The worst car in the world is... *DRUMROLL!*

[Jesda]

The Lexus SC430, according to Jeremy Clarkson and James May. They went around the world driving Soviet junkers, French turds, and American lumps, but it was Lexus who they finally decided were responsible for the worst car... IN THE WORLD.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nenQI4HrUhk[/youtube]



Cementing this awfulness is a Lexus ad for the SC430:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCmBFWVe4xM[/youtube]

[MinisterofDOOM]

I completely concur.

The car is terrible-looking. It weighs an astounding amount for its size--the thing is heavier than my big luxury sedan. "Pathetic" doesn't even begin to describe the output of the 4.3 liter V8. And the pricing was pure, Lexus-grade nonsense. Terrible, irredeemable car.

I'd rather drive a Tempo.

Oh, and as for the ad: that's the ONLY TIME I have ever seen a male under 60 driving an SC430.

[snwbrdr435]

Barf

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I remember one of my neighbors bought one when they were new and let my dad borrow it while he was on a business trip. Only thing I remember about it was being impressed with the acceleration (fastest thing I'd ridden in at that point was a 1993 accord).

[VQpwrdSE-R]

I drive by one of these everyday. They are absolutely hideous. I had no idea they were produced past the year 2000 due to the fact that the appearance changes are so subtle. Looks like nothing's changed from the mid 90s. An '05 with v8 making up to 288hp? ..please.

With any luck drifters will mangle what's left of them.


The ultra snobby pebble beach edition complete with tacky red leather. Reminds me of a red pleather coat you would buy at a thrift store.

[Bubba1]

I drive by one of these everyday. They are absolutely hideous. I had no idea they were produced past the year 2000 due to the fact that the appearance changes are so subtle. Looks like nothing's changed from the mid 90s. An '05 with v8 making up to 288hp? ..please.

With any luck drifters will mangle what's left of them.


The ultra snobby pebble beach edition complete with tacky red leather. Reminds me of a red pleather coat you would buy at a thrift store.

While it is shaped like a turd,is about as exciting to drive as one, and appeals to only geriatric non-enthusiasts, it's far from the worst car. Anyone remember the yugo? the Pontiac Aztek? The Morris Marina (The car Top Gear keeps dropping pianos on). Or the Lada? the Trabant? the Le Car? the Subaru 360?

[Razi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLGg_dyWFtk

Watch the episode.
It wasn't just about being a terrible car, but the price and the maker was a factor as well.

[numbnuts240]

it's far from the worst car. Anyone remember...the Pontiac Aztek?

popular mechanics seems to think that the aztek will eventually become one of those random cars that a small group of people crave. i don't see it.

back on topic, lexus sucks.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Realistically, the only thing that kept the Aztek from popularity was timing. It was the first crossover in America, and it was ten years early. Had it come later, even its styling would have been overlooked. (Avalanche, anyone?)

It was ugly and weird and marketed strangely, but not a bad car in the way the SC430 was. The Aztek aspired to little more than being a driveable tent. The SC couldn't tell you WHAT it aspired to but still managed to fail at whatever that might have been.

[Bubba1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLGg_dyWFtk

Watch the episode.
It wasn't just about being a terrible car, but the price and the maker was a factor as well.

I did watch the episode. It was great, and I loved the comments like it's more Buick Rivera than french riviera. But I disagree with Clarkson/Capt Slow that its a terrible car even factoring in who built it and its price.. Lexus found a niche for it: wealthy elderly americans. I'm still surprised the Austin (Morris) Marina did not make their list. That was an awful car.

[Jesda]

I did watch the episode. It was great, and I loved the comments like it's more Buick Rivera than french riviera. But I disagree with Clarkson/Capt Slow that its a terrible car even factoring in who built it and its price.. Lexus found a niche for it: wealthy elderly americans. I'm still surprised the Austin (Morris) Marina did not make their list. That was an awful car.

It made hardly a dent in its intended market. Wealthy older Americans preferred the Jaguar XK and Mercedes SL.


I saw one at the auction today and took it for a spin. The syrupy steering feels like it's connected to a bucket of honey and the unusually harsh ride offers no advantages in handling or cornering. I couldn't understand why everything had a motorized plastic or wood door over it, as if the radio and navigation display were too offensive to look at. My 2003 Navigator (remember that truck?) had a silly cover over the radio too, as if it was a shortcut to proper center stack design. Even the coin tray had a separate release button that opened a tiny plastic door. Stupid gimmicks galore.

On the plus side, build quality was very high, the seats were very comfortable, and the radio and climate controls were quite nice (once you opened the motorized wood covers).


Is it a fundamentally bad car? Maybe not, but it was good at nothing and came with a unjustifiably high price tag. And of course, it's ugly as sin.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

back on topic, lexus sucks.

Some don't

[audtatious]

Neighbor had one, finally got rid of it for an anemic MB 230-style vert. Now, another neighbor has on of the pearl ones. Ugh!!!!

[Bubba1]

popular mechanics seems to think that the aztek will eventually become one of those random cars that a small group of people crave. i don't see it.

Yeah, I can see it. In 30-40 yrs, the Aztek could easily become mildly collectible like the Ford Edsel, another infamous car whose ugly styling killed it.

[numbnuts240]

i believe they likened the allure to the people who love edsels.

full list:
hummer h2
cadillac eldorado
pontiac aztek
2nd gen toyota prius
dodge magnum
scion xb
isuzu vehicross
plymouth neon
jaguar xjr
honda insight

[Bubba1]

i believe they likened the allure to the people who love edsels.

full list:
hummer h2
cadillac eldorado
pontiac aztek
2nd gen toyota prius
dodge magnum
scion xb
isuzu vehicross
plymouth neon
jaguar xjr
honda insight

Looking at the list, I think only the Magnum will become collectible anytime soon.

[numbnuts240]

i got into a debate with my buddy over that list. i tried to explain to him that they won't be cars that will be featured in a barrett jackson auction 20-30 years from now, but that the magazine is predicting that there will be a niche market for them. quirky folks who love those quirky vehicles for reasons unbeknownst to anyone, not even them. they made mention of the datsun 510 in trying to get the point across in the article.

[Bubba1]

i got into a debate with my buddy over that list. i tried to explain to him that they won't be cars that will be featured in a barrett jackson auction 20-30 years from now, but that the magazine is predicting that there will be a niche market for them. quirky folks who love those quirky vehicles for reasons unbeknownst to anyone, not even them. they made mention of the datsun 510 in trying to get the point across in the article.

That would have been a fun debate. I think many on that list were built in too large numbers even to become niche collectibles. Take the Plymouth Neon, for example, the fact that it has an extinct Plymouth badge instead of a Dodge will likely not result in any real premium in collectibility. The Neon will probably suffer the same fate as the infamous Pontiac T1000. Late in the Chevette's production run, GM sold some Chevettes branded as Pontiac, and called them the T1000. Pontiac has disappeared just like Plymouth, and T1K's are considerably less common than a Chevette now but guess what, they're still pretty much worthless because,well, they're still Chevettes, which were not good cars.

[Jesda]

i believe they likened the allure to the people who love edsels.

full list:
hummer h2
cadillac eldorado
pontiac aztek
2nd gen toyota prius
dodge magnum
scion xb
isuzu vehicross
plymouth neon
jaguar xjr
honda insight

The Insight and Eldorado have a seriously dedicated following. The XJR is already a collectible. Dodge Magnum V8 could certainly be sought after.

[MinisterofDOOM]

What about the XJR is not amazing?! Except for the breaking down a lot.

[Bubba1]

What about the XJR is not amazing?! Except for the breaking down a lot.

+ it never had a manual transmission offered in the US which limited its appeal to enthusiasts, and they are not yet considered collectible.

I don't necessarily think the Honda Insight is becoming collectible as more people are re-discovering how good they are on gas (especially after the most recent gas price spike) they're being purchased more as affordable gas sipping commuters, not collectibles.

I agree that some Eldorados are collectible, as the model has been around since the early 50's. But not all of them. (cough...V8-6-4 cough) The last 3 gens are still depreciating, which is why they're so affordable. I'm sure Eldo's always have fans, but that doesn't mean they all will become collectible.

[MinisterofDOOM]

+ it never had a manual transmission offered in the US which limited its appeal to enthusiasts, and they are not yet considered collectible.

Good point. Though there really aren't ANY cars of that size/market that came with manuals after the '80s. The 7 series and A8 were auto-only here as well (I think...some early E38s might have had manuals here but I don't think so). Certainly it does limit their appeal, but generally people who would want that kind of car are aware that they're going to have to settle for an auto. I know because I'm one of those people.

[Bubba1]

Good point. Though there really aren't ANY cars of that size/market that came with manuals after the '80s. The 7 series and A8 were auto-only here as well (I think...some early E38s might have had manuals here but I don't think so). Certainly it does limit their appeal, but generally people who would want that kind of car are aware that they're going to have to settle for an auto. I know because I'm one of those people.

Hmmm. I agree that manual trannies are rapidly disappearing, but I can think of a several manual trannied performance cars since the 80's, some of which are still around, and in the XKR's price range:

Audi R8, S6, S5, TTRS, Porsche 911, BMW Z8, M5, Corvette ZR1, base model Gallardo. I'm sure we could come up with a few more if we brainstorm.

[dickie]

i agree that these are turds and Toyota should feel bad for making them.

Daigo's car has less in common with one you'd see driving on the streets than the RWD Scion TC does, if you care about pro drift series. I don't, but glad the JZ showed up the LSx powered cars.

Lexus doesn't suck. All their cars excepting the ES have potential because you can either NA-T the 2jz or drop a GTE motor in them. That goes for the LS400 too if you don't like the 1UZ. More recent models are ugly and uninspired but what isn't these days? the GS has always been a good platform for a sleeper build and the first gen SC can be built to surpass MKIV levels of performance and douchebaggery for 1/4 of the cost. IS300 has always been a dream of mine and i'd gladly trade my swapped Cressida for one any day.

[Jesda]

Less than 1% of Americans who buy an XJ, 7-series, or any large Cadillac want a manual anyway. The transmission has zero impact on the collectibility of luxury cars.

The XJR is the last in a line of cars styled after WJ Lyons' design theme established in the 60s and it combines modern technology and acceptable reliability with classic styling. Like the Mercedes W140, a clean and pristine one will always have value.

[dickie]

jaguar, land rover and a few other "luxury" marques s*** all over their heritage. BMW hasn't produced an objectively good-looking car since production of the e39 ended. Mercedes has some "interesting" styling at least. I liked the arguably ugly CLS.

[gwoods]

d!ck, what about the new Jaguar F-Type? That is a step back to the heritage.

Jesda, go to a Jaguar Dealer and drive any 09+ Jaguar a manual transmission would be a waste. The ZF paddle shift 6spd in 'dynamic mode' S mode is very quick. I should post some video of running through the gears on mine so you can hear it snort and cackle.

[Bubba1]

Less than 1% of Americans who buy an XJ, 7-series, or any large Cadillac want a manual anyway. The transmission has zero impact on the collectibility of luxury cars.

The XJR is the last in a line of cars styled after WJ Lyons' design theme established in the 60s and it combines modern technology and acceptable reliability with classic styling. Like the Mercedes W140, a clean and pristine one will always have value.

1. The design pattern and Jaguar nameplate are not enough justification for it to become collectible. If that were true, people would be scooping up S-Types and X-types, which ain't happening.
2. I agree the lack of the manual trannies in the US XK's has nothing to with it's collectibility but my point was that its a reason why the US sales volumes lower than they should have been.
3. Mercedes W140? Do you mean the S-class from the 90's? Uh, they might "always have value", but it certainly ain't much these days.

Anyone else seeing Jaguar XF ads over here??? >>>>>>

[Jesda]

Less than 1% of Americans who buy an XJ, 7-series, or any large Cadillac want a manual anyway. The transmission has zero impact on the collectibility of luxury cars.

The XJR is the last in a line of cars styled after WJ Lyons' design theme established in the 60s and it combines modern technology and acceptable reliability with classic styling. Like the Mercedes W140, a clean and pristine one will always have value.

1. The design pattern and Jaguar nameplate are not enough justification for it to become collectible. If that were true, people would be scooping up S-Types and X-types, which ain't happening.
2. I agree the lack of the manual trannies in the US XK's has nothing to with it's collectibility but my point was that its a reason why the US sales volumes lower than they should have been.
3. Mercedes W140? Do you mean the S-class from the 90's? Uh, they might "always have value", but it certainly ain't much these days.

Anyone else seeing Jaguar XF ads over here??? >>>>>>

XJRs aren't rare yet because a decent number were sold worldwide. Meanwhile, you think the Dodge Magnum has more collectibility?


No one mentioned the S-type or X-type. They're competent but they aren't in line with the brand's heritage. They don't fall under "classic Jaguar" according to the brand's long-held traditions.


The W140 was the world's most overengineered cost-means-nothing luxury sedan. It will gain the coveted status of the W126 in due time.

[MinisterofDOOM]

X-types are EVERYWHERE. They also have about as much Jaguar DNA as a dead rat. They sold ~50k a year...around the same as the G37 manages. I'd say people were scooping them up. And that's DESPITE their poor reception from enthusiasts for being Mondeos with their engines turned the other way. I wouldn't have bought one. They're ugly and don't do anything interesting. But plenty of people disagreed with me and drove one home.