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

Agent Washington

I don’t care I still love my fd.

08/01/2016 - 02:50 |
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Brent Escovedo

“the rotary is a temperamental engine to say the least.” is a common misconception which was pretty much only made true by the FD3S, given some of it’s poor design flaws and completely new sequential turbo system.

Naturally aspirated rotaries in previous generations were way less prone to acting out temperamentally and easily pass 200k with basic maintenance. Even the FC3S Turbo II wasn’t terribly unreliable by most standards…

08/01/2016 - 03:55 |
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Anonymous

How i feel after you put the Mustang AND GTR on that list

08/01/2016 - 04:46 |
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Anonymous

Another thing about the Quattro. The second Peugeot brought the 205 T16 to the table, the Quattro was rendered obsolete.

08/01/2016 - 07:56 |
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The S2K Guy

BRACE YOURSELF. MUSTANG AND SKYLINE MEMES ARE COMING. [insert game of thrones guy here]

08/01/2016 - 07:56 |
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Anonymous

Those are the best cars

08/01/2016 - 09:15 |
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Anonymous

Supra is not hyped. It is famous because it is unutdownable

08/01/2016 - 09:24 |
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The Retro Guy

No love for M5

08/01/2016 - 09:29 |
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Anonymous

Almost all Japanese sportscars seem overhyped, which is sad since it brings up the price :/

08/01/2016 - 09:42 |
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AX53

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Why is it sad? If they don’t deserve the hype then why do YOU want to buy one. In wanting to buy one you are partly responsible for the hype that drives up the prices.

08/03/2016 - 13:44 |
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Anonymous

All I see is, let’s tone down the hype of all the cars but Americans. Mustang overhyped? No they are fun to drive! Focus overhyped? Well they are by a country that stuffs V8s in UTE’s. I see an American perspective in this. And however he tries to be neutral, I can feel that “We are ‘MURRICCAAA” thing in this post. Sure Supra’s are not super cars, nor are RX-7s and R32 to R34, they are just good sportscars (for their era), but you seem to make it look like to me the Mustang for example is the only car you drive because it’s fun. [trollmode]Did you crash yours already?[/trollmode]

08/01/2016 - 09:45 |
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Christopher Smith

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Um…the Mustang and the Focus ARE overhyped. That’s why they are on this list of cars that are, you know, overhyped. I thought the title was pretty clear about that. As for other cars on this list I’ve driven: Supra was fun. RX-7 was fun. M3 (E36 at least) was fun. Mustang obviously was fun. R32 Skyline I was in the passenger seat (which gave me the correct perspective for American roads at least) and it was not only fun, but sounded GREAT. Have not had the chance to sample an original Quattro yet, nor the new RS. But hoping to get some RS time in a couple weeks when I stop by Ford HQ during my cross-country Mustang road trip. And while I haven’t hit anyone yet, there’s still plenty of time to go crowd surfing.

08/01/2016 - 13:21 |
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