Top Speed's Crap Cars - Page 2

Eisenhower · 11-20-2007, 10:55 AM

What??? The Beetle is silly-looking, not crappy.

*DGthe3* · 11-20-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I'll say either the mini or the bug.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

I was gonna let Pencil put it up, but I found the VW Beetle as the #1 crappiest car.

So what do i win?

swazworth · 11-20-2007, 11:17 AM

where is the love for the aircooled vws?? i dont have a bug, but i do have a (not running) 61 vw karmann ghia. so you can't rip on one in the family, it like ripping them all

stovt001 · 11-20-2007, 11:55 AM

So good VW Bug story

My mom's first car was a 71 Super Beetle. After a while she gave it to her dad, who drove it around as his car for a while. He passed away not too long ago, and my grandma didn't want the car sitting out in front of her house, and she didn't want to pay insurance for it. I was going to take it and restore it, but I figured having a 1970 Cutlass, a 1971 Super Beetle, and a 2006 Cobalt would be a bit excessive for a college student. My mom decided she wanted to restore it, so she had it towed to our mechanics to get it in driving condition. It needed a new carb, because the last time it was driven the carb had caught fire. Yeah. When it was finished I went with her to pick it up and drive it 10 miles back to our house. It stalled out at speed a few times, and after a few minutes there was a very disconcerting heat coming from behind us underneath the seats. The full restoration process is now underway, and we'll see how it runs when it is properly rebuilt.

Pencil.Fight · 11-20-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

I was gonna let Pencil put it up, but I found the VW Beetle as the #1 crappiest car.

Nope, that's not it. At least not in the book I was looking at.

The Number 1 Crap Car of all time (according to this particular Top Speed Writer) was a Ford Mustang. The Mustang II to be exact.

*Mr. Wyndham* · 11-20-2007, 01:22 PM

really?!?!

Pencil.Fight · 11-20-2007, 01:28 PM

Yep, I think it was because they had done so well with the previous generation, and then they came out with the glaringly disappointing sequel. However, using this logic you can't really blame Ford. It was the increasing governmental regulations that caused the second generation to be so under-powered.

At the same time, the Camaro was subject to the same regulations and they managed to place 25 cars behind the Mustang, so maybe Ford did have something to do with it...

Silverado · 11-20-2007, 04:30 PM

You know, I think I'd have to disagree with that.....there are plenty of cars out there that are crappier than the Mustang II.

In Ford's own stable even...the Bronco II, the Edsel (it did say all time), the Aerostar, the Contour/Mystique twins.....the Model T was actually a crappy car, but gets a lot of leeway because of it's importance to the industry.

Modern day cars...the Yugo pretty much sucked, what about that Chinese car that just a few months back only got like 1 star on the crash test ratings? The Mazda MX-3 was a huge POS. Pretty much the entire Geo line. Almost all of the early Saturns. The Neon.

Alright, some of them might be considered better than the Mustand II just because of newer suspensions, better A/C, power windows, stereos, etc.

It also depends on the criteria...most often broken down or in the shop? Any of the 70's or 80's Jaguars.

stovt001 · 11-20-2007, 04:32 PM

Edsel wasn't so much a bad car as it was bad marketing, bad timing, and a bad grill.

Pencil.Fight · 11-20-2007, 04:36 PM

Yeah, I'm sure he just wanted to use a big name that everyone would recognize so his #1 would seem that much more powerful.

I didn't read through the whole book, but his criteria seemed more shallow than crash ratings or parts faillures. It was more like ugly exterior/interior, low power, loud noises, smelly exhaust, etc. The kinds of things that everyone could relate to, even without having owned one.

I'm sure there were other cars that were worse than the Mustang II, especially in the 70's. However, none of them had a supercar like the Mustang building up expectations (other than the Camaro that is).

*Mr. Wyndham* · 11-20-2007, 11:08 PM

maybe someone would like to edumacate me here...

What exactly was the Mustang II? I've heard of it, but never really cared to look it up, or ask about it.

*Mindz* · 11-20-2007, 11:12 PM

The 1974 introduction of the Mustang II earned Ford Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year honors and actually returned the car to more than a semblance of its 1964 predecessor in size, shape, and overall styling. Iacocca insisted that the Mustang II be finished to quality standards unheard of in the American auto industry. Unfortunately, the Mustang II suffered from not only being smaller than the original car, but being heavier as well due to new federal emission and safety regulations. Although the car boasted many superior handling and engineering features, its performance could be described as only "mediocre" — no better than other Ford or Detroit products of the day. The Mustang II was positioned to compete head-on with many foreign sports car imports that were hitting the market at that time. The Toyota Celica and the Datsun 280Z were its main competitors. Thus, the car was downsized to adapt to more fuel efficient standards. Available as a hardtop or three-door hatchback, the new car's base engine was a 140 in³ (2.3 L) SOHC I4, the first fully metric engine built in the U.S. for installation in an American car. A 171 in³ (2.8 L) V6 was the sole optional engine. Mustang II packages ranged from the base hardtop, 2+2 hatchback, a "Ghia" luxury group with vinyl roof, and a top of the line V6-powered Mach 1. The popular V8 option would disappear for the first and only time in 1974 (except in Mexico). Ford was swamped by buyer mail and criticized in the automotive press for it.

SRC: Wiki. I'm lazy to find an official desription.

Eisenhower · 11-20-2007, 11:30 PM

You've never seen a junker like this on the side of the road?

*Mr. Wyndham* · 11-20-2007, 11:34 PM

...no, I haven't actually. :eek:

Not surprised at myself, though. It looks like an ugly Buick. I don't think I would have turned my head, unless it was in some outrageous color.

11-20-2007, 01:22 PM	#20
Mr. Wyndham I used to be Dragoneye... Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 31,873 View My Garage	really?!?! __________________ *"Keep the faith."* - Fbodfather

11-20-2007, 11:08 PM	#25
Mr. Wyndham I used to be Dragoneye... Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 31,873 View My Garage	maybe someone would like to edumacate me here... What exactly was the Mustang II? I've heard of it, but never really cared to look it up, or ask about it. __________________ *"Keep the faith."* - Fbodfather

11-20-2007, 11:12 PM	#26
Mindz E.B.A.H. Drives: you wild... Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: In the happy padded room wearing a jacket that makes me hug myself... Posts: 18,420	The 1974 introduction of the Mustang II earned Ford Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year honors and actually returned the car to more than a semblance of its 1964 predecessor in size, shape, and overall styling. Iacocca insisted that the Mustang II be finished to quality standards unheard of in the American auto industry. Unfortunately, the Mustang II suffered from not only being smaller than the original car, but being heavier as well due to new federal emission and safety regulations. Although the car boasted many superior handling and engineering features, its performance could be described as only "mediocre" — no better than other Ford or Detroit products of the day. The Mustang II was positioned to compete head-on with many foreign sports car imports that were hitting the market at that time. The Toyota Celica and the Datsun 280Z were its main competitors. Thus, the car was downsized to adapt to more fuel efficient standards. Available as a hardtop or three-door hatchback, the new car's base engine was a 140 in³ (2.3 L) SOHC I4, the first fully metric engine built in the U.S. for installation in an American car. A 171 in³ (2.8 L) V6 was the sole optional engine. Mustang II packages ranged from the base hardtop, 2+2 hatchback, a "Ghia" luxury group with vinyl roof, and a top of the line V6-powered Mach 1. The popular V8 option would disappear for the first and only time in 1974 (except in Mexico). Ford was swamped by buyer mail and criticized in the automotive press for it. SRC: Wiki. I'm lazy to find an official desription. __________________ Blue Rush, 2010 SS [Car of the Week 3/22/2010] Traded in on...ZLZBUBB, 2013 ZL1

11-20-2007, 11:34 PM	#28
Mr. Wyndham I used to be Dragoneye... Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 31,873 View My Garage	...no, I haven't actually. :eek: Not surprised at myself, though. It looks like an ugly Buick. I don't think I would have turned my head, unless it was in some outrageous color. __________________ *"Keep the faith."* - Fbodfather

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11-20-2007, 10:55 AM	#15
Eisenhower I drank what? Drives: DANGEROUSLY Join Date: May 2007 Location: check your back seat... Posts: 416	What??? The Beetle is silly-looking, not crappy.

11-20-2007, 11:17 AM	#17
swazworth the nerd king Drives: 2005 scion xb... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: phoenix, az Posts: 426	where is the love for the aircooled vws?? i dont have a bug, but i do have a (not running) 61 vw karmann ghia. so you can't rip on one in the family, it like ripping them all

11-20-2007, 11:55 AM	#18
stovt001 Drives: 2006 Cobalt, 2004 Taurus wagon Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,810	So good VW Bug story My mom's first car was a 71 Super Beetle. After a while she gave it to her dad, who drove it around as his car for a while. He passed away not too long ago, and my grandma didn't want the car sitting out in front of her house, and she didn't want to pay insurance for it. I was going to take it and restore it, but I figured having a 1970 Cutlass, a 1971 Super Beetle, and a 2006 Cobalt would be a bit excessive for a college student. My mom decided she wanted to restore it, so she had it towed to our mechanics to get it in driving condition. It needed a new carb, because the last time it was driven the carb had caught fire. Yeah. When it was finished I went with her to pick it up and drive it 10 miles back to our house. It stalled out at speed a few times, and after a few minutes there was a very disconcerting heat coming from behind us underneath the seats. The full restoration process is now underway, and we'll see how it runs when it is properly rebuilt.

11-20-2007, 04:30 PM	#22
Silverado GM Guy For Life Drives: 2010 GMC Yukon XL Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 971 View My Garage	You know, I think I'd have to disagree with that.....there are plenty of cars out there that are crappier than the Mustang II. In Ford's own stable even...the Bronco II, the Edsel (it did say all time), the Aerostar, the Contour/Mystique twins.....the Model T was actually a crappy car, but gets a lot of leeway because of it's importance to the industry. Modern day cars...the Yugo pretty much sucked, what about that Chinese car that just a few months back only got like 1 star on the crash test ratings? The Mazda MX-3 was a huge POS. Pretty much the entire Geo line. Almost all of the early Saturns. The Neon. Alright, some of them might be considered better than the Mustand II just because of newer suspensions, better A/C, power windows, stereos, etc. It also depends on the criteria...most often broken down or in the shop? Any of the 70's or 80's Jaguars.

11-20-2007, 04:32 PM	#23
stovt001 Drives: 2006 Cobalt, 2004 Taurus wagon Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,810	Edsel wasn't so much a bad car as it was bad marketing, bad timing, and a bad grill.

11-20-2007, 11:30 PM	#27
Eisenhower I drank what? Drives: DANGEROUSLY Join Date: May 2007 Location: check your back seat... Posts: 416	You've never seen a junker like this on the side of the road?