Ugliest New Vehicle???

[5030]

Mr. Lawman:

4 Wheel Off Road has been doing a build on an Avalanche.

They scrapped the IFS, put in a solid axle, fabbed a suspension lift, lockers, re did the trans, cut the body, etc.

It still looks like an avalanche, but underneath there is not much stock. They even Rhino lined the interior.

I never cared for GM's IFS 4wd. I'm a solid axle man so I drive a Ford. Dodge would be my second choice. They have a solid axle too, but it's on coils with trailing arms. I like leaves. Coil springs remind me of the old Chevy pickups from the 60's. When the rear shocks went bad, they would pogo stick down the road. Up and down, up and down.

 

[Docsknotinn]

I have had several fords and had great luck with them. I read so much bad press includeing a recent article in the Detroit Free Press about how poorly the new Diesel is doing that I just avoided them. Besides it is hard for me to get mt mind around the fact that Ford did not offer zero % on the Diesel like every one else /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I had hoped for a long time that we might see a Detroit or a CAT option with the other two. But with the new Duramax we know thats not a possability for GM. I still have my fingers crossed in hopes that Ford will get with the program and offer a better diesel. Especially now that they are offering the King Ranch interior on the HD series. For the last 20 years I have considered all Dodges dead weight. I got burned by them hard on a truck when I was in college. I just got one for my wife, yea we'll test the beast on her ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif So far I really like it but I would never buy one for myself. The suspension is so stiff I wouldn't give 10 cents for it. If you are going down the highway and hit even the slightest bump the front end floats, multiply that by a factor of 10 if you are turning at the same time. Its a great around town to work and back truck but I definately would not want to take a trip in it. Dave

 

[fivestring]

Jerry, that is ugly!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I saw a Pontiac Vibe yesterday...it's as ugly as the Aztec.

All the manufacturers are building ugly vehicles nowadays.
They all look like boxes riveted together with 18-20 inch rims.

 

[5030]

Dave:

I have to be careful or we will get off this thread and into another tangent.
I've not heard anything negative about the 6.0 other than it's my contention that there is no substitute for displacement. I know they had an oil leak problem that was taken care of with a service recall, but other than that, I've heard nothing. I'd be a little aprehensive about an electronically controlled turbo, let alone an injection system. My 7.3 has the HUEI injection that IH won a design excellence award from the society of Automotive Engineers. Caterpillar, in order to meet emissions standards for 2001, had to go to IH for licensing rights for the injection system. With a few modifications to my 7.3, it dyno's at 353 ponies at the rear wheels. I don't even look at Dodge diesels, Duramaxes or 6.0 Fords. I can beat the pants off them at the light and I get 20.1 highway. Besides, my 305-75R16 All Terrian TAKO's are expensive to light up. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Docsknotinn]

I'm still keepin my fingers crossed for a future F-350 with a Cat option 600 lbs of torque with a Real tree tricked out exterior and King ranch goodies inside. You can have My Duramax if they come out with that. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Dave

 

[dieselsmoke1]

This Citroen has got to be a contender....

 

[Taylortractornut]

I had a friend that bought a 2CV Citroen at an auction, it had a 2 stroke engine and smoked awful. They came out front wheel drive to. He had a neighbor that loved it that owned a nice used 6 foot brush hog. My neighbor told me he felt bad trading him the car for the mower lol. He said the mower was worth 3 times the the car.

 

[F350Lawman]

I too like the Ford front axle setup as evidenced by my signature. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I hear the rumors that Ford will go with coils in the future, I hope not.

 

[RobertN]

Solid axle is the way to go. My '89 F250 4x4 had that I-beam IFS. I ripped that out and put a straight axle in. Hendled better, springs lasted(Ford IFS w/leaf springs wear terribly bad). It wheeled better, and handled a load better.

I laugh when I see folks putting 4" or 6" lifts into Chevies IFS's. They get some ground clearance, but no additional wheel travel. And, that IFS stuff just hangs there waiting to catch on a rock or other obstacle. Of course, most folks who lift those rarely go off road.

 

[RobertN]

I had great luck with my 80's Ford's, although they were gas motors. The '80 with the 400/auto was a slug for power though. The F250/350 with 4x4 IFS was marginal though. They ate up leaf springs. I changed my '89 out to a straight axle; it worked much better, and actually turned tighter(nice with longbed xcab).

I am suprised at the ride in your wifes Dodge. My '01 2500 4x4 xcab longbed rides pretty dang good for a 3/4 ton 4x4. I have driven similar Fords; my Dodge easily rides better(IMHO, of course). I have the camper and tow package on it, so it's got plenty of spring in the back... but the ride is good.

I would not mind having a Ford again, if they had the Cummins motor. Even with the PS, I still like the Fords. My choice was part because fo growing up around Mopars, and connections at a dealer. It would not hurt my feeling at all to have a Ford. I do like the in-cab ergo of the Dodge a bit more though.

Back to the thread, for older cars, the late 50's early 60's "fin" cars did have a real ugly factor to them. Of course, Dodge at least offered them witha hot 413ci motor /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Citroen has got to be a contender )</font>

Aren't they "French" Volkswagen's...? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Libertine]

JohnMiller3:

<font color="blue">Aren't they "French" Volkswagen's...? </font>

The 2CV was, but with the usual French design twists, and, of course hardly up to VW's build quality.

The larger Citroen's were very cushy and had some interesting features such as hydraulic suspension that could raise the whole vehicle up (and lower it). To change a tire you raised the suspension, put a block under the wheel support and then lowered down leaving the one wheel off the ground resting on the block. Of course, when the thing leaked it was like bleeding green blood (on the ground). They drove really nice, real soft ride, but had a lot of crummy plastic (sorta weird like - only one spoke from the steering column to the actual wheel for example) at least the one I drove.

I'm talking about back when cars were more of a reflection of the "national character" of the country from whence they came. Comparing say an old Citroen DS with a old Mercedes 190D gives a real grasp of the difference between the teutonic and gallic characters, or, an old Fiat with sleek Italian design and armpit hair growing out of the wheel wells. Now days, cars are mostly "cookie cutter" "world cars" with little to distinquish them, i.e. no individual character. The whole world is sinking into a bland goo.

JEH

 

[sugarmaker]

The Aardvark? Absolutely. Ugly, but also quirky and endearing. My father has one, and it's a hoot to drive, especially because of the looks you get from the sidewalk. His is a "Charleston" (pic attached) which is the 29HP model (although it feels like 30!).

Here's a good article which goes into some detail. I especially like the part about the bananas in the gearbox.

 

[5030]

John:

The fellow that I knew that had the Ferrari, also had a Citroen DSMMaserati (I think that's right).

It was ugly too and if I remember, the suspension sank to the ground when you opened the door!!

That wouldn't work on our road after a rain, it would sink to the mud and stay there.

 

[patrickg]

Frank, More often beauty is in the eye of the BEER HOLDER!

Pat