Jalopnik - Most Disappointing Car

[Bob]

I can see being more satisfied with the S2000 than a Focus ST. The S2000 is more of an honest car that scores pretty well on the intangibles (good shifter, chassis, lively responsive engine). In the real world, the S2000 probably isn't any faster than the Focus ST in a straight line, but I am sure it feels a lot better when driven hard. I would still choose the ST as a daily driver, but I can see how the poster would like the S2000.

[kevm14]

I hate everything about hot hatches. Even with 4 doors. I think on paper they sound perfect. Which is why it was satisfying to read that guy's disappointment with the Focus ST.

[kevm14]

Ha

All Aston Martins. Sure they are nice cosmetically and such, but even a last gen 5.7L GTO can take most of them out on like a good highway pull. Oh well, like Clarkson said about the old DB9, “that’s not a race car, that’s just pornography” Still, I wouldn’t like to keep loosing in such an expensive car.

[kevm14]

This doesn’t sound like you’ve ever driven an Aston which was the point... an LS F-body(or GTO) is faster than a lot of things. Doesn’t make it a better car or the other things disappointing.

Simple solution: If a GTO tries to race you in an Aston, don’t. When you show up a few seconds later you’re still the one that everyone will be looking at.

But my point is, the performance DOES matter. Everything that he's saying is impressive about the Aston Martin was known before even getting into the car. And it is perfectly legitimate to be like "this isn't really that fast for how much it costs and how awesome it looks." Which was the ENTIRE PREMISE of the thread.

[kevm14]

You know what? If you aren't from this country, don't participate. You make it too difficult for everyone else.

I guess Americans can never really let go of their need for straight line speed in a sports car. That said, no, a last gen 5.7 liter GTO cannot take most of them out on “like a good highway pull”, unless you are talking about the Holden Monaro that was sold as the GTO from 2004 to 2006 with a 5.7 liter LS1.

[kevm14]

350Z Poor visibility and EXHAUSTING to drive.

I don't know about the exhausting part but I could see this car being disappointing.

[kevm14]

Well there you go.

After driving a 370Z, I can’t really call it a sports car. It basically felt like a “Maxima coupe” which happened to be rear wheel drive, with a stiffer ride. My good friend used to have one that he tracked, and he soon replaced it with an Impreza STi. He said the Z was clumsy and stubborn on the track, and he constantly dealt with overheating brakes/diff - very unbecoming of a “sports car” that’s being used for actual sport.

Drove a 370 once. Hated it. The visibility is shit and it just felt off. Granted I have the G37 sedan which is the same VQ37 powerplant but at least I can fit and see in it.

The Z is overrated imo. Love the oldies though.

[kevm14]

Thanks to the historical documentary “Smokey & the Bandit” I grew up believing the greatest performance car possible was the Pontiac Trans-Am.


Then, one day, I got to strap one on. 6.6 liters of thundering American fury, delivering literally tens of horsepower to a chassis set up to outmatch the finest riding lawnmowers Albania could produce.


I could feel it rusting around me as I stomped the throttle, the three-speed tranny lurching me forward until the glacier I was racing caught me and ruined my traction.


I decided it was time to go to a real performance car, so I scanned the skies until I saw the magic letters G-E-O

This is a little over the top (probably on purpose) but I would agree in general terms. The thing is, if you have a performance car idol from like 1972 through 1989, there is a 95% chance it sucks. You can discuss what cars are in that 5%.

[kevm14]

Ding ding ding

As a fellow Smokey and the Bandit devotee, I've always thought I would own one. Intellectually I know the driving experience will destroy all of my fantasies, so I think it's best if I never drive one.

[kevm14]

Oh shit!

Biggest letdown? Acura NSX.

Sacrilege? Probably. A friend bought a low-mileage used early 90s one in 2005. He lived in Malibu and let me flog it for a couple of days around the canyon roads. It was fun, but at the time I had a brand new S2k which was a much more fun car to drive and to me generally a better car in every way (except probably looks).

I’ll always like the NSX for what it was when it was new, but it was a real case of don’t meet your heroes for me.

I could make the same point about the 77 Trans Am or whatever. It may have been interesting among its contemporaries but compared to what we have now, I dunno. The NSX was a supercar next to a 91 Accord.

EXACTLY

Oh for sure. I also had (after my S2k) a 1991 850i. Also disappointing, but I was expecting a high-speed GT and that was what it was, but less disappointing than the NSX.

Also, I guess I should say I’ve been lucky to own and/or drive a lot of awesome cars. Being disappointed by the NSX doesn’t make it a bad car, and had I driven one in 1991 when I owned a 1990 Mazda RX7 convertible I’m sure I would have been totally blown away.