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Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:45 am

Why didn't they at least do a limited edition of hotrodded PT's? I mean, that's what it's pretending to be, so why not do it? Make a real balls-out, ass in the air, chromed up rod out of it.

Sorry to keep banging on about the Fiat Multipla, but I just found the original version. Kind of freaky in a Samba-esque sort of way:

http://ultra.cto.us.edu.pl/pub/Multimedia/Pictures/Cars/misc/Fiat-multipla.jpg

Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:49 am

i like the original multipla! yeah the infiniti fx35 and fx 45 are sweet rides!

Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:33 am

I've seen a few Elements around here with the plastic body cladding painted to match the rest of the car, and I'd have to say that makes them much more appealing. Still not entirely attractive, but it does make a world of difference.

I don't know if there were just trying to cut costs or what, but I can't believe automotive engineers as a whole actually thought that unpainted body cladding was necessary.

Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:37 am

i agree derek

Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:46 am

I think any plastic as an excuse as trim is just putrid! Car makers need to go back to the good ol' days of the classic caddies, above and beond the expected amount of chrome trim and tail fins.. now thath's when cars were beautiful and different!

Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:58 am

gimme a pacer or gremlin over an aztek or element anyday of the week.

Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:59 am

Ford Granada.

Ford Fairmont.

Chevy Avalanche.

Thu Mar 11, 2004 10:37 am

We are of the same mind in that sense veedubgirl!

I give credit to the japanese of the Previa production and not just because I owned one before. The story was that their R&D people actually reaserched what was it that the people wanted and then developed the vehicle accordingly. Unlike their american counterpart which as stated, apparently after taking a few tokes of their crack pipe, come up with some sort of atrocity and decide "THIS is what the people are going to like!" :shock:

To me as far as american iron is concerned just about everything after '72 lost any style! :x

Tha gargantuan BIG gummint in their effort to protect us "idiots" from ourselves have come up with regulations that makes it impossible to manufacture car as they did before. So the best we got is to keep on "restoring"! 8)

Thu Mar 11, 2004 11:17 am

I make my living putting together Element's (and Civics's). They are funtionally beautiful yet pleasingly homley in form. What was GM smokin when they put together that Aztek :shock: Nothin beats the form of my 67 Ghia and nothin beats the daily driving pleasure of my 00 Jetta VR6.
Help!! I'm a German car lover trapped in an Asian auto factory :D

My ugly car award goes to........ 1984 Cadillac Cimmaron

Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:24 pm

I'm liking the fact that some auto makers are trying to rasp their roots... The New thunderbird...SWEET.....the new beetle...OK......more manufaturers need to do that...Find a style that was super successful in the past and just update it a little bit!

Thu Mar 11, 2004 1:15 pm

Isn't taking a successful style and updating it what most of them are doing. T-Bird, Beetle (sorry New Beetle), MINI, Mustang, GT40, Cobra, Viper, Prowler, PT Cruiser, Microbus, I know there are more - someone help me out here. Anyway, they may not all be designed off a specific model but they are all "retro".

I hate the Aztec too. Looks like it was designed in the dark. But I don't mind the idea of it. Having a tent connected to your car sound familiar to anyone? The only thing I don't like about the Element is the black plastic but the car is an excellent example of form following function.

As for ugliest car, aside from the afore mentioned, how about the worst attempt at retro ever - the 80s Golden Spirit: http://www.bobsclassics.com/82z.htm Hope I didn't get anyone's hopes up because THIS CAR IS SOLD. (I need an emoticon that vomits.)

Thu Mar 11, 2004 1:15 pm

Major Woody wrote: Ford Granada.

Ford Fairmont.

Chevy Avalanche.

Ooooh, my folks used to own a '78 Fairmont wagon...with the fake wood paneling on the side, too! ;)

-Taylor

Thu Mar 11, 2004 1:33 pm

spookymulder says... Quote: 1981 Caddy Seville with the hacked off trunk
That just made #4 on my list. Looks like it has too much "Junk in da trunk"

Thu Mar 11, 2004 1:57 pm

AMC was the shiznit. They only went wrong when they started selling Renaults. As for ugly, check out anything made in Japan and/or the USSR during the 60s & 70s (with one exception, 240Z, which was designed by a German anyway).

Thu Mar 11, 2004 1:57 pm

I wonder if that guy has a problem with road rage.... http://www.bobsclassics.com/82z.htm. I count at least 4 horns on that sucker... ICK! :-&

Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:40 pm

PT cruisers are horrible. I always see like 55 yr. old women or their husbands driving blacked out PT's with some ugly flames down the side with annoying exhaust and only god knows what else.

Thu Mar 11, 2004 10:20 pm

I own (well my wife drives) a PT. Best 16K I ever spent on a non VW, looked at all the other crap with no personallities and decided on a rendering of an american classic, at least you know WHAT it is when driving down the street, just like any of my old bugs and/or buses. You know what they are when you see them. New beetle, aughhh real crap of an upside down turtle, almost pucked when I test drove one.

ugliest car mid 60's Chrysler imperial
then the Mercury montago with the backslash rear window that opens to let in the exhuast fumes

Fri Mar 12, 2004 2:05 am

I kinda like the Element, My wife and I looked at them. I think being ugly is partly why I like it. I'm not sure about that Scion thing? :?

Fri Mar 12, 2004 5:56 am

ok ok so I was wrong and that thing is made by fiat :roll: I know I saw onr in a renult dealerships showroom but overseas dealers aren't like dealers in the us they only have maybe 2 of each kind of car it could have been used.
The elements plastic body panels will grow on you after you have some jerk take one out in a parking lot cost a whole 43 bucks to replace the front fender plastic :D .

Fri Mar 12, 2004 6:08 am

Yeah, you're right, they do sell different makes from the same showroom. Even some of the body parts are the same, like early Citroens & Peugots. The more I look at that old Multipla, the more I want to go & find one. Somebody slap me before I do something I might regret.

I wonder of there's a Fiat forum? :shock: