Cars you hated, but now adore!

[2o6]

There are all cars we at first despised, but now we can't get enough of them!



For me these cars are the:

Fiat (nuova) 500. I thought it was a cheap gag because it used the retro "path" that the Mini used. I also thought it was dumb because it was FF and not RR like the old car, and it shared parts with the Panda and Ka. And it's (somewhat) expensive.


Then I actually looked hard at it. 




This car is a cutie, and it's good on gas and handles well. I've also heard that it won't be that expensive when it heads to the US.

[SVT666]

[BimmerM3]

There are all cars we at first despised, but now we can't get enough of them!



For me these cars are the:

Fiat (nuova) 500. I thought it was a cheap gag because it used the retro "path" that the Mini used. I also thought it was dumb because it was FF and not RR like the old car, and it shared parts with the Panda and Ka. And it's (somewhat) expensive.

Then I actually looked hard at it. 

This car is a cutie, and it's good on gas and handles well. I've also heard that it won't be that expensive when it heads to the US.

Wasn't the 500 the car that won the Top Gear sub compact comparo even though none of the hosts actually chose it to test?

[the Teuton]

BMW 6 Series...the new one.

[Eye of the Tiger]

[Rupert]

SUVs

[Eye of the Tiger]

SUVs

+1

I mean, I really just hated the popularity of them rather than the vehicles themselves, but now I have a Rodeo and can't imagine my life any other way. 

[Onslaught]

If I hate a car I'll always hate it. But I wasn't a fan of the MR-2 Spyder when it was out. And over the years I've learned to like it more. I still think the interior sucked ass but I no longer dislike them.

I do hate almost all Mustangs up until the current one. Now I kind of like it.

[68_427]

[Madman]

Once upon a time, I hated the Mazda MX-5 Miata.  I accused it of being a total ripoff of the original Lotus Elan.  (Okay, it was.)  To me it was yet another copycat car from yet another Japanese manufacturer that never had an original idea in it's entire history.  It wasn't a "real" sports car, it was a girl's car.  All show and no go.  Hell, you could even get one with an automatic!  The fact that Mazda bought several examples of classic British roadsters to study when developing the N1 chassis outraged me even more.  At the time, I saw this as the worst kind of cultural theft.

Maybe I'm mellowing in my old age because now I love it and would someday like to own one.  (Not an automatic, of course.)  I've been impressed by how Mazda has remained true to the original formula for two decades now.  Unlike other cars I could name, the MX-5 hasn't bloated up over the years and become a grotesque parody of itself.  Having since driven both an N1 and N2 version, I am very impressed at how well the little Mazda drives and handles.

I have since come to realise the MX-5 Miata isn't a blatant example of Japanese theft of a British cultural icon.  Rather, it is a tribute to the classic British roadsters of yore.  It is a worthy successor to the Lotus Elan, MGB, Triumph TR and Jensen Healey.  The fact that the MX-5 has even been warmly embraced in Britain, home of the very cars that inspired it's design, shows that ideas can (and do) travel.

Over the past twenty years, my opinion of Mazda's little roadster has done a complete 180 degree turn.  And there isn't any other car I can say that about!


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[CALL_911]

lol

I used to hate the Miata, because I heard it had 130 hp. Keep in mind, I was 8, but I thought it was epic fail as a result of that.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

[68_427]

That was a serious post.  I love my bright red Skylark (4 door though)   QUAD CAM BABYYYYY

[2o6]

lol

I used to hate the Miata, because I heard it had 130 hp. Keep in mind, I was 8, but I thought it was epic fail as a result of that.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

When I was 8, I used to think that anything that didn't have a V6 was worthless.



I once wanted a Geo Metro with a V6. 

[68_427]

I once wanted a Geo Metro with a V6. 

Weak sauce.

[sportyaccordy]

Audi A4s

I was always lukewarm about the non ///M 3 series, especially the E46. But I always rationalized them as being good, because "at least they are better than the A4s"...

But outside of outright speed, the Audis look better, have more stable handling and much much better interiors. Outside of everything but performance they are just better cars IMO and I would def do an A4 before any non ///M 3.

[TBR]

Wasn't the 500 the car that won the Top Gear sub compact comparo even though none of the hosts actually chose it to test?

Yes, just watched that the other day.

[Onslaught]

Once upon a time, I hated the Mazda MX-5 Miata.  I accused it of being a total ripoff of the original Lotus Elan.  (Okay, it was.)  To me it was yet another copycat car from yet another Japanese manufacturer that never had an original idea in it's entire history.  It wasn't a "real" sports car, it was a girl's car.  All show and no go.  Hell, you could even get one with an automatic!  The fact that Mazda bought several examples of classic British roadsters to study when developing the N1 chassis outraged me even more.  At the time, I saw this as the worst kind of cultural theft.

Maybe I'm mellowing in my old age because now I love it and would someday like to own one.  (Not an automatic, of course.)  I've been impressed by how Mazda has remained true to the original formula for two decades now.  Unlike other cars I could name, the MX-5 hasn't bloated up over the years and become a grotesque parody of itself.  Having since driven both an N1 and N2 version, I am very impressed at how well the little Mazda drives and handles.

I have since come to realise the MX-5 Miata isn't a blatant example of Japanese theft of a British cultural icon.  Rather, it is a tribute to the classic British roadsters of yore.  It is a worthy successor to the Lotus Elan, MGB, Triumph TR and Jensen Healey.  The fact that the MX-5 has even been warmly embraced in Britain, home of the very cars that inspired it's design, shows that ideas can (and do) travel.

Over the past twenty years, my opinion of Mazda's little roadster has done a complete 180 degree turn.  And there isn't any other car I can say that about!


Cheers,
Madman of the People

This is all true. But I think Mazda has had some original ideas before the MX-5. If anything they've always been kind of strange.

[mzziaz]

SUVs

Nah. SUVs still suck.

[Rupert]

This is all true. But I think Mazda has had some original ideas before the MX-5. If anything they've always been kind of strange.

They are the only car company that has been remotely successful with rotaries.

[omicron]

They are the only car company that has been remotely successful with rotaries.

None as brilliant as the stylish, refined Mazda Roadpacer!

[Eye of the Tiger]

None as brilliant as the stylish, refined Mazda Roadpacer!

Note the shameless rip off of Chevrolet wheel covers.

[omicron]

Note the shameless rip off of Chevrolet wheel covers.

Chevrolet wheel-covers are the epitome of good taste and fine scotch. Besides, that Impala is newer than that Roadpacer, and lacks elegant mirrors sprouting from the fenderparts.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Chevrolet wheel-covers are the epitome of good taste and fine scotch. Besides, that Impala is newer than that Roadpacer, and lacks elegant mirrors sprouting from the fenderparts.

Impala wheel covers have been around for centuries.

[omicron]

Impala wheel covers have been around for centuries.

[Eye of the Tiger]

[Rupert]

Was it yers?

[omicron]

Gasp!



Is it for sale? How much? Why don't I have it? Do I really need any savings?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Was it yers?

LOL I wish. I've never had that kind of cash.

[Rupert]

Yeah, I rethought that after I saw the photo of the VIN.

[S204STi]

Ford Ranger.  For reelz.