Is Ugly now "In" ?

[DOCTORBILL]

This will be considered "off topic", but I just have
to comment on the newer cars I'm seeing lately.

Is "Butt-Ugly" the new thing in cars?

The PT Cruiser is awful looking to me!

Then there is the Honda "Element" - a shoebox on
wheels. An ugly shoebox….

Then today I saw the Toyota "Aztec". Lord! That
was beaten with an ugly stick!

What is happening?! Are these designers on drugs?

What is next, the "Dump-Truck" look?

Maybe the 'Garbage Truck' look…..

How about a bunch of grapes on wheels!

Or the 'Silly Putty" look.

Maybe they will bring back fins with a Chandelier
on the ends.

DoctorBill

[unbe]

I agree,how about that Chevy thats 1/2 car ,1/2 truck.I heard somewhere that the plant that makes them is only running about 1/2 the time because of limited demand.Why can't GM make something like a Metro in the states right now.Something that........
Gets 45+ mpg
Low MSRP
Low maint.
I would think it would sell like hotcakes,why aren't they doing it,what am I missing?

[Metro Mighty Mouse]

the PT is capitalizing on the "retro" trend and sales supported that most people like the looks and utility.

the Element and the Scion Xb both are bringing the Box on wheels look that is EXTREMELY popular in Japan, and once again the utility is very popular with a lot of space in a very small package. The Xb is also very customizable making it popular with the ricer crowd.
The Aztec is a Pontiac and is widely held to be one of the ugliest vehicles ever made. The Buick Rendevous is the sister car and doesn't look nearly as ugly.
However one could contend that there have always been ugly cars by major manufacturers, the entire Edsel line is an example, and there always will be as companies try to drive design forward, or backward in the case of the "retro" look.

The 1/2 trucks were an attempt to fill a niche created by more families driving trucks and suv's as their primary vehicles.

[theragtopguy]

I agree with you 100% Doctor Bill. New car designs leave much to be desired, especially those ugly square SUVs.

What happened to the good old days when you could tell a Chevy from a Pontiac, etc?

The only new design I really like is the Chrysler Crossfire Roadster. I will have one someday when I can make myself go back to having car payments again.

[frets14]

I also agree about the majority of the cars lacking both style and practicality. Although it's impractical, have any of you seen the Pontiac Solstice? Now that's a hot vehicle! Maybe I'll be able to afford a 2006 in about 20 years!

[DOCTORBILL]

I agree with UnBe about making more Geo Metros or the like.

It took Adolph Hitler to have the People's Car made - Volkswagen.
Sold like hotcakes for years!
Why not make 1.0 L. Geo Metros again by the 100's of thousands.
I bet they would sell like crazy now!
What is wrong with making hundreds of millions of $$ in profit selling a small economy car?
Is that too hard to understand?

Why spend zillions developing a "Hybrid" when the old Geo Metro gets
about the same mpg - and would probably run just as well on Ethanol
or Propane!?

Will it take a Presidential order for these goofy auto manufacturers to
make another Geo Metro or Volkswagen (like the old rear engine one).

Then again, we Americans are real nut cases also.

If the price of gas goes to $3 a gallon, we demand economy cars.
Whine about gas prices. Piss and moan...... "Boy I sure wish my
Dodge RAM Dualie Pickup truck got your kind of mileage!"

Two weeks later, if the price of gas drops to $1.50 a gallon, we
ridicule the economy car and buy Chevy Suburbans (one of the all
time best selling 8 mpg vehicles!) or Hummers (5 mpg?).
"Geo Metro?! I 'd NEVER drive a toy car like that! No testosterone!"

I guess we shouldn't criticize auto manufacturers. After all, their
Marketing Managers know what's best for all of us..... and what wine
should be served at their quarterly Marketing Dinner in Las Vegas....

DoctorBill

PS - I am one of those people who had a Suburban when I made good
money! So don't listen to me - I'm an idiot.... What is best depends
on my income level (which varies now). I want what I want when I
want it. Time for a beer...... Out of Beer!? Start up the Hummer!

[leonbentz]

I guess we shouldn't criticize auto manufacturers. After all, their
Marketing Managers know what's best for all of us..... and what wine
should be served at their quarterly Marketing Dinner in Las Vegas....

**********

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Bill, those guys just know what's best for their pocket books. They'll go with what sells best, but yea, I think they should just build more Metros, instead of those overpriced Hybrids. The technology is still new in cars and they'll be a pain in the ass,(and the pocket book) when they get older and need work done. Personally, I like to stick with something that has a glut of cheap parts on the market.