Cars that are ageing well? :)
Discussion
jezhumphrey75 said:
martin84 said:
Peugeot 406
The best looking family saloon of the last 20 years.
For a facelifted version of a 17 year old design it still looks fantastic. Consider its rivals at the time, Mondeo, Primera, Vectra, Laguna etc all of which show its age now but in my view the 406 looks just as modern as any new Eurobox you care to pick out.
primera and accords are way better, and just as fresh if treated rightThe best looking family saloon of the last 20 years.
For a facelifted version of a 17 year old design it still looks fantastic. Consider its rivals at the time, Mondeo, Primera, Vectra, Laguna etc all of which show its age now but in my view the 406 looks just as modern as any new Eurobox you care to pick out.
I know which I'd choose.
World's most pointless thread?
The comment about opinions is spot on.
There are cars here that I thought looked ghastly new and look even worse now, others which looked great in period and still do and one or two that have grown on me, but my opinion's as valuable/worthless as everyone elses...
I'd chip in with my utterly biased view that the RX8 has aged well. It was, perhaps, a little avantgarde for its time, but it looks lithe, organic and sporty next to most cars these days (unless someone rolls up in an FD RX7
).
Of cars I've grown to like, the Alfa GTV (FWD one) must be the main candidate - I hated it when new, but a bloke I know has a smart black one with red interior and I must admit it's a nice car (and there's a red one around the corner from where I live and that looks good too).
The 928 is another example...
M
The comment about opinions is spot on.
There are cars here that I thought looked ghastly new and look even worse now, others which looked great in period and still do and one or two that have grown on me, but my opinion's as valuable/worthless as everyone elses...
I'd chip in with my utterly biased view that the RX8 has aged well. It was, perhaps, a little avantgarde for its time, but it looks lithe, organic and sporty next to most cars these days (unless someone rolls up in an FD RX7
).Of cars I've grown to like, the Alfa GTV (FWD one) must be the main candidate - I hated it when new, but a bloke I know has a smart black one with red interior and I must admit it's a nice car (and there's a red one around the corner from where I live and that looks good too).
The 928 is another example...
M
BUMP!
A friend has just bought one of these and IMO it looks great and hasn't aged. Much better than the one that replaced it that always looked a bit of mess to me. They were everywhere when they came out, where are they now? I suspect a few ended up on their roof which incidentally happened to another mate that had one brand new.
A friend has just bought one of these and IMO it looks great and hasn't aged. Much better than the one that replaced it that always looked a bit of mess to me. They were everywhere when they came out, where are they now? I suspect a few ended up on their roof which incidentally happened to another mate that had one brand new.
RX7, and to a lesser extent RX8. Both very 'pretty' cars.
My number 1 pick is the Z3- either in M or 2000> facelift guise (wider rear arches). They are totally unloved but are now looking excellent in the metal. People talk about bodywork being 'stretched', 'draped' or 'taught' over the mechanicals. These cars are slim in the middle with muscular (yes, 'Z3' and 'muscular' in the same sentence) arches, a long bonnet/ rearward cabin, and nice retro details like the gills in the front wings. That crease that runs down the bonnet to the kidney grills looks excellent and is a perfectly flowing piece of design imho.
I've owned 2 mkiv Supras and would like to say they've aged well, but this last couple of years they've started to look a bit flabby or blobby to my eye. They need larger wheels and better stance to look properly pretty, but nothing more than that.
Jag XK (96>06) are classically beautiful now, but very wheel-dependent.
E36 M3/ sporty coupes are looking sharper by the day.
E46 M3 is near perfect with those bulging arches.
I've also got a thing for the L322 Range Rover right now. The early ones with the square headlights look a bit clumsy, facelifts to me have near perfect 4x4 proportions.
Gen 7 Celica doesn't look it's age- needs a spoiler to balance it out.
996 911 is looking more 'retro' and more like an 'old' 911, as daft as that may sound. Narrow-bodied ones with the pre-facelift headlights are looking more and more right to my eye, and sub £10k bargains too if you've got the balls of steel/ pockets to keep one.
Sporty mk1 Focus looks newer than it is when in ST170/ RS guise.
Tricky thread, as 'ageing well' is a bit difficult to define and very subjective. That's why I think the Z3 is up there, it was unloved at launch, and a bit 'retro' which didnt really come off at the time but is now looking smart. Same story with the XK- remember Clarkson correctly pointing out that it looked like it was 'on stilts' at lauch? Looks sleek and elegant today, imho ofcourse.
My number 1 pick is the Z3- either in M or 2000> facelift guise (wider rear arches). They are totally unloved but are now looking excellent in the metal. People talk about bodywork being 'stretched', 'draped' or 'taught' over the mechanicals. These cars are slim in the middle with muscular (yes, 'Z3' and 'muscular' in the same sentence) arches, a long bonnet/ rearward cabin, and nice retro details like the gills in the front wings. That crease that runs down the bonnet to the kidney grills looks excellent and is a perfectly flowing piece of design imho.
I've owned 2 mkiv Supras and would like to say they've aged well, but this last couple of years they've started to look a bit flabby or blobby to my eye. They need larger wheels and better stance to look properly pretty, but nothing more than that.
Jag XK (96>06) are classically beautiful now, but very wheel-dependent.
E36 M3/ sporty coupes are looking sharper by the day.
E46 M3 is near perfect with those bulging arches.
I've also got a thing for the L322 Range Rover right now. The early ones with the square headlights look a bit clumsy, facelifts to me have near perfect 4x4 proportions.
Gen 7 Celica doesn't look it's age- needs a spoiler to balance it out.
996 911 is looking more 'retro' and more like an 'old' 911, as daft as that may sound. Narrow-bodied ones with the pre-facelift headlights are looking more and more right to my eye, and sub £10k bargains too if you've got the balls of steel/ pockets to keep one.
Sporty mk1 Focus looks newer than it is when in ST170/ RS guise.
Tricky thread, as 'ageing well' is a bit difficult to define and very subjective. That's why I think the Z3 is up there, it was unloved at launch, and a bit 'retro' which didnt really come off at the time but is now looking smart. Same story with the XK- remember Clarkson correctly pointing out that it looked like it was 'on stilts' at lauch? Looks sleek and elegant today, imho ofcourse.
Edited by daveofedinburgh on Wednesday 10th September 01:46
nammynake said:
First released in 1999 I believe 
What I came in to post. But then I would say that, owning one as I do.The first New Mini is a cracking shout as well. Far cleaner, less fussy lines than the two subsequent generations, and the proportions work brilliantly with the wheels being pushed right out to the corners.
Edited by GeordieInExile on Wednesday 10th September 16:20
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