Image via Complex Original
Intro
In counting down the 20 biggest automotive fails of all time, we want to get one thing straight: The DeLorean, which usually earns top honors on “Worst Car Ever” lists, will NOT be making an appearance on this one. It's a cool car. Let's all accept that and move on. Instead, we focus on remarkably un-cool cars that for one reason or another, just completely missed the mark.
Too weird for the 90s
20. Too Weird For The '90s
Car: Subaru SVX
Year Of Fail: 1992-1997
Repercussions: Subaru went back to basics--maybe a good thing
Complex Says: Subaru went “futuristic” with the design of its funky SVX. Unfortunately, at nearly $36,000, the car left consumers cold.
Bad Buick
19. Bad Buick
Car: Buick Reatta
Year Of Fail: 1990
Repercussions: Buick cancelled convertibles for a while
Complex Says: What happens when you take an ugly car and make it uglier by chopping the top? The Reatta convertible.
Terrible Toyota
18. Terrible Toyota
Car: Toyota Origin
Year Of Fail: 2000
Repercussions: A few execs got fired over this one
Complex Says: Thank God this thing never made it to the U.S. This is one import that we don't want to cross the pond.
Ouch!
17. Ouch
Car: Fiat Multipla
Year Of Fail: 1998-present
Repercussions: None--shit cars are nothing new to Fiat
Complex Says: We all agree--this thing is ugly. Like Rosie O'Donnell in a leather body suit ugly. That alone earns it a spot on our list.
Modena massacre
16. Modena Massacre
Car: Ferrari Mondial 8
Year Of Fail: 1980-1982
Repercussions: It was the start of a rough decade for Ferrari
Complex Says: Ferrari does not misfire often. It has the best designers in the world and almost always produces jaw-dropping whips. Occasionally, however, it makes something that is total shit. Enter the 218 HP, Mondial.
The smallest grill ever
15. Smallest Grille Ever
Car: Aston Martin Lagonda
Year Of Fail: 1974-1990
Repercussions: Aston didn't make a sedan for 22 years after this
Complex Says: When a sports car company tries to make a sedan, things get messy. Enter the Lagonda. It's weird, funky, and completely wrong.
Toy car
14. Toy Car
Car: Nissan Juke Convertible
Year Of Fail: 2011
Repercussions: Auto enthusiasts call it "the joke"
Complex Says: The Juke is a car designed for Ugg-wearing, bubble-gum-popping, bedazzled-everything chicks. Chop the top and it becomes unbearable.
Ferrari wagon
13. Ferrari Wagon
Car: Ferrari FF
Year Of Fail: 2012
Repercussions: Still waiting
Complex Says: Too soon? We don't think so. Deal with it.
Rogue Rolls-Royce
12. Rogue Rolls-Royce
Car: Rolls-Royce Camargue
Year Of Fail: 1975-1986
Repercussions: A two-door coupe wasn't produced for decades after this
Complex Says: This was a tough one. The Camargue looks okay, but is especially slow--like horse-and-carriage slow. Either way, it didn't sell, and it's known as a pariah among Rolls-Royce enthusiasts.
Tired Truck
11. Tired Truck
Car: Lincoln Blackwood
Year Of Fail: 2002
Repercussions: Lincoln stayed away from luxury pickups after this
Complex Says: Note to aspiring auto designers: Jazzed-up pick-up trucks with plastic body paneling are not cool. The Blackwood is no exception.
Simply boring
10. A Snooze
Car: Maserati Biturbo
Year Of Fail: 1981-1994
Repercussions: On every "worst car ever" list
Complex Says: Maserati has seen a resurgence is recent years. But it was not long ago that it was pumping out shit boxes like the Biturbo. Crappy performance combined with dated styling is not a winning formula.
Surfin' in the Subaru
9. Surfin' In The Subaru
Car: Subaru Baja
Year Of Fail: 2003-2006
Repercussions: Enough bad press for a lifetime
Complex Says: The Japanese should stick to smart, affordable, compact cars. The Baja--known as the El Camino of Subarus--was a completely misguided attempt at being cool and was actually sort of expensive (25,000 for the turbo version). Puke.
Worst of the 70s
8. Worst Of The '70s
Car: AMC Pacer
Year Of Fail: 1975-1980
Repercussions: AMC is no longer
Complex Says: Man oh man, where to start with this thing. It's ugly, yes. But worse than that, it had a top speed of about 80mph and usually spent more time in the repair shop than on the road. Yup, the Pacer is without a doubt, an epic fail.
No Ass!
7. No Ass
Car: BMW 318ti
Year Of Fail: 1993-2000
Repercussions: None--strangely, some people actually like this thing
Complex Says: We'll probably catch flack for this one. But honestly, where did the trunk go? Did it get cut off? Also, many of these weird things didn't even come with leather seats. A BMW with no leather? Fail.
A soccer moms nightmare
6. Soccer Mom's Nightmare
Car: Pontiac Transport
Year Of Fail: 1990-1999
Repercussions: Pontiac--'nuff said
Complex Says: Soccer moms everywhere gasped when the Transport came out, praying that they would have the cash to pop for a Dodge Caravan or a Ford Windstar. The Transport couldn't be uglier.
From a not too distant future
5. From A Not-Too-Distant Future
Car: Isuzu VehiCROSS
Year Of Fail: 1997-2001
Repercussions: The beginning of the end for Isuzu
Complex Says: Admit it: you liked this weird this thing when it came out. Unfortunately, it got slammed by auto magazines for being cheaply made and having terrible performance. Today, the VehiCROSS is rarely seen on the road –mainly because it didn't sell.
Old school fail
4. Old School Fail
Car: Ford Edsel
Year Of Fail: 1957-1960
Repercussions: None--Ford was about to hit its stride
Complex Says: The Edsel was an epic failure from start to finish. It never gained an ounce of popularity and was only manufactured for three years. Today the word Edsel, especially among auto aficionados, is synonymous with failure.
World's ugliest car
3. World's Ugliest Car
Car: Pontiac Aztek
Year Of Fail: 2001-2005
Repercussions: Went down in infamy as one the worst cars of all time
Complex Says: If you are a fan of AMC's "Breaking Bad," you may have developed an affinity for the Aztek. But you should know that it's pretty much the worst the car ever. If you consider buying one, run to the nearest mental hospital.
A Cadi for grandma
2. A Cadi For Grandma
Car: Cadillac Catera
Year Of Fail: 1997-2001
Repercussions: Slammed by every car mag out there
Complex Says: This from the company that made the iconic, game-changing Escalade? Thankfully, Cadillac halted production after four years.
The biggest roll bar ever
1. Biggest Roll Bar Ever
Car: Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible
Year Of Fail: 2006-2010
Repercussions: DaimlerChrysler reporter losses of $1.6 billion for 2006
Complex Says: When the PT cruiser debuted in 2001, it looked cool for about a day. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the Cruiser was, in fact, pieced together with body plastic and built with cheap parts. To add insult to injury, Chrysler decided to introduce the convertible in 2005, which quickly became a favorite for soccer moms who also like to party.
