10 most disappointing cars of 2011

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zidee

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http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-most-disappointing-cars-of-2011.htmlNews item: BMW's top U.S. sales executive says he is disappointed in the 5 Series GT, Automotive News reports. "The disappointment I have is that I thought a lot of our 5-series station wagon customers would go with the GT," Jim O'Donnell says. "In point of fact, that is not happening. We have lost those customers to the competition -- mainly to Mercedes-Benz.With its ungainly lift back and high load floor, the 5 Series GT produced a lot of comments along the lines of "What were they thinking?" when it was introduced two years ago, but now it is official: Even BMW makes mistakes.Designing and engineering new models is part art, part science: a billion-dollar bet on what the car buying public will want for years into the future. The deepest pitfalls come in trying to head off in a new direction, like a convertible minivan or an SUV with a coupe body. Despite all the market research, focus groups, and educated guesses, car companies can get it wrong. The design fails to catch hold, the market doesn't develop, competition proves stronger than expected. Bottom line: They blew it.Herewith, ten of the biggest mistakes currently on the market:BMW X6The X6 is marketed as a "sports activity coupe" that combines the attributes of an SUV (high ground clearance, all wheel drive large wheels and tires) with the stance of a coupé (bold styling, dramatic sloping roof). BMW sales are hot, but buyers are apparently confused by the concept, put off by the chunky styling, or deterred by the high price -- close to $100,000 for the turbocharged M version. So far this year, BMW has sold just 1,559 of them versus more than 10,000 of the more conventional X5. Mercedes-Benz R-ClassSimilar woes have afflicted the Mercedes-Benz R-Class, first introduced in 2006. Essentially a low-roofed minivan with three rows of seats, it was initially marketed as a "sports cruiser." When that didn't fly, Mercedes tied on a more apropos "family tourer" moniker. Confused buyers, put off by the R's funereal looks, stayed away. U.S. sales never came within shouting distance of Mercedes' goal of 25,000 a year. Despite healthy incentives, the round-roofed R-Class has remained anchored to dealers' lots. A scant 195 found buyers during the month of April.Ford Flex / Lincoln MKTA valiant attempt to reinvent the minivan by emphasizing its horizontal proportions and flattening the roof, the Flex and its Lincoln sibling, arrived on the market in 2008, which turned out to be exactly the wrong time; consumers were looking for vehicles with less-exaggeratedly large proportions. Despite Ford's blossoming, the Flex found itself trailing the more conventional Chevy Traverse and Toyota Highlander in the showroom. Ford was expecting to sell 100,000 annually but has struggled to sell a third that many. So far in 2011, only about 2,000 Flexes are finding buyers each month. Smart FortwoSmart is still trying to prove that a funny-looking two-seat car that is challenged at highway speeds and gets mediocre gas mileage will appeal to enough American buyers to constitute a business. Superdealer Roger Penske threw in the towel in February when he returned his exclusive distributor to corporate parent Mercedes-Benz. A new battery-powered version probably isn't going to charge up sales, which fell to 467 in April. Toyota TundraToyota put all its brains and brawn behind the second generation Tundra that it launched in 2006, surveying buyers for wanted features and building a dedicated assembly plant in San Antonio. For all that, it has been unable to convince Ford and Chevy truck owners to switch. The recession and Toyota's recall crisis haven't helped. The Texas plant has the capacity to build 200,000 trucks a year, but Toyota only sold 93,309 in 2010. Sales look a little better this year, but Tundra is in no danger of dethroning the F-150 or Chevy Silverado. Nissan QuestNissan's fourth attempt at cracking the minivan equation was supposed to close the gap with the Big Three: Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota. No such luck. Nissan has sold just 3,335 Quests this year, while Honda has rolled out 36,306 Odysseys. Blame it on 1) the decision to sit out the 2010 model year; 2) the fact that Nissan is far down the shopping list for minivan buyers; and 3) a design that looks big on the outside but is small on the inside. Will Nissan follow GM and Ford in exiting the minivan business? Stay tuned. MaybachMaybach was launched with a flourish in 2002 when a helicopter plucked the first one off the deck of the Queen Elizabeth 2 in New York harbor and deposited it on the dock. Nine years later, the QE2 has managed to avoid the scrap yard, but Maybach may not be so fortunate. To compete with an all-new Rolls-Royce and Bentley, Mercedes-Benz rushed out two re-bodied S-Class cars, christened them with an historic German car brand, and priced them in the stratosphere -- upwards of $400,000. Even the super-rich could see through the sheet metal. A mere 20 Maybachs have found buyers this year. Honda InsightThe Insight went on sale in March 2009 in the U.S as a 2010 model with prices starting at $19,800, making it the least expensive hybrid vehicle available in the United States. That should have boosted sales but didn't. Blame part of it on a drop in gasoline prices of over one-third over the past year that eroded demand for fuel-efficient cars. Blame the rest on excessive enthusiasm for cost-cutting. Embarrassingly for Honda, the more expensive Prius continues to beat Insight like a drum, outselling the Insight seven to one. Acura ZDXInstead of producing "a new level of prestige for Acura," as promised, the ZDX has produced a new, and wholly unwanted, level of exclusivity. Although it is based on the Honda Pilot crossover, Acura decided to market the ZDX as a "luxury four-door sports coupe," thereby throwing customers a curve ball. That, combined with styling that could politely be described as controversial -- as well as the overall malaise afflicting the Acura -- combined to sink the ZDX. Sales never got out of the batter's box, and fewer than 1,000 have found buyers this year. Subaru TribecaUsually conservative Subaru decided to show a little leg in 2005, when it introduced a new design language on the B9 Tribeca. Customers did not warm to the rounded body shape and odd triangular grille, and the Tribeca became the ugly duckling of the Subaru line. Quickly realizing its mistake, Subaru dropped "B9" from the name and abandoned the new look faster than you can say "Fuji Heavy Industries," but it was too late to save the Tribeca. With only 910 sold through April, it is rumored to be headed for extinction.
 
ahh the wonderfulness of free market. over here, consumers dont choose the models on sale. the manufacturers and grey imports only bring in what they think will sell. if you dont like it, buy a proton! :)
 
Seems that BMW has two cars on the list. :p

It's a pity that the GT and X6 wasn't greeted with fanfare there.
 
The Insight outsells the Prius in Malaysia by about 3-4 times last I read the numbers. Surely can't be that disappointing?
 
With waiting period of 2 months +, I think you're right.

Two of my colleagues switching to Insight, one of whom from Sylphy. One expecting delivery next week and the other August.

E46Fanatic;643284 said:
The Insight outsells the Prius in Malaysia by about 3-4 times last I read the numbers. Surely can't be that disappointing?
 
i dont see why people should avoid Insight..better looking n much cheaper than prius.IMHO.
 
Looks are subjective. Besides the ugly wheels I think the Prius looks better than the Insight :). Prius is the better hybrid, more advanced, spacious, comfy and slightly better FC despite it's 1.8ltr engine vs the Insights 1.3. It's also the iconic Hybrid which many Hollywood stars drive.
 
Prius vs Insight... quite a hot debate over at the mamak table these days. Though overheard some of it but i still have to say both have its cons and pros. Insight may be cheap and good looking but Prius have good interior feel and technologically, it looks solid but the outside look seems too "bulky" compared to Insight. Maybe for my taste, i would go still go for Prius for Hybrid choice.

Locally, Insight is popular due to the pricing. And i can agree that X6 is a disappointment. X5 is still more my liking and pricing wise, its much more worth :D
 
The Prius here needs the 17' wheel option like the US and Oz markets. I like the shape of the Kammback tail but I think it's one of those love or hate things. Interestingly it's the mass produced car which spent the most time in the wind tunnel and has an unbeatable Cd of 0.25. Hence it's unique shape.

Here is a pic of a Thai Prius with TRD 17's and lowering.
17photo.jpg
 
E46Fanatic;651335 said:
The Prius here needs the 17' wheel option like the US and Oz markets. I like the shape of the Kammback tail but I think it's one of those love or hate things. Interestingly it's the mass produced car which spent the most time in the wind tunnel and has an unbeatable Cd of 0.25. Hence it's unique shape.

Here is a pic of a Thai Prius with TRD 17's and lowering.
17photo.jpg

That's the way to improve the look of the car..lower it and shod bigger wheels..nice pic bro
 
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