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Automotive News & Views Good Styling
392 messages, Last post on Feb 25, 2009 at 8:29 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Infiniti FX45? No thank you. G35 Coupe? Excellent. Maybe the best looking car being made today. [Expect me to change my mind about that often, but still . . .] |
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Most styling I like seems to be on previous model cars. I am only good to point out the negative styling points of current models (and there are so many negatives). I'll agree the current CRV is a mess, with its underbite and windowline that doesn't match the roof. IMO Acura SUVs also have a bad windowline, makes the car look like it is leaning forward. The Civics remind me of Saturns. The new Accord is also weird in some ways, but not bad. Speaking of Hondas...the 90-93 Accord is perhaps the most homogenous Japanese design ever, not derivative and almost timeless.
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to be any sort of expert on styling WHATSOEVER, but I will say this: the models that are most acclaimed by the so-called experts to have "stunning style" do not look very appealing to me. For instance, the new Jaguar XF. How does it look? Meh, it's OK. I tend to like the VWs mostly, although the new Passat is another big yawn. I like the looks of the Matrix enough that I bought two, but I would not argue with anyone who thought it will look dated in a few years. And most of the Toyota models look like concrete bunkers that someone melted, stuck in a wind tunnel, and mistakenly attached wheels to. The Hondas look marginally better - the new Civic is gradually growing on me for instance - as do some of the Lexus cars with the exception of the ES. I don't get the new Mercedes motif at all - the new S-class in particular looks like a small car that got stretched like warm string cheese until it was all misshapen, then frozen that way. The new C-class looks OK. The only Ford with any presence is the Mustang, which would probably earn my money if what was under the skin was a lot more appealing. Likewise, I don't really like any of the Chevys except the Corvette, and now maybe the new Malibu. For GM, add the Aura and Astra to my list of reasonable lookers, as well as the Sky/Solstice. I guess I'm weird with what I like and what I don't, but my fave of all of them is probably still the Mini Cooper. Another carmaker still very much on its styling game is Porsche. OTOH, BMWs look bloated now. All the BMWs of 10 years ago looked better to me than the comparable BMW models today. The Z3 and late 90s 3-series were some of my faves of the 90s. Oh, and as for SUVs and tall wagons AKA crossovers? I don't think there's a single one that catches my eye, certainly not the new CRV that's for sure. The CRV has always been a bit funny looking. Maybe the best of the breed is the new GLK and the GM Lambda triplets, but none of them are much beyond just tolerable. |
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| I like the Saturn Sky. I saw one on my way to the airport Tuesday night and it looks like a mini-Vette. | |
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Replying to: nippononly (Apr 24, 2008 6:46 pm) The XF you really have to see in person and in motion to appreciate. The only part of the design I had a problem with before I saw it in person were the headlights and even they look fine in person. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Apr 24, 2008 6:46 pm) Now MB is moving on from the the oval/ovoid headlight theme it honed for 12+ years. Some of the results are mixed. A lot of people associate that look with MB. The form follows function styling of the W126 and W124 will always be gold in my eyes. I can't remember the last Toyotas I thought were good looking...I guess the 92 Camry had a pleasant rounded blandness to it, and the period Lexus SC looked good. I liked the wedge Supras too...but I don't know if I could call them good styling. The lineup is pretty uninspiring lately. I find it amusing the Saturn Sky appears sportier and more aggressive than its Pontiac twin, seeing as Saturn has been a badge for those who don't really like cars. |
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Maybe it's from too many hours spent watching The Jetsons, but the biggest style detractor to me on cars in general are the wheels and tires. I don't care how much chrome you slap on them, the wheels always seem to be an afterthought and the car style never manages to compensate very well for them. Some makes do try to make them a big styling cue while others try to hide them but they are always there, usually ruining the lines. I can't say I've seen many fender skirts that help either. |
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Replying to: steve_ (Apr 25, 2008 9:09 am) Now that I think about it, I had a '67 Newport with skirts, but they sort of blended in with the bodyside creases. That Newport was also more slab-sided, maybe even a bit concave, whereas the Bonneville was more fuselaged. One styling cue that I tend to pay attention to with cars is where the C-pillar falls, in relation to the rear wheel opening. If the C-pillar is too far back, IMO it often makes the car look ungainly, like the roof is too big for the body. Some cars with rakish rooflines can sort of get away with it, but with more upright cars, I think it's harder to do.
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Replying to: andre1969 (Apr 25, 2008 11:55 am) The Germans seem to have as good a handle as anyone as to what makes a good looking car. Audis tend to look great. BMWs, Porsche, even VW. For the most part the Japanese aren't bad but they have a tendency to blend in with one another. Amongst the Americans GM and Ford are improving their act. I don't know that the chrome bars need to be on all Fords but they work on the Fusion which is pretty attractive. Saturn has the idea. I never thought I'd say that. Newer Buick designs are really stepping up. |
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Good: -Any Audi except the Q7 -Bentley GT & sedan -BMW 3 Series, 7 Series -Mercedes E Class and C Class -Ford Fusion -Ford Mustang, esp. Bullitt coupe -Dodge Charger (exc. interior) -Ferrari F430 and 599GTB -Mini Cooper -Infiniti G35/G37, M35/45 -Nissan Altima -Mitsu Lancer/EVO -Porsche Cayman, 911, Boxster -Pontiac G8, Solstice -Mazda Miata, 3, 6 CX-7 -Jag XK -Maserati GT, QP -Bad -Audi Q7 -Saab 9-5 -BMW 6-Series -Nissan Maxima, Armada -Scion xB -Lincoln Navi -Jaguar XF (esp headlights) Merc GM / Ford CV Dodge Challenger -Ugly -Chrysler Sebring -Honda CR-V -Lincoln TC -BMW 5 Series -BMW Z4 esp coupe. -Porsche Cayenne -Roll-Royce Phantom (looks like a Kenworth in front!) I left off a lot of cars that look okay enough but aren't particularly good, bad or ugly, including some (like the Corvette) I might conceivably buy
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