Which Modern Car Looks Better than its Classic Ancestor?

I love the second classic cars. It’s design, style, color everything about this one is grabbing my attention. Love to buy this one from http://www.sharpclassics.com

I’ve racked my brain, and I just can’t imagine any current “globalized” car that compete with its predecessor’s styling.

For example, we gave up my wife’s BMW E34 touring (shown below) for the lessor-styled(to my eye) E39 touring . And now the already obsolete E61 Touring (shown second below) could be easily mistaken for a Hyundai, Saab, or another of the other generic-mobiles currently being produced.

Even worse, some of the later progeny actually performed worse than their parents. I’d love to give the barge-like BMW 630 (3,500+ lbs) coupe a run for its money with my older-but-featherweight BMW 3.0CS, also shown below (2800 lbs, and I’ve owned both), and I doubt anyone would argue which design is more appealing to the eye.

Finally, my 1980 Honda CBX 1000 6 cylinder bike weighs no more than its 4 cylinder copycat, the 2013 CBX1100, yet produces 105 HP vs a mere 82 horsepower from the current model (which is larger by 100cc). Yes, the new bike is a nice rendition of the original, but doesn’t come close in any respect. An embarrassment to Honda by any measure. Is this what we call progress?

Of course, the ultimate measure is the relative appreciation value of new vs old. You could shell out roughly 10 large for a new CBX 1100 and watch its value diminish to a quarter of that in just a few years, or spend about the same money for the ultimate CBX classic, and watch its value continue to climb?

Is there really any contest?

As an RX-7/Rotary enthusiast, I have to agree that the FD is the sexiest of the three RX-7 generations. However, there’s a certain charm to the first generation that’s missing from the other two. First of all, the three generations are extremely different from one to the other. What’s cool about the SA/FB is that it was a complete throwback to the 60’s when it came out in the late 70’s. Enthusiasts at the time were begging for a simple, affordable corner carver and that’s why it was a huge hit when it came out. (Mazda did it again ten years later with the Miata by the way.) Basically the FB represents 60’s and 70’s styling and tech, the FC is contemporary late 80’s, and the FD was a decade ahead of it’s time, just like many of the 90’s Japanese sports cars. Mazda covered 40 years of development in 15 years with the RX-7.

Future doc, please tell me you don’t mean that you prefer the look of the new Dart to the ’69/’70 version. I grew up during the muscle car era, and someone not liking a classic might make me cry.
Kidding, of course, but while I understand all of the modern advancements in modern vehicles, nostalgia over rides that knowledge.
For my part, I love the styling of the Chrysler 300, and, although the ’64 version I once owned still has a piece of my heart. I would have to turn my back on it, in favor of a brand new one.

In my opinion last generations of Merc’s got better. A new SL look way better than it’s older predecessor. The same thing I can say about newest S class. 🙂

I don’t know, I cant say I agree with too many of the comments. While I really like the FD RX-7, I think the “SA22C” is a really cool looking car. While I’d also be tempted to say that the Z32 300ZX is nice, I can’t help but liking the Z31 for it’s utter 80’s-ness if that makes any sense. However, I agree with Matthew Lange about the Quattroporte. The V is probably the best looking as of now, with the VI being a significant step back (as Lange mentioned).

Don’t agree with the GT-86/FR-S, BMW’s, Subaru WRX, Dart, CR-Z (if that’s included) and especially not with the Aston DBs. Could possibly agree with Supra, but I find myself always looking at the MkI and MkII (maybe that’s because a MkIV TT manual is ridiculously expensive).

I’ll get back if I can actually come up with some models on my own.

Second gen MR2 was a massive improvement over the first style wise.

This is a very hard question for me to answer since Im such a sucker for the classic cars and their style. I think the new Dodge Viper is way better looking then the original one even though the Viper is not really that old. The BMW Z8 was a good looking car inspired but the 507. The problem i have is that even though a few modern cars may look better then some of the classic ones they just dont have the same personality and soul the old ones have. Im a big believer that good looks need to be backed up with some type of substance. Some new cars may look better but will they give that same feeling that most classics can. The best way i can describe this is i have met a few pretty ladies in my life but sometimes their personality was soo bad i just couldnt see the beauty anymore. I was never good with words but i hope i can get my point across :p