New cars = No style or character - Page 4

4117kev · 13-05-2010, 01:32 PM

But you must remember the XB V8 falcon with the single 2" exhaust swooshing down the street without noise or performance and without that rocking from side to side/character.

Back then you would rip out the old 302clevo & use it for a mail box, slip in a new Mick Web 351 with dual 2/12" exhaust throw on a set of 14/10 12 slotters and you had character.

Now days you would steal the motor out of the Aluminator or GTP370 bolt on some 19/10 billets and you have all the character you need and 3 times the horsepower and you can still drive it more than 50km without it boiling.

I have had the pleasure of owning an XyGt, 351XBGS and a whole host of other V8 fords & whilst i still have a soft spot for the Xy my BF is more than twice the car it was in different ways.

I think trying to work out which is best depends largley in what era you were born, what come first the chicken or the egg?

xbxd351 · 13-05-2010, 01:37 PM

There hasn't been a tuff looking Falcon since the XD. They seem to make them more wimpier looking with every new model. XA\XB makes the BA\BF series look like pink Hyundais

StrokedXT · 13-05-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimNiki

4117KEV, ignore them. All these AU lovers must be smokin' horse manure...
It's distorted their reality somewhat...

The BA onwards was the best thing that happened to the AU.
Even Ford admitted the design was a disaster and they quickly sacked their chief designer.
This information is all public. The Emporer is butt ugly without his clothes on! zip.

The car is a great performer and revolutionary ...no-one is arguing that.

What about the AU lovers who own a BF like me who still prefer the AU?

samftr · 13-05-2010, 01:41 PM

I always thought it funny the poor buggers who owned XD - XF falcons who would actually try their luck with getting their cars stolen. Leaving the keys in the ignition and doors open mainly because they couldnt open the frigging things. Rust is another thing, thats character. I had to laugh too as some people still owed money on some cars whilst they were completely stuffed. i like the seats that felt like they were made from recycled beds springs and all, whilst the interiors were assembled with something brown like poo, something green like spew or something blue. werent they just fabulous.

RG · 13-05-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimNiki

4117KEV, ignore them. All these AU lovers must be smokin' horse manure...
It's distorted their reality somewhat...

The BA onwards was the best thing that happened to the AU.
Even Ford admitted the design was a disaster and they quickly sacked their chief designer.
This information is all public. The Emporer is butt ugly without his clothes on! zip.

The car is a great performer and revolutionary ...no-one is arguing that.

Funny thing now is though that the AU XR series looks more up to date than the bland BA XR series.

Hell even the base models look of a newer shapely design in the AU than the BA.

But then looks are in the eye of the beholder, personally I think the BA looks like a coloured (unless it's white) fridge on wheels whereas the AU has nice shape and curves. So personally I keep my white-goods in the kitchen and my AU in the driveway.

anto · 13-05-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimNiki

4117KEV, ignore them. All these AU lovers must be smokin' horse manure...
It's distorted their reality somewhat...

The BA onwards was the best thing that happened to the AU.
Even Ford admitted the design was a disaster and they quickly sacked their chief designer.
This information is all public. The Emporer is butt ugly without his clothes on! zip.

The car is a great performer and revolutionary ...no-one is arguing that.

without truning this into a AU v BA argument....i must have missed that admission by Ford, care to point me to it ?
It was a disaster because of its poor marketing more than anything else and IMO the BA was a step backwards in terms of styling,....the word generic comes to mind, still nice just a little less so. But hey thats just me, I guess thats why I traded my old BA V8 ghia on an FG and kept the AU .

mcflux · 13-05-2010, 02:18 PM

I view the term "character" as meaning the car feels like it has a personality (fussy, bogan, tempremental, lazy...) or it really stands out aesthetically/mechanically, for good or bad reasons.

All pre-78 vehicles automatically have character due to their age :P

XD-XF have character for being so boxy & the last of the oldschool carby/4 speed models (let's not split hairs over XE EFI, etc)

E-Series have character for being cheap bangers that you can get a lot of power out of & have alot of fun in; my old wagon was a hoot to take camping, travel interstate, & hit dirt tracks with! The luxo models of this era have a lot of things in them that new luxo models have, just 90s styling/refinement & less safety features. I see EF-EL luxo cars dating very well, although my personal preference is a boxcar.

AUs have character through being so ugly, and being an underdog to the all-conquering VT-VX LS1s of the time. They have the same banger factor as E-Series though which is a plus.

B-Series seem to lack "character", or at least the n/a & turbo sixes do (haven't experienced a 5.4 yet). They're quiet, comfy, somewhat anonymous on the road...

FGs, particularly base models, look a little awkward both inside & out but given 5 years will slip into the anonymity that B-Series suffer or enjoy (depending on your view). I'm a fan of the higher-spec models though.

BENT_8 · 13-05-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeep_by_ford

Yep pretty much, otherwise they wouldnt have changed it

EL's got yellow indicator lenses in the taillights and a big ugly hole in its face they claimed as 'The Changing Face of Ford'

Neither of these additions to the EF made the EL better, so changing things isnt always about looking better!

samftr · 13-05-2010, 02:36 PM

Not if you got an el fairmont ;) But you are right, why did they go back to dizzy on the el only to return to coilpack on the au... old stock to move out hey !

BENT_8 · 13-05-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samftr

Not if you got an el fairmont ;) But you are right, why did they go back to dizzy on the el only to return to coilpack on the au... old stock to move out hey !

oops, your right, the EL Montys had that hideous chrome bar across the middle as opposed to the EF's FBT type

.

The taillights you have me on

JimNiki · 13-05-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anto

without truning this into a AU v BA argument....i must have missed that admission by Ford, care to point me to it ?
It was a disaster because of its poor marketing more than anything else and IMO the BA was a step backwards in terms of styling,....the word generic comes to mind, still nice just a little less so. But hey thats just me, I guess thats why I traded my old BA V8 ghia on an FG and kept the AU .

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=10575
did as quick google in case I'm going crazy ... I cannot find one editorial article on the net which says the AU is a nice looking car?

Again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder? It doesn't matter what I or 90% of Australia say. If people think it is a beautiful car ...< dry reach> then who cares...so be it...

We may as well try to use mathematics to explain my passion for the pies vs yours for the bombers, or my liking for strawberry ice-cream vs chocolate.

And there's nothing wrong with Boy George either ...you hang in there sunshine!

samftr · 13-05-2010, 03:22 PM

lobotomy jim, that is how you spell it. my 2c

rag top · 13-05-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimmReaper09

However I think the 1967 mustang shelby gt500 is one of the best looking cars ever made. There's not many that will argue that

Not the Eleanor crap.... the original style was better

**PepeLePew** · 13-05-2010, 03:37 PM

Interesting reading some of the above comments on XD when on release we all tagged it modern, euro, but a bit soft and plastic for our liking

That said I miss my XD probably the most out of all my old cars...

StrokedXT · 13-05-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rag top

Not the Eleanor crap.... the original style was better

I agree, nothing annoys me more than people going on about shelby mustangs because they saw gone in 60 seconds and only recognise that bastardised version.

anto · 13-05-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimNiki

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=10575
did as quick google in case I'm going crazy ... I cannot find one editorial article on the net which says the AU is a nice looking car?

Again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder? It doesn't matter what I or 90% of Australia say. If people think it is a beautiful car ...< dry reach> then who cares...so be it...

We may as well try to use mathematics to explain my passion for the pies vs yours for the bombers, or my liking for strawberry ice-cream vs chocolate.

And there's nothing wrong with Boy George either ...you hang in there sunshine!

so in fact "sunshine" you were incorrect instating that "Even Ford admitted the design was a disaster". considering thats an article by Drive.
nothing like making up porkies to embelish your own thoughts now is there. Speaking of which, can I ask you where the "90% of australians" bit comes from ?
yes it would be pointless in debating it, because I would be correct every time.
stick that in your condescending pipe and smoke it "sunshine" !

**PepeLePew** · 13-05-2010, 05:56 PM

Please settle gentlemen, its a interesting thread lets keep it in sustainable....opinions will differ....

mrbaxr6t · 13-05-2010, 05:58 PM

<INCOMING MASSIVE POST>

the way I see it we had the wedge nosed cars first with the big wing type front panels such as this

this design was prevalent through the 30's and into the 40's and in the 1950s cars moved away from the wedge nose and went toward something similar to what we have today in terms of overall shape for example

then in the later 50's and into the 60's the style shifted adding more and more chrome and tail fins (I love tail fins btw) for example

but cadillac killed this trend with massive fins and bullet tail lights as pictured

and then in the 60's we had cars that stepped further toward what we got today but they for the most part turned down the chrome and stripped the fins for example

at this time our ford Falcon was born in the 60's and was styled accordingly to somewhat conservative design styles of the period, reasonably square flat bonnet/boot line some chrome but not as in your face as older cars (automakers realised chrome is heavy perhaps) it evolved through the 60s to the xw/xy falcon relatively square in shape (XD/XE like in a way) and still retained the chrome which was carried through to the XA-XC which was at the time revolutionary in shape no falcon was like it before it, and then the energy crisis happened and with the advent of modern plastics and manufacturing methods we were given the XD which is somewhat of a backpedal to the xw/xy styling and the chrome was dropped, so if you like or want chrome on your car anything that has come after this hasn't had chrome and as such you won't like them due to a love of chrome, Fords' boxes on wheels wasn't the only boxy car on the road the early commodores were very boxy as well. Roll in the EA which had problems in its own right it was the birth of the "bubble" car Falcon form so if you don't like the bubbly shapes then you would want anything prior to this. IMHO evolution of the automobile has remained stagnant somewhat ever since with gradual improvements over the EA appearance. Ford tried to stand out as unique with the AU and learnt that if you are not following the trends of the market you will suffer poor sales.

the point to this is to illustrate the major cosmetic changes to cars and when they happened, this can be used to determine where your tastes fit in. Some peoples' tastes are behind the trend still longing for chrome and/or tail fins and others dont like the fins but want the chrome, for me I love tail fins but they can be waaaay overdone and can look terrible. The evolution of the falcon has been in line with trends of the time (overlooking AU) as that is what the majority wanted a car to look like for the periods in which the cars were made.

IMHO arguing about which is better looking only exposes your own personal tastes which in the case of some people here is behind the curve (me included) I like them all somewhat.

</MASSIVE POST>

ieatsports_cars · 13-05-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimmReaper09

Cars since the XF have no style or character anymore. Too plastic and like TV sets off the assembly line. I think the manufacturers should start taking cues from their older cars for newer models giving the cars more character instead of just dead curves.

What do you think ?

i think this guys is getting it mixed up with toyota ! there is no such model in the toyota range called XF sorry you ment to be on the toyota forum

89.SVO · 13-05-2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeep_by_ford

Yep pretty much, otherwise they wouldnt have changed it

they had to change it to make a new model

Nikked · 13-05-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG

Hell even the base models look of a newer shapely design in the AU than the BA.
.

This. The BA in general looks like an olde shape, the Au has more in common with the FG.

The BA looks like a curvier EA...

Nikked · 13-05-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rag top

Not the Eleanor crap.... the original style was better

So true

RG · 13-05-2010, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimNiki

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=10575
did as quick google in case I'm going crazy ... I cannot find one editorial article on the net which says the AU is a nice looking car?

Again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder? It doesn't matter what I or 90% of Australia say. If people think it is a beautiful car ...< dry reach> then who cares...so be it...

We may as well try to use mathematics to explain my passion for the pies vs yours for the bombers, or my liking for strawberry ice-cream vs chocolate.

And there's nothing wrong with Boy George either ...you hang in there sunshine!

You're a Collingwood supporter.

That explains it all.

JimNiki · 13-05-2010, 07:52 PM

Matey, unfortunately I married into an Essendon family.
I enjoyed Anzac day, had the whole family over for lunch! hehehe

Even my SWMBO's father played for the dons in 3 winning premierships in the 40's and 50's. But we still do all get on famously...

It could've been worse! I couldv'e been a collingwood supporter with a holden! hehehe

you must leave that save essendon sig until they win 3 in a row!

RG · 13-05-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimNiki

Matey, unfortunately I married into an Essendon family.
I enjoyed Anzac day, had the whole family over for lunch! hehehe

Even my SWMBO's father played for the dons in 3 winning premierships in the 40's and 50's. But we still do all get on famously...

It could've been worse! I couldv'e been a collingwood supporter with a holden! hehehe

That's it. I'm out.

I blame Richmond.

**DJM83** · 13-05-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimNiki

4117KEV, ignore them. All these AU lovers must be smokin' horse manure...
It's distorted their reality somewhat...

The BA onwards was the best thing that happened to the AU.
Even Ford admitted the design was a disaster and they quickly sacked their chief designer.
This information is all public. The Emporer is butt ugly without his clothes on! zip.

The car is a great performer and revolutionary ...no-one is arguing that.

What are you trying to say

It takes many to make a car culture. Id much prefer my character fillled AU then a Kelvinator inspired BA. As for the manure comment says alot about your IQ level. The AU bashing gets a bit old

barra265t · 13-05-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeep_by_ford

The ea looked cheap compared to the eb, subtle differences that for mine made a big difference.

http://falconfacts.xfalcon.com/falcon/eafalcon.html

"So Ford decided to build the EA from the ground up.
Early EA prototypes resembled the Scorpio, but the car evolved into the EA we know. The computer aided design prototype was shipped to fashion conscious West Germany, to gauge people’s reactions. If the style won the hearts of the West Germans, it would quickly gain approval here. The EA was displayed with the best of them: a BMW 5 series, an Audi 100 and a Mercedes Benz 190. It was a hit with the Germans, so Ford knew it had the styling right."

onfire · 13-05-2010, 08:29 PM

Having owned a series 1 AU, I feel I'm allowed to comment on it. Having character and style isn't always a good thing.

TheInterceptor · 13-05-2010, 08:36 PM

If by new cars you mean the new age futuristic hybrid prototype lookin cars then yes, they are butt ugly...imo.

Double Se7en · 13-05-2010, 08:42 PM

Au falcons are pretty disgusting IMO but the Au fairlane on the other hand is nice as hell. When im finished the Zh the Au is next on the list.

Au fairlane + bags + 13inch daytons + continental tire kit = badass