Question of the Day: What 2008 Model-Year Would You Not be Caught Dead Driving?
With a fresh heap of redesigns and new models, the choices for a new looking ride are nearly endless. Some gorgeous, some wretched.
That in mind, what 2008 model-year auto would you – if forced to drive – tint the windows and hide in the back of the garage to ensure no one you knew saw you behind the wheel? What new vehicle would you not be caught dead driving?
Let us know in the comments.
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Comments
Scott
Smart Car.
PA Bob
The Dodge Nitro is pretty ugly, as is any thing from Hummer.
But both of those vehicles play off the adult-Tonka toy fetish.
I'd have to say I'd be most embarrassed to be caught driving a Chrysler Sebring sedan. The excess, mindless bling reminds me of the numerous 80's variations on the K-Car: with badges, vinyl landau roof, extended fenders and fake vents (another unfortunate design conceit showing up on everything these days.)
I drew better designs in 10th grade study hall.
davido
Let me add another vote for the Sebring with a nod to whatever it is Mercedes calls its version of the Chrysler Pacifica (R class) and the BMW coupe/suv/cuv THING.
Jeff
Maybe not the right year, but Tata Nano gets my vote
Redshark
Most manufacturer's vehicles are becoming more stylish with each passing month, it seems. There must be a formula, an algorithm, progammed in the designer's software. But there is a list of old-style cars and trucks which begins with Chevy Cobalt and ends with the Ford Ranger.
Jeff
I'm not the same Jeff from above, haha. But I have to say, The Hummer H2, or probably the Dodge Nitro, especially the SRT version. Although, the Sebring variants are pretty ugly too.
Corco16446
Anything with a Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Honda, Acura, Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, or Kia badge on it
Michael
Probably almost any Chrysler product, or any Hummer.
Mena
Probably anything with an American nameplate on it.
Wes
Honda Fit, Element and Civic, Nissan Versa, Sentra, and 350Z, Smart Four Two, Scion xB, Dodge Caliber, Chysler Sebring, Chevy Cobalt, Chevy Aveo, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen Routan and Toureg, MB Gelandewagen, Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris, Matrix, and Corolla, Fisker Hybrid, Tata, Puegeot, Renault, Mitsubishi, Pontiac, Suzuki, and last and most hated, Daewoo.
Ducati Minor
Wes, you have self-esteem problems and too much time on your hands.
For those of us with lives, I'd say an Aveo. The ForTwo would stick out a lot, but at least it's quirky.
J.Steed
Anything being driven by Corco16446.
Seriously.
ZeGerman
It seems people around these parts are either foreign nationalists, or domestic nationalists. Where are all the objective thinkers?
Those who make blanket statements condemning entire countries are almost certainly people who have no experience with any of the brands they claim to hate so much. These individuals are not car people. They are motards, and should be disregarded as such.
As for me, I'd avoid the current Sebring, Patriot, and Compass.
ZeGerman
@ J.Steed: I'm guessing it's a Pontiac Grand Prix, circa 1998, or something equally horrid.
Mena
I was being a smartass in response to Corco16446's comment.
ZeGerman
@ Mena: Ah, affect was lost in translation...
Maybe Corco16446 is like some of our grandfathers, and lost his leg in dub'ya-dub'ya-two while fightin' Chinamen in Nagasaki (intentional error).
phd_engineer
Has to be the Tundra or Titan.
jpaul
I would say its the Mercedes R-Class, I just think it is so ugly. For that matter any minivan, I would rather have an SUV any day.
Crazy Phuck
Anything from FoMoCo! Can't wait 'till they go down.
Paul In Jersey
Whatever the vehicle is that takes Britney Spears to and from rehab, they psyche ward, court hearings, etc. Oh, and a Prius.
Dustin
I couldn't be caught dead in a Ford Mustang. Not because I think it's ugly, but because everyone knows I'm a GM and Nissan guy (and other foreign manufacturers). My friends / co-workers would never let me hear the end of it....ha ha.
Jonathan Fung
Volkswagen New Beetle. Sorry, but no thanks to the round little bug.
Sean
I agree with the first reply. The Smart!
Zelman
Hybrids.. I don't like the smug factor. Well, the new Hybrid SUVs are a good thought.. but nothing great.
Minivans. Might as well buy a crossover that can tow stuff, too.
Other than that, I'll drive anything. I drove a VW Thing around town, so I know a Hyundai (which has gotten very good as of late) won't lower my man-factor.
Mistah flakeh
The Chinese Brilliance, without a shadow of a doubt.
Nothing wrong with a smart car, besides it being too smart for others to understand it.
uragan
Any Chinese car, or a Prius. By the way, to appreciate the Smart, you ought to be, well, smart.
Mistah flakeh
uragan, you're like me.. or did u just copy what I said? :-P My thoughts of the prius is it's nice because of mainly one thing besides the hybrid technology... Get ready.. The LED tail lights. Can't beat that with normal lights lol.
Corco16446
No, my basis is entirely economic. I'm mad at the Japanese for coming in and kicking the domestic auto industry while we were down. I'm mad at them for building factories on our soil in towns that could allow them to build factories tax-free. I'm mad at exemptions they get.
I will never, ever own an Asian made vehicle. I'll buy a European car, but Toyota and Honda screwed us over and I am sick of seeing people support large companies that take money off our shores.
I've driven several Toyotas and Hondas. They are good cars, but from a nationalistic standpoint I will never ever own one.
Paul In Jersey
Corco my man, you're hosed. BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai and Volvo (when the truck firm was part of the business) all built factories here and got tax breaks. I'm pretty sure VW did to, with their long-shuttered Westmoreland plant.
Now Corco, I got a question for 'ya. Do you think GM, Ford and Chrysler are only building cars in the US? Don't you realize they have plants in Mexico and Canada? That means that even the "Domestics" are taking jobs and money and sending them over the border.
My friend, I believe you're thoroughly hosed if you think "By American" really means "Buy US!" If you really want a car made in the US by Americans, you'd better be driving a really old car. Just make sure it's not a Ford that's powered with a "Windsor" engine.
By the way, how do you feel about the gasoline you put in your '72 Monte Carlo? I hope you're not thinking it's strictly Texas crude you're puttin' in there.
hwyhobo
I've owned and driven cars from the US, Asia, and Europe, most of them with good luck. One I would never be caught in because it makes everyone look like a dork is Hummer anything.
Corco16446
Paul man- the profits on a US made car come back to America. Whether it's made in Mexico or Canada the bottom line comes back to AMERICA and That's what matters.
As far as European cars- see, the thing is the Japanese came in during a recession, took advantage of all applicable laws, and most of those towns with Japanese car plants wish those things weren't there- in spite of the jobs provided. Toyota and Honda run communities into the ground. They act like the Wal-Mart of car manufacturers in terms of how they treat the community that they aren't paying taxes to have factories in.
ZeGerman
It makes me very happy to learn we almost unanimously dislike Hummers.
Corco16446
Even I dislike Hummers
ansibe
Camry. A car for people who don't care about cars. I'd rather walk. Plus they're ugly.
How did this fun question get political?
jpaul
Corco,
The Japanese may have come in during a recession, but the thing is at that time they made better cars. When people needed a reliable car that would not cost a ton of money to drive the Japanese had a better car. Consumer's, for the most part, try to buy the best product and that is and was Japanese cars. Not all of the money goes oversees by the way. The workers in American Factories are getting paid in US dollars, not Yen. They then get taxed, income tax, and spend their money in the American market. Don't be mad at the Japanese for building a better product and then bringing it to our soil so they could get it to the customer for cheaper while growing their own profits. That is the idea of business. If you are mad at them for taking advantage of us, why aren't you mad at the US for taking advantage where ever they can? Our gas is cheaper then most places in the world.
Corco16446
Of course they made better cars! You've got American industry in the middle of a recession building stuff on old assembly lines. The Japanese essentially got handed money from the US government to build BRAND NEW ASSEMBLY LINES AND FACTORIES.
I'd be shocked if they DIDN'T turn out a better car.
The King
Any Honda. VW rules!!!
jpaul
It's not they oversees carmaker's fault that they were read the market quicker and better then the American's. IT'S CALLED GOOD BUSINESS, THE AMERICAN CAR MAKERS WOULD DO THE SAME THING IN THE SAME SITUATION. Alot of US companies are going oversees for cheaper labor, that is why the government has those programs. Those car makers just took advantage at the right time. If you don't want to buy their cars that is up to you, but don't be mad at them for having business savvy.
chris
Pontiac soltice, Jeep Compass, anything sub compact or Subaru. There are very few objective trollers here, I like American cars, but I am not against purchasing non American cars, heck my bikes a Honda, most japanese cars just dont move me. My brother has a M5, V10, 505 HP, great car, But it eats a quart of oil like every 1000-1500 miles, and thats normal!? This is superior german engineering? They all have flaws, no matter who makes them, its what moves you, and then can afford to purchase that counts, otherwise we would all be driving cammrys, uhg, how boring.
Jim
Hummer. God the bile pushes up my throat when I see these. I expect to see a douchebag with a gold chain and a 'W' sticker in one of these overweight turds, but when I see a mom delivering kids to school, it makes me sad how many people have been duped into buying these POS's.
Chevy Trailblazer. Reminds me of those dreadful mid-80s blazers that sounded like they converted gas into heat and noise, with a little left over for motion.
Any Cadillac pitched by a TV personality. They may be tight and solid, but they're tasteless and overwrought bling.
Sean
What satisfaction comes from driving a Smart? You get 2 things with it, the ability to park it anywhere and decent city gas mileage. THATS IT. If you are a guy, people will think you're a tool for driving that "car" anywhere you take it (except maybe key west or parts of europe. I would proudly drive a Geo Metro around the world 100 times over driving a Smart for 1 day.
Corco16446
I'd proudly drive a Smart around the world 100 times over driving a Smart for 1 day. Driving any car around the world 100 times would be one heck of an accomplishment
Pedro
I don't know if this will change any minds about Smart, but google 'smart crossblade' and see what you think. I had a chance to drive one of these and it was a beautiful thing. Back to the topic on hand: With the demise of the Aztek, I'd have to go with the BMW X6 or add my vote for the Hummer H3 SUT.
David
Anything American, except for the Bullitt Mustang.
Bill
All of them, new cars suck, my Garage Queen is an '83 Audi URQ (the black bitch) daily driver an '89 Audi Avant, of course both cars have HID lights not ricer blue, 4k white light, new cars suck, my son has an ,86 Audi 4000 CSQ with over 350 chp, impressive to say the least (thank you 034-EFI) anyone can own a new car, the only one that interests me is a golf with that little green diesel for a daily driver, ,,,, though my avant has no problem eating an 8 foot long piece of wood with every lid closed for a trip out to Mom's for Mom home maintenance. yes the cedar tree could be dropped this weekend if it is not windy, 100 feet tall, mr new chain saw might have some fun, yes I wear chaps, helmet yadda, I wanna drop this tree, Husqvarna RULES, and so does quattro
Peter
Hummer
Caliber
as opposed to a
Maserati Coupe, probably the best of the attractive cars being produced today
Ben
Hummer.
Bruce
Any toyota or minivan.
Josh
Corco16446,
Are you really an idiot, or do you just play one on the internet?
During a recession, what's needed is economic activity. Things like building factories are wonderful economic activity. You need a way to create value through work. Give a guy a $1000 unemployment check, and he'll get by, but give him $1000 to build a shed, and you'll have a guy that gets by AND a shed.
To take open land and convert it to a machine that builds cars is quite a feat. You need to work the land to a usable state, then erect the building(s), connect all the utilities, install the manufacturing equipment, etc. etc. This kind of work employs all kinds of people, from all walks of life. Once the factory is built, it continues to employ people from the immediate vicinity. Not only that, but there are supportive roles that are filled by the surrounding community. Like your local machine shop, or fabricator. There are the suppliers of all the sensors and conveyor equipment used in the production equipment, and the necessary replacement parts; there are a lot of advantages to having a factory in any given location, regardless of the owner (assuming they adhere to pollution standards).
You say the Japanese took advantage. I think they did us a favor. You say that every town that has a Japaneses factory regrets it...have you been to Michigan lately? I bet a lot of them would love the idea of a new Honda plant in their town.
Paul In Jersey
GM got plenty of tax breaks when they built the Saturn plant in Tennessee, during the tough economic times known as "the 80s." Boy, those tax breaks sure poked a big fat meaty finger in Toyota's eye, right boys! Yup, GM with a lot of help from Uncle Sam and the Volunteer State sure opened up a can of whup'ass on them marauding Asians! Yes-sir buddy, that'll teach 'ya not to screw around with America!
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