Next-Generation Cars that Kill Their Previous Generation

  • Thread starter Thread starter JohnBM01
  • 54 comments
  • 1,692 views
JohnBM01

JohnBM01

21 years!
In Memoriam
Messages
26,911
United States
Houston, Texas, USA
Messages
JMarine25
Good morning, afternoon, evening... whatever time it is for you, GT Planet.

This will be a sound-off session for you all. Usually when an evolution of a certain car comes, it will either enhance characteristics of the car, or get rid of parts of the car which raise concern. Some cars in their previous generation were lovely or powerful. But some others look less attractive and produce less respect for the car. And this is where you come in. So I created this thread for you to talk about great cars of one generation, getting "killed" by a next-gen car or truck.

As the creator of this topic and as a voice of opinion, I'll start.

One of the cars that I thought would be or is killed would be the Opel Tigra introduced at the Geneva Auto Show. I remember the Tigra from Gran Turismo 2. It was a fun little car that had some exotic looks to it. I mean, for a front-drive car, a car does not have a look like the first-gen Opel Tigra. But when the 2nd Generation was unveiled in Geneva, Switzerland, I think the now GM-owned Opel produced a highly less attractive (except maybe at the rear) Opel Tigra.

It is skeptism, but some Americans didn't know about the new Corvette's looks at the front. In my view, I applaud GM for not staying in the past with retractable headlights. So the new headlights are a welcome addition. And... I don't know. The horsepower is good (400 to be exact), but I think the car could have been based on the C5 or ZO6. Or they can follow their rivals and go back to the old-school styling of Ford. They brought back their Mustang with 1960s looks. I think the new Mustang will sell pretty well, but the Corvette may need to look back to the Sting Ray days, or the beautiful 1950s Corvettes. But I, myself, am skeptical about the Corvette's looks. But I guess in American society, it's all about horsepower.

So, are there any machines that you think their most recent generation killed the previous generation? Maybe you think the rebirth of a classic car looks like or is actually a total failure. Maybe you think the rebirth of an older car has been downgraded so much that it means nothing to you anymore. Maybe you think a car looking into the past to base on a future production car has gone horribly wrong. GTPlanet, let's talk about the cars of now that kill their predecesors.

Here is a hint. You can also talk about an new car that replaces an older car, but is an ugly ducking in a land of beautiful swans.
 
The new BA falcon versus the old AU. Ask any Australian on the boards and they will most likley agree with me! And not just in looks...
 
There was a program on here in the UK a few days ago, and they wanted to test thee safety of new cars versus old.They took a brand new Renault Espace which has a five star ncap rating. And crashed it into a 10yr old Espace. The new one came out fine but the dirver of the old one would have been killed and the passengers seriously injured. So if you drive an old car, try not to crash in to any new ones!!
 
It was Fith gear on Monday, pretty good show, Plato drove the new Ferrari 612 as well. But that crash test makes you think twice about buying an old car, that older Espace was in a really ad state.

On the topic of new cars that kill the older cars, I would say the TVR T350C kills the older TVR's for looks and performance, but it's hard to say what that car replaces. Also you have the current BMW M3 which is much better than the previouse M3 and the next M3 is set to beat this one by quite a margin.
 
Off the top of my head;

The current Acura TL is head and shoulders better than the old TL.

The G35 doesn't directly replace anything in the Infiniti lineup, but is worlds better than the price-similar I35.

From what I can see so far, the new Mustang has far, far more potential than the old Fox-body cars. It looks like a major upgrade.

The C6 pimps the C5 hands down. I'd love to have one, exposed lights and all.

I will catch flame from the Porsche die hards but the 996 is distinctly better than the 993. The Boxster is, of course in a different universe from the 914.

The new BMW 6 series is a major improvement over the little loved 8 series. In fact, every new car in BMW's line up is better than the one it replaced. That includes the Z4 > Z3 and new 5 > old 5. The jury is still out on the X3, however.

Of course, the new M5 will make the old one look and feel like a Crown Vic. The next M3 will make the current one its b1tch.

The Aston Martin DB9 from what I've seen puts the DB7 to shame.

That's all I can think of for now..


M
 
Well, just remember that this topic is about either next-generation cars that surely surpass their previous model, or next-gen cars that are horrible and KILL their previous generation. You know, either the newest model is better than the last generation; or, the newest model is so horrible that it kills the namesake of the car it replaced.

In the case of "newer model surpasses last model," the Mini Cooper was reborn and is surely a very trendy machine now. I've seen tuners and racers with them. And there's one right now on "Tuner Transformation" here this morning (9:16 AM, Friday, Central Standard Time). And to me, the Mercury Maruader (which is going to get "sacked" later this year ("thank God," some people would say) is basically a modified Crown Victoria. It is a police car you can buy in black with 302hp. Some people might go against me for saying this, but when the 1994 Camaro came out, it replaced the older-gen Z-28 it replaced. A worthy model. And before the 35th Anniversary Camaro came out, I really liked the Camaros of late. In fact, it was one of the first cars I got into when I didn't know too much about cars or racing. I think the Corvette C5 beat the ZR-1. I think it looked much better than the ZR-1. It was a supercar under $50,000.

Keep it going, folks. My primary intent was to talk about next-gen cars that either looked or performed worse than the model it replaced. Before I leave, another example: The Cavaliers of the early 90s were tragically killed when the latest Cavaliers came out (newest model to replace it will be called the "Cobalt"). I liekd the older Cavaliers better. It looked like a mini-Camaro at the front. A fun car, killed by some of America's more aggressive lines of today. Yet, THEY complain about "ricers" and their cars... hell. Why not just come out with 300 hp, RWD ass-haulers like the old days without being too power-driven or ugly?
 
Heheheheh, ///M, he was looking for new cars that will be worse than the ones they're replacing...
 
Cars that are worse than the old models eh.
Looks wise imo the new Viper.
 
The Viper is a split decision. The new Viper convertible looks much much better in person than the old RT/10. I like it without hesitation. But the old Viper GTS looks way better than the new Coupe.
 
I dissagree on the RT v SRT as well, theres a showroom on Deansgate which is near where I work sometimes and they usually have one in, they had one of each at on time and the old GTS, they still look nice but not as nice imo.
 
The RX-7 lives on in spirit :p

And on the topic, the R31 vs. R32 Skyline. The R32 was a massive step forward in the looks department and the R32 introduced the godlike RB26. Big improvement over an already good car.
 
Originally posted by neon_duke
Heheheheh, ///M, he was looking for new cars that will be worse than the ones they're replacing...
Click to expand...

Bah. Ambiguously titled threads :irked: But I guess the fault is mine because I skimmed JohnBM01's post.

In that case, I have no candidates for this thread. Maybe the T-bird. Perhaps the 350Z.


M
 
Well in John's last post he said it was for cars that were quite alot better or cars that ruined a good cars reputation.
 
Well I look at how the Colorado/ Canyon killed the S-10/S-15, which is a bunch of crap cause the new trucks look like hell. GM should have just done a redesign.
 
Originally posted by live4speed
Well in John's last post he said it was for cars that were quite alot better or cars that ruined a good cars reputation.
Click to expand...


Originally posted by ///M-Spec


But I guess the fault is mine because I skimmed JohnBM01's post.
Click to expand...


M
 
This coming from a not-yet-driver, but FROM WHAT I'VE heard, read or seen, the older Imprezas are better "driver cars" than the current ones, and the bugeyed ones. The 22B is still the best Impreza yet.

Same goes with the Evo series. What I hear is that the current ones aren't as "refined" and sometimes brutal as the 5s and 6s of earlier on...


Mind you, these cars are all still fairly great cars, they certainly don't "kill" the previous car's heritage.
 
The "Classic" Impreza was the number one driver's Impreza, even when the Bugeye came out. The 22B was still the quickest and the RB5 still the best. But the Impreza III blows it away - the WR1 will wipe a 22B off the face of the Earth for pure speed and acceleration, and is supposedly better to drive than the RB5 (and my brother is selling his RB5 to help buy the WR1). WR1 sees 60mph, 100mph and the 1/4 mile quicker than a Ferrari 360 (4.2, 10.6 and 11.0s respectively).

The Evo has always been better than the Scooby in terms of figures and experience, and the gap was widened with the Bugeye against the EvoVII/VIII. But the WR1 is a direct competitor for the FQ330 - should be fun to see... :D

(Mitsubishi are talking about releasing a 500hp EvoVIII. Should be intriguing)
 
The next-gen Nissan Silvia / Silvia replacement.

It's not decided wether to name it "Silvia" yet.

Here's why it kills the Silvia line: Front Wheel Drive.

The Silvia has been popular throughout its run for the very reason that it is an affordable, attractive, rear wheel drive car. The Silvia and 180SX are arguably the most popular RWD car in Japan today. They dominate the entire world of drifting. For Nissan to ignore the huge popularity is an incredible step backwards.
 
I'm still not sure whether I like the looks of the C5 or C6 vettes better... I like the new flush headlights but I still have a place in my heart for pop-ups! The C6's new ass is very nice though, undoubtedly better!

The new Thunderbirds don't look so hot... Though they are even faster than the Thunderbird SCs thanks to their 3.9L DOHC V8 Jaguar motor, they don't look as good as the MN12s ('89-'97) nor the originals that it's based off of. It doesn't even look as aggressive as the first gen Thunderbirds. Out of my price range too! And The new Cougars... wtf!? V8 badass to little front-drive ricer fighter

I don't like the new replacement for the GM f-bodies... ummm... cuz there isn't one, and there should be! :mad:

A lot of people are skeptical about the new GTO and they feel that it destroys the name... but it is the only car currently using the almighty 5.7L LS1. It might be big and bulky, but it has muscle (runs 13s like any LS1 is expected to). It might be 'too practical,' but let's not forget the original GTO started as more of a sporty family car and evolved into muscle, and the new GTO combines that. It may look like an oversized Grand Prix but... so what? It's the cosmetic touch Pontiac puts on all of its cars.

RX-8. I like it and it is seemingly much more refined in a great many ways than the RX-7s were, as I have read, but it's simply not as good-looking.

Ford Shelby Cobra -- The old one looks better and I really am not so fond of V10s. I can't wait to see what he does to the new gen fox body Mustangs though!

3rd gen Eclipse: Just say no.

The newest Civic Si hatchbacks look like miniminivans.

I think that's all I can think of for now.
 
Originally posted by Takumi Fujiwara
The next-gen Nissan Silvia / Silvia replacement.

It's not decided wether to name it "Silvia" yet.

Here's why it kills the Silvia line: Front Wheel Drive.

The Silvia has been popular throughout its run for the very reason that it is an affordable, attractive, rear wheel drive car. The Silvia and 180SX are arguably the most popular RWD car in Japan today. They dominate the entire world of drifting. For Nissan to ignore the huge popularity is an incredible step backwards.
Click to expand...
Are you serious? The FR drivetrain makes the Silvia what it is! Making the Silvia a FF car is about as stupid as Ferrari making a FF car! I wonder what is to be gained from that conversion...
 
So wait a minute. The next-gen Silvia will be front-drive? To me, the Silvia is one of the best sleeper cars in the world. I mean it is beautiful and elegant unlike its brothers, the Skyline and 350Z. Very interesting. I'll have to read up on that.

I'd like to add a car here, while I'm at it. I think the Lotus Elise of now will kill a car I kind of not really had interest in. And that would be the newer Lotus Elise. The headlights kind of kill the last Elises. And "World's Greatest Auto Shows: Geneva" wants to talk about "unlike the 'sporty' cars on the streets in America, the hood scoops are actually funcitonal, providing heating and cooling..." I think the headlights and some of the other lines make this car more of a "ricer fighter" than a low-priced superexotic. I liked the last Elise. I even liked its looks as a GT1 road racer. But to imagine Lotus returning with the Elise GT1 with the newer Elise's styling... I'd lose faith in the newer Elise.

Oh, and to add to Ev0's post, imagine if Ferrari started coming out with economy car versions of the 360 Modena. Imagine 191hp with mid/rear configuration and priced at $27,000...
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec

The G35 doesn't directly replace anything in the Infiniti lineup, but is worlds better than the price-similar I35.
Click to expand...


I don't actually find that to be true. If you put the I35 up against similar vehicles - Lexus ES330, previous Acura TL, Chrysler 300M, and well-equipped versions of the Toyota Avalon, Dodge Intrepid, Chrysler Concorde and Buick LeSabre, it typically comes out on top. It's not a great car, but it's easily among the most under-rated, even by Infiniti who produces an extremely limited number of I35s and doesn't advertise the ones they produce.

Regarding the topic:

- the Mazda RX-8 puts the 'RX' name to shame
- the current Chevrolet Impala SS puts the 'SS' name to similar shame
- by default the Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari are worse than previous models because it's been practically the same vehicle for the last sixteen years, and they weren't even any good in 1988
- the Ford Freestar is worse than the Ford Windstar was
- the Acura TSX isn't as cool as the 1994-2001 Acura Integra sedan just as the Acura RSX - though good - isn't as good as the 1994-2001 Integra coupe (though it's better than the Honda Prelude)
- the 2001-present Lexus ES300/ES330 isn't as good as the 1992-2001 Lexus ES300, just as the 1992-2001 Lexus ES300 wasn't as good as the 1990-1991 ES250
- the 1995-2001 Oldsmobile Bravada was worse than the 1991-1994 model
- I like the 1992-1998 BMW 3-series better than the current model
- the Chevrolet SSR is worse than whatever it replaced
- I remember the Chevrolet/Geo Metro as being bad, but not as bad as the Chevrolet Aveo
- the Volvo S60R is no 850 T-5R

and of course...

- no Jeep Grand Cherokee will ever be as good as the 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited, capable of 0-60 in 7.3 seconds
 
Originally posted by powripper
really? why is that? I thought the S60R was great car?
Click to expand...

It is, but the T-5R was the best version of the second-best Volvo (XC90's best). The US only got about 1000 T-5Rs in 1995, and all were yellow so it wasn't even much of a sleeper, but it was just so damn cool. It's actually hard to understand just how crazy it was now that Volvo's changed their image a bit, but it was a yellow 240bhp turbo with gray wheels and a spoiler from a company that had cracked the 202bhp barrier just two years earlier.
 
Originally posted by JohnBM01


I'd like to add a car here, while I'm at it. I think the Lotus Elise of now will kill a car I kind of not really had interest in. And that would be the newer Lotus Elise. The headlights kind of kill the last Elises. And "World's Greatest Auto Shows: Geneva" wants to talk about "unlike the 'sporty' cars on the streets in America, the hood scoops are actually funcitonal, providing heating and cooling..." I think the headlights and some of the other lines make this car more of a "ricer fighter" than a low-priced superexotic. I liked the last Elise. I even liked its looks as a GT1 road racer. But to imagine Lotus returning with the Elise GT1 with the newer Elise's styling... I'd lose faith in the newer Elise.

Oh, and to add to Ev0's post, imagine if Ferrari started coming out with economy car versions of the 360 Modena. Imagine 191hp with mid/rear configuration and priced at $27,000...
Click to expand...

Hoooooooooooooold on!!!

The Lotus of now? I don't understand what you're trying to say. There are 2 generations. The S1 (in my avatar) and the S2 (the ones with the leaf-like headlights). The S2 was never ever trying to be a ricer fighter. Remember, this car was introduced in 1999(I think?) in EUROPE. They don't have the kind of "rice" we have around here... Again, you say you "kind of liked the last Elise" but at the top the S1 is "a car I not really had any interest in" (???). Careful with the Elise GT1 road cars. The mistake is, well, it is supposed to be car not cars. They only ever made 1 for legal road use. And they still race the GT1s...

And Evo's post, basically, you are descrbing an Elise... Take a look at any car magazine around Europe. EVO gave the Elise 111S 5th place in their Car of the Year, beating out the Sti, the beloved Evo7 FQ3, 350Z, Renault Clio Cup, Jag XKRR, CooperS and the Focus RS. Also they had to say this "(the Elise) is barely an extension of your thoughts (...), I can't think of any car that has such a clean connection to the tarmac". The styling isn't for everyone, that's fine. Here's what a Coventry design graduate had to say (nominating the Elise S2 as the most iconic design around) "I think the Elise is iconic because it has redefined the modern sports car. It really was a revolution from both an aesthetic point of view and an engineering point of view. It was one of the first cars to have a bonded riveted aluminum chassis: it handles beautifully, it looks great, it's very recognizable and aspirational - and I think it is something that people will definately remember 20 years to come". There you go. That is what 4 years of Transportational Design will tell you. Along with 7 of his colleagues to back him up. Listen man, the new Elise was good, but this Elise is also very good. It certainly doesn't KILL the old car's reputation. Just take a glance at 5 pictures of the S2 Elise, take a look at how to many curves low neatly into eachother, take a look at the interior... Please, take a look.
 
I seem to have gotten mixed up with this thread. I thought it where the new model was so much better then the last one.

In which case the Escort is worse then the Focus :)
 

Latest Posts

Back