Cars you didn't like when they were new, but kind of like now...

[FakeConcern]

There are many cars I liked from when they were launched and also I can think of lots of cars that fit the criteria of the title, but will stick to three for this first post...

1) BL Maestro, never keen on them despite my best mate having one as his first company car, but now I'd even have an A series version, MG would be best obv

2) Skoda Estelle, the technician in my dept at work had one he replaced with an identical new one every couple of years at a time when all the Skoda jokes were around and I hated the thing, now I can see they actually had something

3) Austin Allegro, I actually had an Allegro Estate for a short while, the body was immaculate, but the A series engine trailed smoke behind it. Now I rather like them especially the sporty late model with quad headlights

So what about you?

[adw1977]

Funny looking Allegro!

[eddyramrod]

Actually I would have to agree about the Maestro and Estelle, having owned both.  My MG Maestro was particularly entertaining, but tbh the ol' Skoda was a lot of fun in its own right.

I never thought much of the Volvo 850, coming as it did after the 7- and 9-series, but after spending significant time with the forum-bike Hoy Wagon I have a new level of respect for it.

In American terms, I would never have thought I'd enjoy a Mercury Sable or Chevy Lumina sedan, but both were surprisingly capable and comfortable cars despite FWD.

[Wibble]

28 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

Funny looking Allegro!

Yes, looks like @grogee’s Maestro!🤣

For me nowadays, anything that has survived is of interest, up until about 1999. Anything 70s, 80s, or 90s being of most interest.

[wesacosa]

Mk1 Audi TT Coupé 

[Zelandeth]

Ford Ka is probably the first one which springs to mind for me.  I really wasn't a fan of the styling when they came out, but they've grown on me.

Always enjoyed them to drive as they handle so bloody well, just didn't like the styling.

Can't really think of any others on which my views have shifted hugely strongly in the positive direction.  A fair few cars I hoped to like which have disappointed me on the other hand.

[Remspoor]

8 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

BL Maestro, never keen on them despite my best mate having one as his first company car, but now I'd even have an A series version, MG would be best obv

That would be impossible obv.

[bangernomics]

95ish corolla hatch really just couldn’t stand them.

Especially the rear. Like a daewoo mashup of lets put a back end on afterthought.



Still wouldn’t.

[warch]

These were a popular secondhand car in the 90s, I always thought they looked a bit bland and dumpy compared to the rather sharper MK1 design. But I really like them now, especially the rear view which has shades of the Lancia Delta. 

Quite a few eighties designs have aged quite well imo. I especially like the low body line/large window area and small/thin door pillars, visibility is much better especially when reversing.

[Split_Pin]

My pals and I all slated these when they came out, just because they were a bit different at the time. One of their dads, who always chose unusual company cars, replaced his Xantia in 1999 with a blue 75. All I remember was that it was blue and had nice cloth seats. My pal took me for a spun in it but I still wasn't convinced on the weird dash design.

19 years later I bought my first 75 after wanting one for years and now I'm on my 3rd example.

[D.E]

BMWs of the Bangle era.

[Dan the van]

I have fond memories of my old Allegro 1275 super(!!).GPE 558N.Bought cheap as a stopgap Never let me down in 2 yrs of travelling between Chertsey and Merton bus garage at all hours of the day and night.All it ever needed was a radiator from the local scrappers(fiver mate).Still had the square steering wheel too which I kind of liked.I"d have another,VDP or estate pref.

[EyesWeldedShut]

If it has to be an Estelle then a Fastback please (My Dad bought a 1300 Estelle after I left home so that non-itch got a scratch now and then)

Matra Simca Bagheera would be my choice here - it was a shite card to have in our school bus Top Trumps tournament so was always discounted as a real car in real life by all of us lads.  How Many Left say 8 taxed and 14 SORN'd so that's an itch never to be scratched.

[Keymaster]

Another vote for Maestro's and the last of the MGs and Rovers here. I think it's because I'm now in the age range of their target market  😅

[Shite Ron]

The Rover SD1 is a car I did not like the styling of or the rather basic interior when new as they did not compare well to the Granada of the time, now I really like them.

The Triumph 2000 / 2500 always seemed a bit boring until recently, now I think they are rather stylish.

 

And another vote for the Maestro, for me though an early Vanden Plas with talking dash, nice as the MG is I do like a VP, no appeal when new due to FWD but compared to the modern dross we have to tolerate these seem great, great visibility too.

[Supernaut]

The first generation of BMW X5.

Hated them when new, but they look handsome compared to every generation of them since. They just look like a tall E39 touring.

[aotb]

2 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

If it has to be an Estelle then a Fastback please (My Dad bought a 1300 Estelle after I left home so that non-itch got a scratch now and then)

Matra Simca Bagheera would be my choice here - it was a shite card to have in our school bus Top Trumps tournament so was always discounted as a real car in real life by all of us lads.  How Many Left say 8 taxed and 14 SORN'd so that's an itch never to be scratched.

I think there’s a few more Bagheeras, partly down to DVLA registration variations.  It’s still a small number. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

44 minutes ago, aotb said:

I think there’s a few more Bagheeras, partly down to DVLA registration variations.  It’s still a small number. 

Last one I saw was around 1983 in London , W2 - it used to snuggle up to my 1.3 GL (phoar!) Escort in the resident's parking bays. 
I've not seen one in the flesh since, Mind you, not seen a Skoda Fastback since around the same time either

[RayMK]

Interesting that Skoda Estelles have had a few mentions. I was the same when they were new in that a colleague at work had one and the rest of us mocked him in the customary way.  Strange really because I had a rattly, rusty Triumph Herald estate at the time.  10 years or so passed then my son and I began our thoroughly enjoyable Skoda phase, having owned 3 Estelles and 3 Rapids, the last one being my 135RIC.  Also, 3 wheelers.  Couldn't see the point or the attraction when I was a motorcyclist but my wife moaned about the lack of a heater on my CZ175, forcing me to consider three wheelers until I passed my car test.  I went on to own a Regal 3-25 (which caught fire on the way to work), then about 30 years later bought an earlier sidevalve Regal and a Rialto about 10 years after.  I still have the Regal sidevalve.  Oh, I even had a Jawa 350 sidecar outfit for a few years.  3 wheelers have a peculiar charm despite my initial disinterest in them.  

[GeordieInExile]

8 hours ago, D.E said:

BMWs of the Bangle era.

Especially the 5 series. Really like them now, especially the estates. 

[FakeConcern]

20 hours ago, adw1977 said:

Funny looking Allegro!

Yes I put the Alfasud pic in as a cheeky nod to what the Allegro could so easily have been.

19 hours ago, wesacosa said:

Mk1 Audi TT Coupé 

I agree the Mk1 has a purity of line that could have come from the Bauhaus design school.,

17 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Ford Ka is probably the first one which springs to mind for me.  I really wasn't a fan of the styling when they came out, but they've grown on me.

Always enjoyed them to drive as they handle so bloody well, just didn't like the styling.

Can't really think of any others on which my views have shifted hugely strongly in the positive direction.  A fair few cars I hoped to like which have disappointed me on the other hand.

I could never get over the comment Jeremy Clarkson made that they look like a teapot, I can't unsee that image!

11 hours ago, Remspoor said:

That would be impossible obv.

Probably me being thick, but I don't understand unless my memory is wrong that the 1.3 came with an A+ engine?

10 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

My pals and I all slated these when they came out, just because they were a bit different at the time. One of their dads, who always chose unusual company cars, replaced his Xantia in 1999 with a blue 75. All I remember was that it was blue and had nice cloth seats. My pal took me for a spun in it but I still wasn't convinced on the weird dash design.

19 years later I bought my first 75 after wanting one for years and now I'm on my 3rd example.

That's a good choice, when they came out I felt they missed the mark of fun retro styling and went straight to old fart pastiche styling, now they actually look properly vintage! 

[Mrcento]

8 hours ago, Supernaut said:

The first generation of BMW X5.

Hated them when new, but they look handsome compared to every generation of them since. They just look like a tall E39 touring.

This. I do still think there's something a little awkward about the lower rear, but overall it is a lovely design now.

And i'd cautiously stick a vote in for Mk1 Cayennes as well.

Always thought they were ugly as sin. But they haven't aged horribly, still not a looker as such, but certainly not offensive now either.

[IronStar]

MPVs, but mostly Mk IV Espace that kinda epitomized the era here. I thought they’re all a bit shit, too big and not all that better at being a car than an estate.

Now that everything has turned into a humongous on the outside but small on the inside molten SUV blob, I see how much better MPVs were. Espace aged really well IMO, and once I got a lift in one, I absolutely see the appeal of a cavernous magic carpet. 

[Mrcento]

35 minutes ago, IronStar said:

MPVs, but mostly Mk IV Espace that kinda epitomized the era here. I thought they’re all a bit shit, too big and too not all that better at being a car than an estate.

Now that everything has turned into a humongous on the outside but small on the inside molten SUV blob, I see how much better MPVs were. Espace aged really well IMO, and once I got a lift in one, I absolutely see the appeal of a cavernous magic carpet. 

Good shout on the MPV's. I'd extend that to Mini MPV's like the original Megane Scenic as well.  Certainly the pre-facelift is now quite a handsome thing in the modern world of bloat. Original Zafira etc all tidy, albeit very functional designs.

[jon.k]

 Citroen C1

[ProgRocker]

Austin Montego saloon. I never liked that C pillar glass that didn't line up with the door but I really like them now. Well....I prefer the post 1988 facelift model. 

[Remspoor]

 

3 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Probably me being thick, but I don't understand unless my memory is wrong that the 1.3 came with an A+ engine?

When you wrote this 

23 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

Maestro, never keen on them despite my best mate having one as his first company car, but now I'd even have an A series version, MG would be best obv

his reads you are wanting a A series MG version. 

 

[Andyrew]

 C1 107 Aygo

Wank to look at but once you drive one it's easy to get them and understand why people liked them.

 

[grogee]

Morgans - since I did factory tour and bought a mug, I'm a big fan now. 

Six wheel Tyrrell

Sherpa FHC

All 80s American cars 

[artdjones]

Mk 8 Civics. I thought they were weird but the styling has definitely grown on me.