It's uTesday! Badly Designed Coupe Utes?

"KnifeKnut" (KnifeKnut) 02/11/2014 at 10:40 • Filed to: Ute, Coupe Utility, Subaru-Brat, tips

0

19

There have been many coupe utility designs, but some just don't live up to the idea. My least favorite is the Ba-Ja:

Subaru took the Outback, added 6 inches, cut off the roof, added a liftgate and midgate, and called it a day. "The Baja bed is just too small to be useful," the wallets of the market said. Perhaps if they had done it up right and exchanged the second row of seats for a proper length bed we could have had the modern BRAT that we want and need.

A very close second is the halfassed conversions that do not have a liftgate. UR DOING IT WRONG!

What if you have to load a motorbike or quad or lawnmower or somesuch in the back? Dead lift it up and over!? And then find that the bed is too short for that?! Or what if you want to hang something extra long out the back end, or maybe have an extension on the liftgate or from the trailer hitch? LOL, NOPE!

So what is your least favorite Ute or Coupe Utility design?

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 10:43

0

Baja?

RazoE > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 10:43

2

As much as I love it and want one, I'm sure the bed is utterly useless.

Joe_Limon > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 10:46

1

The Baja is a sedan ute silly.

Also, good and bad below.

Party-vi > Joe_Limon 02/11/2014 at 10:49

1

I'm digging that C4mino.

Joe_Limon > Party-vi 02/11/2014 at 10:52

0

It is very well done, I am glad they didn't go with checkerplate.

KnifeKnut > Joe_Limon 02/11/2014 at 10:56

0

Perhaps if they had done it up right and exchanged the second row of seats for a proper length bed we could have had the modern BRAT that we want and need.

Joe_Limon > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 11:01

0

That and shortened it up a bit.

dinobot666 > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 11:06

0

Speaking of the Baja, I have a mildly interesting story about one. Maybe not.

Anyway, a co-worker of mine in Florida had an F-150 that he used for his commute back and forth to work, and to getting to his favorite fishing spots on the beach, so he needed 4WD. Gas was pretty expensive at the time, and he was sick of forking out $100.00+ a week for fuel.

I nearly jokingly advised him to look into a Subaru Baja. He could put all his fishing gear and fish in the back and still have AWD to get to his fishing spots. He'd never really heard much about Subaru's before and said he'd check one out.

The following Monday he showed up to work in a fully loaded yellow Baja! Apparently he found one on the internet in Miami and drove down and traded his F-150 in on it sight unseen.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 11:06

1

I'm gonna go ahead and ignore the question, and instead post a ute that is awesome! New TST video has another sweet/unique Corbin Goodwin production:

KnifeKnut > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/11/2014 at 11:27

0

Tempted to dismiss this, but I wont. Be sure to post it in a future uTesday.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 11:35

0

Ok, now I feel bad. So here's a legit submission: The Kia Soul'ster. Such fail. I mean, the concept is decent. Produce an efficient little city car in a more utilitarian package, but this thing just looks bad IMO.

KnifeKnut > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/11/2014 at 12:09

1

I think it is the rear passenger rollbars that mess up the look; also the bed is too short.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 12:37

0

Agreed. I'd be interested to see a Veloster ute. I think that might hit the mark that this thing missed.

RazoE > Party-vi 02/11/2014 at 12:40

0

and it's a ZR-1. More win!

KnifeKnut > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/11/2014 at 13:04

0

Google Image Search is your friend:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/hyundais-…

I would prefer a full on conversion to this, and maybe a little longer

KnifeKnut > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username 02/11/2014 at 13:16

0

So do you like it or hate it? I am unsure.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 13:39

0

I love the Baja. It doesn't belong on this list. Subaru's only mistake was never making one in STi trim.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > KnifeKnut 02/11/2014 at 14:18

0

Yeah I've seen that before, but wouldn't consider it a full on ute. More of a hatchback with a lift gate and a very big sunroof lol. Cut it off right behind the front seats and give it more of a bed and it'd be pretty sweet.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > KnifeKnut 02/13/2014 at 19:26

0

How about a Baja with the B4 RSK front?

It does require a bit of a modification as the B4 Headlights cannot clear the US spec hood or grille - God knows what else!