The Most Embarrassing Cars To Drive

[om617]

I have a strange facination for cars people in general find ugly or weird. I would so love to drive,let`s say Citroen AMI

[Slapfight]

All automotive styling went to heck in a handbasket about 1973. (Just about the time the government started telling the manufacturers what they could and couldn't build)

There is so much wrong with this sentence, I'm not even sure where to start.

[Craig Irwin]

There is so much wrong with this sentence, I'm not even sure where to start.

It's easy, ever increasing government regulations have tied designers hands to the point that todays cars aren't nice to look at.

1973 was the first of the gardrail bumpers, and the start of the death of true hardtops.

Edited September 14, 2013 by Craig Irwin

[Modelmartin]

It's easy, ever increasing government regulations have tied designers hands to the point that todays cars aren't nice to look at.

1973 was the first of the gardrail bumpers, and the start of the death of true hardtops.

There have been huge number of really good looking cars built since 1973. I do miss hardtops but then we all miss touring cars and convertible sedans. I think the market has more to say about that then the manufacturers or government regs.

[Craig Irwin]

. I think the market has more to say about that then the manufacturers or government regs.

Every aspect of a cars shape must meet crash standards, lamp size standards, airbag deployment, crush zones, ect. Add the aerodynamics for fuel milage concerns (CAFE requirements) and you get a fleet of almost identical cars with hoods too short, windshields layed too far back, cowl to dash lenghts far too short, and stubby deck lids way too high. Just add a grill and make the lamps have wierd points going all directions and a styists job is done.

Even the Porsche "911" (yes I know it's really a 996 or something like that now), Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, which are the best looking cars made today, have many of these compromises keeping them from being really great looking cars.

[lordairgtar]

Put a '63-'67 next to a '68-'69 and you tell me which is the cleaner, more evolved design?

The split window was nothing more than a cheap Bill Mitchell styling gimmick. It was unique, granted, but did nothing for the styling. Take the split window away and you have a cleaner, better design, IMO. But still nothing like the '68. That was one slick looking 'vette. Best one ever, IMO.

I don't know. I think even Buick was going to put the split window in the 72 Riv, but could not get past the same issues the original had...visibility out the rear back light.

[2000-cvpi]

Every aspect of a cars shape must meet crash standards, lamp size standards, airbag deployment, crush zones, ect. Add the aerodynamics for fuel milage concerns (CAFE requirements) and you get a fleet of almost identical cars with hoods too short, windshields layed too far back, cowl to dash lenghts far too short, and stubby deck lids way too high. Just add a grill and make the lamps have wierd points going all directions and a styists job is done.

Even the Porsche "911" (yes I know it's really a 996 or something like that now), Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, which are the best looking cars made today, have many of these compromises keeping them from being really great looking cars.

So I guess you only drive cars made before 1973? I agree with a fair amount of what you wrote, but there have been some really great looking cars made in the last forty years. To say otherwise would be ignorant.

[Rob Hall]

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Edited September 15, 2013 by Rob Hall

[Rob Hall]

So I guess you only drive cars made before 1973? I agree with a fair amount of what you wrote, but there have been some really great looking cars made in the last forty years. To say otherwise would be ignorant.

Agreed...lots of good looking cars made in the last 40 years, not to mention the tremendous improvements in performance, safety, efficiency, comfort, etc.

[Craig Irwin]

So I guess you only drive cars made before 1973? I agree with a fair amount of what you wrote, but there have been some really great looking cars made in the last forty years. To say otherwise would be ignorant.

#1.I own newer cars but admit they are ugly and nothing to get excited about And I do own a 71 C-10 and a 65 VW Manx Buggy.

#2.No, there havent, not compaired to whats came before.

#3 I love you too.

[Craig Irwin]

Agreed...lots of good looking cars made in the last 40 years, not to mention the tremendous improvements in performance, safety, efficiency, comfort, etc.

I still dissagree on the looks, the best looling ones are just sort of OK at best, but I'll admit the other improvements.

GM chisf stylist Harley Earl said that styling a small car was like tayloring a dwarf, all the proportions are wrong.

[sjordan2]

When I was a little kid in the 50s, my Dad's boss gave him his old 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood sedan (like new) instead of a bonus. It was a big, bulbous car that was totally out of step with 50s cars, and I was embarrassed. But I once heard a little girl say "oooh, what a beautiful car" as we drove by, and I was okay with it after that. I wish I had it today.

[2000-cvpi]

#1.I own newer cars but admit they are ugly and nothing to get excited about And I do own a 71 C-10 and a 65 VW Manx Buggy.

#2.No, there havent, not compaired to whats came before.

#3 I love you too.

I love you more. I really like cars from the early seventies back to the thirties. To me cars started to look alike after WW2, granted it's much worse today. My favorite new ish car would be a 2003-4 Mercury Marauder, they actually have some style and personality.

[Craig Irwin]

My favorite new ish car would be a 2003-4 Mercury Marauder, they actually have some style and personality.

But compaired to a 1964 Marauder 2 door..........

[Tom Geiger]

In every automotive era there has been the good, the bad and the ugly. There's little sense in comparing the looks of cars from different era, they're just different by way of progress. I do love retro, whether it's the classic look of my 2000 Jaguar or how the new Mustangs or Challengers bring back the look of that era with a modern twist.

While I love 1950s and 1960s cars and the nostalgic feel of them, I wouldn't want to put my young daughters behind the wheel of them. Today's cars are better engineered to protect the occupants, drive better especially at high speed, seldom rust and the interiors don't shred by 50,000 miles. While a 1950s or 1960s car was lucky to see 100,000 miles, todays cars routinely go 200,000 or more with much less service and repair. My 1999 Plymouth Breeze went 195,000 before my daughter's neglect took it's life. As I walked around it on it's way to the junkyard, I noted that there was no rust and the interior still didn't have a single tear. Not bad for a throw away car.

It's just progress. If you're flying coast to coast, do you want to watch a movie in a 767 or hang onto the wing of the Wright Brothers airplane?

[Craig Irwin]

It's just progress. If you're flying coast to coast, do you want to watch a movie in a 767 or hang onto the wing of the Wright Brothers airplane?

I'd rather plan an overnight and take my friends Piper Archer. You don't have the security hassles and I find airliners way too cramped.

But it would be a boring world if we all liked the same thimgs.

[Agent G]

I'd rather drive................................

G

[Rob Hall]

I'd rather drive................................

G

Time is always a factor..if I've got vacation days to burn, maybe I'll drive (to places in So Cal from Phoenix), but it's hard to beat the speed and convenience of flying..flying over to San Diego tommorow for the Coronado Speed Festival, San Francisco for work in a couple weeks, then So Cal again in October for the Indy Car race at Fontana...

Edited September 19, 2013 by Rob Hall

[carrucha]

People would laugh at my Dad when he mentioned that he owned a Chevy Citation. It was a lousy car but it was the car I learned to drive in and was the car I used as a teenager. It beats having your Mom driving you around!

[Slapfight]

Every aspect of a cars shape must meet crash standards, lamp size standards, airbag deployment, crush zones, ect. Add the aerodynamics for fuel milage concerns (CAFE requirements) and you get a fleet of almost identical cars with hoods too short, windshields layed too far back, cowl to dash lenghts far too short, and stubby deck lids way too high. Just add a grill and make the lamps have wierd points going all directions and a styists job is done.

Even the Porsche "911" (yes I know it's really a 996 or something like that now), Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, which are the best looking cars made today, have many of these compromises keeping them from being really great looking cars.

What about all the cars not made in the last 40 years without guardrail bumpers or cafe regulations? There are plenty of cars made around the world that never had to conform to these. I know, opinion and all, but you are seriously going to say that a Challenger or a Mustang are better looking cars than a 458? An Alfa 8C? Maserati Gran Turismo? GT40? C'mon.

[moparfarmer]

I saw that list on AOL this morning and chose not to publicize it. Maybe it should have been titled, "Cars That Look Least Like Your Friggin Camry". Another one of those articles that looks like it was written by a female summer intern with a 1 hour deadline! I like the above three vehicles as well. I've nearly bought a PT a couple of times, may still wind up with one someday. I've rented them and they drive very nice, much like my old Plymouth Breeze.

Awful looking vehicle and expensive. I don't think they've sold many, the only one I can think of is on TV. The husband on "Sister Wives" drives one. His choice of women isn't much better!

Bought a used PT Cruiser..Not anything for turning radius, heavy for a small car, but very useful..Easy to get in and out of..Wife loves it..Leased three for the summer from where I worked and then 3 convertibles before I bought this one..No problems at all except maintenance..Gas mileage could be a bit better but not bad for a heavy car being pulled by 2.4 liters...

[moparfarmer]

One of the ugliest cars on the road today TOYOTA PRIUS...Aztec was ugly too but they've all either burned,destroyed or been turned in for "Cash for Cars"..Prius may be efficient on fuel but put a battery in one or maintenance on one..Had a cab driver tell me he could fix three Crown Vics for the price his Pruis cost him..Only reason he has one, its cheap on fuel..Got no room for baggage either..Toyotas I think were better built about 8-9 years ago compared to todays Yotas...

[Tom Geiger]

Sorry you don't care much for my taste. Like I said, Metropolitans are cute, at least as cute as Geo Metro convertibles (which also look like 15-year old girl cars, and that doesn't bother me one bit).

I own a 1991 Geo Tracker 4x4 convertible and I got that same line! Back when I was looking to buy a new one, I was looking for a Tracker LSI with 4WD,air and a five speed. It had to be an acceptable color... the yellow, red or blue.. no black or white. When I visited lots (before Internet shopping) all I would find the right cars but they all had automatic transmissions. One salesman told me they all came that way because it was "a girl's car". Um, scored no points here, sold no car!

[Lunajammer]

The Chrysler PT Cruiser achieved infamy through its ability to wedge even the closest of friends and families apart with its odd retro design. Although many said they'd be embarrassed to drive it, the hatchback enjoyed a surprisingly long life and Chrysler sold more than a million of them.

9. Chrysler PT Cruiser

Cringe Score: 1.4

Yeah, the PT Cruiser is pretty ugly... NOT!

[Ace-Garageguy]

I liked the little PT from day one. They're fun to drive, handle well, and are practical for families, or people who do things. The car represents Chrysler's dare-to-be-different period, and doesn't look like anything else, really. They can be a pain to work on, but that's another topic entirely.

I especially liked the convertible, about the only modern-day "phaeton" style vehicle you're likely to come across.