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fool68
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« on: August 02, 2006, 04:21:44 PM » |
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I was going to post this in response to John's latest remark on PT Cruisers and Chevy HHRs on the thread about the post-fun run problems, but I thought I was taking the thread off topic. Still, I thought that since we all own the best car on the road, it would be fun to poke some of the other ugly car heathen in their eyes...
I'm more or less with John on the PT Cruiser - not sure why the hot rod body style mounted on a Neon frame is such a hit with the soccer moms. Funny though, when I told people I was thinking of a MINI, lots of folks asked if I was considerring a PT Cruiser as well.
The HHRs have certianly struck a chord with the public. They've popped up everywhere. I found the exterior to be not unpleasing. Interesting lines for a truck. I peeked inside of one to see if the interior was inspiring, and lo and behold, it was just another chevy truck on the inside. Too bad. The interior seems to suck all the fun out of the potential driving experience.
Still and all, neither of these are complete abominations to me. There's a certain kindred spirit with the MINI in that these are all cars that have very unique, attention grabbing styling, but are also affordable.
Now if you ask me about fugly cars... I'd offer up the Dodge Magnums, Chrysler 300s, Ford Fusions and Ford 500s. All of these look like bad attempts at breathing new life into traditional designs. Note how the fusion is trying to capitalize on the grill slat fad started by the MINI (and carried on nicely by the HHR IMHO) with disasterous results. However, my vote for the absolutely ugliest car (perhaps of all time) goes to the Pontiac Aztek. I challenge anybody to come up with a bigger disaster than this thing.
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dark06mcs
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« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2006, 04:37:07 PM » |
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i'm with sean, the pt is bad but somehow the hhr doesnt bother me that much, especially with bigger wheels (17's) and nice and shiny. the aztek does get a nice award for being not nice, not to mention the rendezvous that i'm pretty sure was a mild rebody attempt.
i like the 300's and chargers... a shame the charger's got 4 doors when the concept had two. they look mean.
how about ugly cars that i love? wrxs/evos and the older bmw m coupe (the hardtop z). the rexes/mitsus are ugly in a rally-bred-punch-your-momma-in-the-mouth sort of way. the older m coupe looked like a civic hatch and had some funny lines to it, but i always lusted after one.
what about the new neon replacement, the dodge caliber?
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BartMack
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« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2006, 04:49:38 PM » |
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the Aztec has to take top honors in the ugly dept.... you'd have to hark all the way back to the AMC stable to find something else that's ugly to that level...
I always thought the Hyundai Santa Fe's looked like they had been in an accident already..
and I'd say the new Jeep Compass takes this year's award for "What Were You Thinking-?" lol...
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fool68
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« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2006, 05:02:12 PM » |
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I'd say the new Jeep Compass takes this year's award for "What Were You Thinking-?" lol... Had to google that one up. So that's what happens when you overinflate your jeep. If you look at this thing from the front, you don't realize how long it's going to take you to walk around it! :pmsl: |
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alvarospatchez
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« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2006, 06:05:50 PM » |
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Surprisingly enough, to me at least MOST customers that we see are comparing the MINI to the PT Cruiser, HHR, Honda Civic (especailly the SI), Mazda Miata, VW Beetle is the Biggest comparison. There is no comparison in my eyes and when looking at real stats/figures there is none either. We have seen a couple of people comparing to the Mustang and some others like the elise/exige and also a lot of BMW's get compared as well. BTW I love the look of the new Z4 Coupe!
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John
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« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2006, 07:00:09 PM » |
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I hate when the MINI is lumped into that novelty car class (PT, HHR...). Considering this is just an updated style to the old Mini, I hardly view it as gimicky. Look at the PT, its retro for the sake of retro. It doesnt look like grandpa's old PT Cruiser of the 40s because there was no such thing.
I have heard the MINI compared to the Porsche when being defended against the accusation of being "Retro". Here is the quote I am stealing from; (Interview with Frank Stephenson)
Q: What do you think about retro design?
A: Retro is a sin in my book. It might have worked one time but I believe, as a designer, you?re paid to come up with new ideas.
Q: But wasn?t the Mini a retro design - and you designed the Mini?
A: Retro is going back. Interpreting DNA is another thing. It?s like a child; it will grow to be a taller, stronger, smarter, healthier version of your grandfather - you can see the resemblance but it?s not the same. If the Mini had evolved, who?s to say it wouldn?t look like it does today? Is the Porsche 911 a retro car? Absolutely not.
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HomerJ
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« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2006, 07:25:59 PM » |
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Another ugly car IMO is th Honda Element. It may be versitle, dependable, etc, but it looks terrible. Also, another vote for the Pontiac Assteck. PT Cruisers and the knock off HHR's are for the mainstream people who want to be cool but haven't figured out how to be. Different can be new and exciting, but ugly goes all the way to the unibody!! :lol:
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we3
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« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2006, 07:53:42 PM » |
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I think the ugliest of the ugly is the Element. Also I get the feeling PT Cruiser folks suffer from MINI Envy. Whenever I drive up next to one, they look at me and Nigel and I just know they are thinking "why didn't I get one of those".
Doreen
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minispec
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« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2006, 09:39:17 PM » |
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Without a doubt, the Aztek is by far the worst as in "non-visually appealing" car design in the past ten years. What were they thinking? Past winners should include the '88 to '90 Nissan Stanza Station Wagon, Garth's Pacer, the Datsun F10, the '77 to '79 Datsun 200SX (don't care what the commercials said back then , it wasn't "sexy") and the very forgettable Mitsubishi Van (named, I believe, the Van, strangley enough) of the late '80s. How much else is there? Guess I'll have to Yahoo 'ugly cars".
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John
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« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2006, 07:57:38 AM » |
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I actually liked the Mitsu van because I grew up in the 80s (born in 77) and it looked like a Transformer to me. I expected it to turn into a robot at any time. Instead they got recalled for safety problems and owners got a $$$ credit towards a new Mitsubishi (or am I thinking Nissan?)
No one mentioned the AMC Eagle "Wagon". It was like 3ft off the ground and my dad wanted one. My dad always had ugly cars, so if its on his list, its ugly.
I actually sort of like the Element though, its sort of an SUV that actually has a point, not some chromed out hip hop mobile that isnt designed to get dirty or haul anything more than groceries.
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F15eWeapon
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« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2006, 09:27:32 AM » |
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Hmmm.... I am honestly not bothered by the design of aztecs, HHR's, or Honda Elements... I actually like all the Scions. At least they are different and some designer at least TRIED something new. When it comes to auto design, what bothers me is the pure lack of imagination most vehicles have... for awhile there in the 90's, you could hardly tell the difference from a Lexus LS430 and a Nissan Sentra in general profile. In fact, one of the big car magazines did a side profile shot of every sedan on the market and practically dared you to label all of them! I'm tired of new Ferraris pulling design ideas from themselves and their own classic cars... for that kind of money, each and every new vehicle should be massive forward progress. At least Lamborghini has succeeded along those lines. Ok, so what's ugly? Anything with a stupid driver behind the wheel.  |
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fool68
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« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2006, 01:22:31 PM » |
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I'm going to offer up the mid eighties era Mustangs for consideration as ugly cars. The Mustang design team must have been invaded in the night by the Escort team and the came up with the beaut. Not really a hideous car in its own right, and it probably hauled ass, but it stands out like a sore thumb in the Mustang line.
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John
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« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2006, 02:00:26 PM » |
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I'm going to offer up the mid eighties era Mustangs for consideration as ugly cars. The Mustang design team must have been invaded in the night by the Escort team and the came up with the beaut. Not really a hideous car in its own right, and it probably hauled ass, but it stands out like a sore thumb in the Mustang line. I will go as far as to say the majority of 80s cars were pretty ugly. When I first saw a Honda or a Toyota I remember thinking it looked so cool compared to the typical American offering. To find a Camry "cool" means things were way wrong! |
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Capt_BJ
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« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2006, 02:31:23 PM » |
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I think the ugliest of the ugly is the Element. Also I get the feeling PT Cruiser folks suffer from MINI Envy. Whenever I drive up next to one, they look at me and Nigel and I just know they are thinking "why didn't I get one of those".
Doreen We have an element I call the port-o-potty on wheels the back reads "H2 Hummer and Mini Cooper Love Child" |
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RoyalGreyMCS
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« Reply #14 on: August 05, 2006, 01:07:22 AM » |
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Man I need to jump in on the ugly car bashing fun here....
Well, the Scion Box is one of my top picks... It is a Large box with four wheels.... And for some reason, everyone nowadays thinks that if you trick one of those out your the "coolest" in town or something... Well, I my way to find some fast food this evening I was motoring down taylor rd (speed limit 40) and this guy in a box decides to pull next to me and pace me..... I looked over and laughed at him. My next reaction was to show him why he made a bad choice in purchasing a vehicle. Aren't MINI's the BEST!!!
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