Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Just because somebody finds something that catches their eye does not mean that the next person will find the same object as transfixing. Macaroni and Cheese is not loved by everybody. The same can be said for the Yugo and the Pontiac Aztek. The two vehicles were brought to market and quickly polarized the public. For the people who loved them, though, there was nothing that could be said that would change the opinion.

The Yugo compact car

Yugo was the American arm of the Zastava Automobiles. It tried to make headway in the United States in the late 1980s. Yugo vehicles were inexpensive and fuel-efficient. But, their quality was terrible. In fact, the public started calling it, the two-year disposable car. The low price point gave the car a good initial launch. However, quality issues started coming to light, and dismal crash ratings were announced. So, the public as a whole took a step back from the brand. Then, during the Yugoslavian war, the manufacturing plant for the car was bombed. That was the end of the importation for the brand to the United States. An interesting book on the brand called, “The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History” outlines the company’s history. 

Quirkiness breeds affection

Given the background of the Yugo brand, it is surprising to see that there are a few that can still be found for sale across the nation. When investigated a little further, owners acknowledge the Yugo’s shortcomings but love the cars anyway. They insist on maintaining them in running order despite much of society having already forgotten the little car. Fans love the quirkiness and will do what they can to preserve it. 

The Pontiac Aztek

The Pontiac Aztek was an SUV built upon a chassis from the General Motors stable. It was much better built than the Yugo mentioned before. However, its design was polarizing. It has a split rear window and a double-stacked grille. It was billed as an alternative for sports activity people. But, the questionable styling meant a lot of people stayed away from it whether they were outdoor-sports-oriented or not.

The Pontiac Aztek’s quirkiness, however, is precisely why some consumers love it. Like the Yugo, The Pontiac also has the beginnings of a cult following. It also helps that a recent television series had a character that drove one. Also, Rosie O’Donnell owned one that she loved and sang the praises of. 

Does it matter what others say about the Yugo or Pontiac Aztek?

Here is the point of this Yugo and Pontiac Aztek editorial, the fact of the matter is that any car can be broken down into shortcoming or praises. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some people will shower praises on something that others will dismiss. Neither side is right or wrong. The point of the automotive industry having so many different types of vehicles is so that it can meet the needs of people with different tastes. So, it is okay to love a vehicle for what it is regardless of what close friends might say. If a car and its maintenance costs are affordable to you and beautiful to you, then You be you. It is all a matter of preference. But, just because three generations of people in your family have driven a new Ford or Toyota, should not mean that you can not drive something different, like a used Yugo or Aztek.