The automotive community is a place full of some very strong opinions. There are certain cars that everyone loves, some that are love-it-or-hate-it, and some that are completely condemned by just about everyone. While these feelings are, more often than not, justified, there are a few notable exceptions. Thanks to a lot of popular media franchises and internet hype, some cars have completely skyrocketed in popularity, which consequently made their prices do the same. At the same time, a lot of cars are frowned upon.
A lot of this is wrong. There are tons of cars out there that, despite the hate, are very good and are definitely worth checking out if they're up your alley. At the same time, there are a lot of cars that are so over saturated with hype and discussion, they're beyond the point of overrated.
10 Great - Toyota Camry
It's the internet's favorite boring car. The Camry is to cars what Pringles is to potato chips; it's the ubiquitous name when we want to make a point about "normal cars" or even "boring cars." In its current form, however, the Camry really doesn't deserve the hate that it gets.
The sedan market is shrinking, sure, but the Camry is still a very popular model, and with good reason. It drives very well, it's comfortable, very well-equipped, competitively priced, and it can even be fun in the case of the TRD. Plus, the exterior styling is far more interesting than any other Camry that came before.
9 Overrated - Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)
The JDM car scene is absolutely cornered by the Nissan Skyline GT-R. Launched in 1999, the GT-R is easily one of the most hyped JDM cars of the moment. So much so, that buyers in North America are already reserving examples in Japan, several years before they become legal to import.
The R34 GT-R is not a bad car by any stretch of the imagination. It is, in fact, one of the best products in Nissan's history. But, between the Fast and Furious hype and the general "JDM bros" hype and discussion, it's far in the realms of overrated. And overpriced.
8 Great - Fiat Multipla
A lot of car enthusiasts are so invested in talking at great lengths about how ugly the Fiat Multipla is, no one has stopped to think that it actually completely revolutionized the segment, and it had quite a few other European brands gunning for it.
Sure, it was very ugly, and it still is, but the facelift model improved things significantly. What's more, the main USP of the Multipla, practicality, is done exceptionally well. It's compact, about the same length as a hatchback, and yet it has seating for six passengers, all the headroom in the world, and a big cargo area. It's also fuel efficient, cheap (even when new) and decently equipped.
7 Overrated - Toyota Supra Mk4
It appears as though the internet can't get enough of the Mk4 Toyota Supra. Prices are absolutely out of control, and the diehard fans love to harp on about the 2JZ, and the car's legacy, and all the exciting tidbits about it that a lot of people seem to have forgotten about.
Let's not forget, however, that the most powerful Supra Turbo had around 320 hp, and a lot of them weighed more than the latest Camry. Yes, really. The Mk4 is not a bad car, but the surrounding hype is absolutely out of control, and we're sincerely hoping it calms down a little, and takes the prices of this JDM legend along with it.
6 Great - Jaguar X-Type
If we're being honest, just about everything Jaguar built throughout the 2000s can be thrown in the same standard mixer bowl, as the British automaker faced a lot of criticism during this time for their use of retro styling. The X-Type, the compact offering, was a double whammy, as people condemned Jaguar's decision to use the Ford Mondeo platform.
So what if it used the Mondeo platform? The Mk3 Mondeo (which came out around the same time) is a favorite generation among many, and Jaguar fine-tuned it even further and added their own flair. There was even a quick 2.5-liter V6 engine and AWD was available too. The styling may be an acquired taste, but we can't deny that the station wagon looks rather swanky.
5 Overrated - Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991)
Let's get one thing straight, the 911 GT3 RS is the furthest possible you can get from a bad car. It's a fantastic car, with fantastic track abilities, and it's better than just about any car at putting a smile on your face on the racetrack.
However, the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS have accumulated a certain fanbase. One that Doug DeMuro refers to as "deviated stitching enthusiasts," who take it to social media to complain about the stitching on the parking brake handle. It's on everyone's lips constantly, and tons of speculators try to turn them for a profit, an action that Porsche rather famously condemns.
4 Great - Mazda Miata (NC)
Out of all the Miata generations over the past 32 years or so, the third generation, or NC, is the one that everyone loves to complain about. Most of the complaints are in regard to the weight, and a lot of people seem to think that the styling is a little dorky compared to other generations.
We are prepared to concede that the NC Miata isn't the best looking of the four Miata generations, but it's far from ugly. Have you seen the latest BMWs? And sure, it's a little heavier than the previous two, or indeed, the current Miata, but it's still a featherweight. What's more, behind the wheel, it's still a Miata through and through.
3 Overrated - Tesla Model S Plaid
On paper, the Tesla Model S Plaid is a fantastic achievement in engineering and technology. The tri-motor setup develops 1,020 hp, 60 mph happens in 1.99 seconds, and it tops out at 200 mph. From what we've seen, the Model S genuinely accelerates like no other car out there.
However, Tesla's public image is slowly starting to turn a little sour. Tons of issues with production, with some of their models still having not started production at all, Elon Musk's shady background and social media presence, and the cars' build quality is inconsistent at best. Plus, all the "Stans" on the internet seem to be steering more and more people away from Tesla, and straight towards the competition.
2 Great - Cadillac Catera
This was definitely an odd choice from GM in the 90s. Not the only one, yes, but this was certainly among the stranger ones. Before the CTS made a successful attempt to breathe new life into this automaker, they decided to take an easy route in the 90s; import Europe's Opel Omega and Cadillac-ify it.
To call the resulting Catera a flop would be giving it too much credit, but beyond that, it's really not a bad car at all. Opel's Omega is one of their most celebrated models, and this had all the ingredients for a genuine competitor to the Germans; RWD, a good drive, and an available V6 engines, with all the luxury features you would expect.
1 Overrated - Nissan GT-R (R35)
Alpha 9 this. Alpha 13 that. 2,000 hp whatever. The Nissan GT-R arrived in 2007 to replace the aforementioned R34 GT-R, and for quite a while, it was definitely deserving of its title of "budget supercar killer," as it was genuinely impressive and definitely filled its ancestors' shoes.
However, the GT-R no longer holds its title. It's almost 15 years old now, and other supercar makers have not just caught up to it, but have actually surpassed it in just about every way. It's also getting a little tiring seeing this car every other day on 1320video or TRC. The R36 will undoubtedly be awesome, but until then, the GT-R has very, very limited appeal in the modern market.