When we talk about cars that are more than questionable but sold in the hundreds of thousands, even millions of copies, we often think of models from the communist bloc. But the latter being at least as impervious to progress as to freedom of movement, the cars there did not meet the same needs as in the West, nor could they benefit from the same design budgets. So we’ll spare them, to better focus on Westerners who have no excuse to be mediocre. If there is a little bad faith in the selection? Not possible…
VW Type 4
Volkswagen enjoyed insane success with its Beetle, brilliantly revived by English major Hurst. To the point of swearing by the rear engine, for far too long. This led in 1968 to the Type 4, a station wagon with an air-cooled flat-four block installed in the stern. A solution already outdated at that time! The result is low performance, high consumption, and downright worrying road behavior. In addition, this car, initially called 411, suffers from a design that is frankly unappealing, whether in a 2 and 4-door sedan or as a station wagon. But its restyled version, the 412, which appeared in 1972, is even worse! Fortunately, it is reliable and will be the first car in the world equipped with an electronic injection in 1969. Nearly 370,000 of these horrible German cars will be sold until 1974. The 412 is replaced by the saving Passat.
Morris Marina
With this car, the disastrous British Leyland group wanted to invade the fleet market. Technically simple (propulsion, rigid rear axle, tumbler engines), the Morris Marina, launched in 1971, was to prove reliable and easy to maintain. In fact, it suffered from a disastrous build quality, which was added to an almost bad handling (so much the better, given the low performance) and a surprising lack of comfort. Symbol of the degeneration of the English group, it nevertheless sold well thanks to its tight prices: 1.2 million units until 1980, almost all sold across the Channel…
Fiat 132
Succeeding a very popular 125, the Fiat 132 disappoints from its launch in 1972. The fault of sloppy running gear, where large rubber suspension stops are supposed to play the role of front anti-roll bar. The result is poor road behavior, very understeer and marked by significant… roll! In addition, the direction is heavy and imprecise, while comfort leaves something to be desired. Finally, the puffy line attracts a lot of criticism. The 132 will later prove to be very friendly with rust! And yet, it will initially sell well, better than the 125, thanks to its powerful engines and its good interior space: more than 100,000 units until 1974. There, it is almost completely revised (bodywork, suspension, interior, engines) and becomes a recommendable car.
Renault 5
Yeah, I know, I’m not gonna get all the compliments. But the Renault 5… Even putting it in context, I find it hard not to despise it. Its greatest quality remains its definition: with the Fiat 127, much more successful, it lays the foundations of the B segment. It also enjoys a design that is both bold and successful. But, recovering the technical elements of the R4, already 11 years old in 1972, the year it was launched, the R5 is content with at best average road holding, vague and unpredictable behavior, steering heavy, with a rather unpleasant box and cushy performance. It’s not even particularly cheap! Worse, it rusts with astonishing speed (some examples were already delivered corroded). More than 5 million will nevertheless be sold, thanks in particular to a remarkable animation of the range and effective .
Austin Metro/Rover 100
In a British Leyland group in full disarray, the Austin Metro, launched in 1980, appears as a lifeline. And not only because of its Hydragas suspension, with pneumatic cushions. This is also still not convincing, causing a leaping road behavior. Add the old tumbled blocks dating back to the 1950s as well as a somewhat uncertain build quality (the fenders rot quickly, the suspension leaks, as does the engine), and you get a disreputable car. Pretty and not very expensive, it convinced the English… especially the most chauvinistic. It will become Rover 100 in 1994, and will be the worst car ever tested by EuroNCap. Nearly 2 million will however be manufactured!
Ford Escort Mk V
Launched in 1990, this 5th generation Ford Escort presents well, benefits from suitable equipment and is displayed, at the time of its marketing, at attractive prices. Enough to ensure him a great success! Except that the handling, fuzzy and uncertain, is combined with a more than questionable manufacturing quality (rust quickly takes its toll) and a notoriously winded and unreliable diesel: the timing belt breaks at 50,000 km while its change is recommended at 60,000 km. This dabasse not to advise his worst enemy has done a lot of damage to Ford’s image. In 1997, its successor Focus brilliantly set the record straight! Nearly two million of these Escorts will nevertheless be sold.
Volvo 440-460
Replacing the 340/360 series, designed by Daf and produced in Holland, the Volvo 440/460 appeared in 1988. Derived from the 480 hunting wagon, it is a traction with rigid rear axle of very classic design. In use, this car does not exceed a small average whatever the game compartment. Road behavior, comfort, performance, finish, everything is just right. The concern is that the prices are high (yes, Volvo plays it premium without giving itself the means) and the disappointing reliability, while the corrosion is doing damage. The result is a very forgettable (and forgotten) car that will still sell 623,083 units until 1996.
Opel Corsa B
How pretty is this second-generation Opel Corsa. Well finished too, and not very expensive. It was therefore a success from its launch in 1993. This is proof that customers rarely read the specialized press and do not try before buying. Without that, she would notice the disconcerting handling on bad roads, the blurry side of the front axle, the sometimes dangerous reactions to braking. In short, the running gear is a failure. The steering wheel at an angle should however have put them on the alert! Add the sometimes serious reliability problems (premature timing belt failure), corrosion and the prohibitive price of certain spare parts, and you get a rolling trap. But the worst is yet to come: the DTI engines… Nearly 4 million Corsa B will be sold until 2000.
Chevrolet Malibu 5
It’s impossible to talk about successful dung without mentioning the American ones. I selected one, which I endured for quite a few miles… The Chevrolet Malibu. For its fifth generation, launched in 1997, this brave wagon converted to traction. For the best ? Admittedly, it could hardly be worse than its archaic predecessor, a solid-axle rear-wheel drive. Only… The Malibu is distinguished by a particularly vague road behavior, rough and greedy engines (yet simple 4-cylinders) and a pathetic manufacturing quality. One of the famous “crap cars” denounced by Mary Barra, appointed vice-president of GM in 2008. However, the Malibu will sell nearly one and a half million units until 2005.
Mercedes Classe A W176
For the 3e generation of its Class A, Mercedes is changing its tune. Exit the original architecture, make way for a plan-plan definition, modeled on that of the Audi A3. When it was released in 2012, the car appealed with its dynamic look, its reasonably excessive price and its brand image. Without forgetting this kind of Ipad hastily stuck on the dashboard! Purchase orders poured in. Except that… The finish is not at all worthy of a Mercedes, the suspension kind of a banger, the rickety trunk, the steering not at all informative, the slow dual-clutch gearbox… In fact, its greatest quality will be the frugal, reliable and efficient Renault diesel engine. More than 800,000 Class A will be sold until 2018.