Yugo GVX

                        

Yugo introduced its unreliable, underpowered, hopelessly antiquated GV hatchback in 1986 to worldwide jeering and derision, a level of scorn that only grew as people became more familiar with the intrinsic problems with an ancient Fiat design assembled with the meticulous disregard and thorough apathy of Yugoslavia's Zastava auto group.

The GV's carbureted, 61-horsepower four-cylinder engine, its antediluvian suspension design, and four-speed manual transmission were part of the problem. The remainder of the car constituted the rest of the problem.

In response to the deafening lack of demand for a performance variant of the GV came the GVX--a hot-rod Yugo that thoroughly failed to meet even the dimmest expectations.

The extensive revision and customization process added alloy wheels, a stripe of metallic paint along the bottom of the side rocker panels, a sport steering wheel, and a dizzying array of engine revisions that boosted available power from 61 horsepower to, well, 61 horsepower. These modifications had all the enhancing effect one would expect from spraying Lysol into a vat of raw sewage.

According to Kelly Blue Book, a 1987 Yugo GVX with 180,000 miles and in "Fair" condition (an iffy proposition considering most Yugos didn't leave the factory in "Fair" condition and is completely unlikely to cover 180,000 miles under its own power) is now worth $400.

The Yugo, of course, has become known as a car symbolizing tremendous awfulness of an unprecedented degree. The existence of a "sport" edition that didn't actually add any sport makes the car all the worse.

My uncle has a classic line--he says that the Yugo's optional rear-window defroster is useful mostly to keep your hands warm when you're pushing it.

What has been so far left unsaid in this sordid tale is that part of me--and not a small part--thinks the Yugo is actually not a terrible-looking car. I'm ashamed to say that that I came this close to making the Yugo GVX a Car Lust instead of a Car Disgust.

--Chris H.

Comments

[Brian on April 24, 2008 at 12:12 AM]

Now I am laughing, laughing, laughing.

[Beatokko on May 05, 2008 at 06:24 PM]

I can't read the rest of it. The tears from laughter don't let me.

[Sojourner Wolf on September 22, 2008 at 09:17 AM]

C'mon...they make great front yard planters and aquariums...and remember the worldwide touring art exhibit a few years back?

[Squidlips on October 03, 2008 at 12:30 PM]

Been the the extended warranty business since 1984 and I've compiled repair records on every car you can name and a few you can't. Won't dispute how crude the Yugo was but it was considerably more reliable when compared to domestic cars built at the same time.

I say this based on the breakdown history of millions of cars, not just anecdotal tales of horrid Yugos or bulletproof Hondas.

Lots of people, when buying a really cheap car, don't bother with basic maintenance yet they're horrified when their cheapie car expires.

[Steve on October 24, 2008 at 06:15 PM]

Owned a 1986 GV, never beat at stop lights by 1st generation Escort.Wish I still had it!

[Jason Carpp on December 01, 2008 at 07:44 AM]

This is probably the best looking box on wheels I've ever seen. It's a shame that it was so poorly put together. And the name is a laugh: Yugo, you go yourself (laughs). I can think of lots of other names that sould've been attached to this car. Someone should've taken over the company instead of letting it go under like its country of origin.

[M70B1 on February 12, 2009 at 06:48 PM]

To be fair, my Zastava AK47 is the highest quality AK47 clone I've ever seen. Guess they had other priorities.