I'd sell my left nut...

[jeryst]

How is this "crappy styling??"  I mean, it's basic, sure, but it's also from 1998 or so.

Just proved my point. 

[72hemi]

That looks like a "James Bond" car.

No James Bond would never drive that piece of crap. Sorry, he is an Aston martin kind of guy, aside from the few BMW's and a couple of other Euro cars.

[ViperMan]

I have reason to suspect that the new GT-R will give an Aston Martin a run for it's money.

I'm sorry torredcuda, but saying a car has crappy styling because it's of Japanese origin is ignorant.  I'm not trying to start an argument with you, but it's just close-minded.

Let me try to make some comparisons...
Japanese:



^- a Hybrid, by the way...



American:






We've got a....  weird...  Ford, a "looks like everything else" Cadillac, and a Saturn with funky headlights and tires.  Unfortunately, the Japanese carmakers are pushing the envelope with new ideas and strategies.  I'll tell you something else, too.  Type in "concept car" to Google, click images, and you'll have a real hard time finding American designs.  It's not hard to see why the big-3 aren't selling cars.

[torredcuda]

Not saying all the Japanese cars are crappy looking but that thing is "ricer" to me and I`ve not seen any ricers I really like the styling of.   Ricer=crappy looking ,not all Japanese cars=crappy looking.   

[ViperMan]

Here's some more... ...unique...  ...Asian designs.






^- That's a Suzuki!!


^- notice the four-wheel steering.

Now - I'm not saying I WANT these cars, or even that I LIKE these cars, but they do one thing that none of our cars do - point forward.  They show us a progression from what is to what might be, what will be.  Chevy built an AWESOME Volt concept car...


and turned it into this...



Can't tell if it looks more like an Impala, an older Camry, a Civic...  Nice goin', GM.

[ViperMan]

Meanwhile, Nissan turned this:



...into this:



Looks like someone knows how to stick with a theme.  The GT-R concept was extremely popular.  So what did Nissan do?  They built the damned thing.  Volt was incredibly popular, what did GM do?  Well they...  they built something else instead.

[ViperMan]

And just oen more post...

THIS is a "Ricer:"



It commonly refers to cars that have had excessive amounts of time and money spent on it's looks, while having no attention spent on performance.  I cannot wait to eat into some rice this Spring...

THIS, on the otherhand, is a factory Mitsubishi Evo MR - a car that in stock trim would give MOST cars on this board a run for their money, UNTIL you put them on a road course...



...at which point that car would DECIMATE anything on this board, INCLUDING my Viper.  Those cars are WICKED.

Jeff

[ViperMan]

Sorry - one more.  We DID build one SWEET looking American Conceptual sports car - not even a concept, but a prototype.  This car would have completely redefined one of our favorite brands - this car was simply amazing.








But after 3 years of testing, after thousands of people stepped up with checks in hand, Chrysler decided, "Naaaaah."

I'd have given a lot more than my nuts for one of those.  That car rocked my world...

Jeff

[Super Blue 72]

Fun thread, Jeff!  I can appreciate the GT-R's performance also.  I'm in the northeast so the AWD would be a plus, but hey, can't afford it anyhows....

As far as sweet American concepts, don't for get this one that never made it to production.  Still saddens my heart to have thought what could've been a new Charger, 4 doors and all....   

[jeryst]

I'm sorry torredcuda, but saying a car has crappy styling because it's of Japanese origin is ignorant.  I'm not trying to start an argument with you, but it's just close-minded.

Styling doesnt have anyhting to do with ignorance or being cose-minded. Its all a matter of personal taste. Some like the design, some dont.

[ViperMan]

Styling doesnt have anyhting to do with ignorance or being cose-minded. Its all a matter of personal taste. Some like the design, some dont.

You're absolutely right.  My comment was more towards the blanket definition that "Rice (a term sometimes mistakingly used to describe ALL asian cars) = crappy styling."

It's no different then saying "women = crappy drivers."  It's a blanket stereotype that doesn't help anyone - that's all.  But I think the confusion between torredcuda and I has to do with the definition of "rice."  I realize it's a funny term invented by people who don't understand or appreciate the aftermarket industry.  We say "rice" because we first saw it with honda civics and mitsubishi eclipses, etc - cars made in Japan... ...where they grow rice...

But then what's this?


THAT, is crappy styling.  I'll gladly call it "rice," but it's a Chevy Cavalier...  (Look carefully - you can still barely make it out...)

That person needs to be dragged into a large intersection and beaten to death.

[72hemi]

I have reason to suspect that the new GT-R will give an Aston Martin a run for it's money.

The GT-R is faster than an Aston Martin, however the Aston Martin is more reliable, cheaper on maintainance, more refined, and a better design. A lot of people are raving about the new GT-R and how awesome it is (Motor Trend and Automobile magazines car of the year), but no one is talking about all of the problems associated or costs with this car. It performs like a $300k sports car for only $80k, but no one says that its reliability is horrible and Nissan is trying to void the warranty every chance they can. The new GT-R was a great concept but poorly executed.

[ViperMan]

I haven't really studied the new one that well.  I guess you could say I'd prefer the "classic" Skyline over the modern.  I do look forward to seeing one in person.

Jeff

[72hemi]

The "classic" skyline is way better than the new one. There are a fair amount of new GT-R's running around here. My wife sees one every day. I see them at least a couple times a week down here. It's not a bad looking car and definitely performs, but the price of maintainance is more than that of a Ferrari and breaks a lot. I think Nissan should have doubled the price on it and fixed a lot of their problems instead.

[ntstlgl1970]

I highly doubt the skyline costs more to service than a ferrari, unless you are talking about a crappy old 308 or Mondial or something. What source are you referring to that says they break a lot? Not to be argumentative, just curious.