worthy competitor to the Wrangler, but by then, it was too late.

        Reply
    2. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
      Scandinavian Flick

      Wow, perfect. They couldn't have killed the name harder if they actively tried.

      Reply
    3. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      What's sad is that I still have a very positive emotional reaction to the sight of a non-pimped H1.
      <img src="http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2012/11/cars/1992_Hummer_H1-1.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        You're not the only one. I'd love to have one.

        Reply
    4. 5keptic Avatar
      5keptic

      and yet they are still so expensive used

      Reply
  25. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    <img src="http://cars-database.com/data_images/models/vw-porsche-914/vw-porsche-914-05.jpg"&gt;
    A neat car, derided by brand purists.
    Ditto…
    <img src="http://www.automotoportal.com/media/images/vijesti/060915001.7.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      I see a couple of well-restored neon green 914s running around my town – I saw the owner get out of one at the grocery store one evening, but I was in a hurry, so I didn't have time to ask him about it. And how do I know there are two? Because one has chrome bumpers, and the other's are body color.

      Reply
    2. krazykarguy Avatar
      krazykarguy

      The Dino was never sold or marketed as a Ferrari. There is not a single Ferrari badge or logo on the entire car. Enzo had this model designed as a tribute to his son (who died of a rare disease when he was young). Originally, Ferrari toyed with the idea of a entry-level supercar under the "Dino" brand, but left it alone as a one-model tribute car.
      The person that owns that one needs a slap for adding the Scuderia sticker shields to the front fenders. *facepalm*

      Reply
      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        Nevertheless, Ferrari were criticized by fans for producing the Dino. If the requirement is that it wear the maker's badge, then this one was even more controversial…
        <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Unknown_Oldtimer_p1.JPG/800px-Unknown_Oldtimer_p1.JPG"&gt;

        Reply
        1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
          Peter Tanshanomi

          Really? Even though it was a commercial success, my impression is that there seems to be more seething, irrational hate for the later Mondial.
          <img src="http://www.motorstown.com/images/ferrari-mondial-qv-02.jpg"&gt;

          Reply
      2. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
        Scandinavian Flick

        It's a shame that the idea didn't gain momentum. They're neat cars, and I dig them…
        There's one for sale near me right now. For Ferrari's more "entry level" sports cars, they sure command a premium now… http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/ctd/3643528725.ht…

        Reply
        1. Alff Avatar
          Alff

          The values have exploded over the last decade. 25 years ago, they were roughly on par with similar vintage 911s.

          Reply
          1. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
            Scandinavian Flick

            Sure would have been nice to pick one up back then…

          2. Alff Avatar
            Alff

            Even more recently, when one could be got for a "mere" $75K!

  26. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    Along that same vein…
    <img src="http://encarsglobe.com/data_images/models/porsche-924/porsche-924-08.jpg&quot; width="450">
    But we got:
    <img src="http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads16/924GTS1265742075.jpg&quot; width="450">
    <img src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/56/142567675_6674bce596_z.jpg&quot; width="450">

    Reply
    1. Felis_Concolor Avatar
      Felis_Concolor

      The Porsche 924 was the 1964 Winchester push-feed bolt of its day. A well intentioned mashup of parts that were not yet ready for use in a high performance vehicle, the 924 is the car people point to when they insist the automaker can't do front engine/rear drive performance right.
      The 924 Turbo only served to exacerbate its powertrain longevity problem, as the system would regularly eat turbos and even its lubrication system suffered low mileage failure rates. I recall steering a local friend away from a 924 Turbo which had been advertised as having a new oil pump installed by asking him, "when was the last time you heard of an oil pump which only lasted for 30,000 miles?" He bought and restored an older 912 instead and was much happier with the end result.
      The later 928 would have been a much better representative of Porsche's foray into alternative drive train topologies; I'm certain it would not have suffered the same sort of derision the 924 endured. However it was not to be, and the original engineering compromise has permanently polarized fans of the brand into those who claim the company cannot do F/R vehicles right, and those who simply don't care.

      Reply
  27. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    <img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6735937361_b899e0d0ec.jpg&quot; width="500">
    Not only did it mark the death of the short-lived Continental Division, it was so damaging to the brand, too, that even today a lot of people wrongly believe it was built by Lincoln instead.

    Reply
    1. Wolfie Avatar
      Wolfie

      " Mark" the death of the Continental Division. Good One!

      Reply
    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      So beautiful.

      Reply
      1. mdharrell Avatar
        mdharrell

        Yes.

        Reply
  28. jeepjeff Avatar
    jeepjeff

    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Jeep-Compass.jpg/800px-Jeep-Compass.jpg&quot; width=500>

    Reply
    1. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      We'll see…
      <img src="http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2014-Jeep-Cherokee-101-626×382.jpg&quot; width=500>
      (God I hope there are some solid axles and a diesel 4 in there)

      Reply
      1. Devin Avatar
        Devin

        I actually like it! Dammit!
        Alright it shouldn't have Cherokee badges, since the name conjures up a very specific shape and design purpose that it doesn't have any intention of filling, but I like it.

        Reply
        1. jeepjeff Avatar
          jeepjeff

          I don't hate the exterior design. I don't even hate the exterior design of the Compass. What makes me hate the Compass is the independent suspension on the corners and a lame front-biased AWD drive system (on those that aren't, ugh, FWD). Jeeps need to have solid axles and real transfer cases. They're not cars. Dodge can sell the mom-mobiles.
          The new Cherokee looks like it's going to be setup like the Compass. Which means it's going on the list of Jeeps I don't wave at (but I'm not too worried, the people who buy these won't know about the Jeep Wave anyway).

          Reply
          1. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            I say this about everything, but if they don't screw it up too much, it will look pretty badass lifted. Vehicross like, perhaps.
            <img src="http://wiki.planetisuzoo.com/images/074.jpg&quot; width=500>

          2. Devin Avatar
            Devin

            I think it makes sense to hate the Compass just because it's completely terrible as a car and even worse as a Jeep.

          3. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
            Peter Tanshanomi

            I'm not sure that the Compass is completely terrible as a car (not a Jeep). But I'm not sure it's NOT completely terrible, either.
            The biggest criticisms leveled against the Compass (other than the styling, which is moot) have been the coarse engine, the horrible CVT, and the cheap, hard plastic interior. I spent a week driving an '09 rental, and the NVH seemed to be on a par with Ford's Duratec V6, which is no hallmark of refinement but isn't singled out for criticism in the way the GEMA World Engine has been. As for the interior, the '09 was the first year with the redesigned dashboard; I thought the cockpit was actually less objectionable than the base-spec Impala and Crown Vic rentals I had around the same time. That leaves the CVT, and that IS truly horrible. To make matters worse the take rate on the available 5-speed manual has been stuck at an abysmal 5%.
            Having said all that, I don't hate the Compass's basic configuration. Thanks to all that hate (and recurrent rebates that knocked thousands off most buyer's price tag), resale has plummeted faster than an F-104 with a flameout. Edmunds's TMV for a clean '09 with 48K on it currently sits at about 12 grand. If I could find one with AWD and a 5-speed for that price, I might consider it.
            …Okay, not really. I'd keep looking for a similar deal on an Xterra.

          4. Devin Avatar
            Devin

            I haven't really kept track of the line since experiencing an early one, but that thing was woeful. Terrible interior, terrible transmission – the CVT, of course, haven't even seen a manual version – terrible driving experience all around. I cannot think of a single redeeming feature. Also, weirdly cramped, if I'm comfortable back seat passengers are not allowed to have legs.
            Maybe I should see if they're any good now.
            EDIT: Sat in one since making this post, that's enough. Better materials, but still hard to see out of and poorly packaged. Also, loud. Didn't need to actually drive it, still bad.

          5. danleym Avatar
            danleym

            +1 for the "plummeted faster than an F-104 with a flameout" comparison.

          6. jeepjeff Avatar
            jeepjeff

            Two cars in my fleet:
            '06 Honda Civic Hybrid: Underpowered, CVT, but comfortable, excellent weight balance and spunky handling
            '01 Jeep Wrangler: NVH off-scale, crappy interior, high-riding, mediocre handling, but powerful and f-sporting unstoppable, good stupid redneck fun.
            Jeep Compass: Bad NVH, high-riding, meh handling, boring, awful CVT, crappy interior, Wikipedia thinks it has a 170Hp engine, which shouldn't be underpowered, but I bet it has a high-revving tune which isn't going to be made better in front of a CVT. It's the downsides of the two cars I own, and none of the upside. Also, Jeep used to imply a certain level of capability. I have much less of a problem with the Caliber. Yes, it sucks, but it's just a crappy Dodge.

          7. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            [youtube FRMXt9QCiyw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRMXt9QCiyw youtube]
            They're not entirely incapable for what they are, to be honest. Still trail rated which is better than most can say. http://www.jeep.com/en/jeep_capabilities/trail_ra…

          8. jeepjeff Avatar
            jeepjeff

            I posted a pic of the 07-10' Compass. Those model years do not carry the Trail Rated badge.

        2. pj134 Avatar
          pj134

          While I don't hate it, I offer the following rebuttal which falls in line with your second paragraph.
          <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/1974jeepcherokeesj.jpg&quot; width="300/">
          <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/JeepWagoneerXJ.jpg&quot; width="300/">
          <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Jeep_Cherokee_2-door.jpg&quot; width="300/">
          <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/1994-1997_Jeep_Cherokee_(XJ)_Sport_01.jpg&quot; width=300">
          <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/97-01_Jeep_Cherokee.jpg&quot; width="300/">
          <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/2002-2004_Jeep_Liberty_Sport.jpg&quot; width="300/">
          <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Second_generation_KK_(Jeep_Liberty).jpg" width="300/">
          <img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/331369/jeep-releases-first-official-photos-of-2014-cherokee-2013-new-york-auto-show-photo-502995-s-original-1.jpg&quot; width="300/">
          The Cherokee name should be reserved for a cheap, simple 4×4 with at least one solid axle. I think solids all around, a 4 cylinder diesel on a two box design small to mid size SUV that you can beat to death and it will keep going would have been a proper Cherokee. This should be the Jeep "OH LOOK WE'RE TRYING TO BE STYLISH OR SOMETHING", not a Cherokee. The Jeep Compatriot… Jeep Patass… I don't know.

          Reply
          1. jeepjeff Avatar
            jeepjeff

            Fair point. It doesn't look like an evolution of the old two box Cherokees, and that's a fair reason not to call it a Cherokee. However, my sacred cow is really the mechanicals. Cheap and durable are a part of that, IMO. That's where I draw the line on worthiness. I can get over the looks not matching up. Besides, get a couple dents in it, and it will start looking more like a Cherokee should.

          2. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            It's just too… pretty. I don't know, it's very superficial but being against everything with IRS is a stretch too far for me. IRS can be done very, very right.
            <img src="http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2721/2161/6801080030_large.jpg&quot; width=500>
            Unfortunately, you know before you read a single stat on this that it won't be.

          3. jeepjeff Avatar
            jeepjeff

            Remember: one of my automotive fetishes is solid axles. Before the Compass and Patriot all Jeeps had at least one solid axle. IRS done right won't make me completely happy, but I freely admit this is an irrational thing.
            But, yeah, it's going to be an Explorer and Pathfinder competitor. Not a Cherokee.

          4. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            Not even, it's going to be "compact". The H1 was just my proof that IRS can get it done when built correctly. CVT's are the devil's work though.

          5. jeepjeff Avatar
            jeepjeff

            Oh, I hate CVTs. My wife's car has one, and it's the most boring transmission possible. The Compass can be had with a manual (although not on the higher trim models… O_o). Given that you can have a third pedal and a real transmission, eh, leave it in the options list.
            Like I said, IRS not making me happy is an irrational thing. I would also note that making me happy is probably bad for business. EDIT: But the real point was IRS can work off-road, when done right (besides the H1, there's the Rally Fighter and many, many Baja 1000 cars), and Chrysler is not going to do it right in the new Cherokee. We agree on this. (And I brought up the Pathfinder and the Explorer, not because size, but because they were 4x4s that got nerfed.)

          6. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            I just wish they would put out one highway capable tractor again.

          7. ptschett Avatar
            ptschett

            Here's one that does 50 km/h!
            <img src="http://www.caseih.com/en_us/Gallery/PictureGallery/Tractors/Puma/Puma230_LB433_0811.jpg&quot; width="500"/>
            Wait. Wrong Fiat company. Never mind, carry on.

          8. Devin Avatar
            Devin

            Yeah, it's not a proper Cherokee by any means, but it is a pretty decent looking thing as these things go. Call it a Dodge Nitro and the backlash would be much less.

        3. jeepjeff Avatar
          jeepjeff

          To be clear: If the Compass kept its IFS, engine and transmission options (even the CVT) but mounted the engine longitudinally, put a transfer case (even a full-time 4WD t-case) behind the transmission and had even the chintziest solid axle in back (even something crappier than a Dana 35), I would be defending it.
          That suspension setup would make it at least as upgradable as a Tacoma or Hilux. And those trucks are nothing to scoff at. It may not equal those stock-for-stock, but the potential would be there.

          Reply
      2. jeepjeff Avatar
        jeepjeff

        Wikipedia is saying it's a platform cousin to the Giulietta and that there will be a FWD version. Damnit Chrysler. I missed this from the NYIAS. Sort of glad I did. Now where is that gif of the barfing coffee cup?

        Reply
        1. pj134 Avatar
          pj134

          Giulietta platform means lifted dart… should have called it the compass and a boxier version the patriot to remain consistent.

          Reply
      3. stigshift Avatar
        stigshift

        The Kia Jeep Aztek? It looks like an automotive version of Mr. Potatohead.

        Reply
      4. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
        Scandinavian Flick

        If I found that washed up on the beach, I think I'd make sure it was dead to put it out of our misery…

        Reply
  29. vetteman61 Avatar
    vetteman61

    I'm still curious about the Pontiac Aztek. Granted, when it came out it was very ugly, but today it's no uglier than the Nissan Juke. The only difference is that today people are desensitized to proportional, ugly vehicles.

    Reply
    1. jeepjeff Avatar
      jeepjeff

      They're really just funky looking and kind of big. They are a decent CUV. They're not underpowered, they're reasonably comfortable, and they're versatile. They come with the normal GM foibles (they have GM interiors). They also didn't make them with a manual transmission. But as I've stated elsewhere, there were way worse cars in Pontiac's line-up along side the Aztek (Pontiac G3 and Sunfire, I'm looking at you).
      I have a confession: after seeing them around, the Juke has really been growing on me. I sorta-kinda like it now.

      Reply
      1. pj134 Avatar
        pj134

        If the AWD had a stick and the VQ37 (or SR20DET/CA18DET revive) I'd be in.

        Reply
        1. EmbracingEntropy Avatar
          EmbracingEntropy

          MAYBE if we were talking an Odyssey. Or perhaps even a Murano. But a facelifted, half-assed-minivan Pontiac? No, you're not serious. There's no powertrain that could redeem that ugly beast. (And the Juke is likewise hopeless, even with GTR running gear.) And this, from a guy who finds merit in the AMC Pacer.

          Reply
          1. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            Well, firstly, I was referring to the Juke, I thought that would be apparent based on the nissan engine codes. Secondly, a sub 3000 lbs tall hatchback with an engine that has near limitless modification possibilities would be quite fun in my book. It would be the rebirth of the Pulsar GTiR
            <img src="http://gomotors.net/pics/Nissan/nissan-pulsar-gtir-01.jpg&quot; width=500>

    2. Devin Avatar
      Devin

      The Juke is deliberately strange, the Aztek is more unfinished and crude. I actually quite like deliberately strange.
      Honestly, given the weird lines I keep noticing on the Rendezvous outside my office window and the general messiness of the Aztek design, I seriously wonder what the hell was going on in the design studio when those two were coming down the pipe. Both look like the result of an extremely chaotic development, possibly with far-too-tight (or adjusted at the last minute) deadlines.

      Reply
      1. Vavon Avatar
        Vavon

        I like deliberately strange too, however there are limits…
        <img src="http://www.prepauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/S0-La-preparation-la-plus-improbable-du-moment-Un-Fiat-Multipla-de-260-chevaux-252063.jpg&quot; width="550/">

        Reply
        1. Devin Avatar
          Devin

          As I've said before, the Multipla is a Vulcan car – totally logical but made without much regard for our petty human emotions.
          Big windows that are easy to see out of, flat sides for more room, lights mounted where they can't be damaged. It all makes sense.

          Reply
          1. Vavon Avatar
            Vavon

            You are so right, live long and prosper!

      2. Felis_Concolor Avatar
        Felis_Concolor

        You can see why it turned out the way it did by looking at the original concept, which is a far more visually appealing vehicle despite – or because – of its weirdness. Once the bean counters got their hooks into the production Aztek, its fate was sealed. There may not be a huge difference between build-to-price and build-to-spec on the materials sheet, but there's a world of difference in the feel and appearance of the finished product.
        GM really needed something akin to Chrysler's Iaccoca/Shelby team in the 80s; the accountants were quietly notified they would be the first up against the wall if they attempted to kill the turbocharged L-body project, lost Daytona sales be damned. For these fringe and niche vehicles, the accountants need to learn how to facilitate the production, not cheapen it.

        Reply
  30. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    The first Chevy of the 80's:
    <img src="http://nozama.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54ed05fc28833011278d74ee228a4-400wi"&gt;

    Reply
    1. mr. mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
      mr. mzs zsm msz esq

      '80 MTCOTY!

      Reply
    2. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      Come to think of it, I'm not sure this counts. I mean Chevy had the Corvair, Vega, Monza and Chevette all before the Citation. None did the brand any favors, regardless of sales volume (they sold a boat load of Citations).

      Reply
  31. JoeB Avatar
    JoeB

    TR7 did in Triumph.

    Reply
  32. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    The Peugeot 307, a car which lost almost everything what made 80s and 90s Peugeots great.
    It was neither nice to drive nor nice to look at and if it had reliability issues it had them non-stop!
    Most 307s were perfectly reliable, but many were absolutely hopeless, I disliked it from day 1.
    And on top of all that it was also a flop as a rally car. A Peugeot to be quickly forgotten!
    <img src="http://www.mercure-voyages.com/userfiles/media_fr/hertz/PEUGEOT-307.jpg&quot; width="650/">

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  33. wisc47 Avatar
    wisc47

    ALL the current Lancias. How sad.
    <img src="http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20120325&Category=COL14&ArtNo=203250480&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Mark-Phelan-Rebadged-Chrysler-200-latest-sold-across-Europe-Lancia"&gt;

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    1. danleym Avatar
      danleym

      I think you got the wrong picture. Looks like a bunch of Chryslers to me.

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    2. jeepjeff Avatar
      jeepjeff

      Oddly enough:
      <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Volga_Siber_front_Moscow_autoshow_2008_26_08.jpg/800px-Volga_Siber_front_Moscow_autoshow_2008_26_08.jpg&quot; width=500>
      This might be the answer to yesterday's Hooniverse Asks.

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    3. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      If they completely illogically dropped the Ferrari California's engine in the Thema to create a new 8.32 (even if they could just throw Lancia badges on an SRT-8), I'd be very appreciative.

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  34. Vairship Avatar
    Vairship

    Any of Chrysler's 1957 cars: the more cars they sold, the more people decided never to buy a ChryCo product again <img src="http://www.allpar.com/photos/dodge/1950s/1957-dodge.jpg&quot; width="600">
    Source: http://www.allpar.com/history/chrysler-years/1957…

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