You know, you don’t have to drive everything out there. I’ve driven a number of cars that were so underwhelming that I kind of wish I had back those meager minutes spent behind their wheels. Some of those have been cars that others have told me they liked.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there are also a slew of cars that I have driven—Lamborghini Miura, Model T hot rod, and 300SL Gullwing among them—that I wouldn’t trade the memories of for a million bucks. Still, there are some cars that just leave me nonplussed.
What about you, is there a generally well received car or truck that you’d pass on driving? What exactly might that be?
Image: Ford Motor Company
Hooniverse Asks: What Generally Well Regarded Car or Truck Are You Okay With Never Driving?
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54 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What Generally Well Regarded Car or Truck Are You Okay With Never Driving?”
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Up until a month ago, I would have answered none. I want to drive everything, at least once, just to see.
BUT, after having been stuck with that Nissan Sentra rental – a car that completely and totally sucks the joy of driving right out of you, I really don’t care to drive anything new from their brand again. That especially includes this:
http://www.seriouswheels.com/comparison/2017-Nissan-GT-R-NISMO/720-Nissan-GT-R.jpg
They tout all the electronic “enhancements” to make the GT-R a super track monster. I interpret that as nothing more than a computer on wheels, and I have a feeling that it’s just as ‘fun’ as that craptacular Sentra.-
Given the opportunity to drive one, I would, but I am perfectly fine with the idea of never driving an R35 GT-R.
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GT-Rs of any generation are a much more mechanical and visceral experience than people imagine. Not driven one, but I’ve been catapulted round a circuit as a passenger in R32 GT-R, absolute loony tunes stuff. I reckon the newer cars are similar.
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Prior generations, yes. I love the R32. But the R35 is too remote and frigid for my liking.
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I agree completely. Nissan is one of the most disappointing brands out there right now, and the GT-R is a prime example of an engineering masterpiece that is completely devoid of soul. It amazes me that the company that made the 240Z (which I think is beautiful to stare at and drive) also birthed this speed appliance. Given the keys to either a GT-R or a Toyota 86 (with the stipulation that I couldn’t sell it), I’d take the far cheaper but much more satisfying 86.
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Upvoting more because I want an 86 than being down on the GT-R
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I couldn’t think of anything then I saw this. Meh styling and a reputation of being aloof and I have no desire to drive one.
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I’d put the GT-R in the same category as most $100k+ sports/supercars that are really too fast to drive fast on public roads. Even the HSV GTS I drove was really in the same boat. On the other hand, take them on a race track or a targa rally with closed roads, and YES PLEASE!
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I like em for what they are, sort of the anti-Miata. Where the Miata wants to involve you intimately in every mechanical detail, this car is the other extreme. The accelerator pedal is less a throttle opening pedal and more like one of those levers that captains would pull on an old steam ship just sent a message of “full speed ahead” to the lads shovelling coal down in the engine room. Driving the prius is sorta like that, you just tell it you want to stop or go faster and it sorts out all the details. It’s not fun, but as car to take the stress out of heavy urban traffic, it’s kinda like a zen garden on wheels.
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I’ve driven a second-gen Prius, and it was okay. I did like the instant torque, but I think the relative silence would drive me insane.
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I have a second generation Prius. Instant torque? I guess, but there isn’t much. And it’s not really silent unless you are gentle with it, which it really wants you to do. If you want any speed or acceleration, you have to push it and it gets really loud because the cvt brings that little 4 cylinder to its power peak and leaves it there.
It’s efficient and reliable, but there’s absolutely no joy in it.-
Yeah, not to overstate things, it’s not life changing, it’s not fun, but it is well suited to heavy traffic where you’d be miserable in anything “fun” in other circumstances. As long as you don’t expect too much from it, it’s a good “transport appliance”.
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I’m one of those “drive ALL THE THINGS” type people, I will happily have a go in anything, even it’s mediocre and dull, I just like seeing how each car drives. I can usually find something to like in anything, even if it’s not for me.
I think the only car I’ve ever wished I’d thrown the keys back at the hire desk was a Hyundai Accent circa 2007. I was on a work trip and needed to drive from Munich airport to just over the French Border and the car was just so vague and sloppy, even by econobox standards that you had no confidence driving at higher speeds on the autobahn. Might have just got a bad one, but I’ve driven some total buckets and that as a virtually new car still stood out. -
At the risk of jinxing myself, I’m going to say Porsche GT3.
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The base Cayman is so much more satisfying.
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I’ve already screwed the pooch on this – I drove a GT350 at the track and it made my modded GT feel like a Focus.
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Ha, I remember driving a tuned FPV Typhoon (the turbo 4L six), and getting back into a normal Falcon was like “where did the engine go?”
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F-cars are totally ok not to drive in your life, I managed fine so far.
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I’m not sure how highly regarded they are. F-cars have a more nostalgic love than a performance love.
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Valid aspect. People are regarding them high enough to buy them new, today.
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I have never said: “huh?” when someone tossed me their car keys, and I don’t intend to start doing that either. It would be cool to try the absolute top of automobile engineering, like the example above, but I don’t expect to get there ever, and I’m fine with it.
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The Dodge Viper ACR gets lots of love because it’s a giant brute force machine and is the SRT brand’s crown jewel until production ends this year. However, I believe I could go my entire life, and may even have my life not cut short, if I never drive one.
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If I ever find myself sitting in front of an ACR’s start button:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0b63730134c1a56dc32fb2220a0f2a2bb85e310160d1fb05c1311c7c2c63ab9d.gif-
Pretty much. A few years ago maybe not, but I have a daughter now.
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I’d press it… “hey grim reaper..”
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/084/383/anteater.jpg
Then again, it’s still, realistically, a lot safer than getting on a motorcycle surely? To roll out the science on this one, statistical chance of death is measured in micromorts. 1 Micromort = 1 in a million chance in death. More micromorts = higher probability of death. Here’s the micromort accident value of various modes of travel according to Wikipedia
1 Micromort =
Travelling 6 miles (9.7 km) by motorbike
Travelling 17 miles (27 km) by walking
Travelling 10 miles (or 20 miles) by bicycle
Travelling 230 miles (370 km) by car
Travelling 1000 miles (1600 km) by jet
Travelling 6000 miles (9656 km) by train
Travelling 12,000 miles (19,000 km) by jet in the United States
Or to put it another way, 1 skydive jump = 9 micromorts, which means 54 miles on a bike is as risky as a skydive.
If you already ride a motorcycle, pressing that ACR button doesn’t seem so bad now does it?-
I wonder where “driving a classic car without crumple zones or collapsible steering shaft” falls.
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Bugatti Veyron – I accept that it does phenomenal things, but the odds of me accessing anywhere to properly exploit it (and also being skilled and persistent enough to exploit it) aren’t likely. I’d love to poke around one in a parking lot, but I can’t see it being a big regret on my death bed if I never drive one.
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I don’t have an answer so much as a cautionary tale: Thanks to matters unrelated to the car itself I turned down my chance to drive the 2013 HCOTY-winning (and therefore exceptionally well received) K-Car. It was right in front of me, no strings attached, ready to go. I am an idiot. Learn from my mistake.
https://i0.wp.com/hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/hcoty-k-car.jpg-
Having driven the K car (in fact, that may very well be me in that picture) in both it’s original four banger form and later hot rodded V6/5 speed version, I’ll say you missed out.
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I like to think I’m pretty adventurous, but self-preservation has to kick in at some point.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7fd11372cafadd71f03fddbd93941593617c4195a81e883b2092823420387b44.jpg-
I’m with you. I’ll drive just about anything, except certain extremely rare race cars that have a reputation for killing drivers.
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What could possibly go wrong?
http://hre.com/discus/messages/3/16274.jpg
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For totally opposite reasons. “Don’t break it. Don’t crash. Don’t break it. Don’t crash…Oh, dear God, please…
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f5707428a6bacebd29469e8f931c163f00ceb32aae6f1e64936fc16be900ecc6.jpg -
There isn’t anything that I can think of that I wouldn’t mind taking for a quick spin. However, there are probably many cars that I’m just not capable of driving and a bunch that my 6’1″, 300+lb. body, and size 13 feet just won’t fit in.
http://cdn.speednik.com/files/2015/12/2015-12-08_06-30-06.jpg-
That doesn’t scare me half as much as the slingshot dragster, at least when the engine/transmission blows, it’s all behind you, rather than aimed at your nether regions.
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BMW. Any BMW. Just too much cultural baggage to bear.
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I’ve never driven a BMW, but I do know that cultural baggage is why they have luggage racks.
http://images12.fotki.com/v213/photos/2/20008/125759/BMWIsettagreenwithluggageracksideview-vi.jpg-
Is the BMW cultural baggage in that little wicker picnic basket?
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I assume there is some culture in the basket, along with some fermentation and some dead animal
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It’s a more of a Wicca basket.
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You call that cultural baggage?
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_mNDL8G2eY/V7VLXCOjUoI/AAAAAAAKN_8/u7KvyXAK7zwPdzcsKoMRoos0pB1aOGbtACLcB/s400/1a1ab.png-
If so, then VW carries a lot too: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7c5f7a73660945151861501d099aaaf2571bdc6b4dadaa48ddfdbc3b28e96af3.jpg
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None. I’ll drive anything to see what it feels like.
From a Model T Ford to an airport tug to a hydro-ladder to a Lamborghini to a motorcycle to a Morgan to a 50s Cadillac to a Stanley Steamer to a Scania heavy truck to an Aussie road-train to an electric bicycle to a 30s Packard to aCitroen DS to a Citroen 2CV to a Mini to a Trabant to a Steam Tractor to a Caterpillar bulldozer to a Lotus Elise to a Zil to a Tatra to a Triumph Herald to a Nissan Leaf…
I want to try them all.-
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Yep, that too. Exactly how bad is it?
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I’d totally rock it.
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What I like with your listing: nothing above 200mph, and nothing over a few years’ salary (that road train might cost a bit, I guess).
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The Aventador I drove could do 200 mph.
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Oh, I saw “Lamborghini” and thought “Jalpa”…
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Oddly enough I haven’t driven one of those, but I have driven a Urracco which is ,(I’m given to understand), pretty similar. The trick is to be a well informed car fanatic with well heeled friends and be able to offer them odd drives in return. Very few people have driven CX or BX Citroens or Lancia Gammas.
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The Bugatti Veryon holds zero interest for me. It is merely an exercise in wretched excess. It’s not, to my eyes , beautiful or even an elegant shape. Sure it has 1,000 horsepower but in the real world that just means you don’t dare even touch the throttle. It’s value means that your insurance company won’t let you toss the keys to the valet at restaurant, and your date has to wear slacks or become a Snapchat sensation. There’s no racing program or heritage (for the last 75 years anyhow) so why take it to the track?
So, beyond bragging rights, what good is it?
For the same money, I would much rather have this Bugatti to drive around in. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e023dcabd3ec696105668cd03cd9b7f2c49bdc2225d645f3e989637c871ce011.jpg-
Ha-ha, as if you could get one of those for the same money as a Veyron…!
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Last and current generation Chevrolet Camaro. It seems to me like you have to be a Transformers and Hotwheels fan with no practical regards to a car to like these things.
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