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Who here would have been willing to spend $15,000 on a Dodge Dynasty? Oh c’mon now. Those trombone case red interiors were quite luxurious in the Imperial days of the Reagan era. But okay then. How about a few more Franklins for a zonker yellow Suzuki X-90? No? Maybe a Daihatsu Charade? Perhaps a Honda Ridgeline? Ten years from now I believe we’ll see a very long line of models epitomizing the worst of value and design. Your nominations? Oh . . . and no. Reincarnating the 1990’s aquatic Taurae and the Daewoo Lanos (and the hands of fate) don’t count.
Nominations for current or recently-produced cars that will likely be future embarrassments?
-smart anything
-Non-military Hummer anything
-Chevy Aveo
(I’ll have to admit that, in my financially-challenged teen and early 20s days, I had a Ford Pinto, a Chevy Chevette and an Olds Cutlass Supreme. Believe it or not, the Olds had the most issues.)
If the category includes great car at a terrible price, I nominate the Gen1 Honda Odyssey. As great a vehicle as it is (mine is at 213K and counting) it was horribly overpriced. New, an LX model stickered at $24K. I was in the market in 1995 and briefly considered the vehicle, but GAD, the price! You would pay the same for a moderately equipped Ford Club Wagon with scads more room and power. I opted instead for a 1 year old Club Wagon Chateau with every option Ford could load onto it. 20K miles, and cost me $4k less than the new Odyssey. At that price point, it needed lotsa room and power, and the Ody, despite its many charms, had neither.
Chrysler Sebring and Jeep Compass, of course.
Jeep Compass – I’ve seen Tonka trucks with more elegant lines
Probably anything from the first year of Fiatsler
And I second tbp0701’s nomination of Smart
The Aztec is implied, like a silent vowel, right?
First of all the Pontiac Aztec and the Chrysler Sebring are too easy to mention on this thread.
Instead I’ll nominate the Honda Accord Crosstour, if and when it comes to market, followed by the BMW X6 with hounourable mention to the Toyota Venza. All are fat, hideous and a direct result of trying to bridge the wagon and SUV and failing miserably.The worst part is they won’t have much trouble selling them.
Anything in sedan version that started out as hatchback and should have remained as such;Yaris, Versa, the forthcoming Polo that VW is about to ruin, even the Aveo.
The new Camry and Accord,while reliable and well built are the most boring looking cars since the 98 Malibu or the the 03 Corolla, and holy s**t are they huge!
With these cars Toyhonda have officially become the Buick of the Japanese manufacturers.
The Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass – same car I think – for their poseur butch appearance and of course the interior.
All the above are a direct result of the American markets aversion to risk and / or the need to have everything longer, wider,softer,with 20 cup holders, multiple DVD’s, slushbox and a V6.
The X-90 is a great example in this venue, but won’t embarrass anyone in the future, because no one will know what you’re talking about. How many have Suzuki sold? Is it into the triple digits yet?
I was going to nominate the Aztek too, but upon reflection, there’s nothing future about that embarrassment. I point and laugh now, whenever I see one.
Acura TL …bad mix of luxury pricing and psychotic styling.
Kia Amanti…also ugly, ugly, ugly…a convoluted mess.
Nissan Versa…also hit with an ugly stick… misshapen and distorted, like it’s melting.
Jeep Compass…been mentioned before, but ugly, cheap and pointless, a brand ruiner.
Chrysler Sebring…an embarassment, cheap interior.
Mitsubishi Galant…way overdue for a makeover. Totally outclassed in the midsize class.
I was going to say Lincoln Versailles (ah, a luxury Granada on a platform created for original Ford Falcon). But on second thought, I decided its the perfect complement for the 70’s execrable fashions.
And hey, Steven, Manos: The Hands of Fate was a wonderful movie. (To be savaged by the MST3K crew.)
As a Ridgeline owner (and a designer by training) I have absolutely zero problem with anyone classifying that vehicle as ugly—if you define ugly as poorly styled. However, it is not poorly engineered nor was it a bad value. I purchased mine (ours, it’s actually the wife’s vehicle) pre-owned only 14 months after it rolled off of the lot. When purchased, it had 26k miles on it and cost $15k less than what it stickered for brand new. I expect that it will run 200k without a problem and still yield $5-6k in residual value at that point. I personally see that as quite a good value. But man is it ugly.
I hereby nominate the Chevy HHR, the PT Cruiser and the Chrysler Sebring as vehicles who’s value and design will forever be seen as questionable.
I was just going to say that Ridge was awesome, but then an owner just had to pop up and bash PT, which, observe — provides such an excellent value that it continues to find a customer despite Chrysler’s best efforts. And honestly, Ridge would benefit from an extra low gear in that monstrous slushbox.
As already said, Hummer anything…
On top of that, Ford Expedition, Excursion, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, Chrysler Aspen.
Hey Steve, the Charade was a nifty little scooter, better than the similar Metro.
Lexus RX. You’d have to be on some sort of prescription to think that’s a beautiful, uh, crossover.
I nominate the BMW 335d, the world’s first $50,000 econocar. Ya could’ve had a V8 (or at least a rocket twin-turbo gas six).
A guy at my work bought an X-90, specifically for the cheezeball nature of the car. Of course he was replacing a two-stroke vintage Saab, so he’s already demonstrably mentally unstable.
–chuck
I suspect all the “retro” cars of today – the Charger, the new Camaro, etc. – are going to look like Nissan Pulsars in 20 years. They’ll be what people in 2009 thought looked futuristic.
The Pontiac Aztec and the original version of the Subaru B-9 Tribeca have to be the ugliest cars in recent memory.
In the future I think today’s crop of gargantuan, cartoonishly proportioned pickup trucks will epitomize the excess and pretense of the last decade.
OK, I think I am in the spirit of the thread now. My new nomination is someone who paid anywhere close to the $29K sticker for the 1993 Chrysler Imperial. Runner up would be anyone who paid $20K for the 1980-81 Imperial. I read recently that each one sold cost Chrysler about $10K in warranty expense. But the 93 was worse because the buyer paid luxury car money for a really nice, really long V6 K-Car.
Nissan Sentra. Especially the joke that is the SE-R version
All Acuras, especially KING UGLY ZDX.
Bentley Mulsanne
GMC Torrent.. er Terrain
Lincoln MKT
I can’t believe I am the first to bring up the Pacifica.
Any Puegot purchased in the US in the months previous to their US pullout, and the same for Daewo.
How about all those folks who went to the pre-recession auto auctions and paid crazy money for clones of 1960’s muscle cars. One of the best known replicas was the “Continuation” Shelby Mustangs authorized by Carroll Shelby.
How about the Ssangyyong Rodius? Did they try to sell it in the US, btw.?
For me, it’s the worst-looking car ever. Forget the Aztec. Forget about any other design mishaps. That’s a mishap by design.
(c.f. http://robson.m3rlin.org/cars/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/ssang-yong_rodius_mpv-_2006.jpg, or http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/9164/images/SsangYongRodius.jpg. or http://car-blueprints.narod.ru/images/ssangyong/ssangyong-rodius-2006.gif )
How about the Ssangyyong Rodius? Did they try to sell it in the US, btw.?
For me, this is the worst-looking car ever, worldwide. Forget about other design mishaps. That’s a mishap by design.
(c.f. http://robson.m3rlin.org/cars/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/ssang-yong_rodius_mpv-_2006.jpg, or http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/9164/images/SsangYongRodius.jpg. or http://car-blueprints.narod.ru/images/ssangyong/ssangyong-rodius-2006.gif )
Ya could’ve had a V8 (or at least a rocket twin-turbo gas six).
Why?
335i = 300 lb/ft
M3 V-8 = 295 lb/ft
335d = 425 lb/ft
The Subaru Baja wins hands down!
A true overpriced WTF.
The Chevrolet SSR.
Oh, how do I hate that thing.
Cadillac Allanté — A $65,000 front wheel drive POS.
Twotone
Cadillac DTS.
Lincoln Blackwood.
Pontiac G3.
Jeep Compass.
Jeep Caliber.
Chrysler Aspen.
I would not put the Aztek on this list. It is mechanically reliable, utilitarian, and as long as you are inside looking through the windshield, an OK vehicle. The same goes for early Pacificas. I would buy one used. Ugly=cheap.
Anything Isuzu, but capped by the VehiCross.
Re IGB :
To be more specific – an Isuzu Imark. The last US car to have a carburetor(1985).
The wife at the time bought one new and I had the pleasure rebuilding the carb twice – to no avail. Oh, and tuning on the AC was like lowering a tailhook……
The current Mazda3 deserves a mention. It looks like it is trying to harvest krill.
The VehiCross was a bit goofy, but it has a cult following, as evidenced by the high prices commanded by used examples (well, high for used Isuzus anyway). If one ever gets traded in at my dealership, especially one with that red/orange leather interior, it will be mine the minute the customer drives off in their new car.
Chevy x-body. Drove me to imports in <2 years from new.
Never looked back from my Honda roots.
“…To be more specific – an Isuzu Imark. The last US car to have a carburetor(1985)…”
There were still lots of carbureted vehicles after 1985. I believe the last was the 1991 Crown Vic police package 351, and the last “regular” model was the 1990 Subaru Justy.
@MikeinCanada
I owned a U.S. market 1989 Toyota Corolla with a carburator.
Only things I did to it in 125K miles were to spray it with cleaner a couple of times and turn up idle speed about 100 or 150 rpm to smooth it out shortly before selling it.
jpcavanaugh wrote:
Runner up would be anyone who paid $20K for the 1980-81 Imperial. I read recently that each one sold cost Chrysler about $10K in warranty expense.
Oh man, how could I have forgotten those? Such a hideous design–clearly rushed out of the studio and into production before the back end was finished.
My old man was in the Chrysler business at the time and drove several of them. The biggest PsOS I have ever seen. But he loved them and worse …he sold them to all of his buddies. Given that the $10k/car in warranty claims is probably conservative, that wasn’t a very good move. Among their many failings, the one that sticks in my mind is that the electronic instruments failed with exceptional regularity … and with the added bonus of preventing the car from starting.
If the question is “Who asked for this?” it rules out:
a) goofy Japanese and Korean cars which were not originally intended for Western buyers (Aveo, X-90, etc.) Smart might be included here?;
b) Hummers, uber-luxo SUVs, and other SUV-like afterbirths;
c) American retro (PT Cruiser, HHR, Charger, Camaro, etc.)
That leaves Jeep Compass? Who asked for THAT?!
@ zaitcev:
but then an owner just had to pop up and bash PT, which, observe — provides such an excellent value that it continues to find a customer despite Chrysler’s best efforts. And honestly, Ridge would benefit from an extra low gear in that monstrous slushbox.
Ummm, check the sales figures. There are dealers who still have 2008 PT’s on the lot. Not sure how that speaks to its value, but I’ll let you cover that since it’s your point, not mine.
No argument on the low gear in the Ridgeline. It could also use about 40 more horses.
EDIT: Also forgot about the Jeep Compass. That’s a great nomination.
The Ridgeline isn’t really a bad vehicle. The engine is smooth, the interior simple but ergonomic and durable, and the trick tailgate is neat. It can’t tow heavy loads or do heavy duty truck work, but for occasional light hauling or towing a small boat or trailer it suffices. It is, however, pretty pricey for a very light duty truck.
The PT Cruiser was awesome when it first came out (aside from the mechanicals – run over just about anything and you are looking at pricey engine repairs). Sadly, Chrysler never paid enough attention to it to keep it modern and now it’s just an anachronism. Then again, if the stories of people being able to buy new fairly well equipped ones from dealers for under $10,000 are to believed, it’s still a nicer car for that price than the stripper no A/C stick shift Versa or Accent that live in the new car bargain basement.
The Compass never had any business being a Jeep, but compared to the Caliber, I think it is the better looking of the two.
Hummer anything
Lincoln Navigator
Nissan Cube
Hummer anything
Cadillac Escalade, bonus for EXT
Hummer anything
Dodge Caliber
Jeep Compass
Hummer anything
Suzuki Verona / Chevy Epica (this may have been Canada-only)
Hummer anything
Quite frankly, any body-on-frame vehicle intended, marketed, purchased and used as a family / commuting vehicle. Every time I get into the rear-seat of a multi-ton, multi-story vehicle and find myself kissing my knees, I’m floored by the moronic stupidity of these vehicles in that role. The worst of these are the Hummers. So allow me one final time to say:
Hummer anything.
The Azteks I see on the streets all appear to be well-cared-for and clean and shiny, more so than average for the typical non-super-expensive conveyances.
In udder words, it seems the Aztek owners are moooved to keep their critters clean and shiny.
Just a subjective observation begging for clinical studies to suggest something.
X90 is probably the most classic example but thank god it didn’t cost Suzuki much cause they put it on the Sidekicks frame and borrowed almost everything from it.
My girlfriend who grew up in the thick of the launch of GEO and thought the Tracker/Sidekick was “kind of cute.” “And practical for snowy days.” Saw an X90 in the Safeway parking lot for the first time a few weeks ago. “WTF is that!”
With all the Sebring talk, I’m surprised no one has nominated the vehicle that inspired it – the Chrysler Crossfire. Surely, it will make the list as a future embarrassment (especially the coupe).
Steve, the Manos ref makes you my new favorite TTAC writer (sorry Rob and Ed).
Suzuki Swifts/Geo/Chevy Metros are crazy overpriced every time gas spikes.
That’s because, unlike the absolutely lamentable Chevrolet Aveo, Metros are actually fuel efficient.
http://www.metrompg.com/
Some fascinating reading there.
Tosh :
September 27th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
If the question is “Who asked for this?” it rules out:
a) goofy Japanese and Korean cars which were not originally intended for Western buyers (Aveo, X-90, etc.) Smart might be included here?;
b) Hummers, uber-luxo SUVs, and other SUV-like afterbirths;
c) American retro (PT Cruiser, HHR, Charger, Camaro, etc.)
That leaves Jeep Compass? Who asked for THAT?!
Not even the Koreans want the Aveo. That’s why Daewoo went belly up.
jmo :
September 27th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Ya could’ve had a V8 (or at least a rocket twin-turbo gas six).
Why?
335i = 300 lb/ft
M3 V-8 = 295 lb/ft
335d = 425 lb/ft
…and the good times end at 4,000 rpm. Because of this, the 335d is at least a second slower to 60 than the 335i. It also costs more.
Besides, other than people who do lots of Interstate long hauls, who spends 50 large on a sports sedan and worries about its fuel economy? I mean, do you see a guy rolling up in his 335d, climbing out, and telling his buds, “yeah, she gets 35 miles per gallon”?
Let’s also keep in mind the 335i is far from being a gas guzzler (17/26, very respectable for a car with its performance capabilities).
Just because diesel is great for Europeans doesn’t automatically make it good for Americans.
Dodge Viper. I’ve seen otherwise perfectly polite people laugh out loud when a complete stranger pulls up in one.
1990s Suzuki Swift Convertible. Especially the last one I saw, which was painted purple and tilted to the left because it was being driven by a 400-pound man.
I think any car that has active owner’s forums (e.g. New Beetle, PT Cruiser, Mini, Smarts) should not be on this list. They may not be to your tastes, but they appeal to some very one eyed owners.
The cars that should be here are the genuinely unloved, hateful crappy cars. The sort of cars that spy photogs don’t get their lenses out of the bag for.
I personally think the SsangYong anything (Actyon dual cab ute is my personal un-favorite right now) will end up being the Yugo of now.
After personally driving them, I think the Aveo is a definite winner, as is the Dodge Nitro, and the V6 Charger – all looks and no go.
Andrew
Mercedes-Benz R-Class
What the R-Class says about its driver:
“I’m a ‘wine and cheese’ type person. Only a Mercedes suits my tastes. And I drive a snail.”
The Nissan and Toyota full size pick-ups with their enormous “V8” badges that came out just as gas was getting to $4 are an embarrassment. Same with the Rams that had a HEMI one model year and a hemi the next.
Even more embarrassing down the road than the Escalade and Navigator will be the:
Lincoln Blackwood (and whatever its current name is).
Acura TL …bad mix of luxury pricing and psychotic styling.
I saw one cruising through our company parking lot on Friday, and Acura (0r a dealer) has done the one thing that could make that car look worse – the entire beak has been chromed.
Wow…. this one is going down in the “What were they thinking” list 10 years from now.
It really does look like an expensive Aztek; I can’t believe that there isn’t a lot of criticism of the design.
http://blogs.cars.com/.a/6a00d83451b3c669e201156f2622e7970c-800wi
Really, it’s sort of a “All your cookies are belong to us” look.
Runner up would be anyone who paid $20K for the 1980-81 Imperial.
Because the guy from fantasy Island said it was the essence of luxury (might have been the lebaron, but same difference) and it came with the “Diamond” warranty, which apparantly was accurate, at least in terms of cost
epitomizing the worst of value and design
Value and design?
The value part is easy…there are a great many vehicles that are over-priced, especially in today’s depressed market. To wit, the local Mitsubishi and Saab dealers appear to be living in an alternate dimension.
And design is easy to…the street are littered with unappealing designs.
But combining those two is tough. One good choice is the Kia Borrego. Wrong place, wrong time, nothing to really distinguish it. There are two here that have been on the lot since the model was launched. The dealers steadfastly have them stickered at $42k Canadian.
I think the Mercedes B and GLK will fall into this category. Waaaay too much money for what you get, and my guess is you will also ‘get’ MBs infamous quality problems.
Ah yes, those Imperials were a prize weren’t they? I know that at some point the dealers were so sick of their problems that they took new cars and installed 360 4 barrels.
Definitely the Lincoln MKT. Seriously, a luxury pick-up truck? WTF is that??!!
Lincoln Blackwood and all the crap GM was able to affix atop its GMT platform and sell as a Luxury SUV to dumb people.
Here is the scenario that would peg my “what were you thinking” meter:
Anyone under 60 buying a Buick. Seriously, it’s a Grandpa car. You basically paid Lexus money for this car, and everyone thinks that either it’s your grandpa’s church car, or you are completely oblivious to style. At which point you’d have been better off to just get a loaded Camry.
Mid-2000s Hyundai Santa Fe — the ones that look like they’ve been T-boned on both sides.
Early – Mid 90’s GM Minivans, or “Dustbusters”. My mom had a 1991 Silhouette in bright aqua-blue with black pinstripes. Looked like something Jeff Bridges would have driven in Tron… if he wanted to look stupid.
More recently, I think the Saab 9-2x has earned it. The Saabaru. Badge-engineering gone bizzaro. Don’t think Saab has really recovered from that one.
Virtually every vehicle named has a fan-following. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder – some guys actually like fat chicks!
Who asked for a MINI Clubman?
Who asked for a Dodge Nitro?
Who asked for a Ford 500?
Who asked for a Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
Chevy Monte Carlo Signature Series
The last-generation Monte Carlo looked like they sculpted a bland oversized coupe and then let the clay melt before scanning it to make the production tools. MSRP was over $32k when blessed with special interior and exterior graphics to honor your favorite NASCAR driver. I have never been more embarassed than the time I drove one as a rental.
rudiger wrote:
“… the Chrysler Crossfire …”
Another good nominee. I was sitting behind one in traffic today, thinking: “Who the hell thought that was a good idea?”
“… the Chrysler Crossfire …”
We have a winner. Seriously, that vaults to #1 on my list.
That being said, I’d like to add the Jeep Commander.
The Benz R500 and especially the R63 AMG fall into this camp too.