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Whenever an automaker is introducing a new sports car, whether it’s a new generation of an existing model or a brand new one, there’s a certain level of expectation gearheads have. In some cases, manufacturers meet the expectations gearheads have of a certain model. A great example of this is the third-generation Dodge Challenger, which debuted in 2008 after a 25-year hiatus. Gearheads who were looking forward to seeing what a modern Challenger would be like were heavily impressed with its design and power, which is why it’s still going strong today.
On the other hand, some cars don’t live up to the expectations gearheads have either due to their ugly designs, unsatisfactory performance, or other reasons. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re terrible cars – at least not all of them. This article explores ten American sports cars that failed to meet gearheads’ expectations but will still leave a fat smile across your face if you get behind the wheel.
10/10 2005 Ford GT
Every gearhead has at least heard of the iconic Ford GT40 that famously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans competition three years in a row, ending Ferrari’s streak in the process. Since the GT40’s triumphs, gearheads kept asking for a modern iteration and in the early 2000s, Ford unveiled the GT.
Although the new Ford GT had styling elements inspired by the GT40, it just wasn’t as rare, exclusive, and successful as the GT40 in the racing world. However, it’s still an awesome supercar with a 550-hp supercharged V8 and a six-speed manual transmission. 0-60 takes just over 3 seconds, and it will go on to hit 205 mph.
9/10 Saturn Sky
The 2000s didn’t start well for General Motors and its subbrands. Saturn was particularly struggling to stay profitable, which is why it developed the Sky to attract gearheads looking for a cheap, stylish roadster.
Unfortunately, gearheads were left disappointed when the Sky finally debuted, and many couldn’t choose it over similar European and Japanese sports cars. However, we think the Sky makes a great purchase, especially for gearheads looking for an affordable American sports car. We particularly love the Redline version, which had a 260-hp four-cylinder engine and other upgrades over the standard Sky.
8/10 Corvette C4 Base
Most gearheads consider the C3 to be the worst Corvette generation, as Chevy produced most of it during the horrible malaise era when American cars had lost all their power. The C4 had a lot of expectations placed upon it, and it didn’t quite meet them.
For one, although it had a new design, many gearheads felt the C3 looked better. The main source of disappointment was in the power department, as the base C4 had a 5.7-liter L98 V8 making just 250 hp. This was a lot less power than most gearheads would have wanted, but the base C4 was still a joy to drive.
7/10 Aptera Motors 2e
Over the last century, we’ve seen many different interpretations of automotive design. The Aptera 2e has to be one of the craziest, as it looks like a UFO on three wheels. When building the 2e, Aptera’s main goal was to make it as energy-efficient as possible, which explains the design.
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Unfortunately, the 2e was too radical to catch on, which is why Aptera stopped building it. However, we think the 2e was quite interesting to drive, especially for gearheads who love attention. Thankfully, Aptera keept working on the technology and they’ve recently unveiled a new vehicle with over 1,000 miles of range.
6/10 Cadillac XLR
As GM’s luxury division, Cadillac is always looking to make luxury versions of regular GM models, which is how the XLR came to be. Introduced in 2003, the XLR is basically a luxury version of the C5 Corvette.
There were high expectations for the XLR, especially since it cost $75,000. Sadly, it didn’t meet them as it performed worse than the much cheaper C5 Corvette, which explains why Cadillac sold few units. However, we think the XLR should have performed better in the market as it arguably looked better than the C5 Corvette, it had a more comfortable and luxurious interior, and was just slightly slower than the C5 Corvette.
5/10 2002 Ford Thunderbird
When Ford introduced the Thunderbird in the mid-50s, it was a beautiful two-seater roadster that competed directly against the first-generation Corvette. However, Ford weirdly ditched the two-seater body style after 1955 and turned the Thunderbird into a boring four-door sedan.
In 2002, Ford decided to revive the Thunderbird in its original 1955 formula. Unfortunately, the new Thunderbird had an ugly design that looked nothing like the beautiful 1955 version, which Ford discontinued in 2005. Despite the hate, the 2002-2005 Thunderbird was quite fun to drive, as it was powered by a Jaguar-designed 3.9-liter DOHC V8 dishing out 280 hp.
4/10 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
The Chevy SS badge is one of those things that can get any gearhead excited. Just like gearheads expect in an AMG-badged Mercedes-Benz or M-badged BMW, a car with a Chevy SS badge should be an incredibly fast muscle car.
This is why gearheads were disappointed when they saw the SS badge on a boring sedan or coupe known as the Cobalt. However, although the Cobalt SS is not the type of vehicle gearheads expected to have the coveted SS badge, it was still fast, as it had a turbocharged four-cylinder making 260 hp. It’s no surprise that the Cobalt SS is considered to be one of the best American sleeper cars.
3/10 Vector M12
Back in the ’90s, Vector was among the most promising American automakers. Vector had so much potential at the time that Indonesian company Megatech executed a hostile takeover. The first car Vector built after the hostile takeover was the M12.
Megatech owned Lamborghini at the time, so they used the mechanical underpinnings and engine of the Diablo to build the M12. However, despite being a Lambo underneath, the M12 was criticized for being uglier, slower, and of lesser build quality than the Diablo it was based on. Still, the M12 had a 5.7-liter Lamborghini V12 under the hood making 492 ponies, making it one of the fastest American sports cars of the ’90s.
2/10 Pontiac Solstice
Another GM brand that was struggling in the early 2000s is Pontiac. Pontiac first tried to save itself with a GTO revival and when that failed, the marque introduced the Solstice – an entry-level roadster.
Pontiac had a lot of hope riding on the Solstice, but it didn’t save the marque as gearheads were disappointed with the overall package. However, we think the Solstice was pretty decent and should have performed way better in the market, particularly the 260-hp GXP version.
1/10 DeLorean DMC-12
When John DeLorean left his prestigious role at General Motors, he established his own company to build world-beating sports cars. The first car DeLorean ever built was known as the DMC-12, but it’s commonly referred to as the DeLorean since that’s the only car the company ever built.
The DeLorean had one of the most futuristic designs ever seen at the time, but it couldn’t back it up with power. Although the DeLorean was slow, it gained worldwide fame through the Back to the Future franchise, which is why we still want to drive it.
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