Most embarrasing cars of all time

[Nos4r2]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Mini's are great-the same guy that gave me the trashed Kadet now has a 1480cc bigbored mini with a turbo on it-it's so damn fast and handles so well that he surprises cars 3 times the size with it up to 70mph and leaves them for dead in corners.<br /><br />The "new Mini's" are aimed exclusively at people called Tarquin who think that they have a personality.<br />Somehow I think BMW missed the point a bit there. I wonder how much of the remake of "the Italian Job" that BMW funded?!

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Originally posted by Nos4r2:<br /> The "new Mini's" are aimed exclusively at people called Tarquin who think that they have a personality.<br />

That is the funniest and sharpest comment I've read in a long time.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

"flesh colored 1980 Ford Escort station wagon"<br /> You win JasonJ, hands down.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Aztek just to darn wierd. The new Chevy S-10 or whatever they call it is just strange in base form. Almost as ugly as the Aztek.<br /><br />Any 4 cylinder that sounds like my lawnmower.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

I can't believe one of my Australian colleagues hasn't yet mentioned the dreaded Leyland P76! Looked like a dog, ran like a dog... it was THE gigantic pile of poodle p00 of its time and helped send Leyland Australia to its grave.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Dodge Omni Plymouth Horizon. nough said.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Originally posted by Triton II:<br /> I can't believe one of my Australian colleagues hasn't yet mentioned the dreaded Leyland P76! Looked like a dog, ran like a dog... it was THE gigantic pile of poodle p00 of its time and helped send Leyland Australia to its grave.

I was going to in my first post, but I've got a bit of a soft spot for them. <br /><br />It was actually a very good car in concept and design, if you can get over the funny boot which had to be that shape to accommodate a 44 gallon drum. It was just very badly built. Bad building was about the only thing BMC / Leyland was consistently good at right through the '60's and '70's until its well deserved demise.<br /><br />The 4.4 all alloy V8 was a ripper. Still a good motor for swaps and powered a fair few inboards. <br /><br />The Targa Florio went OK and the Force 7 would have been great if they'd ever got it into production. And managed to build it right, which was never going to happen.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Originally posted by Tinkerer:<br />

The 4.4 all alloy V8 was a ripper. Still a good motor for swaps and powered a fair few inboards. <br />

Couldn't agree more. They are still a sought after power plant for fresh water conversions.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[theriver]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

All I can say is I like the functionality of the Ridgeline's box and the interior is awesome. What a great overall package. Nicely put together.<br />Same as the Element. Function over form. Great body panels for salty road conditions, versatile interior, etc.<br />Those mocking the new Mini are probably just jealous they don't have that kinda disposable income to spend on an 11' car.<br />Did they buy it because they "think they have a personality", or because it goes over 400 miles on a tiny tank of fuel?<br /><br />Add a vote for me on the Aztek though. GM really did it with that one. Overstyling to the point of godiness seems to be their forte, but that was over the top.<br />;-)

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

In the "new Mini"'s country of origin (Here, the UK) it's actually one of the larger engined and least economical cars available. If a car here won't do 400 miles on a tank of gas it's a rarity,most new cars do 500+.BMW have simply missed the point with it. I suspect they were trying to produce something with character rather than 'generic teutonic luxury fast car that drives really well'. Don't get me wrong, I like beemers-they are a nice semi luxury car over here.The new mini however seems to attract the kind of person who really wants a personality of their own.<br /><br /><br />I'd much rather drive a smart coupe- now THATS a fun small car, and it's not trying to be something it's not.

 

[dogsdad]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

The Plymouth "Super Bird," a jazzed up Roadrunner, has to have been the ugliest thing Detroit made up to that time. It was a Roadrunner with extra fiberglass on it to make it look aerodynamic. It looked like a freekin' whale with four wheels on it. Ironically, one in original condition will bring an obscene sum of money because of its rarity.<br /><br />Another UGLY was the AMC "Marlin"...just another fat fish put on four wheels by a looney taxidermist.<br /><br />The Corvair was actually a pretty good little car, especially when Chevy was through improving it. The problem with it was that the original rear suspension design caused the rims to dig into the pavement during hard cornering, and the car could easily roll in that situation. Chevrolet did update the design, but by then Commrade Nader had done too much damage to its reputation.<br /><br /><br />-dd-

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

This thread just goes to show you that one mans trash is another mans treasure.<br /><br />I would love to own a Corvair or a Superbird or a Mini.<br /><br />Ken

 

[McGR]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

I beg to differ with rg's comments about the Omni/Horizon. My wife had one when we first married, it was a decent little car. In fact, the Omni/Horizon platform was the basis for many vehicles (i.e. Minivans) that pulled Chryler out of near financial collapse. <br /><br />Now if you want to talk crummy Chrysler's how about...<br />Darts,Demons,Dusters (Al Bundy's favorite), Aspens and Volares with slant sixes. Just thinking about those fine machines brings to mind the sound of push rods rattleing. Talk about junk...

 

[theriver]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Are you insane? Do you have any idea what the Darts, Demons and Dusters are worth these days?<br />I have have $30K earmarked to spend on another nice old musclecar. If I could find a GTS 340 4 speed Dart in the right condition, I'd drop it in a heartbeat.<br /><br />The slant sixes (leaning tower of power) ran forever!!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

2 door Dodge Dart coupe - Classic. <br /><br />At 17 years of age, my very first car. Still got the big V '8' badge off the bonnet mounted and displayed next to the wifes crystal.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[ob]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Two of the cheesiest looking cars I remember from the early sixties that you wouldn't want to be dropped off at school in with your friends around were the little Renaults or a Ford Falcon.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Omni and Horizon are K Cars. They are very few people that wouldnt be embarrased to drive one of those.<br /><br />Ken

 

[McGR]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

I knew someone would actually be a fan of these engineering atrocities and no, I'm not insane. Sure the 340 Dart had a favorable power to weight ratio. But 90%+ of these came equipped with the lame slant six. These were lower end vehicles built during rough times for Chrysler. I remember these vehicles for prolific rust, non-existant power, noisy valve trains, leaking oil, sagging torsion springs, broken plastic distributor gears and Grandmas being seen behind the wheel (in Darts especially). I think your arguement for these being good cars is along the same line as the folks who say Vegas were good if you dropped a V8 into them. The car is certainly faster, but, it's still a Vega. <br /><br />BTW me thinks the Element is in close competition with the Aztec for ugliest vehicle of our time. Then again I'm over 40 years old, what do I know about what is fashionable.

 

[McGR]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Omni and Horizon's were not K cars. Omni/Horizons were economy hatchbacks - basically Chrysler's answer to the fuel efficient VW rabbit. In fact early O/Hs had VW engines - don't ask me why VW agreed to that. The K cars were the Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries mid size sedan. They were basically derived from the Omni/Horizon platform as most 80's vintage Chrysler products were. They probably aren't highly regarded in some circles, not the coolest vehicles for sure, but overall they were decent relatively low cost vehicles which, again, probably helped pull Chrysler out the hole it had gotten in to by producing too many of those wretched slant six type vehicles.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Most embarrasing cars of all time

Originally posted by McGR:<br /> I remember these vehicles for prolific rust, non-existant power, noisy valve trains, leaking oil, sagging torsion springs, broken plastic distributor gears and Grandmas being seen behind the wheel (in Darts especially).

Well I never had a problem with power (318) but I have to tick yes to the rest of your list (except for the grandma part ) and add cronic front end problems (near impossible to align correctly).<br /><br />They did have a couple of redeeming features though, a wicked note with a 2 & half inch system, and as a 17 year old - the back seat was huge!<br /><br />Aldo