What car did you hate but now love ?

[mik]

Originally Posted by The Beast

I've been looking on Ebay & the like for a AU Fairmont as a daily, but the more I see the Forte, I'm thinking K.I.S.S (no offense intended). I'm starting to this a Forte is the go (less to go wrong).

Nothing the matter with simple mate , less to go wrong, if it does , it's easy to fix and costs a quarter the price.

[raised by monkeys]

Safe to say the AU will be winner in this thread, and a + 1 from me.

I remember saying; looks wise, the AU was like the Spartan deformed babies and needed to be punted off of a cliff. Bought an AUII XR8 ute, and its still a better driving car than my BFII F6 ute. I think even the AU seats are ugly, but they're so comfortable; however, I now appreciate the AU exterior. The T3 is one of my favourite falcon front ends. Also finding myself desiring an XE of late too which I would never previously considered.

Outside of falcon, I used to dislike JDM, now im liking supra's and considered a TME 6.5 Evo

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by mik

Nothing the matter with simple mate , less to go wrong, if it does , it's easy to fix and costs a quarter the price.

Correct

[FPV GTHO]

I hated BF2, FG and FGX when they launched with new looks, now I own a BF2 and don't mind FG. Still don't like FGX though.

[Wretched]

Rolls Royce Phantom. When it first came out I thought what a joke, horrid looking thing that resembled a truck. Then I saw it more often, in person and on TV. After the documentary about it I just fell for it, appreciated the design, the quality and the craftsmanship.

The other is the Cadillac CTS 2002 model. Hated it, looks clumsy, then they revised the design each update and now with the current shape I love it. Saw many when i was in the US and appreciated even the Escalade. I took a ride in a 2013 model (the ones supposed to come here) and it was one of the most comfortable cars I have sat in.

[Iggle Piggle]

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

Ford Fairlanes. Used to think they were way to big and kinda ugly. I still think they're excessively big and not the best looking cars, but I love em now

I've learnt now to never judge a book by its cover. May seem like a barge but the interior, handling and pulling power totally make up for it.

All this rings true for me but with WH Caprice.

Even picked up a Tungsten one as a daily, as you can now get them for about the price of their remaining rego.

As a youngster I loved the H series Statesmans (still do), but went off them from WB onwards.

[superyob]

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

Ford Fairlanes. Used to think they were way to big and kinda ugly. I still think they're excessively big and not the best looking cars, but I love em now

I've learnt now to never judge a book by its cover. May seem like a barge but the interior, handling and pulling power totally make up for it.

Which specific models are we hating here? I am a fan of all Fairlanes from 1957 through to the ZH. Anything after ZH did nothing to put a bulge in my trousers...

[FNQracing]

Originally Posted by The Beast

I've been looking on Ebay & the like for a AU Fairmont as a daily, but the more I see the Forte, I'm thinking K.I.S.S (no offense intended). I'm starting to this a Forte is the go (less to go wrong).

Totally.

I purposely pursued a Forte/Futura as I not only think there is less to go wrong, but the AU styling was at it purest in Forte guise.

I like clean simple design.

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by superyob

Which specific models are we hating here? I am a fan of all Fairlanes from 1957 through to the ZH. Anything after ZH did nothing to put a bulge in my trousers...

The newer ones. Say 1990 and onwards. The ones with the sports tuned suspension with "Control Blade" are nice cars though, they have blind spots the size of Mexico, but they're good to drive

[Sprintey]

Ssangyong Stavic, and now... well... nope, still require regular therapy.

[OZQUAD44]

The FJ cruiser. I thought it looked wrong, probably still looks wrong but it's grown on me, and wouldn't complain if I had one in the driveway.

I am an Australian ford fanatic, I've owned a heap of Falcons, in fact I've still got two home grown fords in my garage, a territory and a BF GT, so the following has to be put in some context. I have no doubt the au falcon is a good driver, but it's still pig ugly in my mind, looks like a bloated failed attempt at copying the similar styled merc of the day. Failed then still fails now. I could go on but I'll stop now. I'm glad some ford devotees have grown to love the AU, and I acknowledge the shape has not aged like just about every other car in its era, I just can't come to the party. Sorry boys


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[CyberWasp]

When they 1st came out I was one of the loudest critics of the ugliness of the BT-50.
Never ever thought I would own one.
A few years later it is time for a new car and I want a Ranger.
Everyone has a budget to work to, and the Ford Dealer couldn't get near what I needed with the change over price with Trade in ect ect. They were not interested in doing a deal at all.
Out of desperation I went to Mazda where it was like tell us what you want to make this happen. I give them a cheeky offer and to my surprise they said yes with not haggling or counter offers to half the difference ect. So suddenly I own a BT-50

In standard guise yes they are still Ugly. But with an imported unique set of 18" Wheels and slightly over sized tyres on it to give it some attitude. The wheels need to be made bigger to match the out of proportion size of the head lights.
Love would still be a strong word but I don't mind it as much now.
At least it is a car with a cheesy smile that always seems always happy to see you.

Every part is also stamped as FoMoCo so it is the Ford you drive when you are not driving a Ford.

[Thornie]

wrx's no idea why I hated them, but if it weren't for my rose tinted glasses i'd be driving one now.

[Cheech]

Chrysler Valiant - dad used to have one when I was a kid. They were known as the "wog chariot". It was a deep metallic blue with a white vinyl interior trim. Built like a tank and drove like one too. I hated being seen in the thing.

Fast forward 35 years and I'd love to have a restored one of these.

[asagaai]

SSV Redline 6 litre and the Holden 6 litre engines generally....woofy muddy sound.

Guy in the gym has one, got Walkinshaw exhaust- I thought beh- not that good. Took him for a drive in my FGX XR8 and he babbled about it being probably quicker than another gym guys AMG C63 he had been in- after that he decided to enhance his car.

Got 2.3 Litre eaton supercharger, cam, tune, 430 rear wheel kw, slight lump idle, he took me for a drive in it last night, loud, sounds so meaty, and thick and pulls haaard. Sounds more old school than Miami which has that higher pitched wailing, but sure sounds good in that old school muscle when worked well.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by Sioso

Other way around for me.
Loved the Golf R prior to purchasing and now I loathe looking at it.
16 weeks later and VW still can't fix it, plagued with electrical issues that they can't fix!
Not only will I never touch another VW product, but I won't even hand over a cent to any of their service centres either.

Not a relevant post I know but I am currently taking any opportunity to inform people of their practices.

I know it is off topic but. Colleague of mine bought a Golf R, white. Paint is peeling off. They sent someone out from Germany to investigate. They are saying it was painted twice and the second coat is peeling away from the clear that covered the original coat. The only cure is to strip it to a bare shell and repaint it. The car is 12 months old. Not good is it? He is trying to get it replaced and he has a good chance as it has not been fixed in a reasonable time and it is classed as a major fault because it will take more than a week to rectify.

Back on topic, as much as I hate the AU my black AUII XR6 car was well loved.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by OZQUAD44

I have no doubt the au falcon is a good driver, but it's still pig ugly in my mind, looks like a bloated failed attempt at copying the similar styled merc of the day. Failed then still fails now. I could go on but I'll stop now. I'm glad some ford devotees have grown to love the AU, and I acknowledge the shape has not aged like just about every other car in its era, I just can't come to the party. Sorry boys


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What model Merc would that be?

[OZQUAD44]

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...JGhGKHIJ7mAMzP


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[damo76]

I used to hate the ford vans like the econoline but i really like the lines and there 14inch rims, think there pretty cool now.

[Vekgib]

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

Ford Fairlanes. Used to think they were way to big and kinda ugly. I still think they're excessively big and not the best looking cars, but I love em now

I've learnt now to never judge a book by its cover. May seem like a barge but the interior, handling and pulling power totally make up for it.

Same but with LTD's now for me.
Seriously considering offloading my ute for a BF LTD

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by OZQUAD44

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...JGhGKHIJ7mAMzP


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The Mercedes CLS came 6 years AFTER the AU Falcon was released so who copied who?

[98TLS]

When a young fella i had an XYGS...bloke up the road had a red GT coupe and for the life of me couldnt like the thing nor had any desire to own one....would almost sell my soul to own one these days,love em.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Dezza

The Mercedes CLS came 6 years AFTER the AU Falcon was released so who copied who?

EXACTLY what is was alluding to.

[WoodyAU]

I had two VW Passats, a 75 and a 77. I bought the 77 because the 75 was dead in my yard and I figured I had all the spares I would ever need. They were absolute crap! The most unreliable things I've ever seen. Now ( 25 years later ) I see what the Euro Kids are doing with them and think I'd like another, on club rego.

[Eric A]

XH utes and panelvans, didnt' like the combination of lines from front to back but they're growing on me now.

[OZQUAD44]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

EXACTLY what is was alluding to.

Mmmm, your right fellas, seem to me then the folks at Mercedes managed to get away with it, unfortunately the guys at Ford didn't.


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[Maka]

Originally Posted by OZQUAD44

Mmmm, your right fellas, seem to me then the folks at Mercedes managed to get away with it, unfortunately the guys at Ford didn't.


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Well 6 years is a long time to perfect a existing design, you cant say the Merc design is innovative now can you? Do you know who Peter Arcadapine is?

cheer's, Maka

[OZQUAD44]

Originally Posted by Maka

Well 6 years is a long time to perfect a existing design, you cant say the Merc design is innovative now can you? Do you know who Peter Arcadapine is?



cheer's, Maka

Can't say I do. At a guess I would say he is the guy who penned the awful looking AU, who then got the sack (obviously) and then went on to perform his "magic" at Mercedes?

I'm not a Mercedes devotee, nor did I intend this to be an au bashing session. I'm glad that there are people out there who have warmed to the AU.

I've always known it's a pretty good car from a reliability and dynamics perspective, it's just I can't hack the looks of the thing. The headlights completely dominated any attempts by ford to address the wonky front styling, and the rear quarter view blesses the viewer with a bloated mid section, and the rear end droops down. I'm not saying it's a bad car, For me, visually it just does not work. Good luck to you guys that love it. More power to you.






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[Legit290]

I really used to hate Holden Commodores.

Hang on. I still do

[Maka]

Originally Posted by OZQUAD44

Can't say I do. At a guess I would say he is the guy who penned the awful looking AU, who then got the sack (obviously) and then went on to perform his "magic" at Mercedes?

Good to see you are getting some facts straight now.

cheer's, Maka