What cars do you love everything about.apart from the looks
Discussion
Traditionally, I have bought cars that I like the look of as well as the drive but increasingly a lot of the cars that appeal to me do not have the looks to back up the mechanical spec/drive. Having owned an Impreza WRX Wagon and currently an MPV (two cars that I like for very different reasons), I guess styling isn't the be-all-and-end-all and there are probably still some cars that I would consider buying even though the styling doesn't appeal to me. So what cars do you love everything about apart from the looks? For me:
1) Alfa Romeo Mito/Giulietta Cloverleaf - evocative badge and an Italian Fiesta ST/Golf GTI respectively but they both look like a different design team designed the back and front end and the traditional Alfa grille doesn't work on these two cars in my opinion, as they look surprised/constipated (see Alfa Sud/147 to see how it should be done).
2) Audi RS3 - the original RS2/RS4/RS6 had the perfect blend of subtlety and aggression. A friend just bought one in battleship grey and I had to double check that it wasn't a diesel S-line to save embarassment. Familiarity breeds contempt but I now appreciate that the old A3 Sportback with its pseudo estate car looks was quite a decent looking car, whereas this (and the MINI 5 door hatch for that matter) has a whiff of Austin Maxi about it! A great mechanical spec, quattro four-wheel-drive and a rip-snorting engine would make it a great car to live with day-to-day I imagine but it doesn't LOOK like a 50k car.
3) BMW M2/M135i - The M2 for obvious reasons that have already been documented and the M135i because it looks from the front like it has a bad case of elephantiasis. However, as a small, RWD hatch with an available manual transmission, twin turbo straight six and what would have constituted M3 power back in the day at a relatively low price it has massive appeal...but the 5 door in particular looks hideous. I might be able to live with the 3 door or the M235i.
4) Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (old model) - well, that engine in the smallest available package is appeal but a rather heavy-handed design and looks very much like a 2 litre diesel AMG-line.
5) Porsche Panamera Turbo S/Cayenne Turbo S (originals) - both have massive levels of performance and no doubt drive brilliantly but utterly horrid to look at. Fortunately, the 2nd gen versions of each model look a little better.
6) "New" MINI Cooper S - more space but still a light, compact, turbocharged 3 door hot hatch with a BMW 3-Series engine. Massive appeal but has lost its cheeky/cute looks and the lights/grille are too big.
7) Honda Civic Type R - it's a Nurburgring hero and they achieved great things just with FWD and a return to making sporty driver's cars for Honda but looks just horrid.
8) Ford Focus RS - awesome and the standard ST isn't a bad-looking car these days but this one looks like an ST that ram raided Halfords. The mk1 and Mk2 RS Focii looked so much better.
9) Nissan GTR - supercar performance for a fraction of the cost but not a looker by any stretch.
10) Bentley Continental GT - the ultimate in 2+2 luxury, prodigious power and it's a Bentley but it is neither beautiful nor elegant.
Of that list, I could probably live with the looks of all but the Audi (simply because it looks like a 25k not a 50k car), Honda and Porsches if I was spending my own money. So, what cars do you love everything about but can't stand the sight of?
1) Alfa Romeo Mito/Giulietta Cloverleaf - evocative badge and an Italian Fiesta ST/Golf GTI respectively but they both look like a different design team designed the back and front end and the traditional Alfa grille doesn't work on these two cars in my opinion, as they look surprised/constipated (see Alfa Sud/147 to see how it should be done).
2) Audi RS3 - the original RS2/RS4/RS6 had the perfect blend of subtlety and aggression. A friend just bought one in battleship grey and I had to double check that it wasn't a diesel S-line to save embarassment. Familiarity breeds contempt but I now appreciate that the old A3 Sportback with its pseudo estate car looks was quite a decent looking car, whereas this (and the MINI 5 door hatch for that matter) has a whiff of Austin Maxi about it! A great mechanical spec, quattro four-wheel-drive and a rip-snorting engine would make it a great car to live with day-to-day I imagine but it doesn't LOOK like a 50k car.
3) BMW M2/M135i - The M2 for obvious reasons that have already been documented and the M135i because it looks from the front like it has a bad case of elephantiasis. However, as a small, RWD hatch with an available manual transmission, twin turbo straight six and what would have constituted M3 power back in the day at a relatively low price it has massive appeal...but the 5 door in particular looks hideous. I might be able to live with the 3 door or the M235i.
4) Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (old model) - well, that engine in the smallest available package is appeal but a rather heavy-handed design and looks very much like a 2 litre diesel AMG-line.
5) Porsche Panamera Turbo S/Cayenne Turbo S (originals) - both have massive levels of performance and no doubt drive brilliantly but utterly horrid to look at. Fortunately, the 2nd gen versions of each model look a little better.
6) "New" MINI Cooper S - more space but still a light, compact, turbocharged 3 door hot hatch with a BMW 3-Series engine. Massive appeal but has lost its cheeky/cute looks and the lights/grille are too big.
7) Honda Civic Type R - it's a Nurburgring hero and they achieved great things just with FWD and a return to making sporty driver's cars for Honda but looks just horrid.
8) Ford Focus RS - awesome and the standard ST isn't a bad-looking car these days but this one looks like an ST that ram raided Halfords. The mk1 and Mk2 RS Focii looked so much better.
9) Nissan GTR - supercar performance for a fraction of the cost but not a looker by any stretch.
10) Bentley Continental GT - the ultimate in 2+2 luxury, prodigious power and it's a Bentley but it is neither beautiful nor elegant.
Of that list, I could probably live with the looks of all but the Audi (simply because it looks like a 25k not a 50k car), Honda and Porsches if I was spending my own money. So, what cars do you love everything about but can't stand the sight of?
Al U said:
The Skoda Yeti. It reminds me of an english bull terrier. It's so god damn ugly that it actually almost becomes desirable in a strange way. I think I would like to get one soon as an everyday car, I think it says "I have a very capable, practical car and that matters more to me than styling or badge snobbery".
Yeah, I like the Yeti (especially pre-facelift too) and that's where I'm also going with my Grand Voyager. I love how practical it is and the kids love the space and being able to see out. It's also really comfortable (like sitting in an armchair) and not horrible to drive but every time I look at it, it has no visual appeal whatsoever.
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