Expensive looking normal cars?

[300bhp/ton]

You know how some cars, something like a Ferrari just looks that cut above say a Celica? I'm not sure I can define what it is exactly, but lets assume you knew neither car. If the badges where removed from an F355 you' still know it was not going to be a Toyota but something pricey, just on the shape and they way the exterior looks.

A Celica on the other, even if you didn't know what engine or driven wheels it was, it just doesn't look as sharp or as well penned as a more exotic coupe. It just looks more everyday, more mass produced.

e.g.






So my question is, what "affordable mass market" cars have these superior looks and styling? I can't think of many.

I think Lotus got close with the S1 Elise. If you don't know what it is, it looks expensive visually.

And to some extent the current Camaro is over styled enough that it just doesn't look like it should be a mass production car.



So what cars can you think of that just have that undefinable quality visually?

[Dave Hedgehog]

elise looks like a £15 kit car

[Simbu]

mk3 MR2 must be a contender. It looks very boxster-esque, but as you say... take the badges off and it doesn't look ordinary IMO:

[hondafanatic]

Am I doing it right?

[300bhp/ton]

Dave Hedgehog said:

elise looks like a £15 kit car

Do you actually like any car, or even cars at all? Every post I've seen you make for the past two weeks has been a long the lines of you hate it and want to be Victor Meldrew.

[300bhp/ton]

hondafanatic said:

Am I doing it right?

That is a very good suggestion and one I'd completely forgotten about.

[Blown2CV]

[300bhp/ton]

Blown2CV said:

Umm I still say it looks closer to the Celica than a Ferrari. But maybe that's just me?

[Noesph]

the peugeot 406 coupe.



edit - beaten to it......

[anonymous-user]

Blown2CV said:

Wan'y this orginally designed for Ferrari who didn't like the design..

[HeatonNorris]

That's a particularly poor example of a late Celica, though - better spec. models are a much better looking car:



The 406 Coupe has to be up there:



Then there's the obligatory Italians:





First facelift Alfa 156:

[Tuvra]

A face lifted Arnage, worth about £30k looks £150k worth of motor. Something like this:

[4key]

[anonymous-user]

Alfa Romeo Brera (can't post pictures on my phone!)

Pick up an early model in Ferrari-esque red with nice spec and its rare enough and different enough to look quite exotic IMO.

[HeatonNorris]

300bhp/ton said:

Umm I still say it looks closer to the Celica than a Ferrari. But maybe that's just me?

Just you.

It shares a lot of design features with the 550 Maranello.

[Leins]

Laguna Coupe has thrown me a couple of times from a distance

I remember when the Calibra first came out Car Magazine covered the badges, put it beside a BMW 850i and some people thought the Vauxhall was the more expensive car

[S10GTA]

[hondafanatic]

Leins said:

Laguna Coupe has thrown me a couple of times from a distance

Yep...me too

[dave stew]

Totally agree. Very Aston esque with the rear styling.

[Puddenchucker]

Toyota MR2 (mk2)





At least those that haven't been bighted with cheap & tastless bodykits.