6 Beautiful Cars That Are Too Terrible To Actually Drive

These six manufacturers have managed to combine stunning aesthetics with terrible driving characteristics. And for that reason, they're only fit for a museum
6 Beautiful Cars That Are Too Terrible To Actually Drive

1. Aston Martin DB7

6 Beautiful Cars That Are Too Terrible To Actually Drive

The DB7 is easily one of the prettiest Aston Martins ever produced, but it was never a genuine performance car. In a move to lower costs, the DB7 was based on the ancient Jaguar XJS platform. As a result, the DB7 suffered from wooly steering, an unresponsive chassis and copious amounts of body roll.

Things weren’t much better on the inside. With Ford owning Aston at the time, the interior was festooned with buttons from the Blue Oval parts bin, making the expensive GT feel distinctly low-rent. Ultimately, these cars are better suited for a museum as opposed to the open road.

2. Disco Volante by Touring Superleggera

6 Beautiful Cars That Are Too Terrible To Actually Drive

The Disco Volante by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera is arguably the sexiest coach-built car on sale today. Based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Touring managed to improve upon a masterpiece, blending 1950s aesthetics with modern-day performance. A shame then that the driving experience doesn’t live up to the good looks.

You see, the Alfa 8C was a pretty terrible performance car, with road testers complaining of body-roll, poor steering feel and unpredictable handling on the limit. The solution: if you own one, park it in your living room and just stare at it.

3. Maserati 3200 GT

6 Beautiful Cars That Are Too Terrible To Actually Drive

The Maserati 3200 GT was a truly stunning design. The earlier 1998-2002 cars - with their gorgeous LED boomerang rear lights - were the prettiest models, helping to show off the svelte but muscular waistline of the Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed body. But, the beautiful package was ultimately ruined by terrible driving dynamics.

A sensitive steering rack, dim-witted automatic gearbox and floaty suspension resulted in a car that was difficult to hustle down a back road. The twin-turbocharged 3.2-litre V8 with 370bhp was the only redeeming feature.

4. BMW Z8

6 Beautiful Cars That Are Too Terrible To Actually Drive

With its retro 507-inspired looks, the Z8 is beautiful machine, but it never hit the mark dynamically because of its lack of steering feel, chronic understeer and soft suspension that gave the BMW an identity crisis: was it a cruiser, a sports car or a grand tourer? Nobody really knew…

The E39 M5-derived 4.9-litre V8 gave the car sufficient straight line poke, but it wasn’t enough to save the dodgy package. If there was ever a car that deserves to be put on a plinth, it’s the Z8.

5. DeLorean DMC-12

6 Beautiful Cars That Are Too Terrible To Actually Drive

When the DMC-12 was released back in 1981, it was a huge flop. With its rear-engined layout, stainless steel body and incredible gullwing doors, it promised so much and delivered so little. Build quality and reliability was horrendous and the rear-mounted, 150bhp, 2.85-litre V6 made the car woefully slow.

American customers got an even rawer deal, with US-spec DeLoreans featuring a power-sapping catalytic converter. With only 130bhp on tap, 0-60mph was achieved in an agonising10 seconds. We’d naturally love one in our garage as a show piece, but that’s where it’d stay.

6. Spyker C8

6 Beautiful Cars That Are Too Terrible To Actually Drive

Dutch car maker Spyker is the master of stunning automotive details. When the original C8 was launched, the world went into a collective crisis. With an exposed manual gearbox, propellor-inspired steering wheel and CNC-pressed dashboard, it was achingly beautiful.

Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about its dynamic capabilities. The 4.2-litre, 400bhp, V8 engine ensured that the C8 was rapid in a straight line, but it struggled when it reached the corners. Road testers complained of terrible understeer, poor brakes and a harsh ride. The C8, then, is the kind of car you could look at for hours on end. Which is just as well, because you wouldn’t want to drive it.

What other cars do you think should be reserved for museum purposes only and kept off the roads?

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Comments

Daniel Hall

The XJ220s are beautiful to look at, but from what I’ve heard they’re a real pain to drive

04/08/2016 - 14:40 |
132 | 0

I had a go in one, it’s just terrifying rather than a pain
So much fun, the acceleration is like being stabbed in the back.

04/08/2016 - 15:11 |
64 | 0

Thats great car in every way. Only reason they were bashed when they came out was because of tt v6 insted of n/a v12 engine.

04/09/2016 - 08:42 |
2 | 0

Nelson piquet has one, and he is really picky about his cars.

04/09/2016 - 15:14 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

The Veyron is the other way around. Looks terrible but drives great

04/08/2016 - 14:41 |
8 | 8
JustusLM

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I’m not sure about that. They say it gets boring after a while because it’s just so standard (I could point out why it is standard, but that’s a whole new topic for another post).

04/08/2016 - 20:22 |
2 | 0
Roads-Watson

I think we should hold off on the DeLorean being on this list. Going back into production for a few units next year they might take the time to address the issues from the previous attempt and maybe, just maybe it could be legendary.

04/08/2016 - 14:45 |
0 | 2

It already is legendary.

04/08/2016 - 14:54 |
6 | 0
DragzMR2

that spyker is ugly as fk. But the interior.. .. wow, I saw it at a gumball rally many years ago an talked to the owner. he let me sit in it and rev the engine. don’t know what was better, the interior or the sound. but the exterior is awfull IMO

04/08/2016 - 14:46 |
54 | 16

That’s a matter of taste, right?

04/08/2016 - 20:16 |
16 | 0

yea i feel the same way about the disco, absolutely hideous

04/08/2016 - 22:29 |
20 | 8

I would love that Spyker, except for one slight problem: Why in hell would you leave EXPOSED POP RIVETS ON THE EXTERIOR FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE?!!

04/10/2016 - 20:09 |
2 | 0
Francesco Pau

The Countach, from what I read, should also be part of this list. Sigh.

04/08/2016 - 14:47 |
40 | 0

And the Miura, if not being able to reach top speed because the front axle lifts off the ground counts as reason.

04/08/2016 - 20:18 |
12 | 4

True. From what I have heard all pre-Murcielago ones are rubbish to drive.

04/09/2016 - 05:00 |
0 | 0

It was hard to drive, but from what I’ve heard it was very good in the corners, and had lots of grip…

04/09/2016 - 14:44 |
0 | 0
Ante sina ante

Ford Mustang II Cobra II

04/08/2016 - 14:48 |
52 | 8

I disagree. Not only it drove like crap, but It looked like crap too.

04/08/2016 - 22:24 |
68 | 6

That would look SO much better as a notchback…

04/10/2016 - 20:08 |
0 | 0
LiveToDrive

Sad to see the Spyker in this list.

04/08/2016 - 14:48 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

This is certainly an interesting premise for an article.
Quick correction though: the DeLorean is actuall rear-engined.
So it’s basically a Porsche 911.

04/08/2016 - 14:56 |
2 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Except for the sublime Boxer engine, superior finish and far better performance of the 911

04/08/2016 - 16:53 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

call me crazy but i think the DB7 is ugly as hell. As for the C8 i love that car, with regards to the drivability im pretty sure there will be kits for them since Spyker had GT racecars for multiple years which were fairly quick

04/08/2016 - 14:59 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Come on. Leave them in the showroom just becsuse their slow, or bad at turning? These cars are better than most non-performance cars, and nobody has said that you can’t tune these cars!

04/08/2016 - 14:59 |
24 | 4
Sonia Rizzo 🚘

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I agree… “too terrible to actually drive” is pretty exagerate…

04/08/2016 - 16:25 |
18 | 0