1982 Pontiac Firebird
Many people have dubbed the 1982 Pontiac Firebird as the ‘poor man’s muscle car’. While it may look fast, the car only featured a 90 horsepower engine, which meant that it didn’t offer much in the performance department. Even so, the car was still pretty popular when it was first made available.
1984 Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is another legendary car that seemed to define an era. When the 1984 model was released, petrolheads jumped at the opportunity to get their hands on the latest version. However, it quickly became apparent that the ‘84 Corvette didn’t quite meet the same standards, as it could barely push 205 horsepower.
Hummer H1
While Hummer is known for being one of the most recognizable automotive brands out there, the H1 definitely wasn’t their finest model. This mostly came down to how heavy it was on fuel, which ended up costing owners an absolute fortune in the long run.
Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster was the cheapest of the Porsche fleet car range. It featured a mid-engine and offered adequate power, but its handling capabilities were definitely the most impressive aspect. Unfortunately, over time, a few manufacturing errors started popping up, affecting the overall durability of the Boxster.
Dodge Viper
While the Dodge Viper might have looked great, it simply wasn’t the type of car that the everyday driver would want in their garage. Featuring a V10 engine, it was clearly made for the racecourse, which led to low sales numbers and a depreciation in value.
1982 Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is arguably one of the most iconic cars ever made. However, the 1982 model definitely had its fair share of design flaws. For this reason, many petrolheads simply refused to give this model the time of day, as they believed that Ford had ruined an otherwise legendary car.
1982 Chevrolet Camaro
There’s no denying that the 1982 Chevrolet Camaro looked great. However, even though it was popular when first released, buyers quickly noted its disappointing performance. This came down to its mismatched 110 horsepower engine, which left plenty to be desired.
1982 Jaguar XJS Coupe
It’s safe to say that British cars aren’t the most reliable on the market. The 1982 Jaguar XJS Coupe was no different, featuring a number of design flaws that drastically affected its overall durability. While the car was popular at first, its value has definitely dwindled over time.
1987 Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler was extremely popular after the release of the Jurassic Park movie. After all, who wouldn’t want to drive a car that could outpace dinosaurs? However, over time, the car's value depreciated quite a bit, making them extremely cheap and a rather poor investment.
1985 Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 is definitely a legend of the 90s. Unfortunately, the ‘85 model simply didn’t cut it in terms of performance, which most people only realized after a few years. According to buyers, the car didn’t offer a smooth ride, which was peculiar for a usually reliable brand such as Mazda.
1983 Volkswagen Golf GTI
There’s no denying that Volkswagen builds great cars. For this reason, it’s no surprise that the ‘83 Golf GTI sold impressive numbers after its initial release. However, it quickly became apparent that it wasn’t an overly practical car, as it offered next to no trunk space.
1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
The 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL has to be one of the most disappointing cars ever released by the German brand. Nowadays, they sell for even less than $ 10,000, making it a rather poor investment choice.
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata
When it was first released, the 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata was one of the most popular cars on the market. In fact, over 400,000 units were sold, decreasing the total market value of the Miata. Considering this was a popular and reliable vehicle, it's quite sad that no one wants to drive it anymore.
1996 Cadillac Eldorado
The 1996 Cadillac Eldorado is another vehicle that looked great, and therefore sold initially, but left buyers wanting when it came to performance. It simply didn’t offer anything special. The Eldorado had no new features or technological advancements, making it a rather boring vehicle.
1972 Chevrolet Chevelle
Even though the Chevelle was popular at first, it didn’t come without its flaws. The car looked decent, but had a few reliability issues that started popping up over time. As you can imagine, this led to a massive drop in value, making the Chevelle a poor investment choice.
1990 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic has to be one of the most abundant vehicles on the road. With that being said, the 1990 model simply didn’t meet the standards of an otherwise reliable range. Such a shame being made by Honda - most supporters were in for a sad surprise with the 1990 Civic.
BMW Z3
The BMW Z3 was one of the brand's most anticipated vehicles. In fact, all 15,000 units of the first batch sold out almost immediately. However, over time, the market value of the Z3 dropped significantly, making it a poor investment.
Audi A4
The Audi A4 was a hit amongst buyers at first. However, its popularity didn’t last very long, with newer competitor models, such as the BMW 3 Series, stealing the show in terms of both looks and performance. The A4 handled poorly and had a substantial body roll in the middle of corners.
Acura NSX
The Acura NSX was popular because it could compete against the Ferrari, but it cost half as much. There’s no denying that it was a great car. However, the market value massively dwindled due to its sheer popularity and abundance on the roads, which meant it was a poor investment choice.
1970 Ford Pinto
Initially popular for its affordability, the Pinto became infamous for its wide array of safety issues, including a faulty fuel tank design. As you can imagine, this led to a number of fiery accidents that could have been much less devastating.
Pontiac Aztek
The Pontiac Aztek was known for its polarizing design. While the car initially gained some traction after its release, it is now remembered as a symbol of poor styling decisions. With that being said, it still drives pretty well and isn’t by any means a ‘bad’ car.
Chevrolet Vega
The Chevrolet Vega has always been praised for its modern, forward-thinking design and affordability. However, over time, buyers came to realize that the car wasn’t the most durable, facing a number of reliability issues. This included engine mishaps and a significant rust problem.
Lancia Stratos
The Lancia Stratos was once considered an innovative car in rally racing. In the long run, though, the Stratos struggled with a wide range of quality and design issues, leading to a sharp decline in its reputation and overall market value.
Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 was especially popular during the SUV craze. Unfortunately, this good-looking car fell out of favor with buyers due to its sheer impracticality. Like most Hummers, it was incredibly heavy on fuel, which made it expensive to drive and also led to a number of environmental concerns.
Jaguar X Type
The Jaguar X Type was the brand's first attempt at making a more affordable car. Unfortunately, this attempt didn’t quite land, as buyers were quick to compare the X Type to the Ford Mondeo - an everyday vehicle that didn’t meet the luxurious standards of a Jaguar.
Mitsubishi Eclipse
The Mitsubishi Eclipse was once a favorite amongst sports car enthusiasts. However, later models didn’t quite meet the same standards as earlier versions. To be more specific, the 2000s models lost their edge due to a number of performance issues, as well as a lackluster design.
DeLorean DMC-12
The DeLorean DMX-12 doesn’t really need an introduction. Made famous for its role in Back to the Future, this car definitely had its fair share of performance issues. With an underwhelming engine, it simply didn’t match the hype surrounding it.
Ford Model T
The Ford T model was revolutionary for its time. The car was both affordable and accessible, but was also challenging to drive. It featured an unusual three-pedal setup and lacked any modern handling capabilities, making it an iconic vehicle that should definitely stay in the past.
AMC Gremlin
The AMC Gremlin was initially popular for being quirky and having a memorable design. However, its short wheelbase made it incredibly challenging to handle, making for a rather unpleasant drive. Overall, it lacked refinement when compared to competitor vehicles.
Triumph Stag
The Triumph Stag is a British sports car that captured the hearts of motorheads for its stunning design. Unfortunately, over time, a number of reliability issues started popping up. To be more specific, the cooling system had some design flaws, leading to overheating.
Fiat 124 Spider
The Fiat 124 Spider was loved by many for its charm and unique design. Just look at how beautiful the car is and the way the light bounces off it's hood! However, earlier models were plagued with rust issues, leading to very high maintenance bills.
Citroen DS
The Citroen DS was revolutionary for its hydraulic suspension system. However, buyers quickly realized that the car felt disconnected from the road, making for a rather unpleasant driving experience. The car also had very complicated controls, leaving drivers confused and overwhelmed.
Morris Minor
There’s no denying that the Morris Minor was an integral part of British automotive history. However, while it might have looked great, it featured a sluggish engine and very basic suspension.
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most iconic vehicles ever released. While an undeniable classic, certain models suffered from poor handling abilities, which made for a rather unpleasant drive. More so, in order to save money on production, the earlier models were fitted with underpowered engines and minimal safety features.
Austin Allegro
Although the Austin Allegro looks great, it definitely doesn’t tick the right boxes when it comes to handling and performance. On top of this, it wasn’t a comfortable or practical car, which turned away a lot of everyday drivers.
