There are some amazing European sports cars that many from the US have loved in the past. Whether you’re from Italy or the US, cars from brands like Ferrari will turn heads no matter where they go. Still, it’s not uncommon for Americans to dislike the sports cars that have come out of Europe, given the popularity of large V8-powered muscle cars with engines that trump most compact sports car offerings to come from across the Atlantic.
While tastes in sports cars may greatly vary between European and American car enthusiasts, there are some models we can all agree are badass (and plenty of those that are not). To further illuminate our point, let’s take a look at five European sports cars American gearheads love and five they can’t stand.
10
Can’t Resist – Porsche 911
Via Porsche
The Porsche 911 is an iconic vehicle, and we’re not surprised that Americans love it. Introduced in 1962, the Porsche 911 has undergone various upgrades and there are different variations of the car. The current 992 is an incredibly popular car, coming with 205 mph top speed in Turbo S form. Looking at the technology and innovation that has gone into the current 992, it is easy to see how the Porsche 911 has been built on to continue throughout the years.
Via Motorauthority.com
Still keeping up with the modern-day, the 911 is timeless and so is its design. With Porsche holding such a high status in car culture, it is so obvious to see why the 911 is so popular. With it coming fifth in the Car of the Century poll, it is certainly a formidable car that is loved globally.
9
Can’t Stand – Maserati BiTurbo
Via Motor1
The Maserati BiTurbo, launched in 1981, was a complete letdown. The coupe, as with the other cars in the BiTurbo range, came with twin-turbocharged V6 engines. Despite the revolutionary engineering going on here (it was the first twin-turbo production car), the car wasn’t taken to by many Americans (or Europeans either) because of the shockingly bad build quality.
Via Motor1
The car is considered to be a beater in the US, and none were shipped to the US in 1987 as dealers needed to shift existing stock first. The car is shockingly bad and is definitely one of the worst Maserati cars ever.
8
Can’t Resist – Audi Quattro
Via TeamSpeed
The Audi Quattro is an iconic rally car that has a lot of history to it. It dominated the 1980s rallying competitions and the vehicle managed to popularise the AWD system that it became incredibly famous for. The turbocharged engine was fantastic too, despite the US experiencing a lower turbo boost in the early models.
Via quattrodaily.com
Many were amazed by the rallying capabilities of the Audi, and it was great on the roads too. Remaining forever legendary because of its racing, many will never forget the Quattro, and the car holds a place in many Americans’ hearts.
7
Can’t Stand – Ferrari Mondial 8
Via Mecum
The Ferrari Mondial 8 is often understood by Americans as being one of the worst Ferrari cars ever made. Considered as an outcast, the Mondial didn’t really look like a cool Ferrari. Even though it had a great engine and it was roomy for a sports car, many didn’t take to it since it was so ungainly and it was also rather heavy too.
Via Coys.co.uk
The car is a little less hated nowadays, with prices of the car increasing. Many still don’t class it as an attractive car and it is still the runt of the Ferrari line, despite the growing interest in it.
6
Can’t Resist – MG MGA
Via Petersen Museum
The MGA is a beautiful classic launched in 1955. The vehicle is aerodynamic and it came with a top speed of 97.8 mph, which was outstanding for a little British sports car. Interestingly, the twin-cam version brought a top speed of 113 mph and it could accelerate 0-60 mph in 9.6 seconds. Being so quick in the 1950s was impressive, and many car enthusiasts around the world really took to it.
Via Pinterest
The US was no exception, and it has been used for sports car racing in America (despite not having much success). Even more, the car sales of the MGA were stronger in the US than in Britain where the car was made.
5
Can’t Stand – BMW Z8
Via Automobile Magazine
The BMW Z8 was a homage to the BMW 507, which was a legendary car that was beloved by many BMW enthusiasts. However, the BMW Z8 definitely did not live up to expectations. Many considered it to be ‘too soft’ to be a sports car and it suited being a cruiser rather than a sporty car. It also came with an expensive price tag, hurting potential sales.
Via Automobile Magazine
While it did have retro styling that looked very cool, the car never reached much success around the world and especially in American eyes because it would have been better to be launched as a cruiser, rather than disguising itself as a sports car.
4
Can’t Resist – BMW M3 CSL
Via press.bmwgroup.com
The BMW M3 CSL is considered to be one of the best ‘M’ cars ever. It wasn’t sold in the US, but it is incredibly desirable among fans and it is appreciating massively. It drove absolutely fantastically and it was so lightweight, with 243 lbs being knocked off the standard E46 M3.
Via press.bmwgroup.com
In its heyday, the car could rival the Porsche 911 GT3, which is amazing. The car is incredibly rare, and this makes the car not only desirable among Americans but those around the world too. However, in the US, fans truly cannot resist this car since it is so out of reach, and many would love the chance to drive one.
3
Can’t Stand – Triumph TR7
Via Bring A Trailer
First introduced in 1974, the Triumph TR7 was made to replace the aged TR6. What is disappointing about the TR7 is that it was actually a part of a fantastic car nameplate, with previous TRs being incredibly loved by many. But a vast array of Americans hated the TR7 because the build quality was so bad.
Via Bring A Trailer
At the time, the parent company to Triumph – British Leyland – were suffering from money problems and this meant that the build quality of their cars was sub-par. As such, this European car is one of the cars which Americans truly can’t stand, and it is easy to see why. Even a last-minute V8 version (the TR8) wasn’t enough to save it.
2
Can’t Resist – McLaren F1
Via uncrate.com
The McLaren F1 is an amazing sports car. Launched in 1992, it is a fan favorite due to its performance, speed, and design. It was the fastest car in the world from 1993 until 2005, going 240.1 mph at top speed. It remains to be an amazing performer and many Americans love it.
Via uncrate.com
And with only 106 ever leaving the factory, the F1 is an icon in terms of desirability. Very few made it to US shores during production and nowadays an F1 can easily sell for north of $10 million. Famed car collector Jay Leno has one.
1
Can’t Stand – Jaguar XJS
Via jaguarclub
The Jaguar XJS wasn’t completely bad. The interior was luxurious and it came with the feeling that many Jaguars have – refined and upmarket. However, it was the V12 version that many Americans hate. The V12 version was incredibly unreliable, and it was an expensive engine to repair, which made the car very undesirable. When the car was first launched too, many didn’t consider it attractive.
Via classiccardriver.com
While the car is garnering some interest now, the V12 versions are almost always steered clear of in the US. While it may be the cheapest way to buy a v12 car, the spares and upkeep will quickly add up.
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About The Author
Ryan Gilmore
(153 Articles Published)
Ryan Gilmore is a formally qualified automotive journalist having studied a Masters degree in the subject in the UK. With a particular interest in modern classics, Ryan is a huge gear head. He is currently working with Valnet to produce content for HotCars.
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