2008 was a tough year for the car industry, and not everyone made it out alive. Some cars will be missed, but these are not them. It’s the top ten mercy kills of 2008.
The rules for this are pretty easy. The car had to be for sale in the U.S. in 2008 but is not around to celebrate 2009.
Here is the list (in alphabetical order) of the top ten cars we won't miss in 2009:
GMC Savanna
Minivans are crimes against good cars. It’s better than a large SUV, but that like saying being shot in the foot is better than being shot in the leg.
For the select few car enthusiasts who don’t believe in birth control, there are many better options such as a European wagon, or if seating is a necessity, the Honda Odyssey or Dodge Caravan.
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Chrysler Pacifica
It wasn’t a minvan; it wasn’t an SUV; and it wasn’t a wagon. It wasn’t good either.
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Dodge Magnum
It was a good try on Dodge’s part. It tried to make the wagon cool. The styling of the BMW M5 wagon tells the world “I may have kids, dogs and a long list of honey-dos, but I’m still cool.” Unfortunately the Hemi power couldn’t overcome the tapered rear end that made this car lose practicality and also tells the world, “I shop for cars drunk”
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GMC Savanna
Creepy guys who hang out in schoolyards and offer ice cream to unsuspecting little ones now have one less choice in panel vans.
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Hyundai Tiburon
The Tiburon was okay, but never great. Cars with that kind of description don’t usually get a six-year run. Hyundai may have kept this take shark well past its sell-by date, but redemption is in sight with the Genesis Coupe
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Jaguar S-Type
The S-Type was nice in style, but was always lacking in execution. To get the retro styling, the interior had to suffer. Then again, the recycled Ford parts were already enough to make someone suffer. The S-Type was good for the Jaguar brand, but it had to die so we could fall in love with the XF.
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Jaguar X-Type
This was another good try from Jaguar. A budget-minded Jaguar is great on paper, but adding plush elements to a Ford Mondeo, and calling it luxury is below the leaping cat.
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Kia Rio
Here’s a car that evokes no passion from drivers. No wonder the replacement is called the Soul.
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Lincoln LT
Didn’t Lincoln learn its lesson with the Blackwood->ke1177?
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Suzuki Forenza
This is America’s version of the Chevrolet (Daewoo) Lacetti, and trust us, no one felt like a star in this reasonable priced car.