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I was driving home today after a long, long day at work. I'm sure you can all relate, and got behind the ugliest tail end I had ever seen, even worse than the Aztek and worse than even some Buicks I have no love for.It was a current gen (2009/10) Acura TL sedan. I knew that I didn't like anything in Acura's current line-up from the front, but I don't remember seeing a new TL from the rear.You be the judge:An Aztek... from the rearA 2009 Acura TL from the rear.An Aztek from the front:And a TL from the front:Now I don't know about you, but of the two I would rather have the Aztek... and I don't like Aztek's, but if it has to be ugly, at least it is more useful, not to mention a lot less $$$.

I've looked at that and though Caddy. Square yet pointy. Just another overpriced car to me.I don't share the hate for the Aztek. In the long run, it will be worth far more than many other old cars. It's Unique, transitional, well functioning and garners STRONG opinions. What more do you want in a car?Actually the Acura is a tad newer Vibe-ish???Dave

You guys are tough! Don't you like cars with the little smiley faces and buttocks? Damn, they're so friken cute.

I hate that new smiley face grill on the Acura. And what the heck was Mazda thinking when they designed the grill on the new Mazda 3?

Every time I see a recent Acura from the front, I can't help but think about the Family Truckster. Acura took that grille, dropped one of the V-shaped thingies and magnified it a bazillion times.I find all of their current lineup is repulsive -- how Honda can build an even uglier Honda is beyond me. And these are the overpriced Hondas that are for people who don't want to admit they're driving a Honda. You'd think they would want these to look a bit better...

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AGREED. It is the most pathetic looking thing on the road. It reminds me of some rediculous warrior's shield from a renaissance festival. I also think Ford has gone waaaaay too far with their use of chrome on the front of their vehicles as well.

I don't think that's too bad. I saw a tiny volvo that's way worse.

...looks Honda's designers have been reverting to their "Godzilla" era-movies for inspiration.

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »I hate that new smiley face grill on the Acura. And what the heck was Mazda thinking when they designed the grill on the new Mazda 3? +1 for that Mazda fright. I think the story goes that the night before they finished penning the front grill of the new 3, the designers went out for sushi and a movie. Unfortunately, the movie was "The Dark Knight" and obviously, they were very taken with Heath Ledger's interpretation of the Joker. The rest is scary history, now available at your local Mazda dealer.

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »+1 for that Mazda fright. I think the story goes that the night before they finished penning the front grill of the new 3, the designers went out for sushi and a movie. Unfortunately, the movie was "The Dark Knight" and obviously, they were very taken with Heath Ledger's interpretation of the Joker. The rest is scary history, now available at your local Mazda dealer. I just think they were watching too much Anime. But I personally love smiley face cars...

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 »I just think they were watching too much Anime. But I personally love smiley face cars... Now that you point it out, I can see that in the Acura face, clearly ! But this little creature is the one that is not so Anime!

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That's too much money to be spending on an ugly smile.And good luck fitting anything bigger then that in there!!!

Well I have to agree the Acura is pretty ugly, but I would drive that before a Aztec any day. Yukk.

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Now that you point it out, I can see that in the Acura face, clearly ! But this little creature is the one that is not so Anime!

Wow....that cars look just so.......HAPPY...HAPPY....JOY.....JOY!!!!

Very good, ponta! But the 3's face is still a bit more sinister looking to me, especially in the darker colors. I can't be sure that small children wouldn't be startled by that forced grin. I really hope they eventually tame it down a hair.

I wonder if there is a higher rate of people with depression driving those cars now to make them feel better

the nissan cube is by far the ugliest car i have ever laid eyes on.

I always thought that puppies or bunnies made people feel happy, but you may be on to something, ou.

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Very good, ponta! But the 3's face is still a bit more sinister looking to me, especially in the darker colors. I can't be sure that small children wouldn't be startled by that forced grin. I really hope they eventually tame it down a hair.

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Very good, ponta! But the 3's face is still a bit more sinister looking to me, especially in the darker colors. I can't be sure that small children wouldn't be startled by that forced grin. I really hope they eventually tame it down a hair. Aw, I like it the way it is... only in the obnoxious blue though. In the black color you can barely even see the smile, from what I've seen on the road.And pshhhh, little kids are scared of everything.

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 »And pshhhh, little kids are scared of everything. Not true... I have seen a 4 yr old jump from the room of a lifted F-250.

Quote, originally posted by ou.grizzly »Not true... I have seen a 4 yr old jump from the room of a lifted F-250. That kid probably wouldn't be scared of a Mazda then.

Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »And good luck fitting anything bigger then that in there!!!Holy crap! Once you try to stick something through the mail slot sized trunk opening you ain't got nowhere to put it!

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »I hate that new smiley face grill on the Acura. And what the heck was Mazda thinking when they designed the grill on the new Mazda 3? As someone here said, it looks like a warrior shield used in a Renaissance festival. I've been looking for a way to describe the new Acura family style look, and that's perfect!!We in the Mazda community are all asking that question... most of us, anyway. There is a lot of hate in the Mazda community for the new "style." We've even had to put the 2010's in their own section to avoid flame-wars.But, if you think the standard sedans and hatchbacks have a smiley face, check out the new Mazdaspeed3 front end...A MULTIPLE smiley face!!! Are we supposed to take that as a serious contender, or what?They have made a few improvements in the new car. For me, I'm glad they got rid of "True" Red Mica and brought back Velocity Red Mica. I like the functional hood scoop too, even if it does look a little like it was lifted from a Subaru STi. The round fog lights (only on the Speed) are an improvement as well, imo. The suspension has been further tweaked for better handling, but not by much.I even like the swoopier side scalloping over the older cars, like my own.Quote, originally posted by sgp2012 »the nissan cube is by far the ugliest car i have ever laid eyes on. It's certainly a contender in my eyes too. That rear window has got to go. But on the other hand, it doesn't claim to be a high priced "luxury" car either.Quote, originally posted by cptnsolo77 »Wow....that cars look just so.......HAPPY...HAPPY....JOY.....JOY!!!! Hahahah!! So true. So true.

I don't know if anyone reads Stephen King (Gunslinger-Dark Tower 1), but that white M3 front pic looks like Blaine the Train! Way too happy to be sane. Maybe 'It'

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!MY EYES!!!

I like it

I was highly disappointed when they changed the styling on the TL. I can't believe people even buy them now. They are absolutely hideous. Yes they might be a comfortable, luxurious car with all the bells and whistles but that can't make up for the fact that when you get out of your car and shut the door you have to puke.Now give me a pre-2009 TL any day of the week, preferably a Type R. The Aztek however is on a completely different level of ugly, awkwardness. It's like they took the scraps of 7 different cars and slap it together. Nothing flows on the car, AT ALL. They even forgot to give it a gas door!!! They must have used them all on the Cavaliers.

Quote, originally posted by wireeater »I was highly disappointed when they changed the styling on the TL. I can't believe people even buy them now. They are absolutely hideous. Yes they might be a comfortable, luxurious car with all the bells and whistles but that can't make up for the fact that when you get out of your car and shut the door you have to puke.Now give me a pre-2009 TL any day of the week, preferably a Type R. The Aztek however is on a completely different level of ugly, awkwardness. It's like they took the scraps of 7 different cars and slap it together. Nothing flows on the car, AT ALL. They even forgot to give it a gas door!!! They must have used them all on the Cavaliers. Oooo. Now that's cruel!!

Quote, originally posted by 06pvibe »Now I don't know about you, but of the two I would rather have the Aztek... and I don't like Aztek's, but if it has to be ugly, at least it is more useful, not to mention a lot less $$$.I have to agree, and living down here, i see so many of these on the road, and because of its versatility, i would take this over an acura any day.

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 » I keep seeing these and EVERY time I do, I think of his thread....Thanks alot GenVibe....GAH!

Quote, originally posted by A Psycho Martyr »I keep seeing these and EVERY time I do, I think of his thread....Thanks alot GenVibe....GAH! way to spread the curse, Brandon.

Quote, originally posted by A Psycho Martyr »I keep seeing these and EVERY time I do, I think of his thread....Thanks alot GenVibe....GAH! I agree.As I'm sure you all know by now, I drive a 1st gen Mazda3, and am on a number of Mazda forums. I think the controversy has finally worn down a bit, but yes, there were some horrible fights and nasty words exchanged about the 2010+ 3 series. It got so bad on mazdas247.com that we had to create a separate section for the 2nd gens to post in.All I can say is at least it looks good from the side, and not so bad from the back, but that smiley face is hideous and takes a lot of getting used to... if ever fully? Mazda really needs to rethink that face if they plan to keep their bread 'n' butter customers, but frankly, the new ones are selling so well anyway, that I doubt they care much. And if you look, the top of the line Mazdaspeed3 has a triple "chin" instead of this ones single.What does that say about the average person's taste?

If I bought one of those I would just have to paint some teeth in that stupid grill. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelcore/3243869568/

the aztek has lost its title, but to this -

Wow....what in the world is that?! It reminds me of a Kia Soul, only horrendously bloated.

you are lucky to not have Nissan Juke marketing in your face! TV ads during sporting events, and all over print media here...awful.Juke..sounds like 'Puke' to me.

Juke or Joke?

Juke or Puke?

Nissan Puke....LOLYeah its pretty ugly but no way uglier than the Aztec.To me the Aztec still hold the throne...lol

Not to perpetuate YouTube hits on the Nissan "channel," but here's the spot:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX5rwqgIcAoIt's actually well done, whereas the vehicle's design is not. Blech.

Vs. the new Sentra which is neither.My mother had an '09 which we drove this spring when we went home for a few weeks. It's ugly, does not handle well, has a stupid CVT trans, and while avoiding another driver pulled out in front of me, I thought we might wreck the thing just the same. REALLY bad at emergency maneuvers.