Beauty: In the Eye of the Beholder
Recently over at MSN Auto, writer Lawrence Ulrich compiled a list of what he describes as the mutants of the automobile industry ugly cars – and while I agree with the majority of the models taken to task for their less than stellar looks and failings, I was sad to find the Subaru Baja and Chevy SSR among the list of what Ulrich says are out-of-whack uglies. I know I’m probably in the minority, but the Subaru Baja brought this San Diego native nice, warm fuzzies of the California beaches back home, while the SSR, well…I just thought it was a cool looking truck.
According to Ulrich, here are the beasts that made his list:
• AMC Pacer
• Suzuki X-90
• 2008 Dodge Nitro
• 2006 Chevy SSR
• 2006 Mercedes Benz R-Class
• Isuzu VehiCROSS
• Pontiac Aztek
• 1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagon
• Subaru Baja
I think as women, we can appreciate a truly great looking car, but do we buy a car for looks, performance and handling, a little bit of both or something else entirely, such as safety features, fuel economy, cargo space…?
I know I can truly appreciate a car that gets great gas mileage, is a little on the roomy side and performs well in all kinds of weather conditions. If it was the ugliest car in town, I wouldn’t much care as long as it had the features which were most important to me, the way the car looks doesn’t really matter a whole lot to me. Now, that’s not to say I would want something hideously ugly, but even what I may think is fantastic looking, sleek or not so bad – like the Subaru Baja and Chevy SSR – others might very well have a much different opinion and believe it to be the ugliest ride in the neighborhood.
I know I can’t be the only one who has bought a car (or even considered buying a car) which perhaps wasn’t the most beautiful car on the road, and yet loved it, regardless of what people said or thought.
It’s true; I loved the Pacer and I’m not embarrassed to admit it.
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I like how the Subaru Baja looks too. Why does all cars have to look alike in order to look good?
I looked at the picture first, and then was suprised to read that the Baja was supposed to be ugly. I think it is great. I am not as big a fan of the SSR, but I do like the Aztek – I always have.
Was anyone else put off by the classist, sexist, etc. “jokes” in the “article”?
Yang – Good question!
Amie: Not sure if readers were put off by Ulrich’s article or not, but I thought the stereotyping was unnecessary – but that’s just me.