Posted on 09/09/2007 6:36:38 AM PDT by shove_it
... the Model T was a piece of junk, the Yugo of its day...
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
And it was linked off cnn.com’s main page too as well.
He makes a snide comment about the V-8 too.
At the time, I was used to working with a jackhammer and could pick up 300 lbs of rock and walk away with it.
Anyway, I got in, the door would not latch because the battery was low, and it would not open either (same reason). After discussing whether we could get jumpers on the battery and other options with the dealer, I pulled the safety pin and tried to open the door from the driver's seat. Uh uh. No go. It took the dealer, a friend, and my own efforts to get the door open far enough to get out.
Keep in mind, this was a 'safety' car and a snug fit to boot, so there was not much room for the driver to move around when you were behind the wheel.
As for being slow, well, as I recall more than a few were wrecked at speeds exceeding 100 mph, and the drivers walked away from the wrecks. So they were fairly safe in a wreck, (as much as that makes sense). It was another 20 years, for instance before another manufacturer was touting side beams in the doors, even though the later models were much lighter in construction.
While some aspects were positive (heavy construction, midships engine) others outweighed them. (Handling, getting in and out).
They were pretty expensive, too (about $10,000, iirc) when other cars were going for $5-7,000.
I noted a few cars in the article which were marketing disasters, but did not really belong on the list of the writer's prejudices had the article really dealt with automotive quality.
Some were only guilty of being ahead of their time.
An interesting compendium, but far from what I would consider an accurate list of the "worst".
For instance, I did not see the Ford Taurus, for its transmission woes or spare parts compatibility (You needed to know the VIN to tie down which week the car was made to get some of the right replacement parts.) I guess the Taurus was too politically correct to make the cut.
It was/is arrogantly huge, overtly militaristic, openly scornful of the common good....It all contributed to GM's emerging image as the Dick Cheney of car companies.
I cannot imagine a crackerbox LeCar being the reason. Must have been the hand of God or just incredible luck. LOL!
“I was going to vote for the Ford Pinto in the 1970’s, as unsafe, unreliable, unattractive and uncomfortable.”
I had a ‘76 when I was a teenager. Crappiest car I’ve ever owned.
Propaganda Tip: whenever the deconstructionists refer to something as a “notion”; rest assured it is almost certainly part of the bedrock of society. See also “cherished delusions.”
Next time, Time should find a car guy, not an environmentalist to write this article.
Then again, they chose America-haters to do articles on our Founding Fathers, foreign policy, etc. so I shouldn’t be surprised.
1981 Dodge Colt. Drove one (brand new)from Fairbanks Alaska to NYC and back. Sold it as soon as trip was over and never had another small car after that.
“Renault LeCar has to be in that list somewhere.”
I had a Renault 12. I think that anything that Renault touched, up to and including the AMC Alliant, should be on the list.
Ditto for anything made by Fiat after WW2.
“Renault Le Car has to be in that list somewhere.”
Man I can’t agree with you more. The only good thing about the car was the large canvas sunroof. You could quickly air out the car after smoking a blunt.
“I forgot to add, how can there be a “worst cars of all time list” and the Fiero NOT be on it? I felt snubbed. ;)”
They work just fine w/ a good God-fearing GM V-6 in their butts....
Wait what about the damn pinto.. The exploding wonder!
“Vega shouldn’t be taken seriously.”
As far as looks go...I liked the vega. But you are right in that they were rust prone. There are damned few to be seen even here in Arizona.
I have nothing at all against fiction. It's fiction pressed forward as fact that bothers me.
I enjoy the works of Harry Turtledove. He is a master of playing with fact and turning historical events into a wonderful 'what if' works of fiction.
Maybe that is my problem. I can tell the difference. ;)
It is not only terrible...its like it was written by an 8th grader.
I mean the author blames the Model T for global warming...thats what makes it a piece of junk....how about judging against the technology of the time...which makes it brilliant.
Somehow I always thought that Time was written by grown-ups....good lord was I mistaken.
Anything by Fiat... the Chevy Vega, Dodge Gremlin, Ford Pinto...
“I was going to vote for the Ford Pinto in the 1970’s, as unsafe, unreliable, unattractive and uncomfortable. However, it did have the virtue of being affordable, so it could be beaten as the worst car ever.”
The Pinto, and the Mustang II, were the greatest source of donor parts to the hot rod crowd of all time. Great parts, and that Lima engine could be tuned to 500 hp, but lousy execution.
Is it reliability? Maintainability? Appearance? Workmanship? Styling? Or nausea inducement like...? The listings I see here are meaningless!
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