A car can have stunning looks, excellent handling, and even the right badge on the hood, but if the engine doesn’t deliver, the entire package falls apart. History is filled with cars that had the potential to be game changers but were sabotaged by weak, unreliable, or poorly engineered powerplants. Expanded here with more technical detail, these are ten cars that could have been true legends if only they had the right engine under the hood.
Pontiac Fiero
The Pontiac Fiero was a bold move from GM in the mid 1980s—a mid engine, two seat American sports car sold at an affordable price. Its design was fresh, and its handling dynamics hinted at greatness. The problem was the Iron Duke four cylinder engine. With only 90 horsepower, it made the Fiero sluggish and uninspiring to drive. The later 2.8 liter V6 helped with 140 horsepower, but by then the reputation was already tarnished. Worse, early Fieros had reliability issues including oil leaks and even engine fires. If Pontiac had launched the car with a properly powerful and refined engine, the Fiero might be remembered as America’s answer to the MR2, instead of a missed opportunity.
DeLorean DMC-12
The DeLorean DMC-12 turned heads with its brushed stainless steel body, gullwing doors, and futuristic profile. Underneath, though, was a serious disappointment. Its PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) 2.85 liter V6 made just 130 horsepower in US trim, and thanks to emissions equipment, acceleration was lethargic. Zero to sixty took nearly 10.5 seconds, far behind its exotic rivals. The engine was also uninspiring in character, lacking both torque and a satisfying exhaust note. Owners often swapped in turbochargers or even entirely different engines to give the DMC-12 the performance its looks deserved. Without a proper powerplant, the DeLorean’s legacy became more about its styling and Back to the Future fame than about its performance.
Mazda RX-8
Mazda’s RX-8 was the spiritual successor to the RX-7, with its sharp handling, lightweight chassis, and unique four door coupe layout with “suicide” rear doors. At its core was the Renesis rotary engine, a 1.3 liter twin rotor unit that revved freely and produced 232 horsepower in manual versions. On paper, that sounded good, but the reality was harsh. The rotary was notorious for weak torque, making the RX-8 feel gutless in everyday driving. Fuel economy was dismal, averaging in the mid teens, and reliability was poor. Apex seals often failed well before 100,000 miles, requiring costly rebuilds. Enthusiasts loved the way the RX-8 handled, but the rotary engine’s flaws kept it from becoming the classic it could have been.
Jaguar XJS V12
The Jaguar XJS should have been a world class grand tourer. With elegant lines, a plush interior, and a V12 engine, it had all the makings of a luxury performance coupe. Unfortunately, the 5.3 liter V12 was more a curse than a blessing. While smooth, it was overly complex, difficult to maintain, and suffered from cooling issues and electrical gremlins. Oil leaks were common, and mechanics dreaded working on them due to cramped engine bays. The car’s thirst for fuel only made things worse in the fuel crisis era. Had Jaguar developed a more reliable, high output V8 for the XJS, it might have rivaled Mercedes and BMW coupes of the same era. Instead, it became known as a beautiful car that could empty a wallet faster than it could cross continents.
Ford Pinto
The Ford Pinto is infamous for its safety controversies, but its engine choices didn’t help either. Buyers were offered small displacement four cylinders, including a 1.6 and 2.0 liter from Ford of Europe, and later the 2.3 liter Lima four. While reasonably durable, these engines were underpowered, noisy, and unrefined. Output often hovered under 100 horsepower, which made the Pinto feel sluggish compared to imports from Japan that delivered more refinement and efficiency. The Pinto could have been Ford’s chance to show that Americans could build a small, efficient car to rival Toyota and Honda, but the lackluster engines ensured it never reached that potential.
Chevrolet Vega
Chevrolet launched the Vega in 1970 with futuristic styling and plenty of hype. Its downfall was the innovative but flawed aluminum four cylinder engine. Designed with silicon-impregnated cylinder walls to reduce weight and cost, the 2.3 liter engine was prone to overheating, oil consumption, and rapid wear. Poor cooling system design often led to warped heads, and engines sometimes failed before hitting 60,000 miles. GM tried to fix the problems with recalls and revisions, but the damage was done. The Vega could have been Detroit’s import fighter, but its unreliable engine destroyed its reputation and left it as one of GM’s most notorious failures.
Toyota MR2 Spyder (Third Generation)
The third generation Toyota MR2 Spyder, produced from 2000 to 2005, kept the mid engine layout and lightweight agility that enthusiasts loved. The problem was its 1.8 liter 1ZZ-FE engine. While reliable in other Toyota applications, it developed a serious issue in the MR2: pre-catalyst material from the exhaust system could break apart and get sucked back into the engine, causing catastrophic damage. Oil consumption was also a widespread problem, often leading to premature engine failure. Drivers adored the way the MR2 Spyder handled twisty roads, but the weak and failure-prone engine left many enthusiasts wary of owning one.
Chrysler Crossfire
The Chrysler Crossfire was built on a Mercedes SLK platform and featured bold styling with a distinctive double-bubble roofline. It should have been Chrysler’s halo car of the early 2000s. Sadly, the 3.2 liter Mercedes-sourced V6 under the hood produced just 215 horsepower in base form, which wasn’t nearly enough to match its sporty looks. Even the SRT-6 version with a supercharged V6 couldn’t shake the stigma of being underwhelming. The engine was smooth and reliable, but it lacked excitement and left the Crossfire feeling like a case of style over substance. Buyers expected something more thrilling from a car that looked so exotic.
Alfa Romeo GTV6
The Alfa Romeo GTV6, produced in the 1980s, was a striking sports coupe with rear wheel drive, balanced handling, and gorgeous Italian lines. Its 2.5 liter Busso V6 made a glorious sound and delivered decent performance when new. But like many Alfas of the era, reliability was its Achilles heel. Timing belts were fragile, electrical systems were notoriously finicky, and the engines often required expensive rebuilds far too early. While the GTV6 could thrill drivers on a winding road, owning one often meant dealing with constant maintenance headaches. It’s remembered fondly by enthusiasts who forgive its flaws, but the fragile engine kept it from reaching the mainstream success it deserved.
Mitsubishi 3000GT SL
The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 is remembered as one of the great Japanese supercars of the 1990s, packed with turbos, AWD, and advanced tech. Its lesser sibling, the 3000GT SL, looked nearly identical but lacked the performance. Its naturally aspirated 3.0 liter V6 made around 220 horsepower, which seemed decent until you factored in the car’s heavy weight and advanced but power-draining systems. Acceleration was disappointing, and buyers who thought they were getting VR-4 performance were let down. The SL wasn’t unreliable, but it simply couldn’t live up to its styling or the promise of the VR-4, leaving it forgotten in the shadow of its big brother.
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
Car loans are one of the most common ways people fund car purchases. Like any other kind of loan, car loans can have certain features that can be regarded as an advantage or a disadvantage to the borrower. Understanding all essential facts about car loans and how they work to ensure that you get the best deal for your financial situation is essential. Here are 25 shocking facts about car loans that most drivers don’t realize:
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
