They were good in the beginning (Warning: Opinionated Content!)...

oldeskewltoy wrote: and besides... the Mustang could NEVER keep up with the Corolla in the twisties

Mine can.

In reply to bravenrace:

I think you are confusing the 1G Camaro's popularity for it's performace potential over it's actual looks. The typical Hot Rod/Car Craft set will see a 69 and comment on how fast it is. They would make identical comments if it was a 67 or 68 or any other "vanilla" design. I've never read an article on them that talks about their "stylish" design asthetic. I'm not saying it doesn't look good, don't get me wrong, but iconic or revolutionary or even interesting design-wise it is not.

I'm with the OP. Sure there are exceptions but overall it's on the money. It seems like car design is a build-up to critical mass of ugliness, then it implodes on itself and circles back to when it looked good. It took the American cars about 50 years, so figure in about 20-30, BMWs will look good again.

wbjones wrote: then got one of these... still think this is the best looking Accord ever built

Agreed, I think it's one of the cleanest and most balanced sedan designs ever.

Javelin wrote: In reply to bravenrace: I think you are confusing the 1G Camaro's popularity for it's performace potential over it's actual looks. The typical Hot Rod/Car Craft set will see a 69 and comment on how fast it is. They would make identical comments if it was a 67 or 68 or any other "vanilla" design. I've never read an article on them that talks about their "stylish" design asthetic. I'm not saying it doesn't look good, don't get me wrong, but iconic or revolutionary or even interesting design-wise it is not.

No. I'm talking about the style, the design, the shape. Just a few months ago Hot Rod Mag listed the '69 Camaro as the most iconic design amoungst Muscle/pony cars.

Javelin wrote: In reply to bravenrace: I think you are confusing the 1G Camaro's popularity for it's performace potential over it's actual looks. The typical Hot Rod/Car Craft set will see a 69 and comment on how fast it is. They would make identical comments if it was a 67 or 68 or any other "vanilla" design. I've never read an article on them that talks about their "stylish" design asthetic. I'm not saying it doesn't look good, don't get me wrong, but iconic or revolutionary or even interesting design-wise it is not.

You seem to be confusing my opinion with yours! No. I'm talking about the style, the design, the shape. Just a few months ago Hot Rod Mag listed the '69 Camaro as the most iconic design amoungst Muscle/pony cars.

Here's an example:

""Super Chevy" calls the 1969 model "The Most Iconic Camaro Ever" because of its style and performance and notes that when Camaro fans get together and one mentions a Z/28, most of those car buffs will think of the 1969 version almost by default."

On the Accord - call me weird, but I actually think the current-gen Accord coupe is a fantastic looking car. I've said this before, but the first time I saw one in person, my first thought was "Oh, they finally fixed the wonky ass end on the 6-series".

The Mazda 3 I think will go down in history as one of the biggest steps backwards in a car's evolution. The first one is a really sharp little car. Matter of fact, one of the few modern cars I'd even consider owning is an original MS3. But the new model, holy hell. To quote the thread someone started on the topic, "What in flaming perdition was Mazda thinking?" The new MS3 is even worse. It boggles my mind that that grille made it past the higher-ups at Mazda.

In reply to Twin_Cam: Agree ^^^^^^^^^

bravenrace wrote: Here's an example: ""Super Chevy" calls the 1969 model "The Most Iconic Camaro Ever" because of its style and performance and notes that when Camaro fans get together and one mentions a Z/28, most of those car buffs will think of the 1969 version almost by default."

Put me in the anti 69 Camaro camp.

I love a 67/68, and even more, the 70 1/2-73, but I can't stand the 69. It looks to me like it caught in the middle. It has none of what makes the before, and after awesome cars (in looks, of course).

Most heinous redesign ever?

The latest ones just make me want to barf.

Close.

This is better? Really?

poopshovel wrote: CRX. Suck it.

Kinda. Generally, the CRX is ruined by its owners as time goes on.

ReverendDexter wrote: On the Accord - call me weird, but I actually think the current-gen Accord coupe is a fantastic looking car. I've said this before, but the first time I saw one in person, my first thought was "Oh, they finally fixed the wonky ass end on the 6-series".

I realize the start of this thread was about "looks"... so my opinion of the current crop of cars ... the Accord and Civic included (and I'm Honda guy since '76) is just that, my opinion ... but to me they're all so bloated and fat that they're just not good looking ... and I also realize that the fat and bloated bit doesn't necessarily take away from their beauty ... it just does for me

please don't think I'm trying to take away your right to your opinion

Zomby woof wrote: I love a 67/68, and even more, the 70 1/2-73, but I can't stand the 69. It looks to me like it caught in the middle. It has none of what makes the before, and after awesome cars (in looks, of course).

Second gen F bodies look badly in need of a viagra for the trunk lid. Flaccid is, I believe, the word.

As evidence, it took me over 10 minutes to find a photo of a spoilerless car that showed the rear of the car.

Streetwiseguy wrote: As evidence, it took me over 10 minutes to find a photo of a spoilerless car that showed the rear of the car.

Hmmmm, i believe there is something wrong with that photo... the rear window changed BEFORE the bumpers did... or so my limited Chevy knowledge reminds me....

That has the early rear window, but the later front and rear ends........

That's a 1974 Camaro. They still had the small rear window, with the large bumpers. 1975 was the first year of the big rear window.

In reply to stuart in mn:

I did say limited

bravenrace wrote:

integraguy wrote: The '69 looks like they really didn't have a clue and were just hanging on ...

Really? You think this looks like a car that doesn't have a clue? Wow.

If they were so smart why did they get rid of the vent windows? wind wings> no wind wings.

Zomby woof wrote:

I like this version of the WRX. It is my favorite of the ones we can get here.

Duke wrote:

DaveEstey wrote: In reply to Duke: You'd take this: Over this?: [/URL] No sir, I don't like it. Not one bit.

Your Option #2 there was not introduced after 2005! I'm specifically referring to how much better the previous Legacy GT looks compared to the current version, introduced in 2010: I'm sure we agree that is a giant step backwards. Even the one 2 generations old that you posted above is better looking than the current version.

Absolutely agreed. The new ones are pigs.

Wally wrote:

bravenrace wrote:

integraguy wrote: The '69 looks like they really didn't have a clue and were just hanging on ...

Really? You think this looks like a car that doesn't have a clue? Wow.

If they were so smart why did they get rid of the vent windows? wind wings> no wind wings.

I would disagree with that. Besides, the vent windows went away in '68, not '69.

other opinion of mine....

I think the 3rd gen Integra is by far better looking than the the 1st or 2nd

first : second: third:

mmosbey wrote:

poopshovel wrote: CRX. Suck it.

Kinda. Generally, the CRX is ruined by its owners as time goes on.

Ouch.

Reading this thread reminds me of the old saw that the Eskimos have something like 100+ different words for "ice".

In all seriousness, if you had a '67, '68 and '69 Camaro parked next to each other in front of me I couldn't tell you which one was which.

But the original point of the thread is correct, that being that styling very, very seldom results in a superior result as time goes on. I still like the 240Z over any the following versions, for example. I like the Sting Ray over the later Covettes, too.

I do like the '69/'70 Mustang better than the earlier versions, however.

right on about the 240Z... same could be said about the E-type... early ones vs the later V12 2+2 ungainly pregnant cows