Cars you grew to love and cars you grew to hate...

[Rue]

All our opinions alter over time and no more so than in our feelings for cars. There's always a motor we once hated and now secretly hanker for or a car that was the mutts-nuts when you were sixteen but now you try to pretend you never liked. Cars with styling you initially thought offensive but which grew on you. Ugly ducklings that went on to give you a great drive. Cars with bodykits that were cool in a certain time and era but now look completely out of place, etc. This thread is a place to tell us what cars altered your opinions and made you the cultured car connoisseur you are today.

I'll start. I used to utterly HATE the first two cars with a vehment passion only twenty years of exposure to boy-racers and chavs can do (some would say they crawled from the same rock). Having lived away from the UK for a good number of years now I have a kind of unexpected respect and hankering for the following.

👍 Ford Escort Cosworth - I loved it when I was thirteen. In fact I wanted to buy a three door Escort van with tin rear windows, paint them shiny black to look like glass, put on a full 'Cossie' body and paint it blue. Cos that would have looked good, eh!? :wince: This changed when I discovered Japanese cars in the mid-nineties (more about that later) and the Kappa-tracksuit-wearing, bare-arse-flaunting, pub-car-park-burnouting 'Max Power' set started to explode onto the scene. To me, from between about '93 until up to a couple of years ago the Escort represented everything which was awful with the increasing chav culture of the time. Would I drive one now? I might even be persuaded to wear a Burberry cap for the pleasure!

👍 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 - Basically ditto the above. When I first found out about the WRX in it's original incarnation I used to scoff at the one time ramraiders favourite. Now I think it has character and with the right bits and bobs, I understand they can be coaxed into producing monster horsepower. I can't imagine there are many in good condition floating about anymore which means they must be quite an investment in top nick. I'll take mine in the classic gunmetal grey they used to do it in.

👎 Veilside Toyota Supra Combat-R V2
Twelve years ago, when I was around seventeen I salivate over a Max Power review of one of these from Japan at least twice a day. It quite simply blew my mind. The wings, the power, the airdams, the power, the road-presence, the power and, um did I mention the power? My friend (who went on to be an accomplished automotive designer) and I used to talk about one day owning a couple and blasting down the M4 every night at 180mph. Ironic that now, at the age and financial standing that I could realistically own one, my cheeks are tinged with the pinkness of embarassment at ever drooling over this, let's be honest, diabolically ostentatious and crass piece of tat. Yes, some of the Veilside Supras produced biblical figures, but then again 800bhp on tap and 200mph shattering top speed can be produced without making your motor look like the result of a car dipped in superglue and dragged through the contents of a Halfords' wheelie-bin.

 

[exigeracer]

👍 Ferrari 412.

This this is quite possibly the cheapest, worst, ugliest and slowest Ferrari ever made (next to the Mondial), and I've had some bad experiences with Mondial/412 owners, but for some really strange reason I feel like I have a cult-following-like attraction for them, even though there isn't really a cult-following for this car at all. I saw one in black just the other day and I was totally enchanted. Perhaps it's the fact that they're so far from the Ferrari prestige yet still bear the same name that makes them cool. Maybe it's got the boyish charm, the underdog, the ragged-on rejected piece that nobody really wants anymore. Or maybe it's the Daft Punk influence...

 

[TheCracker]

Loved it:

Dimma 205
Bodykitted and lowered with three piece versions of the Gti1.9's alloys. I thought it looked fantastic, i even knew a lad who had one, although he was a total ****, i was very jealous.





Actually, now i've done a few searches for it, i still think it looks alright....

Hated it:

Ferrari Mondial
Four seats, in a mid-engined Ferrari? Although it's still not the best looking car ever, the fact that you can now pick up good examples for new base-model Focus money forgives a multitude of sins. I've always liked the 412, how can you dislike a flagship Ferrari. Have you seen the interior of those things? nothing could touch it back in the day for class.

 

[Rue]

I'm with you both on the 412, I think it has a certain charm and although definately has some ill conceived design features, is well proportioned from certain angles. The terrible stick it gets from those that don't know much about it make it all the more likeable if you ask me. And as TheCracker said, the interior just seemed a lovely place to be - unfortunately I can't find a picture to do it justice. I was never a big fan of the Mondial until I saw the late model spider version, red with black interior and top down outside an antique shop in Hungerford. It looked so long and svelte, from that moment I developed quite a soft spot for it. I would quite happily own one, but it would have to be the big bumper late model.

👍 (Facelifted) Ferrari Mondial Cabriolet

 

[YSSMAN]

What a wonderful thread idea!

I suppose its not something that I think about too often, but nevertheless, there are a few models that come to mind.

- The Ford D2C Mustang (Up!)

To be honest, I was raised in a house that absolutely detests all things Ford. Despite the fact that my father had owned a Mustang for a short period of time and in fact we had an F150 that had served the family for over 20 years, we just never clicked with the blue-oval. That all being said, this Mustang was the beginning of the end for my hatred of Ford. The death of the Camaro was likely a major part of why I began to love the car, not just for its classically American looks and driving manners, but because it was cheap, but also quite quick despite what it had underneath. I can't think of any other performance car for under $30K I'd rather have, and that my friends is saying a lot.

- The Mazda 3 (Up! Up!)

I loved the Mazda Protege. Its as simple as that. It was small, lightweight, and it didn't give a damn. This Mazda3 however, it threw a lot of that away. It just looks heavy, and by God, it is. But that being said, my preconceptions laid out ahead of me, I was very interested in the car and came ever so close to buying one. It may very well be the best small car sold anywhere in the world. Its not as Japanese as you think, which is what surprised me most. It feels German in its solidity, but spunky in the way you'd expect any Mazda to be. Its a balance, a trade-off, that makes it wonderful, and why I've grown to love it so much.

===

- The Dodge Viper GTS (booo!)

What kid in America didn't grow up with a poster of this car on their wall? You liked it because it looked amazing, likely drove amazingly, and likely sounded amazing as well. But you know what? It doesn't. As a matter of fact, I was surprised the thing was even road-legal. Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe I just "don't get it," but I didn't like it much at all, and I really lost a lot of respect for the car that was supposed to put American performance cars on the map. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it, but its lost a bit of its love in my world.

- The Nissan Versa (HISSSSSSSS!)

Really? I was actually excited for this car? And they actually gave it good reviews too?

Simply put, this is a deathtrap. A plastic-lined, breadbox with hubcaps and a taste for killing its driver with no driving feedback, a ride that is awkwardly befuddled, and a price that is far too high. What the hell was I thinking? Sure, I could see how some people may like the car. It looks like a Renault, which is pretty cool, and it has some interesting features as well. But everything is completely wrong with it, and quite frankly, I don't know how Nissan could fix it for me.

 

[Heldenzeit]

👍 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi: At first I really disliked the "bell" shaped grille, but now I dont mind it so much. The headlights on this car I prefer to the 04 models'. I still think that the twin spoilers are unnesecary though.

👎 S13 Nissan 240SX's: I really wanted one of these for my first car when I was 15. Then I realized how many of them are in such horrible condition and arent worth the money that people are asking for them. On top of that, stock they only have 140hp. The hatchback models are really ugly, but the notchbacks are better. Sure they are FR, but you could get a 3rd gen Camaro RS V8 for way cheaper. They too are FR and they have 170hp and 255lb ft STOCK! You could always change the motor if you needed more though.

 

[Jim Prower]

Nissan GT-R 👍

Okay, I liked the car to begin with, but the debates on GTP just made me like it more. Yeah, It's ugly. Yeah, it has an ugly interior. Yeah, it likes to help you just that little bit. But, You know what? I don't give a damn. It's phenomenal value for the price, and sticks it to the establishment.

Corvette ZR-1 👍

Honestly, I wanted to hate this car. Actually, In its early days as the "Blue Devil," I did. I hated it, because I liked the Dodge Viper. Still do. In fact, I think part of the reason YSSMAN dislikes the Viper is that he's a Corvette guy. Historically, we've never gotten along.

But something went horribly wrong. Or right. This car...It's sheer insanity, combined with the fact that it is almost more than coincidentally close to Wangan MidNight's "Devil Z," has won me over.

*******

Tesla Roadster 👎

You know, a few years ago, before I got onto this forum, the idea of this car might not have been something I hate...But now I LOATHE. The idea of taking one of the most soulless and boring forms of motive power and marketing it as a "Sports" car just doesn't work. It's the fastest nap you'll ever have. Chassi by Lotus? Yes. Performance Like Lotus? No.

Lexus LS600h 👎👎👎👎

I could technically choose any Hybrid car for this one, as when I first heard of the concept, I though it kinda neat: Like the diesel locomotives I was (and still am) a fan of...But now I hate 'em with a passion. I chose THIS one, because it's a LIAR. It claims to offer V12 power and refinement: Power..kind of...refinement? no. Sure, engine might be smooth, but the car's overall experience is nowhere NEAR as good as an S600, a 760li, or a A8 6.0 Quattro. And it's supposed to be "Economical..." V8 economy at V12 power. except that most V12s are about as efficient as a V8 would be. and it's too expensive for a car that just doesn't stack up, not to mention, is in a price range where you really don't care about MPGs.

It's the most pointless vehicle in the universe. Do the world a favor, If you MUST buy a pricey Lexus, get an LS460, and spare us your vanity. I'm pretty sure you can get that one to parallel park itself, too.

Dodge Avenger (And a lot of other Dodges, too.) 👎

Letdown. How the hell could this happen? Gone from a great company to a group on a shoestring budget. The Avenger is roughly Chinese in interior quality. Most of the other cars aren't much better: Charger's getting old, Challenger's too heavy, Caliber...just ugh. and Dodge has far too many trucks and trucklike vehicles. Late to the SUV party, for some reason they think they need to catch up again. Well, now that that bubble has burst, and Chrysler sees how redundant their lineup really is.

SEAT Whatever 👎

I used to think SEAT was pretty neat. Then I met a SEAT owner on the boards, and he attempted to thrust SEAT propoganda down my throat. So now it's on my dislike list.

 

[Tornado]

How the hell could this happen?

 

[superberkut]

Love the Corvette, mainly due to its history and its performance, and the price undercuts a lot of other similarly-performing cars. Like the DPs, the new Z06 proves that 200mph is not really the landmark for a really fast car. Of course, the ZR1 is a good contradiction.

And, in stock form, it's a good performer.

Hate the Dodge Neon, mainly because of stories of poor quality and bad colouring from earlier incarnations. It allegedly drives like a pig.

But, the Neon has changed quite a bit. I still have my perceptions, though.

 

[Tornado]

It allegedly drives like a pig.

Whoever gave you that perception is allegedly an idiot. Though the poor quality control early on is true, to which my dad can attest.

 

[homeforsummer]

Great idea for a thread! I have a few ideas but I won't share them just yet, need to plan them first...

However...

Dodge Avenger

Letdown. How the hell could this happen? Gone from a great company to a group on a shoestring budget. The Avenger is roughly Chinese in interior quality. Most of the other cars aren't much better: Charger's getting old, Challenger's too heavy, Caliber...just ugh. and Dodge has far too many trucks and trucklike vehicles. Late to the SUV party, for some reason they think they need to catch up again. Well, now that that bubble has burst, and Chrysler sees how redundant their lineup really is.

Agree with you. I really, really like the looks of the Avenger, but when I read in all the magazines how average it was I was so disappointed... had an American car company made a mainstream car that I'd actually really like to own? Erm, nope, they cocked it up.

And that made me laugh, I'm sending invisible karma your way for that response! 👍

SEAT Whatever 👎

I used to think SEAT was pretty neat. Then I met a SEAT owner on the boards, and he attempted to thrust SEAT propoganda down my throat. So now it's on my dislike list.

I still like SEAT. I like the Leon, which you posted a picture of, and the new Ibiza looks good in 3 and 5 door. But I completely agree with you about that guy who posts here. Every single damn post is about SEAT and I'd hate to be associated with that if I bought one.

 

[Bones Brigade]

i cant recall cars that i grew to love or hate. i have grown to not like a car as much, like the mustang, but cars ive hated, ive probably hated from the get go, like the charger and challenger in their new forms. as far as having an initial dislike and an eventual positive opinion of, i would say the rx-8 and miata fall into that category. maybe im just not thinking hard enough.

 

[benzoboy]

LOVED IT

Ford Mustang Fox-Body (The crap one)
As a young boy I was clearly retarded, because I remember seeing one of these in a "History of the Mustang" book that my dad gave me when I was 5, and wanted one really bad. But now, after I went to rehab, I realise it's a right pile of toss.

Hummer Limo
H1, H2 or H3, I thought the idea of an SUV Limo was the most genious thing in the world and I remember thinking "Why has this not been done before?". But a couple of years ago a man opened a limousine company in my area and bought a bright pink one (Classy...). And after hearing a bunch of either 12 year old girls or pissed middle-aged women wearing bunny ears go past my window every day or so, my view has changed. Thank the Lord. (This also goes for any Limousine that isn't black and a Cadillac or Lincoln).

HATED IT

Toyota Supra RZ
Well I wouldn't use the word hate to describe my feelings for this car, it's just I had some bad experiences driving it on all the Gran Turismos on PS1 when I was young. You see, I had no clue about this magical thing called "Powersliding", so every time I took a corner I'd spin around and lose the race. I also thought it was pretty crappy looking, but remember, this is a time I liked the Mustang a couple of cars up, so don't flame me. But now, my view has changed and it's now one of my favourite cars. I think the 3.0 Twin Turbo is an awesome engine, the driving characteristics are pretty fun if you feel like a laugh, and ohmygodthatsfast when driving seriously hard. I also think it looks awesome, that rear end is to die for IMO.

The whole of the Nissan Z-Series Cars
All I can really say for the 300ZX and 350Z is the same as what I said for the Supra, however, I still think the 350Z is overrated slightly. I also thought the original Fairlady Z was just crappy and awfully designed, however my views have changed and I think it's awesome when modified

 

[Joey D]

Like

Viper ACR

I used to hate the Viper and I still dislike the normal ones but now that the ACR has come along it's changed a bit. It's just such a poorly made car, yet stupidly fast and now a real track day superstar. I love how uncomplicated it is and how it uses a stupid sized rear "wing" to hold the car in place. It's got what car's should have, a soul. It also shows that America, while making some utter crap, can turn out a proper race car built on old school rules.

Lotus Elise

There was a time when I hated these cars, I thought they were small and underpowered. But I have discovered how awesome lightweight is and I know that if I was in the market for a resonable sports car an Elise would now be at the top of my list. There is just something awesome about such a tiny engine and a tiny car being that damn good. Oh and the first time I saw that bright green colour I fell in love, but I would always take a British Racing Green one, with white, many spoked rims, and yellow brake calipers (ya I have a lot of day dreaming time).

Datsun 510

There was a time, not all that long ago, that if you offered me and old, Japanese car I would have scoffed at you and asked for an old American muscle car. However, now that I've "grown up" and learn to appreciate more cars I have to have a 510. It's the weirdest dream car I can think of but I want one and with in the next couple of years I will find a way to buy one as a project car. You want a car with soul? This car has it.

Mitsubishi 3000GT

I didn't hate this car before, I just never really knew about it before the Gran Turismo series...ok I knew what a Stealth was but was to young to put two and two together. Ever since getting one in the original GT game I've fallen in love with the car even though it's big and heavy, and from what I'm told is slower then slow unless you get the more powerful engine in it. I'd still have one though.

Despise

Bugatti Veyron

When I first heard about this car I thought it was just going to be awesome, the fastest production car ever, the best hypercar of them all. But it took a really long time to get here and when it did I was severely disappointed. It looks like a cockroach and gives you the feeling "ok it does 253mph, so what?" It's like seeing Pam Anderson's naughty female parts to be honest. I hate everything about the car, but I still can respect what VW did with it...although I don't understand why they would waste billions on developing it.

Nissan GT-R

It was being touted like the next Jesus yet when it finally came to us I felt let down again. Ugly and so much crap on it that I have to imagine there will be reliability issues with them down the road. I couldn't agree with Clarkson more on this car, it has no soul and wasn't built with passion or a sense of being in tuned with the automotive community. It was a really expensive science project where Nissan crammed every piece of technology. Yes I can respect it's fast, yes I can respect it's a good performance deal for the money, but I can not respect the car itself.

2003 Blazer Xtreme

Ok I loved my old truck but looking back on the issues it caused me it seriously makes me hate the thing. It's the main reason why I will never in my entire life buy another GM product. Sure there will be ones I like but I just don't want to own one.

 

[Tornado]

Did they make 4WD Xtremes?

It was a really expensive science project where Nissan crammed every piece of technology.

I can agree with that. In that respect, I feel it is a failure of the GTR name compared to the ones of the 90s.

 

[Joey D]

Did they make 4WD Xtremes?


I can agree with that. In that respect, I feel it is a failure of the GTR name compared to the ones of the 90s.

No 4x4 Xtremes, although it would have helped with the awfulness of driving the damn thing in the winter because you know crappy tires, lowered ride height, and short wheel base made snow driving a breeze.

As far as the GT-R goes I just can't get excited about it. There is a way to use technology to your advantage with a car and integrate it correctly sort of like VW did with the GTI and the DSG gear box, but putting every thing you can think of in a car isn't what I want.

 

[Tornado]

No 4x4 Xtremes, although it would have helped with the awfulness of driving the damn thing in the winter because you know crappy tires, lowered ride height, and short wheel base made snow driving a breeze.

Well why the hell not? How are you supposed to have reborn Typhoons if they don't come with 4WD? Way to drop the ball Chevy.

 

[buickgnx88]

Chrysler/Dodge in General:
Taking names of cars that were cool, and making crappy new vehicles out of them.
Case in point:
Avenger (Used to be a cool coupe that looked awesome, but is now a crappy sedan that doesn't come with a stick.)
Charger (Same as above, a cool coupe back in the late 60's/early 70's. Came back as a Japanese compact in the 80's. The current remake looks cool from the front, but is yet again become a sedan with no manual option.)
300 (Once again, awesome coupe back in the 50's but is now a DUBber's dream sedan.)

 

[Tornado]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: One cannot base how good the current Avenger is by comparing it to the original Avenger. At best, that car was just an underpowered overweight alternative to the base Stealth. And considering how overweight and underpowered the base Stealth was, that is truly saying something.

 

[YSSMAN]

...but when I read in all the magazines how average it was I was so disappointed... had an American car company made a mainstream car that I'd actually really like to own? Erm, nope, they cocked it up...

Learn as the Americans do; Never get your hopes too high or you may get disappointed. Rarely do we see promises fulfilled, but lately, its been happening more often than it should. Too bad, however, that we aren't shipping you the "good" American mainstream sedans:

 

[homeforsummer]

Learn as the Americans do; Never get your hopes too high or you may get disappointed. Rarely do we see promises fulfilled, but lately, its been happening more often than it should. Too bad, however, that we aren't shipping you the "good" American mainstream sedans:

It is a pity that the Fusion isn't sold here. Well, it is, but it's a Fiesta based crossover thing. But I mean the good Fusion It'd make a good replacement to the old Granada/Scorpio, but I think there are two troubles with it.

Firstly, nobody wants big non-German cars any more. Regardless if you have an Alfa, a Saab, a Renault, a Ford, a Vauxhall or whatever, if you try and sell it after a year it'll have lost half it's value because there's no demand for them.

Secondly, the Mondeo is as big as the old Granada used to be anyway so it makes anything bigger obsolete.

But yeah it's a damn shame the Avenger is so average, it could have been one of my favourite Stateside cars.

Not to go too far off topic, I am still thinking of my love/hate cars!

 

[TheCracker]

It is a pity that the Fusion isn't sold here. Well, it is, but it's a Fiesta based crossover thing. But I mean the good Fusion It'd make a good replacement to the old Granada/Scorpio, but I think there are two troubles with it.

Firstly, nobody wants big non-German cars any more. Regardless if you have an Alfa, a Saab, a Renault, a Ford, a Vauxhall or whatever, if you try and sell it after a year it'll have lost half it's value because there's no demand for them.

Secondly, the Mondeo is as big as the old Granada used to be anyway so it makes anything bigger obsolete.

The new Mondeo is bigger than the Fusion!

 

[Jim Prower]

If you want something bigger than the Mondeo, (and I'm not sure you do,) You'll want the Taurus.

 

[homeforsummer]

The new Mondeo is bigger than the Fusion!

There you go then, it's a lovely car but the market here just doesn't need the Fusion with the Mondeo already here.

Am I the only one also who's already grown very tired of the new Mondeo's styling? I think I actually prefer both the previous gen and the facelifted first gen Mondeos. Maybe I could add the Mondeo as a car I'm growing to hate...

 

[Tornado]

Wait, what?

 

[homeforsummer]

Who? What? Where?

(Who were you responding to?...)

 

[Jim Prower]

I think the fact that the Mondeo is larger than the Fusion.

 

[Jondot]

Bleeeuuugh...

For a few reasons I hate this car. I hate the interior, I hate the exterior, and now I hate the whole package because (similar to the Escort mentioned in the 1st post) it's been taken over by the chavs who have miraculously found a way to make it worse! Kudos to them for achieving such a feat. Having said that, Fiat did quite a good job of ruining it with the facelift - the pretty, sleek headlights (also used on the MG SV) went in favour of some blobs on the front bumper. Oh dear.

I mean god, why do people do this?

Or that?

Or this? Which apparently has 'Lambo doors'. Yip-eeeee.

I know exactly why it is. It's because 2nd gen punto prices have just dropped low enough to be as affordable as tesco value lard. Great...




And the car I've grown to love is... wait for it...

The Fiat Punto! Well, the 'grande' punto anyway. The interior is much better, the exterior doesn't look like a ball of dough anymore, and it's too expensive for the chavs... for the moment anyway. I (and 3 other friends) recently drove down to Southampton in one and it was, surprisingly, perfectly capable just about everywhere we went. Comfortable, the interior plastics didn't make me weep, and amazingly it was very refined at motorway speeds (this is a 1.3 diesel, I remind you). So yeah, that had a lot to do with it. That and I always rather fancied one in Sporting trim...

 

[Moglet]

Datsun 510

I'd love one of those! Something like that would be my ideal next car. I love something with a bit of character and that has it by the bucketload. Especially in that colour.

Grown to love;

Corvette Z06 (in any form)
I used to hate the way this car looked and whenever I saw it on TV or anywhere it seemed a bit...boring. But now, I love it. It looks awesome, apparently drives very well and I should imagine it sounds good too. Plus you don't see any in the UK!

Rover Metro
These things are something of a legend in the UK. Almost everyone sees them as old people's cars. And they mostly are. But having owned one, my opinion changed completely. They drive like go karts, are fairly nippy and have tons of character! I've seen people put 1.8 VVC engines from Elises in these and turn them into absolutely mental pocket rockets. There's a guy I know who has a supercharged one that's putting out about 180bhp, which doesn't sound a lot but in a car that weighs around 900kg, it equates to a fair bit! Zastec also tuned one to do a 1/4 mile in 12 seconds!



Grown to hate;

Mini Cooper
I used to want one of these, before I opened my eyes and realised everyone seems to have one! To get the same performance and spec as my new favourite wanted car, the Swift Sport, you have to spend around £3,000 more! And then you've got no exclusivity whatsoever. I just think they're becoming a bit bland now...

Audi TT
For pretty much the same reason as above, they're very bland now compared to the new ones, but I used to think these cars were awesome.

 

[YSSMAN]

Am I the only one also who's already grown very tired of the new Mondeo's styling? I think I actually prefer both the previous gen and the facelifted first gen Mondeos. Maybe I could add the Mondeo as a car I'm growing to hate...

What? Seriously?

I don't think you have any idea how much some of us would be willing to give here in the US to have a car like that... Its just, stunning! As I understanding, well above par by every measure. Closest we'll get to it will be the Insignia come calendar year 2010, which will be sold here as the Saturn Aura.