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

Stig's Police Cousin

Quattro: no real arguement here, I personally just love the sound and the look
Mustang: more like must get rid of, I had one, it was slow and the ride was crap. Great stereo though
Skyline: I like the 510 better on looks, and right side driving doesn’t bother me
M3: no real opinion, love the looks though
Supra: its a great little 2 door, nothing really special about it though
RX-7: the only thing I like less than working on a rotary, is stuffing an LS motor into a japanese car.. it’s weird to me
Focus RS: Personally, I love them. Not built for silly dyno readouts, just a little hot hatch for weekend warriors

08/04/2016 - 08:35 |
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ModernChaos

The only one I disagree with here is the Focus RS. (I even agree with the Mustang one and I’m a 2016 mustang owner who loves his car). The only reason I don’t think the Focus RS is “over hyped” is because unlike the others in the list, this is a very new car that most haven’t even seen in person yet. So a buzz about a new thing is normal, and it’s a damn good new thing too. Over-hyped (to me) means more like the others in the list, they’ve been talked about to death and have kids saying they’re the fastest cars in the world because they watch too many movies or youtube videos. The hype surrounding the RS is just about what it comes with from the factory and people are just excited about it because it’s new :)

08/04/2016 - 13:36 |
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theAQUAwolf (audibros)

I love every one of those but I would have the focus rs

08/12/2016 - 09:58 |
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The Stig 1

*how to trigger everyone on ct

08/14/2016 - 01:29 |
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Anonymous

A Stock Supra is a pig of a car, especially to launch smoothly. Also, if you are short you are going to need a booster :P

08/14/2016 - 04:11 |
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Anonymous

You understand that those cars are just iconic, right?
That whats make them so “hyped” and “overrated”, I Adore the look of the M3 But i knew it’s not that amazing, same about C63 AMG which is my #1 dream car..
It’s the always the way the car handles or goes, it’s all about the car.

08/14/2016 - 05:34 |
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Pumpkinz

i like mustangs, that is all.

08/14/2016 - 05:36 |
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VisioRacer

I am a JDM fanboy, but this is spot-on selection.

08/14/2016 - 07:19 |
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TDIphil

The Sport Quattro street car actually had over 300 hp and was one of the fastest cars of its time…

08/14/2016 - 07:51 |
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ArturoS14

Over hyped yes but the feeling of someone getting to drive that over hyped, dream whatever you want to call it for many people is just a pleasure like no other. Still remember the first day when I bought my Nissan S14 which I saved and worked for quite some time, even though it’s not a dream machine or anything like that it was just an awesome experience. Yes if I compare it to any other car now a days even an econobox it’s going to end up being a piece of crap… Can we just enjoy the moment and not just care if it does .0001 seconds on the ring or has a stupid amount of HP’s?

08/14/2016 - 07:53 |
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