Why have car makers really fallen off the cliff today?
Just look at 1980 cars to now so boring today.
Just look at 1980 cars to now so boring today.
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Why have car makers really fallen off the cliff today?
- Thread starter Bubble99
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Mousse
macrumors 601
Cars from the 80's were ugly boxes, IMO. The 50's was when cars were works of art. Aerodynamics be damned, I want the gorgeous looks 50's styling.
Cars today, aerodynamics and efficiency trumps exterior beauty. That's why they all look the same.🙃
Cars today, aerodynamics and efficiency trumps exterior beauty. That's why they all look the same.🙃
maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
The late 60s with muscle cars was the pinnacle of automotive design imo
As for current design. You should also include modern safety features such as collapsible/deforming bumpers and crumple zones as additional reasons for generic designs
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Not a fan of American muscle cars, but I do agree that much of the automative styling of the 1950s and 1960s was gorgeous and that many cars today are offensively ugly, monstrously large, and hideously similar in appearance.
Not fan of aggressive styling with high door panels and thin windows, and down with ridiculous huge grills (shields up).
Just saw a mini cooper mini van-like, first that came to my mind was hearse for small people.
Just saw a mini cooper mini van-like, first that came to my mind was hearse for small people.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
My own personal favourite from that era is the (classic) Citroen DS, but I agree that the Jaguar E-Type is a beautiful car. A triumph of design, and just simply gorgeous.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Actually, while it has been a complaint of mine for quite some time, I really do think that the design - the aesthetics - of many (if not most) modern cars are grotesquely similar, offensively ugly, and dangerously large; who needs such massive monsters in an urban setting?
And that is leaving aside pressing environmental and ecological concerns, which - given recent events and possible trends - are not just an interest of those of us who would prefer not to destroy the planet while we have it in our trust, but, also may prove a bit more compelling to others given current events and erratic oil supplies.
And that is leaving aside pressing environmental and ecological concerns, which - given recent events and possible trends - are not just an interest of those of us who would prefer not to destroy the planet while we have it in our trust, but, also may prove a bit more compelling to others given current events and erratic oil supplies.
Macky-Mac
macrumors 601
Citroen DS as a convertible and driven with the top down is an amazingly elegant car
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
As much as I love how old cars look, it’s hard to go back in terms of the safety of new car designs.
I would certainly love to see an effort made to retain the modern safety while getting back some of the attractiveness of previous eras.
I would certainly love to see an effort made to retain the modern safety while getting back some of the attractiveness of previous eras.
BSDnostalgia
macrumors 6502a
The Jag was definitely the pinnacle of fantasy styling. It belonged in a museum. I think a lot of people liked to park them in front of the house because they couldn't afford the constant maintenance. But, I digress again.
The sameness is healthy in my mind. Cars are, or, should be, appliances.
The dangerously large part, I agree with. I recently saw the latest Cadillac Escalade. In shape it is roughly the same as the old Chevy Suburban from the 1960's, but, the front end is enormous and so boxy that a shorter person can barely see over it. An obvious threat to pedestrians. They should require the drivers to qualify for driving buses.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
It was gorgeous.
Not at the time.
Possibly, but I cannot attest to this.
Indeed.
No.
I like the idea that car brands - such as Citroen, Jaguar, Saab - (to name three of my personal favourites) and so on, have a distinct aesthetic style.
After all, given that this is an Apple site, I daresay that many who contribute here would become rather agitated should someone suggest that all computers should look just the same.
To my mind, they are massive, monstrous, grotesquely ugly, and dangerously large.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
BSDnostalgia
macrumors 6502a
I would have said whimsical rather than elegant. It looked like you should be able to drive it into the nearest lake and go boating, like the Amphicar.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
I will also admit to a preference for the styling of some of the Mercedes cars - and indeed, the BMWs - from the 1980s, and the 1990s. Gorgeous, elegant, under-stated. And not monsters.
Also was never into muscle cars, but rather into boxy Volvos in their 1970's heyday (way before they were bought by the Chinese and became SUV centric). It was a statement of my contrarian nature and desire for everything simple looking and practical. They were also very reliable, built like a tank, and had cutting edge safety features.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
minik
macrumors demi-god
I think some models from Volvo still look pretty good, especially the SPA era.
Euroamerican
macrumors 6502a
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
I’ve still got a pretty car, alough It’s now 10 years old, and not real practical, but it’s fun.🙂
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