Lots of cars get branded as being cool upon release. Whether they stay cool, is another matter. Classic cars like the MK1 Audi TT and the gorgeous Alfa Romeo Brera caused a stir when they broke cover. Exciting designs that garnered admiration. To their credit, both still look pretty fresh today.
Other cars aren’t so lucky. Their bold styling may bring about initial praise, but it is short-lived. What is once deemed cutting-edge gets stamped as being out of date. Despite their best efforts, several of these cars are doomed. They are the ‘in thing’ for a short time and then discarded. Destined to become the automotive equivalent of parachute pants.
Vehicular fashion is a curious thing. There are many fads and many passing trends. Some designs stick and become instant classics, while some burn bright and fast before fizzling out. These 10 cars were cool 20 years ago, but unfortunately, they didn’t age well at all.
10/10 The Pontiac Sunfire
A funky-looking coupe with a cool name, the Pontiac Sunfire featured exciting styling, as well as a plethora of sports additions like the rear spoiler and deep front valance. It also had a zingy 2.4-liter engine with 150hp. Good for hitting 60mph in 8.8 seconds. It was a cost-effective little car.
Praised for its economical approach to motoring, the Sunfire was warmly received. But that bold statement styling soon became outdated. No one wanted three-spoke alloys and a mini spoiler. The Sunfire faded from the limelight to become a has-been. Pontiac died soon after.
9/10 The Bugatti Veyron
One of the automotive world’s boldest creations. A French-backed supercar with a bonkers engine, made mostly from German parts. The Bugatti Veyron dished out impressive statistics with reckless abandon. A record-breaking supercar with a price tag that dropped jaws.
While the Bugatti Veyron still has blinding statistics, it looks to have faded. The front grille piece is ghastly. Painted with a two-tone finish, it looks like a cheaply finished kit car. What was once deemed flamboyant, now looks overblown and ridiculous. Time has not been kind to it.
8/10 The Chevrolet Cobalt SS
It had an engine to get gearheads’ tongues wagging. A screaming 2.0-liter supercharged unit with 205hp capable of propelling the Cobalt SS to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The Cobalt SS was very fast and offered great fun. It ticked all the boxes, and many bought into the hype.
The only thing the Cobalt SS lacked was any lasting appeal. The exterior looked okay. It sat between being plain and interesting. But today, it just stands as being boring. Too sophisticated for its own good, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS lost out to more powerful, yet basic machines.
7/10 The Rolls-Royce Phantom
Dripping with graceful prowess. The Rolls-Royce Phantom is for those that want to waft around in luxury, while making sure that those who they pass know that they are loaded with cash. A statement of superiority, it did the business, pushing luxury motoring to new heights.
While it set new standards, it did so with a foot firmly in the past. Trading off aged influences hasn’t done the Phantom any favors. From all angles, it now looks older than it is. A retro-styled lurching behemoth, and a tacky reminder that the super wealthy can’t buy street cred.
6/10 The Ford Mustang (5th Gen)
The world went crazy for the 5th Generation Mustang. It grabbed the whole retro vibe and ran through the halls screaming with it. At the time, it looked fantastic, it was a modern Mustang with a distinctive old-school Mustang look. A fitting shout-out to its ancestry and roots.
These days it looks bloated and heavy. A Mustang that has been dining daily at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Those cool retro touches now look like dreadful aftermarket additions. This generation Mustang will likely have its time again, but it will need to wait another 20 years.
5/10 The Mercedes-Benz CLS
A sedan that thinks it’s a coupe, Mercedes-Benz knocked it out of the park with the CLS. A super comfortable vehicle with plenty of appeal. It broke the mold back when sedans and coupes were a thing. Blending two best-selling vehicle classes into one, buyers were captivated.
The thorn in the side of the CLS was the march of the SUV. Sedans and coupes fell out of fashion leaving the CLS floundering. Once a beauty queen, it’s now an unwanted land barge. A mess of outdated design cues, the CLS got left behind in an evolving market.
4/10 The Spyker C8
A hand-built special, the Spyker C8 was an explosion of wild ideas crammed into one place. It was refreshing at the time, a shining beacon of creativity with acres of leather, machined metals, and body vents. It also had 395hp from a 4.2-liter V8, albeit an Audi engine.
The problem with the boutique design is that it runs the risk of looking silly, very quickly. The Spyker C8 was muscular and aggressive back then. Today, it looks fussy. There’s too much going on. It’s like a kid has designed their ultimate fantasy car, and then Spyker made it.
3/10 The Toyota MR2 Spyder
Small, light, and only available as a drop-top, the heavily redesigned Toyota MR2 moved into a whole new sphere. It was a superb handling car, a high-revving little sports car. Proving to be frugal too, it offered superb value for money and gained a cult following.
The MR2 Spyder can be purchased for peanuts. That goes to show how far from grace it has fallen. Resembling a poor kit car version of a Porsche Boxster, the MR2 Spyder is an ugly little car. Less characterful than the one it replaced, it lacks charisma and any classic appeal.
2/10 The Ford Thunderbird (11th Gen)
The Ford Thunderbird cashed in on the popular retro vibe. Classy and sleek, with a rear porthole window, it reincarnated a much-loved model. Ford dropped a 4.0-liter V8 into an eye-catching body, giving the Thunderbird a generous 280hp, thereby providing plenty of performance.
Just look at it. Polished chrome wheels, a dreadful gaping front grille, that ridiculous hood intake, plus a pair of porthole rear windows. It’s the car that has good taste bypassed. The last Ford Thunderbird is a perfect example of why some retro ideas needn’t ever get made… or sold.
1/10 The Cadillac CTS
Getting noticed in a packed market is a hard task. The first-generation Cadillac CTS managed to do this by being radically different. Its angular looks and apparel get the curb appeal. Well-equipped and with a host of engine options, there was something for everyone.
From a distance, it looks like a car made from Lego. The front and rear lights are mostly to blame, along with the razor-sharp body lines. Too boxy for its own good, all those little stand-out finishes that made the CTS unique now work against it. Also, the interior is just as bad.