the "just plain ugly" car thread

[Ranman20]

The turbo 4cyl is just fine. If you wanted more power you could get it out of the engine already in it. The V6 would weigh more, as well.

Understandable.

 

[Tornado]

They should put a VR6 in it; but there's no reason for a V6 diesel. This isn't an executive car, and the chassis most certainly wasn't designed for the nearly 400 lb ft of torque that the current V6 TDI puts out.

 

[Ranman20]

They should put a VR6 in it; but there's no reason for a V6 diesel. This isn't an executive car, and the chassis most certainly wasn't designed for the nearly 400 lb ft of torque that the current V6 TDI puts out.

They should make a Rsi version again.

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

They should make a Rsi version again.

They just announced pricing for the new R-line Beetles, but I don't know how much like the RSI Beetles they are.

Link.

 

[Ranman20]

They just announced pricing for the new R-line Beetles, but I don't know how much like the RSI Beetles they are.

Link.

30k is expensive. I could get a used quatrro for that price. Even a FR-S could destroy it around the track.

 

[Wiegert]

30k is expensive. I could get a used quatrro for that price. Even a FR-S could destroy it around the track.

For a sportier top of the range VW, it's not exactly surprising to know it'll cost that much at all, even for something in the current Beetle range. As a comparison, it costs half as much as the RSi did 12 years ago although it's certainly not as track-oriented or rare.

And I wouldn't have thought it mattered how the R-Line would perform on a track against a lighter, RWD BreezeFrees.


The rims are arguably better on the R-Line than the standard A5 Beetle too.

 

[Jason]

I've never really liked the rear end on the new TL.

 

[Starciller]

It looks like the rear of the car is pointed then dragged toward the ground kind of a weird combination.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

The grille is pretty ugly, too.

 

[Doog]

I was the only person that actually liked the pre-facelift TL. Of course, I think the facelifted TL looks much better though. One of the few nice looking crisp designs currently being sold.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I was the only person that actually liked the pre-facelift TL. Of course, I think the facelifted TL looks much better though. One of the few nice looking crisp designs currently being sold.

The pre facelift TL, while a bit dull, was a generally great looking car, especially in Type S guise. The new one isn't my cup of tea, but it's certainly interesting and I wouldn't not buy one based on appearance.

 

[Ranman20]

Sorry to say but I really dislike BMW's.

All current BMW's I dislike. They all look the same. The M3 is just a bigger 1,3,5 series sedan. The M5 is just a heavier/tuned M3 with a V10. The only BMW I approve is the Z3,Z4, M1, i8, F1 race cars, V12 LMR.

 

[Petrolhead1]

No one's mentioned these yet...

Fiat 500L

Fiat 500 MPV

​

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

The 500 MPV doesn't show for me but the 500L looks fine.

 

[Monatsende]

How can you paint a plain vanilla car like the Citroën Berlingo in such a colour?

(Yes, the picture is blurry.)

And your chocolate brown Kia Rio won`t look faster with racing stripes, right?

 

[Tyger]

Any car ruined by US-spec 5mph crash bumpers. Legislation by aesthetic-less lawyers...typical.

Have to agree, you could pull up a chair and eat your dinner off of some. Also a little annoying when it affected the models in other countries (MGs took on the plastic bumpers elsewhere too, presumably because they were all manufactured in the same place?) Also spoils the look of a lot of cars in Forza, as they are modelled on US-spec versions.

Then of course there were also changes to the lights of a lot of cars in the US, the worst examples for me being the rear lights of the Countach and Esprit. Anyone know what regs dictated this? Seemed a tendency to change everything to quad lights, or make them smaller.

 

[Liquid]

Then of course there were also changes to the lights of a lot of cars in the US, the worst examples for me being the rear lights of the Countach and Esprit. Anyone know what regs dictated this? Seemed a tendency to change everything to quad lights, or make them smaller.

I've never understood this, neither.

United States and United Kingdom spec Rover SD1 lights.

 

[Wolfe]

^ The u.s. federal regulations on headlights through the mid 20th century are described here. In 1983 the law was amended to accept "aerodynamic" designs, in the chase for fuel economy.

As for 5mph bumpers, the hatred is self-explanatory, but they were not superfluous. They had a job to do, and they worked. Frankly, I wish modern "bumpers" were more substantial:

Facing pressure from automakers, and operating under the Reagan administration's pledge to reduce regulatory burdens on industry, NHTSA most recently amended the bumper standard in May 1982...
...
Consumer and insurance groups have decried the weakened bumper standard, saying it has increased consumer costs without any attendant benefits except to automakers.
...
The weakened regulations permitted automakers to design bumpers with emphasis on style and low cost; protection dropped substantially and repair costs rose. In 1990, IIHS conducted four crash tests on three different-year examples of the Plymouth Horizon. The results illustrated the effect of the changes to the U.S. bumper regulations (repair costs quoted in 1990 United States dollars):

• 1983 Horizon with Phase-II 5-mph bumpers: $287
• 1983 Horizon with Phase-I 2.5-mph bumpers: $918
• 1990 Horizon: $1,476

As I understand it, the whole point of the regulation was to protect consumers.

 

[Tornado]

^ The u.s. federal regulations on headlights through the mid 20th century are described here. In 1983 the law was amended to accept "aerodynamic" designs, in the chase for fuel economy.

A.K.A. because Ford basically demanded it.

 

[playnthru]

Doe this help answer anything ?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumper_(automobile)

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Have to agree, you could pull up a chair and eat your dinner off of some. Also a little annoying when it affected the models in other countries (MGs took on the plastic bumpers elsewhere too, presumably because they were all manufactured in the same place?) Also spoils the look of a lot of cars in Forza, as they are modelled on US-spec versions.

Then of course there were also changes to the lights of a lot of cars in the US, the worst examples for me being the rear lights of the Countach and Esprit. Anyone know what regs dictated this? Seemed a tendency to change everything to quad lights, or make them smaller.

I know that the US only allowed sealed beam headlamps from the 40s through the nineties, and until 1975 you could only have single or dual round lights. After '75, you could also fit rectangular lights of a certain size.

 

[Crash]

Sorry to say but I really dislike BMW's.

All current BMW's I dislike. They all look the same. The M3 is just a bigger 1,3,5 series sedan. The M5 is just a heavier/tuned M3 with a V10. The only BMW I approve is the Z3,Z4, M1, i8, F1 race cars, V12 LMR.

Dat misinformation.

The M3 is based on the 3 series platform (hence M3) and the M5 is based on the 5 series platform (hence M5). The M3 is not "just a bigger 1,3,5 series sedan".

The M5 isn't just a heavier/tuned M3 since they are not based on the same chassis. They now, arguably, have pretty different aims and targets. Oh, and the new M5 doesn't have a V10 anymore.

I know that the US only allowed sealed beam headlamps from the 40s through the nineties, and until 1975 you could only have single or dual round lights. After '75, you could also fit rectangular lights of a certain size.

Sealed beams were only required in the US through model year 1984.

 

[Danny]

Dear Nissan,

Please, no more special edition Micras. Ever. Please. You make them horrible.

Thanks,
Danny

 

[daan]

I thought that was a Mitsuoka

 

[Stotty]

Jesus Christ, WTF is that monstrosity?

So much wrong in 1 car design!

 

[AudiMan2011]

Jesus Christ, WTF is that monstrosity?

So much wrong in 1 car design!

Its the Mitsuoka Viewt. A Micra dressed to look like a Mk2 Jaguar.

 

[MatskiMonk]

All current BMW's I dislike. They all look the same. The M3 is just a bigger 1,3,5 series sedan. The M5 is just a heavier/tuned M3 with a V10. The only BMW I approve is the Z3,Z4, M1, i8, F1 race cars, V12 LMR.

ermm... Wut?

 

[Jason]

ermm... Wut?

I love the most recent line of BMW's. Much better looking compared to any new Audi or Mercedes.

 

[GTMail]

I always thought the Dodge Stealth was incredibly ugly. That stupid spoiler at the end of the window shield certainly didn't help the already ugly back end of that thing either.

 

[Danny]

Forgot how much I disliked this.