Unpopular Opinions- Cars in General

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Ok, so some of my friends and I were arguing about the crash test performed a decade ago by the IIHS with the 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air and the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu impacting head-on at 40 MPH. They think (along with many others on the internet) the test was rigged and that the Bel Air had no engine which allowed it to get demolished which I know is not true. The IIHS did say the Bel Air had a straight-six in it but there's no photos of the car's engine prior to the test. However, during the impact, there is clearly evidence to show that, YES, there was indeed an engine in the '59.
I took this screenshot and circled what is clearly an oil bath air cleaner. In the video, you can clearly see it fly out from under the hood of the car.
View attachment 811356
So in my "opinion," the Malibu won the test because it is much better and safer design. Case closed.

So if you look at the IIHS website and various publications of merit and the fact it's been discussed at disgusting length here on gtp once. You'd find those "conspiracy theory people" are not correct. I would have to find the original time this came up but yeah...it's a road best not traveled again but does provide meme/banter worthy content.

Also had to say @RandomCarGuy17 nice avatar

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

Also had to say @RandomCarGuy17 nice avatar

Thanks!

 

[Fastcarguy]

So if you look at the IIHS website and various publications of merit and the fact it's been discussed at disgusting length here on gtp once. You'd find those "conspiracy theory people" are not correct. I would have to find the original time this came up but yeah...it's a road best not traveled again but does provide meme/banter worthy content.

Also had to say @RandomCarGuy17 nice avatar

I think most of the anger that came out of that video was that the IIHS decided they needed to total a seemingly perfect condition 59 Bel Air. Even if the 59 didnt have an engine, (I think it did) the frame and body looked perfect and straight before the impact.

 

[Tornado]

Would be interesting to see a similar test from one of the contemporaries to the 59 Chevy, since even other divisions of GM weren't fully sold on the "advantages" of the X-Frame. The only similar one I can think of is one of a 1962 Deville against a 2002 Deville, but Cadillac was still using the same underpinnings until I think 1965.

 

[Liquid]

What's unpopular about "the 2009 car fares better in a crash test than its 1959 counterpart"?

Neat video though; very interesting to see how far safety design and construction has advanced in 50-60 years. Would like to see more old vs new crash tests.

 

[Volksauto]

What's unpopular about "the 2009 car fares better in a crash test than its 1959 counterpart"?

It shouldn't be. But it seems like many people still go by the saying, "They don't make them like they used to..." thinking that since the older car is a tank compared to the modern car would make it safer.

 

[Tornado]

What's unpopular about "the 2009 car fares better in a crash test than its 1959 counterpart"?

"They dont make them like they use to".

 

[GranTurNismo]

Unpopular opinion: The Mitsubishi Lancer VII is better looking and more appealing overall than the much more popular VIII and IX. Styling wise, it was quite ahead of it's time, and I'd even dare say it's front-end looks more modern than the IX.

For comparison's sake:

VII:



VIII:



IX:

 

[mustafur]

Unpopular opinion: The Mitsubishi Lancer VII is better looking and more appealing overall than the much more popular VIII and IX. Styling wise, it was quite ahead of it's time, and I'd even dare say it's front-end looks more modern than the IX.

For comparison's sake:

VII:



VIII:



IX:

I Don't think it's an unpopular Opinion, the EVO 7 is the cleanest looking Evo.

 

[GranTurNismo]

Unpopular opinion: Need For Speed Underground/Underground 2 is the most responsible for ricer cars to be popular in the 2000s, not F & F.

 

[1241Penguin]

The Evo VII is the most aggressive looking version of that generation in my opinion, with the angled off grille (vis a vis the rounded ones of the VIII and IX), the wider lower grille that makes it look angry, the two vent looking cutouts on the side of the front bumper, and chrome headlights that make it look like it's glaring at you. I always hated the bump on the Mitsubishi badge on the VIII. The IX is the most refined looking of the three, and I like its rear bumper on JDM models.

 

[GTV0819]

Unpopular opinion: The Mitsubishi Lancer VII is better looking and more appealing overall than the much more popular VIII and IX. Styling wise, it was quite ahead of it's time, and I'd even dare say it's front-end looks more modern than the IX.

For comparison's sake:

VII:



VIII:



IX:

IMHO, this is the best generation of the Evos when it comes to styling.

Among the three, I would pick the Evo VIII, probably because I'm a fan of the Olivier Boulay inspired front-end, which can mostly be found in the nose/grille of the car. It also has that short line/strip in the middle of the hood that goes from the vent to the outline of the emblem.

 

[mustafur]

Unpopular opinion: Need For Speed Underground/Underground 2 is the most responsible for ricer cars to be popular in the 2000s, not F & F.

Highly disagree, When Underground racing first came out there was plenty of Ricers everywhere already, keep in mind two movies where out before that game got a trailer for release, it might of helped the fad going on a bit longer if anything.

 

[SVX]

Unpopular opinion: Need For Speed Underground/Underground 2 is the most responsible for ricer cars to be popular in the 2000s, not F & F.

Are talking about ricers, or Spocom era here? Because they are two entirely different things.

 

[mustafur]

Are talking about ricers, or Spocom era here? Because they are two entirely different things.

Not fully though, a bad cheap build tends to fit the ricer mould which there was plenty of(Assuming that is the same as what Sexspec was in Australia).

 

[SVX]

Not fully though, a bad cheap build tends to fit the ricer mould which there was plenty of(Assuming that is the same as what Sexspec was in Australia).

If you consider 'sex spec' the same as 'bad cheap build', then you either group in that style of modification (which you probably dislike) as the same thing, or you're not sure what it is.

 

[Tornado]

EA didn't throw AAA money at a subculture of the racing genre that had only been inhabited by kinda weird niche Japanese games for no reason.

 

[mustafur]

If you consider 'sex spec' the same as 'bad cheap build', then you either group in that style of modification (which you probably dislike) as the same thing, or you're not sure what it is.

I grew up in that Era when that was at it's peak, you had some people spending stupid money some over 100k and others spending like a grand and the car looked like it was about to fall apart.

The Latter would be what I would call rice, because generally it's an allround build, but alot skipped on the mechanical part.

Also you always gotta be butthurt?

 

[GranTurNismo]

Unpopular Opinion: 2011-2014 Dodge Charger SRT-8> 2015- Charger SRT8. Though the new Charger is faster, the pre-facelift is much more appealing visually, as it's exterior is more muscular and "macho" looking, which is what I'd want from a Charger.

'11-'14



'15-

 

[SVX]

I grew up in that Era when that was at it's peak, you had some people spending stupid money some over 100k and others spending like a grand and the car looked like it was about to fall apart.

Shall we just group in the entire import community as being ricers too then- if we are are going to say each end of the investment spectrum defines a style/phase/period?

The Latter would be what I would call rice, because generally it's an allround build, but alot skipped on the mechanical part.

You answered your own question. Rice isn't defined by Spocom, it's defined by

because generally it's an allround build, but alot skipped on the mechanical part.

Also you always gotta be butthurt?

How am I butthurt if my message literally stated what you were going on to write- that you group in an entire period of modification based off the fact bad versions exist? For the most part I'm not into Spocom, either, but I accept some people are (especially with it's recent resurgence over the last year). Show cars are always going to skimp on a lot. They're built for a purpose: sitting on a floor. See also; SEMA.

 

[GTV0819]

Unpopular Opinion: 2011-2014 Dodge Charger SRT-8> 2015- Charger SRT8. Though the new Charger is faster, the pre-facelift is much more appealing visually, as it's exterior is more muscular and "macho" looking, which is what I'd want from a Charger.

'11-'14



'15-

The pre-facelift model of the Charger has a more original front end which also looks similar to the front fascias of earlier Viper and Ram models. Given that, it has also looked dated already in these days but people may say "nothing beats original" with that.

Meanwhile, the facelifted model looks much fresher and sportier, while having a good depart from the usual cross Dodge grill as well. The red color from above also seems to blend well with the overall looks of the car. I think I also prefer the design of the headlights on this one since it gives out an aggressive impression, too.

 

[mustafur]

Shall we just group in the entire import community as being ricers too then- if we are are going to say each end of the investment spectrum defines a style/phase/period?



You answered your own question. Rice isn't defined by Spocom, it's defined by





How am I butthurt if my message literally stated what you were going on to write- that you group in an entire period of modification based off the fact bad versions exist? For the most part I'm not into Spocom, either, but I accept some people are (especially with it's recent resurgence over the last year). Show cars are always going to skimp on a lot. They're built for a purpose: sitting on a floor. See also; SEMA.

The Real world works different, not every car fits into a box not all show cars are never driven, that era there was alot of mixing with many scenes not exact fitting a type of style, your looking at it like some fixed position.

People put Ricer wings on their car like a Fast and Furious racer and massive exhuast tips that attached to stock exhuast system then put huge chrome wheels anything went, alot of which can be said is rice.

But seriously Chill your putting alot of words in my mouth that I didn't say and for what purpose?

I used my real world experience I'm not trying to win the internet here I'm just calling it as I see it and there was rice in that era 100% and the categories you defined where not as clear cut back then.

 

[SVX]

The Real world works different, not every car fits into a box not all show cars are never driven, that era there was alot of mixing with many scenes not exact fitting a type of style, your looking at it like some fixed position.

People put Ricer wings on their car like a Fast and Furious racer and massive exhuast tips that attached to stock exhuast system then put huge chrome wheels anything went, alot of which can be said is rice.

But seriously Chill your putting alot of words in my mouth that I didn't say and for what purpose?

I used my real world experience I'm not trying to win the internet here I'm just calling it as I see it and there was rice in that era 100% and the categories you defined where not as clear cut back then.

I'm pretty chill. You say I'm putting words in your mouth and your next sentence calls the whole period rice- you are contradicting yourself time and time again. This is why I quoted your post: you post often random misguided opinions as fact and don't understand when someone explains it isn't so.

This is a ricer wing, I take it.

But would you say a C West demo car is also rice? It does have a ricer wing.

 

[mustafur]

I'm pretty chill. You say I'm putting words in your mouth and your next sentence calls the whole period rice- you are contradicting yourself time and time again. This is why I quoted your post: you post often random misguided opinions as fact and don't understand when someone explains it isn't so.

This is a ricer wing, I take it.

But would you say a C West demo car is also rice? It does have a ricer wing.

Putting more words in my mouth I'm done.

Everything your saying basically depends on me being an idiot on this which I'm not, I know the difference which you don't seem to think I am capable of knowing, seriously what do you expect?

When I say Cheap builds what part of that says expensive C West Wing?

 

[SVX]

Putting more words in my mouth I'm done.

Everything your saying basically depends on me being an idiot on this which I'm not, I know the difference which you don't seem to think I am capable of knowing, seriously what do you expect?

When I say Cheap builds what part of that says expensive C West Wing?

The design style is the exact same - and if we are referring to cheap builds, why do you keep on saying Spocom is rice? A cheap build is a cheap build regardless of what type of car. It has nothing to do with you "growing up around it", it exists for each and every style.

I haven't seen an example of what a ricer wing is - what would've been a perfect counter point - so I'm still here in the dark trying to understand your thought process.

 

[mustafur]

The design style is the exact same - and if we are referring to cheap builds, why do you keep on saying Spocom is rice?

No I didn't you are literally putting words in my mouth again.

A cheap build is a cheap build regardless of what type of car. It has nothing to do with you "growing up around it", it exists for each and every style.

What constitutes Rice in America very much has overlapped on cheap builds I leave seen here that's all I Said.

I Haven't seen an example of what a ricer wing is - what would've been a perfect counter point - so I'm still here in the dark trying to understand your thought process.

So you don't know what a Ricer wing is but know what isn't rice?

What are you even arguing at this point?

 

[Liquid]

I don't think this is unpopular but it does grind my gears:

People who call Ferraris "Fezzas" should be hanged.

 

[Volksauto]

I don't think this is unpopular but it does grind my gears:

People who call Ferraris "Fezzas" should be hanged.

I never heard of this slang until now. I did a little research and I agree with you.

 

[GranTurNismo]

Unpopular Opinion: The Eunos Cosmo was intended to be a US-market oriented car, even though it was principally sold in Japan and never offered in the USA. Many of it's styling cues are evocative of the Buick Reatta, as well as the Lincoln Mk. VII; the Cosmo would give US-market personal luxury coupes a run for their money. It's also worth noting that the Eunos Cosmo featured a CRT touch-screen in the interior, and no other car had this feature available in 1990 than the Buick Reatta. I am convinced that the design executives at Mazda spent time studying the Reatta as it was a futuristic take on a classic idea, a personal luxury coupe, and wanted to make an improved version of the Reatta, having RWD, better powertrain, higher quality fit-and-finish, but still having ahead-of-it's time styling. The reason why the Cosmo ultimately never reached the States is because of Amati's failure, Mazda's US-market luxury brand which would rival Infiniti and Lexus which never actually existed; the Cosmo would be offered on the Amati lineup as a full-fledged luxury car. The Cosmo was too avant-garde and upmarket simply to be badged as a Mazda, so it needed it's own brand, and sadly, that brand never came to be.

On another note, I wonder how the Cosmo would've panned out in the US market from a sales standpoint; clearly, it was a better quality car than any Buick or Cadillac or Lincoln of the time, but would traditional American buyers be too overwhelmed with it's sleek, futuristic styling and tech-y interior, like they were with the Reatta? Personal luxury coupes were a dying niche by the 1990s, but the 1995-1999 Buick Riviera, the "ugly" one, sold pretty well, so there still was a chance the Cosmo could've been successful. My guess is, it would fall into the same boat as the Lexus SC, it's main "foreign" rival; interest levels being high in it's first year or two, but sales would quickly dwindle in the years to follow.

 

[mustafur]

It's Possible that they also intended to sell it in the US but the car very much screams Japanese Bubble Economy Car, Japan had explosive economic growth In that era and you had alot of people coming into money and this car made alot of sense for that time.