Modern Cars

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 21 Apr 2006, 19:47

Do you think modern, mid > large family cars, look like they have been designed as a Estate first then choped back to form the Hatch/Saloon models?
Take a look around & you'll notice how much better the estates look.
Examples of this are;

Citroen C5, Vauxhall Vectra, Audi A6, Volvo V70

All these look, IMO, like they were 'ment' to be estates.
When your out next, take a look at these & other modern cars, some look right others, still, look like a hatch with a box on the back

Discus

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 21 Apr 2006, 20:04

rossnunn wrote:Dsome look right others, still, look like a hatch with a box on the back

Anyone remember the Volvo 145? Saloon converted to estate with the rear doors from the saloon unaltered.

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 21 Apr 2006, 20:24

Homer wrote:
rossnunn wrote:Dsome look right others, still, look like a hatch with a box on the back

Anyone remember the Volvo 145? Saloon converted to estate with the rear doors from the saloon unaltered.

Anyone remember the BX Estate? Saloon converted to estate with the rear doors from the saloon unaltered ... 8)

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 21 Apr 2006, 20:36

306 is like that

Sturdybloke · Post by **Sturdybloke** » 21 Apr 2006, 21:56

The Bx and the Escort (Mk 3&4) are very attractive estate cars. Rather than spoil the lines of both cars they (thats Citroen and Ford) added a clever "extension" onto the cars, without removing any dignity* I have never owned a Bx estate so cant comment on its internal loadspace, but I have owned a Mk 3 Escort estate and it could fit a double bed in the back of it due to the suspension being under the floor - just like Citroen.

* I must point out that the Laguna Mk1 Estate has no dignity whatsoever. A truly horrid looking estate car.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Apr 2006, 22:29

Estate car design. Now there's a topic that has legs...

The most handsome ones are bespoke not marketing afterthoughts!!

The only way to do THE job properly is to make an effort and actually design from scratch the whole thing from the B pillar back rather than cobble somesuch using saloon rear doors. The right way is with the Xantia and Gs, and the wrong way is the Xm and Bx with duff fillets of placky to hide an abrupt step in the back side window line...

Best estate of all [not that I'm totally biased or anything

] has got to be the CX Safari. Longer than an already long saloon wheelbase and bigger rear doors with the whole back end ahead of the rear wheels as they're tucked out to the corners. Got to be one of the most surefooted load haulers around this side of a Pickfords Removal Lorry!!

Andrew

deian · Post by **deian** » 21 Apr 2006, 22:31

I agree, the C5 is a classic example of this! I also prefer the Peugeot 206SW compared to the hatch one. Look so much better, especially with the factory tinted windows.

Talking about car design... when i was in egypt last time, i saw a clio saloon, corsa saloon and some other european cars designed as saloons. Cute cars, a little ugly, and probably very unpractical, still joyous to look at them and smile knowing no one will believe me back at home.

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 21 Apr 2006, 22:34

I think one of the best looking estates is....

....the C5! No question.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Apr 2006, 22:42

Mind, one of the nicest features of the Xantia saloon is the rear 3/4 wing and the rear end which all gets dumped with the estate...

The rear doors are retooled which IS a significant manufacturing overhead for the car manufacturer to allow the glass line to run in an unbroken line into the rear side window, and whilst you get the idea the sweep up from the shoulderline is a bit of an effort it makes a pleasing dynamic sweep that runs round onto the rear hatch.

Dodgy territory; the danger of sweeping the bodyline upwards is shown with the fridgefreezer Xm estate rear with the 'letterbox' window..

monolithic comes to mind!

Andrew

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 22 Apr 2006, 08:30

The Xantia estate has always reminded me of the HB Viva estate.

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 23 Apr 2006, 20:19

The Xantia estate has always reminded me of the HB Viva estate

I can't see it myself......

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 24 Apr 2006, 19:17

I've just had a look at Viva pictures and I have to admit I can't see it either now. I think it was the kicked-up line of the windows although I probably haven't seen an HB estate since the Xantia came out.

nxh66 · Post by **nxh66** » 29 Apr 2006, 03:14

Along the lines of Clio and Corsa saloons there is a zx saloon in China!!

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