10 automobiles that should have never been built

[caldera]

Drag coefficient dictated the shape, not an asian Richard Simmons. It actually has less drag than almost all sports cars. Get used to it, you're going to see that egg shape a lot more.

The Prius may have a low drag coefficient, but d.c. is really only beneficial at highway speeds. The Prius gets awesome city (stop and go) mileage and that's where most people drive these days. With urban sprawl, more traffic lights and more cars we will be going slower still. Why cant they make a hybrid that doesn't scream "i know better than you and I'm gonna save the planet!" ?  Make one that looks cool and they will sell like '64 Mustangs.

[Ripsnort]

The Prius may have a low drag coefficient, but d.c. is really only beneficial at highway speeds. The Prius gets awesome city (stop and go) mileage and that's where most people drive these days. With urban sprawl, more traffic lights and more cars we will be going slower still. Why cant they make a hybrid that doesn't scream "i know better than you and I'm gonna save the planet!" ?  Make one that looks cool and they will sell like '64 Mustangs.

Well, GM is betting the bank on the Chevy Volt, limited production next year (10,000) and full production 2010 last I heard. Regarding looking cool, like every car style, "looking cool" is subjective and dependent on ones individual tastes.

[slipknot]

I could have seen that one coming from a mile away.  Just curious as to how you know what is and isn't attractive to homosexuals. Ewwww.

I'm a good guesser, I suppose.

Grown men that use terms like 'ewwww' would also be pretty high up on the list.

[soda72]

Well, GM is betting the bank on the Chevy Volt, limited production next year (10,000) and full production 2010 last I heard. Regarding looking cool, like every car style, "looking cool" is subjective and dependent on ones individual tastes.
(Image removed from quote.)

I like the concept of the VOLT car with the extend range ability mixed in with the electric only range.

There was an article mentioning they would need to sell it for $48,000 to make a profit and would break even at 40,000.  So unless they want to compete with the Prius they are going to need to get that price down between 20k-30k.

It's going to be interesting to see how the car market plays out in the next 2 - 3 years.    A lot of new concept cars from EVs to extended range EVs to hybrids...

[Nilsen]

On that list i have only driven the Focus and the Beetle. Both were good cars imo, but there is no charm in any of em.

[Roundeye]

The "New" VW Beetle = great car, great resurrection.  No way should it be on this list.  I've had a bunch of the old ones and loved them.  Rode in a new convertible last week, it was great.

The problem with the new "Beetle" is that they called it a Beetle.  I collected the vintage REAL Beetles too.  Owned over 40 of them (yes...I was addicted).

The original Beetle was waaaaaay different than anything else on the road.  It was simple, reliable and very unique in its style, construction, drivablility, sound and even smell.  The new one is no different than any other econo-box out there other than its very round shape with its front engine, liquid-cooled front drive, full-of-electronics self.

Anyone that could fix a lawnmower could completely disassemble and rebuild a Beetle with common handtools in a matter of days.  I've pulled engines in 22 minutes.  A floor jack, blocks, couple of wrenches and a screwdriver and its out on the driveway.  22 minutes is about how long it would take for the tow truck to show up to haul off a new "Beetle" when it refuses to run, cause odds are you are not going to fix it roadside with a stick and a chewing gum wrapper like the real Beetles.

I'm not saying the new ones are POS cars or even belong on that list, but they are not worthy of the title "Beetle".

[CAP1]

I agree with all of them, but the Focus.   The H2 might have one of the highest "problems per 1,000 vehicles" ever.   I know it was far and away the front runner by a WIDE MARGIN in it's first 3 years of production. 

are we looking only at their stock forms?

 if i recall, wasn't the gremlin X a pretty quick car? definitly better than the pacer

pintos that didn't become barbeques, made mice dragsters.....


the cimeron was just a cavalier with some fancy watermelon added onto it......or was it a celebrity?

[Ripsnort]

are we looking only at their stock forms?

 if i recall, wasn't the gremlin X a pretty quick car? definitly better than the pacer

pintos that didn't become barbeques, made mice dragsters.....


the cimeron was just a cavalier with some fancy watermelon added onto it......or was it a celebrity?

I rode on A1A in Ft. Lauderdale at night cruising for chicks at age 16 with a guy that had a 351 Cleveland dropped into a Ford Pinto with a completely rebuilt frame and suspension. He was pulling low 10's on the 1/4 mile with that car. 

It looked almost identical to this one: http://www.animaljimracing.com/images/PSpinto.jpg

[CAP1]

I rode on A1A in Ft. Lauderdale at night cruising for chicks at age 16 with a guy that had a 351 Cleveland dropped into a Ford Pinto with a completely rebuilt frame and suspension. He was pulling low 10's on the 1/4 mile with that car. 

It looked almost identical to this one: http://www.animaljimracing.com/images/PSpinto.jpg

that's what i'm talkin bout

[Kaw1000]

Price of a hybrid car $30,000...roughly

Price of a Cheap Hyundai $13,000...a difference of......$17,000

Gas mileage difference....not that much.

Why are people buying Hybrids??

$17,000 buys a whole lot of gas!!

[Ripsnort]

Price of a hybrid car $30,000...roughly

Price of a Cheap Hyundai $13,000...a difference of......$17,000

Gas mileage difference....not that much.

Why are people buying Hybrids??

$17,000 buys a whole lot of gas!!

Al Gore, and it makes them feel better.  I had a college professor teaching psychology that used to describe one theory in psych as "by the time one reaches 30, one feels they have the need to either have babies or save the whales to ascend to their needs of self-actualization".

I've updated his comment with;

 "by the time one reaches 30, one feels they have the need to either have babies or drive a Prius to feel good about the planet they're polluting in order to ascend to their needs of self-actualization".

[CAP1]

Price of a hybrid car $30,000...roughly

Price of a Cheap Hyundai $13,000...a difference of......$17,000

Gas mileage difference....not that much.

Why are people buying Hybrids??

$17,000 buys a whole lot of gas!!

because they're better anything on th eplanet.

they tell us that, so it must be true

[slipknot]

Al Gore, and it makes them feel better.  I had a college professor teaching psychology that used to describe one theory in psych as "by the time one reaches 30, one feels they have the need to either have babies or save the whales to ascend to their needs of self-actualization".

I've updated his comment with;

 "by the time one reaches 30, one feels they have the need to either have babies or drive a Prius to feel good about the planet they're polluting in order to ascend to their needs of self-actualization".

I'd have to agree with this sentiment. Hybrids are just accessories for the self-serving bleeding hearts of our era, with little practical utility but plenty of social implication. They are not just benign tributes to peoples' vanity however, as for every hybrid that is sold, a revolutionary new technology that may spell the end to our collective problems is put off just a little bit longer... In short, a stinky little bandaid for a problem that requires emergency surgery.

[eskimo2]

The problem with the new "Beetle" is that they called it a Beetle.  I collected the vintage REAL Beetles too.  Owned over 40 of them (yes...I was addicted).

The original Beetle was waaaaaay different than anything else on the road.  It was simple, reliable and very unique in its style, construction, drivablility, sound and even smell.  The new one is no different than any other econo-box out there other than its very round shape with its front engine, liquid-cooled front drive, full-of-electronics self.

Anyone that could fix a lawnmower could completely disassemble and rebuild a Beetle with common handtools in a matter of days.  I've pulled engines in 22 minutes.  A floor jack, blocks, couple of wrenches and a screwdriver and its out on the driveway.  22 minutes is about how long it would take for the tow truck to show up to haul off a new "Beetle" when it refuses to run, cause odds are you are not going to fix it roadside with a stick and a chewing gum wrapper like the real Beetles.

I'm not saying the new ones are POS cars or even belong on that list, but they are not worthy of the title "Beetle".

I've had 6 buses, 63 -72
7 Karman Ghias 59 - 74
1 Fastbak and 1 Squareback
and I don't know how many bugs... probably 15 or so.
I chopped the rear apron off of a few.  One in particular I could pull the engine out in 5 minutes, by myself, outside, on a hill.  Back in took 10 minutes.  The 1600 was such a tight squeeze that I'd pull the engine out just to change spark plugs or many other basic jobs.

I've read about contests where two guys pulled stock motors in less than a minute; back in in less than three total.

[CAP1]

Al Gore, and it makes them feel better.  I had a college professor teaching psychology that used to describe one theory in psych as "by the time one reaches 30, one feels they have the need to either have babies or save the whales to ascend to their needs of self-actualization".

I've updated his comment with;

 "by the time one reaches 30, one feels they have the need to either have babies or drive a Prius to feel good about the planet they're polluting in order to ascend to their needs of self-actualization".

i still like and want my hot rods.

i'm 46
BTW