# Best looking recent cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737 "2004-09-29T22:26:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/41 "2004-10-02T03:20:59Z")
I think most of the Smart cars are ugly. But [The Smart Roadster](http://www.smart.com/-snm-0135145948-1096645429-0000006083-0000000452-1096687332-enm-is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/mpc-en-content-Site/en_EN/-/USD/SVCPresentationPipeline-Start?Page=issite%3a%2f%2fsmart-Site%2fsmart%2ecom%2fRootFolder%2fsmart%2fmodelle%2fsmartroadster%2fshowroom%2epage) is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/42 "2004-10-02T08:12:35Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > I was going to say Mazda’s RX-8 but I’m having second thoughts about those strange rear doors, still they always look good on the road when I see one. My wife has one and let me tell you those rear doors are a wonderful feature. Also it is a dream to drive on a curvy road. We picked ours up in Houston and were on interstate highways all the way to Memphis. I was driving home from Memphis the next day and encountered my first back road. I noticed it was extremely smooth around the curves and was having fun, until I met a cop going the other way. He did say “Great looking car”. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/43 "2004-10-02T08:56:18Z")
The [Alfa Romeo 147](http://www.carsfromitaly.com/alfaromeo/index.html). I prefer the pre-facelift version, with the round on the inside headlamps. Very sexy car. The [Alfa Romeo 156](http://www.carsfromitaly.com/alfaromeo/index.html), again pre-facelift version. The 156 Sportwagon is the sexiest estate on the planet. Walter Da Silva, who designed these two cars, is my current favourite designer, second only to Guigiaro, who is plain genius. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/44 "2004-10-02T09:01:44Z")
I saw a Crossfire on the street a few days ago and it was the first time I’ve looked intently at a car since I don’t know when. ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/45 "2004-10-02T09:02:50Z")
The Alfa Romeo Brera and Visconti, though vision concepts rather than production cars, are also stunningly beautiful. Both are Giugiaro designs. And by Giugiaro, I mean both father and son. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Natural](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@Mr\_Natural](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Natural)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/46 "2004-10-04T22:05:19Z")
My choice is the 1989-90 era Honda Prelude. I just love those flowing lines. Kudos to whatever designer came up with it. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/47 "2004-10-04T23:09:26Z")
RE: Mazda RX-8 > [@kniz](#): > > My wife has one and let me tell you those rear doors are a wonderful feature. Also it is a dream to drive on a curvy road. We picked ours up in Houston and were on interstate highways all the way to Memphis. I was driving home from Memphis the next day and encountered my first back road. I noticed it was extremely smooth around the curves and was having fun, until I met a cop going the other way. He did say “Great looking car”. ☹ Give it a few more years for my beloved VW Cabrio to give up the ghost, and I;m having me a Mazda RX-8 (second hand of course) May I present the far less economical [Saleen S7](http://www.saleen.com/saleen_s7_main.htm) and the [Mercedes McLaren SLR](http://amotor.no/art.php?artikkelid=731&side=2) (WARNING Both are Graphic intensive sites with java php etc. ) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/48 "2004-10-05T04:23:30Z")
My car, the [Nissan 350Z](http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/08/350z04_06_1024.jpg). I love my Z! The new [Ford GT-40](http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/05/fordgt05_01_1024.jpg) is a pretty sweet ride, and at “only” $150,000, will reportedly smoke cars costing two or three times as much. And if you happen to have an extra million bucks lying around, there’s always the [Bugatti Veyron.](http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/photo.asp?car_id=7871&picID=63046&printAllPictures=&whichPage=&pagesize=&autoShowID=&vehicleTypeID=0) I saw one up close at a showroom in Berlin, and man, it is one cool car. One thousand horsepower! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/49 "2004-10-05T05:11:54Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me much pleasure to bring your attention to the car that everyone will be talking about in a few years in the States: [The Smart Car](http://www.smart.com/-snm-0135145948-1096468706-0000022616-0000000036-1096627615-enm-is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/mpc-en-content-Site/en_EN/-/USD/SVCPresentationPipeline-Start?Page=issite%3a%2f%2fsmart-Site%2fsmart%2ecom%2fRootFolder%2fsmart%2fmodelle%2fsmartcitycoupe%2epage) You heard about it hear first. > > My Mini fixation for the last 10 years has been nudged out of the running. > > They are so _cute_ and _tiny_ that i could put one in the back of my Suburban as a spare car. Looks like a BMW [Isetta](http://www.bmwworld.com/models/vintage/isetta.htm) to me. They were unique cars for their time. Europe had 3 wheel versions and the US got a 4 wheel version. The front of the vehicle opened up for access. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/50 "2004-10-05T06:24:21Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I like the [Mazda 3](http://www.autogazeta.com/g/430/MAZDA3_10.jpg). Me too! In fact, I just bought one! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/51 "2004-10-05T17:05:15Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I like the Mazda 3. > [@Ogre](#): > > Me too! In fact, I just bought one! 🙂 Me three - I bought the 5-door version in August. Love it - handles well, has the feel of a more expensive car, and the sparkly red paint is just cool :). ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/52 "2004-10-05T17:39:13Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone[Chrysler 300C] ([http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section\_id=3&article\_id=8009](http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=8009)) I think this one is awesome looking–as the link suggests, like something out of an earlier age. Though, rather than Al Capone, I see Cary Grant driving such a car in one of his earlier movies. Doubt if I’d consider it, though. With gas prices going the way they are, I’ll want something much smaller next time around. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/53 "2004-10-05T21:28:26Z")
My mom has a 1993 Saab 9000, and I think it’s pretty classy. Distinctive, yet by no means flashy or tacky. Very Scandinavian. [Link](http://www.electricbbs.com/gallery/evdschaaff/images/saab9000-5big.jpg) to the picture I found that’s most similar. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/54 "2004-10-06T01:43:01Z")
**Shirley Ujest** , there were a couple of little articles in the papers in the past few days about the Smart now being on sale and customers receiving their cars. Apparently there is now a _six-month waiting list_ for them! :eek: Good thing I won’t be able to afford a car till next year… ---
**Author:** ![saluki\_fan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@saluki\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saluki_fan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/55 "2004-10-06T02:18:01Z")
2003 Mitsubishi Galant; of course, that’s probably because I just traded in my old car for it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/56 "2004-10-06T02:26:49Z")
Another vote here for the Chrysler Crossfire, Chrysler 300 and BWM Mini. I’ve driven BMW’s for too many years, though, and the Mini looks like a little deathtrap to me - so I might go for another maker when my lease runs out next year. Gas mileage is also important to me, and my BMW X5 drinks that stuff like there’s no tomorrow. The big 300 gets fairly good gas mileage given the awesome horsepower of the vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![PhalPhoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PhalPhoto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhalPhoto)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/57 "2004-10-06T02:31:49Z")
I’ll chime in on the RX8. This was my combination anniversary, birthday and graduation gift this year (I picked yellow!) and I lub my new car. The first time Mr. Photo took it out for a spin, he got pulled over doing 74 mph in a 70 mph zone. The darn thing just looks like it is going fast! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/58 "2004-10-06T10:41:33Z")
> [@PhalPhoto](#): > > I’ll chime in on the RX8. This was my combination anniversary, birthday and graduation gift this year (I picked yellow!) and I lub my new car. The first time Mr. Photo took it out for a spin, he got pulled over doing 74 mph in a 70 mph zone. The darn thing just looks like it is going fast! 😃 Picking yellow is hardly the way to go unnoticed though 😉 Mine is red and I haven’t been pulled over yet (touch wood). I like the fact that you can reach the UK national speed limit in second gear if you push it to the “change gear NOW” bleep… ---
**Author:** ![No\_Disguise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@No\_Disguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Disguise)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/59 "2004-10-08T03:01:21Z")
> [@drm](#): > > … > [Honda S2000](http://www.honda.ca/HondaEng/Models/S2000/Overview.htm) 😃 I didn’t want to vote for my own car, but I definitely agree. They’re gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737/60 "2004-10-08T03:36:42Z")
I admit, I find all modern cars dull, uninteresting and just can’t get excited about them. The cars I like best are from the 1920’s to the late 30’s. One of my dreams is to get a car from that era and get it into good condition and be able to drive it around town ever so often. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-looking-recent-cars/266737.md?page=4)