Italian carmakers are known to produce some of the best-looking, most ferocious sports cars on the planet. However, they’re not immune to making mistakes, and even some of the most famous Italian cars weren’t as good as we like to think.

We’ve dug up some Italian sports cars that are best avoided, whether it’s due to shoddy build quality, a lack of power, poor design, horrendous handling, or all of the above.

We’ve based the article on information gathered from owners’ forums, retro-review articles, and personal experiences.

Lamborghini Countach

Yes, we know that the Countach is one of the most iconic cars ever made, but it was never particularly good—not even by 1980s standards. Thanks to the excellent V12 engines that powered it, not to mention the striking design penned by Gandini, it became the poster car of the 1980s.

The thing is, the Countach always suffered from terrifying handling, a horrible driving position, and terrible visibility. Like most Italian cars of that era, it also had bad electronics and the engine tended to overheat.

Ferrari Testarossa

Ferrari unveiled the Testarossa flagship model in 1984, and it soon adorned teenagers’ rooms in poster form. However, like the Countach, it was never as good as it was hyped up to be.

The Testarossa was too heavy and wide, which affected its drivability. Its build quality also left a lot to be desired, and maintenance costs were excessive. Thanks to the typical 1980s styling with side strakes, it even looked outdated by the end of the decade.

Cizeta Moroder V16T

If you think the Cizeta Moroder looks like the Lambo Diablo, that’s because it’s based on Gandini’s original Diablo design. Unfortunately, it never managed to outshine the Lambo; instead, it’s mostly forgotten.

As its name suggests, the Moroder V16T has a V16 engine. It was created by marrying two V8 units, resulting in 64 valves and 8 camshafts, but all that complex engineering didn’t result in better performance than the V12-powered Lambo.

De Tomaso Mangusta

We’re the first to admit that the De Tomaso Mangusta looks absolutely stunning, and thanks to its 230-330-horsepower Ford V8 engines, it even packs a serious punch.

However, the Mangusta suffered from serious flaws that could potentially be lethal. The biggest complaint from owners and car journalists of the time was its handling. With a rearward 60/40 weight bias, the Mangusta required a skilled driver to keep things under control.

Ferrari Mondial

The Mondial wasn’t Ferrari’s first attempt at making a 2+2 mid-engined sports car, as it succeeded the Dino 308 GT4. Like its predecessor, the Mondial wasn’t a huge success, in part thanks to its love-it-or-hate-it looks—which most people hated.

It was also overweight and underpowered, and the electronics system would eventually fail, which was easily detected by the smell of burning wires. The Mondial is a sports car that’s best avoided.

Lamborghini Egoista

We’re not even sure where to start with the Lamborghini Egoista. Its design is so over-the-top that it looks like something Hot Wheels would make. At best, it could be one of the least attractive Gran Turismo Vision cars, except this one is real and not just a digital concept.

That’s right, the Italian carmaker actually produced this pile of hideousness and somehow convinced 50 people to buy one. That proves that money cannot buy taste. At least no one will ever drive it on the road, as it’s too cumbersome to enter and exit the single-seater cockpit.

Lancia Stratos

The Stratos may be a rally legend, but it’s a horrid car for road use. On the gravel roads of the WRC, the Stratos dominated thanks to its 190-horsepower Ferrari Dino V6 engine and short wheelbase. 

However, the same factors that made it an excellent rally car were also its downfall on the road. It earned a reputation for snap-oversteer at high speed, and the offset steering wheel and pedal layout didn’t exactly make it comfortable to drive, either.

Maserati Merak 2000 GT

Built to be a practical, entry-level supercar, the Merak 2000 GT was a mid-engined 2+2, although the rear seats weren’t accessible to anyone but small children, dogs, and contortionists.

Maserati introduced the 2.0-liter V6-powered version to avoid the Italian tax that penalized engines larger than 2,000cc. With just 168 horsepower, the heavy Merak was slower than the models from Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Maserati GranTurismo

Honestly, we could’ve gone with practically any Maserati here. Decades ago, mentioning the brand would evoke naughty automotive dreams. These days, the Maserati name only conjures thoughts of ridiculous repair- and maintenance bills.

Think of any stereotypical problem Italian cars are known for, and chances are it’ll apply to the Maserati. That being said, if you ever get the opportunity to drive one, you’ll be slapped with an instant desire to buy it when you fire up the engine.

Covini C6W

Covini believed more wheels translated into added safety, but it soon turned out there were other factors that had a bigger impact than adding an extra pair of front wheels. 

Complex engineering aside, at least Covini played it safe when it chose the 4.2-liter Audi V8 engine. Churning out over 430 horsepower, the C6W is good for a 186 mph top speed.

Lamborghini Urraco P200

Like the Maserati Merak, the Lamborghini Urraco P200 was a 2.0-liter 2+2 entry-level supercar. It had a 2.0-liter V8 engine that produced 180 horsepower, so it was never as fast as it looked. 

One could argue that the Urraco P200 wasn’t intended to be a real performance car; it was just supposed to drive sales. While that may have helped keep the company in business for a while, it’s a poor long-term strategy as it erodes the brand’s foundation.

Ferrari 348

Compared to its predecessors, the Ferrari 348 wasn’t as bad as we’ve been led to believe. It’s just that all its flaws were highlighted when compared to the vastly superior Honda/Acura NSX.

The 348 also had side strakes similar to those of its larger Testarossa sibling, which were outdated as soon as the 1990s arrived. Thankfully, Ferrari would return with the excellent F355, and while it wasn’t perfect, it’s still very desirable today.

(Ferrari) Dino 208 GT4

The original Dino 246 GT was a curvaceous beauty. It didn’t have a Ferrari badge, but still became an icon in its own right. Its successor had much to live up to, and failed in every way—especially in the most basic 208 form.

Early cars were sold under the Dino name, but in 1976, it was finally given the Ferrari badge. It’s the first Ferrari penned by Bertone rather than Pininfarina, and it’s very much a love-or-hate design. Behind the rear seats, an underpowered 2.0-liter V8 churns out a lethargic 167 ponies, making it more of a grocery-getter than an actual sports car.