http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos ... ers-in-automotive-history

Breakdown:
1983 Renault Alliance: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars
2002 Ford Thunderbird: Motor Trend Car of the Year
1971 Chevrolet Vega: Motor Trend Car of the Year
1997 Cadillac Catera: Automobile All-Stars
1985 Merkur XR4Ti: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars
1997 Chevrolet Malibu: Motor Trend Car of the Year
1990 Lincoln Town Car: Motor Trend Car of the Year
1980 Chevrolet Citation: Motor Trend Car of the Year
1974 Ford Mustang II: Motor Trend Car of the Year
1995 Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars



Comments?

Matthew

Good article - that's definitely a collection of stinkers, maybe with the exception of the Contour. The T-Bird was probably the biggest disappointment on that list, after the hype of the design.

My take:

1983 Renault Alliance: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars

Decent compacts for the day when new - it was impossible to know how stunningly unreliable they would be.

2002 Ford Thunderbird: Motor Trend Car of the Year

A very good exterior "semi-retro" design let down by a nickel and dime interior and a complete lack of attention to any of the mechanical bits.

1971 Chevrolet Vega: Motor Trend Car of the Year

Every ten years or so, GM sticks it's neck out with a compact and it usually doesn't end well.

1997 Cadillac Catera: Automobile All-Stars

Another failed European import. Not bad cars, they definitely weren't Cadillacs. Might have been better as a Buick or Oldsmobile.

1985 Merkur XR4Ti: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars

This one's unfair. These were fun cars with unique but not ugly styling. Their failing came from being "marketed" at Lincoln/Mercury dealers.

1997 Chevrolet Malibu: Motor Trend Car of the Year

So boring even Chevrolet made a commercial about how boring it was. No significance at all - not even a car of the month.

1990 Lincoln Town Car: Motor Trend Car of the Year

No clue - was nothing else happening in 1990?

1980 Chevrolet Citation: Motor Trend Car of the Year

This was a good choice, if you consider car of the year as a measure of changes in the industry. The Citation and its X-car brethren were the first indicators of another huge GM push, this time into front wheel drive.

1974 Ford Mustang II: Motor Trend Car of the Year

It was the mid-1970s - what do you want? Another "they had to pick something" choice, though I'll note that Mustang IIs sold very well.

1995 Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars

Brought into the United States at the wrong price (they were way too close in outlay to the much larger Taurus) these nice little cars never had a chance.

A few additional thoughts, aping J3's post:

1983 Renault Alliance: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars

Wow. They had warrantee claims whilst sitting on the lot. At least they did at the AMC dealer I had to deal with when I had my Pacer.

2002 Ford Thunderbird: Motor Trend Car of the Year

The chassis was based on the Lincoln LS... and was never concieved to work as a roadster. Ford then tied it all together with sub connectors and such... it was still a loosy goose.

1971 Chevrolet Vega: Motor Trend Car of the Year

So bad they, like the mid-80s F-Bodies, depreciated on the assembly line.

1997 Cadillac Catera: Automobile All-Stars

This was the German Opal... which means Aussie Holden Monaro... just poorly executed. Would have been better as a Pontaic, really.

1985 Merkur XR4Ti: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars

I agree with J3 on this one. They were great drivers.

1997 Chevrolet Malibu: Motor Trend Car of the Year

I have rented these... And I HATE THEM.

1990 Lincoln Town Car: Motor Trend Car of the Year

If you want large luxury... and to wonder if a car could actually be electric powered. They are THAT quiet.

1980 Chevrolet Citation: Motor Trend Car of the Year

Wholly unreliable and with the build quality of a Yugo.

1974 Ford Mustang II: Motor Trend Car of the Year

Interestingly enough, the idea to take the Mustang small happened long before the embargo. It's just that the embargo made it look like a good idea. Poor at about everything it did

1995 Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique: Car and Driver 10 Best Cars

Great driver and yes, too small a back seat.

Did the Pontiac Aztec win anything? Horrible design...I'm sorry that was rude...UGLY AS HELL, and I seem to remember it won a few awards.

Does putting them in bankruptcy count?

These cars are examples of why the big three are in the trouble they currently are in!!!