Five Generations of Subaru Legacy Wagons

I like the way Subaru evolved the Legacy Wagon from the 1st generation through the 4th generation. The 4th one especially managed to be sporty looking AND handsome. The designs didn't follow the latest fashions, instead they were a bit careful and understated. Then came the 5th generation...

Ugly! And too big!

Even though the third generation bordered on dorky, it was still basic enough to blend in instead of being offensive. The newest version looks like a facelift gone bad. Wonky headlights and curves everywhere, without a straight line anywhere to keep it balanced. The design just doesn't sit well with me.

The 2012 Impreza seems to continue the design theme started by the latest Legacy. The concept was sleek, but the production version lost all the appeal of the concept.

Let's hope Subaru finds its way back when the new Forester comes out...

What would you do if this happened to you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyJjsSu2ilk

Would you need a change of underwear?

Flickr Treat: MBeige's W123

I spend a lot of time on flickr looking at cars and car crashes. Most of the time it is a total waste, but every now and then I come across cars or crashes that just have to be shared. Case in point: This 1983 Mercedes is the cleanest most beautiful W123 I've ever seen.

Look up "MBeige" on flickr for more!

I wasn't always a fan of the W123. Back in the 80's when I was a kid in Sweden, most of these were usually high mileage taxis/ex-taxis, ie. 200 diesels. Slow, loud and smoky. I didn't care for them at all. My first positive experience with a W123 was during a ski trip for spring break in the mid-nineties when I was a junior in high school. Three buddies and I took my buddy's dad's 300TDT on the road trip, complete with a ski box, lamb skin seat covers, and studded winter tires. Since I was the only one with a driver's license at the time, I got to drive. Can you say SOLID?! Aside from a co-ed sauna at the ski resort, that car was the most memorable thing about the trip. It did 160 km/h according to the speedometer!

Fast forward to today. I love seeing these in any shape or condition. I feel compelled to whip out my iPhone and take a picture every time I see one. It's a rare sight to see one as nice as MBeige's. (The "Manila Beige" color of it is the same as the 300T driven by the butler in "Hart to Hart", another 80's gem.)

Jaguar and Mazda

Ok, so when I saw the Bertone concept for a small Jaguar sedan, I thought it was an awesome way to modernize the XJ sedan design that ran from 1968 to 2009. It seems Jaguar would have to backtrack or jump on the retro bandwagon (again - hello X-type!) in order to build it, but I would LOVE to see it make production. Apparently it is not.

The other day I came across the Mazda 929 from 1992-95 and thought it reminded me of something. A little bit of thinking and I put it together. It reminded me of the Bertone concept!! Especially when you see pictures of purple ones. (Purple, the avocado green of the 90's!!!)

No, they're not carbon copies of each other. The Jag being a concept is still ways from a production version (smaller wheels, larger tail lights, taller roof...), and the Mazda is nearly 20 years older (old style door handles, more pronounced bumpers...), but I see a lot of similarities in the way the lines flow. I would happily drive either one.

FIRST

My first post on my first blog! I'm not sure where this blog will go, but here I go. I spend a lot of time reading about all sorts of car stuff and watching youtube car videos (and car crash videos), and I often think that I could compile some fun stuff for others (you!) to see. I also feel like some of my observations need to be broadcasted. We'll see if anyone else thinks so. Stay tuned! J