There's an old saying that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. More often than not, it refers to relationships with people and how we meet them for the first time. But apparently, this also applies to sports cars. Let's face it, there are a lot of things to consider, and a lot of stuff to look at before actually deeming a particular car as a good car.
Some of us get easily swept away by a car's good looks and immediately head towards cashing out and driving it home. However, it's more than meets the eye for this list of cars, as there are a few problems that would, later on, show up when you actually get to own one.
8 Lamborghini Countach
Quite frankly, the undisputed poster car of the 80s, the Lamborghini Countach, is notorious for being such a horrible car to own due to a number of issues.
The massive rear wing is a joy to look at, but once you're behind the wheel and would like to reverse, you'll see nothing but that big ornament at the back through the small window. Furthermore, the windows barely roll down, and the interior space would freak out people with claustrophobia, as there is simply not enough headroom.
7 Jaguar XJ220
Okay, to be fair, the Jag featured by Jeremy Clarkson in an episode of The Grand Tour was already more than 25 years old when it was reviewed, but the glaring issues of the car were still exposed.
The windows not only squeak, but roll up just as slow as how its two turbos spool up, and the cheap radio fell off during hard acceleration. Furthermore, the heavy steering needs a lot of effort in turning the car at low speeds due to the lack of power steering.
6 Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper was an American sports car legend with motorsports accolades to go with it. However, as good as the car may be in racing, it presents a lot of problems when you get to own one.
Its interior plastics get all rattly and squeaky and the doors clunk whenever you get in and out of the car, and it doesn't stop there. Once you're out driving the Viper, its terrible gas mileage means as the revs increase, the fuel gauge drops drastically. Furthermore, there are no safety nets especially for the earlier models, as they didn't come with traction control, ABS, or even airbags to save you once you fail to control that monstrous V10 engine.
5 BMW Z8
When the BMW Z8 appeared at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997, it was meant to be a styling exercise as to what the BMW 507 of the '50s would have looked like had it remained in production.
The result was a wonderful-looking car that looks like an instant classic. With the powertrain from the M5, it looks set to deliver the performance as well. However, the lack of steering feel, inherent understeer, and soft suspension meant it was not up to par with sports car levels, making it a car with an identity crisis.
4 Lotus Esprit V8
It's a given explanation that since there was a lot of work done to a sports car during its research and development phase, parts for them would be much more expensive. However, sourcing out parts for the Lotus Esprit V8 is just as hard to find, as it is hard on your pockets.
In all the versions of the Esprit V8, none came close to being economical to run, and replacement parts are hard to come by. The ergonomics of the car are quite questionable, and its power was restricted in order to save the transmission. Furthermore, the V8 engines don't like tropical weather, as they are susceptible to overheating.
3 Chrysler 300C
The Chrysler 300C is a popular choice for celebrities because of its blend of luxury and American muscle. Some even look at it as a perfect modern-day mafia boss car. However, as good-looking as the 300C may be, owning one might not be a good idea.
Its most popular issues come from its electrical system, where it suddenly fails at around 30,000 miles on the clock. Furthermore, the car is involved in the recent Takata recall, as Chrysler is being supplied by the Japanese manufacturer in its safety airbags.
2 DeLorean DMC-12
Thanks to the Back To The Future franchise, the DeLorean DMC-12 was as famous as the Ferrari F40, the Lamborghini Countach, and the Porsche 930 during the 80s. However, the Delorean DMC-12 was a bit of a dog.
It was slow, unreliable, and badly built. The DeLorean had a cool feature which was the gullwing doors, but these had the tendency to become leaky when driving in the rain. Furthermore, a host of electrical gremlins, its underpowered engine, and its heavy body only attributed to more growing pains that make the real-life car a total opposite to the popular movie hero car.
1 Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 might be one of the most iconic sports cars in the world. I mean, just look at it. There's a reason why James Bond drove one like this, it's because it represented who he was. A British MI6 agent doesn't deserve anything less than a proper British sports car. However, it's all fun and games until you face reality. The fact is, the DB5 was made in 1965, and there were not a lot of refinements made to the car.
The three pedals are massively offset to the right, and you'll find yourself pressing the clutch instead of the brakes when you're trying to slow down. Furthermore, the unassisted steering is heavy at low speeds and gives a soft and feedback rather than a grippy one. In short, taking the DB5 to the track is not a good idea, it's meant to be enjoyed in long distances as a grand tourer, where you don't need to do much work and just admire its beauty.