Cars I like even though I probably shouldn't

". ." (xllx) 02/12/2015 at 15:31 • Filed to: None

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I'm willing to bet that everybody has some cars they like despite the overwhelming crappiness and lack of redeeming values. We probably wouldn't want to own those cars but we can't help enjoying seeing that they're still around. Here are some of the cars I have that sort of a relationship with:

Fiat Multipla

I know that it's considered one of the very ugliest cars ever made, but I can't help but feel that it's very charming in its own way. It was rather ingenious too, for a long time (untill the Honda FR-V came along) it was the only car of its kind - a small minivan offering 2 rows of 3 seats. Unfortunately, it was massively let down by its woeful reliability.

Fiat Cinquecento

I admit - back in the early 90's the Cinquecento may have well been the best city car on the market. Those days are long gone though and today the 500 is just a badly made, rust-prone deathtrap with a shockingly bad interior. There's pretty much no reason to own one. Still, if I were to pick my favourite small cars the Cinquecento (especially in Sporting guise) would probably make top 3.

Mercedes-Benz W163

My liking this car may have a lot to do with the fact that I'm a Mercedes fanboy in general, but it is one of my favourite SUVs. I know that it's not the sort of vehicle a petrolhead should like, but I can't really help it. The car itself doesn't do much to justify my feelings either; as it was I believe the first Mercedes made in the USA it suffered from terrible build quality (especially early on) and the usual dodgy electrics that plagued Mercs from that period. Big diesels also had a tendency to rip their gearboxes apart if owners were slightly too enthusiastic with the right pedal. I guess at least the design is pretty awwwright. Oh, and it's not utterly terrible off-road.

Lotus Elan M100

People call this the worst Lotus ever and I can't really blame them. I mean it's a front wheel drive, badly made and not very powerful at around 160 hp from a turbocharged 1.6. The fact that it was also sold under the Isuzu brand doesn't help it either. Still, I believe it looks the part and as a person who played crazy amounts of Lotus III growing up I can't help but like it.

deekster_caddy > . . 02/12/2015 at 15:34

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Almost all of that era Mercedes SUV I see desperately needs shocks and struts. Seems like some people think Mercedes = lasts forever with no maintenance...

. . > deekster_caddy 02/12/2015 at 15:37

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Well, duh. You spend a lot to buy one so you don't have to spend money on service. Common sense!

(/s)

Brian Silvestro > . . 02/12/2015 at 15:37

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Multipla Orgasms

Bad Idea Hat > . . 02/12/2015 at 15:38

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KirkyV > . . 02/12/2015 at 15:39

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If anything, the Elan deserves an awful lot more credit than it gets. They're supposedly absolutely fantastic to drive.

Mercedes Streeter > . . 02/12/2015 at 15:46

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I saw one of these a couple years ago. It had the taillights of the KIA version. They're apparently quite rare in the US. Don't care how horrible it supposedly is, I just love how it looks!

Mercedes Streeter > . . 02/12/2015 at 15:48

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These and the Winnebago were the true stars of Jurassic Park 2. 10/10 - Would attempt to offroad.

AMC/Renauledge > . . 02/12/2015 at 15:48

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I am 100% with you on the Élan and Multipla. Both are incredibly underrated, I think.

The Cinquecento is a bit meh for me. I'm more of a Lancia Y10 guy. But I'm 0% with you on the M-Class. I've hated it since the day it came out.

davedave1111 > . . 02/12/2015 at 16:01

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The Multipla was a great car, not a terrible one. Below-average build quality, but nothing too bad, and a fantastic mix of fun and practicality to make up for it.

I'm also a big fan of the Elan. It's received a hell of a lot of stick for what's quite possibly the best-handling FWD car ever - and which was definitely the BHFWDC in its day. It's seriously quick, and anyone who thinks it's not a proper Lotus hasn't thought it through: what's simpler and lighter than FWD?

The Cinquecento was a great little shitbox in its day, but I think you'd have to be insane to buy one now.

And I've never driven either, don't think I've even been in either, but I prefer the looks of the X5 to the M-class.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Mercedes Streeter 02/12/2015 at 16:03

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Until snow happens and it gets confus

rumples > . . 03/14/2015 at 22:39

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that multipla, except the multipla. Every time i see one i want to light it on fire to put it out of its misery. I look at it and can't help but feel like it's feeling pain and needs to be released from it's strange shell and allowed to be reborn as a can or a bicycle or something.

jay200mph > . . 01/31/2016 at 15:48

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Hi, I’m the owner of the red Elan you posted up there. They are really great cars; no Lotus enthusiasts call them the “worst Lotus ever”, just internet pundits. People hate on them for FWD only if they’ve never driven one. Lotus have always used “parts bin” power trains & the Isuzu engine was a fine choice for a sub-1000kg sports car; don’t forget the first Elise which came out a couple years later only had 111 HP. Build quality is as good as any other Lotus so take that how you will. ;) They were never marketed as Isuzus but Kia(!) did make a few of them under licence in the Korean market, with a different engine.

And yeah I played the hell out of Lotus III as a kid too. :D One of the first things I did when I got my hands on a real one was stick the soundtrack from that game in the CD player and go cruising. Did not disappoint.

. . > jay200mph 01/31/2016 at 15:54

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Sorry for nicking your photo like this, I hope you’re not too cross. For what it’s worth I think your car looks awesome. :D

Also, I must have had some sort of brain fart when I wrote that they were sold as Isuzus. It’s the engine that’s an Isuzu powerplant, innit.