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5 Bad Car Names, Part 2: Readers’ Choice

Probe III

Probe III

1982_Ford_Probe_III
Why not name your concept car for a device used during invasive medical procedures? This 1982 concept car seems to have influenced both the Ford Taurus and the European-market Sierra (our Merkur XR4Ti), and predated the production Ford Probe by seven years.

At Consumer Guide, we listen to our readers. So, when you fired back with your nominations for the worst model names of all time, we took note. Below please find the five model names most mentioned by our blog friends. If you haven’t yet chimed in with your pick for lousy model names, fear not. We’ll likely do another Readers’ Choice post soon.

5 Bad Car Names (Part 1)

Bad Car Names Part 3: The 80s

 

Ford Probe (1989-1997)

1990 Ford Probe GT

The Readers’ Choice winner by a clear margin, it is largely understood that no Ford Probe was ever purchased by anyone who’s undergone a colonoscopy. At one point it was Ford’s intention to replace the rear-drive Mustang with the front-drive Probe, presumably keeping the Mustang moniker.

 

Volkswagen Touareg (2003-present)

2003 Volkswagen Touareg

Did you know that the Touareg are a nomadic people that live largely in the Sahara? No? No one else does, either. If you know about the Touareg people, the name rather works for a tough, capable big crossover, but if you don’t, it’s just another strange model name that’s tough to pronounce and even harder to spell.

 

Kia Sephia (1992-2003)

1999 Kia Sephia

By most accounts, Sephia is an acronym. Really. The model name Sephia is comprised of the words Style, Elegant, Powerful, Hi-tech(sic), Ideal, Auto. Had we been there, we could have recommended the model name BT, for Basic Transportation.

 

Hyundai Excel (1985-1994)

1986 Hyundai Excel

I spend a little time one of these early U.S.-market Hyundais, and they didn’t “Excel” at anything. Well, they were pretty dainty with a gallon of gas, but they were otherwise less than rewarding to drive. Hyundai was come a long, long way since then.

 

Volkswagen Routan (2009-2012)

2010 Volkswagen Routan

Really just a retrimmed Chrysler Town & Country, the Routan proved a sales bust. This is for the best, as we were growing tired of repeating this made up model name. Fun fact: Routan was the first U.S.-market Volkswagen available with a pushrod engine since the original Beetle was phased out of American showrooms at the end of 1979.

Bad Car Names: 1979 Edition

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