Ugly But Appealing Vehicles

[YouButNotYou]

I love every single Mini although a few people seem to hate the bigger cars like the Countryman and Paceman but I think Mini did good to venture into the unknown. My mum has a MINI One and I have been sat in it and that thing is tiny but yet I still love it. Everyone has got to love atleast one Mini in their lifetime but why not love all? It's just the same with Range Rover, they did massive 4x4s but then with the Freelander and Evoque, they re-styled and built a car that is practical. Mini cars are for anyone and I would happily buy one. I'm not just saying all of this because I am British and because the Mini is an iconic symbol in the U.K., but because I truly believe this. Mini may now be owned by BMW but I think that the Mini will stay as a icon and the fact that BMW own Mini only make the company stronger and the fact that nobody would want to own a car made by Rover, those things are nasty. I think Mini have made one of the best cars in the world.

 

[Liquid]

Except as you and others have said, the fact that the MINI is big on the outside but small on the inside means that it's now swung completely the other way and lost all trace of it's original premise; small on the outside and big on the inside.

 

[YouButNotYou]

Fair point. I meant it as it's small in the back of the car but big in the front so they have made bigger cars to suits those with families. So yeah, you are right, but I still love the Mini. I guess that's just my opinion.

 

[MatskiMonk]

small on the outside and big on the inside.

Big on the inside? Not from what I remember from the days of riding as a passenger in any of my cousins Mini's!

 

[Liquid]

Ha, well that's what Issigonis wanted, at least...

 

[YouButNotYou]

Ha, well that's what Issigonis wanted, at least...

I suppose so. 👍

 

[Wiegert]

Deceptively roomy for its size. Which can't be said for its incredibly common MINI Hatch descendant.

 

[Liquid]

The Mini is the opposite of this thread to me.

Not ugly, but not appealing either.

The Austin Maxi however...

Just look at those brake lights! It's like driving a mini Jaguar XJ III!

 

[homeforsummer]

The Toyota Celica ST200s. This generation of the celica is called ugly by a couple more of my friends

I can partly see what they mean, mainly because the GT-Four is a bit "busy" at the front end. But overall, I find that generation Celica quite attractive. Possibly at its best from the rear 3/4, as it has a good set of hips.

The next gen Celica was even better as stock, but you've chosen a bit of a nasty pic to illustrate it. The 7th-gen is best pre-facelift, and with absolutely no adornments other than perhaps a nice set of wheels.

and the fact that nobody would want to own a car made by Rover, those things are nasty

I'm gonna have to stop you there.

For one, Rover were responsible for the last couple of decades of original Minis, and there's little wrong with those (other than familiar Mini issues like rust and a crazy driving position).

For another, I'd disagree in general that "Rovers are nasty". They made some pretty good, high-quality cars, particularly over the last few years of production (the 75, the MGs). That includes the MINI itself - unless you'd like to conveniently ignore that Rover did much of the development and engineering work for the original car before BMW cut and ran...

Big on the inside? Not from what I remember from the days of riding as a passenger in any of my cousins Mini's!

That's the fault of modernity. Original Minis with minimal door trims and dashboard and small, thin seats were actually pretty big inside. All the stuff added over the 70s and 80s (doorcards, a proper dash, wind-down windows, thicker seats) made them a bit more cramped.

 

[YouButNotYou]

I know that Rover did most of the engineering and development but with my experience of Rovers, I just do not particularly feel like they are a nice car. Some people disagree about the Mini because their experience might of been bad. I'm not that old and I know that Rovers were a more popular brand of car a while back. I have never actually owned a Rover but my uncle has, my dad has and my grandad has and listening from their opinions they didn't have a pleasant time. Again, that's just my opinion.

 

[eight6er]

I wonder has anyone ever tried to fit an original Mini into one of the new giant ones. I think it might fit.

I thought the st205 was the best looking of the later gen Celicas, but only slightly better looking than a st185 Wide body.

I think the bug eye impreza wrx was ugly, but appealing.

 

[Space Dynamics]

1989 Oldsmobile touring sedan. They installed a multilink suspension in the back to try and compete with Bmw and Mercedes (for some reason)... I would always be catching people down the freeway ramps. And just look at that shifter!

 

[Vince]

1989 Oldsmobile touring sedan. They installed a multilink suspension in the back to try and compete with Bmw and Mercedes (for some reason)... I would always be catching people down the freeway ramps. And just look at that shifter!

It's pretty much the same story with every Oldsmobile to me. Speaking of Oldsmobile, Doog and Zyla might appreciate this one.

Oh, Delta...

 

[homeforsummer]

I'd not call that 89 Oldsmobile up there "ugly" as such - just a bit dull.

I know that Rover did most of the engineering and development...

Good - then you realise that saying "cars made by Rover are nasty" contradicts your eulogy on the MINI, since it (the original MINI at least, rather than the current R56) was a car made (developed and engineered) by Rover.

but with my experience of Rovers, I just do not particularly feel like they are a nice car.

That's fair enough - plenty of people dislike Rovers. Though few really have the sort of "experience" that affords them a real perspective on the cars. A few too many have got their "experience" from listening to other people on the internet, who got their "experience" from watching an episode of Top Gear once.

Some people disagree about the Mini because their experience might of been bad.

To clarify: Mini as in the new MINI (note upper-case), or Mini as in the classic, Morris/Austin/Rover cars? All have their faults (the old car's faults are well-documented, and ask Joey D on this forum to tell you about his R56's transmission) but those faults are irrespective of whether the car was made or developed under Rover or BMW.

I'm not that old and I know that Rovers were a more popular brand of car a while back. I have never actually owned a Rover but my uncle has, my dad has and my grandad has and listening from their opinions they didn't have a pleasant time. Again, that's just my opinion.

That's fair enough too.

My experience a little different - we've had several Rovers in the family, and while not always the best cars (the Metro/100 was under-developed by the end, the 200/400 series likewise) I'd certainly call them a long way from "nasty" (apart from the Cityrover which is nasty, but that was really a Tata).

I (briefly) owned a 75 - lovely car. Built in the factory that now makes... the MINI Mine wasn't a great example, though ironically it was the BMW bits that caused me the most trouble - the drivetrain and the brakes. I'd have another, if I didn't want something a bit more lightweight and fun as my next car...

 

[Moglet]

Ah, the RX-8. They say the RX-7 is better, but I disagree. I've liked it since it came out, and I'm still thinking it's BA today. I think I'm such an RX-8 enthusiast that I'll make their RX-8 sales go up It was agreat rotary car, it's very unique. It's like a Japanese Mustang V6, only with less horses and a rotary engine to top it off.

As much as I love mine, I think I'd still prefer an RX-7 if I could find a good one. They're just better looking IMO.

 

[YouButNotYou]

I am aware that it contradicts what I am saying, but to me, every Mini feels and looks different to a Rover and I know it sounds stupid because in the Minis pretty much everything was made by Rover. I am also aware that you are meant to capitalize when talking about the newer model Minis but I feel that it was irrelevant as I was talking about every Mini in general. I agree with most of your points but not all. Let's agree to disagree on this one because it could go on for a long time.

 

[GranTurismo916]

The 'new' Mini has always been stylised as MINI. Actually makes it slightly easier to talk about either the newer or older cars. This despite the MINI not being very small at all...

I don't judge cars on what the name says.

 

[R5]

I don't judge cars on what the name says.

Not even the Dihatsu Naked?

 

[GranTurismo916]

Not even the Dihatsu Naked?

Nope, although was thinking that when I wrote my comment.

 

[R5]

Nope, although was thinking that when I wrote my comment.

You're a trooper then

 

[AudiMan2011]

The Vauxhall Ampera won't win any design awards but I find it to be surprisingly good. I had a ride in one last year and found that it felt like a normal car. The petrol engine was spookily quiet in normal mode and running in EV mode felt really weird. But interior quality was decent and it had a few quirky touches.

 

[R5]

The Vauxhall Ampera won't win any design awards but I find it to be surprisingly good. I had a ride in one last year and found that it felt like a normal car. The petrol engine was spookily quiet in normal mode and running in EV mode felt really weird. But interior quality was decent and it had a few quirky touches.

I actually like the design a lot, it's better than a Prius!

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I really don't like the wheels, but the rest is pretty good.

 

[Dennisch]

Those Amperas/Volts look even better in dark colors.

 

[GranTurismo916]

The Vauxhall Ampera won't win any design awards but I find it to be surprisingly good. I had a ride in one last year and found that it felt like a normal car. The petrol engine was spookily quiet in normal mode and running in EV mode felt really weird. But interior quality was decent and it had a few quirky touches.

It's nowhere near ugly, it's actually a pretty nice car.

 

[JAHHAJ]

One of the ugliest cars I've seen. The interior might be ok though as Vauxhall do make some ok interiors. For some reason I hate the Chevy version more it just seems more vulgar but I don't know why I find it more vulgar.

 

[RDF97]

That is basically a Chevy Volt. Down Under, we have the same car under GM's Holden divison. The only difference is a holden badge, but it still holds the Volt nameplate. As we see here:

Now Vauxhall is GM's British divison, but why didn't they just change the badge? Cause the Volt is a good looking car and they've ruined it. Also what they've called it isn't an appealing name.

 

[Liquid]

Because Vauxhall is the British division of Opel. Vauxhall and Opel are completely identical with Opel having all of the power.

Opel are German, and you have to consider names in other languages. Volt would be pronounced Ffolt or fault in German. Opels have almost always had their own names.

 

[homeforsummer]

I actually prefer the look of the Ampera to the Volt. But then I've never been keen on the recent Chevy grille designs, which look a bit cheap. I'd call neither "ugly" though - they look pretty good out on the road. Distinctive and a bit sci-fi.

 

[Wiegert]

I actually prefer the look of the Ampera to the Volt.

This. The Volt has a cleaner-looking front without the connected headlights and fogs, but the Ampera has a more suitably modern design. I've only seen it once on the road and it's certainly not what I'd call ugly. It does stick out quite a bit in a group of parked cars though.