# We are living in THE ugliest period in automobile history **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445 "2006-06-05T03:14:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/121 "2006-06-06T04:36:35Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] Not really arguing, in fact I agree with all but the part about turning and braking. What drove my comment was the OP in post #29 [bratty little kid]He Started it![/BLK] 🙂 [/QUOTE] Sorry, I missed that. :smack: Maybe other muscle cars could turn and brake (like the Firebirds, I guess), but the '71 GTO sure couldn’t. Went very fast in a straight line very well - 140 when I ran out of speedometer. 😃 (don’t try this at home, kiddies) ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/122 "2006-06-06T04:51:19Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Then what do you like? WHY do you find the Mach 1 ugly? If you’re a Euro guy instead of an American when it comes to cars, I can give you a pass, but preferring modern American cars to the oldies? I don’t get it. [/QUOTE] Depends on the type of car. For a classic coupe, give me a 1060’s era [Mercedes Benz](http://www.europeancollectables.com/ec_reborn/inv_main/C609-2.JPG). It’s got clean lines, nice chrome accents, class. For a small sport car, perhaps something in the Austin line. The [3000](http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1960-1969/1963-Austin-Healey-3000-MK2-BJ7-black.jpg) has always been one of my favourites. I’ve never been much into penis cars myself. Thinking and searching on google I couldn’t come up with an american car I’ve liked post 1955-60. Or course this is coming from a guy who wouldn’t mind having a 1950’s [Nash Metropolitan](http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=nash+metropolitan&spell=1) or [Austin Healey Bugeye](http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&client=opera&rls=en&q=bugeye+sprite&btnG=Search). As for modern,. I thought the 2000 [Hyundai Tiburon](http://images.autobytel.com/cyber/196026/im9380_1.jpg) with the quad headlights had an interesting look. It was kind of a mix of muscule car and Brit import. And,. any car looks better with a set of [after market teeth](http://www.autoxpressions.com/shark.html) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/123 "2006-06-06T05:28:07Z")
People think they know ugly cars, and yet they get to the third page before anyone remembers the horror that was the [AMC Pacer.](http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/AmericanMotors/1978AMCPacer-1.jpg) Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/124 "2006-06-06T05:28:30Z")
I’m surprised at the lack of aesthetic hate for my car, the [Prius](http://www.toyota.com/prius/exterior.html). I even think it’s ugly, and I love the thing. Sad truth is, that low coefficient of drag can’t be had without certain costs. I’d have to add my vote for the Aztek. First time I saw one of those I spilled coffee on myself I was so repulsed by it. Holy jeebus what a fugly-ass vehicle. The Scion xB would be the ugliest, of course, but, unlike the Aztek, I get the sense all involved in the design knew full-well how hideous the thing was, and deliberately set out to make a statement. The Aztek screams “catastrophic mishap”. Someone with his taste in the crack of his ass set out to make what _he_ thought was the coolest, most stylin’ SUV to ever cruise the heartland, and the Aztek is what this cretin squeezed out. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/125 "2006-06-06T05:41:13Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Sorry, I missed that. :smack: Maybe other muscle cars could turn and brake (like the Firebirds, I guess), but the '71 GTO sure couldn’t. Went very fast in a straight line very well - 140 when I ran out of speedometer. 😃 (don’t try this at home, kiddies) [/QUOTE] As my dad likes to point out whenever we find a classic car museum: “You didn’t drive those cars as much as you aimed them.” ---
**Author:** ![anamnesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@anamnesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anamnesis)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/126 "2006-06-06T05:41:20Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] People think they know ugly cars, and yet they get to the third page before anyone remembers the horror that was the [AMC Pacer.](http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/AmericanMotors/1978AMCPacer-1.jpg) Go figure. [/QUOTE] Actually, eleanorigby mentioned it awhile ago. 🙂 And truth be told, the controversial styling was somewhat offset by a very limited run of one or two V8-powered Pacers in the late 70’s right when the cost of gas made them exercises in futility, despite the fact that they were light and damn fast. They’re highly sought after today, but what rare thing isn’t? Hell, I wouldn’t mind owning the one Garth drove all around Aurora. That thing was hott. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/127 "2006-06-06T05:48:15Z")
[QUOTE=Loopydude] I’m surprised at the lack of aesthetic hate for my car, the [Prius](http://www.toyota.com/prius/exterior.html). I even think it’s ugly, and I love the thing. [/QUOTE] What, “That thing is a whole case of ugly rolling around on four tiny little wheels. It looks like a big wallowing pig mincing on feet way too small for it” (post #96) isn’t aesthetic hate enough for you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![anamnesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@anamnesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anamnesis)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/128 "2006-06-06T06:02:38Z")
[QUOTE=Loopydude] The Scion xB would be the ugliest, of course, but, unlike the Aztek, I get the sense all involved in the design knew full-well how hideous the thing was … [/QUOTE] Actually, it was designed as a North American offshoot of the [Toyota bB](http://toyota.jp/bb/index.html), which is just one in a line of many vehicles belonging to a growing market niche in Japan, that of the compact “cube” car. Thinking it would fly in the States was perhaps a bit of a long shot (initially they expected the roller-skate-looking xA to be the big seller) but the opposite proved to be true because the xB has consistently outsold it 2-to-1 and will be among the first redesigns for the Scion brand. I know the xB is no darling, but the [t2b Concept](http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/2005_new_york/0504_scion_t2b/) (its future replacement) looks to have some real potential. I am no fan of the xB but that concept pulls off everything the xB is trying to do, but successfully and with modern flair … at least on the outside. The half-baked interior is another story. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/129 "2006-06-06T06:55:15Z")
[QUOTE=Seven] For a classic coupe, give me a 1060’s era [Mercedes Benz](http://www.europeancollectables.com/ec_reborn/inv_main/C609-2.JPG). It’s got clean lines, nice chrome accents, class. [/QUOTE] And I bet it helped turn the tide in favor of the Normans at Hastings, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/130 "2006-06-06T07:48:31Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] 2 CV, anyone? [/QUOTE] Ahh, the perfect car! I _so_ want one. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/131 "2006-06-06T07:53:18Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] Yes, it’s designed to be as practical as a mail truck - compact exterior size, roomy interior, maneuverable in tight spaces, etc. That’s the whole point of that car. [/QUOTE] Sings: “Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black&white cat…” My ideal styling seems to conflict with most of you- I like euro “lego” cars like the SMART and Renault Clio (my car) and Magane. Or a classic MG in British Racing Green.The OP’s Muastang is, to me, the height of all that I hate about American cars - I see the driver with greased hair and shitkicker boots, or worse, in the cast of a 70s police show like _Starsky_ and _Hutch_. Possibly with a mullet. I mean, there’s retro-cool, and then there’s things better left dead. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/132 "2006-06-06T07:58:44Z")
[QUOTE=Seven] For a classic coupe, give me a 1060’s era [Mercedes Benz](http://www.europeancollectables.com/ec_reborn/inv_main/C609-2.JPG). It’s got clean lines, nice chrome accents, class. [/QUOTE] No, [this](http://www.madle.org/mbssprinz.jpg) is a good-looking Mercedes, with clean lines. IUt’s never been bettered, IMO. Pity about the name… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/133 "2006-06-06T08:54:52Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] We’ve been over this. If you want to improve fuel economy, you have to make the car aerodynamic and small. [/QUOTE] Tell that to [Bucky Fuller](http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/car.html). > [@](#): > > The 1933 Dymaxion Car was intended to fly, jump-jet style, when suitable alloys and engines became available. Meantime, it did pretty well on the ground: It got about 30 miles per gallon, and could smoothly hurtle eleven passengers at 120 miles per hour–far better performance than a 1996 minivan. > Though not much heavier that a VW Beetle, the Dymaxion was nearly 20 feet long. That was using a Ford V-8 of the era (which was probably around 80 HP). Today, you could build the car with a 3 cylinder engine (which would have the same or better HP), modern materials, and get vastly better performance out of it. [These guys](http://www.rqriley.com/plans.html) sell plans for kit cars that look pretty good and have _excellent_ fuel economy ratings. [This German designed hybrid](http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=1000) looks better than the Prius, IMHO. And now, allow me to break out the heavy artillery and show you folks the absolute _nadir_ of automotive design. The [1955 Aurora](http://www.rexfeatures.com/features/516925/) and the [1959 Sir Vival.](http://home.comcast.net/~tuckerfan/pagetres.html) ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/134 "2006-06-06T09:06:36Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Maybe other muscle cars could turn and brake (like the Firebirds, I guess), but the '71 GTO sure couldn’t. Went very fast in a straight line very well - 140 when I ran out of speedometer. 😃 (don’t try this at home, kiddies) [/QUOTE] American cars, in general, aren’t really noted for their handling. They can go in a straight line very well, but… (Why yes… I do watch Top Gear ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/135 "2006-06-06T12:49:32Z")
[QUOTE=winterhawk11] What, “That thing is a whole case of ugly rolling around on four tiny little wheels. It looks like a big wallowing pig mincing on feet way too small for it” (post #96) isn’t aesthetic hate enough for you? 😃 [/QUOTE] Ah-ha! Missed that! I should have known better than to underestimate The Dope! ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/136 "2006-06-06T13:05:02Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] **\> If you want to improve fuel economy, you have to make the car aerodynamic and small** Tell that to [Bucky Fuller](http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/car.html)… [/QUOTE] Should I have clarified that by “small” I meant “small frontal area”? The Dymaxion Car is as close to an ideal teadrop shape as any car ever made. And probably smaller frontal area than any 11-passenger van ever made, judging from [these](http://www.washedashore.com/projects/dymax/dworld/e47.jpg) [photos](http://www.washedashore.com/projects/dymax/dworld/e48.jpg). Of course it would have gotten even better gas mileage if it were scaled down to a smaller size. And we should keep in mind that it was an ultra-lightweight car that would have no chance of passing today’s safety standards. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/137 "2006-06-06T14:05:34Z")
[QUOTE=anamnesis] I am no fan of the xB but that concept pulls off everything the xB is trying to do, but successfully and with modern flair … [/QUOTE] If what the xB is trying to do is be aggressively, almost virulently offensive to sensibilities metaphorically identified with gustation, it indeed has bested its predecessor admirably. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/138 "2006-06-06T14:34:17Z")
Dymaxion, eh? I like the gas mileage etc, but where is the windshield? 😕🙂 I love the Smart car and it’s all over Paris and London. I also love the Mini Cooper–I like small, compact cars. They are the only ones that make sense in an urban environment. That TVR(?) is nice looking as well. Rowwrr. I have driven American and Japanese and German cars throughout my life. Based on my experience alone, I can say that American cars do NOT handle as well as VW’s or Honda’s or Volvo’s. \ I like quirky, fun styling–the Thing is cute to me, as was the classic VW hippie wagon (dunno it’s real name). There is a sleekness to European design, not just in cars, that Americans can’t translate very well (not saying the foreign makes always get it right-the Prius is pretty ugly). American cars always seem to have a bulkiness to them (not talkng sports cars here)-a visual heaviness. I like the Honda Element-it’s unapologetic in it’s dorkiness. Unlike the Pacer (thanks, **anamnesis** 🙂 ), the Element doesn’t look like it’s trying too hard to be liked. It’s you like it or you don’t. Fair enough. If a car is to have a personality, have a self-deprecating, off center one. I am not interested in muscle cars, because muscle guys bore me shitless. Hmm…interesting side topic there, no? To change the point, look at the Vega or the Nova–what were those cars trying to say (if a car can be said to be trying to say anything)? Mishmash, halfass stuff. (sorry to use older models, but I am racking my brain to remember cars that made an impression me-not many do). I think of the Fleetwoods trundling around the streets, vs a Jaguar or Bentley that eats up the road. Or the Ford Elite–an excresence of a car. Ugly to look at and impossible to drive (my BF had one). Wasn’t there a car awhile back that the interior was designed for women? Except that it was all pink (and rather insulting that way-Barbie car, anyone?) I thought it was an interesting concept. Not that there would be a market, neccessarily, but to take some of those design elements and use them in new models seems a good idea to me. I have a friend who used to work for Ford and now works for Toyota. When he was at Ford (he was an engineer) he said something that to me just embodies the tone deafness Detroit has for consumers: “Ultimately, the people adapt to whatever the car offers.” True enough, but I consider a car to be a large working tool, primarily, and a fashion statement second. I want a car that works for me. sorry, am wandering OT. ---
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/139 "2006-06-06T14:47:45Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Legends are what you do with a car. In my case, the XRS has now eaten five BMW M3s in the last few months, and I don’t want to think about what else. Nothing short of a Vette can keep up with it at highway speeds and above, while staying a complete sleeper. [/QUOTE] Are you completely delusional, or are you racing people who don’t know you’re racing? Unless you are talking about a very different car from the one reviewed in your second link, there is no way in hell you’re eating any M3s. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445/140 "2006-06-06T15:27:32Z")
[QUOTE=galt] Are you completely delusional, or are you racing people who don’t know you’re racing? Unless you are talking about a very different car from the one reviewed in your second link, there is no way in hell you’re eating any M3s. [/QUOTE] Agreed, the link provided gives the 0-60 time for the XRS as 8.9 seconds. That’s not very quick. The BMW M3’s 0-60 time is [5.0 seconds](http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/bmw/m3/100650029/specs.html). While the XRS _may_ have the same engine as the Lotus Exige… the Exige engine has 10 more horsepower in a car that weighs [775 pounds less](http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/lotus/exige/100681570/specs.html) than the XRS. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-living-in-the-ugliest-period-in-automobile-history/359445.md?page=8)