Huh. I would've never guessed the Elite would even be anywhere NEAR the list. Me, I would've chosen the Festiva, Fiesta (the old ones), Tempo/Topaz twins,...

Hay is for horses! lol 

Well, how many of them are still around? I haven't seen a Festiva in years. I am glad you got a good one, though.  Do  you still have her?

I wonder if the Renault LeCar made the list... Mom LOVED that car and I detested it! 

  I wonder if the people polled even know what a Pinto is... Well, besides a great car...

I wonder if the Renault LeCar made the list... Mom LOVED that car and I detested it! 

  I wonder if the people polled even know what a Pinto is... Well, besides a great car...

There was no Renault on the list at all!  Strangely enough, there was a Bentley Eight and a Rolls-Royce Camargue, two cars which are generally considered world-class.  The only two cars I ever owned that made the list were an Olds 98 diesel, and a Cadillac Cimarron.  My Olds diesel was a miserable piece of crap... I actually had pretty good luck with the Cimarron.  It was small but comfortable and reliable, but I had one of the later ones... it was the first ones that were so Cavalier-like. American makes that made the list included the AMC Pacer and the Dodge Aspen.
Dwayne

I've never even heard of a Cimarron before seeing that.

Cadillac was grappling with the energy crisis back then and basically failed with their three approaches: 
                      1.) Offering a diesel (poorly engineered, converted gasoline engine) option.
                      2.) Developing a V8-6-4 engine as standard equipment (1981 only).
                      3.) Rushing a small Cadillac to market - basically a rebadged Chevy Cavalier.
Brilliant, ecologically-minded soul that I am, I was dumb enough to own one of each!  The diesel would have been fine if they had started from scratch.  Mine was mated to the same transmission they used in the Chevy Chevette and the starters were the same as on gasoline engines.  It was a nightmare!  Mine STAYED in the shop.  The V8-6-4 was a good idea (and one that has reappeared recently, albeit with computerized technology to back it up).  The theory was that eight cylinders would give you the power to get going, then as you increased speed the cylinders would drop out, to leave you cruising down the Interstate on four cylinders and getting terrific gas mileage.  The six cylinder mode was basically for added power for getting up hills as needed.  There was no way for the driver to deactivate the system - it all worked automatically.  In their infinite wisdom, GM designed the engine to run a lopsided six rather than a V-6.  You were using four cylinders on one side and two on the other.  This caused major vibrations that are not acceptable in ANY car, let alone a Cadillac that cost $20,000+ in 1981!  There were so many problems that GM extended the warranty and ceased production of the engine.  Most ended up being mechanically converted back to standard V-8's, just as most of the diesels were converted back to gasoline.  The Cimarron actually made more sense.  It was small and fairly economical to operate.  Cadillac viewed it as the perfect second car for their conventional Cadillac customers.  They touted it as an American alternative to BMW.  By the time they finally got it right (1987-88) the reputation had been destroyed by the early models.  I drove one of the first Cimarrons that was equipped with a four cylinder engine and four speed manual transmission.  Other than the grille, tailights, wheels, and emblems it was indistinguisha ble from a Chevy Cavalier.  The interior was a tad nicer, with leather and all power accessories made standard, but it didn't hold up to the expectations of Cadillac owners and was NEVER a threat to BMW or anyone else.  The one I ultimately bought was a 1987, by which time a six cylinder automatic was standard.  Styling cues on the exterior brought it more in line with other Cadillac offerings, the suspension was revamped for a much better ride, and the interior was upgraded significantly.  All in all, it was a rather luxurious smaller car and I was happy with it.  They were manufactured in small numbers to begin with, and then sales dwindled, so they are relatively rare today.
Dwayne

I apologize if I offended anyone.  I was just saying I couldn't believe a Ford Elite was in the Worst Cars list when there are other cars that were built as (sadly) disposable cars. The Aspire was, to me, another one. I rented one for a couple days in 1998 and it was a neat lil' car. It was tiny compared to my Fox-body '82 Capri that was being worked on at the time. Nowadays I know of someone in my neighborhood that has one and possibly another (I've seen two of them in her driveway). It usually comes down to if you take care of your car, your car will take care of you.

I owned one of the very first Fiesta Mk.1's in this country. I bought it because I thought it would make a better auto-x car than a Pinto. Pinto's could be had for $2100.00 and my Fuzzy was $4452.98. That little car took me to many auto-x and road race wins in its storied career. My ex-wife totaled it on it's third major wreck. I have since owned many other Fiesta's (still have two in my garage, a SCCA H-prod car, and a bone stock "S" model). But I have also aquired my Pintos as well. One is my aunts 1980model(bought brand new in 1980 when I wrecked my first Fiesta at the SCCA Runoffs) She let me have her old '67 Comet untill I got my Fiesta fixed. The other is my ITB race Pinto. 
 
Car and Drivers David E. Davis called the Fiesta the new Mini. He even owned one for a while. Hot Rod magazine called the Fiesta's 1.6L Kent engine "the small block Chevy of Europe."  And my Fiesta still gets better than 35mpg with a 2bbl weber carb, push rods, and an IRON block and head, not many modern cars will do that. 
 
I love my Pintos, I drive my Pintos, but when you are one of the original owner group, I will always have a Fiesta.
 
Russ