a300, My first impressions :)

KevinBarrett · Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:26 pm

Ooh, excellent framing on that one! Why is it cars can get away with inclined photos like that? Unfortunately, while I would love to own one of these gorgeous cars, the Mazda MX-5 tempts me more. My wife needs a new car soon and it'll be either that or a Scion tC (a real chunk of a car!).

Ian C · Unread post by **Ian C** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:33 pm

KevinBarrett wrote:Ooh, excellent framing on that one! Why is it cars can get away with inclined photos like that? Unfortunately, while I would love to own one of these gorgeous cars, the Mazda MX-5 tempts me more. My wife needs a new car soon and it'll be either that or a Scion tC (a real chunk of a car!).

My sister has the MX5! very nippy and cool little car! as for the Scion tC, I had to google it! but I agree, that is a beast!

I see Acura have released/are releasing the TL AWD in america, I really really like that car! but the closest we can get in the UK is the Honda Accord... (possibly the same 2009 model actually looking at it now!)

TL AWD

Honda Accord 2009 concept (WOW!)

KevinBarrett · Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:53 pm

Actually, no. The UK Honda Accord is sold as the "Acura TSX" over here, and it is a very handsome car indeed. I have admired it in all its generations. The new Acura TL is supposedly a pretty good car and a strong performer, but I think they dropped the ball in the styling department. That crease on the front fender is exactly the kind of detail that show up when cheap plastic containers get microwaved. The rest of the car is reasonably handsome but somewhat heavy-looking, and I'm not a fan of the new corporate grill. It is time for Honda/Acura to make some rear-wheel drive platforms. We'll see how they do with the new sports car that's being spied all over.

Ian C · Unread post by **Ian C** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:19 pm

Oh right ok..... wish they would just stick to the same names and save us the confusion

The Accord though... I agree, I too am yet to be disappointed in the styling department.

The Accord Euro Type-R..... another Type-R I would love to get my hands on!

http://honda-type-r.com/accord-euro-r.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Most new hondas are grotesque now though! not sure you have seen the Honda Civic we get? my friend has one and it really is ODD!

As for the new NSX.... will have to wait and see with that one!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoe ... t_nsx.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

KevinBarrett · Unread post by **KevinBarrett** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:47 pm

Oh I love the new Civic you guys get in the UK! It's so different and forward-thinking...wish we could get it. The car you get as the "Jazz" we get as the "Fit," and I'm a huge fan of that one. Honda makes large and painfully dull cars over here and calls them "Accords" and "Civics," but I don't believe them.

NA Honda Accord:

NA Honda Civic:

These aren't the [greatly improved] current models, but you get the idea.

Dr. Harout · Unread post by **Dr. Harout** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:00 pm

Are these cars impressions from A300?

KevinBarrett · Unread post by **KevinBarrett** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:33 pm

Um, YES! I shot these with an a300 I borrowed...

Ian C · Unread post by **Ian C** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:45 pm

Don't mind us, were just a couple of car nuts!

I have to admit, the US really do get some watered down looking cars! I was looking at your version of the Ford Focus... it looks terrible!
The best car though to come from America..... is my favorite car in the world... the Dodge Viper GTS-R! stunning car, loved the Viper as far back as I can remember! I was 7 years old when the first one came out!

The new uk civic is really not my cup of tea, I cant stand a car without a back end to it, let alone one that looks like it just flew down from space

but looking at the cars you do get.... I can see why it appeals to you guys as being so fresh!

THIS is the Civic that we SHOULD have got, the Mugen Civic RR, but yet again, those lucky Japanese boys get the better toys!

*All taken with a Sony Alpha of course

*not 100% true

KevinBarrett · Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:55 pm

Ugh, don't get me started on the new Focus! We used to have the same cute 3 and 5-door hatchbacks that you guys got over there, but when your cars went to the C1 platform (shared by the Volvo S40/C30 and Mazda3), ours got a mild face-lift. Now again we have got a made-over Ford Focus, still on the original platform, and NO HATCHBACKS!

Moreover, the "new" car seems to borrow all of the worst sculpting and proportions from a Chrysler Sebring and mates them to a very luke-warm impression of Ford's new global face.

I can't wait for the new Fiesta to get here, though I wouldn't be surprised if Ford found a way to make it ugly, just for us.

Ian C · Unread post by **Ian C** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:08 pm

The new Fiesta is already ugly,

I saw one parked up the other day and almost lost my lunch. (ok perhaps not that bad!)

But again, I can see why you like these quirky hatchback cars! Must be a relief to see a car that breaks the mould for you guys. Personally I'm tired of seeing hatchbacks now and I'm sure its the other way round for you.

Must admit though......my second car was a Fiesta Hatchback before my Integra..... a 1.6 MK5 Zetec-S... loved it to bits! Nippy little monster!

That was taken with the a100... and yes blue is my favorite colour

Javelin · Unread post by **Javelin** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:05 am

oh man .. sorry I just can't get excited about these cars.. they all look like hondas .. these are cars that nobody will love after the 3 year lease is up

KevinBarrett · Unread post by **KevinBarrett** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:24 am

I'm rather fond of the Fiesta's creative curves and smart proportions. I'm also very fond of the Mazda2 (its clone)

Fiesta

Mazda2

My own car is a Mazda Protege5 (323f 2.0 Sport in the rest of the world):

I guess I'm particularly attracted to cars that don't give up the fun-factor or succumb to compromised styling for practicality's sake...but still remain practical. By the way, aren't zetec engines a blast?

Ian C · Unread post by **Ian C** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:35 pm

Ah the Mazda 2! that I do like! I saw a green one parked up the other day and found its styling to be less severe and more pleasing to the eye than that of the Fiesta's.

The Zetec Engine was superb! the one in the old Zetec-S (same Phaze 2 one I had) was apparently built by Yamaha! so probably explains why it was so reliable and fun!

I agree with the practicality front, which is why I love the Integra so much.... Ok so its 2 doors short (which is where my love for the Accord Type-R comes in), BUT the VTEC engine is so clever that it can be both practical on MPG and severe when you want it to

I drive 300 miles to South Devon now and then on a single tank of fuel and still have just under a quarter left..... or if I can't resist using a lot of VTEC on the Motorway.... I will have to fill up once or twice on the way! The Honda K20a Engine really is an amazing feat of engineering.

As for your lovely 323f... that car is a legend!!! love it, as do so many people over here! Nice shot too

Can I ask, How do you get that flaring pattern on the lights? is that a filter?

KevinBarrett · Unread post by **KevinBarrett** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:18 pm

Thank you! Those are diffraction stars from using a very small aperture. If you count them there are two points for each of the seven aperture blades; a short one and a long one opposite it. Even-bladed apertures will have the same number of star points while odd-bladed apertures will have double.

Ford has had an interesting relationship with Yamaha. I didn't realize that they made the Zetec engines, but over here they had Yamaha designed DOHC V6s and V8s in a car called the Ford Taurus. The FWD chassis was so rotten it might as well have been hinged in the middle, but the engine was a sweet deal...the design team had a very schizophrenic nature about them...

Ian C · Unread post by **Ian C** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:47 pm

Oh I see! thats really clever! I had no idea thats what caused that effect... will have to try it now, thanks

Ah the Ford Taurus... I think I first saw one of those in the X-Files series if I remember correctly!

Never seen under the Bonnet though, WOW! that engine is something else in the looks department. Did not expect that at all!

Heres a treat for you considering you like the focus hatchback so much:

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=19101" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tell me what you think...

Photoclubalpha

a300, My first impressions :)

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