Most disappointing car for 2012

[2o6]

The new Jetta is as vanilla and anonymous as I have ever seen.  However, my vote goes to the CR-Z because Honda is trying to make you think it's a new CRX when it's not.

They should have left the Hybrid part out. Then it would be fine.

[ifcar]

They should have left the Hybrid part out. Then it would be fine.

Or left out the sporty part, called this the second-gen Insight (calling the five-door something else) and striven for 50 mpg. That would have been okay too.

[2o6]

Or left out the sporty part, called this the second-gen Insight (calling the five-door something else) and striven for 50 mpg. That would have been okay too.

I think the CR-Z is still kind of heavy, and Honda's IMA is still too primitive.

[ifcar]

I think the CR-Z is still kind of heavy, and Honda's IMA is still too primitive.

First one pulled it off. If they'd focused on weight reductions and given it a little dinky engine, they'd have pulled it off enough to pitch the existing Insight as the "practical hybrid" -- getting Honda customers to look at it next to a two-seater instead of the Prius.

[nickdrinkwater]

If we're doing this on looks (what else do we have) then the new Audi A8 is my nomination.

[Onslaught]

2012 Mazda RX-7. Because the fucking thing never came out.

[Atomic]

usa today raved about the upcoming jetta sedan recently. i believe it was in the paper a week ago. the author praised value, room, ride, interior appointments, etc. my only surprise cloth and leatherette only. no leather option. i am a leather dude  ! one should look up the road test. it was interesting.

[MX793]

usa today raved about the upcoming jetta sedan recently. i believe it was in the paper a week ago. the author praised value, room, ride, interior appointments, etc. my only surprise cloth and leatherette only. no leather option. i am a leather dude  ! one should look up the road test. it was interesting.

Odds are they tested a GLI (or a Euro market model comparable to the GLI), which is what most of the press drives have been in.

[Xer0]

Odds are they tested a GLI (or a Euro market model comparable to the GLI), which is what most of the press drives have been in.

Question about that.  I noticed that the GLI has a completely different suspension then the standard models.  Does this mean that they are riding on different platforms or its just that easy/cost effective to swap out suspensions?

[Vinsanity]

Question about that.  I noticed that the GLI has a completely different suspension then the standard models.  Does this mean that they are riding on different platforms or its just that easy/cost effective to swap out suspensions?

maybe they stuffed a bunch of Audi hardware in the Jetta, and called it the GLI.

[MX793]

Question about that.  I noticed that the GLI has a completely different suspension then the standard models.  Does this mean that they are riding on different platforms or its just that easy/cost effective to swap out suspensions?

I don't think it's a completely different platform, they just have two different rear suspension setups that can be mounted to the same basic platform.

[Colonel Cadillac]

The Volt. 

Drives like a Malibu, costs like a CTS. 

And more capable vehicles are cropping up all over.

A Fail of Vega proportions?  Well...OK, more like Cimarron proportions at that price...

Are you kidding? It's the most innovative car since the Prius first came out.

[sportyaccordy]

Question about that.  I noticed that the GLI has a completely different suspension then the standard models.  Does this mean that they are riding on different platforms or its just that easy/cost effective to swap out suspensions?

Like MX793 said, it's just a rear suspension swap. Not hard to do at the factory when all the mounting points are the same. It's like the rear end swaps people do between live axle and IRS Mustangs.

Are you kidding? It's the most innovative car since the Prius first came out.

[Colonel Cadillac]

Like MX793 said, it's just a rear suspension swap. Not hard to do at the factory when all the mounting points are the same. It's like the rear end swaps people do between live axle and IRS Mustangs.

Why the facepalm?

[sportyaccordy]

Why the facepalm?

The Volt is overpriced, difficult to use in electric only mode and not particularly efficient in gas mode. Actually I shouldn't say it's overpriced; the technology behind it is just not viable for private consumption price wise. It was a good idea with bad execution.

[MX793]

difficult to use in electric only mode

If you live in an urban environment with street-only parking or commute more than 15-20 miles one way, maybe.  There are many many people for whom that's not the case.  I'd have zero problems running the Volt on electric-only.  With my driving patterns, I would probably only have to fill up the tank once every 2 months.

and not particularly efficient in gas mode.

Based on what data?

[Cookie Monster]

Oh yeah, I saw two 2012 Jettas.

Lets just say the back end makes me dislike this car.

[2o6]

Oh yeah, I saw two 2012 Jettas.

Lets just say the back end makes me dislike this car.

IIRC, Autoblog slammed it.

[Cookie Monster]

IIRC, Autoblog slammed it.

I don't know why, but the rear lights look off. It's really ugly.

[Xer0]

I don't think it's a completely different platform, they just have two different rear suspension setups that can be mounted to the same basic platform.

Ah okay.  I was curious because I can't recall another car that had different suspension set ups.  Where there other?

[Mustangfan2003]

I'd say the Dacia Sandero, since it will likely never come to the U.S. 

[2o6]

Ah okay.  I was curious because I can't recall another car that had different suspension set ups.  Where there other?

Nissan Juke has a Torsion beam for FWD models, and IRS for AWD models.

[MX793]

Ah okay.  I was curious because I can't recall another car that had different suspension set ups.  Where there other?

There were a few years when the Mustang Cobra had an independent rear suspension while the regular versions had a live axle.  As 2o6 mentioned, the Juke uses a torsion beam or IRS depending on the drivetrain.  VW did it with the MkIV Golf platform several years back.  Any AWD cars based on the platform (Audi TT, Golf R32...) had independent rear suspensions while most FWD variants used torsion beam (Golf, GTI, Jetta, New Beetle...).