Unpopular Opinions- Cars in General

[Turbo]

Unpopular opinion: Dark green looks good on many cars, old and new.

 

[MedigoFlame]

Unpopular opinion: Dark green looks good on many cars, old and new.

i absolutely love dark green. Feels like it's been making a comeback, especially with Audi.

 

[AlvaroF]

The XK is much better looking than the F-Type

 

[homeforsummer]

The bug-eye Integra is better looking than the facelifted versions.

Am I missing something here?

I thought the round headlight Integra was the facelifted car - when this generation was released in Japan in 1994, it certainly had the rectangular headlights then, and when it went off sale before the DC5, the UK cars had the round headlight front end too.

A little Wiki search suggests that poor sales in the US meant a swap to rectangular headlamps, but then searching for various years of Integra on google seems to indicate that even later models still had round headlamps.

Always preferred the round headlamps myself, as those are the cars I grew up with - though the UK only ever got the Type R, rather than the slightly dull-looking regular Integras.

 

[Sage Ages]

Am I missing something here?

Everything.

The Integra came out in 1993 (or 1994 in 'Murica speak) with bug-eyes, like the picture I posted. The design faired alright overseas but wasn't too popular in Japan, so they got the rectangle facelift in 1995. Exports kept the bug-eyes through their entire life, with a slight facelift in 1997/1998, as shown in the picture you posted.

 

[homeforsummer]

Everything.

The Integra came out in 1993 (or 1994 in 'Murica speak) with bug-eyes, like the picture I posted. The design faired alright overseas but wasn't too popular in Japan, so they got the rectangle facelift in 1995. Exports kept the bug-eyes through their entire life, with a slight facelift in 1997/1998, as shown in the picture you posted.

How weird. The rectangular-lamped ones just look so much older (not dissimilar from the previous-gen Integra) I'd assumed there was simply a switch half way through production to the round headlamps. Learn something new every day 👍

 

[Liquid]

I prefer the facelifted Integra.

 

[Clark]

I’ve always like the rectangle headlights and hate the round headlights.

 

[2clicks]

I don't get the excessive glorification of the Lamborghini Miura's looks. To me, it looks average at best, and that front makes it look downright ugly at worst.

 

[7up747]

I don't get the hype for the jaguar E type design. To me it just looks like bath on wheels.

 

[MedigoFlame]

I'm finding it hard to really like the design of the Aston Martin DB11. I still find the DB9/last gen Vanquish to be prettier.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'm finding it hard to really like the design of the Aston Martin DB11. I still find the DB9/last gen Vanquish to be prettier.

We had this discussion in the Infield recently, and came to the conclusion that the DB11 is hugely improved in darker colours. There's something about lighter shades that just doesn't work on it. Of ones I've seen recently, dark green and dark grey look pretty damn good.

There are still some uncomfortable details on it, but I think that's why darker shades work - they hide some of the less favourable elements. It does make the DB9 and Vanquish look a bit dated too.

All that said, my favourite modern-era Aston is still the circa-2005 V8 Vantage.

 

[MedigoFlame]

We had this discussion in the Infield recently, and came to the conclusion that the DB11 is hugely improved in darker colours. There's something about lighter shades that just doesn't work on it. Of ones I've seen recently, dark green and dark grey look pretty damn good.

There are still some uncomfortable details on it, but I think that's why darker shades work - they hide some of the less favourable elements. It does make the DB9 and Vanquish look a bit dated too.

All that said, my favourite modern-era Aston is still the circa-2005 V8 Vantage.

I can see that, probably doesn't help that the press gets them in silver.

 

[SPhilli911]

I'm finding it hard to really like the design of the Aston Martin DB11. I still find the DB9/last gen Vanquish to be prettier.

I agree. I saw one recently for the first time in person (at a Lime Rock event) and my first thought was that vent thing behind the front wheels and the black line that cuts the roof line ruin the design to me. Now, I'm no designer, but removing those would make it look clean and elegant like previous models. I saw it from a distance at first and thought it was decals or damage or something but no, it was a part of the car.

 

[MisterWaffles]

Hermann Tilke's tracks aren't that bad. In fact, I like a lot of them.

 

[MedigoFlame]

I agree. I saw one recently for the first time in person (at a Lime Rock event) and my first thought was that vent thing behind the front wheels and the black line that cuts the roof line ruin the design to me. Now, I'm no designer, but removing those would make it look clean and elegant like previous models. I saw it from a distance at first and thought it was decals or damage or something but no, it was a part of the car.

I couldn't think of why, but now that you say that...it does kind of take away from the flow of the body. A lot of cars these days have that floating roof design and I can't say I like it. (Like the Maxima, Murano, Lexus RX)

Also not a fan of the little pop up spoiler. Some cars do it right, but this isn't one of them. (Aesthetic wise)

 

[bremics]

I dislike the taillights, they remind me of the squinty headlights on the jeep Cherokee.

Unpopular opinion:
I like the way current Honda's look, even the Civic Type R.

I also don't mind fake vents and such, they add character IMHO and modern cars look ridiculously bloated without them more often than not.

 

[homeforsummer]

I also don't mind fake vents and such, they add character IMHO and modern cars look ridiculously bloated without them more often than not.

I've no particular problem with fake vents as long as they improve a design, and I've no particular problem with modern car design, but there's definitely an element of two wrongs trying to make a right here.

If a design is poor to start with, the industry solution shouldn't be firing other bits of poor design at it to try and fix it.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

I think most current Subarus are actually quite good looking.

 

[MedigoFlame]

I quite enjoy interesting modifications on cars that would be otherwise considered mainstream and "normal." Might just be with Matt Farah's One Takes, but it's always interesting to hear the stories and see the modifications people do to regular vehicles.


Might also not help that I find myself hanging out with a large tuning community and lack any interest in the "usual" tuners. I guess I'm just getting burnt out...

 

[homeforsummer]

I think most current Subarus are actually quite good looking.

I'm not overly keen on them, and I've struggled to get excited with Subaru post-McRae/Burns. That they keep bringing out fantastic-looking concepts that turn into quite-dull road cars doesn't help.

That said, I'm disproportionately fond of the Levorg.

I think it's quite nicely proportioned. It's good to drive despite the CVT (it's genuinely a pretty good gearbox), feels well-built, it's practical, and it's refreshingly BS-free. Would happily drive one daily.

 

[Clark]

I reading somewhere that the engine in the Leovrg (the 1.6 Turbo) is a bit naff and behind the competition.

 

[TheCracker]

It's the price that surprises me with the Levorg. It's £30k for a 170hp 1.6. The similar sized Focus ST Estate is £25.5k with 250hp. The Levorg is 5 inches longer (but also narrower) but all that length is in the overhangs as the wheel base is identical, so it's not like you're getting more interior space either, except perhaps a bit more boot space.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

That said, I'm disproportionately fond of the Levorg.

The Levorg is what I had in mind. We recently got a Subaru dealer so they've started to integrate into everyday traffic, and they catch my attention every time.

It's the price that surprises me with the Levorg. It's £30k for a 170hp 1.6. The similar sized Focus ST Estate is £25.5k with 250hp. The Levorg is 5 inches longer (but also narrower) but all that length is in the overhangs as the wheel base is identical, so it's not like you're getting more interior space either, except perhaps a bit more boot space.

I think the biggest bugbear is the lack of any diesel. The car is extremely likable but limiting it to just one engine and transmission is asinine for the UK / Euro market.

 

[TheCracker]

I think the biggest bugbear is the lack of any diesel. The car is extremely likable but limiting it to just one engine and transmission is asinine for the UK / Euro market.

I'm yet to see one on the road, so perhaps that's why.

 

[homeforsummer]

I reading somewhere that the engine in the Leovrg (the 1.6 Turbo) is a bit naff and behind the competition.

I didn't have any particular problem with it. Being a boxer it's immediately a better balanced engine than any inline four in production and it moves smartly enough too.

Probably a bit thirsty, but then so is every other turbocharged four if driven briskly...

It's the price that surprises me with the Levorg. It's £30k for a 170hp 1.6. The similar sized Focus ST Estate is £25.5k with 250hp. The Levorg is 5 inches longer (but also narrower) but all that length is in the overhangs as the wheel base is identical, so it's not like you're getting more interior space either, except perhaps a bit more boot space.

It's a bit expensive certainly, though given how bloody awful the Focus ST is it could be £15k and I'd still have the Subaru.

I'd also trust the Subaru to last longer - starting to hear through the grapevine stories of Ecoboost engines ending themselves...

 

[TheCracker]

I'd also trust the Subaru to last longer - starting to hear through the grapevine stories of Ecoboost engines ending themselves...

Well indeed, Subarus do go and go. I only got rid of my Forester because it was, by then, almost 15 years old and had done 120k miles. Last i'd heard, it had been treated to an underseal and was now happily traversing ploughed fields on a daily basis and had been for the past couple of years or so. In hindsight i wish i'd kept it and just used it as a muddy dog hauler and ice/snow commuter.

Is the ST really that bad?

 

[homeforsummer]

Is the ST really that bad?

Worst hot hatch on sale that springs immediately to mind. Very quick, but power completely overwhelms what might be a decent chassis underneath. I ran our estate long-termer for a couple of months before my Mazda arrived and couldn't wait to give it back. All the symptoms of a badly set-up front-driver - torque steer, tramlining, understeer, constant intervention by the traction control.

Heated windscreen drove me nuts too - nice idea in theory, but essentially only useful for the first ten seconds on a frosty morning, after which it's a hindrance to vision. Virtually impossible to see the road on a wet night with traffic coming towards you - combination of rain, headlights and heating filaments turns the screen into a diffracting mess.

The diesel one's better but life's too short for that sort of thing.

 

[SilkCutXJR]

The last beautiful Ferrari is the (and this will be going one further in unpopular) 612 scaglietti. It puts form with function, not behind it. It has matured excellent.

Most Ferraris after 1999 are Tranformers or Hot wheels runarounds. Too many air intakes, gills, grilles, streaks, just over-designed "looooooook at meeeeeee" machines. Yes a Ferrari Needs to be fast and technologically advanced but beautiful as well.
The current california is the first Ferrari since the new millenium which goes in that direction.

 

[buickgnx88]

I think most current Subarus are actually quite good looking.

Same, which is why I bought one!

I find that they have conservative looks, but at the same time aren't boring. I'm not a fan of the overly swoopy and creased designs on many vehicles nowadays, and am a sucker for the 80's boxy look, which is why Subarus appeal to me.