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What were the car designer's smoking ?

RogerS

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I don't know about you but when I saw this car today, I thought..."Sheesh...that is one Helluva a Pug-ugly car. What were they on ? Looks like a 'Cut and Shut' job". I was even more surprised when I saw the maker.

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Since it’s outside a Waitrose, I want to say it’s a Volvo, but it’s shouting Ford Focus to me. Still, you were surprised, so I’m going to say it’s a Mini.

I have no idea who makes it.
 
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It's better than a Fiat Multipla (I think that's called "damning with faint praise"!)
Al!! Oi!!

I had a Multipla for 11 years. It took my tall, long-legged family around France for most summers in that period. The flat floor and removable rear seats were an absolute boon, especially for getting kids' belongings to and from mainland uni. The diesel.engine and turbo were magic and getting 46mpg on long journeys was good for that 1.9L engine.
If I hadn't hit a low kerb in the dark, and wrecked the engine, I'd have it still. "Bubba" ruled. R.I.P.
 
What amazes me is the size on the outside bears no relation to the size on the inside - these things are like a reverse TARDIS in that they are tiny and cramped inside despite being wide enough and long enough to overhang a full parking space. When I was looking for a car the only ones with enough room were large estates (Skoda Superb, Vauxhall Insignia etc) - anything even vaguely tending towards SUV type had a huge centre console and made you feel like you were being confined in all dimensions :(
 
They all look the same these days. Eurobox is the expression I've heard......
 
Al!! Oi!!

I had a Multipla for 11 years. It took my tall, long-legged family around France for most summers in that period. The flat floor and removable rear seats were an absolute boon, especially for getting kids' belongings to and from mainland uni. The diesel.engine and turbo were magic and getting 46mpg on long journeys was good for that 1.9L engine.
If I hadn't hit a low kerb in the dark, and wrecked the engine, I'd have it still. "Bubba" ruled. R.I.P.
I didn't say it was a bad car, but it was properly ugly.
 
I find this equally disturbing - not so bad in Lotus's photos but painfully ordinary (given the badge and its history) seen in the car park:


I suppose it raises money to keep developing decent cars.
 
I so hope that blanked out portion of the number plate is another HA, would go down a storm around here.
Anyone else remember the Top Gear number plate debacle in Argentina?
 
Nothing much more ugly than the concept Jag 00 though beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. Love the colour though.
Seen in Paris being charged by a diesel generator. As one journalist commented, "must have a ruge range at 5mph on the city streets" :D Jag 00.png
 
Is that yours Chas? It’s beautiful
No it's not mine, afraid personal age and its additional imposed running costs preclude such indulgence for me, been living on retirement funding for 31 yrs now means I have to be content with a somewhat more practical Astra SRI turbo. (auto.) but it is at least Boy Racing Red.

The person owning the Jag is acknowledge in the family as having a late life fling as their Superbike days out are dwindling in number.
(don't ask me what bike, I can't even hold the thing up let alone ride it).
 
No character in car design these days.
The only car I ever gave a name to and was sorry to let go.
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Imagine how much safer our streets would be today if all teenagers started their motoring journey in one of these and how few speeding fines there would be too.
 
That’s another beauty. V8? I’ve always wanted a V8….one day maybe
No, it's a 4-cylinder 2.3L Eco Boost with 310HP. The insurance for the V8 was over double the cost for the 2.3L. Her Mustang doesn't have any problems being the leader of the pack on the Autobahn, so the additional horsepower is not worth the cost of the insurance.

I so hope that blanked out portion of the number plate is another HA, would go down a storm around here.
Anyone else remember the Top Gear number plate debacle in Argentina?
It would be funny, but the blanked out letters in the first group are the designation of our region. We can't change the first group, but can change the second letter group and third number group. There is an Audi in the same region, but a different town, with HS 1066. I met the owner by chance at a shopping center. He's French and wanted HA, but was disappointed that it was already taken, so HS was the next best choice.

I remember the debacle.
 
No character in car design these days.
The only car I ever gave a name to and was sorry to let go.
View attachment 32453

Imagine how much safer our streets would be today if all teenagers started their motoring journey in one of these and how few speeding fines there would be too.
I had a 'Deux Chevaux' as well for a couple of years and hated the thing, especially the umbrella handle gear change. It also wasn't very reliable and seemed to be always breaking down. Interestingly, my dad, who was in the Fleet Air Arm told me that the Royal Marines from the Ark Royal used to use them to 'zoom' :LOL: around Singapore in the 60's - Rob
 
I had a 'Deux Chevaux' as well for a couple of years and hated the thing, especially the umbrella handle gear change......used to use them to 'zoom' :LOL: around Singapore in the 60's - Rob
The only engine change I've ever done where mandraulics could lift the (aluminium).engine out, and drop it back in. 😕
 
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I had a 'Deux Chevaux' as well for a couple of years and hated the thing, especially the umbrella handle gear change. It also wasn't very reliable and seemed to be always breaking down. Interestingly, my dad, who was in the Fleet Air Arm told me that the Royal Marines from the Ark Royal used to use them to 'zoom' :LOL: around Singapore in the 60's - Rob
We met someone driving one across Africa. Obviously, it was impossible for it to traverse the Sahara, or cope with roads like this in Zaiire:

Samples-2400dpi-with dust-scratch removal and colour restoration-002.jpgSamples-2400dpi-with dust-scratch removal and colour restoration-008.jpg

They had welded tubes onto each corner of the car, and whenever they got stuck they pushed handles into those tubes, and paid locals to carry them through!! A deux chevaux weighs virtually nothing.
 
We met someone driving one across Africa. Obviously, it was impossible for it to traverse the Sahara, or cope with roads like this in Zaiire:

View attachment 32454View attachment 32455

They had welded tubes onto each corner of the car, and whenever they got stuck they pushed handles into those tubes, and paid locals to carry them through!! A deux chevaux weighs virtually nothing.
Top marks to the truck drivers roping down ability, well past 45° and still not lost the load... 👏 :LOL:
 
:ROFLMAO: Of course, but they haven't been made or sold for maybe 10 years now.
Land rover have restarted limited production of defenders but at a vastly increased price and spec. Something silly like £200k. Problem is they look exactly like any other shiny landy that will never see off road.
 
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