On Friday night I was in the Crosstour on my way to meet friends at the Arclight for a showing of "True Grit." Stopped at a red light and felt like I was being watched. Turns out it was the Crosstour that was being watched - the woman in the lane next to me (seemed to be in her mid-30s, driving a BMW Z3 convertible) was giving the car the once-over and she seemed to like what she was seeing.
She saw me watching her watching the Crosstour and smiled, then gave the car a thumbs-up. Now it's obviously not the first time an onlooker has responded favorably to a car I was driving - I've gotten admiring smiles and even a couple of appreciative nods. But this is the first time I've been on the receiving end of such an explicit gesture of approval. A thumbs-up! My very first one. What a special moment. I'm sure the Crosstour felt validated.
And the Crosstour lovefest didn't end there. Later that night I was headed to the car on my way from a restaurant when I noticed a group of teenagers clustered around it - I'm guessing they were no older than 17 or so. They were gazing at the Crosstour with the sort of reverence and admiration usually reserved for, well, cars that aren't Honda Accord Crosstours. Didn't get a chance to quiz them since they were gone by the time I made it to the car.
So there you have it - the Crosstour turned heads twice in one day. The Crosstour! Twice! Who knew she was such an attention grabber?
What's the most attention-grabbing car you've ever driven?
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 19,055 miles
clarkma5 says:
05:30 PM, 02/ 7/11
Maybe you're just the wet dream of ever BMW-driving lady in LA...ever considered that?
Most attention-grabbing car I've ever driven...hmm. That red VW R32 was pretty attention-grabbing, but it had the exhaust-flap delete and I was revving it under under passes :p
ocramidajzj says:
06:16 PM, 02/ 7/11
The Crosstour's profile is OK, it's that damned grille and huge but that makes it hideous.
ocramidajzj says:
06:19 PM, 02/ 7/11
oops that should be "huge buTT".
itm1221 says:
06:21 PM, 02/ 7/11
all accords are awesome!
carguy622 says:
06:26 PM, 02/ 7/11
Two of the women who work with me (30 & 18) love the looks of the Crosstour. They asked me my opinion... they weren't happy with I said, nor were they convinced it was ugly, even after my tirade ;)
My most attention getting car was my red 2006 Miata. I miss that car.
Although the gentleman who works at the McDonald's drive through is convinced that if he had my Acura TSX for one night he could have sex with a year's worth in that one night. I am not kidding... he actually said this to me!
ninjin says:
06:39 PM, 02/ 7/11
@carguy622
Is gentleman the right word?
hoosiergrandad says:
06:39 PM, 02/ 7/11
Do you think the tide of fashion is turning yet ? I enjoy driving my CT but would like to be able to cruise down the road without a sack (with eyeholes) over my face.
eidolways says:
06:39 PM, 02/ 7/11
The sad thing is that the Crosstour is starting to grow on 26-year-old male ME. That big bold grille with the swept-back lights... It's actually a pretty in-your-face design. See it coming right toward you, with those massive arching fenders and it actually looks pretty beastly for a four-seater.
That said, the most attention-grabbing car I've ever driven is my Liquid Red 2009 G8 GXP. :) I need to submit a "Reader's Car" for it some time.
felonious_monk says:
06:51 PM, 02/ 7/11
This only confirms my suspicion that Z3 drivers have no taste. ;)
Seriously though, I've never thought the Crosstour was ugly exactly, but more odd in a generic sort of way. Like Hyundais used to be: overall generic, with a touch here and there that's different just for sake of being different.
dragonflight says:
08:10 PM, 02/ 7/11
Used to get some great stares from a '95 S320 all the way into 2008. The thing looked so much more expensive than it was worth at that point, it was kind of epic. Especially because I looked like I was barely old enough to be driving in the first place!
Oh, and turn off the ESC, and you could get some serious (manageable) speed going in the corners. If it weren't for the constant worry it would be an immobilized statue the next morning, would've kept that car forever.
mercedesfan says:
08:49 PM, 02/ 7/11
My wife's old E63 wagon was definitely the most attention grabbing car I've ever owned. Most people didn't pay it any mind, but those that knew what it was tended to swarm it.
The most attention grabbing car I've ever driven was a Ferrari F430 Stradale owned by the CEO of the company I used to work for.
@dragonflight,
My father still owns his 1995 S500 that just ticked past 310,000 miles. The great thing about the W140s is that almost everything can be fixed with a sensor. Those cars were mechanically indestructible. In all those years and miles, he can count the mechanical issues he has had on one hand (suspension rebuild, two failed valves, and a transmission rebuild at 275K miles). He has replaced many sensors and fuses, though. Car starts running a little rough? A quick sensor replacement and its back to running like a champ.
dragonflight says:
11:47 PM, 02/ 7/11
@mercedesfan-
I've heard this but unfortunately, never got to see it with my W140. The car was pampered like a king with dealership service on the dot every time, but still managed to head gaskets before 30k miles, have a leaking A/C compressor, faulty trunk opening mechanism, and was occasionally leaking a variety of fluids when it felt like it. And I'm not even gonna mention all the little electrical things. Thank goodness for the extended warranty for 7 years!
Did I mention that, after 14 years of owning it, we only had driven it about 48k miles? Yeah, hardly a case of abuse.
The car still looked showroom new. And felt it inside. But just didn't have much place for a car that was tough to drive in Chicago winters (snow + RWD boat was never a great combo) and scalding to be inside of in the summer.
But, after all this, every day since we traded it in, I miss it. Even having a fantastic 528xi, I miss the simple, "German"-ness of it every day. When's the last time you could sit in the backseat of a car and simply not be *able* to touch the front seat no matter how hard you tried?
powell_jr says:
03:58 AM, 02/ 8/11
Most attention grabbing car I've driven....My old Jeep Wrangler when it was covered in mud.
85se says:
07:35 AM, 02/ 8/11
My most attention getting car is my Velocity Red 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5, with second place to my old white 85 Fiero. The Fiero was nostalgic for people...the Miata..well, it's a red convertible :D
jeepsrt says:
08:07 AM, 02/ 8/11
My Brother's Raptor get's a lot of attention and my wife gets a lot in her M3 but I think it's more for her than the car. I would say that the most attention a car I owned has recieved is my FJ, it has a 3" lift, roof lights with roof rack, grill guard with lights (all Toyota parts) and 18" black XD series wheels with 33" tires, everybody loves that thing.
ed124c says:
08:11 AM, 02/ 8/11
No contest with my selection-- people came to my house just to see my bright red '68 Z28 and to listen to the exhaust. It was kinda awesome (although we didn't really use that word back then.)
northsparrow says:
09:29 AM, 02/ 8/11
The Crosstour is the spiritual successor to the 1974 AMC Matador Coupe and I cannot give it a thumbs up.
However, I can whole-heartedly give a thumbs up to "True Grit" which is far superior to the original and
well worth seeing on the big screen.
cjasis says:
01:53 PM, 02/ 8/11
Are you sure she wasn't giving you the "thumbs up" for being comfortable enough in your own skin to drive a car that ugly in public?
d2p4show says:
10:53 PM, 02/ 8/11
lol no wonder.
she was driving a Z3 !
Likes attract likes.
And both them are effin fUGLY !
litewerk says:
07:41 PM, 02/10/11
While I admit that I was one who was not so fond of it when it first debuted, I'm not gonna call it ugly. It's more of what people call "an acquired taste." But wait a minute, from what I can tell, few people other than hardcore Honda fanboys are are all that fond of the the looks of the Accord coupe or sedan. It looks bigger and heavier than a normal Accord, so it would seem to get worse fuel mileage. Yet, there's a bit more practicality to it for some people. So, I actually have mixed feelings about. But then, when looking at it from the front, Honda seems to have given it an almost truck-sized grille! I'd guess that it is intended to balance out the extra large booty on the other end.
rudycantfail says:
11:35 AM, 02/19/11
I have to wonder if swapping out the bright work grille for a painted one wouldn't tone that down a bit and bring it more into balance.
I do like the look of the rear, but you pay for it in rear visibility. And without Nav you don't get a backup camera.
docinnyc says:
03:11 PM, 03/ 1/11
After doing some research of "the most luxury and options" I can afford without breaking the bank......well, still surprised that the Crosstour became the most likely option.
Roomy, luxurious, very comfortable for 4 adult males, and luggage to match. All desirable options included, drives like a dream, and, though missing the "kick" of the turbo in the old Volvo T........quite a smooth acceleration. Great Bang for the Buck considering the savings of about 10K.........:)
I still get asked about it at the red lights. Because it looks weird or because it does grab attention for its unusual styling? I could not care less at this point. After a year of having it, still quite pleased and enjoying my shopping trips to Ikea, Costco or Home Depot. Only once did I have to drop the back seats to get more cargo room. So, unless you are planning to build a small house and need space for the supplies.......there is plenty in there.
A comfortable, spacious, luxurios ride for less than 39K (took the top of the line model), and, best of all, once you master the voice command feature.......no true need to even bother with all the buttons.......:)
Bottom line, Kudos to Honda.
docinnyc says:
03:12 PM, 03/ 1/11
After doing some research of "the most luxury and options" I can afford without breaking the bank......well, still surprised that the Crosstour became the most likely option.
Roomy, luxurious, very comfortable for 4 adult males, and luggage to match. All desirable options included, drives like a dream, and, though missing the "kick" of the turbo in the old Volvo T........quite a smooth acceleration. Great Bang for the Buck considering the savings of about 10K.........:)
I still get asked about it at the red lights. Because it looks weird or because it does grab attention for its unusual styling? I could not care less at this point. After a year of having it, still quite pleased and enjoying my shopping trips to Ikea, Costco or Home Depot. Only once did I have to drop the back seats to get more cargo room. So, unless you are planning to build a small house and need space for the supplies.......there is plenty in there.
A comfortable, spacious, luxurios ride for less than 39K (took the top of the line model), and, best of all, once you master the voice command feature.......no true need to even bother with all the buttons.......:)
Bottom line, Kudos to Honda.
rudycantfail says:
07:05 PM, 03/ 1/11
@docinnyc
Check out http://www.crosstourownersclub.com/forums/index.php