50 Worst Cars of All Time

From TIME magazine:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0,,1658545,00.html

Any Mondial 8 owners can skip this...

 

I disagree with some of those picks. The Mondi 8 is good, if not the fastest Ferrari. there are dozens of econo-junk boxes from the big three that should take its place on the list. Aries or K-car anyone??? The Mosler Consulier is a successfully fast car. Not the prettiest thing, but it was 1985 and styling was not high on many people's list of things to do in the car industry. The Maserati Biturbo? We had one when I was in high school, it was great! Basically an even match for the same year Mustang 5.0. Once I was driving on US1 in Hobe sound racing a Mustang. Oops, forgot the new rule....

BT

 

Pontiac Aztek is on there?! What a shock! *sarcasm*

 

Yeah, some of them aren't necessarily on my list. The Mondial 8 isn't stupidly unreliable - in fact it's probably a bargain, if you accept the usual Ferrari maintenance costs and replace the fuse block. Even the photo they used of the silver one made it look good.

I did like the writeup on the Ford Explorer, though. That truck probably did encourage an epidemic of automotive obesity, as the article says. Also I think it kept the domestic automakers from being innovative/creative -- too much profit to be made from sticking a new body shell on the same old pickup truck chassis.

 

In black they look like Darth Vader's helmet on wheels.



Can't believe they put the Mondial on there. Most everything else is spot on.

 

They had the 2002 BMW 7 Series on the list for the iDrive system. That's all. And not that it was failing, just complicated to use.

This list must have an odd criteria for listing the cars.

 

If the LM002 is a big and unnecessary vehicle, then why isn't the Hummer H1 on there? I know the H2 is, but still....

 

My guess is because the H1 was used so extensively as a military vehicle. But I am in no way trying to make excuses for this list - because it doesn't seem to be consistent at all.

 

IMVHO with some experience the lexus SC430 should have been on that list. with the run flats my father said that the car pulled to the right when he accelerated and pulled to the left when he braked. and yes he religiously balanced those stupid tires. and the car IMO was awfully ugly! the interior had this wood that looked more fake than the grand canyon in downtown manhatten. just my opinion. hope no one flames.

 

For once I agree with you on that Lexus the styling is horible... But I knew you could not make one coment with out it having your most predictible quote..... "MY FATHER"

 

FIXED!

 

time to go to your room and study isnt it???

 

Not really.

More like just digging the hole further...




About the Mondi.

I love them personally.

Maybe the first year or two were bad.

Not to say they all were.

 

They really got this list right for the most part!

 

I hardly know you, but from what I've seen, you make more reference to your corporeal father than a preacher makes to the Heavenly Father.

 

I agree that it's not the prettiest shape, but I dated a woman who owned one and it was very nice cruiser, with a top notch interior. Definitely more luxury than sport, but that was what she wanted and frankly you could drive on the freeway with the top down and have a normal conversation. (well, the two of us never had normal conversations, but hypothetically two people could have...)

The awkward styling isn't enough to make it one of the worst cars of all time, IMO. However the BMW 3 series convertible would have been my preference at the time.

 

I suspect that the person who put the Model T on the list knows little to nothing about them. Much less ever driven one, or owned one, or really understands it place in the automotive world.

properly maintained they will run for decades, on nearly anything stronger than rootbeer (real low compression ratio). They are stone simple, and putting aside some curious materials choices (par for the course at the time) fairly bullet proof.


Throw in any modern updates, non-babbit bearing, modern rubber seals... they can be fairly enjoyable cars to putt around in... slowly.

 

the Edsel is misplaced as well. Its an advertising flop, not a poor car by any means. The 58's had a GREAT dash and stout engines.

 

...and he lists the MGA twin cam, and the V-12 XKE. Boo!

 

......and the 1975 Trabant.

Undoubtedly, the best car ever made. They don't know what they're talking about!!

 

You can read my comments specific to the Mondial 8 inclusion on the topic in the 3X8/Mondial section.

As far as the other cars, this shows such a horrible lack of understanding of automobiles, the market, technology, sales, etc...

For instance, the Crosley HotShot's summary mentions the CoBra engine, which was fundamentally out of production when the HS started. The bulk of the engines weren't CoBras. Also, there's no mention of the HS's disc brakes -- yes, in the late 1940s. (Again, they decided to go to drums when they were found to be prone to seizing.) It was generally considered the first American post-war sports car. It sold well and is still a desirable legend.

The TR7 suffered some of the problems, but the carbs were actually Strombergs that were fine if set-up by a decent mechanic. (The rubber mounts would fail after 20 years or so.) The headlights had issues and the engines were tough on headgaskets, but I've NEVER heard of timing chains breaking or oil/water pumps that were any worse than any of its contemporaries around the world. By the time the convertible came, the car was extremely reliable, as it had moved to a completely different assembly plant.

Listing the MGA Twin cam and Lotus Elite??? C'mon. These were both cars designed specifically to be race cars. The Elite was never supposed to be robust or reliable -- it was designed to be raced. They were beautiful, fast and successful. The MGA Twin Cam was basically a homologation special. Certainly it wasn't even close to the worst one, at that. Let us point out that a significant percentage of 1970 Plymouth Superbirds were still "new" and untitled on dealer lots in 1973. (A few made it until 1974.)

And I know everyone likes to pick on the Pinto, but it was successful by every measure. It sold MILLIONS of units. The fuel tanks? Keep in mind that the exact same issue applies to another Ford -- the first and second generation Mustangs!!!

There are so many bad cars that didn't make the list, and way too many very good cars that did!

 

+2
I know somebody that has a few and was the chief designer for it and they are the most awsome cars I ever seen! The dashes were actually nicely made and the engine were VERY stout. so you are soooo right.

 

I emailed the link to the bit on the MGA Twin Cam to a friend that owns a very pretty example of this car. He got quite a laugh out of it.

 

Even rusty examples of the MGA are more beautiful than the majority of other cars when new. (And that's a tough thing for a Triumph owner to say !!!)

 

don't agree w/ the Pacer - will be an iconic car of the times


I would have put the Suzuki - because of the roll-over problems

and the mid-70's Mustang/Pintos - only Charlie's Angels looked good in 'em