Crapped in their own hats.

[Payman]

I agree that the name is stupid in that they're throwing away a lot of brand recognition in favor of a badge that was previously affixed to a turd, but in terms of the vehicle itself, it seems to be an improvement over the outgoing van, which is what your thread was asking, right?

I wasn't specific. We could be talking worse mechanically, dynamically, design, or even a name change for the worse.

[Raza]

I rib you with this all the time, and it's a good car... I wouldn't turn down an E85/86, but IMHO the E89 looks soooooo much better, and corrected what I see as design flaws with the E85/86.

Ugh, the E89 is so awkward and feminine.

[Payman]

Ugh, the E89 is so awkward and feminine.

Roadsters should be feminine. The E-Type Jag started the appeal.

[SVT666]

Ugh, the E89 is so awkward and feminine.

I don't find it feminine at all.

[MexicoCityM3]

Way to take a great sports car and one of BMW's best modern designs and turn it into a soft looking and soft driving hard top boulevardier.  I bet it was a sales success because it's so soft and stupid, but the E85/E86 were awesome cars and the E89 just ruined it. 

Agreed. And it HASN'T been a sales success. Both the previous Z4 and the Z3 sold a lot more. Went from a legit Boxster challenger to a ridiculous cruiser for old men.

[93JC]

Agreed. And it HASN'T been a sales success. Both the previous Z4 and the Z3 sold a lot more. Went from a legit Boxster challenger to a ridiculous cruiser for old men.

If a Boxster isn't a cruiser for old men, what is it?

[MX793]

If a Boxster isn't a cruiser for old men, what is it?

The Boxster is still a sharp sports car.  The current Z4 is more SLK than Boxster.

[93JC]

To be honest I didn't even know there was a "new" Z4.

[MrH]

I love the looks of the new Z4. One of the best looking cars out IMO. Shame it's so heavy and not very focused.

[Payman]

Let's be honest... nobody here, except for maybe Hector, will buy a new Z4 to track it.

[93JC]

But Raza would drive it in cold weather and stuff!!

[SVT666]

Let's be honest... nobody here, except for maybe Hector, will buy a new Z4 to track it.

You're right.  My wife wants one and she by no means drives aggressively.  The problem with the Z4 is that there is very little truck space with the roof down making it a shitty road trip car, and that's what we would want one for.

[Payman]

The Z8, which everyone here loves, was never lauded for its handling/performance.

[68_427]

The Z8, which everyone here loves, was never lauded for its handling/performance.

Actually the stock Z8 reviewed quite favorably.  Most people remember the Aplina Z8 review on Top gear which basically made the car worthless.  (took out the M engine, made it automatic, and softened the suspension)

[12,000 RPM]

4th generation ('09-'12) Acura TL.  It's best sales year was 30% lower than the previous '04-'08 model's worst and less than half the previous model's best 3 years.

Car sales in general were down though. 2008 was down 19% and 2009 was down another 30%. It was brutal.

But yea, Honda/Acura completely tossed the good will built by the TL/TSX with the 09 versions. They went from some of the best looking cars in the segment to the worst in 1 generation, with pretty much no improvement in performance.

[SVT666]

1997 F-150

It was such a departure in terms of styling that Ford had to keep the 1996 F-150 in production for an additional year to give people a chance to adjust.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

1997 F-150

It was such a departure in terms of styling that Ford had to keep the 1996 F-150 in production for an additional year to give people a chance to adjust.

Beat me to it!

Imma vote Third Gen Sentra SE-R to the Fourth Gen.....

[Payman]

Beat me to it!

Imma vote Third Gen Sentra SE-R to the Fourth Gen.....

Yes. Good one.

[veeman]

6th generation (2003 - 2008) Nissan Maxima.  Replaced a decent car with a styling abomination.  True the Altima was getting bigger making the Maxima redundant but I don't know what Nissan was thinking with this generation stylistically.  I especially liked the round tail lights of prior generation Maximas. 

[Morris Minor]

Gen 8 Accord lost the mojo - big & bloaty.
Gen 9 got it back (until the midcycle refresh with the nasty proboscis.)

[12,000 RPM]

6th generation (2003 - 2008) Nissan Maxima.  Replaced a decent car with a styling abomination.  True the Altima was getting bigger making the Maxima redundant but I don't know what Nissan was thinking with this generation stylistically.  I especially liked the round tail lights of prior generation Maximas.

It's a bummer because looks aside the 6th gen Max was such a better car. That rear beam was an abomination

[Raza]

But Raza would drive it in cold weather and stuff!!

Roof down and everything.  I have and will continue to do so. 

[veeman]

I liked the 4th generation Acura TL look.  Everyone I know hated it and I know a few prior generation Acura TL owners who switched allegiance when it came to buying a new car.  I thought it looked cool and kind of had a post apocalyptic armored vibe to it.  I also thought the commercial where a bullet came shot out of a gun through a bottle and morphed into the TL was real cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_WJM1qv0vg 

[12,000 RPM]

I don't think the design was that bad in retrospect, but it was such a huge downgrade from the beautiful 3rd gen, and people were pissed off about the recession