The twelve worst cars ever built

[cosmo20btt]

Saw this on the net, thought others might enjoy a read.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...rticle1443510/

[trippytaka]

Poor AMC Pacer... it couldn't even get cool after Wayne's World :(

[cosmo20btt]

The bit I liked was that the GM workers were so ****ed they started welding in Coke bottles in the Chassis to they had a rattle that could not be fixed.

[just_pazz]

yeah I laughed out loud when I read that one....

[RedHotGT]

The Ford Pinto line is the funniest....

In a routine about his ghetto childhood, comedian Eddie Murphy told audiences that his family used to rear-end Pintos instead of buying fireworks.

Gold...

[mrbaxr6t]

all of those are made by american companies except 1 hm... didn't american automakers just hit a snag.. wonder why...

<<edit>> just checked not 11 from usa, but they are definetely in the majority on that list 1 subaru and 1 from russia as best as I can tell

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by cosmo20btt

The bit I liked was that the GM workers were so ****ed they started welding in Coke bottles in the Chassis to they had a rattle that could not be fixed.

Yeh that made me laugh too! But what got me more was the very fact that these same employees still expect their benefits and entitlements to be maintained by those same multinational car giants that are now going broke because they (amongst other reasons) have had trouble maintaining quality control of their products over those decades as well.

[Fordman]

lol good read, thanks mate.

[Charliewool]

Thanks for that.. Interesting read.
Did anyone pick the nose treatment on the Pontiac Aztek SUV?.. Look familiar?

[z80]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Thanks for that.. Interesting read.
Did anyone pick the nose treatment on the Pontiac Aztek SUV?.. Look familiar?

man...that is ugly...YUK

[ZDI-970]

kinda harsh putting the explorer in there, theyre not the greatest to drive but they look good and theyre cheap now...

[jphanna]

the edsel gear selector idea with the buttons on the steering wheel....wonder what ever happened to the person who come up with that idea....at least chrysler did the same trick with buttons on the dash.

[sen]

nice read

sadly i think some of those cars look pretty cool

[nipper575]

How did Lada escape that list, or Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych for that matter? (no I didn't make that up...)

[Big Mike]

Hmm thanks for sharing, but they aren't the 12 worst cars at all. Nissan EXA, VN Commodore, EA Falcon, Leyland P76 all come to mind as mechanical failures; there's plenty more. Edsel was a magnificent car and still is compared to Lincoln and Cadillac etc., but was a marketting flop for numerous much-published reasons about its styling and the niche it pretended to fill - not for being an abysmal car like what I'd expect "XX worst cars" to be.

[Airmon]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Thanks for that.. Interesting read.
Did anyone pick the nose treatment on the Pontiac Aztek SUV?.. Look familiar?

Its Pontiacs design theme, its on most of their cars.

P.S. While it looks terrible its still a step up from the original VE front.

[04redxr8]

What about the Holden VYII Berlina Wagon. Without a doubt the worst car I have ever owned and the whole reason I will not buy another Holden ever again.

[outback_ute]

D3v[] & Big Mike -- agree, typical lazy list really.

Case in point - criticising the non-collapsible steering column in the Corvair (which all cars had for another decade after it was introduced) when the real issue was the sway bars they left of to save something like $5 per car, and which would have prevented the problems with the swing axle rear suspension. As bad as the Ford Pinto decision (which I thought was bolts on the diff puncturing the fuel tank, not a problem with the filler?)

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

D3v[] & Big Mike -- agree, typical lazy list really.

Case in point - criticising the non-collapsible steering column in the Corvair (which all cars had for another decade after it was introduced) when the real issue was the sway bars they left of to save something like $5 per car, and which would have prevented the problems with the swing axle rear suspension. As bad as the Ford Pinto decision (which I thought was bolts on the diff puncturing the fuel tank, not a problem with the filler?)

Yeah I thought it was bolts on the diff too.

I think Ford got a pretty bad rap on the Pinto scandal. The cost benefit analysis sounds cold, but is used all the time in everyday life. The figures Ford used on what a human life is worth are actually from the NHTSA (US Govt dept) which states a monetary figure for a life. These cost benefit analysis are done all the time, even by the government. Its why you dont see guard rails lining all of the remote highways, as the massive costs to install it would far outweigh the 'worth' of the relatively few lives saved.

Its disgusting to put a price on a life, but Ford was just following common practise. I still dont know if that would be enough to comfort me if one of my loved ones burned to death.

[FrogInASock]

Interestingly, the early "Corvair Mk 1's" (my term, not Chevrolet's) had the cheap and nasty swingarm rear suspension which contributed (caused?) the issues. Later "Mk 2 Corvairs" has more conventional, non lethal suspension. By then, however, the damage was done.

Nader's book "Unsafe At Any Speed" would cause lawsuits today.

[XR_6falcon]

i think of two cars that belong on this list, the lancia beta and the morris marina

[Stattic]

Is it bad that I dont think the AMC gremlin is ugly? I think they look like tough little corollas lol

[Iggypoppin']

I can't believe any country, even communist Germany, could create a car made from cardboard, with a 2stroke!!! Lol

[buickman]

Originally Posted by Stattic

Is it bad that I dont think the AMC gremlin is ugly? I think they look like tough little corollas lol

By having such a bad reputation like the Edsel if any AMC's on the list are in excellent condition would now starting to become a car for collectors of unusual cars.
I think a few British and Euro cars from the 50's- 80's should be in on the list as well

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by buickman

By having such a bad reputation like the Edsel if any AMC's on the list are in excellent condition would now starting to become a car for collectors of unusual cars.
I think a few British and Euro cars from the 50's- 80's should be in on the list as well

Theres a few Aussie ones that should be on the list but it only goes to twelve.

[FALCONXTV8]

How did the Lada Niva not make it.That thing was a complete bucket of crap.It's hard to believe there are twelve cars worse than that thing!

[fg_nitro]

Anything from this website

http://www.ssangyong.com.au/

[LethalLeigh]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

I can't believe any country, even communist Germany, could create a car made from cardboard, with a 2stroke!!! Lol

Duraplast isn't literally cardboard. It's a wood or plant fibre used in conjunction with resin in a similar way to fibreglass. Kinda innovative in a scroogey kind of way.

I agree with some of the list though it is rather US-centric. I would like to know what might have happened with Chevrolet had the Corvair been a success. Some people still describe the Falcon as space-age on it's launch here compared to Holden and Valiant but the Corvair really came out of left field.

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by FALCONXTV8

How did the Lada Niva not make it.That thing was a complete bucket of crap.It's hard to believe there are twelve cars worse than that thing!

I suppose as crappy as they are they were still useful.

[RSgerry]

most cars built in the UK in the 70's could easily fit into the 'build quality' category. then when you throw in the Morris Marina and the Austin Allegro and Princess, you get some truly ugly beasts. Just about anything Italian from the 60s - 80s could have made the list at least for rust problems. In fact, i think the italians managed to get glass and rubber to rust and disappear on their cars as well as the metals bits....