What cars are almost pretty but ended up tragic looking?

"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing) 09/24/2014 at 18:34 • Filed to: None

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As Opponauts we spend a great deal of time looking at cars, in fact I think most of us have a good eye for what makes good car design. We've all seen cars that come close to looking great, but end up so far away.

Here's my pick. The Pontiac G6 Coupe.

When viewed from behind, I love the lines on this car. sleek, sweeping, lines that dare I say border on elegant. The smaller more petite tail lights than the sedan variant help frame in the trunk with a subtle lip spoiler. Not to be confused with the disgusting whale tail affixed to some GTP models. A strong hoffmeister kink on the quarter window and small blacked out B pillar make this, from the rear at least one of the most attractive coupes from the mid 2000's

Unfortunately when we turn the car around, it all goes to bollocks.

The headlights completely ruin the strong line from the top of the fender and look at least three and a half sizes too big. If the hood were to come down and frame the headlights to the top point of the grille to give the coupe a more menacing squinting look I'm confident that the car would have sold much better, even though it was a front wheel drive coupe powered in its early forms the much reviled 60 degree GM V6, though you could order the GTP with a stick! Unfortunately, i think mostly because of its looks the G6 Coupe will be forgotten by history and looked back upon as just another midsize wrong wheel drive appliance, which it really was.

Even ditching the corporate Pontiac grille and going for a look closer to the early 90's Grand Prix would have been a much better choice for Pontiac designers. If I were an artist or better at Photoshop I'd show you exactly what I mean.

So Oppo What say you? What cars are almost pretty but ended up tragic looking because one or more fatal flaws?

Saracen > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 18:35

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Every Subaru Impreza and Legacy of the last ten years.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 18:36

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Pretty much every new BMW. So close BMW, so close...

YSI-what can brown do for you > Saracen 09/24/2014 at 18:37

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YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!! The 06 Legacy is good looking if a bit boring, and the Blob-eye Impreza looks great. The rest. . . not so much.

Oh and just give every Subaru 5 years time, before everyone talks about how beautiful it. It happens every time.

Sweet Trav > Saracen 09/24/2014 at 18:38

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I'm going to have to respectfully disagree, I think 2005 was the best year for Subaru Styling.

Textured Soy Protein > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 18:39

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The non-AMG first gen Mercedes CLS.

Something about the front just doesn't look right. Things improve with AMG-ification but the headlights are still kinda weird.

Sweet Trav > E30Joe drives a Subaru 09/24/2014 at 18:39

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I hated the E60 5 series with their Aunt Edna eye-shadow on the headlights.

Saracen > YSI-what can brown do for you 09/24/2014 at 18:43

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The '04-'06 is the only exception. it looks good but it was also introduced in 2003. I meant the two new Legacy models that came after it. Just ugh.

I loved the bug eye WRX ever since it was sold here, and with every new iteration I dislike the looks more and more. Time has not changed my stance. Bugeye > the rest

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 18:43

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Yes! Someone else who doesn't like that! Everything about the E60 BUT THE DAMN HEADLIGHTS! WHY!!!

Saracen > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 18:44

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The 2005 Impreza does not look anywhere NEAR as good as the Bugeye WRX. Just no. That front end is awful.

^ So much better.

As for the Legacy, that design was introduced for the 2004 model year in 2003. I like how that one looks, it's the models that followed that I object to.

Sweet Trav > E30Joe drives a Subaru 09/24/2014 at 18:44

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I don't like it's ass either. It's got granny panty lines, or as many like to call it bangle butt.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Saracen 09/24/2014 at 18:46

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You know, a lot of people say the Bugeye is the best looking one, but I thought they were the funkiest of the bunch. It looks pretty aggressive from the rear, and then you look at the front and lol a little.

And yeah they totally ruined the Legacy, I really want a Legacy GT wagon though(04 to 06 models). It would be an awesome sleeper!

Sweet Trav > Saracen 09/24/2014 at 18:47

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Never was a fan of the bug eye Imprezzas, I actually prefer the early 2.5 RS front more though.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 18:49

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Thank god it's not as bad as a similar year 7 or 6... Those look like he just gave up.

Sweet Trav > Textured Soy Protein 09/24/2014 at 18:50

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Yeah headlights were always too big in the 2000's

Hooker > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 18:52

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Every single time I see this car from this angle I get all excited. Then I remember what the front looked like.

Saracen > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 18:54

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Those are of course, the best...but sadly before the WRX days. I just can't stand the blobeye, or the hawkeye, or the ugly hatchbacks. At least the Bugeye had character.

Sweet Trav > Hooker 09/24/2014 at 18:54

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if you just put your thumb up in front of the A pillar its a great looking car, I think.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > E30Joe drives a Subaru 09/24/2014 at 18:59

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The fucking straight hood line ruins new BMWs for me, once I noticed it the first time I can never stop seeing it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 19:17

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I've always thought the G6 series as a whole were rather attractive for being based on the horrible mid-2000s Malibu.

My nomination is the Fiesta and Focus ST brother and those hideous front grilles.

Everything about it looks great and sporty and hot-hatch-ish, until you get to that big gaping maw.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/24/2014 at 19:42

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Suuuubaru > Saracen 09/24/2014 at 19:44

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I don't get the Subaru hate. I know their styling's all out of proportion, but anything made from 2000-2010 by them was so ugly that it was cool. Even the Baja.

Or maybe I just have poor aesthetic tastes.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 09/24/2014 at 19:51

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Are you referring to THAT hood line (where the hood ends and opens up)?? Because if so, it is the single dumbest design flaw I've ever seen in my life.

DoYouEvenShift > Hooker 09/24/2014 at 19:55

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Thats funny. I feel the opposite way.

DoYouEvenShift > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 20:01

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11-14 Mustangs. When I see them from the front, I think, Hey thats a nice looking car. But the rest of it is bleh.

Hooker > DoYouEvenShift 09/24/2014 at 20:03

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To each their own. I try to find at least one angle on every car that I can appreciate. I don't always find the angle but I do try.

DoYouEvenShift > Hooker 09/24/2014 at 20:12

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Maybe if it had a spolier. Looks likes it missing something. Like this poor guy.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > DoYouEvenShift 09/24/2014 at 20:16

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I think its a great looking car. Much better than the 2005-2009 imo.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > E30Joe drives a Subaru 09/24/2014 at 20:45

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Yes, like in this car, and the 3 series, and the 2 series all of them. Instead of the kidneys being part of the hood, the hood just ends early with a straight fucking line. Goddamn BMW, did you only have a ruler when you were making that decision?

E30Joe drives a Subaru > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 09/24/2014 at 20:46

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I hate it

Hooker > DoYouEvenShift 09/24/2014 at 20:56

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I never got that feeling before, however, you could be right. Also, that T/A looks dreadful like that. And I usually hate wings.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Sweet Trav 09/24/2014 at 21:21

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The G6 is a great choice. There are a few Mercury's I'd consider too.

As far as the G6 goes, I like the convertible even better. No B-pillar FTW!

You're totally right about the front though. The later ones showed a decent effort to try and improve it...

...still a bit of a mess up there though.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/24/2014 at 21:29

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As much as I liked driving that car I have to agree. I really don't even mind the face. It's just too soft-curvy-but-still-pointy looking.

While it doesn't really compete performance wise, I find the SonicRS a much better proportioned sporty hatch.

cromartie > Hooker 09/26/2014 at 07:45

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I'm with you. Then I remember the chronic problems with the control arms that I had to get changed out every 20,000 miles, the two catalytic converters that spontaneously combusted at 95,000 miles (at $800 apiece), and the windshield washer fluid nozzles that would freeze and crack every winter, and I don't miss my car at all.