Better Skip These Cars
If we had unlimited money, we’d definitely build the most incredible car collection ever seen! But not every vintage beauty or modern beast is the masterpiece you may think. There are some that experts recommend skipping entirely, and you can keep swiping to find out.
AMC Pacer
The AMC Pacer is super famous and has great potential, so many people are eager to add it to their collections. But don’t be too hasty because the Pacer is plagued with issues, and many experts have even branded it “the worst car ever made”.
Chevrolet Vega
Despite having incredible pony car-inspired looks, the Chevrolet Vega has been considered a failure by experts since it was released in 1971. American lawyer Ralph Nader once called it “sloppily crafted, unreliable, and unsafe” for its problematic engine and terrible build quality.
Ford Pinto
Most experts love Ford cars, but they have a severe lack of love for the Pinto. We can’t really blame them, considering the Pinto became famous in the ‘70s for bursting into flames! Ford rushed production, which resulted in a subpar vehicle and some serious lawsuits.
Cadillac Seville
We can’t deny that the Seville was a success for Cadillac, but it hasn’t aged well. The ‘80s model, in particular, receives plenty of bad press for using an unreliable Oldsmobile diesel engine, as well as a disappointing lack of luxurious features.
Pontiac Trans Am
The Pontiac Trans Am was a hit in Smokey and the Bandit, so many cinephiles rushed to pick one up. However, many experts deem it one of the worst muscle cars in existence because it’s so underpowered. Sadly, we’d skip the iconic Trans Am.
Mercedes-Benz W220
To mix things up, here’s a car from the 21st century! The W220 is part of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but besides its appearance, it’s pretty underwhelming. The electrical features often fail, the suspension is weak, and general upkeep will leave a big hole in your pocket.
Triumph TR7
For all the brand's triumphs, it really dropped the ball with the TR7. Even by ‘70s standards, it lacked innovation, and it was also so slow that both experts and drivers considered it a boring ride. It certainly doesn’t put the ‘sports’ into ‘sports car’.
Aston Martin Lagonda
James Bond may have collected Aston Martins, but even he skipped the Lagonda in his movies! Experts consider it to be one of the brand’s worst models, mostly due to its failed attempts at technological innovation. It has also always been overpriced.
Porsche 928
Many experts love Porsches, but they’d agree that the 928 model is more hassle than it’s worth. The car uses complex parts that are a nightmare to maintain and ridiculously costly to replace. Unless you want to fall into a money pit, avoid the Porsche 928.
Reliant Robin
For a car named ‘Reliant Robin’, this vintage British classic sure is inconsistent! While we do like its fun three-wheeled build, it’s not good in practice, and many experts consider it a serious safety risk. Why would you purchase a collector car that you can’t drive?
Mercury Marauder
Mercury Marauders regularly sell for five-figure prices on the used car market, but you definitely don’t get your money’s worth. The Marauder has been branded “lackluster” by critics, and it’s another collectible that can end up costing thousands in maintenance.
Ford Edsel
What can’t we say about the Ford Edsel? This car was such a catastrophic failure that Ford lost the equivalent of $2.6 billion! People mocked its “toilet seat” grille and had issues with faulty basic functions. With that legacy, it’s a hard pass from us.
Cadillac Eldorado
Cadillacs are top collector cars, but don’t be taken in by the unassuming Eldorado. This model has always been unreliable, and the brand has failed to innovate it over the years. As a result, collectible Eldorados are hard to run and even harder to maintain.
Lamborghini Gallardo
If you like fast, sporty cars, you’ll doubtless be eager to add the Lamborghini Gallardo to your collection. But many experts consider it to be one of the worst Lambos around on account of how dodgy (and costly!) the engine and transmission can be.
Pontiac Tempest
The Pontiac Tempest has been around since the ‘60s, and it’s the definition of a collector car. But if you’re in the market for one, hold off on buying just yet because experts have found several worrying driving faults due to the Tempest’s unconventional design.
AMC Gremlin
Unfortunately for AMC, naming this car the ‘Gremlin’ wasn’t ironic. Experts have found many mechanical gremlins in it over the years, including heavy gear shifting and uncomfortable suspension. Even worse, that beautiful exterior is extremely likely to rust almost straight away.
Chevrolet Corvair
Yes, we really did just go there! The Corvair deserves its flowers for being such a game-changing car, but it hasn’t aged as well as most collectors would like. It’s another Chevy that Ralph Nader criticized for being unsafe, so it wouldn’t fare well on modern roads.
Triumph Stag
If stags are known for their strength and power, then we’re sad to say that this Triumph collectible is more of a fawn. According to experts, the Stag was a disaster from the get-go, with a V8 engine that simply cannot produce the power it should be capable of.
Cadillac Cimarron
You may not have heard of the Cimarron, and that’s because it was considered a huge flop for Cadillac. Experts in 1982 and 2025 call it “one of the worst cars ever built”. It’s uninspired and reuses the underwhelming Corvair design but with even worse performance.
Yugo GV
The Yugo GV was built by Zastava Automobiles, so it’s a more niche car that has intrigued many collectors. But its rarity is all it has going for it because experts have branded it a “lemon car” for its faults, breakdowns, and safety defects.
Ford Mustang II
No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you! But notice that this is the Ford Mustang II, not the original, which will long remain one of the best collector cars around. Unfortunately, the second-generation Mustang is slow and quite ugly, and critics have been making that clear for decades.
Porsche 911
Even casual car collectors are in awe of the Porsche 911. Sadly, it’s a dream car that you probably shouldn’t make a reality of. The upkeep is tremendous, and you’ll find yourself spending thousands to fix engine leaks, worn suspension, and electrical gremlins.
Maserati GranTurismo
If you’re building your fast car collection, the Maserati GranTurismo is probably on your list. But, according to experts, you should strike it off because it can be a nightmare to maintain. It has poor functionality and requires premium parts for replacements.
DeLorean DMC-12
We’d like to apologize to any fans of Back to the Future! Doc’s time machine may seem like the ultimate collector car, but this innovative classic isn’t good in practice. It’s underpowered, so it becomes a slog to drive, and experts hate its handling.
Chevrolet Monza
Unfortunately for Chevrolet, the Vega wasn’t an isolated failure. The Monza, which was released a few years later, was based on the Vega and produced the same sloppy performance and safety concerns, particularly due to its problematic brakes and steering.
Jensen Interceptor
The Jensen Interceptor was supposed to become Britain’s next big grand tourer, but experts were quick to criticize it. It wastes fuel, rusts easily, and requires constant maintenance to avoid issues. There are far better vintage British cars you can collect instead.
Ferrari Mondial
If experts say that the Mondial is the “worst Ferrari ever”, who are we to disagree? This car had amazing potential, but it won’t meet your expectations. It’s heavier, clunkier, and less attractive than other Ferraris, so it will only drag down your collection.
Aston Martin Vantage
While we will give props to the Aston Martin Vantage for making it into a Bond movie, we still agree with experts that it’s one collector car to skip. Owners frequently experience faults with the transmission, drivetrain, and infotainment system that are expensive.
Jaguar XJ
The Jaguar XJ was manufactured for over 50 years, but it has been plagued with problems since its conception. The annual cost of maintaining an XJ is over $1,000, and that doesn’t account for repairing pricey engine, transmission, and braking issues.
Ford Torino
Ford has produced several duds, but the Torino is particularly disliked by car experts. It simply pales in comparison to competitors, with bodywork that was very vulnerable to rust and a noticeably underpowered engine. For a NASCAR-level car, we expect more.
Maserati Biturbo
Any car that gained its reputation from being unreliable should be avoided, even if it is a collector car. The Maserati Biturbo was launched with several worrying faults, including an engine that has a tendency to self-destruct when you drive too fast.
Audi TT
There are good Audis, there are problematic Audis, and then there’s the TT. Despite being a fairly popular collector car, many of the newer models have been recalled for serious issues with the airbags and fuel tank. Unless you plan not to drive the TT, skip it.
Renault Dauphine
Any car that experts have called “a disaster of a motor car” should be at the bottom of your collection list. From excessive oil leaks to bad weight distribution to a clunky engine, there are plenty of reasons why the classic Renault Dauphine isn’t a good investment.
Infiniti QX70
The Infiniti QX70 may define luxury, but there are a series of faults hiding beneath its beautiful surface. The problem is putting a sporty engine inside such a large SUV, which causes issues with regular engine belt and braking system failures.
Lamborghini Jarama
You might be intrigued by the Lamborghini Jarama because it’s such a rare collectible model, but perhaps there's a reason for that. Namely, its rushed build quality, ugly design, and uninspired GT engine. The experts said it best: it’s one of the worst Lambos.
