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Top 10 Design Winners and Losers
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Honda Element
Toyota Yaris
Scion Xa
Nissan Versa (sedan)
Buick Rendevous
Land Rover LR3
Hummer (all of em)
Toyota Camry
Nissan Sentra
My truly ugliest:
1. Fiat Multipla (original design). I know it's not sold in the states, but when I saw it in Europe I couldn't believe it. There is no comparison to anything else ugly, even the Aztec.
http://www.motoring.co.za/site/30/gallery/gallery_in_iframe.php?iArticleId=30807- 3#
2. Aztec - not made anymore, but so ugly it deserves mention.
3. Subaru Tribeca - what were they thinking? A horrible look on an otherwise decent vehicle
4. Subaru WRX - I like Subarus. Why do they make their cars so ugly that they destroy their positive traits of reliability and all wheel drive?
5. Original Echo - talk about out of proportion. Add a center speedometer to complete the horror.
6. Nissan Quest (current) - It looks like a pregnant guppy. Add poor reliability and center instruments and you've completed the failure of this model.
7. Saturn Sky - take a beautiful body and add boy-racer taillights. How gauche. Solstice looks a lot better. Perhaps a benefit of rebadging in this case.
8. Element - ugly but cute in a bizarro way.
9. BMW 5 series - it's growing on me a bit, but I still can't get over the Bangle butt and taillights. Add i-drive and you have a real loser. Apparently there are still enough people willing to buy them.
10. Audi Q7 - Most Audi's are gorgeous. This isn't one of them.
Other cars not mentioned:
Camry - I actually don't think it's that bad. I like the new one a lot better than the fat rear end of the previous model.
Xb - It's ugly but in a cute way.
Cars I think are gorgeous:
Solstice
TL
Most Mercedes, particularly a black E-class
Camry looks a lot like an Altima to me, in design. Nothin' wrong with that!
DrFill
-Rocky
No need to uncork the champagne, doh.
DrFill
A real close second to all the Lincolns and some Fords is the entire Jeep and Hummer lines except the Grand Cherokee. The Jeep Commander takes the cake. The new Compass, Patriot and are off road wannabes based on the Caliber platform. The 4dr Wrangler is a total performance dog. 0-60mph in somebodies lifetime.
I will stop now as thats more than 10, I could go on. :confuse:
http://l.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/dennis/20060306/16/147242363.jpg?x=442&y=337&q- =80&sig=_gmwVj.AXq.mpa5a87RDaQ--
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop-580x435/multipla03_2w.jpg
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop-580x435/multipla02_bw.jpg
Those of you who haven't seen this in person won't believe your eyes.
-Rocky
But I must give the UGLY award to the Nissan Versa hatch. :sick:
Edit: Another beauty
And feel free to limit your list to one or two.
btw, I saw a Multipla recently and they don't look as bad in real life (to me) as in the photos.
Bob
Not a value judgement at all, just curious; I've yet to meet anyone who speaks of them with praise. At best, it seems to be tepid acceptance and deflection ("well, for me, BMWs are about driving performance, not looks...")
I personally think that Ford seems to be on the right track with the design style of the Fusion. Very contemporary Euro-look, and likely to age well. Some bits need to go though...the fake chrome grill is too much, and the taillights look like something off of a teenager's Civic...
Though I hate those Ford-Toyota-Honda comparo ads that Ford did, they do have a point on styling (as subjective as that is). To me, the Camry looks like a bloated pig and the Honda just looks like a Honda...dull.
Oh, and I'll add that the new Ford generic gauge cluster (used in most of the cars except the Mustang) looks really good. Readable, tweak-able (white faces for performance, chrome rings for luxury) and minimalist. Nice job Ford.
When it comes to midsize sedans, the Fusion triplets are quite handsome. If I were buying based on style and substance, those would probably be my top choices. But I think in the end I would just buy a Mazda6 so I could get the V6-manual combo.
As far as the Camry goes, it is also a handsome design in the higher end models, especially the SE trim. Hey, compared to the previous Camry, this one appears to have taken some design risks and it has paid off (450+ thousand sales per year!). Doesn't fall into the bland persona that the old car did. It'll be interesting to see what the next Accord comes out looking like. Based on the coupe, I am positive it'll be a stunner. Could even be a close race in sales between the Camry and the next Accord. Oh, and a new Mazda6 is on the horizon as well :shades: The current redesigned Altima is probably the sharpest out there right now IMO. Those 4 really make it interesting if you are shoppiing that segment. So many choices... :shades:
2.) Mazda 6
3.) Acura TL
4.) Pontiac Solstice
5.) Mercedes S-Class
6.) Mitsubishi Outlander
7.) Caddy XLR(sales flop though.)
8.) Mazda RX-8'
9.) Hyundai Tuscon
ugliest or least favorite:
Mercedes convertible
Mazda Tribute(new one is just dull)
Acura MDX(the new one is polarizing)
08 Chevy Malibu(the back end styling ruined the whole car, I rather have the Aura if it was a choice between a GM car than the 08 Malibu because of looks.)
07 Chrysler Sebring(what was Chrysler thinking, this exterior design makes no sense to me.)
Pontiac G6(ok its ok looking but the look of it looks incomplete to me if you will.) The back end and front need to be proportioned a little better.
07 Lexus ES 350(just dull)
The Dodge Aspen
The Dodge Nitro(nasty front end on that one.)
As far as the new Camry styling goes the hanging emblem on the grille is not pleasent looking but the rest of the car looks wise looks alot better than the 02-06 model did.
Oh yeah the BMW 7 Series I forgot about that one thats not a very good looking car.
1. Mercedes is hitting the ball out of the park.
Best: CLS Worst: Ugly station wagon
2. BMW is a trend setter and somewhat contraversial.
Best: New X5 Worst: 7 series
3. Audi has wonderful interiors and nice exteriors.
Best: New R8 Worst: A3
4. Lexus is becoming a little more interesting.
Best: New IS Worst: SC
5. Infinit has the best styling of the Japanese.
Best: FX Worst: Q56
6. Acura is being adventurous.
Best: TL Worst: MDX is akward
7. Nissan has some french influence.
Best: 350Z Worst: Sentra is boring
8. Honda has made a major improvement in styling.
Best: Civic Worst: Pilot is boring
9. Toyota is a mixed bag, good and bad.
Best: FJ Cruiser Worst: Scion Xd and Yaris
10. Mazda had some nice styling.
Best: CX9 Worst: ?
11. Cheverolet has mostly non descript styling to me.
Best: Corvette Worst: Aveo
12. Ford has a major opportunity for styling improvement.
Best: Mustang Worst: Most
13. Jeep is losing their way, derivative of the cherokee.
Best: Wrangler Worst: The big one
14. Ferrari is rolling art, yes.
Best: F430 Worst: ?
I hope that you find this list interesting, cheers.
BMW-5 series is close to the 7 in bad looks to me, especially because I've been wanting one up until now.
Mercedes - the SL has aged extremely well, but I saw a spy photo of the update with a CLS-type front end. I'm not a fan, don't like the 'bent' headlights.
Lexus-The GS is also good, and I'm disappointed in the ES, even though it's a huge improvement over the last generation. Nothing beats the SC for bad proportions, though. The LS is OK, but it should be more...something...
Acura - I second the TL, it's the best looking sedan anywhere under $50K IMHO.
Honda - New CR-V has an odd front, and the side windows share no lines with the roof. I worry its looks will show up on the new Pilot.
Porsche - the Cayenne never clicked, while the Cayman is outstanding.
Yeah...the Cayenne is for people who want a SUV, but also want to be able to tell their (non-enthusiast) friends they own a Porsche.
But the Cayman is beautifully executed IMO. I just take issue with the name...why couldn't it have been something like "Monaco" or something else reflecting Porsche's racing history?
Chicane
Chicane is good, but can too easily be made into 'Chicken'
Porsche's numeric names , why did they change?! :mad:
I agree that the Cayman is great looking. My dream car is the Boxster which I prefer to the Cayman because the top goes down but the Cayman is the looker of the two.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I like his designs, of which concepts are being integrated into a number of vehicles. That's the sincerest form of flattery.
Current -
> 4-door coupes (just make it a 2 door, why don't you?)
> Bangle anything (yes he's being copied, doesn't make it good)
> Dubs
> Those tuner tailights showing up on Hondas, Mazdas, Fords, etc.
> Spoilers
> Black wheels
Past -
> SUVs (recent past, that is)
> Vinyl/padded roofs
> Opera windows (Ford even had something called the 'Twindow')
> Fake hood scoops
DECANO fake moonroof
I'll add, generally, modern gauge design. What's wrong with simple, functional gauges you can read at speed? Instead, there are tons of odd fonts, weird lighting, printed speeds the car will never reach cluttering the dial, Lexus' dumb "chronograph" design where all the gauges were clustered within the speedo, etc.
I LOATHE goofy fonts on gauges, I like my last-of-the-old-school AMG with its classic gauges.
> Exaggerated, overstyled headlights (lots of previous gen Toyotas starting with the last Celica, previous ES300, Q45, previous Accord, BMW 5 series
> Gunslit windows
I remember back in the day when seeing an AMG car was something special, and virtually all models had USA sales of under 1000 units per year. This was only 5-6 years ago!
I didn't like the high sills on the Audi A6 I rented a couple weeks ago. This doesn't appear as bad as some, but I found it impossible to be really comfortable with my arm on the windowsill as I drive - which is a position I like.
I just don't like how common they are now. I think W211 E55 production outnumber W210s by something like 6:1.
The Jag is almost as fast, has better styling IMO and is a lot less common.
There are only four Super V8s listed for sale on cars.com in the whole country. One of them is a 2003 and the rest are new body style Jags. The new body style ones are a lot more then a W210 but they are still deprecating rapidly while the W210s are starting to level off some. Looks like a 2005 Super V8 can be had in the mid 40,000 range.
A nice enough early W210 E55 can be had for 20K, the nicest late ones shouldn't hit 30K unless they are somehow special. I paid 28 for my 27K mile 2002 model last year. A decent 2003+ W211 E55 will still cost you 45K+, but I see this as a different car - different engine. The styling is very similar, I like some aspects of both cars - I prefer the older dashboard for one.
You have it described perfectly Mr Shiftright:"Front half has nothing to do with the back half", "things stick out, jut at crazy angles" and the most perfect description for this car wreck of a design: "Ridiculous Pomposity; call it the gold chain and hairy chest syndrome".
The Cadillac XLR meets this criteria as well.Lines going every which way,no definition, overwrought "art & science" bull****.
Everyone mentions the Aztek as the "gold standard" for ugly. Why not the Mitsubishi Montero? Both discontinued and both beyond ugly.Meets all your standards as well. It is as bad or worse than the Aztek, but with a lot of chrome and awful from every angle: lumps, strakes, cladding, curved where it should go straight. A mess.
The new Scion box takes the torch as the current offerings Aztek. UGH.
On my short list of the best [and soon no longer offered] : the Mazda 6 station wagon. It looks better than the sedan for some reason, balanced and finished off with beautiful tail lights.It's just perfect.Elegant.
Compare that to the Malibu Maxx.
Passat; again finished off with incredible tail lights.Looks chiseled out of a single piece of steel.
Other than a couple of ringers, I'd say the Edmund's community got the list just about right.
*Opinion solely that of the author, no insult, affront or flame intended. !!!!
- Vega's aluminum engine
- Fiero's low-oil engine
- Corvair's undeveloped engine
- BMW's original iDrive system
Others?
My top 10 ugly vehicles:
Of course Pontiac Aztek, and its platform mate, Buick Rendesvouz
Dodge Caliber
Ford anything, especially the Focus...very awkward styling
Hyundai anything, Sonata excluded...but how's the reliability getting, and it's a copy cat of the 98-02 Accord
Kia anything
Hummer
Cadillac anything...trying too hard..what up with them fender vents? Passe.
Lincoln anything...again, trying too hard, and anyone who wants fender vents should buy a Buick. I hear they're back.
Any gargantuan SUV by any maker...get with it folks, these vehicles are pigs, they don't impress anyone...if anything, they make you look like you're selfish and overcompensating for some shortcoming, and who can see around the beasts?
Chevy anything...see the USA in something more stylish and reliable.
Element=marginal utility and gross looks. It is not a pleasant vehicle to behold. The old version of the Scion xB was so ugly it was cute. The Element is not cute.
I liked the Thing ok too.
Nice defense of your rig.