Time to close out our series of posts identifying the most “jaw dropping” cars of the previous decades (60s, 70s, 80s, 90s). I’d like to thank the many commentators again for all the insightful comments on the previous articles – lots of cars I overlooked and it was great to see them highlighted.
The decade of 2000-2009 certainly had more than its fair share of stand-outs. Design, power, refinement, technology…..all are clearly on display in some of the most stylish and fastest production cars ever built. So let’s get started; same ROE – top 5 cars that “hit your gut” emotionally in a good way. And don’t be shy – if you don’t see your favorite, share it – we respect all views.
2002 Mini Cooper
A retro home-run – captured the quirkiness and cheeky good nature of the original with modern conveniences and safety. Unfortunately, if various surveys are to be believed, it failed to improve upon the original’s reliability. But a great retro design done right and a very fun car to drive.
2002 Ferrari Enzo
You know a car is special when Ferrari endows it with the name of the great “Il Commendatore” – and this one was special – especially the price – $650K to start but routinely trading for $1 million or above. All carbon-fiber construction and an 8200 redline, 650 hp V-12. The styling did receive some criticism, but I thought it was a stand-out.
2006 Ford GT
“I can’t believe Ford built this” – those were my words when I first saw the Ford GT – how could a company that got the 2002 T-Bird so wrong get this one so right. And they got it “all” right – design, engine, suspension – everything. The 550 hp supercharged 5.4 litre engine made it one of the quickest cars of this decade. A beautiful tribute to a legendary car and a legend in its own right – couldn’t have been done better.
2006 Corvette Z06
The aughts were really a golden decade for Corvettes. The C5 had up to 405 hp and the C6 took performance to another level with the Z06 and ZR1. While the ZR1 had more horsepower, the Z06 was the one that dropped my jaw – a 427 cu in naturally aspirated V8 putting out 505 hp. Old school muscle in a modern package.
2008 Nissan GT-R
Nissan’s reply to the question; “what do you get when Godzilla snacks on the leftovers of the Fukushima nuclear power plant.” Answer: 485 hp, 434 ft lbs of torque, rear-mounted 6 spd dual clutch transmission, and all wheel drive. How stunning was this car’s performance? How about 2.7 seconds to 60 mph and 11.6 seconds in the quarter mile – that is stunning. Could go toe-to-toe with a Porsche 911 Carrera, Audi R8 or BMW M3 – and leave them in its atomic dust.
Honorable Mention
2000 Ford F-150 Lightning Pickup (introduced in 1999 but only limited production)
2004 Porsche Carrera GT
2005 Bugatti Veyron
2007 Fiat 500
2008 Dodge Challenger
The 2007 Dodge Caliber is my choice. Not that it was that great or even that bad. Attaching macho truck styling and jacked up seating position on an compact aimed at the world market could have really hit big and tore away one of the last strongholds of the conventional car. Instead jaws dropped but wallets stayed closed. Maybe a little earlier and without the CVT?
I was impressed when I first saw a Dodge Caliber. The chiseled look to its front end looked expensive, far beyond what one would have expected from a “Neon replacement” which was essentially what it was.
I always liked the Caliber. It gets a major bad rap, on account of the interior being a bit plasticky. Whatever. The SRT version was a rocket, and the overall look has moxie. Id imagine that the Caliber was more the successor to the PT Cruiser more than the Neon, even. Id pick that useful and eyecatching 5 door hatch bodystyle ANY day over a worthless and dorky looking sedan like the Neon or Dart.
I wouldn’t consider the Ford GT or Mini jaw-dropping, considering how retro they were. Especially the Ford GT which was extremely close to the original.
Ferrari Enzo and Nissan GT-R seem like good choices.
2003-2004 Mustang Cobra, aka Terminator. The penultimate Fox derived car.
Minor correction on the Ford GT, it was 5.4 liters, not 5.8. That displacement didn’t exist in the modular engine family until the GT500 5 years later
Thanks – corrected. Jim.
Sure, but the Taurus is a fwd tub though, much like an Audi.
I would add:
2005 Mustang
2004 Nissan Titan
The Mustang paved the way for the retro Camaro and Challenger to return. The 60’s revisited…for better and worse.
The Titan came out with a bang but went out with a whimper. While the Tundra was first and has done better in the marketplace, in my eyes the Titan was the first serious challenge to the domestics. And easily the most appealing one.
OK maybe they were not necessarily “jaw dropping,” but they were historically significant.
I remember the retro Mustang was a big deal at the time. Although I would argue the retro VW New Beetle of the 90’s paved the way for retro styled cars
I wouldn’t dispute that, but an argument could also be made for the Prowler, even if it was a commercial failure.
I thought the retro mustang was a letdown compared to the concept a few years earlier, and that concept was more impactful. The production 05s with that blocky frowny face and black headlight buckets, gigantic truck like side mirrors and huge soft behind really looked compromised. The production Camaro and Challenger were much more faithful to their respective concepts.
Perhaps, but the Mustang was more practical than the Camaro, and I have always thought the Challenger looked like a bloated slab-sided caricature of the original.
I think any fault in the Challenger is also present in the 05-14 Mustangs. They’re very bloated compared to their SN95 predecessors, and practicality wise the Challenger trumps both, it actually has a usable rear seat
I have always liked the ’05-’09 Mustang. In fact I own a 2009 coupe. Having also owned an ’03 I have to say that I now prefer the design of the former model. I also once owned a ’73 Challenger and can appreciate and like the design, however, I do think it looks a bit pudgy. I never have liked the ’10 Mustang update and feel that the rear end looks a lot like the Dodge Neon. I really don’t care for the ’15-’16 redesign. Just because other cars have fat hips doesn’t mean they need to be copied.
I am also not fond of the Camaro. I don’t see how the ” all new” ’16 redesign looks all that different. Automotive journalists must like it, though as they have been promoting it all year, not unlike they were doing the Mustang last year.
+1, naturally…. but you and I have a biased opinion, Rick. ;o)
That pic looks like I am looking at my own car sitting in the snow. Mine has the Bullitt wheels and the Pony package with the side stripe deleted. I don’t like my cars cluttered up. They do look best in black. I think we are on to something! Since I live in a town of GM lovers, it’s nice to have a fellow traveler.
Yeah, Rick, that was one thing that attracted me to this car… You know EXACTLY what it is… It doesn’t need a stripe on the side that says “MUSTANG”. Now that being said, I’ll take a Shelby in Wimbledon White with Blue Stripes, please! – but that’s different.
I’m with the Ricks – the ’05 Mustang redesign was outstanding. Its clean, purposeful styling has endured in a way the ’10 models just seem slightly gimmicky. I still would want a 2005 – ’09 – fastback or convertible.
I also have never liked the squinty eyed look of the ’10 headlights. I understand that they need to update a design every so often, but I don’t think that one was done right. Just my opinion. The ’13-’14 update doesn’t look too bad from the front, but they still have that Neon look to the rear. I have told my wife that if anything happens to mine, I will have to look for another black ’05-’09 Mustang since I don’t like the new ones either
I have to agree. I did not really like the ’10 thru ’12, but when they changes it in 2013, I liked it again. I especially didn’t like the taillights on the that 10-12 sub-generation, but the 13-14 taillights are nice… Here’s a rear shot of my Dad’s car…
As far as the new 2015-2016 Mustang goes, I’m still not sure about it. Like the new Impala, the front is cool, and it looks pretty nice from the side, but on both of those cars, it looks like they just phoned in the back ends of each.
Everything is a bit ‘bloated’ these days. It is what it is. Granted, the ’05 Mustang came off as a caricature of the ’67 fastback it apes. But compared to the Mustang II and the ’93-’04 BlobStang…well…there ya go. All of the modern ponies have nits to pick no doubt. But if you fired up the ole’ flux capacitor and brought someone from 1971 to today…Id bet theyd recognize all 3 for what they are, as opposed to some of the questionable cars that preceded them. But I think the Camaro is the one that would be toughest to name. Its by far the farthest from the original.
FWIW, I came VERY close to having an affair with a ’06 Mustang. But Ma Mopar brought me right back with the Challenger…
Agree on the 2004 Titan. First time I saw it, I thought who would buy a truck that looks like that? It got better looking after I saw a few on the road.
Me, it turns out. Good truck. Although it still has less than 15k miles on it, I really need to get it out more now that gas cheaper. Still looks almost new.
And it is only now being replaced by the new 2016 after a 12 year run, although it wasn’t planned to stay the same for so long. I’m happy the rebadged Ram plan didn’t work out.
I had to put it on the charger for a few minutes to start it yesterday, time to replace the original battery!
2003 Cadillac CTS, the first car with Cadillac’s Art and Science design language, not like anything else on the market at the time.
2006 Honda Civic, while somewhat controversial, the dual level instrument panel and wedge shape was a radical departure from prior Civics.
2001 Pontiac Aztec, while definitely controversial and arguably not the best looking, or best selling, it did foreshadow the upcoming crossover craze.
Those are three very good choices. Not to imply that I like any of them, I think they’re all kind of ugly.
Oh yeah forgot about the Aztec. That has to be #1. Even the kindest critics questioned the styling. Perhaps the vehicle that doomed Pontiac.
CTS is a good choice too, and I could maybe be convinced on the Civic.
Agreed, the Aztec is not a pleasant looking design.
Now i f onr go back to the actual concept, and imagine it in badass form, with several option v8’s, rear or allwheel drive, its an entirely different vehicle.
Especially the rear end got a very unfortunate shape, presumably to fit the minivan foundation its built on. Was the insistence on building it on a minivan platform an afterthought, perhps as a cost saving measure, implemented late in the development process phase?
Because the prototype show none of that unfortunate rear end, in fact it doesn’t seem to be based on a minivan at all. And had way larger wheel and tire package to boot, and totally fave another one impression entirely.
(Img)https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6teUswPIsnA/maxresdefault.jpg(/img)
(Img)http://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2010/10/09/47332bb5-f0f9-11e2-8c7c-d4ae52e62bcc/resize/1170xauto/8b9fa541b170bb2fe19e70fc5593444c/conceptTranslation_04.jpg(/img)
Trying again.
The doors on the actual production vehicle is also way taller. Its as if the design was streched vertically to reach up to the minivans roofline, then added flimsy little wheels and tires, and the disaster is complete.
The original rear tucked under, way more pleasant, the production version actually sticks out, and has a bit of a hunchback. Sad.
Another, showing that pesky Aztec rear end, and how it actually was intended to look kind of decent, initially.
WHY didn’t they keep the production model faithful to that concept? The little things like proportion really sank the dumpster fire that was ultimately produced.
And yet, Id take an Aztec over ANY 4 door beigemobile. At least the ‘Tek has some character.
The 2003 CTS hasn’t aged well in my eyes, but was stunning back in its day – especially compared to the contemporary Seville, which soon gained a tendency to sit on dealer lots for years.
Ford GT. Saw one in Jack Roush’s parking lot out back in Gulf colors; it was exceptional.
Land Rover Discovery 3 (LR3 in some markets, I believe). Brutalist design on four wheels.
I commend the author for properly specifying that the “Oughts” are 2000-09. And not going on until present time.
When 2010 ended, there were all these “it’s the end of a decade” stories, but 2009 was actual end.
Too many media writers or trendsetters still speak as if y2K was “only a few years ago”, not 16. And the 90’s were simply “10 years ago”.
But then, the early 1900’s and 1910’s have no historical adjective like “roaring 20’s”, etc. Will the 2020’s get one?
Well I always referred to the period between 2000 and 2009 as the “Awful Oughts” 🙂
Alternatively, when referring to a period of time by its ordinal number (20th century, 3rd millennium, etc.) the beginning is XXX1 and end is XXX0, since 0 wasn’t a year on the B.C./A.D. time scale.
Jaw dropping is finding this under the hood of a C-segment hatchback.
Well… yes and no. The 147 wasn’t exactly pretty, or gracious or… you get the point.
However, this one was. So I’d say, open the bonnet of your C/D sedan and…
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Alfa_156_grey.jpg
That looks good under any hood and sounds even better.
Whoo, not easy. Cars I would certainly include:
* Bugatti Veyron. Yes, it’s ridiculous. But they actually made a car capable of 400km/h.
* BMW E60 5-series. The earlier iterations of the Bangle BMWs were not really mass-market models, this is the car that made it mainstream and, 13 years after introduction, still doesn’t really look outdated. Idem for the E87 1-series and the E90 3-series.
* Fiat Grande Punto. In an age of increasingly cartoonish small cars, the Punto showed it’s possible to make a smaller model that can actually look good and be spacious at the same time (dynamically, it lost against the Fiesta though). The more mature look of B-segment cars today shows it was very much ahead of its time.
* VW Golf V GTI. The hot hatchback was back, to stay. Much better car than the Golf V R32, for being much more agile, as a hot hatch should be.
* Chevrolet Camaro. Like the Mustang and Challenger, it’s retro, but in a more modern, futuristic way.
* Jaguar XF. Jag finally decided the Middle Ages were over and jumped right into the present.
* Opel Insignia. Who would expect such a gracious car from Opel? Tellingly, it’s still in production 8 years later, without looking very outdated. So good it revived Buick.
* Renault Laguna coupé. A dying segment, but how stunning it is.
* Alfa Romeo 159 & Brera. The dynamics might not be entirely on par with the 156 & Spider, but oh-dear-are-they-gorgeous.
* Audi A6 (2004). Easily the best iteration of Audi’s design language that has since been majorly overused.
Other honourable mentions: Acura TL, Fiat 500, Mazda RX8, Opel Vectra OPC. I’m sure I’ve missed few.
Excellent list BeWo, especially the Veyron! My 2 cents worth:
* The E60 was the first time I ‘got’ a BangleMW’s style, and it still seems very current to me.
* Followed a Grande Punto to work this morning, certainly a nice contrast to other small cars, as is the Golf V.
* I’d go for the ’05 Mustang over the Camaro; the ‘stang impacted much more strongly with me upon launch than the slit-windowed Camaro. It seemed to signal a brave and confident Ford.
* The Jag XF is right up there with the Veyron; I actually prefer the old XF to the new one which seems to have lost its way a tad.
* My jaw dropped great-looking (Vauxhall) Insignias in the metal a couple years ago in England; they’ve recently been launched here as the Holden Insignia. Great styling that doesn’t look like a Mondeo clone or a me-too wannabe design.
* I didn’t even know Renault built a Laguna coupe, but the wagons are pretty stunning too.
* The 159 & Brera! Stunning, just stunning! Quite a few here; always fabulous to see in traffic. Former workmate had a 159 wagon, black with caramel leather interior, very tasty.
* I had to google the 2004 A6 to remind myself which shape it was; certainly one of the more pure versions of Audi’s design language, but I thought the previous C5 model was stylistically and culturally more significant.
* Not sure about the TL or Vectra, but agree with the 500 and RX8.
Well, the Mustang came first and really broke upon a new market segment: the retro muscle car. I agree, Ford deserves credit for it. Re the Vectra OPC, that’s just because it’s so mad, even without Jeremy Clarkson’s enforced understeer. Stunning that Opel would do something so patently ridiculous.
*I’m a little biased in my pick.
2005 Dodge Magnum/Chrysler 300. After a long progressive march to turn pretty much everything to FWD, and after a pretty successful run of 1st and 2nd gen LH cars…. Chrysler comes out with a big, V8 powered RWD platform that spawns the mini-Bently 300 and the wagon-only Dodge Magnum.
The wagon market was damn near extinct unless you wanted to shell out for an Audi or Benz. Then along comes the Magnum and a year later, the SRT8 versions with 425HP. I love mine, and it was a knock out when it first came out. Wanted one ever since I saw the SRT8.. now I’ve got one.
Agreed, it was a surprise when these came out, thats such brawny sedans could be made anymore. The 300 looked very good as initially designed, and still holds up today. Unfortunately the redesigns seem to keep making it ever blander. Drives good, I like mine. Hemi power is just right for it. Cant go wrong stylewise in any situation.
I wish Ford would come out with their Ford Interceptor concept from a few years back. Ill never buy any of the fwd sedans. Id just aswell get a minivan instead then.
The interceptor looked even better than the new Lincoln that just came out. And perhas it could convince a few of the people who now obly get trucks, to get back into a car again. All this fwd garbage wobt cut it for those who like their vehicles on the big and powerful side.
If only the domestics could stop copying Hyubday and Kia when they design their sedans, perhaps they could be successful at it again.
When you drive a 300 in the US today, and want to upgrade to something newer, built in a similar manner, US made, what are the choices?
Sadly, none.
I dont include the chevy SS, as its more of a layover.
The Ford Interceptor looks a lot like a 2010 Ford Taurus, especially from the back.
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Ford_Taurus/2010/photos-exterior/angular-rear/
Hit kind of does, but its a fwd tub though, much like Audi.
+1, Brian. The Magnum was a revelation. Really, the first wave of LXs all were. Took me some time to warm up to the 300 as Im VERY anti-sedan, but all of them are very appealing cars. Challenger and Magnum are my faves.
A bunch of those circa 2004 Nissan cara were eye catching including the Quest and I too wish the Caliber was as good as it’s looks.
“Jaw-Dropping” might be a bit of a stretch, but consider the humble PT Cruiser. They were retro-Styled and at the same time practical. Non-Mopar people bought them. People who previously had never purchased an American car bought them. As I’ve said before you expect a Porsche and a Corvette to be eye-catching, but it was pretty cool when Chrysler gave The Car That Mom and Dad Drive some very distinctive styling.
Agree! I owned a ’03 GT with the H.O. 2.4 turbo and 5spd. Basically it had the cajones to back up its pseudo hotrod looks. I will always be a fan of the PT, since what else could give you retro looks, modern mechanicals, fun, style, practicality and literally a blank canvas to make it whatever you wanted it to be? Such a shame to see a car come out of the gate like such a rockstar and then be allowed to wither and die on the vine.
It’s very plain vanilla now, but the Ford Focus was very radical when it came out, especially the very European hatchbacks.
The last progressive Civic? From the short hood to the two-tiered digital dash, it was a spaceship from the future until it wasn’t.
The 2016 is a very “progressive” design as well, IMHO. That said, the 2006 was a huge deal at the time. Look at a 2006 Elantra or Sentra in comparison!
I think the 2016 is not as “weird” as the 2006 was. The design of the 2016 Civic kind of looks like a shrunken Accord Crosstour to me. The interior is pretty conventional. I personally did not care for the two-tier dash design, so to me the 2016 is an improvement, but it is not as daring as the 2006 was.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Pontiac Aztek
Chevy Corvette – of course!
Dodge Magnum
Chrysler 300
Chevy Malibu Maxx – yes, really!
All those exotics shown above? Who cares… nobody can afford any of them anyway.
Definitely the 05-10 300C. Proof that you can make a big RWD American sedan without having it look like something your granddad would drive.
looks like something my grandpa would drive
Yep, but that’s why I bought mine. It’s the last car that’s made these days with the more old school American style.
I don’t think it looked like a grandpa car when it was launched.
I thought it was a breath of fresh air. Detroit building a genuinely “American” car (with some Mercedes bits, OK) but not a hopelessly outclassed front driver or BOF dinosaur. And the styling harked back to the glory days but was still fairly sharp.
In the UK, your grandpa would drive a Honda Jazz/Fit (in metallic beige). Drug dealers and lower league football players drive 300s. 😉
Does your grandpa do powerslides? I do with mine. If he does, he’s the main guy anyhow. I take it you don’t, as you don’t see the value in the concept of these.
4-6 cylinder fwd your car of choice by any chance?
Hope your not offended.
The beauty of the 300 is that it has such universal appeal, even now. When these came out, the hip hop crowd went completely nuts since these had the presence of a Bentley. So did performance enthusiasts since it was a return to a monster V8, rwd, and brash American styling in something that wasn’t a ponycar, truck, or SUV. Yet, the ‘traditional’ type of buyers for big, near luxury cars felt at ease too. In the end, these cars were a lot like the ice cream at Baskin Robbins: Vanilla…chocolate…rocky road….pistachio…the ‘flavor’ could vary wildly but theres something for everyone.
Biased because I own one, but the 2004-2008 Acura TL definitely has to be up there. It made its predecessor look like something from 1989, and made the styling missteps of its 2009 successor hard to forgive. Of course, you could say that the 2009 was also “jaw-dropping”, just in a different way.
300/Magnum/Charger and Challenger, for sure.
2005 Mustang: a successful modernization of the Mustang – with retro styling. The basic design ended up lasting a decade – and remained superior in several ways to the newer fifth-generation Camaro.
The E92 BMW 3-series coupe blew me away the first time I saw it. I am still not a fan of the E65 and E60 (’02 7 and ’04 5), but the E90 sedan could be stunning in the right trim, and the E92 coupe perfected its design language.
It’s interesting how different people see things. I liked to older Acuras that had the more Mercedes shape like the original LS400, then nothing until the ’09 TL refresh. The car is finally big enough and I even like the can opener grille. On top of that, I think the wagons with that design language look good-and I hate luxury car wagons with a passion!
The TL that came before just looked too dinky and that crease in the side looks ghastly to me.
Different strokes for different folks!
Probably going to get lambasted for this, but what about the Prius, especially the 2004? They’re everywhere now, but that sure wasn’t the case back then.
I agree – the ’04 brought the Prius into the mainstream. I wouldn’t personally want to drive one, but who would have guessed in 1998 that sales of this strange little car would hit 1 million a decade later?
I also agree, the Prius is a good pick. While maybe not the most graceful design, it did achieve its goal of not looking like a regular non hybrid car.
Honda sold a Civic Hybrid about the same time as the second gen Prius, but it never sold anywhere as well as the Prius. I suspect the major problem with the Civic Hybrid was it looked just like a regular Civic. If people are going to spend extra money for a hybrid, they want other people to know it. The Prius let everyone know you were driving a hybrid, while the Civic Hybrid did not.
I’m surprised nobody has nominated the Renault Avantine. There’s never been anything else quite like it.
Agreed Eric, the Avantime was jaw-dropping, it would never be mistaken for anything else. The Vel Satis also deserves a mention; there was something in the water at Renault in 2001.
Agreed on both counts – have only seen 1 Avantine and 2 Vel Satises (Satisii?) in my lie, the memory of all 3 is crystal-clear.
’05 Mustang. Nothing even comes close.
Sometime during the early fall of 2004 my ex and I were heading up the US 59 feeder road in front of Planet Ford in Humble TX. Right on the front line was a solitary new ’05 Mustang. The ex looked over, did an immediate double take and then asked me why there was a mint condition ’69 Mustang in the midst of all those F-150s. I told her that this was the new 2005 model and that Ford was going for the retro look similar to the New Beetle. She didn’t believe me! We argued about the age of that car the rest of the way home. Upon our arrival I pulled up Ford’s website and a couple of the buff book reviews which finally convinced her that she wasn’t seeing a ’69 Mustang.
I’ve had one a piece of the second and third gen new Minis, but the first gen is still my favorite. Their long term affordability frightens me but I’d still love to own one. (As it is we put about 2000 miles a year on our main car so a second would be a pretty silly buy.)
Wasn’t Ferrari known as “Il Commendatore”? He wasn’t Spanish.
Absolutely correct – Il Commendatore – thanks for the correction. Jim.
I think I said that before in other threads, but the design of almost all Renaults of the ’00s has to be mentioned:
The Vel Satis still looks very distinctive and contemporary today. The Avantime is probably the most daring thing a mass-producer put to market at the time. But even though these are more special in themselves, the Megane takes the crown. The desing is really daring and radical, especially from the side and the back. I still find it extremely well executed and balanced, to an extent that is really rarely found on any car, let alone the bread-and-butter model of a major company that needed to sell in 7 digit figures – if it didn’t, it was very clear that the company would be into very serious trouble.
Renault really bet the farm here and this, ladies and gentlemen, is what makes it the most jaw-dropping car of the 00’s!
Got to agree! Although I think the Laguna II was the most jaw-dropping for being the very first using the new design language previously unseen, right on one of their best-selling models. Too bad 2000-2002 Lagunas were of… well, not the best quality.
I’m always late to the party on these QOTD’s, and then I waffle back and forth about “+1-ing” another’s opinion or jumping into the fray at all, but…
I’m going to jump on the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger bandwagon. I thought the Mustang (which would be the only other contender if we’re looking for “jaw-dropping” in the positive sense) was more derivative than earth shattering from a styling standpoint. I loved the ’05 Mustang, and still prefer it to anything they’ve done to it since ’09 as has been stated above several times, but the 300 was a game-changer. I don’t think anyone doubted that Ford would eventually re-introduce the Mustang (or Chevy the Camaro, for that matter) and that it would be a marketing maelstrom, but in many ways a new full-sized mainstream rear-drive sedan styled in a way that people were actually drawn to it was a concept we all must have been convinced we’d never see again.
A decade later the 300/Charger is still turning heads with styling that honors the past without seeming trite or overdone. The Mustang and Camaro on the other hand are both beginning to sport the same bloated and overstyled characteristics of their predecessors
from the early-to-late 70’s. Everything old is new again, and then everything new starts to look old. As much as I feel like the 300 needs an update, I think it’s been nicely tweaked over its 11 year run so far.
On the other hand, not to waive the Mopar flag too vehemently, I’m not a fan of the Challenger. I just think it’s too big, too bloated, and too much of an impractical “boutique” offering to make sense. It’s neither compact and agile enough to live up to its earlier namesake nor does it lend itself well to evolution beyond its current incarnation. (On this point I may be proven wrong in the future, but it seems like a styling dead end to me.)
You should drive a Challenger. 2 doors tend to be LESS practical, no doubt. But its a car that despite looking like a million bucks, is easy to live with. Even a 6’1 250 lb dude like me can drive comfy…its a big car meant for broad shoulders and long legs. Granted, practicality isn’t the focus of sporty coupes but the beauty of it is that you can make a supposedly ‘frivolous’ purchase that you wont regret. And as to the styling…I find it the most true to form of all 3 ponies. The Camaro looks a bit grotesque, the Mustang is getting very ricey. Challenger is as close to going back to the early 70s as you possibly can.
On the other hand, not to waive the Mopar flag too vehemently, I’m not a fan of the Challenger. I just think it’s too big, too bloated, and too much of an impractical “boutique” offering to make sense. It’s neither compact and agile enough to live up to its earlier namesake nor does it lend itself well to evolution beyond its current incarnation. (On this point I may be proven wrong in the future, but it seems like a styling dead end to me.)
The irony of this statement is every complaint you mention could be leveled at it’s earlier namesake. The original was in essence a shortened B body, whose basic underpinnings were designed for “full size” in 1962. They were very much too big, and too bloated for the Ponycar world in 1970(although other players were rapidly catching up). The current one is much the same. But to second mpoarrocker, it is easily the most practical of the three currently available ponycars, the back seat is actually usable(as it should be with a 116.2″ wheelbase) and the trunk space and opening is relatively large.
As for the styling, I genuinely hope they never change it. Treat it like the Mini, Beetle, or Fiat 500. Play around with details on the same basic shape, maybe improve the proportions with a platform change or whatever but keep the 1970 spirit.
I like the Peugeot 406 Coupe,looks slightly like a Ferrari,both designed by Pininfarina.Chrysler 300 cars still draw admiring glances from me although I prefer the first series to the later ones.Another USA car I really like is one GM didn’t produce,a concept only,the Buick Velite convertible.
CC effect: bright red 406 Coupe crossed in front of me as I left the vet (weigh-in for cat) last night. Such a subtle and elegant shape.
Jawdropping: Dodge Ram SRT10, V10 Viper engine + Hurst style manual.
No car dropped my jaw in the aughts. This had much to do with the fact that my time was taken up with my job and my free time was taken up with multiple kid activities. I didn’t even do my own oil changes. I followed F1 on TV, that was it.
What dropped my jaw in the aughts was the brake down of the home mortgage business and with it the car business, cash for clunker idiocy and the CEOs of the Detroit 3 flying in private jets to Washington in order to beg congress for billions of dollars. Two of them wanted to be bailed out and the third said his company will only survive if the other two make it. That was jaw-dropping indeed.
2005 Maserati Quattroporte. Looked like no other four door sedan when it was introduced with curves only found on more sporting cars; automotive sex with room for the family.
Maserati Gran Turismo. All rational thought goes out the window and emotion completely takes over; automotive sex as it ought to be. Surprisingly spacious for an Italian GT.
Alfa Romeo 159. The sexiest front end ever put on a mid-sized sedan and a stunning profile. Possibly the only time when an Alfa sedan looked better than its coupe (Brera) or convertible (Spider) brothers.
2004-2008 Acura TL. Because it kinda looks like an Alfa 159 and I could buy an Acura but not an Alfa in the U.S.
2005-2010 Chrysler 300C. The ultimate permutation of the rear wheel drive V8 American sedan with proper handling that was let down by Playskool quality interior plastics. A big American sedan that didn’t give a shit and just looked good going anywhere. Good old traditional American arrogance with the chassis and horsepower to back up its swagger.
2009 Jaguar XF. Finally a modern Jaguar saloon that didn’t look like the designers cobbled it together in Sir William Lyons’ garden for his approval.
2008-2013 Cadillac CTS. Art and Science outgrew the awkward adolescence of the 2003-2007 version and gained confidence as it became more of a viable alternative to a German luxury sedan but shared too many interior plastics with a rental car grade Malibu to completely pull it off. The 550+ hp V8 in the V was overkill; it could have used a 360-400 hp V8 for the masses.
“2005-2010 Chrysler 300C. The ultimate permutation of the rear wheel drive V8 American sedan with proper handling that was let down by Playskool quality interior plastics. A big American sedan that didn’t give a shit and just looked good going anywhere. Good old traditional American arrogance with the chassis and horsepower to back up its swagger.”
Mopars of this era get completely smeared on account of ‘cheap interiors’. Yes, I get that the plastics were a bit hollow and ‘hard’. But really…who spends their days caressing the dashboard of their car like its a beloved pet? Ive owned several of this vintage. Those so-called cheap plastics at least stand the test of time. Other ‘soft touch’ materials are very fragile from what I see, whereas the playskool like dash in my ’05 Ram still looks fresh as it was when new. And it doesn’t rattle or squeak. Same with my ’00 Wrangler, same with my ’03 PT cruiser. I can handle it being a bit Rubbermaid like. I cant handle it crumbling and falling apart like many others.
One of my main motivations for selling my ’06 300C was that I got tired of the depressing surroundings of the crappy interior. The seats were great–everything else was just awful.