AOL has named the 50 worst cars and we made the list as the first MINI that isn't. I'd take it personally, but they show a light white CM - I don't think this applies to Pure Red.


Sealy - Who's also tired of seeing AMC products on these lists.

 

Who is AOL and what do they know about cars

 

Weren't they some sort of internet company from back in the "Age of Dial-up?

I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion ...even is it's stupid

 

And their only comment was that it "wasn't a MINI", what sort of criticism is that????

 

But if a Kardashian drove one it would no doubt be THE car of the year...

 

It looks like they were judging the worst car for each manufacturer, so one of the MINIs was going to be on it. It just happens to be the model I drive and I don't care what they think, I love it.

 

MINI has the R50/53, the R56, the cabrio, the Coupe, and the Countryman. By the rules put out in their absolutely stupid slideshow, they had to pick one of those. Their criticism is that it's not small enough...

Why no criticism of the R50 with the CVT? Most people would probably agree it was the closest thing MINI ever put out that's comparable to an Edsel, right? That fits their premise better than the R60.

Dumb premise for an article, dumb comment about the car. I'm happy to hear real criticism of the R60's design or role in the brand, but it's sort of sad to watch people churn out internet chum like this in order to sell ad space.

 

Ah, yes. "America on Hold"

 

I laugh when I hear people giving an email address and it is xxxxx@aol.com I forget about it, then think back to all of those free CDs that came in the mail.

 

As is always the case with some one person's "top-50" list opinions may vary, but this author's all over the place. "Worst"? How? Poor sales, dangerous, shoddy build, or what, exactly?

I tuned my receiver to "skeptical" once I saw the '66 Riviera on the list. While the 63-65 was a masterstroke, I loved the 66-69's also, spent many quality teen hours in a neighbor's dad's '68. Giant V8, comfy ride, quiet, fast enough, of course dismal fuel economy and the Uniroyals only lasted 10,000 miles or so. Made a terrific double-date-night ride for us. This model was tortured plenty in the years following, unfortunately.

I haven't had my full dose of MINI Kool-Aid just yet, but even as a casual shopper at the Chicago Auto Show I was impressed by the first Countryman I saw in person. They'd managed to keep a lot of the MINI "spirit", styling, moxie, and appeal in a size that might be more useful to a lot of folks. Nice work! How that's the "worst" in any sense is hard to understand.

As several of you have implied, consider the source, apparently.

(and I also thought/think the Volvo Bertone coupes were/are cool...)

 

AOL users are older than the Edsel they have on the article front page.

 

The Jeep postal truck? wtf, that's a purpose built car that has served its purpose very well for decades.

I'm guessing they've never even seen the Countryman in person, it looks way bigger in pictures than in person.

The Saturn Ion was not a bad econobox at all and was a very good example of typical Saturn.

 

That's why we named our CM the "medium". It's not MINI, it's just right.
We drove the R53 from SF to Reno last night and with two humans, two whippets, and a boot full of laptops, jackets, XMas stuff. It was tight - really tight. The CM is going to feel huge compared to the Pea.
I think MINI was spot on and responded to the needs of their customers who have been driving their cars for the past 10 years but needed to graduate to something a little larger. I saw an article listing the hardest 2012 cars to get based on time sitting on dealer lots. The CM was on the list with an average of 10 days compared to an industry average of 30 something. Clearly, the market is speaking and AOL called it wrong - again...

 

I would worry if AOL called it the best car ever. Move along, nothing to see here....

 

Just wait for next years list when they've had a chance to look at one with a bench seat. Y'all have a chance to be #1.

 

Woo Hoo we own 2 on the list!

proud owners of a 2001 prius, a very not bad car! (why on earth is that one on the list??)

 

One comment.
Anyone who would call a Jaguar XKE V-12 one of the worst cars has no clue what a car is about. Absolutely one of the best classics ever, and these idiots call it one of the 50 worst.

I'm glad we made the list.

Mark

 

AOL = American Online Losers. And VERY LITTLE!

Awe, to be grouped with the 1975 AMC Pacer should make any MC owner proud...

 

They forgot the K car but did have some good picks!

 

AOL rating cars is as wierd as TOSHIBA rating desert recipes! i thought AOL went out of business?

 

I thought the same thing.
Looks as if they gave the new intern some thing to keep them busy. Here kid, give these random cars captions. But don't reseach them first.

 

Boo-YAH!

 

One of the worst automotive articles AND it's on AOL, says it all.

 

In any "worst cars" list, especially one with 50 cars, there are going to be odd cars that you don't think belong. Having said this, I think the authors know their cars - at least 2/3rds are widely regarded as sales disasters and they've picked up most of the cars in the last ffifty years that were just completely off the mark in concept and execution. This may not be a list you agree with, but it is a knowledgeable one.

Let's put it this way.... I've seen a lot of these lists that are way worse.

But then again, I'm not a fan of the Countryman either (to my eyes, a Pontiac Aztek looks good next to a CM), so the fact it is on the list doesn't bother me.

- Mark

 

maybe your eyes need to be checked?