What are the famous design failure cars?

[joemac]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

I'd give a dishonorable mention to the Cadillac 4-6-8, and various GM diesels that were built on gasoline blocks.

Cadillac 8-6-4 - shockingly bad - you beat met to it. It's surprising how well cylinder deactivation works as "AFM" and "DFM" in current GM truck lineup.

Also, the die-cast blocks introduced in the Chevy Vega deserve mention since the bores were often out of round in less than 30,000 miles.

Let's not forget the Pinto and any number of other '60's and 70's Ford products that used the gas tank as the trunk floor and had no firewall between the trunk and passenger compartment. Even relatively minor rear collisions could simultaneously damage the tank and eject gasoline into the passenger compartment.

[Bicycle Bob]

I first saw an Aztec, brand new, on a ferry boat, where it was the center of attention for the commuters. Everyone was trying to avoid insulting it, with the new owner present, but it was like looking at a cute baby that had grown grossly larger in a lumpy way, without maturing. A squareback would have at least made it look unremarkable, and better for both airflow and packing.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by joemac

Cadillac 8-6-4 - shockingly bad - you beat met to it. It's surprising how well cylinder deactivation works as "AFM" and "DFM" in current GM truck lineup.

Also, the die-cast blocks introduced in the Chevy Vega deserve mention since the bores were often out of round in less than 30,000 miles.

Let's not forget the Pinto and any number of other '60's and 70's Ford products that used the gas tank as the trunk floor and had no firewall between the trunk and passenger compartment. Even relatively minor rear collisions could simultaneously damage the tank and eject gasoline into the passenger compartment.

WRONG!

We owned three Pintos (2 x '72 & '76) and the gas tanks were a separate entity strapped to the bottom of the uni-body/trunk via two metal bands; however, it DID sit VERY close to the axle pumpkin which had very sharp corners.

That problem was eventually mitigated (by not 100% solved) when Ford installed a thick piece of poly-plastic "diaper" on the gas tank between it and that axle pumpkin, held in place by those two metal straps.

[redpoint5]

Don't know these cars, but I nominate anything driven by Michael Scott:





Honda Civic Type R

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

Hummer H2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj2e_kqiN-Y

[Crazyrabbit]

The worst design blunder is the location of the water pump at the top of the cylinder head. You only need to about a quart low on coolant and the engine overheats because coolant stops circulating. Then the rubber seals at the base of the wet cylinder liners burns out and Voila! the engine must be rebuilt.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Don't know these cars, but I nominate anything driven by Michael Scott:

Don't know Micheal Scott, but that's a PT Cruiser convertible. The convertible and panel truck were the only two-door PT Cruisers.


http://www.gusmahon.org/images/ptpanel.jpeg

[Galane]

The Nissan Joke Juke.

The mid 1990's when GM thought it was a great idea to run 16psi cooling systems at 195 degrees F or higher. For example a 1994 Buick Century V6. On top of that they used extra tight piston tolerances. If the engine gets the least bit overheated, the pistons swell, scuff and gall. The skirts bend inwards then the pistons rock and knock. That triggers the knock sensor into messing with the timing, making more knock and making the engine run hotter.

That over-temp also increased pressure, leading to intake manifold gasket leaks. Then GM had to make a service video telling their mechanics to stop using Scotchbrite pads to remove gasket residue because little bits of them would get into the engine and wreck it. GM didn't want to have to keep paying for an intake gasket repair followed soon after by replacing the whole engine. Saw that old video on Youtube a while back, can't find it now.

[Crazy88]

Originally Posted by samwichse

The original Honda Insight.

1800 pounds. 0.25 CD. Gas mileage that rivals virtually everything made since.


Yeah. Honda really f*cked that one up.

[niky]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Makes me wonder if you've ever seen a you-know-what.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_GI...round_the_name

It's a callback to what a former editor called it, which got him banned from pressers by Subaru.

-

I would hope I'd know what it looks like by now, after three children, but I could be wrong!

Originally Posted by Galane

The Nissan Joke Juke.

They're actually insanely popular in Europe and mildly successful in Asia. Despite being a tad heavy for their size, and cursed with a tiny interior, the styling and feel pulls customers in.

[redpoint5]

My grandpa wanted a Juke. He kept calling it a Jupe though, which I think annoyed salesmen. He ended up with a Chevy Colorado 4x4 instead. Now we have my Dodge Cummins diesel, his 2003 Chevy S10 ZR2, and his Chevy Colorado 4x4.