The 10 Best-Looking Cars You Can Buy (to prove I'm not a "glass half empty" kind of guy)

In a recent blog I ranked the 10 ugliest new cars available for purchase today.  I don't want to be accused of being a "glass half empty" kind of guy, so I'm going to do the same for the 10 best-looking cars currently on the showroom floor.  While I found the "ugly" list to be a rather simple endeavor, the "pretty" list proved much more difficult.  For starters, I couldn't even decide what to call the list.  Sexiest?  Prettiest?  Most Attractive?  I settled on "Best-Looking" because it encompasses a wide range of descriptives and leaves a lot to interpretation.

Another issue is that while most vehicles are just common transportation (Camry, Accord, Malibu, etc.) there are a lot more really good looking cars than really ugly ones.  It's kind of like the grade curve in law school - there will be an F and a few Ds, an A and a bunch of Bs, but most of the class is getting Cs.  The problem is that there are more B+s than Fs when it comes to car design.  Perhaps the biggest problem, however, is that some of the best looking cars belong to lines that in their base form are horrible.  Take the Buick LaCrosse - a decked out LaCrosse with the Touring Package is a rather handsome vehicle, but all of the base models look like run-of-the-mill rental cars.

Because there are so many real lookers out there, I've put together an alphabetized "Honorable Mention List" before I get to the Top 10:

• Aston Martin Rapide - I could just say "every Aston Martin" because they pretty much all look alike and are all rather sexy.  The Rapide at least is easy to ID by counting the doors - 4 of them. 

• Aston Martin Vantage - I love the "baby" Aston.  It's cheap (by AM standards) and it's the best driving car they make.  It's even faster than the DBS if you get the V-12.  I think it looks like a sexy little English muscle car.

• Audi S5 - The very attractive two-door from Audi almost made the top 10.  Even though these are quite common, the lines always catch my eye.

• Audi R8 - This is one of those cars that looks a lot better in person than it does on TV or in print.  There's a white one in my hood and it really is striking.  It also has the advantage of not being confused with anything else.

• BMW 6-Series - In truth, the M6 could probably make the top 10, but all the 6-series are attractive cars.  The problem with BMWs though is that they all look alike.

• Chrysler 300 - I really only mean the SRT8 version of Chryslers big cruiser.  The base models look like rental cars.  The new 300 is stylish in a subtle way.

• Dodge Charger SRT8 - The new Charger styling is extroverted to say the least.  I'm sure some will find it gaudy, but I like it.

• Ferrari 458 - Most would be shocked that this car didn't make the list with its space-ship styling.  It's a phenomenal car too!  There's just something about the tail that doesn't quite work for me though.

• Ferrari FF - I want one!  The styling on this one is polarizing, but it's the nose that lets this Maranello machine down to me though.  You can't even get on the waiting list for this car, they're all sold already (I still want one though).

• Infiniti M - With the Sport Package, this is the best looking Infiniti ever.

• Jaguar XF - Especially the XFR.  All Jaguars are "stylish", but the XF is subtly distinctive.

• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - I love the way EVERY AMG Benz looks, but all SLS are attractive in a unique way.  As cool looking as the Gull-Wing doors are on the coupe, the convertible is a more beautiful car.

• Porsche 911 - A lot of people think the 911 is ugly.  I say the best sports car in the world for about 50 years now can't be ugly or they would have changed it.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

• Volkswagen CC - Although it's nothing but a dressed up Passat, the clothes fit great.  I think this is VWs best effort.

Now for the TOP 10:    

     

#10 - Audi A7

All Audi's have gotten more attractive over the last few years, but the new A7 is stunningly good looking.  They got rid of one of the best cars that nobody bought, the A6 Avant, and replaced it with this "Sportback".  The first thing that catches your eyes is the hatchback, but what really transforms this A6 duckling into an A7 Swan is that it's stretched and flared.  It looks equally good coming and going and it's a really good car to boot.  You just know they're going to come out with an S7 - that's what I'm waiting for! 

#9 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

If you don't like the way the newest Range Rover looks, first check your eyesight, then you'd better get used to them because they're going to be everywhere.  I have a feeling Land Rover will sell more of the two-door versions than the four-door.  I would find this disappointing because I think the four-door is a much better looking vehicle.  My wife wants one, and has since we first saw this thing in person at the Houston Auto Show this year.  Not all Land Rovers have been historically attractive to me.  The LR3, LR4 and even the standard Range Rover are all rather ugly in my opinion.  The Evoque, however, is fantastically styled both inside and out.  Perhaps because it looks so good, I was expecting it to be a real disappointment of a driver.  Everything I've read would indicate otherwise.  I'm stalling on test-driving one of these because I'm afraid Branelle is going to like it even more than she thinks she does now and quite frankly, it's a bit overpriced for a small 4-cylinder SUV.  The only way to buy Land Rover products is to wait a year or so until the hype wears off and leased models start showing up on the lot for about half the original sticker price with even more warranty than they had when they were new. 

#8 - Jaguar XJ

I have to give Jaguar a lot of credit.  I can't think of a car that was more radically redesigned than the XJ - and change isn't really Jaguars usual "cup of tea".  The new XJ is stunning.  It makes a statement and you absolutely can't ignore one if you see it on the street.  The front looks like nothing you've seen and the rear looks even more unique.  The rather lengthy XJL Supersport would be my choice, but the entire lineup is gorgeous.  They didn't just stop on the outside either.  The interior has a wrap around concept that is like functional art.  I'm seeing more and more of these in my neighborhood and they never get old to look at.  Branelle and I spent some time in one this past weekend at a Jaguar event and I have to report that the car is even better looking in person - inside and out - and a nice driver as well.

 

#7 - Aston Martin DBS

Aston Martin doesn't make an ugly car, but the DBS is probably their most attractive effort.  It manages to look elegant and butch at the same time.  To the untrained eye, it would be difficult to distinguish the DBS from a DB9, Vantage, or even the new Virage, in spite of the fact that you would have just paid a great deal more for your DBS - around $300K - than you would have for any of the "lesser" Astons.  The subtle differences, which really make this car Jessica Biel sexy instead of just Cameron Diaz cute, are its deeper front spoiler, an extra-wide intake for the oil cooler, a larger rear spoiler, flared wheel arches and a wider track.  It's hard to say why a DBS looks so much better than a DB9 - it just does.  

#6 - Ferrari California

The worst Ferrari is the best looking Ferrari.  It's no secret in the Ferrari community that the California isn't exactly regarded as a masterpiece.  It's not really the most involving to drive and is really considered by many enthusiasts to be a "chick car" (if that's possible with 454 horsepower).  That said, I think it's easily the most attractive Ferrari in the stable with the hard top up or down.  The cars lines just work.  The nose is pretty, the hard top is seamless, and the tail isn't as bad as some Ferraris.  Sometimes Ferrari gets carried away with functional intakes and diffusers, etc., to the detriment of the cars aesthetics - remember the Enzo or the F50?  Not here.  Perhaps because the California isn't a hyper-performance supercar, its body has survived without the Frankenstein treatment.  There are a couple of these in my 'hood' and I never get tired of seeing them. 

       

#5 - Bentley Continental GT

The two-door Bentley has been looking good for nearly a decade now.  This year, an even better looking drop top joins the lineup.  There's nothing subtle about the Continental.  There's a bright red one and a black one in our community, and when I see either at the grocery store they kind of look out of place to me.  It's such an attractive car that I feel like it shouldn’t be dirty - almost like art.  These things are beasts too with twin-turbo V12s that pump out between 567 and 621 horsepower, depending on configuration, but they don't look like driver's cars to me.  I have a feeling if I had one that I'd go out to the garage a lot and just look at it.  

#4 - Lamborghini Aventador

I almost didn't put this car on the list…and then I saw one in person.  The newest Lambo probably has more "presence" than any car on the road today.  It's kind of like seeing the Batmobile in your rear-view mirror.  Lamborghini has never been accused of being subtle.  The Countach was so gaudy that it was actually sexy and even some of the older models were just as bazaar - I want an old Espada and that's about as weird looking of a car as you'll find.  The Aventador is, for one thing, a really big car.  It has more angles than a Stealth Fighter - and it's probably about as loud as one too.  The carbon-fiber body shell is stunning from every angle.  If any car in the world "looks fast" just sitting there, this is it.  This is a car that makes a statement - a really big, really fast, really loud one.         

#3 - Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG

I have to admit that I'm a bit biased when it comes to the big factory AMG efforts from Mercedes.  I've had a few and even when I get away from them for a while I always seem to come back when it's time for a new ride.  I've never had a CLS though.  The reason is that it's kind of a pointless car.  It's basically just a re-bodied E-Class that seats only four due to a center console that runs the length of the car's interior.  The S-Class is bigger and even a little faster.  The E-Class is as good but a little cheaper.  The CL-Class is sportier.  Actually, the ONLY reason to buy this car is the way it looks - and that's enough.  Mercedes started the whole "four-door coupe" thing with this car, and now some of the best looking and driving cars on the road are basically copies:  Audi A7, Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera, Maserati Quattroporte, etc.  The CLS63 is a beast when you drop the hammer and it looks the part, but when it's just sitting there it looks sensuous to me.  The aggressive front and the sloping rear end with angles and curves in all the right places.  Reizvoll!      

#2 - Fisker Karma

I think maybe the only reason the Fisker Karma isn't #1 is because I'm afraid it isn't going to sound good.  The reason for that is, and I can't believe I'm saying this, the beautiful Karma is a (gasp) electric car!  Forget for a moment what powers the Karma and just look at it.  It's absolutely gorgeous!  From every angle and in any color, it's an absolute work of art.  That's the good news.  The great news is that it's not a 100% electric like the useless Nissan Leaf.  It's an electric with a range extending gas engine - ala the Chevy Volt.  Unlike the Volt, however, this one has claws.  It puts out a little over 400 horsepower and 981 lb-ft of torque!  The stunning looks derive in part from the fantastic lines of the car, and in part from the stance - it's low, wide, and long.  And as good as it looks driving by, the four-place interior is perhaps even more stunning.  The guy responsible for this gift to our eyes is Henrik Fisker.  I don't know the man, but I'll gladly buy him a drink for finally making "green" sexy!

    

#1 - Maserati GranTurismo

Unlike the Fisker, my choice for the top spot has no issues with how it sounds.  Maserati is back, and in a big way.  The Quattroporte is a fantastic looking car, but the GranTurismo is just damn sexy!  It may not be a track star like a Ferrari, it may not have the raw power of the AMG Benz's, and it may not "save the planet" like the Fisker, but nothing looks better at the curb than the GT.  Nothing sounds better pulling away either - like Barry White eating wasps.  You can get this Italian beauty in either coupe or convertible form - there is no wrong choice.  I'm not telling you to buy one.  Maserati isn't exactly known for building reliable cars and the resale value in America is appalling.  That said, if you have the money and want a car with soul that will be the best-looking girl at any party you attend, find a nicely cared for low mileage GranTurismo and take her out.

The 10 Ugliest Cars You Can Buy (but please don't)

While driving around, I pay attention to the cars on the road.  It's something I'm interested in and even when I'm not consciously looking, vehicles catch my eye for different reasons.  Every time I see my neighbor pull out of his gate in his new Mercedes SL63 AMG with its Matte White finish I can't help but be captured by the gorgeous and aggressive lines of the beast.  Unfortunately, I notice a lot of cars for the opposite reason - as in "why would anyone buy that?...or even MAKE it?"

I decided to put together a 'Top-10 List' of the ugliest cars you can buy today.  This list is limited to new models that you could buy at your dealership tomorrow (if you're blind anyway).  My initial list of "ugly cars" was long, and narrowing it down wasn't easy.  Some of the vehicles that barely missed out on the top 10 ranged from the common and cheap like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit all the way to the ridiculously expensive and rare Maybach.  Anyway, here goes - with apologies for what you are about to see.

#10 - Acura ZDX & Honda Crosstour

They're basically the same car so I threw them both in here.  It's actually not a bad vehicle, although describing it might take a little effort.  It shares the platform with the MDX, but with a stubby body that creates huge blind spots and limits cargo and head room.  The Honda version is more plain, but not any prettier.  The Acura suffers from that horrible "power plenum grill" they put on all their cars now.  To be fair, my wife Branelle has actually commented that she finds these "interesting".  I think they are both hideous.  Looks is a good enough reason not to consider one of these, but perhaps the biggest reason is the MDX - it's bigger, rides better, and is even a little cheaper…and it's MUCH more attractive.

#9 - Nissan Murano Crosscabriolet

Nissan is going to make this list more than once, and I don't want you to think I'm picking on them - the 370Z is a good looking budget sports car (finally) and the GT-R is very cool looking in its own way.  I also think the Maxima is a very attractive car for what it is.  Unfortunately, not all Nissan styling hits the mark.  The Murano Crosscabriolet is ugly with the top down, but absolutely appalling with the top up.  Fortunately they don't sell many of these so your chances of seeing one are slim.  When topless, it reminds me of some old car that someone took a chainsaw to in order to "create" a convertible.  I'll give it props for being unique, but that's not always a good thing.  My friend Barry has mentioned that he kind of likes this thing - is there an intervention in his future?

#8 - Mazda 3

This could have just as easily been the Mazda 2 or the Mazda 5, but the 3 is the most common sight offender.  Some of these in wagon or hatchback layout aren't that bad, but the base sedan is just fugly!  The worst view is from the front.  That open mouth grill is unattractive and cheap looking - kind of like it's smiling at you with no teeth.  These are simply basic transportation, but at least Mazda could try.

#7 - Chrysler Town & Country / Dodge Grand Caravan

All minivans, by definition, are horrible life-sucking entities for adults who have basically given up (and probably didn't have a whole lot going on before they did).  That said, some are worse looking than others.  The current Chrysler / Dodge offerings are at the top of the list in my book.  I can remember when the Town & Country was the best looking minivan on the road (kind of like saying the Banana Slug is the best looking cephalopod), but the current version can best be described as "bland".  I see these quite often and they always look like cargo vans to me…which I suppose is basically what they are.

#6 - Ford Transit Connect

This is a vehicle that shouldn't be in here because it's a purpose-built commercial van aimed at small business owners.  However, you can drive over to your local Ford dealership and grab one tomorrow so it has to be considered.  I'm probably being kind by placing it 6th - it really is astonishingly ugly!  These have been rocking Europe for some time now and unfortunately have made their way to the states.  You probably won't see too many of these in driveways (thank goodness), but you'll have to endure them from time to time on the roads, especially if you live in large urban areas like New York or Chicago.

#5 - Smart ForTwo

There are way more of these on the road than there should be.  When Daimler first brought this little European two-seater to America, I thought it would be a passing fad - and it should have been.  However, I notice these little distinctively styled cars more and more…in Houston!...a place where they make absolutely NO sense!  Aside from being an assault on the eyes, the Smart is a terrible car that doesn't even get great gas mileage.  The cars only real trick is that you can park it on the street by pulling it straight in.  We noticed this all over Europe the last time we were there and they really take advantage of it.  Unfortunately, I don't have to go very far to see a Smart - our 93-year-old next door neighbor has one along with a Mini and a Lexus GS - but she drives the little silver Smart most of the time.  I get a great look at it too because she takes about 5 minutes to back it down the drive and out her gate (cute - her, not the car).  Another amusing note is that she parks the Mini and the Smart in the same garage stall, nose to tail.

#4 - Nissan Cube

I think these things are hideous!  The sad thing is that most Cube buyers probably get one BECAUSE of the looks.  Those people should have their heads examined.  This is the only car I can think of that looks different depending on which side of the vehicle you're standing - a result of that ridiculous wrap around rear window on the right side.  I could have thrown the Nissan Juke in here as well - my wife would have, she HATES those things - but the polarizing styling of the little frog-like Juke doesn't offend me to the degree it does Nel.  The Cube, on the other hand, gets my gag reflex cued up.  Nissan offers nearly limitless customizing options for the Cube, but you're just putting makeup on a pig (sorry pigs).

#3 - Nissan Leaf

Not to pile on Nissan, but the Leaf's horrible looks are trumped only by how bad of a car it actually is.  If you've ever stopped to really look at one of these things, you should be wondering what Nissan was thinking.  There is some good news though:  it takes 21 hours to fully charge the battery on a 110 current so the ugly Leaf will spend more time in the garage than on the streets, and with a practical range of about 73 miles (as long as you aren’t on the highway or using the climate control system) you won't find many Leaf owners "joy-riding", further lessoning the chances of having to gaze upon the ugly electric.  Another plus is that with its nearly silent running gear, you might not hear one coming and therefor won't turn around and have to look at it.  More good news, for me anyway, is that you won't see these cluttering up Houston streets so much - it's really a West Coast thing. 

#2 - Scion iQ

A lot of Scions could have made this list - the tC is the ONLY one I wouldn't kick out of bed - but the iQ is in an ugly league all its own.  This ultra-compact has been sold in Europe as a Toyota for years, but it's now been brought to the US to assail our vision.  The model that toured the auto show circuit wasn't bad, but of course the actual product is more bland and less tolerable.  The iQ is about a foot longer than the Smart, its competition, but still about two feet shorter than the much better looking Fiat 500.  It's hard to make a short car that looks good, so hard in fact that I dare say it hasn't happened yet.  Keep trying folks (but not you guys Scion…you can stop now).

#1 - Mitsubishi i

The ugliest car you can buy in America, isn't for sale in America…yet.  Sadly, this egg-shaped Japanese electric will go on sale on the east and west coasts this spring.  The Mitsubishi i is basically just like the Nissan Leaf - only uglier!  It really does look like an egg with four wheels stuck under it.  Forget the fact that at highway speeds the wind noise and stability will make you wish you were on a scooter, or that you should probably keep a copy of your will and medical directive in the glove compartment because if you have an accident in one of these you'll need both.  The looks alone should be enough to deter anyone from purchasing this vehicular abomination.  They aren't cheap like the Scion either - expect to pay somewhere north of $30K for one.  Like the Leaf, you do qualify for a $7500 tax credit, but I'm not sure that's enough for the plastic surgery you'll need to disguise yourself to avoid being seen.                 

Fritz's Railroad Restaurant

Branelle and I decided to have lunch at a place we found on-line in Kansas City called Fritz's Railroad Restaurant.  The main attraction to us, and I assume most diners, is the rather unique food delivery system they have.  It's basically a miniature train that runs over your table and drops your food as it passes by!

The decor is really fun.  They have model trains that run inside the "windows" all around the restaurant.

There are three of these places in the area, but we ate at the one located at the Crown Center on the Missouri side (the other two are in Kansas).  The menu is simple - basically everything that your run-of-the-mill hamburger joint has to offer.  The food was pretty good, but the star of the meal is the overhead "train" that brings your order in a box that is dropped on a tray as it passes by which then hydraulically lowers to your table.  The train route takes it over EVERYONE'S table, so you kind of find yourself - along with everyone else in the house - looking up expectantly every time the train emerges from the kitchen.  It's fun! 

You place your order by picking up an old phone located in your booth.

   

Fritz's inventor skills lead him to the development of the food delivery system that he designed and tested in the basement of his home.  The patented system was primarily intended to help with the shortage of labor which was a constant headache while trying to operated multiple restaurants efficiently.  Once the system, nicknamed the "Skat Kat," was installed at the 18th street location in the early 1970's, however, people began calling it a train.  At first Fritz played down the railroad aspect of Skat Kat, but he eventually decided to go with this popular theme.  Train memorabilia and engineer's hats for the kids enhanced this concept.

Watching the little train and hoping it will drop its delivery at our table.

It's a fun dining experience.  If you're ever in the KC area, check it out - you won't be disappointed.  

National WWI Museum

NOTE:  This blog is part of the "1980 Buick LeSabre Road Trip - October 2011 Series".  Branelle and I flew up to Minnesota and drove back to Texas in her grandmothers 1980 LeSabre, a gift from her parents and Nana.  We took about a week getting back because, as I reminded Nel on a number of occasions, "sometimes it's about the journey, not the destination".

National WWI Museum

After visiting the Federal Reserve Bank in KC, we headed literally across the street to the National World War I Museum.  I'm a little embarrassed to admit that even though I have visited KC before, and the museum has been here in some form since 1926, I wasn't even aware it existed before we planned this trip.  The outside is quite spectacular.  It's technically called "National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial", with the memorial being the 217-foot Liberty Tower that rises above KC.  The place opens at 10am, but we were done at the Fed by about 9:30 so we walked around the outside to kill some time (and took the opportunity to take some pics of the still fantastic running Buick in front of the memorial).

The mighty LeSabre in front of the museum.

"In honor of those who served in the World War in defense of liberty and our country"

The actual museum is entered through what seem like bunker doors underground.  We were extremely surprised by how big and nice the inside of the structure is.  Entry through the bunker doors gets you into a corridor where you can buy tickets for the museum itself.  We did so, and then hit the "Over There Café" since Nel hadn't had any coffee yet this morning.

Breakfast at the "Over There Cafe".

To walk into the museum, you first cross the Paul Sunderland Bridge - basically a massive glass floor that spans a field of 9,000 poppies.  Each poppy represents 1000 combatant deaths during WWI - if you're doing the math, that's over 9 million.  Why poppies?  The battlefields of Europe during the war became desolate wastelands with virtually no vegetation, but every spring the poppies would rise out of the muck to dot the landscape with little reddish orange flowers.  This occurrence was immortalized by a Canadian lieutenant colonel named John McCrae in a poem entitled "In Flanders Fields".  This poem has been memorized by schoolchildren in Europe for decades.

A poor effort at photographing the poppies under the glass bridge.

After entering the actual museum, you watch a 12-minute film which does a pretty good job of offering insight into the events that led to the war.  Considering the lack of film footage from the early 1900's, it's very well done.  The next halls cover artifacts and history of the war from 1914-1917, prior to America entering.  They have an amazing collection of artillery, uniforms, etc., and some interactive sections including mock ups of a trench you can walk through. 

The artifacts are amazing.  We were pretty much alone in the place since it was early on a weekday morning and I was climbing all over everything - sitting in tanks and artillery - before I noticed the museums rather subtle way of posting "Do Not Touch" - oops.

 

When you leave the last hall of this section of the museum, you enter the Horizon Theater.  They show a 15-minute program about Americas decision to enter the war.  It's a very cool theater with some impressive artifacts (even a plane) that are part of the show.  When you finish the program, you enter the section of the museum that covers 1917-1919, the years of American involvement until the end of the war.  There's a giant crater with actual debris from a building destroyed by artillery and a lot more to see and do.  We pretty much had the place to ourselves but we didn't do everything.

When we had finished with the museum, we headed up to the roof to take a ride up in the tower.  There's a guy who takes you up in an elevator and then you walk the rest of the way to the top via a very narrow stairwell.  It's not for the claustrophobic or acrophobic, but the view from the top is great.  There's nothing else to do up there but look at KC and take a few pictures, so we headed back down after a few minutes.

Probably the best view of Kansas City there is.

The stairwell atop the tower isn't long, but not for the faint of heart either.

 

The National WWI Museum is a surprisingly nice and well down place.  It does a fantastic job of telling a part of our nation's history that I fear most of my generation is just too young to know anything about.  I learned a lot, and I kind of thought I knew more than most about WWI already.  Nel agreed that it was a wonderful history lesson and should be visited by anyone in the KC area.  My only complaint is that while they do a very good job of educating in a chronological manner, they don't really finish the story.  They really need a third film covering the events that ultimately led to the end of the war and what happened immediately after.