What cars look butt ugly in pictures but look great in person?

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada) 03/26/2016 at 22:06 • Filed to: None

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I’m nominating Lexus. The entire brand since about 2011. Everyone says they hate the predator-face when there’s ever a discussion about Lexus. I hate the predator-face too, but only in pictures. I genuinely think the IS is the best looking compact luxury sedan on sale save for MAYBE the XE and also MAYBE the Q50. That little swoop in front of the rear wheel really just brings the whole car together, which is a significant thing to say about something so small. I also think the NX looks pretty sharp in person too.

I also used to hate the refreshed RX, but now that I’ve seen several, I love them.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:09

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Agree.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:09

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I think the headlights look worse in person, they’re so recessed/strange.

OPPOsaurus WRX > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:10

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i thought the Panamera looked far too big in the back. In person its beautiul. the Rapide looks all wrong but its nto at all

not for canada - australian in disguise > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/26/2016 at 22:12

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110% agree on the Panamera. With the right wheels and in the right colour, it’s an absolute stunner in person.

scoob > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:12

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I like them too. The second you see one, you know exactly what it is. You can also tell what model it is, or at least I can. I can’t do that for a certain German company, whose name starts with “A” and ends with “udi”.

His Stigness > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:15

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Opinions on how cars look is totally subjective.

Having said that, I can’t stand the way Lexus’s and now Toyota’s look. They look like they are trying WAYYY too hard. And actually, the same now can be said of Nissan (I’m thinking the new Murano and Maxima).

I get why Lexus is doing it though, they need to distinguish themselves from the Germans. But, I think they were doing a very good job before. Sure, the ES was boring as shit. The RX was totally meh, but the IS was always very good, even if I didn’t like it. The older GS was a little boring, but totally different from the Germans.

I’m not a fan of shouty designs, and the Lexus and Toyota designs are god damn yelling and spitting in my face. It’s not like people confuse Mercedes with BMW or Audi. Okay, maybe stupid people do, but that’s cause they’re stupid. Now people either love or hate Lexus and Toyota’s, whereas people are generally apathetic to the German design languages.

not for canada - australian in disguise > His Stigness 03/26/2016 at 22:18

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Rather ironically, I quite like the direction Nissan is going.

But, like you said, car design is subjective. I’m personally partial to more expressive and unique designs, which is why I like Lexus’ current design language. But some people don’t, and that’s totally cool.

derf > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:22

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Yep. Thought the Panamera was fugly until someone in my building got one and I saw it in the garage. It was a pleasant surprise.

LongbowMkII > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:22

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I like the new Murano but hate the new maxima.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:23

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2016 Malibu

Actually, that’s a lie, it looks worse in person.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/26/2016 at 22:24

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Have actually yet to see one.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:26

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You’re lucky. Just look away.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/26/2016 at 22:28

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I mean, compared to the Malibus of the past 10-15 years, I’d say it looks pretty decent...

jvirgs drives a Subaru > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:34

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The front looks extremely flat and droopy in person. It had potential to be a very good looking car, but just too droopy.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:34

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I’ll take bland over ugly.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/26/2016 at 22:38

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I saw my first one this past week. The front wasn’t nice so much it was like WOAH, was that the new Malibu? And then the back just looked pretty good, but not AMAAAAAZING.

jimz > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:44

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sorry, no. Lexus vehicles look as nasty (or more) in person as they do in photos. we just pulled an NX in at work and the thing is fucking hideous.

Wobbles the Mind > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:44

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X6, especially the early ones. People that rag on this bodystyle have never considered the difficulties of having a large car (let alone SUV) in a garage with a traditional hatch. These liftbacks are perfect SUVs to have inside closed garages because you don’t need (much) additional room past the bumper in order to open the hatch. I would buy a first gen over the X5 anytime, but not true for the current gen for now.

Vítor > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:46

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I’ve seen both the new IS and the RX on the road. Both looked worse than in the pictures. But waybe it was because the RX was orange.

The 599, in the other hand, is gorgeous in person and meh in pictures

not for canada - australian in disguise > Wobbles the Mind 03/26/2016 at 22:47

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I never thought about it that way. Suddenly the “SUV-Coupe” has a purpose.

CounterTorqueSteer > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:47

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The 612

not for canada - australian in disguise > CounterTorqueSteer 03/26/2016 at 22:48

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Never seen one in person, but I actually kinda like it in pictures. It’s much more restrained looking than other Ferraris, especially from that era.

Chariotoflove > Wobbles the Mind 03/26/2016 at 22:50

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Kinda looks like a Crosstour, which I never thought was as bad an idea as everybody else apparently does.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/26/2016 at 22:51

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Just saw my first one on the road today (local Chevy dealer has had a few in the lot for a week or so) and it really does look even worse in person. Those lower fascia LED running lights are the worst part. It is just such and odd shape and doesn't flow into the design at all.

Chariotoflove > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/26/2016 at 22:52

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I saw one the other day. I like it. Not as much as the Impala, but I thought it pulled off the design language rather well.

Vítor > His Stigness 03/26/2016 at 22:53

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The 2013 GS with the F-Sport pack was the most handsome of it’s rivals, especially when in black. The current GS, with those fucked up headlights and transparent rear lights is terrible.

I hate busy designs, they look terrible when launched and age terrible too. Toyota (manly), Honda, Acura, Nissan and Mitsubishi are all doing very heavy, busy designs, and it simply doesn’t work. From Japan, Mazda is doing very right, Infiniti cars are looking pretty damn great and Subarus are bland but they aren’t tiring.

Vítor > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:55

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But the facelift fucked up the rear. I saw a pre-facelift black Panamera Turbo S with the fancy headlights and Turbo S wheels and it looked stunning.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:55

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I actually kind of like those in person. A shame the people buying them still drive 5-10 mph under the limit just like all the previous ones.

GE90man > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:56

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not that it looks especially bad, just looks way better in person

CounterTorqueSteer > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 22:59

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I agree, it looks very classy. I just think that pictures don't do the styling of the front bumper/grille justice.

His Stigness > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 23:03

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Yeah I just kind of prefer the understated design language of the Germans and Europeans. It’s also in my blood to like German cars lol.

His Stigness > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/26/2016 at 23:04

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The Panamera doesn’t look great in pictures, but god damn, in person, that thing has some presence! I really like it.

not for canada - australian in disguise > GE90man 03/26/2016 at 23:06

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Have only seen one in person, and it looks far more imposing and elegant in person.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 23:09

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GLE Coupe

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/26/2016 at 23:10

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I was just getting ready to come tell you that your opinion in wrong, but never mind you did it for me?

His Stigness > Vítor 03/26/2016 at 23:12

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The last gen GS was not bad. It was different, which was good, they could stand apart from the Germans and other Japanese. But holy fuck the new one is bad. I mean, look at the running lights!!!

What the fuck is that?? I’m sure they did it to drive the Germans nuts though:

“Nein! das ist nicht symetrisch!!”

And I agree, besides Mazda, all the Japanese are trying wayyy too hard. The new Civic is appalling, and the next Accord will be just as bad. Mazda’s look amazing, though, and I’m a die hard German fan. Whenever someone asks me what to buy I shout Mazda because I know they will be reasonably reliable now that they’re not Fords, and they’ll be nice to drive, and the look awesome.

S65 > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/26/2016 at 23:18

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TheHondaBro > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 03/27/2016 at 00:00

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They look really nice in person. The first one I saw I was in a parking lot, and I heard tire noises in my direction. I turned around to look and HOLY SHIT, THAT’S THE NEW PRIUS?!?! Okay, I didn’t say that, but I thought it. It looks quite good.

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/27/2016 at 00:37

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I have not been a fan of Lexus post-2002, either (every model is shaped like a tarted up Camry)...but the RC is a knockout in person. One of my coworkers picked up an RC350 back in September or so, and my not-yet-hail-destroyed NB Miata looked downright homely parked next to it. (Didn't hurt that she got it in lipstick red, either.)

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/27/2016 at 01:55

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after the 575 i thought it was a little boy racerish but in person it looks great

Vítor > His Stigness 03/27/2016 at 08:44

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What annoys me is the fact that if there was a painted dividing the grille in two and if the headlights were normal and symmetrical, that would like fantastic. The LC has fantastic proportions and a side view do die for, but that huge grill, together with the terrible headlights and tailights killed what could be a possible gorgeous design.

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/27/2016 at 22:53

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I like the new Murano a lot, and I don’t know why. But I can hardly stand Lexus’ styling. The only new Lexus I genuinely like is the LC, and even that is really awkward proportionally.

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 03/27/2016 at 22:56

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The new Prius is a heck-of-a-lot better than the old one, just on virtue of interestingness. The one part I like are the taillights.

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/27/2016 at 22:58

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I’ll nominate the new Civic. It looks really fat in pictures, and the face has still to grow on me, but the sloping roof works in person, and the taillights are really quite nice.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 03/27/2016 at 23:26

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Yeah I was behind one before sunrise on my way to work on Friday. The LED strips are pretty interesting and unique.