The biggest production afterthought...

[jon-]

On my way into work this morning I happened to over take my first, and hopefully my last, final-generation Vectra Estate.

I'm not entirely sure what Vauxhall where thinking, but it looked awkward from nearly every angle. I guess the management conversation went something like:

Designer: Here is my design for the new Vectra..
Manager: Very nice! Now lets see the estate version
Designer: Estate version... sure, one second, I just need the toilet.

• scribbles childish box shape onto the back of the saloon version

Manager: It's getting near lunch... that'll do.




So ignoring the monstrosities that come out of tuners, what else has come out of the factory that looks like a total afterthought attached to an otherwise ok car?

(the fiat multipla doesn't count)

[kambites]

Most saloon versions of small and medium sized hatchbacks.

[RicksAlfas]

First shape Laguna Estate...

[TonyHetherington]

The spoiler on TTs actually was an afterthought, was it not?

[jon-]

kambites said:

Most saloon versions of small and medium sized hatchbacks.

Or in the 1 series case, the hatchback version of the then-unreleased coupe version

[_Batty_]

suspension on the 'A' Class?

[A205GTI]

TonyHetherington said:

The spoiler on TTs actually was an afterthought, was it not?

This is it.

AUDI is contacting 1,000 UK owners of the TT sports car to carry out modifications to the suspension in response to customer complaints about high speed stability and a number of accidents in Germany.

The work, to be carried out free at dealers, will involve fitting modified front and rear suspension stabilisers and firmer dampers, as well as a REAR SPOILER. The modifications will become standard on all models

[OnTheOverrun]

<nerd> the Vectra estate isn't a Vectra estate, it's a Signum estate. It uses the longer floorpan and wheelbase from the Signum, not the Vectra complete with longer rear doors. That's why Vectra C estates ride better than saloons or hatches. <nerd>

[Plotloss]

TonyHetherington said:

The spoiler on TTs actually was an afterthought, was it not?

It was a reaction to hysteria surrounding an autobahn accident.

As I remember it wasn't strictly neccessary.

Ruined the lines of the car.

[jamieboy]

RicksAlfas said:

First shape Laguna Estate...

That was the first thing that came to mind.

TBH, I don't see all that much wrong with the Vectra estate thing - the Vectra itself is hardly a work of art in the first place.

[rhinochopig]

A205GTI said:

TonyHetherington said:

The spoiler on TTs actually was an afterthought, was it not?

This is it.

AUDI is contacting 1,000 UK owners of the TT sports car to carry out modifications to the suspension in response to customer complaints about high speed stability and a number of accidents in Germany.

The work, to be carried out free at dealers, will involve fitting modified front and rear suspension stabilisers and firmer dampers, as well as a REAR SPOILER. The modifications will become standard on all models

Elise had the same problem IIRC but they caught it before it went to market - hence the little spoiler on the rear of the S1.

[hornetrider]

iPhone 4 bumper

Coat.

[A205GTI]

This?


I think the whole car was an afterthought!!

[anonymous-user]

A205GTI said:

This?


I think the whole car was an afterthought!!

5 Series GT with a Dorma window

[TonyHetherington]

rhinochopig said:

Elise had the same problem IIRC but they caught it before it went to market - hence the little spoiler on the rear of the S1.

Only the 111S has an actual raised spoiler, the standard ones just have a swoop of the fibreglass - is that what you mean?

std; http://www.british-pistons.fr/wp-content/gallery/v...

111S; http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/4001907207_a39...

[TonyHetherington]

Plotloss said:

TonyHetherington said:

The spoiler on TTs actually was an afterthought, was it not?

It was a reaction to hysteria surrounding an autobahn accident.

As I remember it wasn't strictly neccessary.

Ruined the lines of the car.

Ah, don't remember the specifics that well but interesting!

[B.J.W]

The telescoping aerial on the early (2005 onwards) Jaguar XK's - utter rubbish!

[rhinochopig]

TonyHetherington said:

rhinochopig said:

Elise had the same problem IIRC but they caught it before it went to market - hence the little spoiler on the rear of the S1.

Only the 111S has an actual raised spoiler, the standard ones just have a swoop of the fibreglass - is that what you mean?

std; http://www.british-pistons.fr/wp-content/gallery/v...

111S; http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/4001907207_a39...

The swoop - as without it has a similar lift inducing curved profile as the TT.

[carl_w]

Antenna on the back of a previous-gen Z4. Usually replaced by a 'stubby' but even so it's like they made the car and then thought: "oh st, no radio aerial".

[300bhp/ton]

Plotloss said:

TonyHetherington said:

The spoiler on TTs actually was an afterthought, was it not?

It was a reaction to hysteria surrounding an autobahn accident.

As I remember it wasn't strictly neccessary.

Ruined the lines of the car.

If that's true though, wouldn't the accidents have continued, even after adding the mods?