There Are Awards for Best and Worst Cars. What about The Mediocre Cars? Bland car of the year...

pegaxs on 17/12/2017 - 23:57
Last edited 18/12/2017 - 18:31

It seems that every second month there is some “car of the year” category announced. Best in this bracket, best price, best at something. There are also those, “worst of” cars that make their own lists. What I am looking for is cars that fly under the radar. Something so uninspiring and unassuming that the mere fact it goes relatively unnoticed makes it such a neutral car… They are great cars, but just lack that certain appeal to get them noticed…

I’m curious at what people have or think that would be considered the most bland cars of all time. That truely uninspiring car that you just drive. The ride is fine. The styling isn’t too bold. You just get in it and drive it. It’s no trophy car but it’s no s%&tbox either. It doesn’t need fixing and is reliable but it just has no character.

I want truly the blandest of the bland and I want to know why it’s so bland. What is it that makes it a good contender…

I will kick it off with:

Any burgundy Toyota Camry. Apart from being the ultimate grandma car, these things just seem to run forever. They have enough power to propel them and the ride quality is, existent. Quality of fit an finish is quite good. It’s just a car that seems to have no soul. It exists only to (pass the butter) do the minimum it has to do…

Edit:
Since we have a few great contenders on the board, thought I would set up a poll…

Poll Options

  • 136
    Toyota Camry
  • 5
    Hyundai Excel/Accent
  • 4
    Mitsubishi Magna/380
  • 0
    Daihatsu Charade/Mira
  • 6
    Honda Jazz
  • 0
    Ford Laser
  • 0
    Mazda 6
  • 6
    Porsche GT3 RS
  • 14
    Toyota Corolla
  • 4
    Mitsubishi Lancer
  • 3
    Other (see comments)
Automotive

Comments

    • pegaxs on 18/12/2017 - 09:22
      -1

      The Porsche GT3 RS is considered a bland car?

      "And for blandest car over $150,000… drum roll…. it's the GT3 RS!!!" deafening applause

    • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 10:40
      +1

      There is no such thing as an RS7 Avant, Avant means wagon and all RS7s are hatchbacks.

      The Centenario is based on an Aventador (It's basically an Aventador with a body kit, and I assume base model is some kind of joke), which just isn't a great car. It has a single clutch gearbox and is a relic of a bygone era. The Hurican is faster and better in everyway pretty much (apart from engine noise).

    • Randxyz123 on 18/12/2017 - 10:41

      Troll ? Seriously wrf???

      • smartazz104 on 18/12/2017 - 15:18

        They might be bland to the people that can actually afford i.e. not anyone on OzB.

        • pegaxs on 18/12/2017 - 18:20
          +5

          Not anyone on OzB?? There was that one Westpac Investment Banker that would tell you otherwise…

        • Harold Halfprice on 18/12/2017 - 22:37
          +1

          The GT3 RS pushes out almost 500hp out of a naturally aspirated 6 cylinder engine (ie no turbo/superchargers). Not only is it the most powerful NA 6 cyl engine, but those are impressive figures even for a turbocharged 6.

          The guy's a troll lol.

  • nephilim on 18/12/2017 - 00:23
    -2

    honda jazz? car is now 6 years old, yet people keep buying them. Yet is a typical cheap nasty hatchback for India/china.

    • 8200 on 20/12/2017 - 14:19

      Not a car on the planet that has the same footprint yet has the same interior room and functionality, also does 190kmh and frugal on fuel, this is a product of when Honda had world class engineering

    • Daabido on 20/12/2017 - 16:15

      I didn't realise it was 2020 yet. The third generation Honda Jazz was released in 2014. I own the previous generation and it has been an excellent little car. Changing the standard OEM rubber for 185/60 R15 Continentals made it feel like a whole different car (in a better way). I don't think it is cheap and nasty and I'm not sure what it has to do with India or China. I saw lots of them on the road in Tokyo in the last week. I guess you can add Japan to your cheap and nasty country list.

      Edit: just to say, an excellent forum topic.

    • ShirokaZe on 20/12/2017 - 16:41
      +1

      Current gen came out in 2014 as old mate mentioned above. No idea what you're on about India and China; it's made in Thailand if that's what you're getting at. I've cross-shopped these and they're a great value/quality proposition at $15990 for the manual if you want something reliable.

  • GarrusVakarian on 18/12/2017 - 00:30
    +32

    Second the Toyota Camry. It's like eating pancake, just pancake.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 00:32

      Not even a dusting of icing sugar?

      • GarrusVakarian on 18/12/2017 - 00:33
        +15

        That sounds like a Toyota Prius

    • smuggler on 18/12/2017 - 10:47
      +7

      2018 Toyota Camry is pretty sick

    • ItsMeAgro on 18/12/2017 - 11:20
      +3

      I was actually excited to drive a Camry hybrid the other day - it was a free upgrade on a rental, and my first time driving a hybrid.

      Silent driving without the engine running, and watching the battery charge a bit every time I brake, were both fun.

      I drive a Corolla though, so I'm easily impressed…

      • smuggler on 18/12/2017 - 11:25

        Drive the 2018 camry. IT's completely redone from the ground up. New body, engine, interior etc.

        • spackbace on 18/12/2017 - 11:47

          Only new engine being the V6 (and hybrid is slightly different), 4cyl is unchanged

        • JIMB0 on 18/12/2017 - 14:52

          @Spackbace: It's still the same V6 (2GR). Just has direct injection now giving it more power.

        • spackbace on 18/12/2017 - 15:04

          @JIMB0:

          And an 8-speed box. It's the same combo as the Kluger

        • Munki on 18/12/2017 - 23:00

          So they're getting rid of the Aurion and finally reinstating a V6 Camry. As an Aurion driver, that makes more sense to me. The shells of the Aurion and Camry were essentially the same anyway. No wonder they're making the Camry more aggressive looking.

        • PinzVidz on 22/12/2017 - 00:20
          +1

          @Spackbace:

          C'mon Spackbace, now that you're working for Toyota, you should know exactly what's changed…

          Only new engine being the V6

          As Jimbo mentioned, same V6 with DI, changed from 2GR-FE to 2GR-FKS

          and hybrid is slightly different

          It's completely different. Now runs Dynamic Force A25A-FXS 2.5L, which is a new engine. HSD system is new generation also.

          4cyl is unchanged

          You're spot-on there, same ol' 2AR-FE.

        • spackbace on 22/12/2017 - 00:24

          @PinzVidz:

          Meh

          V6 gets 8-speed box (Kluger config), so may as well be 'new' (is as much new as it is the same - ie neither is correct).

          I highly doubt anyone on here cares about the hybrid.

          No point going on a rant like yours to please those who genuinely don't care :)

        • PinzVidz on 22/12/2017 - 00:25

          @Spackbace:

          No point going on a rant like yours to please those who genuinely don't care :)

          Funnily enough I thought it would be fitting in this thread. :D

  • spackbace on 18/12/2017 - 01:30
    +2

    Camry and Corolla 😂

    But the new gen Camry actually has some styling, actually has been turning heads!

    • Ozbargainite on 18/12/2017 - 03:10
      +5

      And stomachs.

      • smuggler on 18/12/2017 - 10:51
        +4

        yeah, you're alone.

        It looks like a lexus but with less fancy internals. I think they've done a great job. Handles quite nicely too. Test drove it in Sydney recently.

        • spackbace on 18/12/2017 - 11:48

          Was designed by the guy that did 1 of the lexus supercars, and the CHR

    • snajper on 18/12/2017 - 14:48

      Camry turning heads..????…. haven’t seen 2018 model but they must have done massive work on the looks of the car to be turning heads..

  • Diji1 on 18/12/2017 - 01:36
    +2

    Hipster cars … you probably haven't heard of this ride bro.

  • Ozbargainite on 18/12/2017 - 03:09
    +1

    The interior of the Camry has the design and quality of the interior of my Thai made Samsung fridge.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 05:19

      The exterior of the Camry has the design and aerodynamics of said fridge as well.

      Edit: just read on internet that aerodynamics was based on a house brick not a fridge. My bad.

      • Peace Maker on 18/12/2017 - 09:29
        +19

        Most Camry's are like a fridge - the are big and white, cold inside and a light comes on when you open the door. Just like a fridge though, they run reliably for years and you never give them a second thought. People also don't admire them.

  • rambutann on 18/12/2017 - 07:33
    +2

    I dunno Camry's get pretty interesting once they get a taste of the old Camry dent https://jalopnik.com/the-incredible-mystery-of-the-camry-den…

    • pegaxs on 18/12/2017 - 09:06
      +2

      I've seen so many like this that I actually started to think they came from the factory like that… :D

  • Presence on 18/12/2017 - 07:44
    +15

    Everything that Mitsubishi makes.

    • pegaxs on 18/12/2017 - 09:04
      +1

      HAHAHAHA… OMG, yes! They make good cars, but yet so many of them are just transport. The contender to blandest car would have to be the Magna.

      • JIMB0 on 18/12/2017 - 14:54
        +2

        At least you could get a V6 in the Magna, all Mitsubishi do now are 4cyl engines.

        • onlyletters on 20/12/2017 - 23:28

          same thing can be said about toyota unless you go for kluger or landcruiser

    • 8200 on 20/12/2017 - 14:20

      LANCER is the most bulletproof vehicle on the planet….

      http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/mitsubishi-lancer-named-rel…

  • RockyRaccoon on 18/12/2017 - 07:59
    +14

    …burgundy Toyota Camry… It’s just a car that seems to have no soul

    It has soul. not maybe to the third and fourth owner, a student who just drives it (because it keeps on going).

    To the original owners who realise that cars are transport and that the burgundy Camry is a loyal and faithfull friend who will deliver you home on a rainy night, unlike the hot pink commodore of the same period, with its faulty crank angle sensors.

    With the exception of the student on some sort of stimulant, these cars will never perform a dangerous overtaking measure. 😀

    So forget the marketing crap, of the motoring writers, who constantly push** the virtues of imported French crap, relax, enjoy the plastic and realise that the burgundy camry would never have been a fleet or rental car, and enjoy one of the OZ BARGAIN cars of the century

    ** even with much almost fortnightly (News limited car reviews) hype, Citroen sold less than 1000 Citroens in 2016 (Vs Camry 2-3K a month)

    So my bland car of the year will be the Citroen C5. Remember this is OZbargain, not OZspeed or OZcool etc 😀

  • Gronk on 18/12/2017 - 09:16
    +3

    Ssangyong Stavic, first gen.

    I just don't know why you'd inflict that upon yourself…

  • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 10:02
    +22

    My vote in the Budget class of Bland Car of The Year goes to…

    The Hyundai Accent. In Sunshine Yellow, the cheapest of all the colours.

    This is a cheap car, designed to get you from A to B for as little as possible.

    The exterior styling is utterly forgettable. It's not ugly, as that wold show some signs of personality. It's as if someone has taken a composite photo of all the hot hatches on the market, printed it, then washed it a few hundred times so that nothing discernible remains.

    The interior is plasticky and cheap, as you'd expect from a $15,000 car. But it does the job well enough. All the panache and styling of a parcel dlivered from Amazon, but nothing that's going to claw at your soul. The controls are all in the right places, but you do find yourself double-checking when you press a button or operate a switch. Not because they're unreliable, but because you just can't quite remember doing it.

    The ride is surprisingly decent for the price. You're not going to turn heads with the engine note or performance, but it will get you to work and back. The best way I could describe it is like driving melted Colby cheese. Too much will leave you feeling vaguely nauseous, but a little is just fine, even if it's lacking flavour.

    There are more of these around than you think. The cheaper, blander version of it's big brother i20, this is a car that's popular with driving schools and car hire companies for it's utter lack of anything remotely characteristic combined with it's price. It's a largely trouble-free drive, simply because giving trouble would mean standing out from the crowd. And that, for the Accent, is way too much hassle.

    If this car were a snack it would be a plain rice-cake, served on a paper plate.

    • pegaxs on 18/12/2017 - 10:14
      +6

      If this car were a snack it would be a plain rice-cake, served on a paper plate.

      This is my new favourite saying :D

    • WeeDeePotato on 18/12/2017 - 17:54
      +3

      My partner has an '07 accent. It's ugly and bland, without significant features, but damnit it's a good car to drive. Reliable, great vision and it actually goes decent for a slushbox auto 1.6.

      • dajackal on 18/12/2017 - 20:17

        I've got the 1.6L direct injection 6spd auto. Great fun to drive with inoffensive looks

    • inherentchoice on 18/12/2017 - 23:30
      +1

      I owned an Accent for 7 years, and in yellow too. :o Only needed normal maintenance. I didn't want to get rid of it. Apparently they are taxis in Colombia.

      http://carroya.blob.core.windows.net/vehiculos/1700614/17006…

      I only know this because a Colombian guy told me haha.

  • Shadowsfury on 18/12/2017 - 10:06
    +6

    Mitsubishi Lancer - can't believe they kept the latest generation going for 10 years…

    • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 10:43
      -4

      Pretty much every Mitsubishi is 10-20 years old, with a small cosmetic update every year. Only complete morons would buy a Mitsubishi these days.

      Bland they are.

      But literally every car from 20-50k is bland.

      • Randxyz123 on 18/12/2017 - 10:49
        +3

        But literally every car from 20-50k is bland.

        Most but not all…

        MX5 isn’t
        VW golf gti isn’t
        Mini Cooper isn’t
        Ford Fiesta st isn’t

        Then there’s a magnitude of used euros from ~2013/14 in that range that definitely aren’t.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 10:58
          -2

          I owned a GTI, it was bloody bland. I don't care what the marketing department says, its no faster than a V6 commodore in a straight line, and understeers like a mofo. (It was a MkV GTI when they were launched (cost bloody $55k optioned out), but it just wasn't a great car. It was alright.

    • johnno07 on 18/12/2017 - 14:36
      +1

      Dear GOD why don't they refresh that thing? And that tiny update to the front end does not count.

      • Shadowsfury on 18/12/2017 - 20:24

        Many car makers would be up to their 3rd generation in that time

      • airzone on 19/12/2017 - 23:34

        They can't afford the cost…

    • horsome on 18/12/2017 - 20:27
      +5

      It’s great, you can buy a 2010 model and people think you have a new car.

    • freakatronic on 18/12/2017 - 21:15

      Can confirm. The lancer is a good, reliable, but bland car. The cops can't see it though, so that's a plus. Its engine doesn't ever seem to wake up, no matter the rpm to which it's pushed.

    • 8200 on 20/12/2017 - 14:22

      Sadly ending production in the coming week, no more RHD mades, just a Taiwan/China LHD updated version

      More alarming is Mitsu Aus are going to lose 7000 car sales next year, once the stock is sold off

  • Randxyz123 on 18/12/2017 - 10:45
    +1

    Any sedan or hatch by Toyota.

    Camary is horrid in every way. It’s reliable that’s the only reason you’d want one.

    Corolla and Yaris both have so little power it’s scary to drive them at 100kph. Again bland and driven mostly by people who want a car to go from A to B and are stereotypically driven by people who can’t drive

  • dogboy on 18/12/2017 - 10:53
    +4

    Corolla - The most boring car in the world.

    • smuggler on 18/12/2017 - 11:27
      -3

      mazda 3, equally the most boring car in the world with added features that no one needs.

      • dogboy on 18/12/2017 - 11:35
        +3

        Nah, I would say Mazda 3 is the premium car in this range. It is definitely the most expensive but also pretty sporty.

        • smuggler on 18/12/2017 - 11:50
          +1

          Aren't the corolla and mazda 3 similar in price? <$1000 difference

        • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 13:56
          -4

          Bullshit

    • 8200 on 20/12/2017 - 14:23
      -1

      31 million happy customers, and counting…..

      • dogboy on 20/12/2017 - 14:58
        -1

        Ignorance is bliss. Look at all the happy Apple customers…

        • Daabido on 20/12/2017 - 18:50
          -1

          And all the unhappy Microsoft / Android customers.

  • Seraphin7 on 18/12/2017 - 11:03
    +1

    The Camry surely has to be the Patron of the Bland Car Hall of Fame.

    I'm sure they are very worthy vehicles in terms of minimising the total cost of ownership and if your only concern is a car that will cheaply handle the majority of jobs the average motorist will have then it's probably going to be hard to find a better vehicle.

    But, dear Lord, surely the day you take delivery of one is the day your soul leaves your body.

    • MathNerd on 18/12/2017 - 12:11
      +2

      Yeah look, I guess the fact that (the vast large majority of) Camrys just keep going and going, that their insane reliability is large enough to offset any "boringness" that the car brings along with it. I think for people that don't know much about cars (myself included), it's a hassle-free way of motoring.
      My car is 2001 made, but doesn't feel 16 years old.
      I don't know about the reliability of the newer models, but I'd gladly buy another Camry when my 2001'er dies (which I hope it doesn't, in the near future at least).
      When you have more important things to worry about than the amount of time your car is spending at a mechanic getting large repairs done, I think a Camry is the answer.

      I do appreciate a slick Lamborghini though, those things just look mean. When I have the money / know more about cars / have a mid-life or three-quarter life crisis, I think a Lambo would do the trick ;)

      • Seraphin7 on 18/12/2017 - 14:41

        Hey mate, don't get me wrong. I'm driving a 2005 Commodore for many of the reasons you've outlined. The cost of it beyond mandatories (fuel, rego, insurance, etc.) are about as low as you can get. It's not flash, but it does the job I need it to do.

      • currentfad on 18/12/2017 - 15:22

        Same, we have a 1999 Echo with like 350,000kms now and has had barely any problems. The only issue I can think of is the car makes a really screechy sound if you blast the air con right after turning the car on, which goes away after a minute or two.

        Also owned a Camry before the Echo which also ran for decades, and currently have a 2008 Camry which hasn't had a hiccup yet. Potentially looking for something to replace the Echo though as it is a bit outdated to say the least.

        • RockyRaccoon on 18/12/2017 - 15:46
          +2

          the car makes a really screechy sound if you blast the air con right after turning the car on

          Have your fan belts checked.

        • currentfad on 18/12/2017 - 15:50
          +1

          @RockyRaccoon: Will do thank you mate :)

  • MathNerd on 18/12/2017 - 11:41
    +1

    I actually have a Champagne/Fawn Camry (exactly like this, but that's not my car.
    All I've done to it, literally, is service it with the usual consumables - Oil, Filters (Oil and Air), Spark Plugs, etc.
    Last week I changed the Brake Pads and Rotors.
    Apart from that, there has been no need to do any major services or faulty crank sensors or any of that jazz.
    This thing just keeps going. Bought it a couple of years ago at ~79,000 kms, it's now got ~167,000 kms.
    It is bland, yes, and there's no real "oohh" factor when people get into it, but it is reliable and does what it is designed to do - transport people, without breaking down unnecessarily.

    When driving is an integral part of your life, the last thing you want is your car off the road very often.

    Just my 2 cents.

    • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 13:36

      I have a 2005 Mazda 6, only done 158,000K.

      Never had a single mechanical issue with it, only problem is the back two power windows but engine-wise it's reliable and cheap to maintain.

      Also fun to drive for a standard sedan.

      Only bought tyres and battery in the five years I've owned it.

      Problem is the insurance as it's getting old and they slug you extra.

      • MathNerd on 18/12/2017 - 13:40

        Yeah the Mazdas tend to be great too in the reliability factor.

        Problem is the insurance as it's getting old and they slug you extra.

        Have they given you a reason for slugging you extra just because it's old? I don't see increased risk with an older car…

        • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 13:43

          You probably have a different system in Victoria?

          In NSW you have to get a Green Slip (it's privatised) to cover for injury and the insurance companies seem to think the older the car the less safe it is.

          I paid about $530 last year (plus the actual registration to the NSW government).

        • MathNerd on 18/12/2017 - 13:50

          @Scab: Ah, here we don't have Green Slips, we have the TAC charge which depends on location (closer to CBD, more risk). So your rego could be anywhere from $686.40 to $800.80.
          Do you guys have a fixed rego charge irrespective of location?

        • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 13:54

          @MathNerd:

          Yeah, it's based on weight and whether it's private/business.

        • RockyRaccoon on 18/12/2017 - 15:51

          @MathNerd: NSW Rego is fixed, but green slips are location based, so price in effect to register car changes according to location as you must have CTP (green slip)

        • Baysew on 18/12/2017 - 16:48

          @Scab:

          Yeah, it's based on weight

          Sounds like State sanctioned fat shaming.

      • roonie on 20/12/2017 - 15:24

        I had a manual 03 hatch for 9 years. The longest I've ever owned a car. I really enjoyed it. Thought of it as a Japanese Alfa. Was fun to drive and the hatch was cavernous. Shame they've gotten so big - and dropped the hatch

  • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 14:11
    +6

    I adore my Camry. Coming from a Euro car, I get a lot of thrill that it's not going to break down all the time when I've got somewhere I need to be and then cost $500-$1000 to fix it no matter how small the component was. A car I can rely upon and is part of my life has soul.

    • MathNerd on 18/12/2017 - 16:43
      +1

      Couldn't have said it better muyself.

  • johnno07 on 18/12/2017 - 14:36
    +1

    Mitsubishi Magna.

    Blandest car ever made.

    • Cluster on 18/12/2017 - 15:44
      +1

      It may have been blandest car of the year in 2005, when it was last offered as new.

      • johnno07 on 18/12/2017 - 18:41
        +1

        With the number on the road you'd think they were still shipping them.

        • nocure on 18/12/2017 - 18:56
          +2

          They're bullet proof

    • JIMB0 on 18/12/2017 - 17:52
      +1

      The base models were rather bland having been stripped out to meet a cheap price point. The higher spec ones were actually quite nice, espically the Verada models.

  • hongas on 18/12/2017 - 17:52
    +1

    I have 2004 Toyota Camry MCV36R hitting 230,000km soon.

    yeah its old but going strong. We even hold back buying a new car this year as this camry is still going strong.

    my 2 cents.

    • pegaxs on 18/12/2017 - 18:22

      It's like an old, faithful work horse. It isn’t pretty, or the fastest. It's not the most comfortable, but it damn sure is reliable and just keeps giving…

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