Sports cars such as the Bentley Type R Continental and the Porsche 911 will probably never stop being cool. These cars have remained head-turners no matter how many new cars are released, and it all comes down to a mix of timeless designs and their level of desirability.
However, there are several cars whose attractiveness dissipated almost as soon as they were released. Owners were eager to get their hands on these cars when they were brand-new, but after a few years on the road, everyone stopped caring.
8 Mercedes CL600 (C140)
The first generation of the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class launched in 1992. It came with a redesigned W140 chassis and two engine choices, one being a V8 engine and the other being a V12. It was the V8 engine that impressed journalists and enthusiasts as it was considered to be one of the best engines produced by a German brand. However, the more expensive V12-powered CL600 was the one that turned the most heads.
Despite its accolades, nowadays no one gives them a second look. This is because the Mercedes is not worth a lot of money, and to non-gearheads, this car looks like a normal old Mercedes. Because of the astronomical repair bills for these Mercedes, many will run the car on a budget and even immaculate ones are not that impressive to non-gearheads.
7 Dodge Ram SRT-10
Launched in 2004, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 is a sports pickup truck. It came with a Chrysler-sourced 8.3-liter V10 engine that produced 500 bhp. It was definitely a performance truck and it could even manage to go 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. It even won a world record for being the world's fastest truck in 2004.
Despite being quite an unassuming-looking vehicle, the SRT-10 was extremely popular at the time of its release. Yet, after years have gone by it really isn't given a second look by many enthusiasts. When looking at the car one wouldn't think that it features the same engine found in the Dodge Viper, and it looks like a general truck to those who don't have a keen eye.
6 Jaguar S-Type R
The supercharged Type-R Jaguar was revealed in 2002. It came with a 4.2-liter V8 engine that produced 400 bhp. It was a greatly refined car, coming with many added extras (that also came at a higher cost). It was what would be expected of a Jaguar - comfortable, refined, and great to drive. Its steering and suspension were fantastic and it performed brilliantly, despite its unassuming outward appearance.
Yet, nowadays many wouldn't give the Jaguar a second look. When it comes to looking at its appearance, the vehicle is very outdated. The unusual front-end styling is a weird look for Jaguar, and many noticed are still put off by this. As such, people are simply more likely to go for the updated XF model.
5 Maserati Quattroporte IV
The Quattroporte IV was launched in 1994. It made use of the Maserati Biturbo saloon structure, and also came with a twin-turbo V6 engine and then later a V8 engine also used in the Maserati Shamal. It was very compact but sporty and aerodynamic. It was quite the all-rounder and was a generally brilliant car.
However, it wasn't that popular in terms of sales. Upon its release, enthusiasts were definitely into all that the Quattroporte could do, and many enjoyed how sporty it was. However, it doesn't come with the reputation of other '90s performance sedans. As such, many don't consider the IV but do look at buying the newer editions of the Quattroporte instead.
4 Range Rover Sport (L322)
The Range Rover Sport in 2002 was a great car. It was sophisticated yet fantastic off-road. Being both refined and sporty was a great combination achieved by the Range Rover brand. At the same time, it was a flashy and eye-catching car.
However, it simply isn't given a second look by many nowadays. The repair costs associated with the vehicle are high and it isn't as amazing on-road as it is off-road, making it quite difficult to be versatile. There are more updated 4x4s that consumers can purchase that are worth the money.
3 BMW M5 (E60)
The BMW M5 E60 was released in 2003. It was a great car, with its balanced handling and cool styling, it was generally well-received and was everything a BMW should be. It looked modern and unassuming and also featured one of BMW's finest cars, a 5.0-liter V10 with over 500b bhp.
Despite this, over time the car has lost its initial appeal to non-gearheads. There are some engine problems, making the car quite costly to repair. This is not exactly the best thing to happen when consumers could easily look to purchasing one of the newer generations of the M5. It also looks too much like a regular E60 BMW 5-Series to look special.
2 Cadillac XLR
Launched in 2003, the Cadillac XLR was an interesting car from Cadillac. Upon being nominated for North American Car of the Year in 2004, it was easily recognized as a brilliant sports car. It was a luxury vehicle that also came with a 4.4-liter supercharged V8 engine, making it powerful and appealing to those who looked for refinement.
However, the XLR was too highly-priced for what it was. While it came with luxury and refinement, the cost put people off. This has led to many ignoring the XLR - even nowadays. The Mercedes SL or C5 Corvette will turn far more heads than this car.
1 Lexus SC430
The Lexus SC430 experienced a lot of success. The Lexus brand actually marketed the SC430 as the "jewel" of the brand. And for a while, it was. The 4.3-liter V8 engine alongside its 288 bhp, the car was a luxury roadster and the Lexus brand had genuinely made a great car.
However, the Lexus definitely does not receive second looks nowadays. There was a ton of chassis flex and it sort of destroyed the SC lineage, as the previous SC Lexus cars were fast and collectible, but this one was quite a bloated luxury convertible that aged terribly. Top Gear also voted for it to be the worst car in the world's history.