These Cars May Look Good Now, but Not for Long
If you’re thinking about buying a car as an investment, hold up! Some cars that seem cool now might turn into money pits later. Before you spend your hard-earned money on the wrong car, make sure you see what the experts in this list have to say.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The PT Cruiser looked funky when it came out, and for a while, people loved it. Now, it’s more like that weird haircut you thought looked good in high school - it didn’t age well, parts are hard to find, and no one’s lining up to buy it.
Fiat 500L
Fiat took the 500 and stretched it in all the wrong places. It’s big on awkwardness and short on reliability, and most people who bought one don’t keep it for long. The 500L won’t turn into a collectible and is more likely to just be a headache.
Smart Fortwo
One would think the tiny size of the Smart Fortwo makes it convenient. But no. Instead, it’s slow, shaky on highways, and not all that efficient for its size. What you thought was a smart auto investment is just a golf cart with doors.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Mitsubishi tried hard to bring the Eclipse name back, but this isn’t the sporty coupe people remember. The crossover doesn’t stand out in any way and is not fast or fun. This is not the car anyone’s going to brag about in ten years.
Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke tried to be weird and fun, and it almost worked. The frog-eye headlights, however, didn’t win fans over. The design is love-it or hate-it, and most people simply look past it. It’s not rare or classic, and it’s not going to appreciate in value.
Chevrolet SSR
Sure, a convertible pickup truck sounds fun. The biggest problem with the Chevrolet SSR wasn’t its design but rather its price. Collectors today shake their heads and move on, so we wouldn’t waste any money on a car that has a “what were they thinking” reputation.
Hummer H2
The Hummer is massive, it guzzles gas, and drives like a tank. But not in a good way. It was flashy once, but today it’s more “Why’d you buy that?” than “Wow.” Fuel prices aren’t going down, and driving a Hummer just doesn’t make sense anymore.
Lincoln MKT
The MKT was born when Lincoln tried to be fancy and futuristic. The result was a big, oddly shaped SUV that felt like a stretched-out hearse - not everyone’s cup of tea. Luxury buyers didn’t bite, and even used ones are worth peanuts today.
2013 Dodge Dart
The name had potential, but the Dodge Dart didn’t live up to it. It was just… fine. There was nothing special about it, and it got lost in a sea of better compact cars. Dodge gave up on it after a few years, and so did buyers.
Cadillac ELR
This was one cool-looking car, but not even hybrid tech could justify the hefty price tag. It was simply too high. People expected Tesla-like excitement and got something that felt more like a Chevy. Cool idea, but bad execution.
Hyundai Veloster
Hyundai’s Veloster looks sporty with its three-door setup, but the base models just don’t have that special something. Without the turbo engine, it’s just another sedan and is the automotive equivalent of wearing running shoes and never jogging.
BMW 7 Series
There’s no denying that BMWs are gorgeous to look at, powerful to drive, and smooth - until something breaks, that is. Then you’re spending thousands of dollars just to fix an old sedan. Most owners end up selling before things really go south.
Scion IQ
The Scion IQ was Toyota’s answer to tiny cars, but it looked more like a toy than a real car. It barely seats four comfortably, and many say that it drives about as well as a skateboard. There’s no charm or power and definitely no demand for them.
Jeep Compass
Early Jeep Compass models - pre-2017 - felt cheap and underpowered compared to their later counterparts. Sure, it had a Jeep badge, but it had none of the off-road thrill that comes with driving a Jeep. Buyers felt the same and gave this car a big old skip.
Volkswagen Passat
Remember the time Volkswagen tried introducing America to the Passat? All they really did was dull it down to be a big, bland car that lost the spark that made people love VW. The resale is weak, and future collectors won’t be fighting over them, either.
Chevrolet Aveo
The Aveo was Chevrolet’s attempt at a budget car, and it shows. Everything was basic, it was noisy, and it just didn’t last. It wasn’t cool then, and it isn’t now, and sadly, the Chevrolet Aveo depreciated faster than old bread.
Dodge Journey
The Dodge Journey hung around way too long without any real updates or upgrades. It felt incredibly outdated, even when it was new. It’s one of those cars rental companies loved, but everyone else just tolerated it because it’s a Dodge.
Tesla Model 3
It’s no surprise that Tesla tech moves fast, and older Model 3s just can’t keep up anymore. The base trims don’t have the bells and whistles, and the batteries lose juice over time. It’s not the investment people think it is.
Ford EcoSport
Ford’s EcoSport SUV felt a bit late to the party. It was cramped, sluggish, and didn’t have anything that really stood out or impressed buyers. Ford is pulling this one from the market, so we would reconsider snatching one up as an investment.
Buick Cascada
A convertible Buick sounds fun, in theory. But, in reality, it was kind of dull. It lacked excitement, and most people didn’t even know it existed. It also had low sales and low thrills that just didn’t equal high future value for people looking to invest their money in a car.
Mini Paceman
Mini got a little carried away with all their new models, and the Paceman is a perfect example of this. The Paceman is like a coupe that forgot it was supposed to be fun. It wasn’t practical, wasn’t popular, and definitely won’t be missed.
Subaru Baja
The Subaru Baja’s got a small but loyal fan base. But that’s not nearly enough to make it a real classic. It’s part car, part truck, and just looks totally confused. It may be cool in theory, but it’s awkward in practice and just not worth the spend.
Kia K900
The Kia K900 was the result of Kia making a luxury sedan. And while it drove well, people didn’t want a luxury Kia. No matter how nice it was, it just didn’t have the badge to back it up. The resale value, too, was seriously low.
Toyota Mirai
Toyota’s first-generation Mirai runs on Hydrogen, which sounds awesome until you try to find a place to fuel up. The world just wasn’t ready for this kind of tech. Unless you live near a Hydrogen station, this is more of a science project than a car.
Nissan Cube
The Nissan Cube is nothing more than a box on wheels. It tries so hard to be cool and different but ends up looking like a rolling mini fridge. Yes, it has some fans, but most people pass up on the, um, honor of owning one.
Pontiac Aztek
You’ll recognize the Pontiac Aztek from Breaking Bad. And no, that is not enough to make it a good car. Aside from having one of the weirdest designs ever made, it doesn’t have a good resale value and will end up in a shed somewhere.
Jaguar X-Type
Jaguar’s X-Type was supposed to bring Jaguar luxury to the masses. And, for a while, it did, until the problems started piling up, and people realized it was nothing more than a dressed-up Ford. The car never lived up to its badge and is not a good investment choice.
Saturn Ion
Saturn really thought it did something when it introduced plastic body panels on the Ion. But all it did was make the Ion feel cheap and look even cheaper. Saturn shut it down long before it could even be considered an investment car.
Mercedes-Benz R-Class
The R-Class was the result of Merc blending an SUV, a minivan, and a luxury car. What they got instead was something nobody wanted. It was simply too big, too weird, and too expensive to fix. It definitely isn’t investment-car worthy.
Saab 9-7X
The Saab 9-7X was nothing more than a Chevy Trailblazer in a Saab costume. It didn’t feel like a Saab and didn’t have that charm fans were hoping for. It became a short-lived oddball that’s most forgotten, so don’t get one, no matter how tempted you are.
Chevrolet Malibu
The newer Chevrolet Malibu’s are roomy and reliable, sure, but also painfully boring. They don’t turn heads or stir up excitement. They’re the car you end up with, not the one you dream about. Don’t make a mistake and settle for a Malibu.
Infiniti QX30
The Infiniti QX30 might look sleek, but it’s cramped and confusing having shared parts with Mercedes - but not the good ones. Thankfully Infiniti dropped it fast, and buyers didn’t shed a single tear. Don’t fall into the trap and think that this is the investment car for you - it’s not.
Ford C-Max Hybrid
Ford’s C-Max Hybrid tried stealing the Prius’s thunder but never really took off. While it was practical and efficient, it didn’t have that wow factor that people look for in an investment car. Most people have now forgotten it even existed.
BMW I3
The BMW i3 looked like a spaceship, and that was only part of the problem that saw this car labeled a “don’t buy.” It wasn’t practical, the battery range was short, and the resale value tanked faster than anyone expected.
Dodge Caliber
It’s everyone’s dream to own a Dodge, right? Well, not the Dodge Caliber. It had a weird design, a cheap interior, and zero fun to drive. It was the kind of car that you regretted buying the second you drove it home.
