Top Gear: The Worst Car In the History of the World

Clarkson and May converge on Whitby harbor to answer which car is the worst in history. They set up the premise by showing a wide range of candidates and the challenge of defining 'worst.' The tone is playful but the goal is clear: identify a car that epitomizes automotive failure.

The Polonez is revealed as the initial entrant, with its thin steel described as so flimsy it could be used as a neck scarf. Its reliability is portrayed as non-existent, making it an obvious candidate for the worst ever. The segment sets the bar low for the other contenders.

The CJ540 Jeep is examined as a postwar Indian adaptation of a US Army design. Modifications include an alleged non-existent suspension, a second-hand VW engine, and loose steering, all of which ruin its reliability and handling. The car becomes a symbol of how historical designs can fail in modern contexts.

Jeremy and James compare the brand-new Ferrari 458 Strider with the Mercedes SLS, debating whether an expensive fault is still a fault. The SLS turns in a slight edge on horsepower, but both show rapid tire wear after just a few laps. James concludes that Ferrari sometimes knows exactly what they’re doing, even when others doubt it.

The Mondial is discussed as a car that thousands bought hoping for perfection but found a slow, underwhelming performance. The steering and ergonomics are described as painful, deterring any sense of driving pleasure. It’s presented as a cautionary tale about chasing a reputation rather than real-world practicality.

Jeremy examines the Ferrari FSO, created to celebrate Ferrari’s 50th anniversary, marketed as an everyday F1 experience. Its V12 engine bears little relation to a true F1 engine and it carries many extra accessories that add weight. The result is a controversial attempt that neither looks nor performs like a desirable road car.

Jeremy argues that BMW is currently producing some great cars, including the M3, which makes the X3 seem awkward by comparison. The X3 is treated as a disappointing compact, failing to live up to BMW’s reputation. The segment emphasizes the contrast within the brand.

James highlights a string of underwhelming American cars, including the AMC Pacer, Chevrolet Corvair, Cadillac Cimarron, Ford Pinto, Lincoln Continental Mark IV, and Buick LeSabre. The point is to show that even a nation known for progress has produced notable duds. The tone is incredulous as he catalogs the failures.

James conducts a track test comparing the BMW M3 against American rivals. The BMW clocks a blistering time of 1.18 minutes, while the Buick records 2.34 minutes and the Lincoln 4.07 minutes. The segment underlines how far BMW’s engineering outpaces the American cars in this comparison.

The Epsilon from Lancia is introduced as a move away from the brand’s sports-car heritage toward an affordable city car, which quickly proves to fail the mark. The attempt to broaden the market results in a practical disaster rather than a sensible choice. It’s used to illustrate that not every expansion strategy pays off.

Alfa Romeo’s GTV6 is discussed as a turbocharged V6 in a hatchback-like setup, yet the back seats won’t fold because the petrol tank encroaches on space. The manufacturing and design are criticized as sloppy, making it hard to defend the car as a worthy product. The segment highlights the disconnect between performance potential and practical usability.

The Citroen Pluria is shown as a convertible with roof panels that must be dismantled by hand, and the parts you remove don’t fit back in properly. The result is an impractical and frustrating ownership experience. The segment uses it to illustrate how even stylish ideas can fail in execution.

The Saab Sensonic attempts to combine manual precision with automatic convenience through a clutchless gearbox, but it makes parallel parking on an incline nearly impossible. The concept is undermined by the real-world usability problems. It’s another example of how a clever idea can fall short in practice.

The Porsche 911 Carrera RS is criticized for hazardous handling characteristics, prompting James to pull out the Ford Escort Cosworth to demonstrate similar flaws. The Cosworth’s turbocharged performance was crude, leading Ford to downsize the turbo, which didn’t resolve the core issues. The segment underscores the struggle to make an affordable performance car truly reliable.

By the end, both the Peugeot 308 and the Lexus SC 430 meet the criteria for the world’s worst car, but the choice lands on the Lexus SC 430 to be gifted to Richard Hammond. The decision rests on a balance of performance, price, and practicality, with the SC 430 chosen as the emblem of automotive disappointment. The moment closes the challenge with a humorous, almost ceremonial ending.