Ugly But Appealing Vehicles

[Nessy]

Nissan Figaro.
If i had enough money to afford several different cars, then i'd probably own one. It wouldn't be kept stock though.. it would have to have a blistered arches, along with a set of black or grey Watanabes or Minilites and a decent off-set, also a tuned TommyKaira unit if it's possible (it's based on the Micra/March).
It would either be a Figaro or a Nissan PAO, iv'e see a bad-ass PAO quite a few times now around where i live.

Nissan Figaro:



[EDIT]
Also wouldn't mind a Daihatsu Boon X4... they have a crazy little engine and are 4WD.

 

[motortrend]

I like the nissan juke and the prius V

 

[MedigoFlame]

Alright, I'll admit, when tastefully modified, the Nissan Juke can be cool. But in my personal opinion, I still don't like it. Although...there's always a possibility I could grow to like it.

So...what about the Toyota Van and Nissan Van.

Also the Previa and first generation Honda Odyssey I love.

I've got more vans to list, but I won't post too many pictures.
Chevrolet Astro
Ford Transit
Mazda5
Mazda MPV (First gen)

Heck...there's more I can't think of at the moment.

 

[niky]

See, the PAO and the Figaro are in no way ugly... at all.

But the Nissan Vanette? It's not ugly... but it's really, really, really bad. Terrible engine, engine bay packaging and ergonomics.

 

[Vince]

So...what about the Toyota Van and Nissan Van.

I have a Maisto model of this. I would like to see a Hotwheel version with smokestacks, fat rear tires and flames ripping out of it though!

 

[MedigoFlame]

But the Nissan Vanette? It's not ugly... but it's really, really, really bad. Terrible engine, engine bay packaging and ergonomics.

I don't find it that ugly either, but most of my posts have been more of what is viewed ugly by the majority of the public. If I showed it to any of my friends, they'd probably call it ugly. Having never driven one, I wouldn't know of the driving experience. Something about the style of these vans have always been a favorite of mine.

 

[niky]

I don't find it that ugly either, but most of my posts have been more of what is viewed ugly by the majority of the public. If I showed it to any of my friends, they'd probably call it ugly. Having never driven one, I wouldn't know of the driving experience. Something about the style of these vans have always been a favorite of mine.

My Dad joined a design contest for Tyco back in the 70's. They asked for futuristic vehicle designs and he sent them something unusual. He called it the "Vanito".

He won. His prize was a bunch of Tyco merchandise, slot cars, train, etcetera.

Gave him a chuckle a few years later when manufacturers started releasing boxy minivans in similar vein. An even bigger chuckle when twenty years later, we bought a Nissan "Vanette", which, gosh-darn-it, was nearly exactly the same as his concept.

It wasn't all that bad, but the Z20 was a pig on gas, and made barely more than 100 horses. And even with the manual transmission, it was hard pressed to climb any slope greater than 20 degrees unless you gave it a running start. Also overheated like crazy until they redesigned the cooling system entirely.

-

I realize it isn't in the exact same class, but the Japanese van I've most enjoyed is this:

Mitsubishi Space Wagon (Chariot)

Drives like a compact car... zippy, fun. And some owners swap in 4G63Ts in there... for even more fun.

I'd swap an SR20DET into the Vanette... (and it's rear wheel drive, note...) if I didn't fear it catching fire in traffic...

 

[Doog]

*So many vans!*

I echo your love for the Previa. It's just so cool and futuristic, even if you will die if you crash it. And it's rear wheel drive, and mid-engined, which I point out every time I see one to my mom, reminding her that it's like a Ferrari. She hasn't seen the light. I've always liked minivans in general actually, even when I was little. My best friend's mom had a navy blue second-generation Odyssey, and I thought that thing was the stuff. I've always liked their roominess and their long-distance cruising comfort. I'd sooner buy an SUV or a wagon, but I still find minivans interesting.

Speaking of minivans, I have a fondness for the dorky Ford Aerostar...

 

[Nessy]

See, the PAO and the Figaro are in no way ugly... at all.

True, i agree (probably cute if anything), but i'm sure others will think they're ugly.

Cool story about the Vanito BTW. 👍

 

[axletramp]

I think we should keep this thread quiet and treat it like a therapy session... just between us, OK?

Phew, that feels better!

 

[Mike Rotch]

Proton Satria GTi:

It just looks like a small hot hatch should.

 

[kikie]

A Smart fortwo is a little ugly car but I like it because it's so cheap and easy to drive.

 

[ShobThaBob]

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO. I don't think they're good looking cars at all, but for a long time they were a great buy on the used market, and I owned one for 4 years.

 

[homeforsummer]

A Smart for two is a little ugly car but I like it because it's so cheap and easy to drive.

I think the fortwo, and the Renault Twizy for that matter, actually work better as pieces of product design than they do as cars. They're about as far removed from cars we find "traditionally" beautiful as it's possible to get - say, a classic Italian sports car - but as a piece of design, engineering and conceptually they work incredibly well.

I'm trying to think of the right analogy to describe it. Best I can come up with is that a Smeg fridge/freezer, an Apple iPhone, a Philippe Starck lemon squeezer, or a Rollei 35 camera would all be lousy shapes for cars, but all are great pieces of product design in their field. Treat a smart or Twizy as "transportation devices" rather than "cars" and the unusual design starts to appeal a lot more. With the Twizy, people obviously agree with me as it's won a Red Dot design award.

That's why I see appeal in some of the aforementioned Kei cars too. Their beauty is in their fitness for purpose. Superfluous elements in cars are rarely beautiful. Styling for the sake of styling.

It's also why I think the Audi A2 is one of the best designs they've ever done - though to many, I expect it's at best oddly proportioned, at worst ugly.

 

[Liquid]

axletramp, the TR7 and the Allegro, yes, but how dare you call the SD1 ugly?!

A marvellous craft.

 

[axletramp]

Technically I wasn't, but some people do. I considered pics of the Touring Car version but soon realised that every car looks good when it's a Touring Car!

 

[Liquid]

Technically I wasn't, but some people do. I considered pics of the Touring Car version but soon realised that every car looks good when it's a Touring Car!

Close. Rover 200. Ew.

 

[CoolStory]

So wrong but...so right...conflicted...

 

[xMARKITOx]

So wrong but...so right...conflicted...

I'm thinking "Samba Bus Rally Raid Car". It Would be so sick to see something like that tackle the Dakar Rally.

 

[CoolStory]

I'm thinking "Samba Bus Rally Raid Car". It Would be so sick to see something like that tackle the Dakar Rally.

And suddenly I have a vision

 

[MatskiMonk]

Close. Rover 200. Ew.

The Rover 200 coupe made a better looking race car than the 3 door hatch did

 

[Nessy]

The Rover 200 coupe made a better looking race car than the 3 door hatch did

Yep, 220 turbo Tomcat FTW.

[EDIT]

@ axletramp.

Ya see?.... Showing your fondness towards our premium Brummie motors, is a show of class and fine standing. Admit it, you just love everything about Brum.

 

[Vince]

A Smart fortwo is a little ugly car but I like it because it's so cheap and easy to drive.

Yeah it's cheap, and you can park it in the back of a pickup truck, but it's kind of an older design. The first stages were in the early to mid '90s.

Maybe one day...

 

[Nessy]

@ Pinkintron.
Are those at the top the early 'Swatch' cars?

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

I don't know why, but these appeal to me..

Maserati Biturbo

Fiat 1/9X

AMC Gremlin

Volvo Bertone 780 coupe

Then there's this monstrosity

Mika Tissari's Saab 96 Turbo, powered by Ford Granada's 3l V6 and pair of hairdryers.. RWD naturally.

Oh, and this..

Alfa GTV6, the proper RWD one.

 

[Slash]

I like those Monte's. For whatever reason. I see no ugliness in that at all.

I also noticed that Mavericks really don't appeal to people but I find them to be really nice.

To bed real honest, with some reworked front and year, that should have been a 1971 Mustang... Too bad the best engine that came stock was a 210hp and 295ft-lb 302 (5.0L) V8....Needed a bigger engine...a Cleveland would be nice.

 

[Vince]

I like those Monte's. For whatever reason. I see no ugliness in that at all.

I love these as well. Didn't Neil Bonnett race one?

 

[E28]

I also noticed that Mavericks really don't appeal to people but I find them to be really nice.

I think that's pretty cool actually, sorta like a mini Mustang. 👍

 

[Slash]

I think that's pretty cool actually, sorta like a mini Mustang. 👍

Agreed. Like I said, with some reworking, that's what the 1971 Mustang should have been, or at least real similar versus this hideous beast:

Now, can you imagine a big block stuffed in a Maverick...

 

[slavssn]

Tatra t603

Isn't she a beauty... The unusual engine layout (V8 in the back) makes it even more appealable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEglqDfGYM0