There are cars that look so good they could stop traffic without ever turning a wheel. Perfect proportions, futuristic styling, or exotic details made them instant poster material. Yet sometimes, those same cars delivered a driving experience that fell flat. Underpowered engines, mismatched suspensions, and cost cutting turned these beauties into bricks on the road. These are the cars that proved looks aren’t everything, the ones that had all the visual drama but none of the magic behind the wheel.
DeLorean DMC 12
The DeLorean is the ultimate example of a car whose styling promised the world but whose performance fell painfully short. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and made famous by its brushed stainless steel body and gullwing doors, the DMC 12 looked like something sent from the future. On the road, though, it was weighed down by a Renault Peugeot Volvo sourced V6 that made barely 130 horsepower in U.S. trim. Zero to sixty took nearly ten seconds, slower than some family sedans of the time. Its suspension tuning was clumsy, the manual transmission felt notchy, and the overall experience could never live up to its incredible styling. Later tuners and enthusiasts fitted turbochargers or swapped in V8s to give the DeLorean the performance it always deserved, but as it left the factory, it was a car that looked like a rocket ship and drove like a refrigerator on wheels.
Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJS had an impossibly tough job, stepping into the shoes of the legendary E Type. Its sweeping hood, long wheelbase, and sharp side profile gave it plenty of elegance, and parked at the curb it looked like a grand touring masterpiece. But once behind the wheel, the story changed. The early cars were heavy and relied on Jaguar’s complex twelve cylinder engine, which was smooth but prone to expensive issues. Handling was more suited to gliding along an English motorway than attacking a set of corners. Owners often complained about electrical gremlins and steering that felt too disconnected. While later versions improved and found a loyal following, the early XJS was proof that beauty and lineage couldn’t guarantee driving brilliance.
Maserati Merak
The Maserati Merak was another stunner from Italy in the 1970s. With its wedge shaped body, flying buttress rear styling, and undeniable Bertone flair, it looked like a junior Ferrari. But under the gorgeous skin, Maserati fitted a three liter V6 that lacked the punch buyers expected from a mid engine exotic. The handling was not confidence inspiring, with suspension tuning that felt unsettled when pushed hard. Early models even borrowed Citroën hydraulics for the braking and steering systems, adding complexity without joy. While the Merak has aged into a stylish collectible, many period reviewers noted that it looked sensational but drove without the thrill its appearance promised. Some owners later swapped in hotter engines or modified suspensions to bring out its potential, but straight from the factory, it was all show and little go.
Chevrolet Monza 2+2
In the wake of the fuel crisis, Chevrolet wanted a sporty compact to compete with imports, and the Monza 2+2 was styled to look sleek and sophisticated. From certain angles, it resembled European coupes of the era, low slung and purposeful. Unfortunately, most Monzas were delivered with asthmatic four and six cylinder engines, and even the available small block V8 versions were strangled by emissions equipment. The result was sluggish acceleration, vague handling, and brakes that inspired little confidence. Buyers expected a budget Camaro experience but ended up with a car that looked the part and drove like a compromised commuter. Drag racers and hot rodders later discovered the Monza’s potential as a lightweight V8 shell, but in stock form it never matched the promise of its styling.
Triumph TR7
Triumph launched the TR7 with bold marketing, calling it “the shape of things to come.” Its wedge profile was futuristic for the mid 1970s, and in photos it looked every bit the modern sports car. Sadly, when the public got behind the wheel, they found a car that drove with all the excitement of a damp sponge. The underpowered four cylinder engines lacked sparkle, the steering felt heavy and unrefined, and build quality was abysmal. British Leyland’s constant quality issues meant many TR7s were plagued with reliability problems before they even left dealer lots. While later versions and the TR8 V8 model redeemed the wedge styling with actual performance, the original TR7 is remembered as a car that promised cutting edge excitement but instead delivered mediocrity.
Bricklin SV1
The Bricklin SV1 was a Canadian built gullwing sports car that looked like something straight out of a comic book. With its fiberglass body, wild colors, and upward opening doors, it turned heads everywhere it went. Sadly, once the door closed and the engine fired, reality set in. The SV1 was heavy, awkwardly engineered, and powered by modest AMC and Ford V8s that struggled to move its bulk with authority. Handling was clumsy, and the unique safety driven design choices made the car impractical. Owners discovered that doors often failed to open properly, leaving drivers stuck inside, which became a running joke. Despite its exotic appearance, it was more of a safety oddity than a performance car. Today, enthusiasts love its outrageous looks, but driving one still feels like piloting a cinder block with gullwing doors.
Cadillac Allanté
Cadillac wanted to show the world it could build a rival to the Mercedes SL, so it turned to Pininfarina for design. The result was the Allanté, a gorgeous two seat roadster with Italian lines and Cadillac presence. The bodies were even built in Italy and flown to the United States for final assembly. Yet under all that glamour was a chassis that lacked refinement and engines that never lived up to European competition. Early models were underpowered, and even later versions with the Northstar V8 felt heavy and uninspiring compared to their German rivals. The ride was too floaty for a true sports car and too unsettled to be a luxury tourer. Buyers loved how it looked in the driveway, but many quickly discovered that driving it was far less enjoyable than its Pininfarina styling suggested.
Pontiac Fiero (Early Years)
The Pontiac Fiero was one of the most dramatic looking affordable cars of the 1980s. With a mid engine layout and wedge shaped styling, it looked like a budget Ferrari parked at the curb. Unfortunately, the early models were fitted with engines borrowed from economy cars, including a sluggish four cylinder that could barely keep pace with a compact sedan. Suspension components were also carried over from GM’s economy platforms, giving the Fiero lackluster handling that betrayed its exotic looks. While later GT models improved dramatically with better engines and suspension tuning, the first Fieros left a sour taste for many buyers who expected excitement and got disappointment. Enthusiasts later modified Fieros with V6 or even V8 swaps, finally unlocking the potential its styling always hinted at, but out of the box it was more brick than exotic.
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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
