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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
Donating Member
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This is a subject that I have been thinking about for a while. With car companies focused on the demand for SUV’s, sales of sedans have plummeted over the last decade. With that, manufacturers that have continued to make sedans have tried to style them to grab the attention of the buyers and perhaps distract them from the pumped-up SUV on the other side of the showroom.
Some car companies have been successful to a degree at injecting style into an otherwise boring vehicle. Mercedes Benz hit the bullseye on the original CLS but in an attempt to keep it fresh, they over-designed it. And its the over designing of cars, and sedans in this case, that bugs me. Some cars have so many body lines and creases that they look like they have been in a fender bender. Take the new Hyundai i30 sedan for example. Ok, so it looks new and different. But good looking? Hell no! The designers didn’t know when to stop! ![]() So, are there any new sedans on the market that have been styled with restraint, good proportions and a lack of styling gimmicks? The Jaguar XE and XF come to mind, as does the current BMW 3 Series. Considering their front drive platform, the Volvo S60 and S90 are very well considered designs too. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() These three sedans are my favorites of mine - The E39 BMW 5 Series was a THE benchmark sedan of it’s time, the BA Falcon and VE Commodore both took inspiration from it in both design and engineering. ![]() The VE Commodore. From a design perspective, the VE Commodore was almost spot on. The overhangs, proportions and glasshouse depth were perfect and every model in the range had a tough, solid look to it. I never want to own one but there is no denying Holden nailed it with the VE, in fact the subsequent VE Series 2 and VF only meddled with the design. ![]() And my all-time favorite sedan design is the 2008 – 2016 Jaguar XF, the 2011 face-lift in particular. I believe this car looked better than the XE and second-gen XF. The proportions, the gorgeous long power dome bonnet, the short overhangs, the sloped roof line, and the shallow glasshouse edged in a thick chrome trim all earn it my admiration. I would love one of these in XF-R guise. ![]() ![]() So, what are your sedan design favorites?
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#2 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Sydney
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Design is personal taste. Many think the new Sonata looks fantastic, same with the i30. I’m on the fence until I see a real one.
Every sedan you have listed otherwise looks great in my eyes. I have a special spot for those Jags. I would add the Mazda6 sedan to the list of great lookers.
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2016 Mazda 3 SP25 GT 2019 Hyundai i30 Active. |
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#3 | ||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
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I like simple with some muscular flair, my example of great sedan design is the Chrysler 300 SRT:
Clean lines and without too many curves, high waistline with small glass on the sides. |
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#4 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Perth, WA
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Quote:
That is, until the current generation CLS, which is a looker, especially on the inside. As for my personal favourites - I'm somewhat biased, but I'm still partial to the recently departed MD Mondeo hatch. To me, that's still a great looking car and still the best looking car in the segment. Aside from that, I'll have to give it some thought. Despite the fact that the new i30 sedan is ugly, there are still plenty of good lookers in the segment.
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Current car: 2016 Ford MD Mondeo Titanium EcoBoost (2016-) Previous cars: 2005 Ford BF Fairmont (2006-2019) 1989 Ford EA Falcon GL (2000-2007) 1982 Ford KA Laser Ghia (1999-2000) |
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#5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: In Front of a Monitor
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I know absolutely nothing about European Cars so can't comment on them.
But I will take the SRT from Franko and raise it to a Dodge Charger SRT which is the same body shell with subtle differences. ![]() It was said many years ago that the Charger could be sold here with the 300's interior. Why they never did it we will never know. The name plate still has a following even thou it is a different context.
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#6 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,144
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I think you’d struggle to find a better looking car out of the 1990’s than those E39s. Maybe an E38 with the M package.
![]() I passed up the opportunity to buy a facelift E39 540i Sport the same as your pic above and picked up this instead. E34 535iS manual with the M treatment. Poor mans M5. As with the E39 I think the E34 is the best looking car to come out of the 1980s. ![]() |
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#7 | ||||
Regular...with metamusal
![]() Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Geeeloong
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Quote:
Quote:
or this one - https://www.dodge.com/charger/srt.html |
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#8 | |||
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Quote:
Such an epic looking car. I like my hot hatches with 3 doors, larger cars as sedans with 4 doors and my utes American ![]() |
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#9 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Quote:
I'm sure the 750iL would have been a bit peppier ![]() |
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#10 | ||
T3/Sprint8
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,368
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EClass, E63 velvet sledgehammer
Latest Audi A5 Quattro - balance Current M8 and these https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...6638752/?Cr=98 2012 Maserati Quattroporto GTS Sport - very cool Porsche Panamera GTS Check out this 4door https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...9194105/?Cr=64
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" Last edited by FTE217; 03-11-2020 at 01:31 AM. |
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#11 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,144
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Quote:
While I used the M spec as an example I think the base models are spot on. Everything in proportion, everything flows. No awkward contrasting lines or shapes. ![]() I don’t think any car has aged as well as the E60 M5. Huge road presence. They came out in 2003 but wouldn’t look out of place as a 2013 model. Stood the test of time better than 5 year old awkwardly styled Korean and Jap stuff. How’s that Hyundai **** box in the OP going to look in three years time. Cadogan will rate it. ![]() ![]() Alfa 159 is a good looker with the right OEM wheels. Front overhang is a bit excessive but not a deal breaker imo. ![]() |
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#12 | ||
Virtuous Bogan (TM)
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So many good example, for the modern stuff and what is available in Australia.
GOOD Alfa Romeo Peugeot BMW (although gone a bit down hill IMO) Volvo Jaguar (but boring) NOT-SO-GOOD Mercedes (RIP, to curvy and bland) Hyundai (Same, honestly put Merc badges on it and it would be hard to tell) Audi is in the middle, which seems to be their brand ethos. Notable mention to the VF/VF2 SS, I wish Ford made the equivalent. The E39 BMW M5 though, my god, the best ever, nothing will beat that for all round package. You can keep your V10 and poofy automatic.
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#13 | |||
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Quote:
Something I didn't like was how that M62 V8 made its power, it had no torque down low, you had to really get stuck into it to get it to move acceptably, mine was only the 3.5L variation though. Relied too much on gearing and stuff like variable valve timing to mask it's circa 2000kg weight and small capacity, I feel the M73 variation would move it better without relying on fancy tricks. Maybe a 745iL would have been significantly better with the bigger capacity of 4.4L The rest of the car was really nice though. Last edited by Franco Cozzo; 03-11-2020 at 08:06 AM. |
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#14 | ||
Mustang GT mmmmmm......
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Mornington Peninsula
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I have become a Mustanger. |
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#15 | |||
Donating Member
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Quote:
It was hated by most when new. But as you say, it has aged very well. In fact the following two generations of 5 Series appear bland in comparison. Does this sound familiar? Cough! AU Falcon. Cough!
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#16 | |||
Virtuous Bogan (TM)
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Quote:
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#18 | ||
T3/Sprint8
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Location: Australia
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yes agreed both very very nice.
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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#19 | ||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,144
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Quote:
Quote:
Last edited by smoo; 04-11-2020 at 04:04 PM. |
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#20 | ||
Donating Member
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Opinions on the new Genesis G80?
![]() ![]() That grill looks far too chintzy and vulgar for me. The whole car looks like one of the cheap Chinese copies.
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#21 | ||
Thailand Specials
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I quite like it, except the rear of the car has too much AU Falcon going on with that oval it has going
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#22 | |||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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Quote:
On the waiting list to test drive the GV80. ONLY thing I don't like about it is the side glass for the 3rd row - that upward triangle theme is used in most of what Hyundai has to offer - especially when they are trying to distance themselves from their parent company. They should have boxed it out and made it bigger like the other premium SUV brands. As for sedans - some look really good while others get it really wrong. I really like the Kia Optima - it has nice proportions but then you look at the Hyundai i45 and it just looks all wrong. I really don't like the squat down nose and bum up in the air boot lid look. The Toyota Echo had that, looked out of proportion. I liked the big bulky look of the older Lexus sedans like the LS430 From some angles the quite unknown Kia Magentis looks like a slightly smaller Lexus LS430 - perhaps that's one of the reason why I liked the look of that sedan as well.
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___________________________ I've been around the world a couple of times or maybe more....... |
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#23 | ||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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God awful. They have tried way too hard to make a statement, but that statement is "everybody look over here, and see how hiddeous I am".
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#24 | |||
T3/Sprint8
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No where near like an AU unless your joshing all I see is more like a Audi A7 Sportback, look one up https://www.google.com/search?q=audi...nt=firefox-b-d From the back 3/4 shot looks ok imo, that front is way overdine grill wise, they copied Audi from back why not copy it more at front as well then it would look alot better.
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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#25 | |||
Peter Car
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#26 | |||
Thailand Specials
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![]() ![]() They both end with that oval shape where the tail lights and boot/bumper meet, look at the shape the spoiler and the top of the rear bumper form on the G80. |
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#27 | ||
Donating Member
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Location: Sydney
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I traded in my XR8 for what I think is the best looking sedan out there. Even when I had my mind made up, the dealer tried to convince me to buy the Stelvio (SUV version) that he had sitting in the showroom instead!
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#28 | ||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Maybe if you squint, after having sand rubbed in your eyes. While looking directly into the sun.
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#29 | |||
T3/Sprint8
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![]() yer nah Franco, you have a vivid mind, round/curves vs straight square lines with slight curve and hips more robust but no worries.
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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#30 | ||
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