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Worst Car of 2008 - Your nominees

110 messages, Last post on Dec 15, 2008 at 12:51 PM
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I can't pick one, so I'll try 5: - Dodge Nitro - Mini Clubman (aren't Mini's supposed to be... mini?) - Hummer anything (like John Madden, this brand justs need to retire) - Chrysler Aspen - Acura TL Not sure if this was limited to only all new 2009 models. If so, my vote is for the TL. Besides the horrible styling, it's now also overweight and overpriced. Nice job Acura. Maybe if you add more buttons to the dash your problems will be solved...
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Replying to: uofmg35 (Nov 18, 2008 6:04 am) -Hummer.....anything. Looked ridiculous when they came out. Look even more ridiculous now. Go so far to say that when people put custom "wheels" on them, the even look hideous. -Scion XB....for the same price as a well equipped corolla, you get s silly looking "wagon" that sounds course and looks even worse than a vanilla Corolla. The original was "unique". This one looks like the designers dropped an ink blot on the floor and decided to put it into their CAD system as a design. -Smart Car....looks foolish, drives terrible, takes premium fuel, and my lawnmower has less noise, vibration and harshness than the Smart. Every time I see one, I keep expecting a Shriner to exit from it. -Escalade ESV pickup. If you're going to go over the top with a design, go all the way. This one looks like the crusher missed the entire front end, and only chopped off the back end....then put an MSRP sticker on it and shipped it to the dealership. -Mitsubish EVO. I know that this car has a lot of dynamic "goodness". But, how much "boy racer" can you possibly put into a car before it becomes as esthetic joke? The answer....EVO. Just a quick note about the '09 TL. I know I'm in the minority, but I like the redesign. You put the new one, side-by-side to the previous gen, and the old one looks ancient, by comparison. Any car that pulls .83g on the skid pad. And, goes 0-60 in under 7 secs, is hardly overweight, at least not for the amount of power it has. Got to drive one at the formal "unveiling" at my local dealership. Being the former owner of an '04 TL, everything about the new one is better, across the board. Now, I understand that the leftover '08s are being steeply discounted. And, for the money they're currently selling at, they are a bargain. That makes the difference in real world price fairly significant between the old and the new. But, the '09s are starting to be discounted, too. This time next year, the price between the new gen and previous gen will shrink as the discounting should become more aggressive. It would be hard not to seriously consider an '09 if those discounts get generous. |
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| the TL in the list of worst vehicles for '09, but the list of worst STYLING for '09? Oh yes, absolutely. And I am with uofmg up there - it's too heavy and has too little driver involvement. Not the worst overall, no, but a definite contender in a few categories. | |
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| Smart ForTwo - I have not driven one, but I also have not read anything good about them. Why would such a small car get such poor gas mileage? Why premium fuel? Also, nobody like the transmission. | |
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The smart is definitely a contender |
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it appears that if this were choosing the worst car company there would be a winner by landslide of epic proportions. So, let me throw this into the mix. Town & Country/Grand Caravan The company that gave us the minivan has sunk to unseen before lows. These buggies are supposed to be workhorses that can take endless abuse. The new T&C/GC is a prime example of unfulfilled hope. It is the latest example of cheap, just when you begin to think they can't go any cheaper. Look at parts of it wrong and it breaks. The long term test GC is just about the most reviled and ridiculed amongst the entire fleet. I almost cringe with every new entry wondering what has broken now.
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Replying to: mattandi (Nov 19, 2008 1:24 pm) When I got my Voyager in '89 I knew that the tranny was suspect. The 7/70 warranty special at the time sealed the deal, and it was mostly ok for a decade. Not as good as my Quest has been but ok, and almost $10k cheaper. Head gasket issues but the tranny never hiccupped. So, if I could get a Caravan for ~$13k and if (this is the biggest stumbling block) I thought Chrysler was going to be around, I'd keep it on the maybe list. I mean, it couldn't be as bad as a Windstar, right Fezo? I keep asking my brother how his Odyssey transmission is holding up and it's doing fine, so maybe that's been debugged now.
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 19, 2008 1:46 pm) Upgrade from a Caliber? There isn't a vehicle being made that would be a downgrade from a Caliber!
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Replying to: fezo (Nov 19, 2008 3:00 pm) a tricycle? |
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for worst car(s) goes to the following: Dodge Nitro- why bother? You lose the 4WD capabilities of the Jeep Liberty, but gain horrid reliability, gas mileage, a cramped interior, terrible fit and finish, and when the only thing you can advertise is MyGig, you know the car has issues. Jeep Compass/Patriot I can understand the Caliber somewhat (rental fleets do need compacts) but the Compass and Patriot are Jeeps in name only- you get all the flaws in the Caliber, and top it off with horrible gas mileage (for its class) Barely cracking 30 MPG from a compact is just unacceptable, especially given the performance of the cars... Chrysler Sebring/Dodge Avenger I rest my case. The Avenger actually looks ok, but the Sebring is just a disaster. But I guess rental fleets need a midsize car of some sort... Smart ForTwo Remind me why anyone would buy this car when you can pick up a roomier, more practical, just as efficient, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, or Nissan Versa for less money? And premium fuel? Really? I'm starting to see a trend here.. most of my cars listed are Chrysler products.. I sometimes wonder if the rental car companies should just pool their cash to buy up Chrysler and then just make rental cars to their needs.... |
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