I dunno, I'm starting to think that there's a competition going on to see who can build the ugliest vehicle ever...

Started off by our very own Aztek, and now continuing with the Nissan Murano, Honda Element, and Toyota FJ Cruiser.

It's almost like a daytime drama...
"Tune in next week, who then will be the king of ugly?"

 

It's so crazy, but it seems to be true!!

What are the people that are approving these looks for production smoking?!?!

 

I'd said earlier how it seems the press let the imports off the hook when it comes to styling. The ABSOLUTE worst new car i've seen is the new maxima. I look at it, and I see all the retro cues to my mom's '83 Cutlass 88, updated to the present. There is also a BMW thread going, and thier cars have also gone from beautiful to 'what the hell is that?'

 

I saw a Honda Element the other day while out car shopping and that thing is UGLY! And that Toyota is even WORSE! I find it hilarious that these "smart" car designers know exactly what my generation is looking for in a car.

by the way, as a note to these "designers", me nor neither of my friends, nor any of their friends are looking to go driving up a mountain or through a grown over field any time soon so u can take these "adventure vehicles" ,pile em up, light em on fire, destroy the design papers, shoot the people that approved the design in the first place, and finally then get back to designing REAL cars!

 

Those damn Japanese, always trying to take American ideas one step further

 

Yeah, and most of the "non auto enthusiast" type automatically think because its japanese made or designed(stolen), it must be better than the Domestic version.

 

The Aztec wasn't horrible simply because of the nasty black bumpers and exposed fuel cap. It was a underpowered slug with undersized tires. Its almost as if GM identified every useful or interesting SUV feature, and did away with them all. It's pretty hard to create a vehicle with zero appeal, but the Aztec, and similarly dreadful Vibe, fill the bill.

On the other hand, the Murano is comfy and quick. Sure, the visibility is worse than any other SUV, but the seats are really nice and the VQ V6 seems to do the business. If it wasn't for the insane pricing, I'd almost call it desirable.

 

I have to agree with redzed that the Aztek really suffereed/suffers from having too small wheels and skinny tires. They need to put at least 17 inchers on there with from 245 wide tires, maybe then it'll stand a little mor proper. My dad owns one and they're really pretty nice in the inside. And as he says, "when you own one, you don't ever have to look at it from the outside." So true!!

And as was aluded to earlier....when the Japanese make a horrific styling mistake the car magazines never point it out, but when American companies do it, they bastardize them. The Echo was the ugliest CAR out on the road, never heard a peep from the press. The Murano is fugly as hell...and they simply call it "bold styling." The Element looks like a lunchbox on wheels. The Aztek had style, the Element has none at all and is still ugly.

-Rich

 

If the Aztek had been launched with a performance flagship model - supercharged 3800, 18 inch rims - I doubt it would have been lampooned for its styling. As it is, it doesn't look half bad in black with upsized aftermarket rims. Please notice that I said "half bad," not "good!"

Going back to the Murano, the window line does seem to be Gremlin inspired, but the overall vehicle isn't exactly an eyesore. Maybe I'd see it differently if it had been introduced with rims three-sizes-too-small and a wheezy powertrain.

 

why? because i can only think of two good looking pontiac cars throughout the entire history of the company
look at the the other uber-ugly cars they make... grand am with extra ribbing? how about that ugly POS sunfire? the aztek fits right in

 

you are obviously biased towards american cars
sure the rcho is ugly, but it isn't any worse than a firefly
there is nothing "fugly" about the murano

 

You're damn right I am biased towards American cars, however I also have the intelligence to be able to distinguish between ugly and good looking cars whether they are American or Japanese. I never said the Aztek was great looking. I, in fact, said that the my dad even agrees that when you own one you never have to look right at it. I was simply pointing out that the car press is harsher on American cars than on foreign manufacturers.

Only 2 good looking Pontiacs in the history of the company? You obviously need a history lesson and/or you are biased the other way. The original muscle car and a certain pony car quickly come to mind...not to mention ponchose made prior to the 60's and today's late models.

-Rich

 

yes i absolutely acree
i love the earlier pontiacs... it was a fantatic mark up until the mid 70's (but even then, i prefered the less gimmiky styling of the chevy products)
unfortunately, since the late 70's, most of their cars were dissapointing, covered in cheap body cladding and "make-you-cringe" interior
a few of them stand out (i thought the fiero was neat, the turbo-chickens were nice as well) and they've been pretty mediocre ever since
even the 4-gen firebird rubbed me the wrong way... the odd ribbing on the bumpers, ugly wing, etc. just scream out boy-racer IMO
i don't really like the newest GTO either since it's very bland just like every other sedan out there (hardy deserving of the GTO tag), albeit performance looks good!

i guess the murano isn't everyone's cup of tea, but i think it's an excellent car from nissan... it has a few odd styling quirks, but it really stands out if you compare it to just about every other boxy, bland SUV/van

 

Your post reminded me of Goldielocks and the Three Bears .. lol.

Firebird... "too hot"
GTO... "too cold"
Murano... "just right????"

 

i would go that far... i guess i would say 350Z just right
either that or a nice 1970 formula 400 firechicken, if i had to pick a pontiac