Where do they come up with names for cars? Some of them make sense: the Audi Quattro refers to the car's all-wheel drive system, the Acura Legend inspires confidence, and the Plymouth Voyager conjures up family road trips. But others...well, you just have to wonder. We called up the actual definitions for some of these names in an attempt to understand...
1. AMC Gremlin: "a tiny imaginary mischievous creature that is blamed for faults in tools, machinery, and electronic equipment." Do you really want anything to do with gremlins when you are driving down a steep and slippery road?
2. Ford Probe: Probably the manufacturers meant probe as in space probe. However, we can't rule out another definition: "surgical instrument for exploring."
3. Chevy Cavalier: "showing an arrogant or jaunty disregard or lack of respect for something or somebody," or a "gallant or chivalrous gentleman, especially one escorting a lady." Which do you think they were going for?
4. Plymouth Reliant: "depending on or needing somebody or something." Wouldn't you like to be able to rely on your car, rather than have it rely on you?
5. Oldsmobile Cutlass: "a short thrusting sword with a flat and slightly curved blade used in the past, especially by sailors." This might be a better name for a boat.
6. Volkswagen Golf: "an outdoor game in which an array of specially designed clubs with long shafts are used to hit a small ball from a prescribed starting point into a hole." What if you prefer tennis or soccer? Can you still drive this car?
7. Toyota Corolla: "the petals of a flower collectively, forming a ring around the reproductive organs and surrounded by an outer ring of sepals." Well, at least the literal Latin translation of corolla is "little crown."
8. Chevy Suburban: "relating to, belonging to, or located in a suburb." Why is there no "Urban" or "Rural"?
9. Mitsubishi Mirage: "something that is unreal or merely imagined." This suggests the car may not be as good as it seems.
10. Subaru Brat: "demanding and selfish person: somebody, either a child or an adult, who is regarded as tiresomely demanding and selfish, like a spoiled child." So, it's not surprising that Subaru has discontinued that model.

Camry takes the cake for me.

Talk about a totally contrived name.

Herb

"real corinthian leather". No such thing, but it sounds good, especially when ricardo says it.

11. AMC Pacer: "one that paces; specifically : a horse whose predominant gait is the pace"

12. AMC Javelin: " a light spear thrown as a weapon of war or in hunting"

13. Ford Pinto : "a horse or pony of various breeding that is marked with patches of white and another colors" (In this case RUST or Burn Marks)

My fave is the "Festiva!"

it's gotta be one of the biggest POS cars Ford ever made. Add the "Aspire!" to the list and it's the same deal over again.

Fun names, really crappy cars.

14. Daihatsu Charade: "A readily perceived pretense; a travesty"

And don't you think putting the word "Limited" on any car would tend to be something you'd not want to advertise?

I don't know about that. I'm pretty minimalist on my cars. If it's limited, as in not loaded up with a lot of crap, then it's a selling point for me.

I like cars that run for a really long time, feature solid and robust core features (no power windows, manual trannie, simple electrical, etc...), and that get good MPG. If there is a lot of extra crap on the car, then it's not really adding to the core value and is largely lost on me.

15. Chevrolet Citation : "an official summons to appear (as before a court)" (citation for littering when parts fall off going down the road)

I have a friend whose son did three tours of duty in Iraq, saw heavy action, and thank God came home alive--and the only car she'll drive is a KIA. Damn.

Studebaker Dictator: produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1927 through 1937.

Also: Davis Playboy, Stout Scarab

"'real corinthian leather'. No such thing..."

No, Ricardo used to say, "Rich, corinthian leather." "Corinthian" can mean "luxurious."

DT sez: VW Golf

Don't get too excited over this name. It is a German word and has nothing to do with the game of golf. USA Golfs were called Rabbits for a reason, then someone in marketing had a bright idea -- not! They're called Rabbits again.

Did they even have models with Yugo's? Or was it just a "Yugo"? Yugo walking when they break!

Queue Timberfake. 5. 4. 3. 2. . .

According to the ol' Wiki, you had your choice of a basic Yugo GV, or upgrade to any of the following:

* Yugo GV Plus
* Yugo GVL
* Yugo GVS
* Yugo GVX
* Yugo Cabrio

Choose the level of suckiness that suits YOU!

* Yugo GTY too!

* Yugo POS:

I heard a story once about when the Yugo was first introduced to the public here in the States, a prospective buyer test drove a brand new one, right off the lot. He decided not to buy the $4000 wonder after his test driving "experience." When he got the Yugo up to speed, he heard wind whistling through what he thought was the drivers side door window seal, then to his amazement, he saw daylight in the seal between the windshield and the roof of the car. The real deal breaker though, was when he tried to shift the car into third gear, and the shifter knob came off in his hand. I'm suprised that the steering wheel didn't pop off!

Not a funny name, but a fitting name as well as a fitting nickname:

Toyota Land Cruiser aka Land CRUSHER!

Dodge Dart

Plymouth Duster

Plymouth Arrow

I remember when Rush Limbaugh (yeah, I know) lashed the Big 3 for coming up with names for Americans cars that turned off potential buyers. The Ford Probe?

Hey! I'm drivin' my '67 Dart every day! Though lately, I think I'm hearing a little rod knock after 185,000 miles. Might be time to yank the engine and do a little R&R.

But I was thinking today that a name like "Dart" would never fly on a car today. Way too literal. Today's names have to sound fast, sleek, and beautiful...and yet mean nothing.

Dodge Ram is an oxymoron.

Plymouth Prowler : "To move about or wander stealthily in or as if in search of prey" (hookers)

Dodge Avenger : Piss me off, i'll avenge myself on you, great car for a road rager!

Hey....How about the Nissan Armada...let's get this battleship on the road!

Armada: a large force or group usually of moving things

Ford Exploder.

That would be a fuuny and true nickname!

Hyundai Excel : I'm at a loss with "WORD" for this one!

I had a Plymouth Duster, 340 engine, not a bad little car.

Anyone asking for a hummer for Christmas?

Herb is. Just a taste.

Classic thread! LMAO!

Merkin, is there a car called the Entendre?

Darktemper mentioned a personal favorite: the Chevrolet Cavalier. Usually found with 360 degrees of parking rash, stumps where once were mirrors, a set of unused turn signals, unchanged oil if any, and a driver constantly talking on a cell phone. Webster says, "marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters"

Nobody has mentioned the "Adobe"! It was cheeper than a Yugo because it was made in Mexico.

While visiting my son in Japan last April, I noticed that they have some VERY strange names for cars.
Took a while to find the file, but here are some of the ones that struck me:

Daihatsu "Naked"
Toyota "Deliboy"
Mitsubishi "Guts"
Mazda "Scrum"
Honda "That's"

Mitsubish should come out with a line called "Zero".

And Mercedes should come out with the "Rommel" or "Tiger".

The Russians could come out with their own car line. Make = "Mig" and the Models are 27, 28, and 29 depending on options.