What Is The Most Evil Automotive Predator

"Margin Of Error" (marginoferror) 01/06/2016 at 12:13 • Filed to: QUESTION OF THE DAY

0

41

Hello and happy new year everyone. For some obscure reasons, it looks like Jalopnik decided to ax one of its most popular daily article, the QOTD/AOTD duo

So here I am, filling the gap FREE OF CHARGE.

Wagons are an endangered automobile species. First it was the minivans that preyed on them, but even the minivans became victim of a much more deadly predator, the evil Crossover, a jack-of-all-trade average-at-everything-great-at-nothing kind of vehicle. There are some other examples of automotive predatorial behaviors, like the Fiesta ST against the Focus ST. What is the most evil car predator ?

For Sweden > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:20

5

Rust

jjhats > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:21

4

shifts faster and gives automakers higher mpg. it is on the hunt and is coming after your knob

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:24

0

the entire Crossover genre

Margin Of Error > jjhats 01/06/2016 at 12:24

0

yea verily

Margin Of Error > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 01/06/2016 at 12:25

0

Yes, but that’s what I used as an example

OPPOsaurus WRX > For Sweden 01/06/2016 at 12:26

1

that was my first thought, even found a pic to go with it

Margin Of Error > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/06/2016 at 12:27

0

NSFJ

Patrick Nichols > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:28

1

Retro designs in muscle cars.

I think the retro trend in American muscle is holding the industry back from creating something truly innovative in terms of engines, aesthetics, and size. The pony cars of today should be closer to the FR-S and Genesis coupe, but with wider tires and more power.

Nibbles > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:34

0

The stealthy killer, it lures vehicles in with aromas of petrol and burned rubber. As the unsuspecting prey inches closer, its maw opens wide from underneath trapping its victim in a nigh-unescapable chasm. Its massive pulverizers then set to work, quickly turning the vehicle into easily-digestible bits.

Wacko > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/06/2016 at 12:34

0

that looks like a mazda to me. My 2003 protege 5 was the same colors.

Margin Of Error > Patrick Nichols 01/06/2016 at 12:35

1

Agreed

Pre-retro Mustangs were nicer

Probenja > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:35

2

It’s certainly the biggest:

Margin Of Error > Nibbles 01/06/2016 at 12:35

0

Hide the kids

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:37

5

Probably the decepticons

JR1 > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:41

4

Emissions regulations killing our fun NA cars. Also MPG requirements

Nibbles > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:44

0

deekster_caddy > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:46

0

Automatic transmissions

Transit > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:47

1

Chicken Tax!!!

Keeping all those fun little trucks out of our habitat...

Margin Of Error > deekster_caddy 01/06/2016 at 12:47

0

low hanging fruit

deekster_caddy > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 12:52

0

But it is!

Margin Of Error > deekster_caddy 01/06/2016 at 12:53

0

Absolutely

BeaterGT > JR1 01/06/2016 at 12:58

1

Good thing we still have cars like the Corvette which have 400+ hp and still can grab 30mpg

deprecated account > jjhats 01/06/2016 at 13:04

0

*gasps* NOT MY KNOB!

Triplicate > Patrick Nichols 01/06/2016 at 13:06

1

I completely disagree. The FR-S and Genesis coupes don’t look as good as the current gen Mustang. They’re both vaguely effeminate and “cheerful” looking. A muscle car should have a sense of menace about it.

Patrick Nichols > Triplicate 01/06/2016 at 13:09

0

The new mustang is starting to get away from the retro look. The camaro and challenger look ugly and dated IMO. And I'm not saying that shouldn't look more aggressive, just more modern.

Triplicate > Patrick Nichols 01/06/2016 at 13:15

0

The Challenger uses retro exterior design to complement its truly outdated, retro guts. Its a LX platform dinosaur, so the throwback styling is, if anything, honest.

The new Camaro is by all accounts a fantastic performance car, I have read nothing but glowing praise from reviewers, even its base model V6 iteration seems to be a blast to drive. The exterior styling is not really that eye pleasing, I agree, but not because of its retro elements. It just looks like its trying too hard, with the pinched front grille and oversized haunches. Its certainly not as attractive as the Mustang.

Patrick Nichols > Triplicate 01/06/2016 at 13:31

0

Different strokes I suppose

wiffleballtony > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 13:51

0

Amirite?

wiffleballtony > Patrick Nichols 01/06/2016 at 13:53

0

Disagree. The entire mantra of a muscle car is retro. What you want is for muscle cars to become sports cars.

BorkBorkBjork > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/06/2016 at 13:57

1

punkgoose17 > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 14:10

0

The EPA rules that base fuel economy on size of the vehicle. It keeps us from having really small cars and encourages manufactures to label everything a light truck... this does not sound right now that I write it out... I am just going to leave it anyway.

Patrick Nichols > wiffleballtony 01/06/2016 at 14:31

0

No I’m fine with power and straight line speed being the main objectives. Things that could change (doesn’t need to be all of these): looks, V8s, ICEs in general, the stupid fucking beltline on the challenger and camaro.

wiffleballtony > Patrick Nichols 01/06/2016 at 15:23

0

Clarification question: do you think that it could still be a muscle car without a V8? Also, pretty sure the belt lines are crash safety related.

Patrick Nichols > wiffleballtony 01/06/2016 at 15:34

0

I think it could. It could be electric, supercharged V6, twin charged whatever, or even hybrid. For muscle cars I think it’s all about how that power is delivered, not what’s delivering it. You want it to feel like brute force. As long as it’s tuned correctly (no turbo lag) and there is enough power. Battery tech will have to get cheaper before all electric or a hybrid like the Karma could be cheap enough to get into muscle car territory, but FI engines can mimic NA pretty well these days.

I agree with the safety influence, but that’s where I think the “traditional” muscle car proportions make the belt line stick out and other cars can hide it a lot better.

Patrick Nichols > wiffleballtony 01/06/2016 at 15:36

0

To add I think you could have a wankel in a muscle car too. Hell bring back turbine concepts!

Where is Steve Lehto and his lawyer money? I need him to make investments...

wiffleballtony > Patrick Nichols 01/06/2016 at 15:41

0

I can see what you mean. As a Mustang owner, I can’t say that I would buy one without a V8, that noise is part of the experience.

Patrick Nichols > wiffleballtony 01/06/2016 at 16:09

0

Would you ever consider a 370z or RC-F with a v8? A v8 RWD accord coupe, veloster, or [best looking scion here]? An AWD v8 legacy gt (nonexistant coupe), volvo s40/s60, or non luxury a3/a5?

*All of these don’t exist, but would be where I could see v8 muscle car styling going if it ditched the retro*

wiffleballtony > Patrick Nichols 01/06/2016 at 16:14

0

Would I consider any of those muscle cars if the had a V8, no. Would I buy them if they had a V8...If a V8 370Z existed yes. Pretty sure the RCF is a V8 but, no I wouldn’t want one. No on the Accord coupe and veloster. Yes on the Legacy. No on the Volvo and Audis.

Patrick Nichols > wiffleballtony 01/06/2016 at 16:25

0

Well I guess for any of the luxury ones, I’d say a base model. So are you saying the retro body style makes it a muscle car?

I guess I’d like to see muscle cars go more towards and even further than the styling of the new mustang. Throw some 90s Aston Martin Vantage in there for good measure and some old GT-R looks too.

Dusty Ventures > Margin Of Error 01/06/2016 at 16:27

1

Rust

wiffleballtony > Patrick Nichols 01/06/2016 at 16:31

1

I guess not. I just feel retro designs tend to accentuate muscley bulges and flanks. Modern design is about being sleek. I like the retro look. Honestly, I dont really like the current generations looks that much. To me what makes a car a muscle car is its not sophisticated, inexpensive, fast and endlessly modifiable, with a rumbling V8.