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I just got a Subaru Impreza RS Hatch to replace my Honda Prelude which got smashed to buggery in a prang. The Subaru is OK, like virtually all new cars has got a fucking awful silvery plastic dashboard. Honda dont make the Prelude anymore, but they have the Integra which is nice to drive, but with awful silvery plastic dash and feels like it would fly to pieces if you hit a canary in it.

Someone sold 10 million tons of silvery plastic to the car makers about a year ago and they've made dashboards out of it.

Also, the latest batch of car-mobiles are butt ugly boxes with those stupid giant clusters of headlamps. All the good looking designs have been replaced with, well, boxes.

And why did I get a Subaru ? It was the only car that felt like it wasn't made of cardboard. This one's made of nice strong tin-foil and plastic.
( Silvery plastic of course ).

I know what you mean about headlamps. I seem to be the only person who doesnt like that whole circular recessed clear glassed xenon thing where u can see the bulbs etc. I preferred lights that were just solid looking and u couldnt see the mechanics going on....not to mention the fact that those cars on british roads are ridiculous at night because every tiny bump they hit they make it look like the car behind if frantically flashing their headlights at you.

mk3 golf all the way me solid as a bitch

Most new cars are down right ugly. the only country that still makes nice shape cars, in my opinion, is the US. - because they have stuck more to traditional lines than Euro manufacturers. But saying that, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are always top sellers over there. For sheer value though, you can't beat a 4.0L V6 Mustang at $19,000 - a lot of car for ?10,000

[img]http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yah ... 85x192.jpg[/img]

Check out how cheap they sell Subaru's for and you'll cry for being ripped off in the UK

There are some elegant modern cars, the 406 Coupe is timeless, the 350Z and RX8 damn tidy and the new Merc CLS is stunning. Family cars worry me, they are getting taller and more people carrier like by the day.

Subarus and Mitsub Evos are nice to drive for a short distance but the lack of kit and harsh ride jarr on long treks. My mate and I drove 400 miles to Lincolnshire and back last month in a WRX Sti, 2004 spec and I was knackered, not a good touring car and they shag PZeros in 5000 miles if driven hard.

Couldnt agree more.

Which is why I say sod all the new designs. If the manufacturers cant offer me something that looks good, I'm damn sure not going to but what they are offering just because its all thats on offer.
I stick to driving cars from the 70s.
They look like proper cars, not something out of tellytubby land, or something that Mr. Magoo would drive.
Whats more, when the break down, I have a fair chance of getting them going again myself, not just having to sit there like a fool while the main dealer sends a man with a laptop to plug into it.

I hit a Peugeot 205 GTI few years back while driving a Triumph Dolomite. Peugeot was totally written off, while the Dolomite only had minor front end damage. In other words, all the filler fell out of the front panel and wings! Just goes to show the older ones were better made.

Talk about silvery plastic dashboards - you can't beat the old wood ones, even my 70s Jap cars have wood effect dashboards.

Don't forget the Italians! They know a thing or two about knocking up a gorgeous looking motor!

They also know how to knock up some that make you sick to look at like the Fiat Multipla, Marea, Brava, Bravo.
Such a shame after they made some that looked like real cars such as the 131 Mirafiori http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 62984&rd=1
, the Alfasud, and first generation Alfa GTV.

I was thinking of the Ferrari 355, Dino 246, F40, 308/328, Maserati Merak, 550 Maranello, Lambo' Miura, Berlinetta Boxer, Daytona etc.

Ferrari 288 GTO...I rest my case!

Yeah but how many of these do you see on the roads every day and how many of us can easily afford one?
I thought we were talking practical everyday cars not supercars that can only be dreamed about.

Cars have to have a purpose, The Subaru is excellent for outrunning the fuzz and if you don't have all the silly spoilers and loud exhausts it does not stand out to much, A Volvo estate however is best thing for ram raiding.
I drive a Range Rover but have been this week looking for a nice 4 door Sierra Cozzi, just for weekends. They have a load of history with me so it might be nice to own one. Not so many good ones around tho (wish we had not burned them after a job).
I owned a few Mirafiori sports, Lancia beta sports, Alfa Cloverleaf etc and you are right the new wave off cars look like they have been designed in a playstation because they probably have.

Phil McC