Dented Wallets and Square Wheels: The 10 Worst Cars of 2010

In the age of high gas prices, hybrids and everyone supposedly going green like the government would make you think, the 2010 class of cars, SUV's and trucks took another hit this year with depreciation and upkeep costs. Just about all the top companies took a good hit in both categories of big and roomy and the supposedly fuel-efficient compact variety which is not as a big hit to people as many would tell you. Here's a listing of the worst performers of 2010 and vehicles you should avoid. These are not in any specific order. (contributed by Design 911)

Cadillac Escalade - Type: Luxury SUV

It's hard to say really what tipped the "experts" off on this vehicle. It did rank poorly amongst safety and value but the one statistic that really stuck out was this vehicle got top honours for the most stolen vehicle out of everything that's out there. "Pimp My Ride" apparently does not apply here.

Chevrolet Aveo - Type: Compact

The Chevrolet Aveo5 1LT overall value is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to even more expensive models such as the Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic. Consumer Reports concludes that "the ride is jittery and noise is constant." . What would you expect from driving something as small as a golf cart?

Chevrolet Colorado - Type: Pickup Truck

This vehicle has been rated poorly in just about in every aspect so I'm not going to waste my time telling you about it because what does matter is the fact that GM is soon doing away with this model as well as the Canyon. So, of course the best medicine would be to stay away from these models.

Dodge Nitro - Type: SUV

The SLT model is just another version of the Jeep Liberty but with lower marks. Consumers complained
how noisy this SUV is and how it lacks agility. There tended to be some sort of body lean which added difficulty for people steering. This would be the equivalent of pushing a baby stroller in gravel.

Ford F-250 - Type: Truck

The 2010 Ford F-250 Lariat was ranked the worst on gas mileage getting on average just 10 mpg. This was a diesel engine model as well. Hate to see how an unleaded version would do. At this bad a rate of miles per gallon, one would think you'd have to get a bank loan just to get back and forth to work every three months.

Jeep Wrangler - Type: SUV

The Unlimited Sahara was the main gripe but Jeep Wrangler overall has plummeted 23% in sales since the beginning of the year. Apparently it does well off-road but fell short when driven on-road. Handling is a challenge with vague steering and low cornering limits. It's reliability was another negative for consumers.

Chrysler Sebring - Type: Midsize

Car experts ridicule this unpopular gem for its cheap interior and poor performance. It is considered the worst midsize car for the money due to the high ownership costs. Its rate of depreciation is almost faster than watching paint dry.

Mercury Mountaineer - Type: SUV

Top honours for worst midsize SUV for the money, the Mountaineer (and its twin, Ford Explorer, which ranked right behind it) is truck-based. So therefore it makes it use more fuel than the competition and not something suited for city and suburban driving. If you live in this type area, the handling may cause a vein to pop out of your forehead as well.See another worst car 2010 here.

SUV Jeep Car: Volvo XC60 SUV car

Volvo's new crossover vehicle boasts an exciting mix of two car styles and steps boldly into what is the motoring world's toughest and fastest-growing segment. Sports XC muscles, it combines a strong athletic body with high ground clearance and large wheels, while the flowing lines create a sporty charisma of a coupe.

“This car is charged with more emotive form and more energy than any other Volvo. We’re elevating our design DNA to an entirely new level by literally turning up the visual volume. If you say that you’d recognise a Volvo from a hundred metres away today, I dare say the Volvo XC60 radiates a clear Volvo presence from at least twice that distance,” says Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin.

A variety of intelligent safety systems are another important part of the new Volvo XC60. The major news is City Safety – a unique system that can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of the type of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic and traffic tailbacks. If the car is about to drive into the vehicle in front and the driver does not react, the car brakes itself.

“We are the first manufacturer in the world to offer this type of feature as standard. City Safety clearly shows that the new Volvo XC60 is the safest car Volvo has ever produced. The car is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision,” says Fredrik Arp.

The XC60 project has its sights set on a target group that imposes high demands on design, brand integrity and high-tech content in its choice of lifestyle products.

“One might say that this could be the C30 owner’s next car. It’s as sporty and exciting, but more capable. With the Volvo XC60, we are widening our model range to attract even more customers with an active urban lifestyle,” explains Fredrik Arp.

The new XC60 is being launched with a choice of three engines: the turbocharged T6 which produces 285PS, and two variants of the D5 turbodiesel, producing 185 and 163 horsepower respectively. All- Wheel Drive (AWD) is fitted as standard.

“During 2009, we will offer a front-wheel driven 2.4-litre version powered by a Euro 5 diesel engine producing 163 horsepower and with a CO2 target around 170 g/km,” reveals Fredrik Arp.

The global sales target for the new XC60 is over 50,000 cars per year. The five largest markets during peak year 2010 will be the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and China. The Volvo XC60 will be built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium. Sales of the car will start in Europe during the second half of 2008, while sales in North America will get under way in early 2009. The new XC60 will arrive in UK dealer showrooms in October.

Toyota A-BAT Hybrid Pickup Jeep Concept

The Japanese automaker, Toyota, present A-BAT hybrid pickup concept at the Detroit Motor Show later this month.

Far from a conservative-style vehicles, which currently favors Toyota showrooms, unique look of the concept is the combination of large body surface, intersect with a hard surface planes, crisp lines and the trapezoidal profile. Toyota A-BAT in 19-inch wheels sit at the corners of the car creates a tough and is ready.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 New Car

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 Turing

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 Side

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 Interior

JEEP® Brand broadens vehicle lineup with a new model

Available second quarter 2010, Jeep Wrangler Mountain edition boasts rugged outdoor theme, with 32-inch tyres and unique wheel, grill and bumper appliques.

Jeep Wrangler Mountain

Further expanding the iconic Wrangler brand’s reach, Jeep delivers another high-impact, limited-edition model with the Jeep Wrangler Mountain edition.

The Jeep Wrangler Mountain edition is based on the Wrangler Sport S package, and is available in Wrangler Unlimited 4x4 models.

Exterior features include a unique “Mountain” decal on the hood with latitude and longitude coordinates that represent an actual location relating to the “Mountain” theme of the vehicle; grill and bumper appliques; tabular side steps; 32-inch tyres; black tail lamp guards and a fuel-filler door from Mopar.

Available exterior colours include Rescue Green Metallic Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat and Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat.

Interior features include an embossed seat insert with embroidered “Mountain logo”, and anodized graphite heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) rings.

The Jeep Wrangler Mountain option package will be available in South Africa.

- Available second quarter 2010, Jeep Wrangler Mountain edition boasts rugged outdoor theme, with 32-inch tyres and unique wheel, grill and bumper appliques.

Jeep Wrangler Mountain

Further expanding the iconic Wrangler brand’s reach, Jeep delivers another high-impact, limited-edition model with the Jeep Wrangler Mountain edition.

The Jeep Wrangler Mountain edition is based on the Wrangler Sport S package, and is available in Wrangler Unlimited 4x4 models.

Exterior features include a unique “Mountain” decal on the hood with latitude and longitude coordinates that represent an actual location relating to the “Mountain” theme of the vehicle; grill and bumper appliques; tabular side steps; 32-inch tyres; black tail lamp guards and a fuel-filler door from Mopar.

Available exterior colours include Rescue Green Metallic Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat and Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat.

Interior features include an embossed seat insert with embroidered “Mountain logo”, and anodized graphite heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) rings.

The Jeep Wrangler Mountain option package will be available in South Africa.

Source: Chrysler

Jeep grand cherokee sounds like the engine is knocking

My 2000 jeep grand cherokee sounds like the engine is knocking, there is no oil presure, and it will not stay running. What do I do?

Answer:
If you have this many problems with this engine I would suggest getting a used engine with low miles and a warranty you can get one for less than a 1,000 and installed for around 500-600 dollars. Once they begin knocking I don't repair them because you don't know about contamination in the engine from metal. And it's very costly to have an engine rebuilt. Especially with no oil pressure it's probably spun a bearing in the lower end of the engine.

50 white cars - examples the most popular colour choice for cars

The TechArt Porsche Cayenne Magnum. Ugly or full of character? I have to be honest I’m not normally a fan of the Cayenne but I love what TechArt have done with the beast. Just look at those white wheels!

The 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Utterly gorgeous.

The Landrover LRX Concept.

Nissan GT-R. This piece of Japanese metal really suits white doesn’t it?

2008 BMW M3 Convertible. I’m reliably informed that BMW are releasing this car to the press etc. in white later this year.

2008 Mercedes Benz CLC Class.

Audi TTS Coupe.

Audi TTS Roadster.

BMW 7 Series.

BMW M5.

Porsche GT3 Cup S racing car.

Toyota 4Runner. Bit of an acquired taste maybe.

Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition. Those were the days when I used to own one of these babies.

But now I’ve converted back to right hand drive and possibly the best car in the world. The Range Rover Supercharged. My car, awesomely awesome.

The Artega GT.

The Bentley Brooklands.

Bentley Continental GTC. How lush?

Hummer H3.

Vauxhall Astra VXR Nurburgring Edition.

Toyota FT-HS Concept.

The RENNTech AMG CL65. 695HP? Yes please!

Rahal Letterman (David) Racing BMW M3.

Mayback 57-S.

Chevrolet Camaro.

BMW 1-Series tii Concept.

Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Edo Shark Porsche 911 Turbo.

Audi A5. Why do Audi cars in particular look so well in white?

Heavily customised Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Otherwise known as the Popemobile!

This is the gorgeous Audi R8. Simply stunning in white.

This is the new Audi A4. After the R8 it’s understated, but also looks well in white.

This is the Audi TT Roadster with modifications by Abt Sportsline.

This is the Audi Q7 V12 TDI concept. Are you bored of black 4×4’s? I know I am so its refreshing to see one in white.

Last of the Audi’s is the small but perfectly formed S3.

It’s very hard to find an Aston Martin of any kind, never mind a V8 Vantage in white. Had to look to Dubai (where else) for this one.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

Bentley Continental GT.

BMW M3 in Alpine White. Gorgeous.

OK so not quite white but doesn’t this Ferrari F430 Spider look good in ivory?

The Ford Kuga is due to be launched in the UK later this year. Not bad for a Ford is it? Bit better looking than the bland new Mondeo anyway.

The Mercedes ML Edition 10, due out early 2008.

I struggled to get a picture of the new Mercedes C Class in Sport trim in white but hopefully you can see from the image below how good it looks.

Even the humble Volkswagen Polo GTI suits a white coat of paint.

And the Polo’s big brother, the Golf GTI.

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. I saw one of these in Vegas earlier this year (in a shopping mall) and it just looked fantastic in white.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Versace Edition. Wow!

BMW 1 series. I didn’t like these at first but they’ve really grown on me now.

Fiat Grande Punto Abarth.

Honda Civic Type R. The pic below is the official concept, bizarrely you can’t buy it in white in UK showrooms.

Porsche 911 Turbo by Techart

What I’m listening to right now: Rockcity - “See You Around”