Home Cars 30 Expensive Car Mods That Are Completely Useless
Cars

30 Expensive Car Mods That Are Completely Useless

Cameron Eittreim January 29, 2021

The market for automotive customization has grown exponentially since the earlier days of the automotive industry. Automotive accessories account for a major part of the market and what we spend customizing our vehicles. Some of these accessories can improve performance and exterior appearance while others are expensive but still downright useless.

The feeling and joy of owning a new vehicle can make it addicting to start personalizing. However, many mods are illegal or simply a waste of money. We took a look at 30 expensive mods that are still somehow useless via Goliath below.

30: Oversized Spoilers

SRT8
Photo Credit: Mopar

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

From the advent of the original “Fast and the Furious” movie, too many drivers wanted to “rice” out their Honda Civic or Acura Integra. One of the most obvious ways to do this was with a giant spoiler. There is no real benefit in slapping an oversized spoiler onto the decklid of your car. You are going to have to drill holes into it and eventually remove the spoiler at some point. An oversized spoiler won’t give you better gas mileage either.

SRT HellCat
Photo Credit: Mopar

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Although the tuner’s look and feel can be addictive, don’t take it overboard. Nothing is worse than seeing a car that looks like it was pieced together on the road. You aren’t going to increase your speed by turning your car into a life-size Hot Wheel.

29: Fake Performance Badges

2014 SRT Viper TA (Time Attack)
Photo Credit: MOPAR

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Badge engineering is a common practice in the automotive world on the business side. You take a great model and slap a different product name on it for the same result. But another common practice with consumers is to falsely badge a performance vehicle. Sticking an AMG sticker on your friend’s C-Class doesn’t make it an AMG. Many of these performance badges are expensive to get, as are the modifications.

Dodge Viper SRT-12
Photo Credit: Mopar

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Mimicking the look and feel of a performance car isn’t cheap, many aftermarket bumpers, wheels, and more can cost quite a bit. You’re not going to build an AMG by hand, so why waste the money on trying to put on a fake front? Fake performance badges are an extreme waste of money.

28: Radar Detector

Ford Explorer Police
Photo Credit: Ford

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

As with any act of lawlessness, there is a sense of victory that comes with it. A radar detector is a way that most speeders can try and avoid costly tickets, but they are a waste of money. Most items you are still going to get hooked up by the highway patrol. It doesn’t matter if you have a radar detector or not. Trying to defeat a speed trap generally won’t yield positive results.

2014 Dodge Charger - 2012 Dodge Charger
Photo Credit: Mopar

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

On the other end of the spectrum, you have the fact that no matter what you do there is no real way to avoid a speeding ticket. Yet thousands of these radar detectors are thrown onto the dashboards of new vehicles every year.

27: Fake Velocity Stacks

Velocity Stacks
Photo Credit: Stang TV

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The new C8 Corvette has done a lot to reinvigorate the brand, and with that being said, there’s a unique new item circling the community. This set of fake velocity stacks will set you back a whopping $1495. With that being said the accessory is just that, an accessory. The fake velocity stacks do nothing to increase the performance of the C8, instead only replacing the stock engine cover which is plastic.

Velocity stacks
Photo Credit: Profabrications

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The fake velocity stacks that we’re seeing for the C8 Corvette are only an inclination of what’s to come. As electric drivetrains start to dominate the market, the need for faux performance modifications will increase. Yes, that means even more fake velocity stacks are going to be making an appearance.

26: Carbon Fiber Wraps

Lexus FC500
Photo Credit: Car Domain

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Something about the tuner crowd and carbon fiber makes for a winning combination. The thing is that you can spend quite a bit on carbon fiber inserts, only to miss out dramatically on any performance increases. Wrapping your car can be quite fashionable and it beats having to pay for an entire paint job. Nevertheless, using a carbon fiber wrap does nothing for the performance of a vehicle.

BMW I
Photo Credit: CarDomain

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

This is a fad that has become all too common in the past decade. Sure, you can wrap your vehicle with carbon fiber or add inserts. But all you are doing is putting on a front of false performance, and this isn’t what most true enthusiasts are looking for.

25: The “Bro-Dozer Lift”

Velociraptor
Photo Credit: Ford

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Time and time again you see obscenely high pickup trucks driving around town, and the common misconception is that these vehicles can go anywhere. That couldn’t be further from the truth, just because a truck has a high ground clearance doesn’t guarantee offroad capability.

Velociraptor
Photo Credit: Ford

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The Bro-Dozer fad has taken the pickup truck market by storm, unfortunately from a performance standpoint, nothing has changed. Bro-dozers are a fad in the automotive community that has been around for decades. Nowadays, lifted trucks are more or less concrete princesses instead of actual offroad vehicles.

24: Performance Coilovers

Subaru WRX
Photo Credit: Subaru

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Have you ever seen a sports car that was slammed to the ground? Well, nowadays it seems like anyone who has a sports car is trying to slam it to the ground. Does this do anything for the performance? No, but it looks cool. Nevertheless, doing a suspension job can be a costly investment and the result isn’t that promising. You are going to spend more replacing tires and getting alignments than enjoying your car.

Subaru WRX
Photo Credit: Subaru

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The market for these accessories is huge and growing. But unless you are set on owning a lowered or stanced vehicle, there just aren’t any benefits. The lowered vehicles are an enthusiast item that a certain sort of driver mindset enjoys.

23: Booming Stereo System

Bentley interior
Photo Credit: Bentley

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

We’ve all heard that car that drives down the road rumbling the walls. We wonder how the change in automotive technology will affect the future of aftermarket sound systems. The overdone sound systems are as old as the car culture itself. There’s just something about driving down the boulevard where everyone can hear you. But oftentimes these sound systems are taken far overboard.

Porsche Cayenne via Motor Trend
Photo Credit: Motor Trend

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Enthusiasts will spend thousands on a competition sound system just to make themselves deaf. Even the best sound system in the world will not improve the performance of your vehicle, and will just in fact end up adding more weight to it.

22: Xenon Blue Headlights

BMW M2 CS
Photo Credit: BMW

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

You’ve probably seen these lights creeping up everywhere over the past couple of years. What used to be relegated to the tuner community has now been implemented by many more drivers. Nevertheless, the fact is that the blue headlights are a true fashion statement. These annoying, ultra-bright headlights do nothing to improve your car’s performance. Most of the time the owners are just looking for a way to stand out.

BMW M5
Photo Credit: BMW

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Xenon headlights are just an expensive mod that has no real purpose on your vehicle. Well, no real purpose other than blinding the drivers who are in front of you, which is quite annoying to say the least. These headlights will remain popular for quite some time.

21: Brand Sticker Decals

Driftcar
Photo Credit: Discount Tire

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Another mod that has gained popularity since the 2000s is to slap a collection of brand stickers all over your car. We’re not sure what the Nike Swoosh is going to do for performance but people still do this. Brand stickers can be expensive to order, especially in the larger sizes that are needed to coat these car windows. In addition to that, the stickers do nothing to give your car a real boost in performance.

BMW Drift Car
Photo Credit: BMW

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The fact that you’d flaunt how much money you have only made your car a lot more susceptible to theft. In the long run, this isn’t something that you should push for. Especially if you are in one of the most stolen vehicles such as a Honda Civic.

20: Polyurethane Steering Rack Bushings

Lifted Silverado
Photo Credit: GM

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The steering system in your vehicle is one of the most costly aspects to maintain. As the vehicle gets older, these parts tend to wear and eventually fall apart. With the rack and pinion, the bushings are generally rubber and very fragile. You’ll notice as you are doing brake changes that these bushings tend to disintegrate altogether. Replacement can be costly and time-consuming, which is why you would think that Polyurethane Steering Rack Bushings are worth the cost.

Sivlerado
Photo Credit: GM

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Sadly, that is not the case though, as these bushings wear out just as bad. If you are rough driving or taking your vehicle off-road you are going to blow through suspension pieces no matter what you do. While parts manufacturers would like you to think otherwise, you’ll be greatly disappointed.

19: Winter Tires

Range Rover
Photo Credit: CarDomain

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Some areas of the country have it pretty rough in the winter season. So logically speaking, a winter set of tires would make sense. But what do you do in the summertime? Well, a lot of drivers don’t think that through and they lose mileage in the long run. A good all-season tire is an excellent alternative because you’ll get durable traction in all weather conditions.

Range Rover
Photo Credit: CarDomain

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

With all of the hoopla surrounding offroad lift kits and wheels, you’d think that winter tires would be the way to go. But unfortunately, this is not the case in any sense of the word. You’ll end up spending a lot more on a set of winter radials than you would by just getting some all-season rubber for your vehicle.

18: Cold Air Intake

Photo Credit: Ford

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The most common modification for any newbie to their vehicle is a whopping cold air intake. But just adding a giant air hose to your intake isn’t always the best option. When a vehicle comes from the factory, it’s programmed to operate at a certain degree of air and fuel mixture. By circumventing this, you are going to cause a lot of unwanted issues if the vehicle is not properly returned.

1965 Mustang
Photo Credit: Ford

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

To simply just throw an air intake on and think that you are going to get massive gains in performance is just a downright stupid idea. Yet a lot of drivers go ahead and do just that, at the same time negatively impacting the vehicle.

17: Harness

Subaru BRZ
Photo Credit: Subaru

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

So you’ve got the boy racer in chains look going on huh? Well, a racing harness seems like the logical next step. Unfortunately for the random everyday driver, this is not something that you need to invest your hard-earned money into. Having a racing harness in your car can seem like a cool thing to do, but in reality, you’ll never use it.

500X Via Car And Driver
Photo Credit: Car and Driver

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Unless you are going around a track at 200 mph, the racing harness is only going to be uncomfortable. On top of that, you are going to have to contend with the maintenance and upkeep such as getting the harness tightened and inspected.

16: Racing Seats

Interior racing seats
Photo Credit: SVT

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Some cars come with racing seats right from the factory. These are great and you’d probably spend a good deal of money on that option. But to throw racing seats in your Ford Explorer just doesn’t make sense. You’re going to spend more time dreaming of being on the road than actually enjoying the seating.

Ultima
Photo Credit: Car and Driver

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Racing seats are very stiff and not suitable for a long drive. Thus, many drivers end up making the switch to racing seats after a short while. In addition to that, the racing seats are generally very expensive to get, and if you want quality it will cost you even more.

15: Limited Slip Differential

Ultima Evolution
Photo Credit: Car and Driver

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Do you ever notice when you do a donut that only one of the wheels is spinning? Probably not, but for those of us in the car business that your differential. Thus, a lot of people are opting to purchase a limited-slip differential. The thing is that for the average driver you aren’t going to need this often heinously expensive upgrade. Most anything that has to do with the rear end of the vehicle is going to cost a great bit of money.

Photo Credit: Ferrari

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Getting the performance from this aspect of the vehicle is just useless and expensive. You aren’t going to be taking most vehicles out on the track, and naturally, that means that you aren’t going to get a whole lot of performance increases.

14: Car Bras

Photo Credit: Ferrari

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

This isn’t a joke because there are bras for your car. These are generally used for longer trips where you’ll acquire a lot of paint damage. Freeway driving especially is tough on a new vehicle’s paint job, and having a bra can be a great way to protect it. But for most of us, we will only do a trip like this every once in a while, and thus the use of a car bra is minuscule at best.

GTO
Photo Credit: Ferrari

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Although most people think that a car bra can improve the exterior appearance of a vehicle, that is not generally the case. There are variations of car bra that you can choose from, but the most commonplace selections can be quite expensive.

13: Trunk Organizer

Ford Explorer
Photo Credit: Ford

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Another popular type of modification for vehicles is the trunk organizer. While most commonly purchased for SUVs or minivans these are practically useless. How often will be packing the actual cargo area? Not too often, which is why many consumers just steer clear of these altogether. But you have that portion of the market that will dump larger amounts of money into a specific trunk organizer.

2017 Ford Explorer - 2020 Ford Explorer
Photo Credit: Ford

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Sure, there are plenty of choices on the market, but if you think about it this is an accessory that will seldom be used. Trunk organizers are one of the more useless accessories you can get for your vehicle.

12: Bluetooth Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Chevrolet Donk
Photo Credit: GM

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Perhaps one of the more unique items to come out is the Bluetooth Tire Pressure Monitoring System. When you start modifying a vehicle, you want the wheels to be a focal point of the design. But keeping an eye on the tire pressure is not always the priority, so a Bluetooth TPMS might seem like an ideal solution. Sadly though, this is something that doesn’t always work exactly how it should.

Donk Caprice
Photo Credit: Donklife

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Most of these Bluetooth systems are still in their infancy and the results are generally sporadic. The use of a tire pressure monitor means that you can keep a greater eye on the safety of your vehicle, but these Bluetooth models are just not effective enough.

11: Extreme Seat Covers

Ford Raptor
Photo Credit: Ford

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Tricking out the interior of your car can be an expensive and fun thing to do. But we don’t always have the funds to do a full interior overhaul. The most common type of seat cover that seems to be selling extremely well is the real tree camouflage sets. Does a seat cover benefit the interior in any intrinsic way? No, and you’ll spend more time trying to get the right fit on your seats.

TrueCars
Photo Credit: Nissan

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

For some getting a new set of seat covers can be an exhilarating experience. Nevertheless, you can do a lot better by just saving up and redoing your interior upholstery. Seat covers are a definite waste of money for the most part.

10: Diesel Smoke Chips

991-dodge-ram-w250-cummins-turbo-diesel-4x4
Photo Credit: Hot Rod

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

We’ve all been at the red light and had a “bro-dozer” blow a plume of black smoke in our face. This is not a common occurrence from most diesel engines; in fact, these are customized performance chips that are purchased. The problem is that the black plume of smoke doesn’t increase the performance at all, and in the long run it just negatively affects the environment.

Dodge Ram
Photo Credit: Mopar

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

In some municipalities, these chips are downright illegal although many still opt for them. It is cool that you can tweak your exhaust to make different colors and smells, but in the long run, there is no point to this. Most people who own a diesel truck are going to be using it for hauling and not the other way around.

9: High-End Tunes

370Z Via Motor Trend
Photo Credit: Motor Trend

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Tuning the engine is something that a lot of people in the performance community will do. Tuning can be a great way to unlock the hidden potential of your engine if you are running on the track. But for the average driver, a full tune is not going to unlock any intrinsic benefits and for the most part, your car will be the same. Nevertheless, the popularity of tunes has skyrocketed with more affordable technology.

Nissan 370Z
Photo Credit: Nissan

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Pretty much anyone can buy a tuner kit off of the Internet now, but if you aren’t trained on how to use it you can seriously impact your vehicle’s computer system. Once this happens it can cost thousands of dollars to repair the damage.

8: Engine Swaps

2018-Nissan-370Z
Photo Credit: Nissan

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

For the mechanically inclined person doing an engine, the swap can make a lot of sense. You can upgrade to a more powerful core, such as the GM LS family of engines. This is great if you are in the market for increased performance on the racetrack. Not so much so if you are just the average driver commuting to work though.

2018-Nissan-370Z
Photo Credit: Nissan

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Most consumers who invest in an engine swap are looking to redo their entire vehicles. The fact remains that you won’t have to do this, instead, you can focus on improving the performance with the engine you already have.

7: Supercharger

Photo Credit: Mopar

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Bolt-on superchargers are another seemingly harmless option for increasing performance. The addition can be quite expensive though, and you can look forward to spending quite a bit on the labor. Even with all of that in place, the actual improvements of the supercharger are minimalistic at best.

Dodge Charger
Photo Credit: Mopar

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

You need to beef up the other aspects of the engine and most consumers aren’t going to do this. Most supercharger setups are extremely expensive to get going, and the rest of your setup will need to be upgraded as well.

6: Transmission Swaps

Silverado
Photo Credit: GM

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Moving onto more detailed performance modifications can cost a fair bit of money. Because most cars don’t come from the factory with a performance transmission, this is another common modification to do. The problem is that the transmission can be very expensive to replace, sometimes over $3,000 or more.

Silverado Via Motor Trend
Photo Credit: Motor Trend

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

You’ll get a better shifting experience but the overall cost isn’t worth it. Unless you are going to be driving on the track or drag racing the difference in a performance transmission is subtle at best. The overall cost of these transmissions is much more than doing the upgrade will be worth for the mainstream.

5: Interior Reupholstering

BMW 850 CI
Photo Credit: Car Domain

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

You’ve probably watched Pimp My Ride, and as such you see the various custom interiors that can go into vehicles. Nevertheless, the majority of us are not going to put this kind of work into redoing an interior. The most popular form of interior reupholstering is generally in the lowrider community. The vast majority of these owners will spend thousands on a new interior.

bmw-e36-
Photo Credit: BMW

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

But for the rest of us, this just isn’t something that we need to do, instead, you can focus funds on other aspects of your vehicle. The aspect of a new interior could be a nice comfortable thing to enjoy, but you’re not going to get your money’s worth in the long run.

4: Run Flat Tires

BMW M5
Photo Credit: BMW

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

One of the more expensive automotive accessories that you can get is run-flat tires. The thought of having a run-flat tire is appealing because you wouldn’t have to stress about having a blow out on the road. Nevertheless, the actual effectiveness of run-flat tires for the causal driver is debatable. You’ll probably never end up needing a run-flat tire in the long run and for the most part, this is a waste.

850 Gran Coupe Shifter
Photo Credit: BMW

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

When you couple the long travel times that you’ll likely never take with the cost ratio these tires just don’t make sense. The ability to upgrade the rubber on your vehicle is one of the most expensive habits that we can do.

3: Quick-Ratio Steering Rack

Photo Credit: Mazda

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The steering column of your vehicle could affect how the overall performance is on a race track. Fortunately for most drivers, you aren’t going to need this type of response. The average driver will seldom pilot a vehicle with this kind of feedback, and thus modifying the steering rack is just an expensive waste of time. Similarly to standing a vehicle, there is just no point for the average driver.

Mazda-RX-7
Photo Credit: Stance Life

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Performance can be delivered in a lot of different ways and the steering rack is not that important. Few performance modifications should be done by the average consumer, and the quick-ratio steering rack is just not that important.

2: Performance Rubber Pieces

RX-7
Photo Credit: Mazda

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Throughout the suspension, you’ll notice that the vast majority is made of rubber. The various rubber piece includes parts of the bushing system, the rack and pinion and the rest of the suspension system. While durability is a promising aspect, the cost to value ratio just doesn’t add up. Oftentimes drivers will upgrade these rubber accessories to no avail.

MazdaRX7-1-1
Photo Credit: Mazda

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

While you can enjoy upgrading every aspect of your car the rubber pieces are probably the least important to change. Most automotive enthusiasts take full advantage of what their cars can do and what upgrading certain parts will do.

1: Chrome Pieces

RX-7
Photo Credit: Mazda

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

One of the most popular trends of the new millennium was adding chrome to the exterior of a vehicle. Most drivers find this to enhance the exterior appearance of their vehicle, but for the most part, there is no benefit. These chrome pieces can be expensive, especially if you are upgrading to factory OEM pieces.

LC 500
Photo Credit: Lexus

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

While you can enhance the look of your car with chrome accents, the cost that is associated with getting it done professionally just isn’t worth it. You’ll notice that the look of chrome accents on most cars just doesn’t look right.

Home Cars 35 Cars That Look Fast But Have Ridiculously Slow Performance
Cars

35 Cars That Look Fast But Have Ridiculously Slow Performance

Vukasin Herbez December 28, 2020

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Every car fanatic knows what a true sports car should look like. The low rooflines, a spoiler, big wheels, and lots of scoops and sharp edges to emphasize power and speed are exactly the ‘ABCs’ of sports car design. Drivers understandably expect these cars to be super fast. In most cases, they are right, but there are some exceptions to the rule. Sometimes, car manufacturers build cars that look fast and market them as sports cars, but unfortunately, they fail to deliver performance and are instead slow.

Customers drawn to these models expecting to find thrilling speed and driving dynamics but instead they found lukewarm performance. Read on to find about 35 such vehicles that can potentially destroy your wallet unlike these models. They’re cars you should avoid if you want a real sports car. Check out the list partially via  Autoguide below.

35. Toyota GT86

Photo Credit: Buy A Car

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Toyota presented the GT 86 and its twin brother, the Subaru BRZ, in 2012. Both cars drew immediate attention from many performance car fans for their raw driving dynamics, low weight, and handling. The GT 86/BRZ technical layout was basic with a naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine sending power to the rear wheels over a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox.

Photo Credit: Auto Express

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

With 200 HP on tap, the GT 86 doesn’t sound as powerful as some of the competitors because it isn’t. With a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of just under eight seconds, it just isn’t fast. Many driving enthusiasts were disappointed, which translated to low sales.

34. Mitsubishi Lancer GT

Photo Credit: The Car Connection

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The biggest problem with the Lancer GT is that it looks almost identical to the mighty Evo X, which makes most automobile fans think it’s very fast. However, it’s not. Even though it has a similar design and a front and rear spoiler, the Lancer GT has a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing only 168 HP.

Photo Credit: Car Pixel

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The 0 to 60 mph time is more than eight seconds, which is ridiculously slow compared to the similar-looking Evo X, which can do it in less than five.

33. Ferrari Mondial

Photo Credit: Motor 1

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Ferrari presented the Mondial in 1980 as the successor to the 308 GT4. Despite the fact the Mondial was more practical and somewhat less expensive, it wasn’t particularly popular. Today, it’s a rare poorly-regarded model from Ferrari.

Photo Credit: Mans Fine Life

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Production was ended in 1993 after Ferrari made close to 5,000 Mondials. Most of the cars had a 3.2-liter V8 with 214 HP and a 0 to 60 mph time of 8.2 seconds, embarrassing for Ferrari even in the early ‘80s.

32. Porsche 914

Photo Credit: Car Scoops

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Porsche built the 914 from 1969-1976 as an entry-level model. They designed and produced it in cooperation with Volkswagen, so they sometimes called it the VW-Porsche 914. Behind the driver is a Volkswagen-derived flat-four engine with around 100 HP.

Photo Credit: Road And Track

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

It doesn’t sound like much, but despite its low weight, this Porsche wasn’t a sports car. It looked like one since it was produced by a notable sports car company with the engine in the back. But unfortunately, anyone could beat it with basically any V8 family sedan.

31. Honda CRZ

Photo Credit: Auto Trader

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

When Honda presented it in 2010, the CRZ was an innovative compact hybrid-powered coupe that looked like the spiritual successor to the legendary CRX. Unfortunately, it wasn’t even close, with a 1.5-liter engine pumping out barely 130 HP.

Photo Credit: Auto Trader

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Along with the heavy hybrid add-ons, the CRZ was slow and didn’t handle as it should. Needless to say, fans were disappointed.

30. Porsche 911 S

Photo Credit: Pinterest

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Back in the late ’70s, the Porsche 911 was already a widely-recognized sports car benchmark and a popular choice for enthusiasts all over the world. But despite looking fast, the regular models were slow. Surprisingly slow, to be precise.

Photo Credit: Fav Cars

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The 1977 911 S, which a more upscale version of the basic car delivered 165 HP and a 0 to 60 mph time of 8.5 seconds. For a Porsche, this was alarmingly slow.

29. Mazda 6

Photo Credit: Car and Driver

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The latest generation Mazda 6 is one of the best-looking family sedans around. Mazda managed to introduce a perfectly-balanced design that incorporates sports dynamics with the elegance of a sedan by utilizing discrete chrome inserts and a powerful fender line.

Photo Credit: Car and Driver

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

This is why most non-car people think this is a fast car. Unfortunately, it’s just not. It is a family transport designed to be comfortable and safe, but not fast nor exciting.

28. Toyota Celica

Photo Credit: The Car Connection

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Toyota produced the Celica for decades as an affordable coupe built on a regular car platform. This meant that the Celica looked different, sporty, and fast, but it wasn’t much faster than a Camry or Corolla from the same model year.

Photo Credit: W Super Cars

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The last-generation Celica was a sharp-looking coupe with a wedge shape and low silhouette suggesting big performance, but it didn’t deliver on that hype. It produced only 180 HP with a 0 to 60 mph time of 10 seconds.

27. Lexus CT 200 H

Photo Credit: Lexus

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Lexus insists it’s a brand that can beat the German carmakers in the luxury game. And sure enough, it’s tried to do so. However, sometimes failure is obvious like in the case of the CT 200 H. Lexus marketed it as a premium compact hatch with a performance edge.

Photo Credit: Lexus

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

But the CT 200 H is little more than a Prius in fancy clothes. It’s painfully slow, dull, and embarrassing at the stoplight.

26. Mazda RX8

Photo Credit: Motor 1

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The RX8 was an interesting car when it was introduced, not only for its Wankel engine but for its unusual four-door/four-seat configuration. However, despite having up to 280 HP from its rotary engine, it wasn’t as fast as Mazda hoped.

Photo Credit: Tea Hub

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Simply put, the engine didn’t provide much torque for convincing acceleration times and the car wasn’t nearly as light as it should be. Fans called RX8 a disappointment. It’s hardly a surprise that Mazda discontinued the model and didn’t produce a replacement.

25. Mercedes SLK 200

Photo Credit: Auto Express

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

When you look at Mercedes SLK, it looks almost identical to the bigger and much more powerful SL model and even a bit similar to AMG GT or SLS supercars. However, when you step on the throttle, it is nothing like those thoroughbred machines.

Photo Credit: Auto Express

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The SLK 200 has 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with just 185 which isn’t able to deliver any real performance credentials to this roadster.

24. Mazda Miata

Photo Credit: Car Buyer

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Small roadsters are among most car enthusiasts’ favorite types of cars, especially the classic Miata. The Miata’s secret was simplicity, light weight, and balance. Mazda didn’t try to invent something new. They just copied the basic concept of a classic British roadster. They then added modern materials and design and made the whole thing reliable and agile.

Photo Credit: Mazda Roseville

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

With a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 155 HP, the Miata isn’t fast but doesn’t necessarily need to be. Its driving dynamics, rev-happy engine, and perfect balance make this car joy to drive, even if it isn’t the fastest thing on the road.

23. Hyundai Tiburon

Photo Credit: Car Gurus

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

When Hyundai released it, the Tiburon was a breath of fresh air in an affordable coupe class. It was a good-looking, inexpensive, and exciting car to own. At least Hyundai marketed it as such.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Under the body was a regular Hyundai chassis and running gear with a 2.0-liter, 140 HP engine and a 172 HP engine as an option. Either way, it wasn’t fast or particularly rewarding to drive, so it was a total disappointment as a result.

22. Fisker Karma

Photo Credit: Auto Cart

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The original Tesla-fighter, the Fisker Karma is now a discontinued electric vehicle. Arguably, far cooler and better looking than the Model S, the Karma wasn’t that fast. Also, it had a short range, so it wasn’t popular.

Photo Credit: La Times

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

And it was expensive, which didn’t help with sales either. With a 0 to 60 mph time of five seconds, it isn’t necessarily slow, but it is slower than the Model S and other electric vehicles known for their quick acceleration figures.

21. Lamborghini Urraco

Photo Credit: Classic And Sports Car

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

You might be surprised to find a proper Lamborghini on this list, but just look at the specs of this 1970s wonder. The mid-mounted 2.0-liter V8 with 180 HP was capable of reaching 60 mph in 7.5 seconds.

Photo Credit: Urraco

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Compared to later models and other well-known Lamborghini supercars, that’s not very good. Fortunately, the Urraco stayed in the ‘70s and they only made about 700 of them even though they looked good.

20. Ford Mustang King Cobra

Photo Credit: Mustang Specs

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

With the name like this, all the spoilers, its flashy paint job and 5.0-liter V8 under the hood, you’d think that this is a fire-breathing muscle car. Unfortunately, it is not.

Photo Credit: Hot Cars

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

It’s a muscle car, but with 140 HP and 0 to 60 mph times of around 10 seconds, it is an embarrassment to the Mustang.

19. Mitsubishi Eclipse

Photo Credit: Tuning Blog

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The Eclipse has missed the opportunity to create a real sports car out of an affordable coupe built on an ordinary car base.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

It had the design, appeal, and fanbase, and even a 273 HP V6 up front. But somehow it wasn’t as fast or as sharp as drivers wanted it to be.

18. Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke

Photo Credit: MotorTrend

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

In the early ’80s, Chevrolet introduced the new, fully redesigned third-generation Camaro model. It featured modern styling with improved aerodynamics. The new Camaro was new on the inside as well, with a better suspension and new engines.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

However, people expected highly-improved performance. But Chevrolet introduced a base engine in the form of an anemic 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing just 90 HP. It was an embarrassing choice since the car had a 20-second 0 to 60 acceleration time.

17. 1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3

Photo Credit: Hagerty

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

In 1970, the hottest Corvette produced 435 HP, and in 1980, the hottest Corvette delivered a modest 180 HP. But in California, it was 10 HP less due to stricter emission standards. So, what happened in just 10 years and where did those horses go?

Photo Credit: Concept Carz

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The recession, emission standards, and safety regulations killed almost all the performance from the legendary Corvette. The 1980 Corvette was a dinosaur with old technology under its plastic skin, a lazy engine, and an outdated interior. It still looked like it meant business, but the years caught up with it and the disco era has passed.

16. BMW M3 E30

Photo Credit: Vehiclejar Blog

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

When most people think of BMW performance, they think of the “M” class cars. But among the dozens of models that wore the M badge, the M3 E30 is the most iconic. BMW produced the model from 1985-1992. The E30 M3 was a homologation special which they designed to compete in the European Touring Car Championship.

Photo Credit: BMW M

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The heart of the E30 M3 was the S14 straight-four engine with 2.3-liters of displacement, 195 HP and later 215 HP. The acceleration figures weren’t that great at around seven seconds to 60 mph. And in modern terms, this car is slow, even though it handles like dream and is a blast to drive.

15. Subaru BRZ

Photo Credit: Car and Driver

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

This little sports coupe comes with a signature flat-four engine that delivers 205 HP out 2.0-liters. The BRZ is a light and nimble coupe, but the secret is in the engine’s position. Since Subaru uses a flat-four engine, the center of gravity is lower than with those regular inline four-cylinder motors.

Photo Credit: Cars Guide

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

This makes the BRZ easier to handle. The 0 to 60 mph sprint takes 6.7 seconds, which slow compared to other models featuring far better acceleration with their turbocharged engines.

14. Hyundai Veloster

Photo Credit: Car Advice

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Despite its aggressive looks, dual-clutch transmission, and overall appeal as a fast car, the Veloster is a sluggish ride. It has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 128 HP.

Photo Credit: Car Advice

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

This is not enough for any real performance and 0 to 60 mph takes 11 seconds, which is ridiculously slow. Don’t be fooled by the Veloster’s looks and go by the stats.

13. Scion TC

Photo Credit: Car and Driver

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

This car was Toyota’s attempt to produce a youthful, sporty coupe with good looks and some performance. However, it failed miserably in all those fields. It wasn’t particularly good-looking or sporty.

Photo Credit: Car and Driver

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Also, with its 2.4-liter, 179 HP engine it wasn’t fast. The 0 to 60 mph time took over seven seconds, which is unimpressive.

12. Toyota Supra Mk3

Photo Credit: Gran Turismo

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Despite the famous name, relatively powerful engines and sports car construction, the Mk3 generation of the Toyota Supra wasn’t fast. In fact, it was quite slow compared to other similar cars from the period.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Especially embarrassing was the 3.0-liter naturally aspirated version with the automatic transmission that went to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds.

11. 1977 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Photo Credit: Mecum

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The 1977 Z/28 Camaro was an important model for the breed since it marked the return of the Z/280 package. Also, it had a slight power increase over the standard models. The 350 V8 delivered 170 HP, which was respectable in 1977.

Photo Credit: Gta5 Mods

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

But of course, that performance was just a shadow of what Camaro was capable of just several years before it. In fact, a 0 to 60 mph sprint took nine seconds.

10. Ford Capri

Photo Credit: Fav Cars

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The success of the Mustang made it highly influential, inspiring American car brands to offer a pony car of their own. Even in Europe, the Mustang was popular and common. However, Ford wanted to explore the market further with a smaller European version. That’s how the Ford Capri came to be in 1969.

Photo Credit: Auto Evolution

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Designed in the UK, the Capri was a European Mustang in every way. Using the “long hood-short deck” formula and semi-fastback styling, the Capri looked great. Although they based it on the standard Cortina and used the same engine, the Capri looked like a thoroughbred muscle car. In fact, most people thought it was a U.S.-built Ford. However, most Capris were powered by diminutive four-cylinder engines. Even the six-cylinder versions were not that powerful, even for fastbacks.

9. Plymouth Volare Roadrunner

Photo Credit: Consumer Guide

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Back in 1976, Plymouth introduced the Volare. It was a successful mid-size model they produced in many variants and exported worldwide. Also, it was the twin to the Dodge Aspen featuring a rear-wheel-drive platform. And it came with a wide arrangement of engines and sleek designs. Both Dodge and Plymouth had successful muscle models in the past.

Photo Credit: Hot Rod

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

So the heritage was still strong when they introduced the Volare. This was the perfect platform for a muscle car if it weren’t for the grueling emissions and safety regulations killing the performance. But, Plymouth tried and presented the Volare Road Runner that featured a 316 V8 engine delivering a measly 160 HP. However, what it lacked in the performance department the Volare Road Runner compensated in looks. And it had a full body kit with a spoiler. It even came with a cool graphics package and sports wheels.

8. Opel GT

Photo Credit: Hagerty

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

In the late ’60s, Opel, the German brand, was one of the most popular economy car manufacturers in Europe. Since General Motors owned the company, its design department approved and even styled all of the Opel models. That meant that most Opels looked like scaled-down versions of Chevrolets or Buicks. That was exactly the case with the GT, a sporty-yet-affordable coupe Opel presented in 1968.

Photo Credit: Amazon

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Opel needed a sports car to base on the Kadett, its entry-level model. So in the mid-’60s, Opel got approval from GM to introduce such a vehicle. The design was heavily influenced by the Corvette and the GM concepts from the mid-’60s. Of course, with its 1.3 and 1.9-liter four-cylinder engines, the Opel GT lacked the power and performance of the Corvette, but it had the looks with its fastback rear end.

7. 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth

Photo Credit: Pinterest

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

After the debacle of the Chevrolet Corvair in the ’60s, they were reluctant to enter the compact market again. But since the segment had grown, Chevrolet didn’t have a choice. So, they revealed the new Chevrolet Vega as a 1971 model. The Vega was a compact, modernly-styled model. And it came in three basic body types, a two-door coupe, a two-door sedan, and a three-door wagon.

Photo Credit: Mecum

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The front end resembled closely the design of the 1971 Camaro with a similar grille, headlights and bumper. But in 1975, Chevrolet introduced the interesting although not as successful Vega Cosworth model. It featured a high revving 2.0-liter four-cylinder twin-cam motor producing 110 HP. Although it wasn’t particularly fast or strong, the Vega Cosworth was attractive with its interesting black and gold paint and unique wheels. They produced the model in cooperation with the British engine engineering company Cosworth famous for their Formula One engines.

6. Citroen SM

Photo Credit: MotorTrend

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

One of the coolest-looking, most exclusive Citroens ever produced was the gorgeous SM, debuting in 1970. This elegant coupe had some interesting features. When Citroen presented it to the public, it made the competition look and feel outdated.  Through various stock market transactions, the company became the owner of Maserati. Citroen thought it would be great if they could somehow use Maserati’s powerful engines and sports car know-how to produce a luxurious coupe with signature Citroen design and style.

Photo Credit: Citroen Vie

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The aesthetics were clearly French with its self-leveling suspension and front-wheel drive. But instead of the underpowered four-cylinder engine, they added the 2.7-liter V6 Maserati engine, providing the power. Citroen marketed the SM in the USA, selling more examples than in Europe. In America, the SM competed against the Mercedes SLC or Cadillac Eldorado in the personal luxury segment. Soon, car buyers praised its ride quality, smooth engine, and style. Unfortunately, the oil crisis and economic recession killed the model. Citroen ceased production in 1974 after producing more than 12,000 examples.

5. Audi 100 Coupe

Photo Credit: Render Hub

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Virtually unknown to U.S. car enthusiasts, the Audi 100 Coupe was an elegant, front-wheel-drive model. Audi produced it from 1969, selling it throughout 1976. Audi based it on its biggest model, adding a totally different fastback coupe body. Since they left the mechanics unchanged, the 100 Coupe didn’t have much performance. The power came from a rather anemic 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.

Photo Credit: Car Pixel

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

However, the main thing about this car was its appearance, because the 100 Coupe looked much more upscale and expensive than it really was. With four headlights, a sporty silhouette, and chrome trim, buyers considered the Audi 100 Coupe to be an upscale proposition on the European market.

4. 1977 Chevrolet Monza Mirage

Photo Credit: Auto Blog

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Chevrolet presented the Monza in 1975 as their newest compact model. It came with a modern design, updated equipment and a wide arrange of versions and trim levels. The Monza succeeded the Vega, selling well in the U.S., as well as abroad. However, the lack of a performance version was evident since the compact, relatively light platform could benefit from a powerful engine. But Chevrolet didn’t think a performance or muscle car version would have a big market, so they didn’t bother developing it. However, Chevy contracted an outside company, Michigan Auto Techniques, to make a muscle car Monza for 1977. They called it the Monza Mirage, and they produced only 4,000 of them. The Mirage featured a 305 V8 with just 145 HP.

Photo Credit: Wallpaper Up

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The design was quite striking with a white body, front and rear spoilers, and special wheels. The paint scheme was patriotic with red, blue and white stripes all over the body. But Chevrolet realized there was still a market for sporty variants. So they decided to introduce the Monza Spyder for 1978. This left Michigan Auto Techniques without a contract for 1978, sending the Monza Mirage to the automotive history books. Today, only a handful have survived, so if you find one, try to restore it since it’s a rare, forgotten muscle car.

3. Ford Mustang Cobra

Photo Credit: Hot Rod

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The 1979 model year brought several major improvements to the Mustang range. First, they presented a new model featuring a modern design, updated chassis, and wider track. Second, they introduced an interesting performance version called the Cobra.

Photo Credit: Ford Authority

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Although not as powerful or crazy as those Cobra Jets of before, the 1979 Cobra featured a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 140 HP. And although this was pathetic even by the standards of the day, it was a step in the right direction. In fact, it helped the American performance market finally start to recover.

2. Bricklin SV-1

Photo Credit: Sjr

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The SV-1 was the brainchild of automotive entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin. He produced just 3,000 of them in Canada from 1974 to 1975. But for a short while, they marketed the SV-1 as the best, most advanced American sports car. But as soon as the first cars started rolling down the assembly line, it was clear the SV-1 was not as good as drivers anticipated it would be.

Photo Credit: Mecum

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The idea was to produce a safe and fast sports car as the name SV-1, which stood for Safety Vehicle One, suggested. Bricklin designed the car with big bumpers, warning sensors, and power Gullwing doors. Although it didn’t have any cigarette lighters, it had an integrated roll cage and lots of other things. Unfortunately, all those extras made it heavy and not agile. The power came from a 360 AMC V8 engine, which wasn’t powerful. Even though the company later turned to the 351 Ford V8, it still couldn’t deliver any real performance numbers.

1. Pontiac Fiero

Photo Credit: Automobile Mag

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The Pontiac Fiero was the most advanced American production model according to the standards of the day. The customers were hyped by the appearance of the Fiero with its cool and modern design. Thanks to the advanced technology, the initial response was more than good.

Photo Credit: Automobile Mag

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

It was a bold move for Pontiac to introduce such a compact, rear-wheel-drive car with the engine behind the driver. But then they paired it up with a five-speed manual transaxle gearbox. However, one of the Fiero’s main problems was that it was too slow. With just 93 HP and a 0 to 60 mph time of over 10 seconds, it was painfully slow.

Advertisement
Please wait 5 sec.