6 Cars You Wish You Had Lost
That’s right friends, even your pals at Automopedia are going to do a Lost tie-in. I mean, the finale was last night, and who could have guessed The Island was really… Just kidding. Won’t give it away because frankly we at the Automopedia offices need to watch The End on Hulu again, to try and catch everything. But what we can give you are 6 cars you wish you never had to deal with. You may be surprised at this list – we’re not going with the usual “Worst Car” ranking, which almost always includes a Pontiac Aztek and Yugo. And yes, we’re doing 6 because Lost was on for 6 seasons – we are geeks.
1) Kia Amanti
People keep saying Kia has come a long way. We agree, but we will never forget the original Optima or travesty that was Amanti. Sure, it looked like it was trying to be a Jaguar, but it didn’t move (or feel or last as long) as one. Kia’s single-trim level Amanti sedan debuted in 2003 to lackluster sales. Its “Heavily based on European Nostalgic styling” look make it seem more like a knock-off Bentley. The car doesn’t have much power, and transmission problem haunted it for years after the ’03 introduction. Acceleration is slow, seating is cramped, and well…it’s a Kia. Every time we see one on the street a kitten dies.
2) Pontiac Firebird, 4th and Final Generation
Firebird was a classic in the land of Hollyweird; Smokey & The Bandit, Knight Rider and so on. But in the early 90′s she went and had a transformation to the “Banshee” platform. Pontiac’s upgraded exterior was a little bland, even for the years where Brian Austin Green graced TV screens on 90210. Inside, Firebird’s dash was lumpy and frankly hard to keep clean. It was not a good turn for a once former glorious Trans Am. By 2003, Pontiac decided it was time to bring Firebird round back and put it out of its misery.
3) Ford Mustang, 3rd Generation
From the mid 1970′s up until the early 1990′s Ford and it’s famous former muscle car, Mustang, went belly up. America’s gasoline crisis forced cars to go smaller, economic. Ford redesigned their Mustang with a weaker engine, base level mechanics and a wimpier horsepower. Ford tried to class its new Mustang up, building upon Mazda chassis and even entering several of their models as Indy 500 Pace Cars. But nothing saved Mustang until it’s 1994 overhaul.
4) Plymouth Acclaim
With a turning radius comparable to a Sherman Tank, Plymouth’s Acclaim (also the Dodge Spirit) was a boxy early 90′s monstrosity. But it could take a hit like a tank too. Believe us – one of our staff writer’s mother’s totaled her 1993 Acclaim a few years back, then walked out without a scratch. Still, the bulky vehicle was hard to maneuver and sucked down gas like Lindsay Lohan in front of three rails.
5) Dodge Intrepid
In 1993 The Intrepid was one of the more advanced vehicles in the CDJ line-up. But as years progressed the vehicle did not; it had little technological and mechanical advancements. Gas mileage was low, because the vehicle was kind of huge. And it only got larger. Today, you can get a 1994 Dodge Intrepid off Craig’s List for $450. That should tell you something.
6) AMC Eagle Wagon
AMC’s greatest creation might have been the Gremlin – and their worst was undoubtedly the Eagle Wagon. The Eagle Wagon suffered many faults: with its design, it looked like an elongated Gremlin. It was built mostly out of cheaper parts and plastic, which at the time was a travesty (though fairly common today). The 6-cylinder, three speed manual was clunky. Seating was known for discomfort. It barely rose above 20 miles per gallon. AMC wanted Eagle to be the most technologically advanced car of its time – but due to financial strains it was equipped with less-than-evolved parts, killing any chance it had to become a future car.
Honorable Mention – Oldsmobile Toronado
Don’t get us wrong, the Toronado was a powerful automobile. A 1966 model V8 with a top speed of 130 MPH, it came at the height of American Muscle Car. But Toronado is on this list mostly for the purpose of showing American sensibility goes from one end of the spectrum to another at the drop of a dime. You see, Toronado was GM’s great experiment – a Front-Wheel drive coupe. The idea spurred generations of car makers switching to FWD, all but killing the rear wheel drive vehicle today. But back in ’66, customers hated the idea, and showed their disdain with their wallets by shopping elsewhere. Funny how opinions turn around.
Who the hell came up with this “list?” Is the author, what, 20 years old? Regarding the Mustang: “From the mid 1970’s up until the early 1990’s Ford and it’s famous former muscle car, Mustang, went belly up.” Mustangs from the early 80′s to the early 90′s were freaking awesome, moron! Those 80′s Mustang GT Five-oh’s kicked major ass. And when the Firebird went to the Banshee platform, it was hardly bland. When those cars first came out in the early 90′s they turned heads everywhere they turned up. Bland? My ass.
I have a 1993 plymouth acclaim and it is great on gas mileage and it has a fantastic turning radius. I am getting 32 mpg on the highway and 24 in the city (roughly). It does exactly what it was intended to do. I have the 2.5l I4 but the 3.0 v6 was a pig and a waste. Plus, it was problably the last of the cars for the home mechanics to work on and save themselves some money. The acclaim you problably drove was either not tuned or beat causing poor fuel economy.
The Acclaim did NOT have a good turning radius my friend. You have to shift back and forth three times to make a frigging K-turn.
28, actually.
The AMC eagle is on the list?!? AUTOMATIC was the 3 speed; the manual was either a 4 speed and there was an optioned 5 speed. The only eagle to even resemble a gremlin was the Kammback model. Who ever wrote up this garbage list should just do the world a favor and just stop and think before you put trash statements on the internet
The Eagle has been called Americas first SUV. The AMC Eagle got their owners home safely when others were spinning their wheels, how do you know anything about THAT ??? You say you are 28, you were 5 years old when Crysler bought American Motors…. clearly not old enough to KNOW what these cars were like.
What about the piece of shit Chevy Vega. The only car to rust on the showroom floor. Or the Ford Pinto, with the exploding gas tank. Or, the Olds Omega, the AMC Pacer and Gremlin. Factory fuckups from the start. Before the writers time, I guess.
Try and buy a 1966 toronado. Very expensive. One of a kind car. I’d love to have one. I think you’re wrong about this car.
This was a massive waste of time, what a pathetic excuse for a list of “should be forgotten” cars. My son has an Acclaim, bought for 200 bucks for winter, killer heater, starts in -40 and keeps girls away from him, just the way I planned. Do a good car list and forget this worthless posting.