A happy and healthy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it. I have lots of things to be thankful for, and one of the biggest is this job. I get to do what I love (drive and talk about cars) and get paid for it. Of course, none of that would be possible if no one was reading -- so to you, the readers, I offer a heartfelt THANK YOU for your continued support of About.com Cars.
Last Thanksgiving's blog entry asked for your suggestions of the biggest automotive turkey of modern times. This year, I thought I'd ask something similar, but different. Let's say you could wave your magic wand and wish any one car out of production. Which one would it be?
For me, the answer is the Lincoln Navigator L. Honestly, I didn't mind the old Navigator too much, but the new one is embarrassingly big, horrifically ugly, and uses three times as much gas as my Honda, even when it's only toting a single person. Boy, would I love to see that baby disappear from the dealerships!
What about you -- what car would you like to see out of production? Click the "comments" link below to give us your answer.
-- Aaron Gold
The “new” Ford Focus would be my pick, getting rid of this ancient platform would finally make Ford address the small car market for real. They could keep the Sync though
I would wish away the Suzuki Forenza. They still make that, right?
For me it is the Lincoln Navigator, because like Aaron said, it guzzles gas, and it is huge and ugly. My Volvo XC90 V8 gets better mpg!
2007 & 2008 BUICK Lucerne has very poor
gas mileage and is under powered for a
V6 3800 engine. There are other V6 and
V8 engines that have much more power
and better gas mileage.
I can’t stand the Jeep Compass. Who signs off on these designs?
(As I click my heels together three times…) I wish for the Pontiac Aztek to disappear… I wish for the Pontiac Aztek to disappear… Hey, whaddya know, IT WORKED! OK, lets see… I wish for my ex-wife to fall off the face of the earth… I wish for my ex-wife to…
Sean’s ex-wife should take the Hummer when she leaves!
The Pontiac Aztek was the UGLIEST !!! vehicle ever mass produced. DROP IT OFF THE EARTH
My vote is also with the Hummer. Totally unnecessary vehicle even if your willy is extra small.
C
I agree with 6 & 8 above, the Aztek was a mind-blower. How did that hunk-of-eye-junk ever leave the design table?
My wish would come true if the Volkswagon beetle would disappear. I’m sure there are many people who would disagree with me, but its a matter of taste. I think its one of the ugliest cars to roll off an assembly line. Its so ugly in fact, that a game was invented to show how ugly it is. How many of us recall playing “punch buggy”? So ugly you have to hit someone.
I would wish away what ever car was in my way! Traffic!!!!!!!
All the huge gas guzzeling SUV’s.
All of the Bangle designed BMW’s and then after that is complete, remove Chris Bangle himself from the planet – or maybe vice versa.
Hey! I have a Forenza! It’s got 54,000 problem free miles.
Any SUV – they’re stupid status symbols for people who NEED minivans but are too shallow to drive one.
The Chrysler PT. It’s not the car so much (an awkward little bug), but the people who drive it as if it were some kind of muscle car, hogging the fast lane, dodging in and out of lanes, cutting you off, etc.
All the large gass guzzling suv’s and ridiculous 4×4’s.Force those drivers to own a high milage car for as long as they’ve wasted fuel owning those guzzlers.Easy on the PT drivers we got places to go too!
All Hummers are ludicrous status symbols that make no sense from an environmental, people- or cargo-hauling, or driving pleasure perspective.
I,like some others can’t stand the looks of the AZTEX I prefer my VIBE
The whole Cadillac lineup. The styling is atrocious. There’s nothing grand or elegant about Cadillacs; they look like overstyled Pontiacs.
Well since the AZTEK is gone (THANK THE LORD) There are still many ugly beasts left to kill. However there are NONE UGLIER than the Honda ELEMENT. That thing may be the SALT of the Earth. But with looks like that you couldnt stand to be seen in one.
At least that is my opinion. (Sorry to offend any Element owners out there)
I’d wish away just about any car or truck made
after about 1970!!!
Not that this is a FoMoCo bashing forum, there are a lot of really talented people there, under lock and key, buy my wish for that company would be to make J Mays disappear. Oh, I forgot, he already did. Ford sent him to the European minors. They’ll bring him back when they need another Blackwood.
The Mustang. PS. To Mustang owners. If your car doesn’t have an ash tray, keep an empty can in the cup holder. Stop throwing your trash out the windows. Rednecks!
For those of you who continue to slam all SUVs. Obviously you don’t live in the west(CO, ID, Wy, MT, UT) or you wouldn’t make such stupid assertions. If you have a family, travel in the mountains or rely on your vehicle to get to work, an SUV is almost a must for many of us.
Gary, I’ve seen cig butts thrown out of almost every type of vehicle known but I don’t recall seeing anyone in a Mustang do it? I’m sure it’s been done but to ban Mustang’s because you saw one “redneck” throw a butt out his window seems a little extreme?
C
Wow that is hard. How about all the most the of the current cars for Chrysler? The PT can stay and maybe the Charger and 300 but the rest need to go.
The Aztek I think got bashed more than it should. I know a few people that bought them and they just loved them.
The cars that I would like to wish away. I mean wish that they had never been built? That is easy. The GM diesels
I live out west and do not have a SUV. Yes I have a family and yes I drive on vacation. An SUV is symptomatic, like the HUMMER, of what is wrong with this country. People confusing want with need. And conspicuous consumption with looking good. And finally, My wish to get rid of every car/SUV that does not get 28+MPG on regular or 30% better on Diesel. Yes, next year my wish will be for better fuel mileage and fewer people unconcerned what kind of world their grandchildren will live in.
I vote to make the “Hummer” go away as well. Assuming that the Ford Excursion is gone already – that is.
The Subaru Outback – it’s getting uglier every year!! They need to advance and move away from this beast.
I happen to LOVE my Lincoln Navigator. And yes, there are those of us who actually do need transportation for 6, 7 or 8 people and want to do it in luxury! What I wish away is anything produced by non American based manufacturers. Keep the money here.
RT,
The SUV is what’s wrong with America??LOL! OK, if you say so but I think it’s a swell place to live.
Ya know, I don’t really “want” a SUV, I just “need” one. I need one to pull my boat over Vail pass. I need one to take my family and friends on a ski weekend in Steamboat. I need one to rescue my wife from a blizzard(and about 7 others who didn’t “need” an SUV). When my wife needed my SUV to drive to her job as a healthcare worker during several large storms I knew she would be safe. So RT, not everyone “wants” an SUV, some of us “need” an SUV.
Many people drive SUVs so you can sanctimoniously drive around in your Yugo and not worry that EMTs, physicians, nurses and support personnel won’t have a way to get to work in case there’s a big storm. Oh yeah, and I noticed that the local liquor store manager drives a big Tahoe so that you and your other hybrid buddies won’t have to go without your Chardonnay in case it snows 18 inches.
So, no, I don’t think we should do away with all SUVs. And I do think people who don’t “need” one should consider a more frugal form of transportation. But if they don’t, that’s OK too.
C
I think that all car companies should only offer 1 car and 1 truck to the masses, ther are too many cars and trucks on the road now. But if I had my choice it would be any Chrysler product. If you’ve ever noticed when you are sitting at a red light, and when it changes to green, if you see a puff of blue smoke you can gaurantee its a chrysler.
wouldn’t it be intersting if every car had to be voted on before release? What do you suppose would be out there then? Would they all look pretty much the same, like our politicians?
Bravo Chuck Manson!!!!! Couldn’t have said it better! CHOICE is what America is supposed to be about, which is something that seems to be in shorter supply lately, as the sport of America bashing seems to be in fashion, even for those who claim to want to “fix” things. It’s just nonsensical to say that all large SUVs should be banned, as there will always be a need for large passenger vehicles(by the way, some minivans get crappier mileage than some large SUVs). How about banning poorly DESIGNED vehicles, large or small? And forcing the auto industry to use its legions of creatively inclined and innovative designers to produce cars that are quintissentially American, as well as functional, environmentally friendly, and appeal to the emotions too? Instead of cookie cutter, lackluster vehicles designed with the lowest common denominator in mind. Don’t tell me it can’t be done, AND economically; not with the resources and prior lessons available, and so easily accessible. Come on, Detroit(or whoever the American car capitol is now)! We know you can do it.
Humve
In the interest of keeping things on topic, I’ve moved the driving in snow discussion to the Forum — you can find it here. Please, hop on over, and let the snowball fight begin!
– Aaron
Getting back on topic, I personally wouldn’t cry much if the Dodge Charger were to disappear. This bastardized hybrid of a Chrysler 300 and the new Mustang is horribly ugly in my opinion, fat, and bears no resemblance whatsoever to its namesake of the 70s. Why resurrect the name, but none of the soul? The Mustang got it right, and became Ford’s #1 seller, selling everyone they could build, even with rampant price gouging when they first appeared in their current form, and even worse gouging for the specialty models. Utility alone will never carry the car industry, because let’s face it, people buy vehicles that stir their EMOTIONS as well as their necessities(ask any exotic car owner).
I would choose the Dodge Nitro or the Jeep Compass – Ugly doesn’t come close to describe the disconnected lines of these atrocious design disasters.
For those of you saying the world doesn’t need SUV’s….get a grip or get a life. Life is about Choice.
For those flag wavers, be careful. The Detroit three all manufacture vehicles in Canada and/or Mexico.
It’s a global economy and if you don’t agree, go and buy your loved ones a US made TV or DVD player for Christmas. It will be empty under your tree if you try!
Chuck for Prez
Since the Aztec is gone, the Jeep Compass is my choice. Hey Ross… Olevia assembles some of their TVs here but the panel is made by LG in Korea. Of course that sort of furthers your point doesn’t it?
anything put out by G.M. their styling (?)stinks
America is often WRONGFULLY perceived around the world by these stereotypes:
1.Overtly militaristic
2.Biggest resource consumer
3.Biggest polluter
4.Overly brash
5.Self-serving
6.Bascilly ignorant
The Hummer however does live up to these stereotypes:
1.Designed originally for military use
2.Huge gas guzzler
3.Sesquatch carbon footprint
4.If that chrome grill and huge wheels don’t say brash…
5.”Hummer” sez to the rest of us, we don’t give a hoot…move over or I’ll run over you while I’m wrecking the planet
6. This is the most ignorant car made because nothing about it makes sense, except to an ignoramous that doesn’t realize that it can be replaced by a dozen SUV’s just as capable but not as wasteful.
So let’s get rid of this vehicle that has become an “American Icon”, that others around the world ascribe to us as a people.
If it were up to me, I would eradicate two vehicles from the face of the earth. The first is every single three and five-door hatchback produced. Personally, I think these things are the most ridiculous looking cars on the road. I know they’re all the rage in Europe, and probably Asia, but I’m not from either country.
The next vehicle platform I’d erase from existence is the Chrysler Platform used to build the Dodge Caliber/Avenger/Journey, Jeep Compass/Patriot, and Chrysler Sebring. These are all some of the worst looking vehicles Chrysler Corp has produced since about 1962. They are also horribly built. The last few I looked at recently had an overabundance of poor plastics, weld seams that were slathered in body filler and then painted over, noisy underpowered engines and ancient four-speed automatic transmissions. Whoever authorized the production of these atrocities should also be eradicated from the face of the earth.
Gee Eric, I think the Vette is a hatch back…
I don’t see anything ridiculous about that car. Of course not everyone buys cars on aesthetic grounds like apparently you do.Personally, I think my Mini hatch and the Volvo c30 are cute and cool. Sometimes a little practicality is a small sacrifice we need to accept.
I wish….I wish….I wish…. GM, FORD, and Chrysler would do away with everything but trucks (GM and FORD only here) and the 300. Lets face it the styling and build quality are terrible. First and foremost we buy cars on looks, everything else involved is window dressing. If its ugly and gets 50 mpg or if its sexy/sporty and gets 25mpg which one is in most driveways. The point is cars like the Aztek and Element are ugly, but some get past that. Cars like the whole Cadillac line up are ugly with nothing to offer after that. Cadillac would be my wish followed by everything else out of detroit. Beautiful cars will always be beautiful, and ugly ones well you know…..
Sorry Don, but I have found very little that is practical about a lot of todays hatchbacks. True, the larger ones, which are primarily SUV crossovers anyway, do provide some, but the car based hatchbacks largely do not, especially if you have a family. Most of these cars only provide cargo space and practicality when the back seats are folded down. When they’re up and holding my two kids in cars seats, there’s barely room to put a full size suitcase in the back.
Yes, I do buy cars largely on aesthetics. If I don’t like the looks of it, I won’t buy it. It might be the greatest vehicle ever made, but I won’t buy the Pontiac Aztek for one reason only……..it’s grotesquely ugly! Once I find something I like the looks of, then I start looking at things like safety, reliability, build quality, etc.
We all buy cars differently or for different reasons. None of them are wrong.
I agree wholeheartedly! The starting point from which we start our decision making on a car carries the majority of the weight on the final call. Mine is usually driven by size(smaller is better), fuel economy, fun to drive, value and finally aesthetics. I never feel that a car is a reflection of me, but rather a reflection of my needs…not that the converse is wrong, it’s just not how this buyer is wired. That’s why I love our Mini so much!
The Mini Cooper is about THE ONLY hatchback made today that I’d even consider buying. Problem is, it’s just too small for a family car.
Aaron, you moved our SUV discussion to the forum and ran away like a little girl. The drive-by media strikes again.
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/umedia/cx_pearls_umedia/latest
Nice try, Chuck, but surely even you can figure out how to click the link to enter the forums. BTW, love the thinly-veiled revalation of your opinion of the opposite sex.
Eric, as soon as the Volvo C30 comes out, you may want to check it out. I’ve read that even though it’s a 2 door, it is really quite roomy for grown people in the back. Also, what could be better for a family car than than a “safety first” Volvo. It won’t handle quite as crisply as a Mini, but being a family guy as well,I know you’ve already had to have made plenty of compromises. Bsides there’s plenty of SEMA shops out there…
I found it no problem, left a comment and you’ve never responded. Therefore, the little girl comment.
Like the drive-by media, you swoop down, make some assertions that can never be proven and run away. Like a little girl.
C
I must have missed it, Chuck — been busy as all get-out. I’ll pop into the forums and respond a little later on this evening.
Annnd, it sounds like our experiences with women have been vastly different.
The problem with the SEMA shops Don, is that I don’t have the money for them. I want the type of car I want directly from the factory. I shouldn’t have to spend an additional $10K to turn my 2008 Dodge Charger into a true coupe, or restructure the rear of a hatchback into a real functional station wagon when I SHOULD be able to buy it that way right from the factory for MSRP as an example.
Copy that Eric…From what I’ve read, the handling is already very satisfying for us more serious drivers, but what I meant is that if you want that cutting edge handling, it’s gonna cost you more. As for me, tires & wheels(plus 1 or 2 aspect ratio mod.) and maybe shocks would do it…$1500 Max. I did that much with my CRV!
Luv the Volvo C30