Is it just me or does mordern car designs just doesn't have that spark anymore.

sworks · 13th May 2018, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Rover

I thought this was still the worlds ugliest car contender.

Guess that you motor is creeping up on this Fiat disaster.

And yet it won the car of the year award, incidentally Fiat have won it more than any other manufacturer if I remember correctly

Lordy · 13th May 2018, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by sworks

And yet it won the car of the year award, incidentally Fiat have won it more than any other manufacturer if I remember correctly

You serious this thing won car of the year award.

I had too look it up to see if you were joking, You weren't either.

www.motormum.com/Fiat-Multipla.php

Mgaz · 14th May 2018, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by sworks

And yet it won the car of the year award, incidentally Fiat have won it more than any other manufacturer if I remember correctly

Those little brown envelopes with money in them are really working well for Fixed.. Sorry, I mean Fiat.

It really is an ugly car.. I look at lots of ugly cars, and I don't know what's worse, A: That the designer ever thought that was a good looking vehicle..

And B: Somebody in charge looked at this guys design and singed it off! ?
" yep.. that's it!, this ugly, pile of oddly shaped garbage is exactly what we are looking for! "

Makes no sense at all.

Groundsman Willie · 15th May 2018, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mgaz

Those little brown envelopes with money in them are really working well for Fixed.. Sorry, I mean Fiat.

It really is an ugly car.. I look at lots of ugly cars, and I don't know what's worse, A: That the designer ever thought that was a good looking vehicle..

And B: Somebody in charge looked at this guys design and singed it off! ?
" yep.. that's it!, this ugly, pile of oddly shaped garbage is exactly what we are looking for! "

Makes no sense at all.

The worse part is C: Significant numbers of the general public looked at the Multipla and thought "Now that is a good looking car. I'm going to spend my money and buy one"

Paul129 · 15th May 2018, 07:49

I started as an apprentice mechanic in 1971 for a Austin Morris dealership and back then the cars could be worked on without the need for a laptop also it was a skill to be able to tune an engine getting mixture and timing just right. I remember the mgb V8 golden jubilee coming out and thought what a great car. I have now retired after working in the trade for 42 years I would love a 75 but shmbo says it would cost to much.

Yella Fella · 15th May 2018, 11:28

A lot of car designs are decided by accountants. Designers will come up with lots of lovely designs, but try getting them past the accountant!

mystabe · 15th May 2018, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yella Fella

A lot of car designs are decided by accountants. Designers will come up with lots of lovely designs, but try getting them past the accountant!

I'm not sure it's even that, lots of car designers now grew up with the eurobox and it's what they know so they design them. Obviously the wind tunnel and CFD also play a major part in design nowadays as well so cars are going to be a similar shape because it's the shape that works in those situations.

The devil is in the detail though, I think the Alfa 147 is one of the more beautiful small hatchbacks ever, it just looks like a hatchback from afar (or if you don't care about cars) but if you actually properly look at one it's just good design very well done.

I actually like the design of estate cars much more than saloons and hatchbacks at the moment, they look like someone had some fun with them!

The Honda Prelude, of which there are several pictures here, on the other hand was/is a brilliant drivers car and very clever - but it looks pretty average to be honest

Yella Fella · 16th May 2018, 07:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystabe

The devil is in the detail though, I think the Alfa 147 is one of the more beautiful small hatchbacks ever, it just looks like a hatchback from afar (or if you don't care about cars) but if you actually properly look at one it's just good design very well done.

Ive just sold (trade in) my Alfa 147 1.6TS Lusso. Yes I agree a very nice car with Italian design all over it. Even the car dealer gave positive comments on it! A car of that age would normally head off to auction but it was gleaming red and was in really nice condition so he decided to keep it and sell it on his forecourt.

Comfortably Numb · 16th May 2018, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul129

I started as an apprentice mechanic in 1971 for a Austin Morris dealership and back then the cars could be worked on without the need for a laptop also it was a skill to be able to tune an engine getting mixture and timing just right. I remember the mgb V8 golden jubilee coming out and thought what a great car. I have now retired after working in the trade for 42 years I would love a 75 but shmbo says it would cost to much.

Paul, with what you know about cars, you should be able to spot the bad ones, and the ones which are basically sound, with perhaps the odd fixable fault which will make them a bargain to buy. One thing is for sure, right now, it would be hard to find more car for the money, - you can get a reasonable 75 for less than £500, and a very good, while not perfect one for £1,000. And maintained by a mechanic, it isn't going to depreciate much. The big decision is BMW diesel, or MG/R petrol. I chose the diesel because the engine is renowned for high mileage and economy, lower (£190) tax, yet still a very quiet and comfortable long-distance cruiser. I currently do 100 miles a day in mine. It cost me £850, and I have spent around £250 in improvements and maintenance in the 6months and 7,000 miles since buying it. Even my wife likes the way it drives (although not its image!) And I know plenty of better bargains have been had - I couldn't believe what fellow members had got for their money at last weekend's show at Chester-le-Street. There's a car out there with your name on it. No harm in looking?

Paul129 · 17th May 2018, 07:48

I will start looking around is there any where you wouldn't trust to buy from eg eBay etc? I have worked on alot of cars Austin 1100 , maxi , Allegro , 1800, 2200 ( transverse 6 engine ) the engine was a pig to get out with an auto box. Leyland Princess, marina and original mini when I was first married I bought one of these a mini clubman for £90 and put a new rear subframe in , two years later sold it for £130.

15th May 2018, 11:28	#6
Yella Fella Nemo Me Impune Lacessit None at the moment Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Glasgow's HMP Barlinnie, 'A' Hall, 2nd Flat Posts: 5,192 Thanks: 493 Thanked 1,094 Times in 666 Posts	A lot of car designs are decided by accountants. Designers will come up with lots of lovely designs, but try getting them past the accountant! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

15th May 2018, 07:49	#5
Paul129 Regular poster Living in hope for a 75 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Billingham Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	I started as an apprentice mechanic in 1971 for a Austin Morris dealership and back then the cars could be worked on without the need for a laptop also it was a skill to be able to tune an engine getting mixture and timing just right. I remember the mgb V8 golden jubilee coming out and thought what a great car. I have now retired after working in the trade for 42 years I would love a 75 but shmbo says it would cost to much.

17th May 2018, 07:48	#10
Paul129 Regular poster Living in hope for a 75 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Billingham Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	I will start looking around is there any where you wouldn't trust to buy from eg eBay etc? I have worked on alot of cars Austin 1100 , maxi , Allegro , 1800, 2200 ( transverse 6 engine ) the engine was a pig to get out with an auto box. Leyland Princess, marina and original mini when I was first married I bought one of these a mini clubman for £90 and put a new rear subframe in , two years later sold it for £130.