Journalists’ pet cars which fell out of favour
Discussion
The post results from today’s Shed column, but I didn’t want to derail it. It reminded me of cars which some ( though they often take their cues from each other) motoring writers really boost as a new model which then becomes a damp squib, or even a dud. The Ka is a prime example, lauded to the skies on introduction despite an ancient engine. We also had the Punto, especially in a funky colour like yellow. More recently the ‘must have ‘ was a Panda Twin Air which apparently sounded like the old 500 but often turned out to be unreliable and had a drink problem when driven in Italian style. Perhaps even the MX 5 which was a great drive, but turned into an utter , not very fast, rust box. Any more out there?
I don't think the MX-5 has fallen out of favour at all. Old ones rust but so do loads of old stuff. The new ones are generally very well regarded, aren't they?
For me it's the Focus. Lauded as if someone had invented a teleportation machine when it was new, yet now discontinued for an SUV. The late RS models stopped because ford couldn't reliably get any more from the budget-conscious open deck block - same reason it took them so long to sort the 'head gasket issues' (or fundamental engine design issues, if you prefer).
A lot of people don't realise Ford Motor Company (US, but lots of overlap) are on the brink of bankruptcy and have been for some time. Ford are in massive cost saving mode in the hopes of saving their skin from what I can see.
For me it's the Focus. Lauded as if someone had invented a teleportation machine when it was new, yet now discontinued for an SUV. The late RS models stopped because ford couldn't reliably get any more from the budget-conscious open deck block - same reason it took them so long to sort the 'head gasket issues' (or fundamental engine design issues, if you prefer).
A lot of people don't realise Ford Motor Company (US, but lots of overlap) are on the brink of bankruptcy and have been for some time. Ford are in massive cost saving mode in the hopes of saving their skin from what I can see.
SimonTheSailor said:
Didn't Clarkson love the Renault Vel Statis (sp?) but it sold really,really badly.....
O.P. here: Yes, he did but then, Clarkson’s Clarkson, one of the great contemporary writers of prose, on any topic, maverick,and with a sardonic sense of humour. I was thinking of mid range mags here.They often exhibit a tendency to jump on bandwagons.To be fair to the Mk1 Ka it was a great car despite the old engine, they sold loads of them and the model lasted for years. They've lasted well too, you still see plenty around if you look.
Their mistake was replacing it by slapping a Ka badge on a Fiat 500. The Mk1 Ka's were appealing as they had quirky styling and were great fun to drive, the 500's only major appeal IMHO is that it looks like a Fiat 500.
The Focus is a similar story, Mk1 was a great car and there are still loads in use even 20 years later, but the successive generations became more and more diluted, and now the segment its in is dying out.
Personally I'd go with the GT86/BRZ, press didn't stop banging on about them for months but they absolutely flopped in terms of sales. I suspect most buyers felt as I did, it's a tinny, gutless one trick pony that you can't even economically modify for more power without the risk of blowing it up.
Their mistake was replacing it by slapping a Ka badge on a Fiat 500. The Mk1 Ka's were appealing as they had quirky styling and were great fun to drive, the 500's only major appeal IMHO is that it looks like a Fiat 500.
The Focus is a similar story, Mk1 was a great car and there are still loads in use even 20 years later, but the successive generations became more and more diluted, and now the segment its in is dying out.
Personally I'd go with the GT86/BRZ, press didn't stop banging on about them for months but they absolutely flopped in terms of sales. I suspect most buyers felt as I did, it's a tinny, gutless one trick pony that you can't even economically modify for more power without the risk of blowing it up.
Edited by The Wookie on Friday 9th June 10:12
Lester H said:
The post results from today’s Shed column, but I didn’t want to derail it. It reminded me of cars which some ( though they often take their cues from each other) motoring writers really boost as a new model which then becomes a damp squib, or even a dud. The Ka is a prime example, lauded to the skies on introduction despite an ancient engine. We also had the Punto, especially in a funky colour like yellow. More recently the ‘must have ‘ was a Panda Twin Air which apparently sounded like the old 500 but often turned out to be unreliable and had a drink problem when driven in Italian style. Perhaps even the MX 5 which was a great drive, but turned into an utter , not very fast, rust box. Any more out there?
Ka's were ridiculously popular. You could buy a brand new one for £4500. They were hardly going to stick a Millington in it were they. David87 said:
Mk3 Focus RS is the first thing that comes to mind. At first it was joy at the drift mode and handling, but in the end it turned out to be heavy and a bit uninteresting.
That's the first one I agree with. Everyone was desperate for it to be what we all wanted and it just couldn't quite manage it.
Journalists who reviews stuff for a living sees a lot of dull, me-too product. So they love anything a bit different (eg Ka, Twin-air Fiats) and are happy to overlook foibles.
There's a lot of this in music journalism too - putting more weight on originality than the average punter would.
There's a lot of this in music journalism too - putting more weight on originality than the average punter would.
The latest Suzuki Jimny. Everybody raved about it and every YouTuber seemed to buy one. They then never actually drove them as they were compromised as an everyday car, never created another video on them and then silently sold them a few months later (no doubt because they were selling for overs)
The Yaris GR seems a bit like that too, similar to the above there are loads of sale at the moment.
Agree with the Focus MK3 RS, I think the problems started when YouTubers started suffering head gasket failure.
The Yaris GR seems a bit like that too, similar to the above there are loads of sale at the moment.
Agree with the Focus MK3 RS, I think the problems started when YouTubers started suffering head gasket failure.
The RX8 was universally lauded when it was first released as being practical, fast enough, and great to drive. Then the engines turned out to be a bit fragile, people started complaining about fuel economy, values plummeted, and they ended up in the hands of people who couldn't maintain them. End result, reputation through the floor and I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road.
David87 said:
Mk3 Focus RS is the first thing that comes to mind. At first it was joy at the drift mode and handling, but in the end it turned out to be heavy and a bit uninteresting.
I think the reason for that was the amount of money Ford was throwing at his marketing budget. They really needed that car to be a commercial success so were through money around to get good reviews. Don't agree with the Focus Mk3 RS criticism. Yes it was a bit heavy and the incorrect head gasket issues were a problem early on. Having said that the torque vectoring rear diff setup with clutch packs was ahead of it's time - the VW Mk8 Golf R has only just adopted the same setup almost 10 years later. The oft praised Mk7 Golf R's FWD biased Haldex system is crud compared to the Focus. Worth also noting that RacerMike on PH really rated the car, and he has some pretty impressive GT racing and Nurburgring industry testing credentials.
The Wookie said:
Personally I'd go with the GT86/BRZ, press didn't stop banging on about them for months but they absolutely flopped in terms of sales. I suspect most buyers felt as I did, it's a tinny, gutless one trick pony that you can't even economically modify for more power without the risk of blowing it up.
I'd agree with this one.The concept of it, I really liked. Seemed like it could be the RWD DC2 Integra I'd always yearned for.
Problem is the engine was a bit s
t, usually making about 25bhp less than claimed, and as you say, expensive to modify and they're looking less than robust in that department from my research. Worrying to read the same things happening with the GR86 too.Shame really but I've now crossed them off my list for the future.
Quhet said:
Jag X-Type was met with praise on launch before the "but it's just a Mondeo" comments took hold...
I remember my boss raving about these when they came out, he had a brand new S type at the time. I remember how everybody thought this would encourage a younger generation to buy Jaguars, but it turned out they kept buying BMW 3 Series instead.My other boss who had an E39 at the time was less than complimentary about the S type.
I also seem to remember the Rover 75 was given high praise when it came out, several people at my girlfriend's company chose them as company cars and she borrowed one for a couple of days. As soon as I sat in it I thought I had aged about 40 years.
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