10 DECEPTIVELY SLOW CARS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

In the world of used cars, the blend of style and perfectionism is what makes heads turn, but when it comes to speed, it leaves enthusiasts scratching their heads. Why? Underpowered engines, wrong aerodynamics, and even the weight of the vehicles could be responsible for the disappointing performance.

Sports car fanatics love the rush of fast acceleration and the thrill of speeding along the highway. Nevertheless, not all cars are designed for speed. Although some vehicles look the part, they lack the horsepower to match. Today, we'll be looking at ten such cars that definitely look the part, but when it comes to following up with their performance, they severely lack.

2012 Mazda RX-8

0 to 60 MPH: 6.3 Seconds

At first glance, the 2012 Mazda RX-8 looks ready to rip up the track. Although it boasts a rotary engine, its horsepower isn't as high as it could be. With its exotic supercar exterior, one would bet that this would be a beast of a car on the road. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

The 2012 Mazda RX-8, like many of its counterparts, uses the Wankel Rotary engine. Mazda managed to squeeze 238 horsepower out of its engine, but that still isn't good enough for a car that looks this good. It takes 6.3 seconds to hit 0 to 60 mph which is far less than Mazda's fastest cars.

Related: 10 Lightweight Sports Car Alternatives For Mazda Miata Buyers

Specifications

1972 Mercedes-Benz W115 220D

0 to 60 MPH: 23 Seconds

Among the best Mercedes models, the 1972 Mercedes-Benz W115 220D might not stand out for its speed, but people love it for its robust build and unwavering reliability. Its diesel engine prioritizes fuel efficiency and long-term reliability over sheer power.

In spite of its underpowered engine, which produces only 60 horsepower and a top speed of 84 mph, this car is a classic. The streamlined steering wheel with the Mercedes crest in the center, the Becker radio, and the watch-like dials still make it the epitome of convenience and beauty.

Specifications

1983 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

0 to 60 MPH: 19 Seconds

Without a doubt, the Cadillac Coupe DeVille seems like a ready-to-rumble American luxury cruiser for the highway, but despite its massive V8 engine, it has a relatively slow pace. Most muscle cars were getting underpowered during the '80s, and this Caddy is definitely a victim of the times.

With a top speed of 94 mph, the 5.7-liter V8 diesel engine accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 19 seconds. Any earlier luxury muscle car with such looks would probably hit 60 mph from a standstill nearly thrice in that much time, showing how severely deceptive the 1983 Coupe DeVille looks.

Specifications

2012 DC Avanti

0 to 60 MPH: 5.7 Seconds

An Indian sports car, the DC Avanti, boasts exotic appeal and high-performance potential. Yet, its performance doesn't match its exotic aesthetics. For a car that looks like it could hit 0 to 60 mph in just a blink of an eye, it actually takes as much as 5.7 seconds.

It has a record-breaking curb weight of 3,443 pounds and is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder from Renault Sport that delivers 250 horsepower. It was based on the Studebaker Avanti but failed to impress in terms of performance, unlike its inspiration.

Related: These Cars Look Fast But Are Actually Incredibly Slow

Specifications

1994 Ford Mustang

0 to 60 MPH: 9.5 Seconds

The 1994 Ford Mustang fails to meet its predecessors even halfway in terms of performance and speed. It's shocking to imagine that when this Mustang was launched, previous variants of the classic muscle cars were setting records for speed nearly three decades prior.

Despite its long pedigree, sleeker lines, and more rounded curves than ever before, this car was a major disappointment. Thanks to its trimmed-down 147-hp engine, it needs 9.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. We wouldn't even touch this Mustang with a ten-foot pole.

Specifications

2019 Subaru Forester

0 to 60 MPH: 8.5 Seconds

In an age of high horsepower specs, the 2019 Subaru Forester is devoid of significant power with a 0 to 60 mph time of 8.5 seconds. In recent times, other manufacturers on the market have been creating some of the fastest SUVs in production. On the contrary, Subaru remains devoted to making family cars that will probably have no other purpose.

Despite a curb weight of over 3,500 pounds, the 2019 Forester only gets a mild 182 horsepower output with 176 lb-ft of torque. Most sport utility vehicles of this size generally produce twice as much power and torque in the segment. While it may not be fair to judge this one solely on its 0 to 60 mph acceleration, the rest of its performance specs are equally disappointing.

Specifications

1999 Toyota Celica

0 to 60 MPH: 8.7 Seconds

7th-generation Toyota Celicas are known for their sporty styling and reliability. But when it comes to speed, not all '90s sports cars are the fastest on the market. Its appeal lies mainly in its affordability for maintenance.

This liftback coupe's 1.8-liter straight-four-cylinder engine produces just 140 horsepower, giving it a 0 to 60 mph time of 8.7 seconds. This leaves the 1999 Toyota Celica one of the more disappointing seventh-generation models of the iconic sports car from Toyota.

Specifications

1994 Chevrolet Impala SS

0 to 60 MPH: 7.1 Seconds

The 1994 Chevrolet Impala SS exudes an aura of muscle car elegance. Nevertheless, it is powered by the same engine as the Caprice sedan. Despite its comfortable ride and V8 power, the vehicle does not provide the lightning-fast performance that you'd normally expect from a classic Impala SS.

The Chevrolet Impala SS has a 5.7-liter V8 engine with 250 horsepower, which was derived from the Corvette. However, it still took 7.1 seconds to reach 60 mph and 142 mph at top speed, and we can largely credit that to this Chevy's ginormous 4,218 lbs curb weight.

Specifications

1983 Porsche 928

0 to 60 MPH: 7.5 Seconds

The Porsche 928 was the first of its kind to come with a V8 engine in a front-mounted layout. Yet, it doesn't provide the same sports car performance as a Porsche despite all these specs. For a sports car with such an iconic design, this is definitely not what you'd expect.

With a top speed of 142 mph, the 1983 Porsche 928 requires 7.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. Neither the fastback nor the rear-wheel-drive help make this 2-door coupe faster.

Related: 10 Best Porsche Models To Buy Used

Specifications

2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK200

0 to 60 MPH: 8.8 Seconds

The Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 is one of the most stylish and sportiest cars to behold. At first glance, you'll be genuinely impressed with its sleek lines and sports car exterior. After a quick test drive, you'll be left wanting more.

Despite the fact that this 2-door roadster was powered by two different engines, neither accelerated well enough for this Merc to impress anyone. With the 2.0-liter straight-four-cylinder engine rated at 134 horsepower, the car takes 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. Another option is the supercharged inline-four-cylinder engine that creates 189 horsepower and improves 0 to 60 mph acceleration to 7.5 seconds. That is still criminally slow for a car that looks so ready to rip up the road.

Specifications

2023-09-21T20:01:36Z dg43tfdfdgfd