Cars That Were Huge Failures, But Should Have Been Great

[@TheStraightPipes]

The prowler with v6 auto and trailer is perfect and I don’t appreciate this Prowler Slander. With love. Yuri 😜

[@akshayramachandran7806]

Prowler Pipes Matter. ✊🏽

[@science.unlimited]

This is so stupid. Looks like two 10 years old kids arguing about what toy is better

[@JoJoJoker]

For the first time, today I saw the Prowler without bumpers.

[@chartreux1532]

I don't get the insane Focus of so many Americans on "At least a V8". Yes V8s sound great, well can sound great. To this day i find every single McLaren that has a V8 to sound "meh". But there are so many V6s that sound amazing and even better than some of the best V8s. Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm is probably the best sounding V6 you can get in a Car currently for sale. BMW Straight 6 Engines also always sound fantastic. "More Cylinders" doesnt always equal "Sounds better". That said, i have no clue if the Prowler V6 sounds or can be made to sound any good. Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

[@brendanbashaw8862]

@@chartreux1532 honestly it’s an American thing. V8s are the standard and everyone hates now that they are taking them away. I love my v6 plus is super powerful for a 3.5 na. They just love v8s whether they are underpowered or not

[@amazingjason455]

Doug owns the world’s most expensive cookie table.

[@androiduberalles]

"I'm going to ruin this man's entire career" - Elon Musk

[@RushQuacker]

​@@androiduberallesno, please... Please don't say that.

[@qbertq1]

And still won't spend $10 on a TV tray table for his laptop...

[@anthonyw5261]

Doubtful 😂

[@IMDGEN]

@@qbertq1dougs the type of guy to use a laptop...on his lap

[@MacAttack1776]

The “Are you taking that to Applebee’s?” Factor needs to be included on every review 😂😂

[@_pooo]

Agreed 😂

[@georgobergfell]

Doug with the Carrera GT: yeah, sometimes 😏

[@User540a]

honestly instead of the lagonda taraf the flying spur W12 would have been the better bet.

[@FrankieJ1981]

That was a great back and forth between Doug and Kennan 😂

[@daroachdoggjr188]

Can you do another video covering RARE everyday cars you might not recognize are rare?

[@BorisBidjanSaberi11]

Yes! The last one was so fun

[@ZettoMedia]

BMW e86 Porsche Panamera with manual transmission

[@aceimperial8298]

@@ZettoMedia Would you say the first gen Cayenne with a manual fits this or no?

[@bigboycale5152]

Doug did that a year or so ago, just look up what you said

[@daroachdoggjr188]

⁠@@bigboycale5152I know he did. And myself and a lot of other people really liked that video and wanted a follow up with more rare cars.

[@t17389z]

I'm the guy who bought the only CR-Z ever sold on Cars and Bids. Doug is 100% correct but I still love that car. I've put 70k miles on it in 2 years.

[@DSG-farts-connoisseur]

I'm so sorry

[@TheSkyline35]

I disagree, the manual one is a lot of fun, and cheap

[@t17389z]

@@TheSkyline35 mine is a manual!

[@volvo09]

​@@t17389zawesome, I'd buy one with a manual. It's the type of hybrid I'd have fun driving

[@p.informatico1320]

@@t17389z Mine was also a manual, and if you are sincere, you will agree with me than the car is pretty maneuverable in twisty roads, and fun to drive in that scenario... quite stable and reliable, and with a good mileage.

[@ArsalanAFG-fo1yx]

Doug gets even weirder when he's with one of his friends

[@almostontimehero5415]

You always see doug alone so you never notice he has a touch of the -tism until he interacts with normal humans.

[@pissoff234]

You mean his dorky lover.

[@ericB3444]

Wrong. He gets less weird. Both of them live in Nissan maximas. Both of them drink grape aid in they Nissans and watch foosball.

[@Oldteachers]

Doug gets a bad rap. He's just a guy who loves cars and has fun talking about them. I'm glad he's getting his friends in on the action.

[@blueanimul]

@@almostontimehero5415eah… it’s mainly just the interruptions

[@christiandulaney1638]

"Its interesting how you choose the vehicles for your Applebees experience." -Kennan I just belly laughed. It could also be partly my morning caffeine kicking in, but that was hilarious

[@FrankieJ1981]

And Kennan saying the neighborhood part cracked me up as well

[@roderickbutler7673]

This video is the dynamic that's been missing from videos that have Kennan in them. The ones where he's just doing your car review format ain't it. his stand alone reviews don't do it for me either. This is it. This is the sweet spot. The humor comes through. The knowledge comes through. The real camaraderie comes through. Engaging, genuinely funny, real...more of this please!

[@pissoff234]

No he's a dork get rid of him all together.

[@gnanasabaapatirg7376]

Yeah finally someone appreciates

[@PhiZelak]

Best comment. By far!

[@lesstoxic5619]

doug is the kind of guy who uses a PORSCHE CARRERA GT as a multi-purpose table

[@ozarkliving7263]

Not original, not insightful, make millions happy and keep your moronic comments to yourself

[@lesflynn4455]

Same cookies as last video?

[@hereigoagain5050]

Not multi-purpose: purposed built to keep your cookies warm.

[@sweaner]

My list would include the Pontiac Fiero, Solstice, and Saturn Sky. They were basically half-baked, which often is a GM trademark.

[@Mike-rk8px]

When I read in the early 80’s in different car magazines that Pontiac was going to build an affordable mid-engine sports car I was thrilled. My father was a sports car fanatic and owned numerous ones, and NOTHING handled like the Lotus Europa and Esprit he had. The problem was getting them serviced. But Pontiac dealers were everywhere, and a simple mid-engine sports car made in the US should eliminate the problem of getting parts. And being a Pontiac it would be expensive to run or fix. My father was also NOT the type to buy a first year model of anything, he was a structural engineer (and a great mechanic) by trade, and he wanted to wait and see how well the Fiero’s did before he bought one. Well, he sure avoided a lemon! One of our neighbors bought a new ‘84 Fiero and it caught on fire the week he had it. He drove it home from work, parked it in the garage, and in a half hour the garage was fully engulfed in flames. It’s a good thing the garage wasn’t attached to the house.

[@MichaelEilers]

The Soltice and Sky were an Opel product, so GM Europe but really Opel as that team was allowed to go its own way.

[@timmyy24]

@@MichaelEilersI thought the Opel Speedster was a Lotus off shoot.

[@MichaelEilers]

@@timmyy24 it was, the Sky and Solstice came from the Opel GT, not the speedster.

[@eterrnnoly1]

No one thought of the Chrysler Crossfire?

[@christiandulaney1638]

Jumping in again, Kennan hit the nail on the head with the i8. What a waste to have that powertrain in a car that beautiful The copper i8 was/is breathtaking.

[@damilolaakanni]

True. The i8 should have had the B58 engine at least.

[@chartreux1532]

@@damilolaakanni Did BMW already have the B58 Engine when they came out? The i8 is insanely old now, came out in 2014. That said i completely agree. It's insanely underpowered for it's amazing Looks and Design Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

[@damilolaakanni]

@@chartreux1532 I'm not sure the B58 existed at the time, but BMW could have used the existing inline 6 engine from the 3 series of the time. Or the twin turbo V8 from the M5.

[@chartreux1532]

@@damilolaakanni 100% agree with you, inow i'm interested why BMW made the Decision to give a Flagship Car like the i8 so little Power and that klind of Engine. Maybe they couldn't figure out how to make a Hybrid with a bigger Engine back in 2010-2014?

[@koyamma9575]

​@@chartreux1532BMW should had put tuned V12 from 7 series or bi turbo V8 from f10 M5 atleast BMW won't make such a beautiful car anymore

[@ohdoyle]

Outstanding list! I will give honorable mention to the Cadillac XLR, the Ford Thunderbird, and the Mazda RX8.

[@damilolaakanni]

The XLR...a Corvette based convertible without the Corvette engine. Less power, automatic transmission, not as reliable as the Corvette, heavier (because of the convertible top) and more expensive. For the Thunderbird, I think Ford was trying to return to form with that car (a convertible with a focus on luxury) as they had a Mustang convertible at the time. However the only other brands that were doing that were luxury brands (Mercedes-Benz with the SL and Lexus with the SC430, most notably). So if it had been badged as a Lincoln it may have done better. The RX-8 just had a worse engine than the RX-7, and most people who bought them didn't really know how to maintain them, they weren't your regular 4 or 6 cylinder engine.

[@benjaminrobinson3842]

@@damilolaakanni The XLR was going for the Mercedes SL market -- something that was more rakish than an S-class coupe and still had some performance, even if it wasn't a flat-out performance car. I rather liked it, but the market for this type of car seems to have gone away.

[@drunkenhobo5039]

The thing is the RX-8 is another where the manufacturer eventually fixed it, with the R3 model.

[@damilolaakanni]

@benjaminrobinson3842 you have a point there, but the Northstar engine that was used didn't have a good reputation for reliability. If they had used a different V8 it may have done better.

[@heroesofthelandstrasse]

The RX-8 was quite a success and is one of my Dreams Cars. But yes , it isn't a RX-7 replacement.

[@warmongerairsoft]

I remember a while back hearing two enthusiasts talk about the prowler. And one brought up a good point. When the prowler was in development the best v8 Dodge had was the 5.9 magnum. Which was way heavier and less powerful than the 3.5 v6

[@tstoneami]

A supercharger would have went a long way - IDK if they had one in production back then...

[@joshua.harazin]

The 3.5 wasn't a terrible engine. The 4 speed slushbox was really the larger issue. A better transmission and some weight reduction would have gone a long way.

[@matteofabbris7877]

I heard that too, and in order to fit inside the body, they should have changed the design

[@kenlykkeslett7501]

What about an 8.0 V10?

[@jamesuthmann940]

The CR-Z was one of the cars I thought looked cool last time I was car shopping, but I had never heard of it so I went looking for reviews. One reviewer's comment really stuck with me: they said something to the effect of, "Honda was trying to make a car that was as fun to drive as a sports-car, with the fuel economy of a hybrid. What they produced turned out to be the other way around."

[@andrewolson4280]

I would like to bring another one to light that could have been great too. The Dodge Magnum. If they had kept it going at least long enough or brought it back to make a Scat Pack and Hell Cat versions of it I believe it would have really helped bring fast wagons back in the American market. Especially when Doug has a big love for them. I do too especially with the magnum because I mean, a station wagon with a Hemi under the hood…. Need I say more??

[@caodesignworks2407]

But it was soooo damn ugly. And it's grill (the usual dodge crosshair special) makes it look worse. But then, I've been wanting Dodge to change that grill forever. It makes everything they put out look dated. At least to me.

[@muro2904]

@@caodesignworks2407I think it is very attractive. It has some potential which was disregarded.

[@Rascofresco11]

As painful as it may be for some to understand, the Volt/ELR was way ahead yet undesired

[@joshua.harazin]

The Volt was a brilliant (at the time) powertrain in an awful car. The beltline was way too high and tall drivers end up sitting behind the B-pillar.

[@nzos14]

God forbid the battery ever ran out, the ice engine in them is terrible...

[@deathstarter4242]

Doug's facial expressions when you mentioned the Ferrari 296 😅

[@nickg3235]

I think one aspect I'd like to have heard Doug and Kennan comment on was how would they would have changed these cars to make them successful

[@stevenwilliams1805]

They kinda did.

[@nickg3235]

@@stevenwilliams1805 I agree they kind of did, I just would have liked to hear more. For example they didn't really talk about that with the CRZ. It would have been interesting to hear Doug's thoughts, like rip out the hybrid system, drop in the Civic Si power train.

[@stevenwilliams1805]

@@nickg3235 I forget the name of the company but there's a shop that guts the hybrid systems out of the Insight and drops in monster k blocks.

[@thekernel69]

The sad thing about the crz is that honda originally wanted to put the k20 from the civic si into it and make it an si trim, but the car failed crash testing with the larger engine so the best we got was a hfp supercharger

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

Source? I read that they never considered it, as it was supposed to be a Kei Car type hatchback but slightly larger more comfortable. Kei Cars being 600-660cc typically... "Honda said the name "CR-Z" stood for ‘Compact Renaissance Zero’ - reflecting the idea of a renaissance in the design of compact cars.[12] At the show, CEO Fukui stated that a production model is "in the works" and that the car was intended to be "sporty, incredibly efficient and inexpensive".[13] The CR-Z name was previously used as a grade level in 1985 and 1986 as the Honda Ballade CR-Z, which was sold alongside the original Ballade Sports CR-X in Japan" "Two Honda Performance Development CR-Z Racers entered the 25-hour of Thunderhill endurance race held on December 4-5, 2010 at Willows, California. The car, first shown to the public at 2010 SEMA Show, is fully stripped down with lowered suspension. A turbo charger is bolted to the engine raising output to 175 hp (130 kW) and 155 lb⋅ft (210 N⋅m) of torque, furthermore, the Integrated Motor Assist setup is modified utilizing components from Mission Motors[54] and a push-to-pass function is added, making a total of 200 hp (149 kW) and 175 lb⋅ft (237 N⋅m) of torque when the button is pressed.[55][56] One of the two entrants battled from a near 10-lap deficit to finish second in the Endurance 3 class, after suffering early in the race from two five-minute "stop-and-hold" penalties caused by refueling problems. The other entrant scored pole position of the class but failed to finish the race.[57][58] The Honda CR-Z was one of the most showcased cars during the SEMA Show earlier in the year and one of the cars produced 533 hp (397 kW).[citation needed] This is what the hybrid engine could withstand in terms of power"

[@MABfan11]

the problem with the Prowler isn't the V6, it's the 4-speed auto transmission

[@ericcarabetta1161]

The Prowler is still one of my all-time favorite cars.

[@avvy9448]

Loved his purple Js

[@volvo09]

I thought it was an absolute joke when it came out, (crappy interior, V6, slow automatic trans) but it's so unique I like it these days. I did get to drive one for an hour or so once.

[@TDDPhoto]

I'm pretty sure every kid had the Hot Wheels version of the Prowler

[@ericcarabetta1161]

@@TDDPhoto, did Hot Wheels make a Prowler? I always remember I had a Matchbox Prowler, but it was a slightly bigger scale, like 1/62nd or something, and it always bugged me.

[@genesiscollins6213]

Prowler was a modern day hot rod. While a manual and V8 would have been nice, go to a hot rod meet. Most V8 hot rods will have similar horsepower as that V6 and pretty much ALL will have an auto.

[@charlie1832]

“Kennan’s betrayal to Ferrari” Doug having some fun with the time stamps

[@Butterbean32]

Kennan’s take on the 296 was so puzzling until he said it needed a manual 😂

[@brandonkirk5357]

it was kind of a bad take though since its a hybrid --that basically would be the last car that Ferrari would have the opportunity to make a manual.

[@Butterbean32]

@@brandonkirk5357 I don't understand why that's a bad take though, it reinforces his argument

[@TheSuperSwain]

296 is underrated imo, unbelievably fast, keeps up with the sf90

[@MrDeyugo]

There's just no chance they would've put a manual in it

[@brandonkirk5357]

@@Butterbean32 how would a manual even work when the car has electronic torque fill between shifts. The three electric motors are supposed to release without a flywheel when shifting manually?? Wanting a manual 812 or something like that makes sense but expecting as much with the 296 only because it looks retro like kenith was saying doesn't make much sense.

[@northwayperformance]

Yall should really do a part 2. So many more out there.

[@JradsEdits]

I totally agree about the CRZ!! I test drove a manual one and loved the styling but it was SO SLOW and had no back seats….

[@Joe_Blow_]

Doug, long time fan, been following you since you wrote for Jalopnik, absolutely love you, I mean this purely as constructive criticism. I think you fundamentally misunderstand the ethos of the Ford GT. The entire goal since the inception of the original Ford GT was one simple thing: absolutely embarrass Ferrari at their home turf at Le Mans. They eventually got there, of course, with a little help from Carol Shelby. The 2017 Ford GT won Le Mans as well. America winning Le Mans, to the racing community at least, was a MASSIVE accomplishment. It was never a "shove it in gear, and stomp on the throttle" type car in spirit. The original was because that's what fast cars were, they were all raw, mechanical beasts with very little in the way of both aerodynamic and mechanical grip. But at its core, it was one thing: a purpose built racecar. That is EXACTLY what the Le Mans winning 2017 Ford GT is. It accomplished the same goal as the original Ford GT, and for that reason and that reason alone, it is the perfect version of what it could have been. It might be a terrible drivers car on the street, but so is a racecar, which this basically is. It would not have been able to do what it did on the track if they made it into a better, streetable drivers car. Again, just meant this as constructive criticism, this isn't meant to like harp on you or say "oh Dough is so dumb I can't believe he said....", no I COMPLETELY get how you get to that conclusion owning a 2005 Ford GT, which in ethos is just a modern version of the driving characteristics the original had. I think the best way of phrasing it is this: The 2005 Ford GT is a love letter to the drivers of the original Ford GT, the 2017 Ford GT is a love letter to the engineers of the original. They both do what they set out to do perfectly imo. They just go about paying tribute to the original in VASTLY different ways and appeal to wildly different people, which is beautiful in a way.

[@Bennettgrabey]

Heck yeah!!!!! Gotta love it when a Prowler makes the thumbnail LOL 🤣

[@JoeOnaBoat]

Doug the type of guy to serve beverages to his guests sealed in bottles so they know the beverages aren’t loaded with anything suspicious

[@ozarkliving7263]

Stupid comment using a dead meme. Make millions happy by keeping your inane comments to yourself

[@Zundfolge]

Honestly the Prowler would have been just fine with the V6 if they would have just put a manual trans behind it.

[@pavementsailor]

The reintroduced Chevy Blazer and the Fird Thunderbird. Are my top 2 .

[@Rev.Match.Reviews]

If the Fiero isnt on this list that'll be criminal. The 1988 GT/Formula fixed almost everything! And the 89/90 prototype wouldve been another league. Sadly GM did the GM thing and made the best version of a car and then canceled it.

[@agrippa1234]

SPOT ON!

[@miken6imy]

What is a Fiero GT Formula?? I have only seen a SE and a GT.

[@Rev.Match.Reviews]

@@miken6imy the GT trim is separate to the Formula trim but similar. The Formula has the running gear of a GT, but looks like a base model 2M4 with a wing. Notchback not fast back. I personally like the Formulas style the best.

[@miken6imy]

​@@Rev.Match.Reviewsthank you for the quick response. Worked at a Pontiac dealer from 86 to 94. I remember seeing the 2m4, se and gt. Just clearly cannot remember seeing a formula.

[@Rev.Match.Reviews]

@@miken6imy no problem! I've always loved them as my grandpa has a small block chevy swapped 84 and he got me an 85 back when I turned 16. The Formulas were supposed to be the light weight handling model. They only made them in 88 and only 5500 or so. So they're the rarest fiero besides the Mera! Look those up if you've never heard of them, you won't believe Pontiac had the balls to do it from the factory 😅

[@Carlb328]

CRZ looked awesome they could build the exact same car now and put the 1.5 turbo in it and it would sell.

[@c3pino226]

I like the subject. I think there is a ton of content here so I think you guys should do a few more of these. Great callout for the Mazda. Such a cool looking car so I would love to see Mazda make a more aggressive version.

[@kotogray8335]

Doug seems to be one of those people that doesn't mind interrupting you in a conversation because what he has to say is more important than what you have to say

[@andykuhn4968]

I have a Mazdaspeed 3 and it was a blast. Big turbo, silly torque steer. so fun.

[@wilbeugre]

I don't quite agree about the 296 GTB. From what I could gather, everyone who tried it found it fun while being crazy fast (and not "serious" all the time; that's kind of a Porsche thing for what I reckon 🤔)

[@p.informatico1320]

As a former owner of a manual CR-Z (ZF1), I can say you are wrong... Yes, nobody understood this model, cause people expected to be a CRX, and it isn't, but it's really fun to drive, specially in Sport mode, and highly capable in twisted canyon roads. The main problem was, for me, the low capacity of the battery pack.

[@jefferyG499]

25 minutes of about crying about how people don't want slower, thirstier, dirtier manuals. Guys, it's 2023 and not 1984. Let it go.

[@jimmysuperduty1484]

Amen 🫡

[@porsche928s4]

But they do the i8, prowler,crz, laganda they all didn't sell well compared to there rivals at the time

[@2AMinLosAngeles]

manuals were actually more efficient on average up until about 2010. not sure what you mean by thirstier and dirtier, transmissions dont run on gas lmao.

[@joemazzola7387]

I would like to add the Ford 500 later to be renamed Taurus There's nothing 500 about it and it looked like a big v w Passat

[@lethargicstove2024]

It wasn't a bad car from what I've heard just a silly name

[@victornjensen]

Actually there’s three EB112’s that aren’t concept cars, one of them being in Turin, Italy. And the Lagonda Taraf, I love it so much as well, but I’d definitely swap the interior for a DBX’s.

[@mattlimberg5763]

The CR-Z was more a modernized 1st gen Insight than a replacement CR-X, Honda wanted to invoke the emotions of the CR-X. The problem was it was too inefficient to by a renewed insight, and not sporty enough to be a new CR-X.

[@juanzingarello4005]

My problem with the Lagonda Taraf is that it was just a Rapide with nicer leather and different exterior styling. At that price, I am literally ONLY paying for exclusivity but not for it being unique.

[@2AMinLosAngeles]

I think the rapide is far better looking too. the taraf looks very stately but lacks the emotional lines of the rapide.

[@SlickDisaster26]

I understand where Doug come from with the Ford GT, but you have to understand that the 2005 Ford GT was built to be a commemorative throwback to the original GT. The new Ford GT was specifically built to win the GT class at Le Man. I remember the joke at the time was that the new Ford GT was damn near and more in line with a LM Prototype than a GT car. The new Ford GT was built to be a race winning race car 1st and a streetcar 2nd. That's the misconception that a lot of these rich, exotic type owners who aren't into motorsport fail to understand when they look at this million dollar Ford. Your not paying that for a luxury hypercar to take on rallies, your paying a million dollars for a race car.

[@PasleyAviationPhotography]

The constant giggling has me convinced that those aren't your standard cookies sitting behind them.

[@hitchedtohorsepower]

I took a lime green Lamborghini Murcielago to Applebee's in Bristol, TN back in like 08 or 09. I was picking up my order so I parked in the to go spot right out front. The place was packed and when I walked in in seemed like everyone was staring at me. No one wanted to say anything until one waitresses asked me a question and when I was friendly and polite answering her it opened the floodgates to questions and comments. Kinda a cool experience, not as much fun as driving it without anyone around, but still cool. Not sure if a Lagonda would get that amount of attention 🤔

[@cae7896]

would be cool a video on the most improved car from the previous model year

[@ninjaturtles1010]

I love my crz lol I can floor it all day and still get mid 30s mpg. The 6sp is so crisp it's a dream. Summer tires + Tein coilovers liven it up a lot

[@ecksray48]

I've always thought this about the CR-Z. They should've had trims just like the cr-x - call the hybrid the HF, have a base DX with the regular Civic engine, and then an Si with the Civic Si motor

[@yogibearstie]

I am of the age of really wanting a CR-X but had student loans to pay off. The CR-Z held the promise of HF/Si at the push of a button. Instead was a CR-Zzzzzzzzz

[@PresidentJackBauer]

Doug is completely right about the Lagonda. I remember seeing the motor trend video for it and questioning why it cost so much

[@KDG50]

What about the Maserati Ghibli!? That should've been better than what it is. It's like a fast paper weight.

[@axe2grind244]

And shares many of its interior ergonomics with a Dodge Dart.

[@Nmcg-ye7xl]

The SN95 Mustang was just a re-skin of the Fox platform and the powertrain just carried over. The underpinnings from 1978-2004 are the same.

[@gabek7010]

Love your guys chemistry. It just works and it works well. Also his list I believe it was flawless. Perfect.

[@r1chUK]

Will say I am still 'on the fence' about the reviews with people other than Doug BUT this was great, the banter and differences in opinions is what makes great chemistry work. Keep it up. Also absolutely true on the Ford GT. It's my dream car and I feel in 20+ years the 00' GT's will still be looked at as beautiful and sleek but the current ones will be 'Oh those were the years when they did this'. Much prefer the 00's looks. Great work guys, really enjoyed this.

[@davidcopeland5450]

Pontiac G8 and the subsequent Chevy SS. Both great Americanized versions of the VE and VF Holden Commodores respectfully with great power, manual options, and otherwise zippy to drive. Unfortunately the G8 came too late before Pontiac was killed off, and had things gone differently, we would’ve gotten a ute version of it here in the States and a sports wagon version was rumored to eventually come too. The Chevy SS is an odd one cause as good of a car as it was, Chevy never marketed the car substantially and for whatever reason never really promoted it enough to get the attention and sales figures it needed to have a chance at succeeding.

[@SunshineDeluxe]

Doug covered the marketing issue with the SS in his review of it (however many years ago that was). But I agree, the G8 was the first really exciting Pontiac since they killed off the Trans Am. Granted, with the way sedans have been all but abandoned in favor of SUVs, I don't think Pontiac would've survived much longer even if GM's bankruptcy never happened, but it did kinda suck that Pontiac finally got a car that fit the brand right as it died.

[@dannysdailys]

I don't understand this: I have an 02 Prowler and it has an all aluminum 3.5 HO engine in it that puts out 295 hp on 91 octane fuel. That engine was NOT used in any other vehicle that I'm aware of and you call it an Intrepid engine, which were iron. So firstly, you don't even know what you're talking about. Granted, it's an 02, not a 99. I added an intake kit to mine and get right at 300hp. In a car that weighs half of what the Intrepid weighs. She goes like a bat out of hell and will easily take on most anything out there. And any turn out there, as well. So what is this not enough hp hype? My 18 Dodge Charger put out 300hp stock and had plenty of power at twice the weight. Yes, the Prowler certainly could've used another gear. But so what? It turns 1,750 RPM's at 60 mph. What's wrong with that? Nothing; is what. The Prowler, with nice tires, is my favorite car all time, and it's a Mercedes. I've had mine for 15 years and never had any problems with it. And I've been taking ignorant crap from people like you that whole time. Not everyone drives around in a half a million dollar Ford GT or a million dollar Volkswagen Karmon Gia, Doug. Which you use as a kitchen table. Doug. Get a life. I wouldn't have anything else but the Prowler and I could have a whole lotta cars, including a brand new Vette convertible. (and don't think I haven't looked) And since I added Auto-Start, NAV, backup camera and bluetooth, it's perfect. I'm not crazy about all the attention it gets every where I go, but that's the price of admission. A Vette would be the same way. The car will never look dated because it's supposed to look dated. If it took the parts bin to be able to build it, God bless the parts bin. And that little 3.5 V-6 (before the HO series) put out 50 more hp than the Chrysler V-8 at the time. The trans-axle couldn't handle the hp of the Viper engine, so the cupboard was bare. And the V-8 was an iron engine on top of it. Kind of missing the point of a Prowler which is all aluminum right down to the frame. And even still, they addressed the engine issue, with a whole new engine, but the trans-axle was a step too far. You have to draw the line somewhere, especially with a parts bin car. This car shouldn't even be made in the first place. Well I'm glad it did get made and I'm glad I have one of 286, Inca Gold.

[@omniphoriusvcf907]

Just goes to show that enthusiasts are often obsessed with superficial figures, such as number of cylinders, rather than useful numbers such as power-to-weight ratio. If you love the car more power to you.

[@dannysdailys]

@@omniphoriusvcf907 Yes and thanks. It's hp to weight ratio is 7.7. (supercar territory and they claim it's underpowered? LOL) I added over 15,000 dollars in chrome to mine and she's the queen of the ball at any car show I take it to. And then there's people like Doug. Who have so little respect, he uses his million dollar car as a kitchen table. Well, he's from California; what do you expect?

[@Fuuntag]

I half expected to see the Suzuki Samurai here for the US. Sales just plummeted after the corrupted CR report and its extensive media coverage. Great car that made bank everywhere else in the world and led to the almighty Jimny. ❤ (the US media dogpile on this car itself was just so atrocious).

[@LouisSubearth]

I am certain most of the Samurais ended up in Puerto Rico. They are very popular here, and JDM Jimnys are getting imported and modded like the Samurais are.

[@Fuuntag]

@@LouisSubearth Suzuki Samurais were very popular around the world, not to mention how well the Jimny has done, a design that is often seen copied or to be copied nowadays after the 2019 Jimny. Lack of a US Jimny is obviously still a sign of bad blood from the Samurai imho.

[@armadillolover99]

⁠@@FuuntagThe current Jimny probably wouldn’t have been sold here anyways because as currently constructed it definitely would not meet US emissions and crash safety standards, not to mention it lacks a lot of creature comforts that American consumers can’t live without. It wouldn’t have been feasible for Suzuki to try and revive their basically nonexistent US dealer network and modify the Jimny enough to make it compliant, just to import a niche vehicle aimed a low-to-middle income buyer.

[@Fuuntag]

Seriously? I’d have thought if it meets Australian & European standards US would be a sure thing. Also what comforts? Apart from not being big enough to take up two lanes of traffic. 😂

[@armadillolover99]

@@FuuntagIn its intended form it actually doesn’t meet EU standards anymore, they had to stop making them for a year and then modify it to bring it back as a “commercial vehicle” (they took out the rear seats and put a divider between the front seats and the rest of the car) because the EUs standard for commercial vehicles are less stringent than for passenger cars. Also a lot of cars that are EU compliant are not US compliant and vice versa, our regulations are focused on different things.

[@warkus123]

The SN95 to "New Edge" facelift is one of the best facelifts of any car ever in my opinion. Turned it from a soft round droopy looking car to a edgy sporty car.

[@mrpurple2306]

I would love to see the CR Zed brought back!, Or a new Mazda 3 MPS!

[@robertbarnes9662]

I have a mystichrome Cobra, and a Lincoln Continental, and the Lincoln is rated at a higher hp with the twin turbo 3 liter v6, lol. Both are fun to drive.

[@Games_and_Music]

I agree with a lot of these, especially the BMW i8, i remember when it came out and i thought it looked awesome. I knew that it was mostly a cool wrapper around a boring chassis and engine, but at least it looked cool. But yeah, the EV market was still in its infancy and people didn't like to take that plunge. Luckily someone in my town did actually get one, so i was able to see it quite frequently anyway.

[@oracleoptix]

Can Kennen not mention a Ferrari in any video? We get that you love them, and that it's you're "thing" in the car world...but it's also getting quite old...

[@amirnaim3675]

The original GT was meant to beat Ferrari at LeMans. The current GT did exactly that

[@carltonleboss]

So did the original

[@starduck7699]

True the original was changed alot for the homoligation but the new Ford GT was basically the same as the one on the race except the aero bits I disagree with Doug's take on the new one simply because it was developed as a race car first and if it had any other badge there would have been far less complains about the comfort and harsh ride quality

[@amirnaim3675]

@@starduck7699 in terms of staying true to the original GT's ethos, it did its job perfectly. The 2005 one is more like a tribute rather than being a race car first like the original

[@Jiddy12345]

The Prowler is such a great answer. I remember having a poster of one I got from the Scholastic book fair. Pretty sure I have a model of a PT Cruiser as well.

[@springertube]

Great episode. Love these "best" and "what if" lists you're doing with Hoovie, Keenan and Alanis - they're real winners ... But, perfectly in keeping with the topic -- the great irony is this could have been even better but wasn't! You spent too much time on some at the expense of others on your lists you ran out of time for. Guys, this needs a Part 2! One particular glaring omission IMO that actually had promise, unfulfilled: no mention of the 00's resurrection of the Thunderbird. A great-looking car I think Ford said was planned (oddly) from the get-go to be a limited year(s) run....Without a whole lot of nits to pick in the styling department, absent a bit more flair, a bit more special grille (started with the right idea but ended up looking a bit like something out of the movie "Cars") and embellishments here and there on the exterior, including more special wheels and needing a few trim pieces such as chrome around the tail lights etcetera. ... and basically needed a completely different, much more bespoke, luxe interior instead of the very downmarket shared parts Ford dash -- looks and materials...and was then under-marketed. Could have been a poor man's SL, and wasn't. Done, it appears, on (too restricted) a budget--unnecessarily I think.

[@Trainy2]

The CRZ is one of my biggest disappointments. I owned an '85 CRX and to this day probably my favorite driving experience. It just felt like a go cart.

[@ericB3444]

I agree the geo metro was very nice.

[@joeewing9364]

They should name this segment “Cars & Cookies” 😂

[@davidp2888]

Doug, Kennan and the $1.5M cookie holder.

[@ozarkliving7263]

Not original, stupid comment, grow up.

[@sabraitis]

Great show guys! Stick all the way. I just bought a 2019 Z06 convertible stick…. Apparently only 3% with that spec… not sure if that’s true. But what I would say is that the C7 is the last of the traditional format vette. Front engine (long front end) sitting on the rear wheels. New ones are nice… but they aren’t the corvette of yesterday.

[@marthinye]

There was a CRZ called Mugen RZ, and it had a supercharger and was actually pretty damn good. But there is only very few of them. Would be a great if you can review one!

[@sarmatiancougar7556]

Very controversial thought: the new Ford GT sounds amazing There ARE good sounding V6s and this one is one of the best of them

[@vapor4den]

Honda CRZ Hell yeah it need to go on this list ! I'M I the only one that totaly forget about this car !? 😅

[@andrewolson5471]

I'm lifelong Mustang fan. The reason the early SN-95 Mustang was so lackluster was due to it not supposed to exist at all. In the 80s, Ford wanted to shift the Mustang to the formula that was popular with the youth of the era: FWD 4cyl cars. They designed the next generation "Mustang" with pop up headlights and a lotnof Mazda components, but the public wasn't having it. So the Fox Mustang got a stay of execution, and was scheduled for retirement in 1993 instead of 1988. The replacement was sold as the Ford Probe. John Coletti made the SN-95 happen on a shoestring budget of $500k and a lot of fast talking. The actual car had aot more Fox Body architecture underneath it than most people realize. When Ford management looked at the sales figures for the two cars, they saw the Probe going nowhere and the Mustang still selling well in spite of its flaws, so they cancelled the Probe and reinvested in the Mustang, resulting in the much better car that the New Edge facelift created.

[@BMWI35433]

I had a Honda Cr-Z infact it had a booster button to give the engine more power! Not to mention had 3 modes Sport, normal and Eco mode. The coolest thing about the car is it had a hdmi port to hook up like a switch to it!

[@TrueCanad1an]

I think Chrysler motto should be : Great cars executed poorly

[@eag8999]

The Terminator Cobra wasn’t about the factory power at all. It was about having the freakishly strong stock block that took to mods incredibly well. I/E/ported blower = 550whp+. It could hold double that.

[@DrBeef216]

Terminator Cobras & Kenne Bell Blowzilla blowers go together like lamb & tuna fish

[@BionicDeathclaw]

It was the 99 Cobra that was underpowered, not the 01. The 99 is the reason there was no regular Cobra in 00 only the R, they had to fix the power issues. Ford put out a recall on the 99 most were taken in to get up to the rated power. Also the 99 and 01 Cobras were the only 4th gen Mustangs that had Euro spec taillights with the amber blinkers, and sell for $500 - $1000 today.

[@gadci4400]

The Prowler was the only 2000s Chrysler that looked good

[@otavioo.8320]

crossfire was nice too

[@gadci4400]

@@otavioo.8320 Man i forgot that too. Only thing that was weird was that the wing always stayed up

[@seanharrison6162]

I know of 3 CRZs in my small island and one of them was a special package one and it looks cool thats it

[@AaronGnaga]

I can't believe my car made it to a video (cr-z) i have a stick though. Love it to death.

[@slowery43]

we really don't care... this is not about you

[@threeer02]

Once worked for a company that made the brackets for the front bumpers of the Prowler! Had to deliver a measurement gage to the Connor facility and got to drive my late father’s Dodge Ram pickup right up to the assembly line!

[@dillonh321]

That’s very cool. I wished the prowler sold better. I understand why they used a v6: parts sharing and packaging size restrictions. But Chrysler owned Mitsubishi at the time that had a 3.0v6 tt in the 3000gt that made 320hp. Not as cool as a v8 but a good 70hp more and accepts manual transmissions.

[@TrueCanad1an]

I actually like the look of the 2000+ Mustang and the re engineered 2006 body style

[@slowery43]

and no one cares, no one came here hoping to find out which car Sean actually like the look of this is not about you

[@axe2grind244]

Me too, and I’m an Audi/VW guy. Even look better without a spoiler.

[@agrippa1234]

But oh how crappy those interiors were, you could make the whole center stack move and squeak with alittle tweak!

[@TrueCanad1an]

@@slowery43 Who pissed in your corn flakes this morning dude. Just a car enthusiast creating discussions in the comment section. I bet your just a joy to be around.

[@TrueCanad1an]

@@axe2grind244 For Audi/VW stuff I loved the look of the 2004 TT when I was a kid

[@davidlane8811]

I remember the CR-Z commercial used a Sleigh Bells song and bragged about it’s subwoofer. I thought it was THE COOLEST car ever (based on that one commercial)

[@rickbivins3400]

I AM NOT GAY

[@dav8388]

A lot of people give the Prowler crap for the V6, but what they forget is that the 3.5 made more power then the 5.9 which was the most powerful V8 they had at the time. The 5.9 made more torque, but the V-6 was also lighter as it was an all aluminum engine where as the 5.9 was cast iron. The 3.5 just made more since. As far as the automatic the LH cars had a longitudinal mounted engine, so the transaxle was meant to sit in that position, and have the CV shafts come out the side.

[@NoName-cn3cp]

I'm unsubscribing if he continues with these lame co-hosts

[@johnstedman4075]

The 'dumbing down' of the KZbin output of Doug DeMuro is not working. Cars are expensive and complicated devices which do not lend themselves well to flippant forms of rather juvenile analysis and low-grade so-called 'entertainment'.

[@YoSmoked]

*Can we take a moment to appreciate how much work he puts into these videos for us 😍*

[@TheSh4dowgale]

Bot

[@thedruidzmademe666]

There was actually a concept car Chrysler had plans for called the Howler which wouldve been a Prowler with a V8 and 6 speed manual trans. Wouldve been a true hotrod from the factory.

[@doc2w534]

I bought the CR-Z 6-speed manual as soon as it came out and I lived in Chicago. All was well. I then moved to the Inland Empire. I had to drive up the 15 to the 138 to get to Palmdale for work. Going up the mountain drained the IMA battery and I couldn’t get the car to go over 35 mph until I was headed downhill and could recharge the battery. It was always embarrassing to have to turn on my hazards every time I had to drive where a positive change in elevation occurred.

[@thickheart28]

17:10 you takin that to Applebees?!?! 😂

[@paulcarmi8130]

_THE DOG IS A BETTER COHOST_ Never forget.

[@vapor4den]

12:31 Totally disagree with both of you; A 300k +800hp mid-engin hybrid from Ferrari ? In any other high end car dealers this would sell for +1M.

[@66meikou]

I bought my son a 2015 CR-Z and he absolutely loves the car.

[@PeterBellefleur]

The 3.5 in the prowler made more HP and weighed a lot less than any of the V8's Chrysler had at the time. The transmission held it back some, being a 4 speed which should have been retired a decade earlier. In the 90's early 2000s, most of the "Hot rod" cars around were running SBC 350s with a carb that likely made less power than the 3.5 did.

[@chynacash3138]

A "decade" earlier? 4 speeds were the norm for mainstream V6 drivetrains in the 90's - It was more than competitive especially with the AutoStick feature which was a new and relatively cool gimmick at the time. Many still used 3 speeds in the 80's (a "decade" earlier) lol.

[@PeterBellefleur]

@@chynacash3138 yeah I agree there, but the a604 and it's children had such a bad reputation (somewhat undeserved) they should have started with a clean slate design.

[@Inferiis]

I do agree with the point on the Ferrari. Power doesn't equal fun. Just look at Lotus, they never made huge amounts of power, yet one of the best cars to drive (same with the MX5, but that's even slower)

[@jonathanspudic2200]

Folks, I present to the Ford Thunderbird. The pinnacle of missed potential and automotive disappointment. I understand that it was built with a particular buyer in mind (old), but it could have been something special. The nameplate alone carried a pedigree, and the looks were great.

[@rohanbadve9456]

Why did Doug consider the Urus to be a disappointment? It was a sporty, attractive, and functional SUV with a V8 and held the fastest SUV in the world title for some time. For some reason he considers the vehicle to be unattractive which I fail to understand, especially in comparison to the Purosangre, which I don’t consider to be hideous, but I definitely feel that Ferrari missed the mark with its design.

[@Scientist_Salarian]

I’m completely disinterested in any sports car without a clutch pedal. Manually shifting a transmission in and out of corners is the single most satisfying feeling in all of driving. Period.

[@mm8436]

The prowler is such a cool car. Being a V6 is fine but they should have turbo or supercharge it from factory with a manual. The crx was always known for its fuel efficiency. The crz took after the HF when it should have been the SiR.