By virtue of its appearance, performance capabilities, and cost, sports cars are among the most coveted, desired, and highly regarded versions of the automobile. Engineered to be faster, handle differently, and as the name implies, as sportier driving experience, sports cars are a different class of its own.
Normally built as a two-door with a powerful engine, the name sports car was originally used to describe roofless two-door "roadsters" a term that originated in the United States. In a broader sense, a sports car can be applied to a car whose design and engineering is optimized for performance, not just specific to the level of horsepower or appearance that is normally associated with the name.
However, not all sports cars are created equal, as there are some models that despite having the requisite appearance, are in reality as fast, if not marginally faster than a standard sedan. In this list, we look at some of these slower, tamer sports cars in - Ridiculously slow sports cars that were fun to drive.
10 Nissan 300 ZX
First introduced in 1984 with the chassis designation Z31, the first generation 300ZX had several straight-six and V6 engine options, ranging from 2-liters to 3-liters, with the most powerful option churning out 200hp.
Sadly, it was only capable of taking the car to a top speed of 134 Mph. Slower than a same vintage Ford Mustang or Mitsubishi Starion, its lack of speed didn't turn off buyers as the 300Z is Nissan's best-selling Z car among the model lineup.
9 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Debuting in 1999, the third generation Mitsubishi Eclipse was highly anticipated by car enthusiasts owing to the success of its predecessor. Mitsubishi, however, tweaked the formula for this new car and made it a less sporty version by changing 3 important factors.
First, its two new engines - a 147 hp 16-valve SOHC 4G64 and a 205 hp 24v SOHC 3.0 L V6 6G72, and second by taking away AWD as an option, and the final nail being the change to the suspension making it softer. All these changes unfortunately neutered the once legendary Eclipse name making this new car a slower, less thrilling version of its older brother.
8 Porsche 924
Made by Porsche to replace the 914 as their entry-level model, the 924 was also the first Porsche road car with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration, and automatic transmission. Launched in 1975, the 924 immediately received criticism for its un-Porsche like performance, mainly due to its weak EA831 four-cylinder engine that only gave 110Hp that was then mated to a three-speed tranny.
Capable of a 142 Mph top speed with a 7.7 sec, 0-60 time, the 924 is one of the slowest and underwhelming Porsche's ever made. Despite all of this though, the 924 still sold an unbelievable 150 thousand units during its production run.
7 Smart Roadster
First introduced in 2003, the Smart Roadster made by Smart GmbH was the followup to the Smart Four Two, basically creating a sportier version of their popular car. The Roadster is powered by either a 45 or 60 (80Hp) Kw turbocharged 698cc, 3 cylinder Mercedes Suprex engine mated to a single-clutch transmission.
The Roadster is very light, weighing around 790 kg ad is a very agile drive, all good points that are sadly negated by its disappointing slowness, as its top speed is only 109Mph, speeds that most entry-level motorcycles can surpass.
6 Toyota 86
Jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, the Toyota 86 and its sister, the Subaru BRZ, are the spiritual successors to the legendary drift car AE86. Launched in 2012, this fastback coupe garnered rave reviews for its styling and performance, later earning the moniker the "baby supra".
Powered by a 197Hp 4U-GSE engine, its top speed of 130Mph is respectable, but unfortunately falls short in comparison to its bigger and heavier stablemate the Camry with its 135Mph max speed. A beautiful car indeed, but as owners and critics have pointed out from the beginning, the Toyota 86 could/should be faster.
5 Pontiac Fiero
Built by General Motors from 1983 to 1988, the Pontiac Fiero was the first, mass-produced mid-engine sports car by a U.S. manufacturer. Designed with then-new technology, including composite panels, the Fiero was a car ahead of its time.
Powered by a 2.5L V6 that gave an underwhelming 98Hp, this asthmatic engine only allowed a 103Mph top speed for a car designed after a Ferrari. Along with its lackluster sped specs, the Fiero is also noted for its many issues, worst of which is the car catching fire by itself.
4 Toyota MR2
The second-generation MR2 was launched by Toyota in 1989 and its production run lasted till 1999. Designed as a small, and practical sports car, the MR2 had all the necessary elements, to make it a success that included fully independent MacPherson suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a transverse-mounted inline-four engine that made 152Hp capable of taking the car to a maximum speed of 137Mph.
Earning the moniker "poor man's sports car" the MR2 looks exquisite and fast but its top speed does not do it justice as a similar era Mitsubishi Eclipse's and Nissan Z cars were much faster.
3 Ferrari Mondial
Powered by a V8 powerplant first used in the 1974 Ferrari (Dino), the Mondial (A French term for Global) was Ferrari's attempt at being globally compliant with safety and emission standards. A noble and important attempt.
This however did not translate to a world-beating car, as by Ferarri standards, its 6.8 sec, 143Mph performance stats fell short of expected Ferrari numbers. WIth less appeal than its predecessor the 308, the Mondial is also the last V8, rear mid-engined, 2+2 Ferrari ever made.
2 Plymouth Prowler
Sold by Plymouth/Chrysler between 1997 and 2002, the Prowler was a retro, Hot Rod styled car that was meant for both the younger market and Hot Rod enthusiasts. Powered by a Chrysler SOHC V6 engine producing 253 hp coupled to a four-speed Autostick semi-automatic transmission, the Prowler had a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed 126Mph, a speed sadly way below what is expected of Hot Rods.
Long canceled by Chrysler, the Prowler came at a time when the carmaker was in its "retro phase" where its sister models the PT Cruiser also failed to deliver on buyers' expectations.
1 DeLorean DMC-12
An automotive icon not just for its appearance in the "Back to the Future" series of movies, but for its innovative design and use of build material, the DeLorean DMC-12 has a long and unfortunate history that marked the beginning of the end for its legendary creator - John DeLorean.
With just 9,000 examples made, this rare car had a Peugeot-Renault-Volvo 2.85L SOHC V6, making 130 hp that gave a sluggish 0 to 60 time of 10.5 with a top speed is of just 109Mph. A slow car even during its time, the DeLorean name, however, endures as both a movie star car and as a sad example of how not to build a car and a car making company