V8 engines: what's not to like? They're aggressive and can get you up and running quickly. Is it, however, always so? Is it true that all V8 automobiles are quick? While this is true in most cases, there are a few odd cars that defy the norm.
There have been some doozies over the years, from economy cars to luxury V8 automobiles. It can feel like there are too many elements on a vehicle that can go haywire. With recalls for everything from door latches and bursting airbags to gearboxes locking up and pistons blowing. Adding this all up can really ruin the car experience for someone, especially after you finally manage to own a V8 vehicle.
In the 1980s and 1990s, large-displacement American muscle cars suffered from low-horsepower ratings of 150 to 200 horsepower. While smaller-displacement, British and European muscle vehicles suffered from low-horsepower figures in the low 100s. Even big names like Ferrari and Lamborghini had their fair share of setbacks before powertrain technology advanced to the extent where it is now.
V8 engines have come a long way since their inception, yet they weren't always as powerful as modern engines. Some V8 engines were horrible, while others were decent but underpowered. Others were simply too hefty, despite having adequate horsepower.
11 1973 Lamborghini Urraco
It's not often that the words "affordable" and "Lamborghini" find themselves in the same sentence. Lamborghini eventually canceled the Urraco after they constructed less than 800 units over a 6-year span. The reason was poor performance in most trim levels and a slew of reliability difficulties.
The Urraco had a 220 horsepower 2.5-liter V8 engine with 162 pound-feet of torque when it first debuted. To be honest, the engine was a disappointment. The car could speed up from zero to sixty miles per hour in 7.2 seconds. That is quite slow, especially for a hefty price tag Lamborghini asked for.
10 1980 Chevrolet Corvette 305
Constrained pollution rules are a fantastic idea for the planet. But they may also turn a car's destiny from a blockbuster to the series' worst car. Chevy equipped the corvette with a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produced only 190 horsepower.
It's a fairly low figure when compared to previous generations. Anyone can see why people consider 1980 as the worst year for corvettes. It could only go at a top speed of 122 mph.
9 1981 Cadillac V8-6-4
Cadillac engineers tried their hand at building a cylinder deactivation engine in 1981. This is similar to what you see in today's modern Cadillac. This engine, known as the V8-6-4, had the capacity to turn off or on two cylinders at a time as power requirements reduced or grew.
This car had a massive chassis. So huge levels of lag would appear when cylinders were getting disabled. The problem was very pervasive. Hence, GM eventually advised dealers to bypass the system and manipulate the car into functioning on all eight cylinders. Yet, in V8 mode, the power unit was still inadequate, with the most output of 140 horsepower.
8 2003 Hummer H2
This enormous beast was superfluous and heavy. Outside the Military, we did not need a Hummer in civilian life in any reality. And yet, the H2 went on sale. The fuel economy of the 2003 Hummer H2 was the lowest you could imagine: only 10 miles per gallon.
Hummer upgraded the H2's powertrain to a 6.2-liter V8 with 415 horsepower. Despite that, the fuel economy ratings remained in the single digits. The vehicle's 6,400 lbs. curb weight and 8,600 lbs. gross weight is to blame here.
7 1980 Pontiac Trans-Am Turbo
The 290-horsepower 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 was one of the final great muscle cars of the 1970s. And then, the Malaise Era kicked in. The Trans-Am Turbo, offered for the 1980 and 1981 model years, was Pontiac's attempt to resurrect the sector. To increase performance, they attached a turbocharger to its existing 4.9-liter V8 engine. In 1980, the engine produced 210 horsepower, which was acceptable for the time. But they dropped it to 200 horsepower in 1981.
Although General Motors had been selling turbocharged cars since the 1960s, adjusting the technology remained a black art in the 1980s. The power plant had reliability concerns. Moreover, Pontiac withdrew the turbo engine from the third-generation Firebird launched in 1982.
6 1980 Plymouth Volare Road Runner
The 1980 Plymouth Volare Road Runner is another example of Chrysler resurrecting a legendary muscle car moniker in a bad way. The 5.2-liter engine with a two-barrel carb generated 120 hp and 245 lb-ft for the model's final year. The four-barrel produced 155 hp and 240 lb-ft. of torque. Performance is not what you'd expect from a 120 horsepower heavyweight, with a 0-60 MPH time of 14 seconds.
The Road Runner had been a force to be reckoned with. It was a serious bang-for-your-buck in the world of muscle 12 years before. But the 1980 Volare was a drab little car that couldn't outrun even the most basic of economic commuters.
5 1982 Ford Thunderbird
The Ford Thunderbird has always been at the higher end of the muscle car range, but the short-lived model from 1980 to 1982 was at its lowest point. The coupe was the size of a boat and had a 4.7-liter V8 with 120 hp and 205 lb-ft of torque, or a 5 liter V8 with 130 hp as an option.
Besides the engine, there's nothing muscular about this car. To summarize, the engine is large, low-powered, and hefty. As we all know, this isn't a good mix.
4 1974-1978 Mustang II
Ford modeled the Mustang II on the Ford Pinto subcompact car, and it was heavy and sluggish to boot. It's still considered one of the ugliest Mustangs ever manufactured. It wasn't just about looks; the Mustang had very little to offer in terms of performance.
A Windsor V8 with 140 horsepower was what the powertrain could manage. The Mustang II touched 60 mph in 9.5 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 17.5 seconds at 78 mph.
3 Dodge Aspen R/T
At the end of the 1970s, one of the worst muscle cars debuted. Under the hood, the Aspen R/T was rather unremarkable. Its 5.9-liter V8 engine produced only 170 horsepower and was not sold in California because of its poor fuel economy of 15 miles per gallon.
If an automobile is fast, people are usually willing to overlook poor fuel efficiency. But a quarter-mile record of just over 17 seconds is ridiculous, even in the era, for that much displacement. No wonder it tanked so miserably.
2 1981 Lamborghini Jalpa
The Lamborghini Jalpa was a less-pricey version of the hugely successful Countach. Unlike its Ferrari counterpart, the Jalpa had a 3.5-liter V8 engine that produced 255 horsepower and didn't back down.
Despite its lack of power, it managed to achieve a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds. The Jalpa had other problems though, such as overheating and poor valve gaskets.
1 Ferrari Mondial
They powered the Mondial by the same 3.0-liter fuel-injected DOHC 16-valve V-8 seen in the 308 GTB and 308 GTS two-seaters. With only 205 horsepower, the Mondial was barely able to keep up with the competition.
It speeds up to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds, which is very slow for a Ferrari. And it tops out at only 143 mph. The Lamborghini Countach from the same year was capable of reaching 193 mph.