Blunders from the 1980's

After listing some of the best vehicles from the 1980's and early 90's, is now time to look at the top 5 blunders. These cars were not bad (okay, some were) they just didn't catch on with the public. Whether it was the price, product, or the way it was promoted, these vehicles found few customers. Chrysler TC by Maserati (1987-1991) This may have been one of the most hyped up cars of the 1980's. Lee Iacocca introduced the car as a 1987 but after some serious quality problems it didn't reach dealerships for almost 2 years. Much of the marketing materials were already floating around the country but no vehicles were to be seen until late 1988. It was a collaborate effort by Chrysler and Maserati. Conservatively styled, the TC looked like a Lebaron but cost twice as much. It took the worst parts of each organization and put them together. The engine was from Chrysler (later a Mitsubishi) and the body was from Maserati. Engines and transmissions were sent to Italy to be mated with the bodies. Once this was done, the completed vehicle was sent back to select dealerships in North America. The public was not interested. Buyers could have a Lebaron with the same engine and similar styling for 1/2 the price. Only 7300 were ever produced. Buick Reatta (1988-1991) Introduced in 1988, the Buick Reatta was a two seater based on a shortened Buick Riviera platform. It was designed to give Buick some sex appeal and introduce younger customers to the brand. Unfortunately, the last place people were looking for sex appeal was Buick. The Reatta was powered by GM's 3.8L V6 producing 165 horsepower. Offered only with an automatic transmission, the Reatta was not a stand out in terms of handling or performance. Although the styling was attractive, dismal sales for 3 straight years caused Buick to lay the Reatta out to pasture. Pontiac Fiero (1984-1988) The Fiero wasn't an awful car. It's on the list because it could have been an icon. Introduced in 1984, the Fiero had great styling, sporty handling and a responsive (somewhat) 4 cylinder engine. But in their quest to reduce R & D costs, the Fiero borrowed parts from GM's parts bin (the suspension was from the Citation and Chevette) and some short cuts were taken. Due to this kind of cost cutting, the Fiero experienced more than a few quality glitches. The 1984 4 cylinder models had a tendency to catch fire, literally. By 1987, about 20 1984 Fieros a month were catching fire because of leaking coolant, failing connecting rods, and a reduced capacity for oil in the engine. By 1988 Pontiac recalled all 244,000 4 cylinder Fieros but the damage was done and the car that was once a bright spot for GM was discontinued. Cadillac Eldorado (1986-1991) Introduced on November 14, 1985, the new for 1986 Eldorado was made in General Motors' Hamtramck production facility in Michigan. The car was much smaller than its predecessor and resembled the Buick Skylark and Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais. This didn't bode well for the Caddy. It was offered with a 4.1L V8 mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission running the front wheels. Due to quality issues at Hamtramck (a facility that was too heavily focused on electronics and technological innovation), production output dropped and sales never came close to that of its predecessor. The Eldorado continued to lose sales until its successor was introduced in 1991 as a 1992. Cadillac Allante (1987-1993) Like the Fiero, the Cadillac Allante is included in this list because it was a great idea that could have been better. The Cadillac Allante was designed to give Cadillac customers a great sport-touring vehicle that was stylish and powerful. It was designed to compete with the Mercedes-Benz SL. Unfortunately it was priced that way as well, costing nearly $55,000 in 1987. The body was designed and built in Italy by Pininfarina giving the Allante a sense of exclusivity. The body was flown over on a specially outfitted Boeing 747 to a Cadillac production facility in The United States. Unfortunately, the car had some flaws. It lacked a power top (something a buyer spending $55,000 expects)and the front wheel drive layout seemed at odds with its sporty ambitions. By 1993 the Allante was fazed out. Only recently have we seen Cadillac come back to this segment. Remembering the lessons of the Allante, the new Cadillac XLR has a sophisticated power top and rear wheel drive.