As most of the country dresses up, eats sweets and carves pumpkins to celebrate Halloween this weekend we’ve chosen to look at the scariest cars that have made it onto UK roads.
Top 10 Scariest Cars on the Road
From startling looks to terrifying performance and even a dangerous driver behind the wheel there’s a number of ways that a car can scare.
In this blog we’ve rounded up our top 10 picks of terrifying vehicles that have made it onto UK roads. Just scroll down to see if you agree with our choices!
1. Hummer H1
We’ve started our top 10 with a monster of a car – a Hummer.
The H1 was the original oversized four wheel drive utility vehicle taking it’s design inspiration from the M998 Humvee which was used by the military.
Though it’s no longer in production, with the last model made in 2006, there are still plenty on the road, and more of the Hummer family with the H2, H3, and H4.
It’s made it onto our list because of its humongous size and the way it can take on any road, terrain or even river which makes it more than a little terrifying!
2. Tesla Cybertruck
Our next pick is Tesla’s Cybertruck.
This futuristic car looks ready to take on a zombie apocalypse and Tesla boast of its durability with bulletproof glass and a re-enforced body. Though based on their 2019 exhibit you might want to ensure that the door isn’t hit before the glass, as Elon Musk found out this can weaken it and the next hit will break through the window.
The truck has sharp edges that might be functional if you are battling the walking dead but otherwise gives the car a rather unfinished look, especially in the utilitarian colour choices available for you to choose from.
The good news is that if you think this could be the car of your future you should soon be able to buy one as they’re expected to reach UK shores in 2022 or check out the other Tesla models here.
3. Ford Pinto
Images Sourced: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine and https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/features/car-of-the-week-1972-ford-pinto
In third place comes the Ford Pinto.
Today we think of the reliable and practical Ford Focus and Fiesta when the brand is mentioned but the company wasn’t always known for its safe hatchbacks.
In the 1970’s there were several occasions where Ford Pintos burst into flames due to a dangerous flaw in their design, and though this was an American model it did cause concern for the brand around the world including the UK.
The fuel tank in the Pinto was placed behind the rear axle, which meant that even in a small crash if the vehicle was rear-ended the bumper would usually puncture the tank, causing fuel to leak and then catch fire as it spread throughout the vehicle.
Thankfully the company stopped producing the Pinto and modern day safety protocols mean that a dangerous vehicle like this should never touch tarmac again.
To see some less explosive Ford leasing options just click here to head over to today’s modern models.
4. REVAi
Image Sourced: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REVAi
Also known as G-Wiz, REVA’s small city car has made it onto our list for the terrifying experience of driving or being a passenger in one.
It’s as compact as a Smart Car but without a lot of the additional safety features that Smart utilises, and when crash tested it crumpled. Designed for weaving in and out of London city traffic, which includes a number of large buses the fact it folds up so easily if involved in a collision is terrifying!
One thing that was in the G-Wiz’s favour is that it was one of the earliest electric vehicles on UK roads and produced zero emissions which made it popular for drivers in London’s low emission zone.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, REVA is no longer producing vehicles so you’re unable to get a new G-Wiz but you could probably find one on the used car market.
5. Fiat Multipla
The original Fiat Multipla on the roads back in the 1950s was an attractive looking multiple person vehicle (MPV) that had a focus on practical functionality, with three seats in the front row and wide windows around the car.
That’s not the Multipla that made our list though! We’ve chosen the ugly 1998 version which looked like something out of a car lover’s nightmares.
It had strange high beam headlights that sat oddly high, just under the windscreen at the bottom of the front A-pillars, a bulky body with too large windows and too small wheels for its size.
Although Fiat were responsible for this eyesore of a vehicle we’re happy to say that none of their current models take style inspiration from the Multipla but to check this for yourself head over to our Fiat leasing page.
6. DeLorean DMC-12
Images Sourced: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/used-cars-used-car-buying-guides/used-car-buying-guide-delorean-dmc-12
Though most of us remember the iconic DeLorean from the Back to the Future films we wouldn’t want to take a drive in one without time-travelling powers.
If it wasn’t for the films we’d compare the futuristic look of this car to the Tesla Cybertruck but if it was imagined in the 80s, and though it looked good when new the brushed stainless steel body was impossible to keep clean.
The manufacturer was marred by money troubles and a drug smuggling scandal that ultimately saw it close the doors on its government-funded Northern Ireland factory and go into liquidation in 1982.
It’s a lot slower than it looked in the movies as well thanks to its heavy body and underpowered 2.8 L engine, so in real life would struggle to reach and maintain 88 mph.
We might love the idea of the DeLorean because of its nostalgic reminder of our childhood but the reality is scarily disappointing if you have the chance to get behind the wheel of one.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Porsche described the 911 GT2 RS as their most powerful 911 model ever built and it’s for that reason that we’ve included it here.
There’s almost 690 brake horsepower in the rear wheels that have wide tyres to help get that power down on the road for a 0 to 60 in 2.6 seconds.
The power behind the 911 GT2 RS is what makes it a monster on the road and in the wrong hands that can be pretty scary.
8. Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet
An SUV crossover is designed for off-road adventuring but Nissan took it a step further with their Murano Cross Cabriolet.
This version of the second-generation Murano was the first convertible crossover on the market and there’s a reason we’ve not seen many more since – it looks like something that’s had the top chopped off in an accident and never been repaired.
We’ve added this one into our scariest cars because we think it’s one of the scariest looking cars created but you can see some much nicer looking Nissans here.
9. Hennessey Venom GT
Just like the Porsche 911 GT2 RS we’ve chosen this car because of it’s scarily quick and powerful drive.
It’s built by the American company Hennessey Performance Engineering, and uses a stretched version of the Lotus Platform with a mid-mounted 7.0 L twin-turbo LS7 V8 engine.
The six-speed manual gearbox can provide a terrifying 1,250 horsepower to the rear wheels for fast moving fun.
10. Reliant Robin
Images Sourced: https://auctions.manorparkclassics.com/auction/lot/11-1997-reliant-robin-lx/?lot=188&sd=1
Our final pick is the Reliant Robin.
Not only does it look particularly odd, with a dated boxy shape, faded paint and three wheels the Robin is notorious for its poor cornering.
Perhaps best demonstrated in the fact Jeremy Clarkson would roll it every time he took a corner in it the Robin was pretty unstable thanks to its solo front wheel that controls the steering.
For both its look and driving ability we know that the Reliant Robin deserves its spot on this list.
Xcite Car Leasing’s Scariest Cars
As well as picking what we think are the top five scariest cars to drive we’ve also spoken to some of our team to get their scariest driving experiences.
From flipping Fiats to clunky Campers find out more below.
Here are our scariest picks:
Wessex Fleet Director, Tim, says that the scariest car he’s ever driven is the Commer Campervan.
The engine of the campervan sat in the middle, between the driver and passenger, the brakes were slow to engage and the heavy weight of the vehicle made it even slower to stop.
The design of the Commer was based on the chassis of a car so the body was much too large for the wheel base it was placed on and this meant that the internal placement of things was a little odd, for example the steering wheel was in front of the two front wheels.
Image Sourced: https://www.retrotogo.com/2020/09/original-1961-commer-bluebird-moto-plus-camper-van.html
Our resident writer’s scariest experience involved her previous favourite car – the Fiat 500. (Last winter she faced a particularly slippery bit of road that lead to her brakes failing and the car rolling off the road into a hedge.
Don’t worry she was fine but sadly the Fiat didn’t make it out unscathed. Turns out landing on its roof wasn’t very good for it and Abby’s car was written off.
Although she previously loved her Fiat 500 her crash has put Abby off ever driving one, or even being a passenger in one for the foreseeable future.
There’s a running theme with our scariest driving experiences – the brakes – and Head of Sales Stuart Wyatt’s pick continues the theme.
He’s opted for the Citroen Saxo VTR as he drove one when the brakes didn’t work at all, which if you ask us is terrifying no matter how fast you’re going.
Image Sourced: http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6338045
Let us know what you think is the scariest car on the road in the comments below!
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