Worst cars of the 2000's

Homeslice · 09-19-2009, 10:16 PM

MORE AT CARS.COM

Even with the strides that cars have made in recent years, let's face it: There have been some real stinkers, too. Whether poorly executed, ill-conceived or downright dreadful to look at, these 10 stand out for all the wrong reasons. A car had to be sold at any point in the 2000s to be eligible for this list; some of these models were only on the market for a few years, while others are still being sold today.

10. Pontiac Aztek
2001-2005

The Aztek was criticized for the duration of its life for its ghastly styling. Design is subjective, so what do you think of the Aztek shown here? Were the critics wrong? Yeah, we didn't think so.

9. Daewoo Anything
1999-2002

We had just tested a Suzuki Esteem and marveled at how competent even the cheapest little econoboxes had become when a leather-lined Leganza midsize sedan showed up — the best Daewoo had to offer. We mused over which would kill us first: the toxic gases from the cheap interior or the recalcitrant transmission and inconsistent acceleration. Three days into the loan, the first Daewoo crash tests in U.S. history came out, and we called Daewoo and told them to come pick up the car. We'd never done that before, and we haven't since.

8. Isuzu VehiCROSS
1999-2002

The outrageous Isuzu VehiCROSS two-door SUV, whose extreme styling drew varied reactions, lasted from 1999 to 2001, and even that's surprising. The fanglike grille uprights made it look like it would eat you, which was scary mainly because inside the VehiCROSS was a place no one wanted to be. Headroom was minimal, and the low roof blocked even shorter drivers' view. If the noisy cabin didn't get to you, the punishing ride would. Isuzu deserved credit for taking a chance then on a design likely to find more admirers now, and it deserved scorn for a 2001 sticker price that would be just as preposterous in the current market. The VehiCROSS cost $30,350 by the time it fired up its interplanetary drive and went back where it belonged.

7. Jaguar X-Type
2002-2008

Jaguar X-TypeIn the early 2000s, the class of entry-level luxury cars was growing. Most were sporty and started at $30,000 or less. Wanting in, Jaguar came out with the X-Type. From the get-go, critics warned that a cheap Jag would be bad for the brand and that Ford — which bought the company in 1989 — would probably cut corners and sacrifice quality. That was before they saw the product. Sharing its front-drive platform with a European Ford Mondeo, the X-Type was a too-small, not-so-sporty sedan with all-wheel drive that was hamstrung by some of the forewarned quality issues. The trap was clearly visible from miles away, and Ford walked right into it. A 2002 Jaguar X-Type can be had for up to $8,500. A 2002 Honda Civic goes for up to $9,275.

6. Pontiac Sunfire
1995-2005

The Sunfire managed the rare feat of having a worse interior than its GM twin, the Chevy Cavalier. Cheap interior plastics run amok, a coarse four-cylinder engine and horrendous crash-test ratings sealed its fate. On the flip side, the Sunburn was probably responsible for untold thousands of rental-car upgrades: "Honey, remember Fort Lauderdale last summer? Trust me, we want the Grand Am."

5. Cadillac Catera
1997-2001

To think that Germany's Opel is now the source of many of GM's strongest new models...

In the late '90s, the Opel Omega begat a Cadillac that was sporty in theory but soft and underpowered in practice, rear-wheel-drive in design but front-wheel-drive in feel. And that's just the car. Cadillac didn't help its case with advertising that included the tagline "The Caddy That Zigs," supermodel Cindy Crawford, an animated duck, and the suggestion to "lease a Catera" with the response, "Who's Lisa Catera?" The geniuses responsible for the Catera should have been exiled, but we suspect they went on to develop something called the Pontiac Aztek. Upgrades and deep discounts in 2001 couldn't save the Catera; it went to the duck blind in the sky in 2002.

4. Toyota Echo
2000-2005

The Echo subcompact's high seating position and center-mounted instrument panel were two well-intentioned features that were summarily rejected by consumers (though they would find their proponents in later years and other models). Call the Echo ahead of its time if you must; mainly it just wasn't a very good car. In taking over for the Tercel — a boring but popular choice against offerings from Suzuki, Geo and pre- renaissance Kia and Hyundai — the Echo proved that sometimes bland is better than bold. The problem wasn't that the youth-targeted Echo appealed more to older buyers than to younger ones, it was that there weren't enough of either.

3. Jeep Compass
2007-present

We could have easily chosen the Dodge Caliber for this list — a compact hatchback with unremarkable gas mileage, refinement and crash-test scores — but the hapless Compass edged it out. Why? Besides the fact that you shouldn't spread lackluster product around to more than one division (the Compass is related to the Caliber), it doesn't belong in the Jeep lineup, a brand known and respected for its off-road ability. The Compass is a soft-roading poseur, and not a good one at that.

2. Chrysler Sebring
1995-present

The previous-generation Sebring wasn't a bad car in its day, but Chrysler dropped the ball with the redesigned 2007 model. With a weak base powertrain, uncomfortable front seats, poor interior quality and haphazard styling, it never had a chance in the highly competitive midsize-sedan segment.

1. Smart ForTwo
2008-present

We don't have a problem with small cars in general (we're big fans of the Mini Cooper), just with ones that don't deliver on the benefits of going small. The pint-sized ForTwo sacrifices a lot of passenger space for a relatively unimpressive 41 mpg on the highway, has an SUV-like propensity to roll over, and is equipped with an aggravating sequential manual transmission. Sure, the ForTwo looks cute, but after you drive it you won't be smiling anymore.

Kelsey Mays contributed to this story.

derf · 09-19-2009, 10:18 PM

The aztek should have been #1

pauldun170 · 09-19-2009, 10:59 PM

disagree with 8, 4 and 2.

#8 A limited edition halo vehicle that besides having crappy visibility out the back was a good truck. It's crime was being pricey and (oh noes....how will we fit the cars seats in to go back and forth to the mall!!!!) being a 2 door.

#4 The Echo is an honest car that some idiot thought should be marketed to metrosexual wanna-bees and chicks. Basic transportation at it's purest.

#2 I do not agree with including all years of the Chrysler Sebring.The first gen when it came out were well received, sold well and relatively desirable.

BobTheBiker · 09-19-2009, 11:08 PM

they've obviously never met the pre rennaisance Kias then. bulky and ugly cars that are entirely too complex to even change the OIL on, let alone do any real maintenance. they deserve a place on that list.

Homeslice · 09-19-2009, 11:12 PM

The Sebring sucks. I don't know if they ever had a sport suspension option, but all the ones I drive were soft as shit, and the seats were basically mouse fur.

But I would say worst on the list is the Sunfire. That thing had a solid rear axle that caused it to jump a few inches to the side in bumpy corners. Also the C-pillar severely restricted vision.

Dave · 09-19-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauldun170

disagree with 8, 4 and 2.

#8 A limited edition halo vehicle that besides having crappy visibility out the back was a good truck. It's crime was being pricey and (oh noes....how will we fit the cars seats in to go back and forth to the mall!!!!) being a 2 door.

#4 The Echo is an honest car that some idiot thought should be marketed to metrosexual wanna-bees and chicks. Basic transportation at it's purest.

#2 I do not agree with including all years of the Chrysler Sebring.The first gen when it came out were well received, sold well and relatively desirable.

i was just on my way in here to defend the vehicross

anyone looking back on that truck should consider it as izuzu's viper. all that truck was meant to do was put bodies in the showroom

BobTheBiker · 09-20-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

The Sebring sucks. I don't know if they ever had a sport suspension option, but all the ones I drive were soft as shit, and the seats were basically mouse fur.

But I would say worst on the list is the Sunfire. That thing had a solid rear axle that caused it to jump a few inches to the side in bumpy corners. Also the C-pillar severely restricted vision.

this isnt counting the engine/trans shortcomings that POS has. same engine and transmission as the Plymouth voyager, both are epic pieces of SHIT.

101lifts2 · 09-20-2009, 01:20 AM

I liked the Smart when I drove it, though the transmission wasn't all that great. Used, they use to be hella pricey, but now there are several for sale in the 12k range with almost no miles.

I want one so I can put a Gixxer 1k motor in it.

Particle Man · 09-21-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheBiker

they've obviously never met the pre rennaisance Kias then. bulky and ugly cars that are entirely too complex to even change the OIL on, let alone do any real maintenance. they deserve a place on that list.

agreed. The Sephia was a real piece of crap. I had a friend who used to leave the windows open in the keys in the ignition hoping that someone would steal the freakin' thing (nobody ever did

)

The new Kias are pretty good (I have an '07 Optima with 50k on the clock that has yet to give me issues)

azoomm · 09-21-2009, 12:48 PM

The Smart car is on my list of most terrifying vehicle I've ever been in on the track. And, its primarily because it felt like a weeble on EVERY corner and wasn't able to accelerate to even a safe freeway speed if it wanted to.

09-19-2009, 10:16 PM	#1
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	Worst cars of the 2000's MORE AT CARS.COM Even with the strides that cars have made in recent years, let's face it: There have been some real stinkers, too. Whether poorly executed, ill-conceived or downright dreadful to look at, these 10 stand out for all the wrong reasons. A car had to be sold at any point in the 2000s to be eligible for this list; some of these models were only on the market for a few years, while others are still being sold today. 10. Pontiac Aztek 2001-2005 The Aztek was criticized for the duration of its life for its ghastly styling. Design is subjective, so what do you think of the Aztek shown here? Were the critics wrong? Yeah, we didn't think so. 9. Daewoo Anything 1999-2002 We had just tested a Suzuki Esteem and marveled at how competent even the cheapest little econoboxes had become when a leather-lined Leganza midsize sedan showed up — the best Daewoo had to offer. We mused over which would kill us first: the toxic gases from the cheap interior or the recalcitrant transmission and inconsistent acceleration. Three days into the loan, the first Daewoo crash tests in U.S. history came out, and we called Daewoo and told them to come pick up the car. We'd never done that before, and we haven't since. 8. Isuzu VehiCROSS 1999-2002 The outrageous Isuzu VehiCROSS two-door SUV, whose extreme styling drew varied reactions, lasted from 1999 to 2001, and even that's surprising. The fanglike grille uprights made it look like it would eat you, which was scary mainly because inside the VehiCROSS was a place no one wanted to be. Headroom was minimal, and the low roof blocked even shorter drivers' view. If the noisy cabin didn't get to you, the punishing ride would. Isuzu deserved credit for taking a chance then on a design likely to find more admirers now, and it deserved scorn for a 2001 sticker price that would be just as preposterous in the current market. The VehiCROSS cost $30,350 by the time it fired up its interplanetary drive and went back where it belonged. 7. Jaguar X-Type 2002-2008 Jaguar X-TypeIn the early 2000s, the class of entry-level luxury cars was growing. Most were sporty and started at $30,000 or less. Wanting in, Jaguar came out with the X-Type. From the get-go, critics warned that a cheap Jag would be bad for the brand and that Ford — which bought the company in 1989 — would probably cut corners and sacrifice quality. That was before they saw the product. Sharing its front-drive platform with a European Ford Mondeo, the X-Type was a too-small, not-so-sporty sedan with all-wheel drive that was hamstrung by some of the forewarned quality issues. The trap was clearly visible from miles away, and Ford walked right into it. A 2002 Jaguar X-Type can be had for up to $8,500. A 2002 Honda Civic goes for up to $9,275. 6. Pontiac Sunfire 1995-2005 The Sunfire managed the rare feat of having a worse interior than its GM twin, the Chevy Cavalier. Cheap interior plastics run amok, a coarse four-cylinder engine and horrendous crash-test ratings sealed its fate. On the flip side, the Sunburn was probably responsible for untold thousands of rental-car upgrades: "Honey, remember Fort Lauderdale last summer? Trust me, we want the Grand Am." 5. Cadillac Catera 1997-2001 To think that Germany's Opel is now the source of many of GM's strongest new models... In the late '90s, the Opel Omega begat a Cadillac that was sporty in theory but soft and underpowered in practice, rear-wheel-drive in design but front-wheel-drive in feel. And that's just the car. Cadillac didn't help its case with advertising that included the tagline "The Caddy That Zigs," supermodel Cindy Crawford, an animated duck, and the suggestion to "lease a Catera" with the response, "Who's Lisa Catera?" The geniuses responsible for the Catera should have been exiled, but we suspect they went on to develop something called the Pontiac Aztek. Upgrades and deep discounts in 2001 couldn't save the Catera; it went to the duck blind in the sky in 2002. 4. Toyota Echo 2000-2005 The Echo subcompact's high seating position and center-mounted instrument panel were two well-intentioned features that were summarily rejected by consumers (though they would find their proponents in later years and other models). Call the Echo ahead of its time if you must; mainly it just wasn't a very good car. In taking over for the Tercel — a boring but popular choice against offerings from Suzuki, Geo and pre- renaissance Kia and Hyundai — the Echo proved that sometimes bland is better than bold. The problem wasn't that the youth-targeted Echo appealed more to older buyers than to younger ones, it was that there weren't enough of either. 3. Jeep Compass 2007-present We could have easily chosen the Dodge Caliber for this list — a compact hatchback with unremarkable gas mileage, refinement and crash-test scores — but the hapless Compass edged it out. Why? Besides the fact that you shouldn't spread lackluster product around to more than one division (the Compass is related to the Caliber), it doesn't belong in the Jeep lineup, a brand known and respected for its off-road ability. The Compass is a soft-roading poseur, and not a good one at that. 2. Chrysler Sebring 1995-present The previous-generation Sebring wasn't a bad car in its day, but Chrysler dropped the ball with the redesigned 2007 model. With a weak base powertrain, uncomfortable front seats, poor interior quality and haphazard styling, it never had a chance in the highly competitive midsize-sedan segment. 1. Smart ForTwo 2008-present We don't have a problem with small cars in general (we're big fans of the Mini Cooper), just with ones that don't deliver on the benefits of going small. The pint-sized ForTwo sacrifices a lot of passenger space for a relatively unimpressive 41 mpg on the highway, has an SUV-like propensity to roll over, and is equipped with an aggravating sequential manual transmission. Sure, the ForTwo looks cute, but after you drive it you won't be smiling anymore. Kelsey Mays contributed to this story.

09-19-2009, 10:18 PM	#2
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	The aztek should have been #1 __________________

09-19-2009, 11:08 PM	#4
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	they've obviously never met the pre rennaisance Kias then. bulky and ugly cars that are entirely too complex to even change the OIL on, let alone do any real maintenance. they deserve a place on that list.

09-19-2009, 11:12 PM	#5
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	The Sebring sucks. I don't know if they ever had a sport suspension option, but all the ones I drive were soft as shit, and the seats were basically mouse fur. But I would say worst on the list is the Sunfire. That thing had a solid rear axle that caused it to jump a few inches to the side in bumpy corners. Also the C-pillar severely restricted vision.

09-20-2009, 01:20 AM	#8
101lifts2 WSB Champion Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Moto: 2009 Kawi ZX6R Posts: 5,570	I liked the Smart when I drove it, though the transmission wasn't all that great. Used, they use to be hella pricey, but now there are several for sale in the 12k range with almost no miles. I want one so I can put a Gixxer 1k motor in it. __________________ Train Hard Ron Paul - 2012 Mark of Excellence GM Last edited by 101lifts2; 09-20-2009 at 01:23 AM..

09-21-2009, 12:48 PM	#10
azoomm moderator chick Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hill Country TX Moto: Pasta Rockets Posts: 8,917	The Smart car is on my list of most terrifying vehicle I've ever been in on the track. And, its primarily because it felt like a weeble on EVERY corner and wasn't able to accelerate to even a safe freeway speed if it wanted to.