What's are the worst car model redesigns/updates?

94/95 mustangs were still windsors, 96 on were sohc and dohc. Then 3v and terminator. Term was a beast. I wish I could find a mystic 98. But they’re crazy money now.

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Total-Improvement535@reddit

yeah that’s what I said about 94-95 Mustangs

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Prize-Mail-6769@reddit

I’m not being a jerk but reread how you typed that out

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Total-Improvement535@reddit

it seems I don’t see the issue you are seeing. I said 94-95 Mustangs had the 5.0 and the 96 had the 4.6

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lrherman@reddit

Gotcha! I thought you were referring to the body mods.

You’re right about the updated body with the old powertrains, one of its reasons I’m glad I bought my 2012 GT.

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Prize-Mail-6769@reddit

Oh yeah for sure. I’m more Chevy, but respect. I love that body and the reborn BOSS 302 was a beast back then and I love them. Cut outs from the factory and beating M3s was dope.

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lrherman@reddit

I’m a MOPAR guy but the Mustang was the only American car that met my requirements, V8, RWD, convertible, manual transmission, and factory Navi.

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twelfthfantasy@reddit

I was going to suggest the transition to the Fox body

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mr_pootatohead@reddit (OP)

Yeah. At least they had the decently to call the 1973 Mustang the Mustang II.

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Nervous_Hurry_9920@reddit

I just realized the other day, that my coworker (that I've worked with for 2 years)has a mitsubishi eclipse.

i thought it was just some random shitty crossover. Well, I mean, I was right.. but still...

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mr_pootatohead@reddit (OP)

Wow. We may have a winner. I've never seen one in the wild. Or maybe I have. Why would I remember it?

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symca09@reddit

Did not have to scroll far to find this. Man the butchered the boy

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revocer@reddit

Aesthetically and ergonomically, the previous RAV4 generation appeared more desirable than the current.

But they’re have similar drivetrains, so that’s cool.

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Mercury Cougar. 1967 - 1st gen was like a more luxurious Mustang. Slightly longer wheelbase & all that but still mostly Mustang underneath. Only ever offered with a selection of V8's. Winner of 1967 Motor Trend car of the year. A plush pony car for the gentleman.

They began losing their way with the 1971 - 1973 2nd gen. Not horrible, but definitely losing their way during a time when Ford did an awesome facelift on the 1st gen Mach 1 while Mercury began uglifying the Cougar.

3rd gen 1974 - 1976: it isn't the og Cougar anymore. It's a big ugly boat. To be fair this era was a bad time for the 1960s pony & muscle cars we all know and love, so the Cougar absolutely isn't exclusive here. However at least the Mustang began to improve by 1987 with the 3rd gen restyling then ofc the very well known 4th gen of 1994 which was wildly popular. The Cougar did not experience this revitalization. With the 8th gen of 1999 - 2002 it was made into a front engine/front wheel drive platform. Unlike the Mustang, the Cougar was now the furthest thing from being a pony car. It was slow, boring, and offered no special selling points. It did not sell well, and the very last Cougar rolled off the line in 2002.

I sometimes think of how awesome it would be if the Cougar still existed today as a slightly more luxurious version of the Mustang but still very much a pony car.

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Habitualflagellant14@reddit

The new Subaru Outback has lost the plot

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redsnowman45@reddit

Agreed. To me they should have taken the 5th Gen style and updated a bit. Make all the chassis and powertrain updates. Updates to the interior for quieter and refined. But kept the button and screen layout.

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ConstructionBoth6461@reddit

Agree on the plot point, but it’s still a great car. At least my optionless base 2026 is so great for the price.

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redsnowman45@reddit

New Honda Prelude has to be up there. Civic Hybrid running gear in a coupe at Civic Type R prices.

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ZaphodG@reddit

The original Thunderbird was a 2 seat convertible sports car. After 3 years, it became a bloated 4 passenger car.

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pgregston@reddit

I enjoyed the 63-67 T birds, especially convertible versions. But they just got bigger, slower and less like rocket ships

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mr_pootatohead@reddit (OP)

And it continued to get worse for, what, two decades?

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athensslim@reddit

25 years to be exact (1983)

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New_Ad_3010@reddit

Mercedes didn't do itself any favors with the new GLC

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mr_pootatohead@reddit (OP)

Not saying it's great, but how is it worse than the previous generation?

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jrileyy229@reddit

Second gen was tough and solid? I don't think any car guy is going to see escape and think tough... But the real reason was to improve fuel economy.

95% of people if asked the question "would you rather save 5grand at the pump over ownership or have some thing that looks tough". Taking the mpg

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metrawhat@reddit

We had a 3rd Gen Escape 2wd with the older 2.0 turbo. It was quick, it would run circles around a V6 2nd Gen AND it could get 30mpg hwy. I consider that an upgrade.

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jrileyy229@reddit

That's great, that's modern turbocharging... But I fail to see who is worried about which escape is faster than the other

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metrawhat@reddit

I've also driven a 4cyl first Gen, that was a dog. I'll take a peppy turbo 4 over that any day.

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mr_pootatohead@reddit (OP)

As long as you don't have to look at it....

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mr_pootatohead@reddit (OP)

I mean, the Gen 2 EPA ratings were 23 combined for the 4 cylinder vs. 26 combined for the Gen 3. Aerodynamics didn't do that, the new (less reliable) engine did.

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jrileyy229@reddit

Look at the highway mpg... That's aero

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mr_pootatohead@reddit (OP)

Of course you’re right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like looking at the damn things.

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jrileyy229@reddit

Well when the government says you need to increase MPG in everything... And customers are also desperate for more MPG...

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Careful_Farmer_2879@reddit

When the Honda Fit was redesigned in 2014, the North American ones were made in a brand new factory in Mexico. Not in Japan. They SUCKED.

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s_nz@reddit

Nissan pathfinder.

Went from a capable, decently regarded low range off roader, to a soft crossover, with a CVT that was notorious for failing at less than 80,000km.

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ScrewYouRedditAds@reddit

I drive a turbo boost 4th generation. While the looks are nothing special in, "Performance mode" it seems to be pretty speedy. The interior is very quiet also. My wife has a 2005 Honda crv and the roads are not smooth. Every time I'm inside it's like an aluminum can with rocks rattling inside.

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Major-Tourist-5696@reddit

512tr to 512m

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YogurtclosetDull2380@reddit

WRX just keeps getting worse and worse

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SillyRelationship424@reddit

Toyota Supra

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Users5252@reddit

The Chinese facelift of the Buick regal after it got discontinued in the west

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dirtyforker@reddit

1993 Cavalier GT was a good looking car with a V6. Then 1994 happened.

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Comfortable-Study-69@reddit

A very modern example, but holy shit Honda dropped the ball when it came to the gen 11 Accord. That thing is ugly and the 1.5T powertrain does its reliability and drive feel no favors.

The 7th gen Subaru Outback completely ditching the station wagon look was also certainly a controversial choice.

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Brixmis51@reddit

When Fords New Edge Design kicked in, in the mid to late 90s. Especially the European Ford Granada/Scorpio and the Aussie Ford Falcon AU. Both absolute solid cars underneath with frankly great engines (especially the 24v cosworth in the Scorpio), but a lot of people just couldn't get past the styling, and sales suffered as a result.

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hatred-shapped@reddit

The 86 to 87 Mercury Capri.