Worst cars of all-time?

Did any one else notice that he credited to two cars with being Chevy's first front wheel drive?

I actually like a lotta cars on that list

What a list. Pontiac Solstice & GXP? Ariel Atom? Porsche 914? Lotus Elan? Not just one, but two Ferrari’s? Not mass market friendly, maybe, but these are hardly worthy of spots on the list of worst cars of all time.

From the list Ford Bronco II, 1996 Ford Taurus. The Bronco I had was crap but the Taurus was ok. Odd list.

Usually some of my other previous cars show up - like the Ladas, K-cars, Tempos, etc.

I'll go out on a limb and admit I think it is a pretty good list. My "real" list would be filled up with a lot of appliances, but nobody would want to read a list like that. Some of the cars on the list are interesting, but pretty much all of them qualify as awful cars for their intended purpose or intended audience. And there are surely some really crappy cars that missed out.

The only cars I get slightly worked up about are the Atom, the 914 and the Elan. But you can make the case that for street use, an Atom is a huge bastardized version of a motorcycle. The Elan was a front wheel drive, Isuzu engined pseudo sports car. I'd like to defend them. Can't. The Elan would have been a super cool Isuzu. The 914 would have been a super cool VW.

Ive owned a few of them.

I agree that the list doesnt really pass muster when you actually know a lot about cars.

And of course it's very subjective.

I had some good fun defending the Cimarron to a fellow GRMr last night because of this list.

I think that the guy who created that list thinks of a "car" as something yellow with a light on the roof. Yeah, he's got a few stinkers on the list..but even a broken clock is right twice a day..

100% correct about the Bronco II, the Chevette, Vega, and Mustang II. All utter crap that I have used as primary transport at one point or another.

I think that the list is pretty well done. Certainly, putting the Atom on is missing the point entirely. And there's a few other iffy calls. But the guy who compiled them has an admirable sense of history, and the list could be a lot worse.

Yup, definitely written by a non-car guy.

'94. 1996 Ariel Atom: Its nickname is the "woman repellent." Perfect for the track, utter misery on any road. A helmet isn't just for safety; it's the driver's roof, windshield and HVAC system. Helmet also keeps anyone you know from seeing you drive it.'

Lesley, are they really a 'woman repellent?'

And as noted he/she/it skips right over the Tempo.

Not a car guy? Here are the articles that he's penned:

John Pearley Huffman is a freelance writer. He has been contributing to Inside Line since 2003. 100 Worst Cars of All Time 2014 Chevy Corvette C7 Intelligence Report Ron Howard Talks About Formula 1 Movie, Rush The 100 Greatest Movie and TV Cars of All Time 2012 Hyundai Accent GLS vs. 2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 SL Comparison Test The 25 Greatest V6-Powered Cars Ever Top Gear USA Second Season Gets More Episodes 100 Greatest Chevrolets of All Time 2011 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 SLP Full Test Furious 6 To Hit Theaters in May 2013 Fast Five Does Furious Business at the Box Office 2011 Dodge Durango Crew AWD vs. 2011 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD 2011 Ford Mustang GT vs. 2010 Chevy Camaro SS Comparison Test Vortech Supercharged 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 2012 Honda Civic Si vs. 1999 Honda Civic Si Art of the Ferrari Movie Review: Fast Five Driving the 1971 Ford Maverick From Fast Five Driving the Super-Dreamy Porsche 911 GT3 RS From Fast Five, Including Video Driving the 1968 International Harvester Scout From Fast Five, With Video Driving the Fast Five 1963 Corvette Grand Sport and Video Driving the "Mongo" Heist Truck From Fast Five Top 10 Ugliest Cars of 2011 Top 10 Best-Looking Cars of 2011 2011 Dodge Charger R/T vs. The General Lee Inside the 2012 Hyundai Veloster The Green Hornet's 29 Black Beauties 1987 Buick Regal Grand National vs. 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo 1994 Dodge Viper RT/10 Meets 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 First Look Burnout Super Test: 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 vs. 2010 Volkswagen GTI 2011 Honda CR-Z vs. 1987 Honda CRX Si First Look: 2011 Honda Odyssey The Art of Motorcycles How To Become an Automotive Journalist The Art of Exotics 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 vs. 1992 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 1998 Acura Integra Type R vs. 2010 Honda Civic Si The Art of the Chicago Auto Show 2011 Honda CR-Z Full Test and Video 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman First Drive 2011 Ford Mustang V6 First Drive

Actually this article of his is a pretty good read:

How to become and Automotive Journalist

Curmudgeon wrote: Yup, definitely written by a non-car guy. '94. 1996 Ariel Atom: Its nickname is the "woman repellent." Perfect for the track, utter misery on any road. A helmet isn't just for safety; it's the driver's roof, windshield and HVAC system. Helmet also keeps anyone you know from seeing you drive it.' Lesley, are they really a 'woman repellent?' And as noted he/she/it skips right over the Tempo.

That is just about a 100% accurate description of the Ariel Atom. I'll still buy one as soon as they are cheaper than a Hyabusa.

I do not care what else he has written. Anybody who could say something as lame as he did about the Ariel Atom but skip completely over the POS Tempo for a 'Worst 100' list just doesn't come across as a car guy. It makes him look like he would pitch a hissy fit over a 427 Cobra because it didn't have dual zone climate control.

I owned a Bronco II, other than being under powered, it wasn't all that bad. My Mom owned a Tempo for many years too, it was an uninspiring appliance, but safe and reliable.

At least two thirds of the cars on that list are vars that I would be happy to own (as long ad they were in good condition)

So, basically the guy watched too much Top Gear and copied his list off the "Cool Wall" concept?

It's the sort of article that's bound to step on toes. Look at it's negative feedback. Probably the most controversial article that he's done.

Out of curiosity, how would you address the bugs/rocks in teeth issue on an Atom? IMO there's nothing that looks stupider than someone wearing a helmet driving on city streets. And in general Locost/Atomesque cars are the automotive equivalent of cafe racers - fun but uncomfortable for longer than an hour or two. Not that they aren't awesome (I assembled and drove/raced a Stalker), but they're certainly not for everyone.

I read that how to become an automotive journalist article several months ago.

It's an interesting subject to me, as I've bounced around the idea of trying to become a (for profit) writer for years.

I think the author hits on one of the most important points with the line "All good writers are first great readers."

Personally, I'd take it a little further and little harsher and flatly say that 99% of people don't have the language skills to be paid writers. When you think about it in those terms, the subset of those people who actually have the relevant skills/interest to be automotive writers are a rare breed indeed.

In my opinion the reason 'worst lists' are so polarizing is because 'worst' is a pretty vague term, absent any qualifiers. The different entries in this list are being judged in different contexts, which in itself makes ranking them against each other a very unscientific task. Some seem to be judged as 'worst marketing idea', some as 'worst styling exercise', others as 'worst engineered'.

I tend to consider things in a 'worst to own' context, and that's where i find myself thinking the list is completely out of whack. Then again, if i wanted a list based on MY criteria, i should probably become a 'real' automotive writer, eh?

I think they misnamed the article, they mean the 100 most awesome cars of all time. If anyone wants a low mileage SD1 let me know, I saw it on the list.

"1980 Rover 3500: Powered by a 133-hp 3.5-liter V8 set adrift by Buick."

Really? The 3500 may have sucked as a car, but why bash the motor? Stupid thing was built for 40+ years. Must have sucked pretty bad. And no mention of the Stag? The author is clueless. Just my 2 cents. That said, I've always wanted a Fuego...

I'd defend the Stag but none of my 5 have run in my ownership. YET dammit

aussiesmg wrote: I'd defend the Stag but none of my 5 have run in my ownership. YET dammit

I had one run out of the two I owned. It was powered by a Buick.

I will defend the "dustbuster" vans. I drove one for a company I worked for. It was a good van that held a decent amount of junk and never gave us trouble

That list is a bunch of E36 M3. Whoever created it hasn't driven 90% of those cars.

Everytime I see one of these and the Corvair is listed because of its "Swing Axle" I want to bash them in the face with a tire iron. Really? Then where is the Beetle or Mercedes SL300 on that list? They should be there for the same reason.

Most of those cars shouldn't be on there.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

Curmudgeon wrote: Yup, definitely written by a non-car guy. '94. 1996 Ariel Atom: Its nickname is the "woman repellent." Perfect for the track, utter misery on any road. A helmet isn't just for safety; it's the driver's roof, windshield and HVAC system. Helmet also keeps anyone you know from seeing you drive it.' Lesley, are they really a 'woman repellent?' And as noted he/she/it skips right over the Tempo.

That is just about a 100% accurate description of the Ariel Atom. I'll still buy one as soon as they are cheaper than a Hyabusa.

Well, it's accurate until you get to the "perfect for the track" part There are better track cars for less money. There are much better street cars. But there aren't any better cars if you want to give YouTube viewers wood.

The list is to get attention and discussion and drive pageviews, which means money from advertisers. So it was a 100% successful list.