QOTD: What Car Looks Better in Person Than in Pics?

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

The Acura Integra has been generating a lot of conversation since it launched. I finally scheduled one for a test loan, and I am excited to drive it, even though it will be a while before that date (we often schedule cars at least a month out, and two months out is not uncommon).

That said, I haven't been enamored with its looks, at least in pictures.


Nor has at least one other staffer, whose name rhymes with Morrie. But here's the thing -- I've also seen the Integra up close a couple of times now. Once at a local event back in December, and a few times on the street. I find it much, much better looking in person, especially in A-Spec guise with dark gray paint and blacked-out wheels. That's the color combo on the one I saw at the event -- and I think it's the exact car I will be testing.

This happens a lot in this business. Sometimes you see a new car for the first time in photos, not in person -- we can't make it to every shrimp-filled launch event -- and think it's an uggo. Then you get a chance to see it up close at an auto show or on a dealer lot, or one shows up at your door, and you realize it looks much better in person.

The opposite also happens, but not nearly as often. It sorta happened to me with the new Prius -- I dug it in photos but was a bit underwhelmed seeing it in person a couple of months ago.

Anyway, I am sure this has happened to you, too, as a consumer and/or car enthusiast. This phenomenon isn't limited to automotive journalists, though maybe we notice it more.

What car gave you the creeps in photos but turned your head in person?

Sound off below.

[Image: Acura]

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Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • L.Hutz L.Hutz on Feb 10, 2023

    Lexus LC500. In photos, it gave me SC430 vibes, which was an absolutely hideous car. When I saw the LC500 in person for the first time, I was stunned at how beautiful it was.

  • Allamericanred Allamericanred on Feb 15, 2023

    As a 2 time Acura owner I was disappointed when I saw the TLx pics but in person I love it every time I see it on the road.

  • Wjtinfwb Hmmm. Given that most Ford designs are doing relatively well in the marketplace, if this was forced I'd bet it was over the S650 Mustang. It's not a bad looking car but some angles seem very derivative of other makes, never a good trait for a car as distinctive as Mustang. And if he had anything to do with the abysmal dashboard, that's reason enough. Mustang doesn't need the "Tokyo by Night" dash arrangement of a more boring car. Analog gauges, a screen big enough for GPS, not Netflix and some decent quality plastics is plenty. The current set-up would be enough to dissuade me from considering a new Mustang.
  • Lorenzo Aw, they don't need a designer - just put modern underpinnings on a 1955 Ford Fairlane. Stellantis could revive Chrysler and Dodge by putting modern mechanicals on a 1955 Imperial and 1955 Dodge Coronet.
  • Lorenzo For both models, and their larger Accord/Camry models, the crash test ratings are very close, but only for late year models. The pre-2010 Civic and Corolla both fold like a cheap suit in a crash. If you're looking for a safer 10 year old vehicle, buy a truck.
  • L&L I have a 2004 Xb right now the odometer reads 265,000 miles no mayor issues ,pay 14,500 . you don't need complaints about this lunch box the best .
  • Jeanbaptiste 2022 Tesla model 3 performance ~35000 miles tires - ~$1000ish. Several cabin filters ~$50
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