7 Iconic Cars That Get Too Much Hype

Nobody likes crap cars that get overhyped, but there’s another side to this: Too much hype can actually ruin truly great cars. We can’t let that happen!
7 Iconic Cars That Get Too Much Hype

Let’s talk about hype, or at least my definition of hype because let’s face it - there are a million different ways to go after this. The phrase don’t drive your heroes immediately springs to mind, simply because more often than not, they let you down. But that’s not my definition of hype. It might have a role to play, but this phrase is really about disappointment and that’s not the same. I say you can be positively giddy driving an overhyped car without experiencing the least bit of disappointment. Or at least you can in my bizarro world where birds slither like snakes and Richard Hammond has a goatee.

Hype isn’t about being disappointed with a car. It’s all about expectation, and more specifically, unrealistic expectation. If you have unrealistic expectations built up through unrelenting hype, odds are you’ll be disappointed behind the wheel no matter how good the car actually is. Still not following me? Have you ever taken a drink of coffee expecting it to be hot, only to find it cold? It tastes the same, but I bet you poured it out anyway. Either that, or you took a second drink with the expectation it would be cold.

With the psychology out of the way, know that I like every car on this list. Scratch that - I love every car on this list. Taken in context, they are thoroughly enjoyable to drive. But they’re also victims of relentless hype that too often elevates these cars to hero status in the eyes of many. Let’s all just step back, take a moment, and stop going all Hollywood blockbuster over these rides. They’re great cars, but too much love will inevitably lead to unrealistic expectations. These fab rides deserve better.

The Quattro revolutionised the rally scene and arguably brought all-wheel drive performance to mainstream motoring. People watch vintage Group B rally vids over and over just to hear that screaming inline-five soprano.

Those same people tend to forget that the road-going Quattro wasn’t quite as robust - American market versions only made 160bhp, and the weight penalty for all-wheel drive tasks that output even further. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still brilliant to drive. But even the 197bhp Euro models disappoint new fans expecting to blast away in a furious AWD launch.

2. Ford Mustang

7 Iconic Cars That Get Too Much Hype

For years I mocked Mustangs because, well, they’ve been overhyped for decades as being the definitive American pony/muscle car. The Mustang faces a double-edged sword from people that hate them for being overhyped, and people who buy one and soon discover it’s not the end-all-be-all in performance.

I bought my first Mustang as a pseudo joke, to drive through winter and write about my experience. I’m now on Mustang number three because they actually are fun to drive, and I don’t expect it to be anything more.

3. Nissan Skyline GT-R

7 Iconic Cars That Get Too Much Hype

I’m going to single out the R32, R33 and R34 for obvious reasons. I’m sure things are bit different with my ‘Murican perspective - we never got the Skyline when the rest of the world did, so only now are we able to experience its awesomeness.

That also means we’ve spent the last 25 years hyping up that experience without realising that A. it’s still a Nissan, B. the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car, and C. it’s performance, while impressive 15-20 years ago, is only slightly above average today.

4. BMW M3

7 Iconic Cars That Get Too Much Hype

I’ve had occasion to speak with many people who were seriously let-down after driving an E30 M3 for the first time. Same for the E36, E46, and so on. M3s are among the finest knife-edge luxury performers in the world, but they’ve been so overhyped over the last 30 years that people are sad to learn they don’t always set the quickest times during track days, or worse, that they sometimes break down and require maintenance. You know, like every car does.

5. Toyota Supra

7 Iconic Cars That Get Too Much Hype

I think people tend to view the A80 Supra as a supercar instead of just an awesome ‘90s Japanese sports car, and that’s the problem. In stock trim the A80 Surpa turbo is plenty fast, and it handles extremely well. But people have come to expect Supras to achieve low earth orbit while smoking high-end Ferraris off the road. How often do you even see Ferraris on your daily travels? And as for the ungodly performance, that only happens after thousands upon thousands of cash in mods, which also leads to numerous component rebuilds. Or you can choose to spend supercar money for one already modded, but such purchases often lead to buyer’s remorse as soon as something breaks.

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Like the Supra, RX-7 hype falls to the 1990s with the boosted FD models. Unlike the Supra, the Mazda isn’t quite as robust at handling major modification, and the rotary is a temperamental engine to say the least. The expectation here is that, after seeing drifting videos, numerous project builds and the original Fast and Furious film, people jump into an RX-7 for prolific BRRAAAAPP and killer sports car moves.

Most are aware that the rotary has special needs, but I’ve read far too many horror stories of buyer’s remorse and utter RX-7 hatred because they didn’t really understand how to handle the engine. This unique car deserves better, and if we can tone down the hype, people will be more prepared to properly care for - and enjoy - this awesome sports car.

7. Ford Focus RS

7 Iconic Cars That Get Too Much Hype

This car just came out; how can it be getting too much hype? I can answer that question in two words: Drift Button. How else can you explain Australian media going mad over the RS and its hooning influence, saying the car should be banned? I mean, this is the country that stuffs torque-monster V8 engines into rear-wheel drive utes with no weight in the back.

The world’s motoring community is certainly buzzing with this latest Focus incarnation and its button to help people drive sideways. I’ve had the chance to speak with a couple new RS owners in the States who’ve recently took delivery of their hot hatch, and thus far it’s all smiles. But I have big concerns that, if the RS hype continues, there will be scores of ex-Mustang owners angry about giving up their V8 for a slower hatchback. Or worse, scores of totaled Focii after drivers discover the Drift Button doesn’t automatically turn them into Ken Block.

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Comments

Nissan 420sx

I’m tyred of this “this car is overhyped“ thing. But you have a point…
But what do you mean with “it’s still a Nissan“? You just hurt Nissan 240sx’s feelings :(

07/31/2016 - 16:28 |
2 | 0

RIP

09/25/2016 - 12:28 |
0 | 0
that_1white_paseo

okay… so every one of those cars i like ( except the mustang… cant stand em ) anyway…. each car is a legend, in its own perspective. Each car made a name for itself by standing out…. dont get me wrong there is a lot of hype over the supra, skyline, and rx-7… but they, in a way, earned to be talked about as much as they are

07/31/2016 - 16:29 |
2 | 2
Anonymous

I do admit that the BMW M3 (E30) has become very bland. I’ve gone to the point where I admired the 3-Series more than its M3 counterpart. And, with all the hype that’s been going on with the new M2, I fear that will be the same problem 30 years later. Because of too much hype with the car, I look towards later generations, which I fear will become more boring than, dare I say it, a hybrid. Please keep these cars alive by not mentioning them too much…

By the way you forgot about the Mazda Miata

07/31/2016 - 16:50 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Got the popcorn ready

07/31/2016 - 17:19 |
4 | 0
Nobody

A supra will feel like a supercar to me, I drive an old pickup truck.

07/31/2016 - 17:25 |
22 | 0
Black Phillip

In reply to by Nobody

Old pickup trucks are da best

08/01/2016 - 18:09 |
4 | 0
Roads-Watson

“Steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car” did you know that is actually the correct side of the car? Do you know why it’s on that side of the car and why in Japan and England and many other countries they drive on the left? It’s because your right eye is your dominant eye. It sees better than your left. So if the cars are coming towards you on the right your eye sees them better than it would if you were driving on the right hand side. The more you know. And this isn’t some personal preference - opinion - telling you you’re wrong for the sake of it. It’s just science!

07/31/2016 - 17:35 |
2 | 10

Nope. Please provide a citation for that bit of science. The true reason is because it made more sense to ride (read drive) on the left for medieval and feudal societies. “Since most people are right-handed, swordsmen preferred to keep to the left in order to have their right arm nearer to an opponent and their scabbard further from him. Moreover, it reduced the chance of the scabbard (worn on the left) hitting other people.” - http://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/driving-on-the-left/

07/31/2016 - 17:48 |
8 | 0

This is interesting stuff but also from a line of sight doesnt it make sense to sit tward the middle of the road? Right side left hand drive and left side right hand? So i would have to agree driving on the right side of a car on a right side road making a left you would have a more limited sight distance of cars coming from the right .

08/01/2016 - 06:22 |
2 | 2
Dat Incredible Chadkake

Notice that a majority of the cars on this list are JDM and Euro cars…

07/31/2016 - 17:57 |
6 | 0
ManchildJr

so all the cars that this site praises (exotics excluded)?

07/31/2016 - 18:03 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Well, the post isn’t bad, but the gt-r stuff is just some bullshit. People just like the car they are not saying it’s a godlike beast that can’t be beaten. And the part about it’s still a nissan is just stupid, or that the steering wheel is on the wrong side it isn’t made for the american market , so it’s something normal. Do the japanese give the countach crap for being lhd. Im not going all fanboy rage about the post i just think most arguments are invalid.

07/31/2016 - 18:17 |
2 | 2
V-Tech and EcoBoost kicked in yo

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

“People just like the car they are not saying it’s a godlike beast that can’t be beaten”

Trust me a lot of people do

07/31/2016 - 23:39 |
2 | 0
Rndomgamer3210

“scores of totaled Focii” is that the plural form of focus?

07/31/2016 - 19:07 |
4 | 0