Worse* than the old model

[Formula Autos]

*All extremely subjective of course.

 

When would it have been better for a manufacturer to have stuck with the old model? I'm not talking about facelifts here, but where a complete replacement of a model of car has been a backward step for the manufacturer.

 

Some examples where I think this applies:

 

Mazda 323F:

This was a bit of a honey, even in fairly basic, placcy wheeltrimmed form, as seen here. A car with proper showroom appeal, which was replaced by this:

Not really a bad car, but Mazda dropped the ball here, surely?

 

SEAT Ibiza:

Not the world's most startling car, but a neat little thing. There's just a hint of slab-sidedness, but it just about gets away with it. It was succeeded (a facelift or two later) by this:

Which, to my eyes, doesn't quite look right. The engineering seemed to be a bit worse too, with a harsh ride and a far worse diesel engine option. These things just seemed a bit 'cheaper' to me in every respect.

 

And now, to the biggie. Vauxhall Cavalier:

A car for WINNARS, which was replaced by:

Basically, as with the Ibizas above, the same engineering and styling but, somehow, overall, less good than the Cavalier it replaced. Apart from the mirrors.

Or is that just a common misconception?

[Lacquer Peel]

EVERYTHING POST-2000.

[Rusty_Rocket]

As an owner of three classic Minis, I can honestly say I'm ashamed to see the same name on the modern equivalents- particularly the estate/ 4x4 monstrosities.

Original Mini was simple, understated and elegant. The modern ones are chintzy, bloated and imo a total embarrassment!!

[MrDuke]

In all fairness though, MINIs are made by a totally different company altogether so probably don't qualify as a 'replacement' (although the Rover prototype didn't exactly look much better...)

 

The 323 would probably be near the top of my list, too, as I have a real soft spot for the older shape. I'd probably include the 'goggle-eye' Impreza as well, which hasn't aged anywhere near as well as the older models imho, along with the Bangle BMWs (yes I know I'm supposed to fap myself silly over them, but I do not get the awkward bendy patchwork 'thing' at all)

 

Also, all the Maxi-inspired shapes that have started appearing - leaving aside any dislike for actual new cars, I just cannot see the appeal, at all. Unless you're going to do it properly and recreate the SD1 or 800 fastback, stick to proper saloons and estates ffs!

[Negative Creep]

Mazda 323F:

This was a bit of a honey, even in fairly basic, placcy wheeltrimmed form, as seen here. A car with proper showroom appeal, which was replaced by this:

Not really a bad car, but Mazda dropped the ball here, surely?

 

 

I always thought the later model looked much nicer

[chaseracer]

Mazda 323...?

 

 

That's better

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

This most elegant car was replaced by the monstrocity thats the 407.

 

In fact, there are a similar theme running across the Pug lineup form about the time when they stopped sending designs out to Pininfarina and took the whole thing in-house.

[MrDuke]

^^^ Damn, totally forgot about the Peugeot tragedy. The 406 coupe is still a bit of a watershed car to me, I really think it was the last (affordable & practical) car to have genuine style and beauty.

[Cavcraft]

Another example of the newer one being better looking is the Ka. The original was absolutely hateful where the new (FIAT based?) ones are much better looking and probably better made. Well, they couldn't be worse, that's for sure.

[willswitchengage]

 

 

Guess which was still being made most recently?

[Rod/b]

Rover 400 (r8) was miles better than the HHR 400 that replaced it, in almost every respect.

 

R51 Nissan Pathfinder isn't as good as the R50 Nindan Pissfather either. The old car was a monocoque type car that was better both on and off road compared to the truck chassis job that replaced it. The older car also tends not to be as generally CHRISTINGLY FUCKING SHIT as the new type either. I've lost count of how much i've spent fixing mine.

 

R51 has now been replaced by a glorified people carrier.

[ProgRocker]

I always thought that Renault Meganes, albeit improved with the facelifted mark 1 model, went downhill style wise from the Megane II.

 

Same with the Vauxhall Astra mark 2. I remember first seeing these as a 7 year old and thinking it was quite special. Even better looking post 1989 with the separate grille and snazzier CD spec but replacement Astras got progressively less interesting and lardier.

 

Agree about the Mazda 323F in the OP. IMO, this shape was the nadir of 323s in my eyes. The replacement was still good looking but not as edgy as the 323F. Perhaps Mazda played it safe as I guess their main customer base is 50+?

[ProgRocker]

Looking again at the Ibizas reminds me - SEAT Toledo is a strong contender:

 

Pleasant

 

Not so pleasant.

[Junkman]

EVERYTHING POST-2000.

 

EVERYTHING POST-1986.

[rml2345]

What about...

DECEMBER 1989 FORD ESCORT MK4 BONUS 1297cc G818PAV by Johns Car pictures and scans pages., on Flickr

 

Which was replaced with...

 

Ford Escort Mk5 by VAGDave, on Flickr

[Lukas]

Very good!

 

 

Even better!

 

 

Uargh...

 

 

Ugly and prone to expensive faults.

 

L

[Junkman]

*wallow*

 

*puke*

 

 

Shite:

 

Shit:

 

 

Chap:

 

Chav:

 

 

Class:

 

Arse:

[DodgyBastard]

 

 

to this heap

 

[willswitchengage]

Disagree with Civics. Every model they've made has been absolutely brilliant and an understated class leader.

 

Was in a friend's 1995my earlier with the 1.6 i-vtec on 160k and it goes like shit off a shovel.

 

^ old rapid and new one, obvz too.

[DSdriver]

Granada.

nuff said.

[J-T]

I'd definitely echo the Peugeot thing, the first thing that came into my head was the 306 (pretty, fairly reliable, pleasant to drive) being replaced by the 307 (none of those things). See also 205 vs 206.

 

Not sure I'd agree on the Ibiza, I quite like the later ones and what's so bad about VW PD diesels, we've had 3 PD 150 golfs they're that good?

 

On that note, this:

 

 

to this (the GTI at any rate):

 

[Micrashed]

^^^

these were great, simple to maintain, cheap and reliable.

I would have another 1100cc one tomorrow.

 

^^^

 

these were utter crap. Unreliable (especially in EFi guise), expensive and more complex than the Mk2, they also rust more than the Mk2.

I would rather shit in my hand and clap than buy another one of these

[alfetta]

^^^

these were great, simple to maintain, cheap and reliable.

I would have another 1100cc one tomorrow.

 

^^^

 

these were utter crap. Unreliable (especially in EFi guise), expensive and more complex than the Mk2, they also rust more than the Mk2.

I would rather shit in my hand and clap than buy another one of these

 

Oh I dunno. I aquired an F reg 1.4LX (carb) with 30K on the clock, in our family from new. I agree the mk2 was a better drive, but in it's favour the brakes were better (not the oh shit! mk2 brakes), more comfortable, more toys. Was hardly run in though, so no rust! If you find a 'nice' one they're OK, but most are not...

 

Our mk2 1.4L (e reg) was pretty much rotted out by 2002...was quite impressed with the rough old CVH lump though - 150K and still going strong! also had the bonus of being almost as quick as an Xr2, especially with more filler than metal!

[mk1_4dr]

Sierra

 

 

Saph

 

 

 

Mondeo mk1

 

 

 

Mk2, not so good.

 

[sco14]

When the Ford Cortina was replaced by the Sierra in October 1982, it was much easier to sell the Cortina after the launch of the Sierra.

[stuboy]

When the Ford Cortina was replaced by the Sierra in October 1982, it was much easier to sell the Cortina after the launch of the Sierra.

 

 

did u buy a sierra??

[sco14]

When the Ford Cortina was replaced by the Sierra in October 1982, it was much easier to sell the Cortina after the launch of the Sierra.

 

 

did u buy a sierra??

No I worked in a Ford retail dealer at that time.

[Junkman]

 

[Richard]

I would suggest the rot set in much earlier with these Tupperware-laden horrors.

 

 

Horrible. They even had the radio mounted where the passenger could reach it, who wants that?

[dieselnutjob]

Saab