What is happening to Japanese cars?

**Mike** · 02-27-2009, 10:56 AM

Specifically, Acura, but Subaru is also guilty.

Old TSX. Sharp lines... Decent looking car:
[Image: 2006_Acura_TSX_ext_1.jpg]

New TSX. The lines take me everywhere:
[Image: 2009_acura_tsx_0_430.jpg]

Old TL. Again, good lines, a pretty tough/elegant looking car:
[Image: 2006_Acura_TL__rear.jpg]

New TL. I'm still waiting for it to transform.
[Image: 2009-acura-tl-4.jpg]

Honda isn't doing quite as bad, but there were some rough years there.

Then there's Subaru. With each iteration, the WRX gets worse.

Totally sweet.
[Image: SUBARU_IMPREZA_GC8V.JPG]

Still good.
[Image: sti_headl.jpg]

Getting worse.
[Image: 134049.1-lg.jpg]

Let's just try to forget this one.
[Image: subaru-wrx-sti-2006-20060525034835351.jpg]

WTF?

Is it us just getting older and appreciating the things from our younger, more "exciting" years? Shoot, I still think the CRX, 92-00 Civic, and 94-01 Integra are the best things Honda has ever made.

BLINGMW · 02-27-2009, 11:16 AM

haha yeah... I parked near one of those TLs the other and was similarly frightened by its ass. Just terrible!

I think most manufacturers are just running out of ideas. When all the cars pretty much have to have a similar teardrop shape, you can only really shuffle the gaps and creases around a little (or a lot) to make it stand out. And you can't leave it looking the same or fewer people will "upgrade", so you have to screw it up even if it's perfect. The '06 Civic was probably the most recent decent looking car. I just saw some '09s on the lot the other day (where they'll stay), and they all looked worse due to tinkering with the front end.

1) I blame BMW. :lol: They all got thrown off by Bangle and are now lost in style wilderness.

2) I also blame European Pedistrian Safety Legislation. Which basically mandates that the nose of any car has to look ugly.

CaptainHenreh · 02-27-2009, 11:20 AM

BLINGMW Wrote:1) I blame BMW. :lol: They all got thrown off by Bangle and are now lost in style wilderness.

2) I also blame European Pedistrian Safety Legislation. Which basically mandates that the nose of any car has to look ugly.

Winna winna chicken dinna!

**Mike** · 02-27-2009, 11:27 AM

BLINGMW Wrote:1) I blame BMW. :lol: They all got thrown off by Bangle and are now lost in style wilderness.

but bmw has recovered from the early bangle days and i'd say are making good looking cars again.

CaptainHenreh Wrote:Winna winna chicken dinna!

I watched 21 the other night. Great story, but the movie didn't take advantage of the fact.

HAULN-SS · 02-27-2009, 11:52 AM

was all the shit about the professor double-crossing them true? Also - i am going to vegas in october..working on my counting skillz lately.

ScottyB · 02-27-2009, 12:05 PM

Mike Wrote:I still think the CRX, 92-00 Civic, and 94-01 Integra are the best things Honda has ever made.

this was absolutely honda's golden age, right up until 2001 or so.

i find japanese cars can't pull off a well-executed corporate look like the germans can, and i have no idea why. its almost like the japanese are trying way too hard to play off the cultural perception that they're really techy-advanced so all their cars should look like robots.

subaru is sucking balls because they aren't trying to be a really good niche player anymore. the new WRX sedans are so corolla-like it makes me ill.

**Mike** · 02-27-2009, 12:45 PM

ScottyB Wrote:subaru is sucking balls because they aren't trying to be a really good niche player anymore. the new WRX sedans are so corolla-like it makes me ill.

yep, and the legacy looks like a camry.

Apoc · 02-27-2009, 12:50 PM

Mike Wrote:
ScottyB Wrote:subaru is sucking balls because they aren't trying to be a really good niche player anymore. the new WRX sedans are so corolla-like it makes me ill.

yep, and the legacy looks like a camry.

Bite your fucking tongue!

**Mike** · 02-27-2009, 12:52 PM

Apoc Wrote:
Mike Wrote:
ScottyB Wrote:subaru is sucking balls because they aren't trying to be a really good niche player anymore. the new WRX sedans are so corolla-like it makes me ill.

yep, and the legacy looks like a camry.

Bite your fucking tongue!

i will only bite my thumb... AT YOU!

**Goodspeed** · 02-27-2009, 12:55 PM

Not only do they suck, but when they do come out with an interesting/good looking concept, they'll tease the public along for months then decide "its not what we/the market/America needs right now"

GIVE ME THIS TOYOTA, RIGHT NOW...GIVE ME THIS.

[Image: toyota_fths_1.jpg]

LEXUS YOU TOO.

[Image: 07_Lexus_lfa_concept.jpg]

HONDA, YOU ASSHOLES

[Image: acura-nsx-spy-photo.jpg]

MAZDA...MAAAZZZDAAAA!!!

[Image: mazdakaburaconceptcar86.jpg]

[Image: 112_0605_08z+mazda_kabura_concept+interior_view.jpg]

WRXtranceformed · 02-27-2009, 01:17 PM

I'm in total agreeance. I liked the looks of my 04 WRX and STi, but every year after that has gotten progressively worse, and I do agree that the GC8 subies were the best ones yet. I love the looks of my TL and hate the looks of the new one (although with a few tasteful mods they do look MUCH better):
Color matched grille:
[Image: Christmas2007046.jpg]

I really like Honda's latest generation of Accords, I think they look really mean and much better than the past few revisions.

***Jake*** · 02-27-2009, 01:34 PM

WRXtranceformed Wrote:I really like Honda's latest generation of Accords, I think they look really mean and much better than the past few revisions.

But they're the size of a Buick LeSabre Cry

I really think the Japanese folk need to step it up with their designs. The new Acura stuff is awful, the Subies have turned boring, Honda is just getting larger and larger size-wise, and Toyota is Toyota.

Mazda is starting to offend me too. I'm on some crappy kiosk computer in Festival so no image linking, but have you seen the front ends of the 09 Miata and Mazda3? The Mazda6 is okay, but I think the older generation was more athletic looking.

BLINGMW · 02-27-2009, 04:25 PM

It occurred to me while driving around today.... is Nissan the only one that's still making some decent looking cars? Their whole lineup is a-ok with me, probably because they haven't changed much? Heck, even the vans are ok.

Ken · 02-27-2009, 05:23 PM

Yeah I have no idea with what is going on, i remember debating getting the new TSX (when it was supposed to have a larger displacement or a turbo); and they gave me that. I don't care how good the new TL's SH-AWD is, it's ugly. And the WRX has gone down hill in styling most certainly.

**Mike** · 02-27-2009, 05:43 PM

BLINGMW Wrote:It occurred to me while driving around today.... is Nissan the only one that's still making some decent looking cars? Their whole lineup is a-ok with me, probably because they haven't changed much? Heck, even the vans are ok.

i think the 370 is uglier than the 350.

and have you seen the new fx?
[Image: 2009%20Infiniti%20FX%201.jpg]

or the maxima?
[Image: 2009-nissan-maxima-2.jpg]

hyundai is the only one improving AND THEY ARE KOREAN!

BLINGMW · 02-27-2009, 05:52 PM

hmm... oh well.... I guess Nissan was just a year or two behind in the ugly competition. :lol: But still, even that Maxima looks better than the TL. And the 370, whatever, at any distance it pretty much looks like the 350. Still looks good to me. :dunno:

***Jake*** · 02-27-2009, 06:36 PM

I think the Nissans are the least-mutilated. Them and Mazda. Notice that the new FX pictured above has a front mounted camera in the chrome. When you have to put a front cam so mommy doesn't hit things because the hood (and resulting overhang) is so damn big, maybe the design is wrong.

.RJ · 02-27-2009, 09:04 PM

Mike Wrote:and have you seen the new fx?

I like it :dunno:

Apoc · 02-27-2009, 09:43 PM

I really like the 370 and I'm growing ever more fascinated with the Maxima.

The problem is everyone is getting older and the same models don't look like what you "grew up with".

I do agree the new Acuras are poop though.

**Mike** · 02-27-2009, 10:19 PM

.RJ Wrote:
Mike Wrote:and have you seen the new fx?

I like it :dunno:

have you seen one in person? it's appalling.

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