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ugly body of the prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by trivialjoe, Feb 5, 2008.

  1. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Ugly is in the eye of the beholder (stealing someone else's line). The worst looking, most cartoony car I've ever seen was this, the Suzuki X-90

    Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Suzuki_x-90_red.jpg/800px-Suzuki_x-90_red.jpg

    I swear to god that this was going to be the first hyrbid vehicle but Suzuki chickened out at the last second. I can envision the big, metal wind up key that would mount on top of the trunk so you could "wind up" the car and it could travel 2 or more miles using the wind up motor.

    I seriously picture Goofy (of Disney fame) driving this same car in all sorts of Disney cartoons.....
     
  2. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    When the Honda hybrid Civic came out, DH and I circled one at the dealer's lot, and just couldn't quite get into the styling.

    When we decided, almost on a whim (OMG) that it was time to find me a better commute car, the Prius drew us like an electromagnet. There was absolutely NOTHING about the styling that we don't like.

    We bought the one we test drove. Two days later.
     
  3. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    While I agree with you what makes the x90 look OK is to park next to a
    [​IMG]
    RAV4 which I am not saying looks bad, just it has similar proportions.
    We have a short wheelbase RAV4 for wife's car.
     
  4. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Twins separated at birth!

    Pat, for the RAV 4, in your minds eye (or photoshop's eye) remove the back window and cover and replace it with a trunk (or "boot" is what I think you call it), and VOILA! We've got the same car!

    Ick.
     
  5. Jack66

    Jack66 Kinda Jovial Member

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    I was going to reluctantly bring up the RAV4 but you saved me the trouble. I find it hard to take that body style seriously. I'm not saying it is ugly, but it sure is ugly (oops - did I say that out loud?)
     
  6. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    i like the 2 seeted jeep
     
  7. moxiequz

    moxiequz Weirdo Social Outcast

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  8. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Here are two more for the ugly collection.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. Bob Allen

    Bob Allen Captainbaba

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    A nice lady in the parking lot asked me if Toyota was planning to make the Prius in another style, rather than the "Gay, Whacked-out Spaceship". I loved her comment and I now use it to define the Prius body style although I never thought it looked particularly gay (whatever that would look like).

    I think the body is cool and Toyota was brilliant in putting the hybrid technology in a unique body rather than hiding it the way Honda did.
     
  10. hybridgrl

    hybridgrl New Member

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    The Prius looks pretty darn good with Leo DiCaprio driving around in it from the pictures I've seen (albeit Leo would look good driving any car)!;)
     
  11. BubbaVO

    BubbaVO New Member

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    To my eye, the Prius has a radical body that has grown on me. I've tinted the windows and I'll get black alloys, but the shape is cool. It connotes to me the old Supras with the spoiler up at the top of the back window. If it was as wide as Camry and had some bigger wheel wells that were properly filled up, then you'd have a totally cool looking vehicle.

    As for the comments about form and function, I don't buy it. The early 80s Trans Am had a CD of .32 - the lowest for a production vehicle of the time. I can't recall if any major manufacturer has produced a 4 door with any similar CD. The features of the front of the T/A look nothing like the Prius.

    Regardless, the 2008 has grown on me.
     
  12. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    I'm not sure I see your point...

    You're correct, the Prius is not Toyota's best selling car but they do sell extremely well. I would also venture to say average days on the lot that the Prius has the lowest, or one of the lowest, in the Toyota lineup.
     
  13. SW Prius

    SW Prius New Member

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    It seems a bit silly to get on a site where people love Prius and then put it down! Are you a glutton for punishment?

    If you don't like the looks or ride of the Prius get something else. To ask why Toyota didn't it differently is a waste of time... besides which it has been hugely successful for them.

    I love the way my Prius looks. My next door neighbor has a Civic hybrid and it is boring. My friend's husband has one and he hates it and can't wait to get rid of it and get a Prius.
     
  14. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    It could be my fading memory, but I don't recall the TA having nearly so much room in the back seat. :cool:
     
  15. BubbaVO

    BubbaVO New Member

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    I'm a little unclear as to what you're suggesting, but my point in bringing up the T/A was to say that there are different ways to reduce the coefficient of drag. Did the Prius have to be so thick in the middle - nope. The designers could have streamlined the look to maximize cd if that was their ultimate goal. But that's not what their ultimate goal was. BTW - my kids, groceries, or the dog would find the back seat of the T/A roomy enough. My wallet would need to be custom fitted right by the gas tank, too. :)
     
  16. statultra

    statultra uber-Senior Member

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    we all got our opinions on styling of prius, personally i like it a lot, in comparison with other vehicles today its unique.

    im not sure if many people notice, but the Ford Focus looked like it borrowed a lot of styling from the NHW10/11 prius, and no one really says anything.

    Similar front lights, window shape and stuff.

    also in regard to drag coeff, my parents had a rover 820 ( called sterling 825 ) in the USA, it had a drag coeff of 0.27, and a honda 2.5 liter v6 this was in 1989.
     
  17. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I have mentioned this on this forum several times.
    Manufacturers who think Prius is beautiful enough to copy
    Nissan (Maxima profile but with boot and long bonnet)
    Citroen (C4 profile)
    Ford (Focus in profile)
    Mazda (Mazda 3 profile)

    Form follows function. Functional requirements for design team

    Must carry 4 people in comfort 5 at a pinch
    Low drag
    Look sexy
    Minimise space on the road
    Hatch back with room to carry stuff.
    Flat boot floor

    I think they hit every target.
     
  18. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    hey dont be sorry... no need. i personally know several people, including the person i share my life with who thought the Prius was, at the very least, "weird looking".

    all have changed their minds. you are not alone. for many, the look grows on them...
     
  19. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    My suggestion, and obviously I didn't make it very well, was something like even if the TA has the same CD, the Prius has more interior room.
     
  20. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    I originally thought the Prius was downright ugly. I was a die-hard Honda fan, and I'm sure that influenced my thinking a bit, but I didn't care for it one bit. I was first attracted to the Prius for its technical merit; kind of like a smart ugly girl, who gets better looking the longer you talk to her. The look started growing on me as I pondered the potential purchase. By the time of my test drive, I was hooked on the looks. Now I love the look of my little black beast.

    Tom