TTAC launches Ten Worst Automobiles Today Award
Feeling that Car Of The Year awards were becoming nothing more than a reassuring pat on the back from magazines to their advertisers, The Truth About Cars felt like somebody should have the balls to issue a "worst car of the year" list, as well. And they decided they were just as qualified as the next blog to undertake such an endeavor.
So TTAC announced that it will be dis-honoring the "Ten Worst Automobiles Today" with the first annual TWAT awards. Recognizing this was a democracy (OK, a representative republic), they are seeking input for nominees. A rather lengthy list of rules can be found by clicking the read link, but here is a short summary.
Nominees must have been for sale in the U.S. some time between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006. Badge-engineered siblings can be jointly nominated for a TWAT "if they all suck equally." The TTAC staff will pick 20 finalists from the nominees, "taking into consideration the number of nominations received, how well the nominations were justified, our personal opinions of the vehicles in question and how much we've had to smoke or drink beforehand." Readers will then vote on the top 20 to help determine the TWATs.
Pointers are even offered for helping identify areas of wretchedness, should you be at a loss. Ugliness, poor design, poor build quality, lack of sophistication or ability in the mechanicals, and poorly executed badge engineering are all suggested starting points. So, being the socially responsible group we are, we encourage you to get out and vote.
[Source: TTAC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
smsmemuthu 8:29AM (3/05/2009)
I nominate Ford ikon for its gorgeous looking.If we feel that Car Of The Year awards were becoming nothing more than a reassuring pat on the back from magazines to their advertisers, The Truth About Cars felt like somebody should have the balls to issue a "worst car of the year" list, as well. And they decided they were just as qualified as the next blog to undertake such an endeavor.
Tom
Cash Surveys
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Jonathan Strickberger 6:39PM (10/17/2006)
I nominate the Corolla and Honda.
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D Man 6:48PM (10/17/2006)
I nominate any domestic made car (excluding trucks). I 2nd the Corolla and Honda while throwing in there the Camry.
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Fred 6:50PM (10/17/2006)
I nominate the entire line of Hummers. Ugly and they take up too much room.
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Neal Goldberg 6:55PM (10/17/2006)
Which Honda, everyone of them or is there a paticular best seller you think is ugly? My vote goes to the Scion XB
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Chris Goldrick 7:06PM (10/17/2006)
Haha, Frank, very nice job of rewriting what TTAC felt about the COTY awards. You know as well as I do what they really described it as. Euphemism of the year. Seriously, no sarcasm.
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farris 7:14PM (10/17/2006)
I find it funny that no one commented on the fact that the 'awards' are called the "TWATs." Seems some groups may be upsetted by it...
As far as nominations go, I would nominate the Yaris (waits to be shot...). I test drove one before I bought my 2002 TDI Beetle, and the road noise at only 35 mph was nasty. As a frequent freeway driver, I wouldn't want to deal with that much road noise.
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Corey W. 7:06PM (10/17/2006)
Maybe it's me, but for all the crap that the Aztec gets, why do all the new crossovers have the same general shape it had.
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Non-Bizarro Adam 7:16PM (10/17/2006)
Ok, first serious contributions:
Uplander/Relay/Terraza/SV6 quadruplets
Infiniti QX56/Nissan Armada
Ford Ranger
BMW 7-Series (stupid i-drive, ugly design)
Porsche Cayenne
Toyota Land Cruiser
VW Jetta
Mitsubishi Raider
Chrysler Sebring
Honda Ridgeline
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Miyoshi 7:22PM (10/17/2006)
I nominate the entire Chrysler product line, particularly the new Sebring and current PT Cruiser. Cheap plastic and steal contortions marketed as an upscale vehicle paired with laughable driving dynamics. Yes, this applies to the 300 as well and yes, I think every vehicle in the Chrysler product line is worse than the Aztek.
I would take my old 1993 Sundance over the Sebring anyday.
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Silver 7:22PM (10/17/2006)
"Maybe it's me, but for all the crap that the Aztec gets, why do all the new crossovers have the same general shape it had." - Corey W.
Yeah, it's you. I think your definition of "general shape" is overly broad by several magnitudes.
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Detroit Expatriate 7:27PM (10/17/2006)
After reading the sheer number of listings, recommendations and ideas on TTAC (and agreeing with a vast majority of the comments), I was amazed at the volume of CRAP we are subject to here in the US auto market. I think I read somewhere (P. Delorenzo, I think) that we are living the “golden age” of automotive choice. More like we are neck deep in the crapola-age. All this choice and nothing worth buying.
Compass, New Sebring, Cayenne, GM CSV Minivans, Commander, Monte Carlo, Yaris / Echo / Saturn Ion interiors, Ford Five Hundred / Freestyle, Domestic Compact Pickups (pick one), Element, Aztek, G5 rebadge, Nissan Armada / Infiniti Q barge / Titan, etc…
Despite being a Doemestic product proponent, I guess therein lies the case for the rise of Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, etc… Their vehicles, while nothing special from styling and performance aspects, really don’t offend. Even when their styling is out of whack they either fix it quickly or have a ton of extra features or aspects (e.g. MPG, reliability or resale) to make them desirable.
However, I must put in a vote for a very unlikely to be mentioned make, the current Honda Civic Sedan. Now before everyone jumps in to bash, I am not talking about the sleek, stylish and performance oriented Si Coupe (I actually like the coupe, much like I am okay with the Scion Tc). I just hate the droopy – a$$ styling, stalky door mounted side mirrors, overwrought front bumper jowls and the overdone eggplant rear end with wack-a$$ budget BMW knock off tail lamps (All in pursuit of aero and fuel economy, I would assume, but ugh if that’s what it takes I’ll take a 30 mpg Cobalt / Focus or the ancient Corolla). I don’t care how many auto critics line up to prostrate themselves a the altar of VTEC with stiffies in their pants, I would rather have the last gen (or the gen before that, much better even). Sure the engine is world class, but to look at it each day – YUK. The Star Trek interior doesn’t do anything for me either. The fact that auto critics the world over went so nutz over the Civic makes me hate it even more, and is likely the main reason it has my vote for the TWAT.
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iQuack 7:29PM (10/17/2006)
Pick any 10 Fords.
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DPC car videos 7:29PM (10/17/2006)
When is Pontiac going to notice their SUV is ugly, it is in the top 10 every year.
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PJ 7:31PM (10/17/2006)
Biggest disappointments I've driven over the 2006/early-2007 model year:
1 - Jeep Compass (ugly, lousy dynamics, cheap cabin, damaged brand equity)
2 - Buick Terraza/Chevrolet Uplander/Pontiac SV6 (crass rehash of an obsolete platform, touted as all-new)
3 - Saturn ION (weird steering, uncomfortable interior, feels like it was designed in weeks)
4 - Ford Freestar/Mercury Monterey (see Terraza/Uplander/SV6)
5 - Dodge Stratus (single most unexceptional, forgettable vehicle on the market)
6 - Hummer H2 (surprisingly tight interior, Aveo-grade plastics, ads geared toward the desperate)
7 - Infiniti QX56 (laughably short on cabin quality and structural stiffness for a premium SUV)
8 - Chevrolet Monte Carlo (falls shorter of sporty promises than any other coupe)
9 - Ford Ranger (limited size, limited body styles, ancient mechanicals)
10 - Volkswagen Jetta (overpriced, underpowered, Toyota styling)
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Ammocaby 7:31PM (10/17/2006)
"Ten Worst Automobiles Today" Award? This misogynistic award panel should ITSELF win the prize for "Dumbest Idiots Purporting to Show Hipness, Intelligence and Trendiness" Award.
That being said, I nominate the ENTIRE class that includes all gas-guzzling SUVs.
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farris 7:37PM (10/17/2006)
Non-bizzaro adam, thanks for reminding me of the FJ Cruiser!!!
What a disgrace to the FJ40s of yesteryear...
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www.ezautodealers.com 7:42PM (10/17/2006)
As an auto dealer referral agent of every make and model of car, new and used, I can say I never really paid much attention to these surveys. Through the years they've bashed just about every car. These surveys absolutely sport some favoratism, dependent on the writer of the survey. No doubt there are good cars and bad cars, however these surveys don't always have them properly aligned. Want to buy a car, go and drive it. A good idea for new car buyers, rent the car first or if the dealer will let you, take it out overnight. Believe it or not some dealers will still allow this, as long as you insure it on your policy.
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Hagetaka 7:44PM (10/17/2006)
Two nominees:
1. The new Dodge Sebring, for being one of the ugliest Franken-mishmash cars to disgrace our shores since the Aztek;
2. The Hummer H2, solely for the disgusting commercial of the soccer mom who gets revenge on the mean world that pushed her around by buying an H2.
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Ryan 7:50PM (10/17/2006)
"10. "Maybe it's me, but for all the crap that the Aztec gets, why do all the new crossovers have the same general shape it had." - Corey W.
Yeah, it's you. I think your definition of "general shape" is overly broad by several magnitudes.
Posted at 7:22PM on Oct 17th 2006 by Silver 0 stars"
-Actually I think that had the Aztek been equipped with a bid "T" or "H" badge it would have been warmly welcomed, just like the Element.
-Anyone remember how creepy the black Aztek looked in the movie "Wrong Turn"? It actually looked kind of cool.
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