styling crap I'm sick of

That stupid Honda thing looks like a high top athletic shoe. It makes the AMC Pacer look as graceful as an eagle by comparison.

On 05 Aug 2003 02:53:10 GMT, snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (mark french)

Hey, they could manufacture big polyvinyl aftermarket tail fins with the

3-d chrome taillight pods in them. Just think, you could install them in minutes - everyone could have a pair.

Some people, in a meager effort at trying to distinguish themselves would put dual pairs on their cars

Funniest one I've seen is a body decal designed to look like a little vent or louver. I saw one the other day on a car just behind the front wheel well-- I guess you are supposed to think that this Neon, or whatever it was was so muscular that the brakes would overheat slowing it down unless they had additional ventilation...

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Excellent observation. The old tricks no longer generate the "wow" effect as did the styling excesses of the '50s.

To my eye, the '78 VW Rabbit was a very successful exercise in styling. If you remember, it was one of the first cars to do away with chrome bumpers. Mine was off-white and had a very stylish red racing stripe down the sides. Very clever, those Germans. All done with paint! Proves that tastefull styling can be accomplished at low cost and no added weight or air friction.

They are not powered, simply free wheeling. Expensive and made of plastic. They stick out past the wheel and are easily damaged by curbing.

mike hunt

Art Begun wrote:

Are you sure there are no powered models? The car was stationary for a heck of a long time and they kept on rotating at what appeared to be a constant rate. Would be neat if they had remote control motors so you could adjust the speed and direction as you drove so the car looked stationary. In fact, lets hook them into the AT directly.

Best "vanity" plate I ever saw was on a White Rabbit: IML8 IML8

****************************** Got wood? Check out my exotic hardwood pennywhistles at fair prices...

The new RR Phantom has magnetic hub caps which always keep the "RR" pointed right-side up!

They are actually weighted.

Hmm,

You must be referring to the Element. Yes, disgusting but in a tie with that Pontiac Aztec.

I also hate those taillight pods. It's a kid thing. Looks like J. C. Whitney threw-up on the vehicle.

Ken

Just free spinning and expensive. Some Guido attempted to sell me a pair when looking for chrome wheels for my Expedition. Too bad most manufacturers are cheap (Chrysler excluded) to make chrome wheels an option.

Ken

My Lincoln LS has chromed aluminum wheels, it came from the factory that way. ;)

mike hunt

NJ Vike wrote:

As ugly as the Element is, it doesn't tie with the Aztec (it wins hands-down for the ugliest vehicle to hit the road in a long, long time).

After reading this I must clarify that I meant the Aztec is the ugliest, not the Element. Sorry!

The Element makes the Pontiac Aztec look like a beauty contest winner. Honda expected the young folk to buy the Element, but all the few I've seen around here are driven by old guys. Must be those with Glaucoma LOL

RPhillips47 wrote:

True. The only close one to it is (was) the Isuzu VehiCross.

What about Toyota's new Scion line? Apparently they also think young people like underpowered boxes.

What can I say, except "AMEN!!"

I agree they are both hideous, but the Element manages to be hideous AND totally boring to boot, even before you get close enough to one to see the plastic fenders, it looks like a perfectly rectangular box with one corner sliced out of it...Frenchy