Car styling that grows on you

Fiat Multipla.  Hideous then....hideous now.

Mmm, guess I really didn’t answer the question.  Just remembered how ugly these were so I pulled up an image wondering if they were any better.  Nope.  

I will note that the current Panamera looks infinitely better than the original one. They corrected a bunch of the goofy body details that made the original so ugly, so now it looks pretty good. If you go look at a photo of the original, you'll probably still think it looks kind of strange. 

In reply to dean1484 :

Came here to post this (Pontiac Aztec). Still don't care for it, but it's not so jarring to look at now that there's multiple other cars with the same general profile.

So does, "easier to ignore," count?

I really hated the nose styling on the BRZ/FRS/86 but it’s slowly grown on me.  Same story with the rear end on the C7 Vette.  I still hate the front and side views of the new Supra though.

Ducati 999.

Good god I hated what they did, especially after the iconic 916. Now that all sportbikes seem to follow the 916 formula, the 999 is cool.

Honda Element....

I thought they were 1 step better than an Aztec when they came out. But 3 friends have owned them since and their utility has made me a fan of the design.

Ford Sierra, alias Merkur, the original jelly mould...

We got the shape upgrades that the USA didn't which might have helped a bit.

996 911

I went with the egg yolk hating crowd for a while but the more I look at them the more I like them. In comparison now I find the 997 bland. 

Suzuki X-90. I thought they were the most hideous things when new, I'd love to get one now. 

FWIW, I always thought the Panamera was awesome.  Well, except that the name is all too similar to a certain casual restaurant chain.

My pick is the fifth gen (1997-2001) Honda Prelude.  I always thought the early cars were very mundane looking, but the fourth gen (1991-1996) was a stunner.  I remember being disappointed seeing my first fifth gen, thinking that was a huge step backwards in terms of styling.  Something about those headlights just didn't look right to me.

Skip ahead a decade or so, and my wife acquired a lovely low-mileage 5-speed from a co-worker.  Maybe the thing won me over because it was so much fun to drive, but I came to see the beauty in that body style.  

I was initially not a fan of the 1984-'87 Civic hatch. And then I wound up owning one and still love it. 

Aw11 Mr2 wasn't as pretty as a Fiero when new, in my opinion. The Toyota has aged like fine wine. 

ND. 

Back to Panamera. I live next to a Country Club parking lot. This brown Panamera has arrived this year. It is quite striking. 

While out on this morning's walk and taking these pics, it also appears that Dr. Rob, long time owner of a white 911 has gotten a new one... 

Each generation of new Corvette seems a little too far "out there" for me, when first introduced. Then, I gradually warm up to it, by the time the next generation makes its appearance. 

As a top designer once said, if everyone likes a new car's styling, the designers didn't go far enough.

itsarebuild said:

Honda Element....

I thought they were 1 step better than an Aztec when they came out. But 3 friends have owned them since and their utility has made me a fan of the design.

If there's ever a vehicle worthy of a cult following, the Element is it. There are legitimate criticisms to be had, but It's the ultimate expression of utility in a small package. It's also cute and pretense free. Not trying to be upscale or a testoserone statement.

C7 Corvette. Thought it was the dumbest thing in the world to lose the round taillights. I think they look pretty good now. 

Mndsm said:

C7 Corvette. Thought it was the dumbest thing in the world to lose the round taillights. I think they look pretty good now. 

it still looks terrible in white and yellow.  Too Kitcarish for my tastes around the rear window

Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

itsarebuild said:

Honda Element....

I thought they were 1 step better than an Aztec when they came out. But 3 friends have owned them since and their utility has made me a fan of the design.

If there's ever a vehicle worthy of a cult following, the Element is it. There are legitimate criticisms to be had, but It's the ultimate expression of utility in a small package. It's also cute and pretense free. Not trying to be upscale or a testoserone statement.

I've always had this crazy idea to drop the roofline of the element, slam it, and crapcan race it. My racing friends think I'm nuts. 

Man I hated to Element too! Never saw one without making a comment about ugly or stupid or whatever. 
If I could find one now for reasonable money that didn't have 250k on it, I'd buy in a heartbeat. 

3rd generation Eclipses. Thought they were hideous when they first came out, but now they seem to be good looking. On the flip side, the decision to switch from turbo / AWD to V6 / FWD looks like an even worse move in hindsight than it did in 2000, and that looked like a bad idea in 2000.

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

I like the BB5 because it has held up so well. Seeing a clean one makes me forget they're as old as they actually are.

OHSCrifle said:

Honda Crosstour is top of my list for diminished dislike. 

That one has not gotten any better for me. They almost make me angry when I see them. Not at the car, but at whomever bought them.

I always thought the Crosstours were a slight lift and knobby tires  away from glory. Add a roof rack with KC lights across the front for extra win. It was like Honda wanted to make a Subaru wagon fighter but didn't know what to do with the styling. 
 

I agree about Panamaras getting better with time but as mentioned, a lot of that is the redesigns

T.J. said:

OHSCrifle said:

Honda Crosstour is top of my list for diminished dislike. 

That one has not gotten any better for me. They almost make me angry when I see them. Not at the car, but at whomever bought them.

I don't get angry but I get the feeling in my throat like I'm going to throw up