Ugly But Appealing Vehicles

[Doog]

While I can appreciate your opinion, I have to correct a few points here:

1) They aren't all hatchbacks
2) They aren't all made of plastic
3) Engine capacity is 660cc, if I'm being pedantic
4) It's also not a bike engine - they're designed specifically for cars

Also, I dunno how clued up you are on Keis in general or whether the first thing that pops into your head is always the Suzuki Wagon R, but if you like that Honda Vamos I'd suggest a few other Keis to you, as some of them are fabulous bits of engineering. The Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Beat and Mazda AZ-1 in particular, plus some of the classics.

Well thanks for correcting me there; it was late for me, and I wasn't about to go on an epic web quest to find the facts.

1) It was a generalization, but Kei cars in sedan (do they exist), convertible, or truck for don't appeal to me.
2) It was an exaggeration on my part to emphasize how wimpy I think they are.
3) I knew it was somewhere in that size range, thanks for specifying the exact size.
4) Now that I did not know; I thought the majority of Kei cars used bike-derived motors, but I suppose a revvy bike engine in a small hatchback wouldn't be suitable for Japanese city driving.

I don't know why..... but...

It's just so appealing to me, I would daily drive that if I could get one here in the states.

Actually, I think you can get a Mini Moke in the states. I visit the local Mini dealer a couple times a year, and earlier this year they had a pristine red one just like that in their showroom. I believe it was lefthand drive.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I always liked the styling of the Chevy Lumina, not sure why. The rest of it is still pretty crap, though.

 

[Vince]

Didn't they stop production in 2010?

I think just in Europe. Still an the Americas and Asia, though.

 

[Doog]

I always liked the styling of the Chevy Lumina, not sure why. The rest of it is still pretty crap, though.

Ah, the Lumina. I too have always liked them; a nice GM alternative to the Taurus.

I think just in Europe. Still an the Americas and Asia, though.

Nope; all RX-8s were discontinued by 2011.

 

[Vince]

I always liked the styling of the Chevy Lumina, not sure why. The rest of it is still pretty crap, though.

Little 4 cylinders.

So, we have 1970's through 2010.
My challenge is, anything pre-cold war or 2013/2014 models?

Nope; all RX-8s were discontinued by 2011.

Ah, that's disappointing. I always liked these more than the RX-7s. I think Gran Turismo 5 drifters racing in these in gold chrome wheels and florescent light blue dissatisfies me.

 

[gamerdog6482]

So, we have 1970's through 2010.
My challenge is, anything pre-cold war or 2013/2014 models?

2013 Nissan GT-R.

I HATE it! Facelift was a wrong move IMO.

But it's so sexy...

 

[analog]

Same position of headlights, same downward slanting nose, similar rims, etc.

You mean, completely different headlight treatment, completely differently shaped nose and a completely different set of wheels (as if wheels matter in the first place)?

Maybe when seen from a different angle you might be persuaded it doesn't look at all like a Miura but if you persist it does then again I can't help you, I'm not an optician.

 

[Slash]

2013 Nissan GT-R.

I HATE it! Facelift was a wrong move IMO.

But it's so sexy...

I see no difference...

 

[Vince]

I see no difference...

Has it always had this? I hate this.

 

[Doog]

I like the Taurus, and I like the Lumina, so that means that I also like Chrysler's Oval Cars. Their general oval-inspired shapes with all those gentle curves and creases make the Chrysler quartet (I'm counting the Concorde and the New Yorker as separate) nice enough to look at, though nowhere near as nice as the oval-body Taurus of the time. Like the Taurus, I could just imagine quietly wafting along in a Chrysler oval-mobile, and thrashing it on a country road somewhere in a forest. It's luxurious enough to be a competent daily driver, and it's crappy enough to serve as a fun beater. Plus, like most 1990s V6s, it sounds great upon startup and at wide open throttle, even if this one didn't start on the first turn...or the fifteenth.

 

[Vince]

Welp, guess what won't pass smog. Jesus, that doesn't even look like a cold day, and look at all that exhaust. More comes out of this than my Grandfather's 1970 Chrysler 300 that sat in his back yard for 15 years.

It does sound nice though - sounds mean, actually

Now look at this :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96WU8AJrrqk&feature=relmfu

1990 Chrysler New Yorkers are great looking. I have no idea what kind of "heat" they are packing.

 

[Doog]

Welp, guess what won't pass smog. Jesus, that doesn't even look like a cold day, and look at all that exhaust. More comes out of this than my Grandfather's 1970 Chrysler 300 that sat in his back yard for 15 years.

It does sound nice though - sounds mean, actually

Now look at this :

Fixed that for ya.

Also, check out the exhaust on this Century.

 

[GranTurismo916]

Has it always had this? I hate this.

Yep, always had that.

 

[Vince]

Fixed that for ya.

Also, check out the exhaust on this Century.

Something magical happens when I see the sun damage on a older car

 

[Azure Flare]

I will never like the appearance of it, but its speed makes up for it.

 

[Wiegert]

I really dislike the bugeyed WRX's, but something about this wagon appeals to me.

I must admit that my favourite Impreza wagon is the pre-facelift second gen version. I really can't say why that is, but I've just always preferred the wagon shape.

That would look much better in black rather than yellow too.

WiLL makes some fairly "ugly" cars judged by most standards, but I like them too. The WiLL VI is one such thing - a kind of cross between a Ford Anglia 105e, that Toyota Pod concept car and a living room. Based on a Yaris - and I'd have one over a Yaris any day:

I was talking to a friend earlier about how I spotted one of those going through mid Wales last month, plus I happened to be reading up on WiLL branded cars the day before I saw that one. Interesting timing.

Along with a fair number of Nissan Figaros I've come across over the years, that's the only other retro-styled kei car I've seen here.

 

[Tornado]

I'm not sure how you could call the LH cars or the period Honda Accord ugly. Maybe a bit dated (and the Accord was kinda bleh when it was new), but there isn't much in the segment from that time period that has aged perfectly (maybe the Peugeot 406 and the 5-series); and I prefer the understated looks most of the cars in that segment to the overstyled garishness most of the cars in the segment have today.

Same position of headlights, same downward slanting nose, similar rims, etc.

You know, he does have a point. They both have headlights in the front rather than anywhere else, they both have "Generic 1960s wheels" and they both have a vague slant to the front end. Might as well be identical.

 

[Dennisch]

 

[gamerdog6482]

I love it!

 

[Vince]

I love it!

I like it too, I just don't like how the rear and left passenger look like they are connected, and not the right passenger as well. Might as well make it wrap all the way around, right?

 

[Azure Flare]

It may look like a 1980's American car, so of course its ugly. But underneath, its a monster.

 

[Rykon Zero]

You know, he does have a point. They both have headlights in the front rather than anywhere else, they both have "Generic 1960s wheels" and they both have a vague slant to the front end. Might as well be identical.

I thought the exact same thing when I saw the Marcos. It's the whole wedge front end, with the headlights that despite being completely different are oddly reminiscent of each other. That, plus the curves of the body south of the greenhouse made me think initially "uglyass Miura." Now of course they don't look the same, but those little bits, on first glance, threw me off enough to make the connection.

 

[gamerdog6482]

Aha! I knew I wasn't the only one.

 

[niky]

I actually saw one here a few months back. Still kicking myself for not getting out and getting the owner's phone number. Haven't seen it since.

One interesting design that I'm lined up to test drive:

One wonders how soused they were at Pininfarina when they greenlit this one.

 

[Moglet]

The Yaris hate on pages 2 & 3 is disgusting

Regarding the topic, I've always had a soft spot for these since I had one for my first car:

Drop in a 1.8VVC, a tartan rug on the parcel shelf and some National Trust stickers in the rear window and you've got a cheap sleeper. Albeit in a very very dangerous one

EDIT: Actually, the one in that photo is a sleeper IIRC, it's owned by a guy called Andy. Or it was, that was a while ago now.

 

[MedigoFlame]

Intrepid Pic

Now if we're talking about Dodge Intrepids... I'll take the later generation. Liked it a bit more and loved it since Gran Turismo 2 with the racing mod that turned it into a drag car.

It's been bland, it's been riced, it's lived up to none of it's looks (to me at least). But you know...I like it.

 

[marluxiaXI11]

I actually saw one here a few months back. Still kicking myself for not getting out and getting the owner's phone number. Haven't seen it since.

There is a motorcycle place near me that has one up on a balcony

 

[Bopop4]

I personally don't find it ugly, but a lot of people in the motorcycle industry thought that it was hideous when it first came out.

So ugly. At least it goes like a Ferrari.

 

[Taiga]

*le picture of FF*

So ugly. At least it goes like a Ferrari.

I actually think that's really beautiful. But then again, I'm obsessed with shooting brakes so it might just be me.

Yes, I know. But when you finally see one up close, it actually feels kinda good.

 

[niky]

Yeah. Just ignore everything between the B-Pillar and the D-Pillar.