But they're wrong

[catsinthewelder]

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10 ... hows_ssi_5

 

Theres several of my favourite cars here

[Alexg]

Piss-poor pointless article as many of these type are. However, it's refreshing to see a list of so called 'ugly cars' without an Allegro in sight.

[pogweasel]

You can keep your Ferrari, and the Hummer, but I'll happily look after the rest.

[Guest EccentricRichard]

Piss-poor pointless article as many of these type are. However, it's refreshing to see a list of so called 'ugly cars' without an Allegro in sight.

 

I can't say I can argue much with the list - but I'd take that Volvo 240 off and put the Allegro on. You know, I rather hope that, once Top Gear have destroyed every Marina on the planet, they start on the All-Aggros too...

 

I'd also take the Scooby pickup off... I like them. I'd take the DeLorean off too, because they're just cool. The LM002 would come off, too, because, like all Lambos, the usual conventions of design just don't apply. Weird geometrical-shaped double-cab pickup with a carburetted Lambo V12 that drinks like a fish? Yes please! I certainly don't think the E65 7-series deserves to be there, either. The Skoda Roomster is ugly, but kinda cute, and there's something strangely butch about the iQ - and, whatever they say, it certainly ain't unsafe.

[MK5 Escort]

I really like the look of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Maroon or black please. I'm not fussed on the rag top version though.

 

The DeLorean DMC-12 isn't exactly wonderful mechanically as we all know (shocking, actually) but it's a fabulous looking thing!

 

I'll give them Bangle’s 7 Series Beemer though... I didn't like it when I first saw them and I still don't like them now.

[Guest EccentricRichard]

I really like the look of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Maroon or black please. I'm not fussed on the rag top version though.

 

The DeLorean DMC-12 isn't exactly wonderful mechanically as we all know (shocking, actually) but it's a fabulous looking thing!

 

I'll give them Bangle’s 7 Series Beemer though... I didn't like it when I first saw them and I still don't like them now.

 

Yeah, the PT Cruiser is kind of cool. Converted to RWD with a big Hemi, preferably. The DMC-12 looks so good... seen the one from "Back To The Future" many times in the metal, and it just looks cool.

 

I still think Bangle is one of the most misunderstood designers of all time - the E65 was admittedly challenging at first (though nice from the side), but I thought the facelift model very pretty. Oh, and they could at least get the definition of 'Bangle Butt' right...

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Piss-poor pointless article as many of these type are. However, it's refreshing to see a list of so called 'ugly cars' without an Allegro in sight.

 

I can't say I can argue much with the list - but I'd take that Volvo 240 off and put the Allegro on. You know, I rather hope that, once Top Gear have destroyed every Marina on the planet, they start on the All-Aggros too...

 

Yes, hopefully the only classic cars left in 10 years will be universally accepted ones like Morris Minors, tartan red MGBs, sports RWD Escorts etc.

Death to everything regularly featured in 'Britain's Top 94 Worst Ugly Cars That My Dad Drove'-type lists.

[Guest EccentricRichard]

Piss-poor pointless article as many of these type are. However, it's refreshing to see a list of so called 'ugly cars' without an Allegro in sight.

 

I can't say I can argue much with the list - but I'd take that Volvo 240 off and put the Allegro on. You know, I rather hope that, once Top Gear have destroyed every Marina on the planet, they start on the All-Aggros too...

 

Yes, hopefully the only classic cars left in 10 years will be universally accepted ones like Morris Minors, tartan red MGBs, sports RWD Escorts etc.

Death to everything regularly featured in 'Britain's Top 94 Worst Ugly Cars That My Dad Drove'-type lists.

 

No, but the All-Aggro was such a hopeless car, a prime example of everything that was wrong with the British motor industry at the time. It quickly descended into bangerdom and will never rise to classic status. Of course, not all classics will be universally accepted... the SD1 is still laughed at, but it's a great bit of design.

 

Also, are you seriously suggesting that the Mk3/Mk4/Mk5 Escorts were good enough to warrant preservation? I've known enough of them and they haven't had a single redeeming feature. Not one.

[morris_ital_lover]

Standard piss poor internet article, you could havve changed ugliest for worst or any other derogative and nobody would have known the differance. Theres alot of cars on that list that are either quirky or slightly ungainly but not necessarily ugly.....

 

m0rris

[morris_ital_lover]

No, but the All-Aggro was such a hopeless car, a prime example of everything that was wrong with the British motor industry at the time. It quickly descended into bangerdom and will never rise to classic status. Of course, not all classics will be universally accepted... the SD1 is still laughed at, but it's a great bit of design.

 

Also, are you seriously suggesting that the Mk3/Mk4/Mk5 Escorts were good enough to warrant preservation? I've known enough of them and they haven't had a single redeeming feature. Not one.

 

I have to say that whilst the all aggro was a hopeless car and the marina was as well it shoudnt warrant them being destroyed completely, they were a huge part of our roadscene at the time. In all honesty though I would actually say that the allegro has been accepted by the classic fraternity as well as marinas and other 70s grot boxes. The success of a design shouldnt necessarily impact on its worthiness for preservation, for example, on the railways the class 56 was a truly hopeless locomotive class which were clearly locos on the cheap and lazy side of things but it doesnt mean that no should be preserved though!

 

m0rris

[Guest EccentricRichard]

I have to say that whilst the all aggro was a hopeless car and the marina was as well it shoudnt warrant them being destroyed completely, they were a huge part of our roadscene at the time. In all honesty though I would actually say that the allegro has been accepted by the classic fraternity as well as marinas and other 70s grot boxes. The success of a design shouldnt necessarily impact on its worthiness for preservation, for example, on the railways the class 56 was a truly hopeless locomotive class which were clearly locos on the cheap and lazy side of things but it doesnt mean that no should be preserved though!

m0rris

 

Yeah, I would suggest keeping one of each in the Gaydon museum, as a warning to future generations... but I'd have them banned from the country's roads.

 

As for that Class 56? Well, I'm a hardcore steam man, but I like a few diesels (principally the Western, the Warship, the Deltic, the Class 40, the Class 37, the Southern Region 73, the 'Peak' and the old Class 71 electric). However, I don't understand the appeal of the 56... you say it's hopeless. I say it looks just like a Class 47 (itself no looker). Why should anyone bother to preserve them?

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

No, but the All-Aggro was such a hopeless car, a prime example of everything that was wrong with the British motor industry at the time. It quickly descended into bangerdom and will never rise to classic status. Of course, not all classics will be universally accepted... the SD1 is still laughed at, but it's a great bit of design.

 

Also, are you seriously suggesting that the Mk3/Mk4/Mk5 Escorts were good enough to warrant preservation? I've known enough of them and they haven't had a single redeeming feature. Not one.

 

zzzzz....

Why's the Allegro an example of 'wrongness'? It sold well, had good handling and ride, was quite advanced, and they've survived in quite strong numbers. I'd say it's a great bit of design too.

At least BL tried to do something different.

 

I'm pretty indifferent about FWD Escorts really. I can't get very riled up about them.

[morris_ital_lover]

Yeah, I would suggest keeping one of each in the Gaydon museum, as a warning to future generations... but I'd have them banned from the country's roads.

 

As for that Class 56? Well, I'm a hardcore steam man, but I like a few diesels (principally the Western, the Warship, the Deltic, the Class 40, the Class 37, the Southern Region 73, the 'Peak' and the old Class 71 electric). However, I don't understand the appeal of the 56... you say it's hopeless. I say it looks just like a Class 47 (itself no looker). Why should anyone bother to preserve them?

 

Personally I like the idea of preservation as a way of being able to see ones past regularly, but then again my idea of a perfect driveway would have a yellow br marina van and a champagne ital with a vinyl roof! Everything merits preservation regardless of whether it was good or not, the 56s were pants but they were prolific on heavy duty trains throughout their life and a massive part of the railscene of the late 70s/80s/90s. I do agree though that the earlier diesels are emminently more rateable, particularly 37s and 55s (not that I ever saw the deltics in action and I only caught the last 5 years of the 37s )!

 

m0rris

[Guest EccentricRichard]

Why's the Allegro an example of 'wrongness'? It sold well, had good handling and ride, was quite advanced, and they've survived in quite strong numbers. I'd say it's a great bit of design too.At least BL tried to do something different.

 

I'm pretty indifferent about FWD Escorts really. I can't get very riled up about them.

 

The All-Aggro arrived in 1973 and had a 1951-vintage pushrod engine, plus no hatchback. The Volkswagen Golf hit the market in 1974, had a brand-new OHC engine and a hatchback (oh, and a circular steering wheel). Also, the All-Aggro rusted like buggery (unlike the Golf), looked really dumpy and frumpy (unlike the Golf), was extremely badly built (I remember my dad telling me of his driving instructor up near Dundee relating how, after heavy snowfall one night, there was snow on the seats and in the footwells, as well as on top of the car, "and I opened the boot, and what was there? MAIR SNAW!". The 1-year-younger Golf was light years ahead, much better-built, much more practical, much more reliable. OK, so the All-Aggro rode well, but its handling was nothing to write home about (certainly not as sharp as the Golf), and it certainly didn't have enough good points to redeem itself from utter awfulness. The Allegro was a hopeless pile of junk. If it hadn't been, we wouldn't have our roads so full of Golfs. End of.

[Guest EccentricRichard]

Yeah, I would suggest keeping one of each in the Gaydon museum, as a warning to future generations... but I'd have them banned from the country's roads.

 

As for that Class 56? Well, I'm a hardcore steam man, but I like a few diesels (principally the Western, the Warship, the Deltic, the Class 40, the Class 37, the Southern Region 73, the 'Peak' and the old Class 71 electric). However, I don't understand the appeal of the 56... you say it's hopeless. I say it looks just like a Class 47 (itself no looker). Why should anyone bother to preserve them?

 

Personally I like the idea of preservation as a way of being able to see ones past regularly, but then again my idea of a perfect driveway would have a yellow br marina van and a champagne ital with a vinyl roof! Everything merits preservation regardless of whether it was good or not, the 56s were pants but they were prolific on heavy duty trains throughout their life and a massive part of the railscene of the late 70s/80s/90s. I do agree though that the earlier diesels are emminently more rateable, particularly 37s and 55s (not that I ever saw the deltics in action and I only caught the last 5 years of the 37s )!

 

m0rris

 

Yeah, but you like Marinas and Itals, so I think we can discount your views (no offence, but you do have wonderfully terrible taste in cars)

[Richard]

The All-Aggro arrived in 1973 and had a 1951-vintage pushrod engine, plus no hatchback. The Volkswagen Golf hit the market in 1974, had a brand-new OHC engine and a hatchback (oh, and a circular steering wheel). Also, the All-Aggro rusted like buggery (unlike the Golf), looked really dumpy and frumpy (unlike the Golf), was extremely badly built (I remember my dad telling me of his driving instructor up near Dundee relating how, after heavy snowfall one night, there was snow on the seats and in the footwells, as well as on top of the car, "and I opened the boot, and what was there? MAIR SNAW!". The 1-year-younger Golf was light years ahead, much better-built, much more practical, much more reliable. OK, so the All-Aggro rode well, but its handling was nothing to write home about (certainly not as sharp as the Golf), and it certainly didn't have enough good points to redeem itself from utter awfulness. The Allegro was a hopeless pile of junk. If it hadn't been, we wouldn't have our roads so full of Golfs. End of.

 

I remember the 1970s and I can tell you the roads were more full of Allegros than Golfs, in fact I seem to recall the Golf being a slow starter sales-wise- possibly because it was a bit ahead of its time. The Allegro did come with a new OHC engine and a five speed box as well as the A series. The Allegro didn't rust like buggery either, though I think the early Golfs did. I suspect that not many people have driven a Quartic wheeled Allegro, only the very early ones were so equipped, but I have. It worked very well.

 

I wouldn't think the Golf would be a major recipient of lost Allegro sales anyway, they would more likely go to the Ford Escort or Vauxhall Viva- both still soldiering on with first generation OHV engines.

 

Don't get me wrong, there was plenty wrong with the Allegro, both in build and design, but your case against seems to have been lifted straight from The Lazy Journalist's Big Book of Cars.

 

Besides, this is a forum for people who see the like cars that aren't conventionally good.

[Mr Lobster]

I'm utterly sick of these lists produced by piss poor journalists and endlessly linked from MSN or wherever.

 

Same goes for this thread.

 

Zzzzzzzzzz

 

+1

 

However, EccentricRichard. You know that Autoshite is all about liking stuff like Allegros irrespective of whether they were any good or not don't you?

[morris_ital_lover]

Yeah, but you like Marinas and Itals, so I think we can discount your views (no offence, but you do have wonderfully terrible taste in cars)

 

Um... this is AUTOSHITE. .

 

m0rris

[Torsten2001]

I'm utterly sick of these lists produced by piss poor journalists and endlessly linked from MSN or wherever.

 

Same goes for this thread.

 

Zzzzzzzzzz

 

+1

 

However, EccentricRichard. You know that Autoshite is all about liking stuff like Allegros irrespective of whether they were any good or not don't you?

 

+1

 

Boring thread, boring fu*king statements on how shit Leyland product was, it sold & lasted well, I'm sure there's plenty of dub sites you can join

[mattblack]

the All-Aggro rusted like buggery (unlike the Golf)

 

RLY?

 

I remember my dad telling me of his driving instructor up near Dundee relating...

 

My sister's mate's cousin's next door neighbour said... yadda yadda...

[aled]

wot a load of bollox, i like most of the list but i would like my fleet to include :- the bond, lagonda, watburg,rancho,subaru pickup,delorean,toyota space cruser,nissan s cargo,rav, and the cube.

[Formula Autos]

I rather hope that, once Top Gear have destroyed every Marina on the planet, they start on the All-Aggros too...

 

You're not really a 'shiter, are you?

 

If you were, you wouldn't want every Marina and Allegro destroyed.

 

To me, Autoshite is a home for lovers of the unloved.

 

The place where the mundane motors of yesteryear are remembered fondly, and cars of dubious quality (be it due to their ride, handling, performance, appearance, build quality, or whatever) are recognised as having contributed to the vast collective automotive memories that we hold. To us shiters, every car has a worth. Some, it's true, have more worth than others. That is subjective, and leads to many a debate here. Every car, however obscure, was once owned by someone, or their Dad, Uncle, Auntie, someone down the street, teacher, or whoever. They're part of our past, and we'd like at least some of them to survive into the future. All of which could be said of most people into classic cars, but Autoshite goes further. We appreciate the cars that others would dismiss as worthless, or crap, or not worthy of saving for the future.

 

Eventually, we realise, they may become bona fide classics in the (perhaps very) long run, but that if we don't appreciate them now, and unless some of us take in these waifs and strays, they'll die out forever. That's why we congratulate those who 'haz got nu shite'.

 

Every car has a worth, and possibly even a champion, on here. We may chuckle at them at times, and be downright disparaging about some, but I don't think any true 'shiter would ever want to see every last one of a model of car wiped from existence. We may go about it in a humorous, perhaps even zany way, but we all value the historical value of every car, despite the accepted wisdom of the motoring press and general public.

 

Although some of us would never wish to own an Allegro or Marina, we no doubt wish well those who do. Those who are keeping the BL street furniture of our past in existence.

 

Why we do it, I don't know. Maybe we're nostalgic. Maybe we like swimming against the tide. Maybe we're, on some level, doing it for those who used to build, sell, own, fix, or covet these cars. Possibly, we're just weird.

 

But none of us would want a car to be just a memory. Merely a picture on a website or in a book.

 

Except Pog, in relation to Metros.

 

Rant over. Please feel free to disagree. It's probably a load of old shite anyhow.

[Alexg]

Thank god for Formula Autos. For a short while I thought I was on a lesser Twat car forum.

 

AS isn't a forum that you should fight for the rights and beliefs of BL product lovers. I love Allegros and so does every winner on this site. Because after all, that's why we are here.

[Guest]

The only thing I can take away from this article is that he really dislikes car-based pickups. The El Camino is hardly well-disliked.

[eddyramrod]

The El Camino is hardly well-disliked.

 

Certainly not where I am! I'd have one like a shot, from almost any year of production, though I do think the late-70s/early-80s style works particularly well.

 

I've said for many years that in order to have 40-year-old cars to admire, someone has to look after them when they're 20 years old. That someone is clearly all the members of this forum, with what appears to be one singular exception. Somebody buy him a new Golf and let him go back to where he belongs. We'll stay here and buy more shares in Kurust...

[barrett]

To me, Autoshite is a home for lovers of the unloved. The place where the mundane motors of yesteryear are remembered fondly, and cars of dubious quality (be it due to their ride, handling, performance, appearance, build quality, or whatever) are recognised as having contributed to the vast collective automotive memories that we hold.

 

Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

No one here should ever have to defend their automotive fetishes, be they 70s BL tat, rusty Italian shitboxes or 90s Vauxhalls - they are all valid and interesting in their own ways.

 

 

Essentially, if you don't like Tagoras then GTFO.

[dieselnutjob]

concerning that site, why no SsangYong Rodeo ?

 

I went to Uxbridge motor show a couple of years ago. I remember seeing rows of Escort RS2000s and Rovers P6s. Nothing wrong with those cars but I enjoyed the fact that I had the only pre 1980s Peugeot there. There are so many cars that have just dissappeared.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

concerning that site, why no SsangYong Rodeo ?

 

 

I don't mind the Rodius, at least it's a bit interesting to look at for what is an enormous people shifter. It isn't nearly as ugly as the hateful Peugeot 308.

[whitevanman]

deleted incase it was misunderstood

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

 

They are design visionaries at Ssangyong. I'd quite happily buy one of these Musso pick-ups, much less offensive than an L200 or Navara.