An interesting read ( there's mention of the RX2! ) for history buffs:

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2004/01/26/cx_dl_0126feat.html

Click on the SLIDE SHOW for a trip down the motor car memory lane ( according to Forbes.COM ).

++dez;

Meh - *some* of those cars I can understand, but others are hardly the "worst cars of all time", Citroen SM, original Honda Accord and RX-2 in particular.

Forbes on the RX-2:
here's a good reason that rotary engines never really caught on. Rotaries--which run in circles, unlike pistons, which run up and down--are like diesels; they had major problems early in life, creating a buying populace that to this date does not fully trust them. Mazda's RX-2, one of the first rotary-engine cars, had problems with catching on fire. It also raised the classic problems of rotary engines: bad fuel economy and emissions. Rotary seals would wear out early in an RX-2's life, leaking fuel and emissions along the way.

I have never heard of RX-2s catching on fire(!). All those RX-2 rally cars seem pretty flame retardant to me.

The seals that "wore out early" were 6mm Carbon seals, unlike the 3mm seals of every 12a and 13b up to the 1st gen RX-7 and 2mm thereafter. They should still last about 60,000kms by all reports

I love the bit that "rotaries are like diesels". LOL.

has someone been reading slashdot?

dbb i was going to say that too :)