OT:Does this new Subaru beat the Aztek as ugliest car?

[KB Gunn]

The B9 has got to be the ugliest car I have ever seen. It is so ugly that Subaru does not even show a direct frontal view of it on their website. Not only is it ugly but it is outrageously expensive. $34,000 for a Subaru? What are they, nuts?

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/1272005153935.jpg

 

Add to that the ridiculous ad on TV with this hideous car passing normal looking SUV's as they disintegrate in it's presence to the tune of "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas.

 

I used to think the Aztek was the ugliest car, but this takes the cake.

[Duck King]

I thought it looked like a funky modern Alfa, and when I went to the Alfa site the real confusion set in.

[jollibug]

You know the thing is I really like the Aztec, it's not pretty at all that's kinda why I like it. Same for the boxy Honda lego car.

 

The old Thing car has the same appeal.

[MorePaul]

I find the Aztek ugly - the subaru I find to be just sort of there and following that Murano type neither fish nor foul trend (gee, remember when AMC did that 20-25 years ago..here we go again)

 

Or maybe when Caddy did those truncated rear decks -- ugh, how about with the chrome "straps"

I think the new caddy front ends kind of suck

 

 

I didn't find the old BMW 2002 exactly sexy, but I didn't think it was quite as ugly as it's moniker "the Ugly Duckling"

 

SOme people think they are "exotic", but the Citroen DS is not a pretty car - eye catching maybe...

 

A lot of the AMC products...

 

The Bricklin's front end was ugly as sin (looks like it was sticking it's tongue out) - yeah "ooh, it's got gullwings, it's so cool and unusual"...that wears thin about the 3rd time you get out of one

 

 

 

ew, that scion paddy wagon looking thing

 

for me though -

The 80s Saabs were truly an abomination, how did C&D put it...'it looks like a refridgerator'

 

 

[blue2blue]

I have to admit that that car just gets uglier the longer you look at it. But it's not as ugly as the Aztek.

 

And I'll bet some folks think it's cute... you know, like a pot-bellied pig.

[KB Gunn]

More Paul,

 

My, my, your post does bring back memories, especially the AMC comments. It is amazing to me just how few people here would even remember or know of AMC if it hadn't been for Wayne's World

[offramp]

I have a smal affinity for vehicles that resemble something of a military project castoff, like the late 80's Isuzu Troopers (had one). The VW thing--being an actual military castoff--is probably my favorite. I like older Citroens, as well.

The Atzec, I think will never be beat for sheer ugliness; it follows in the grand tradition of most Chrysler products from '64 to '80. (Which is another thing, how a car company can continue to churn out the most awkward designs year after year and still be in business...) The AMC Pacer fits in there somewhere.

God, am I glad the '70's are over.

[phaeton]

I think the Chevy Avalanche beats the Aztek for ugliness, but I think the B9 beats em all hands down.

 

This is really too bad, because if i know Subaru, they introduce a 'look' on one model, and then in one or two years all of their offerings follow suit.

 

My next car is supposed to be a subaru wagon, but not if they look like this

 

And let me add this- i really dig wierd looking cars- i.e. Postwar EasternBloc deathtraps like the Trabant and Skoda, and little Italian jobs like the air-cooled 2-cylinder Fiat 500R. They're fascinating lil cars. The original Mini. I like the Citroens too- gotta love a hydraulic suspension. Old asian cars from the 50s 60s and 70s. Great stuff!

 

But this Tribeca or whatever greaseball name that Subaru gave this wagon... bleh... I side with Dr. Gunn on this one.

[deanmass]

I hate the Ass-Tek look, but funtionally, they are cool, having a friend who owns one. Same with the Chevy Ass-a-lanche.

 

Subarus are just ugly overall, but when I went to buy my last car ( I ended up gettnig a truck instead since I like to waste money on fuel), I drove a used WRX Wagon...WHOA momma! That thing was a GAS, so, I'd reserve judgement until you get behind the wheel.

[Gabriel E.]

 

Originally posted by offramp it follows in the grand tradition of most Chrysler products from '64 to '80. (Which is another thing, how a car company can continue to churn out the most awkward designs year after year and still be in business...)

 

 

Let's not forget that Chrysler almost went bust back then and was saved by a taxpayer bailout.

 

In any case, I dunno what's worse - butt ugly cars like the Aztek (which looks like a big cockroach. I want to get a brown one and add a couple of antennae to the front) or all the anonymous-looking, vaguely egg-shaped, cars that all the auto makers have been churning out for the last 15 years.

[Shars]

We dont have that model here and I hate it already! This not like Subaru at all and I don't know what they are playing at...I wouldn't buy one thats for sure!

 

Phaeton, I have a Citreon and its pukka!

I have 2 in actual fact..One very old BX and my Xantia but I also own a Landrover Discovery which I love alot but its of the road at the moment.

 

I love the looks of the Citroen C4 though..

 

 

 

Renault have caught my eye with this car, the Megane:

 

 

Also Alfa Romeos 147 Hatch Sports which is very tasty!!

 

Out and out, I'm a speed freak!

[Lee Knight]

I kind of like it. The Aztek IS ugly, but this thing has a modern utility feel to it. But then, I like the Scion boxes too, so don't mind me.

[blue2blue]

Agh... the Scion...

 

Form, seems to me, should follow function -- and if the function is to create as much wind resistance as possible and be as unstable as possible in a side-wind, then I guess the Scion's got it all goin' on.

 

If not...

[Zooey]

I like the Honda Element. The interior reminds of the no-nonsense VW bus that I used to drive in college. The Scion and the Aztek have the ugly factor going for them, but they don't seem to have the bare bones practicality of the Element.

 

I recently got a 2005 Prius that's also quite a ugly little beast, but very comfortable inside. I think Toyota wisely gave up on making it pass as an ordinary car, and designed it for maximum functionality given the constraints of the hybrid system.

[PBBPaul]

I kinda like that new Subaru. The Aztek and the Avalanche definitely share the ugliest vehicle award in my eyes. I don't think the Subaru is anywhere close. And I don't typically like the looks of Japanese vehicles.

[Shars]

When you looks at it, its not that disimilar to the Alfa in design but its still very ugly...

 

 

[KB Gunn]

Shars,

 

The alfa is beautiful. The grill on the B9 is upside down and too wide. It looks ridiculous.

[Shars]

Originally posted by KB Gunn Shars, The alfa is beautiful. The grill on the B9 is upside down and too wide. It looks ridiculous.

 

I totally agree.

The Alfas what my bro in law drives and beleive me, its a pukka ride.

The traction control on it alone on it is worth having becuase it makes the handleing alot better and you don't skip about like some motors.

I'd love oe but its way out of my price range

[phaeton]

deanmass said:

....WRX wagon...

 

That's the one! I've always dug wagons and hatchbacks. One with all-wheel drive for ridiculous winter weather and 260 horsepower for my ridiculous lead foot is a match made in eden. I had an old 82 Accord hatchback that I bought for $150. I swear that I could put the rear seats down and haul just as much crap in that thing as i can in my current pickup truck.

 

No complaints on my pickup truck, but after a few years of deliberation and consideration i've settled on a subaru wagon. I just can't decide between a Forrester and/or an Outback style. I really hope the B9 doesn't replace the Forrester.

 

(yeah i know, the story about buying 2-3 years old vs. buying new)

 

An interesting note, and y'all can flame me if you want, but I think I'm seeing a trend of people moving away from behemoth truck-based SUVs and more towards beefed-up wagons and smaller "SUV-lookalikes" like the Honda CRV, Chevy Tracker and whatnot. I've got my reasons.

 

Shars: I especially like the older Citroens.

 

FWIW i actually like the Aztek. It looks roomy and spacious inside, and practical as well. Most Pontiacs seem to appear that way though, yet when you get inside they're kinda cramped.

 

My gf digs the Element. I've gotta say that I think it's pretty cool myself. I've also turned her on to those early 1990s Honda Civic wagons that were all-wheel drive. One of those would make an excellent winter car, but nobody seems to want to sell theirs. Imagine that! IIRC around that same time Toyota was making a Tercel wagon with AWD.

 

And btw, how come all the AWD wagons of that era and earlier have white-painted wheels?

[zeronyne]

Originally posted by KB Gunn The B9 has got to be the ugliest car I have ever seen. I used to think the Aztek was the ugliest car, but this takes the cake.

 

Have you ever seen this in person?

 

[MorePaul]

Originally posted by Shars Renault have caught my eye with this car, the Megane:

 

I'm glad to see the Pulsar design team found new digs

 

I want a notchback

 

Well, I want a hatchback

 

Guys, Guys why fight when we can make a platypus! -- a notchhatch

 

 

that rear's not for me

[Hanshananigan]

[Hanshananigan]

Car Talk's ugly car quotes (very good!)

 

for example:

 

 

Nice box. Where's the car that came in it?

[js1]

GM Vice Chairman of Product Development Bob Lutz referred to Aztecs as "Angry Kitchen Appliances".

 

Always liked that quote.

 

js

[Billster]

Meet the Goggomobil:

 

 

THAT'S what they were looking at!

 

 

Zeronyne: One of my neighbors has one of those things. Man, what a blight on the neighborhood.