Cars:New Designs or Old Designs

[Stuartf12007]

For me its newely designed cars.

Of course not all are great, but excellent examples of goods designs would be
Nissan 350z and Honda Civic.

what is your opinion?

[CarlMetro]

From both technical and safety aspects then the modern day car is far better. The big problem for me is that fact that they all lack soul.So many of them look the same. It is rare these days for a new car to stand out from the crowd, where as in the days before the Ford Sierra, which I think was a big turning point, cars had curves and straight bits too.

[GridGirl]

Depends what you mean really by what is a new or an old design. Do you mean old versions of current cars or old cars in general?

I love classic cars from 40's, 50's 60's but cars from the 70's and 80's dont really appeal to me so much but they are old designs. I love the gadgets and creature comforts of newly designed cars but in generally they dont look as different as they used to. Apart from the mini and beetle nothing really stands out as being different.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Over the past 5 years new cars have started to look different again. In the 90's and 80's they all looked the same.

Examples are Jaguar S-type, BMW's, Renaults and Citroens.

[Zico]

I like the newer technologies but dislike the weight penalty that comes with them.. ie, look at the latest bloated/overweight golf in comparison to the original mk1... even the latest Civic you mention is heavier than the last, probably just me tho.. Im not interested in all the latest gadgets if they dont offer a performance boost and/or come with a weight penalty. looks, to a degree, also mean next to nothing to me. How it drives, corners, handles are my main criterias.

Give me an Integra Type-R, 306 Rallye or equally.. a Ford mk2 RS with basic interior, wind-up windows and with no air-con and I'll be a happy man.

[uncre8tv]

80's Japanese cars are the best to my eyes.

1st gen of RX-7, 300ZX, MR2,
the Supra, Celica GTS, CRX,
Skyline, Maxima, and on and on.

All such great examples of the 80's Japanese aesthetic. RX-7 takes the cake in my book. The technical darth-vaderish looks of all of them are so great. Plus they seemed to make sure the form followed function pretty well.

[Daniel]

From both technical and safety aspects then the modern day car is far better. The big problem for me is that fact that they all lack soul.So many of them look the same. It is rare these days for a new car to stand out from the crowd, where as in the days before the Ford Sierra, which I think was a big turning point, cars had curves and straight bits too.
Couldn't agree more. My 406 is a good car but to me it doesn't have a soul like my 504 had. I simply get in, turn the key, wait for the glowplug light to go off, turn the key and then drive away. It just doesn't have soul :(

[janneppi]

I'm not sure about the soul thing, i can imagine some Australian complaning that his brand new 504 Pug is a technical materpiece but lacks soul compared to his old steam powered three wheeler. :)
Keep the 406 for thirty years and it will develope a soul, or rust

[Donney]

From both technical and safety aspects then the modern day car is far better. The big problem for me is that fact that they all lack soul.So many of them look the same. It is rare these days for a new car to stand out from the crowd, where as in the days before the Ford Sierra, which I think was a big turning point, cars had curves and straight bits too.

:up:

I have never considered the Sierra thing but I could not agree more. Nowadays cars look less risky and interesting, they look too safe and concerned, they have developed politically correct looks.

[wedge]

For me I loved the late 1970s-80s when many cars were designed and inspired by Giorgetto Giugiarro. From the Lotus Esprit, the DeLoreon, Lambourghini Countach, Audi Quattro, VW Scirocco all the way up to the Corrado and to some extent, the Seat Cupra.

I love the sleek look, sleek angles. Very futuristic for its time, especially the DeLorean!

They don't design sports coupes like they used to. Probably the new Volvo hatchbacks comes close to the spirit of the 'wedge' concept.

Today's cars are now metro-sexual/A-sexual, they have a lot of curves and have to appeal to a women as well as men.

[luvracin]

:up:

I have never considered the Sierra thing but I could not agree more. Nowadays cars look less risky and interesting, they look too safe and concerned, they have developed politically correct looks.

I think everyone's being nostalgic and looking back to cars when they grew up as the most eyecatching because these were the first cars you "noticed" therefore they're etched into your mind.

I don't think modern vehicle styling has lost any of it's boldness(on the whole) or character. Ok, there are exceptions(Mr Toyota), but...

When the Cadillac CTS came out it was risky and interesting. So too the Chrysler 300C and the original Ford Focus.

Everyone seems to bag the BMW's so I wouldn't call their styling "safe" or "politically correct".

What about the Subaru Tribeca?? That was so bold nobody bought it.

[Iain]

For me I loved the late 1970s-80s when many cars were designed and inspired by Giorgetto Giugiarro. From the Lotus Esprit, the DeLoreon, Lambourghini Countach, Audi Quattro, VW Scirocco all the way up to the Corrado and to some extent, the Seat Cupra.

It's good that he designed so many good looking cars, that you can forget his Jaguar Kensington concept ended up as the Daewoo Leganza. ;)

Far too many identikit cars are around these days. The BMWs may look a bit odd, but at least they're being different. I'm actually finding the 1-series growing on me which I never thought I'd say and I really like the new E90 3-series coupe. Apart from them, there don't seem to be many companies brave enough to try something really radical, like Citroen, SEAT and Alfa Romeo. They'd rather just make big blobby hatchbacks and crossover vehicles.

[schmenke]

I prefer the really old designs...

[Allyc85]

New cars are great for safety and comfort.

BUT

Most of them look the same, compare the rear of a new clio, 207 and corsa and you see what I mean!! They also have no character and soul with the driving experience numbed by soft rides and electronics helping all the time

[Daniel]

It's good that he designed so many good looking cars, that you can forget his Jaguar Kensington concept ended up as the Daewoo Leganza. ;)

Far too many identikit cars are around these days. The BMWs may look a bit odd, but at least they're being different. I'm actually finding the 1-series growing on me which I never thought I'd say and I really like the new E90 3-series coupe. Apart from them, there don't seem to be many companies brave enough to try something really radical, like Citroen, SEAT and Alfa Romeo. They'd rather just make big blobby hatchbacks and crossover vehicles.
Seat make one of the ugliest cars in the world with this car below.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/SEAT_Leon_GR_Asia_WTCC_2006_Curitiba_side.jpg/800px-SEAT_Leon_GR_Asia_WTCC_2006_Curitiba_side.jpg

[Hayden Fan]

Are you lying. I'd buy that SEAT in a hurry if they made it avalible to the States.

[Donney]

Oi Daniel that's a superb looking Seat if you compare it to these:

Toledo (http://www.wintonsworld.com/cars/a-cars-2004/2004-carpics/paris-04/seat-toledo-1.jpg)

Altea XL4 (http://www.motorpasion.com/images/2007/05/seat_altea_xl4.jpg)

[Daniel]

Oi Daniel that's a superb looking Seat if you compare it to these:

Toledo (http://www.wintonsworld.com/cars/a-cars-2004/2004-carpics/paris-04/seat-toledo-1.jpg)

Altea XL4 (http://www.motorpasion.com/images/2007/05/seat_altea_xl4.jpg)
Yes and all three of those cars look like dog excrement compared to my 406 and that's not exactly an attractive car.

[Donney]

I liked it very much when it first appeared. I actually like it more than the 407.

[Rollo]

The two constraint that mainly design motor cars today are the wind tunnel and how best to define the space between the wheels. Some manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche are also stuck with having to make their cars look like their respective brands.

Car makers can't be incredibly innovative for the most part of else they'll suffer low sales ala the Vel Satis, so increasingly they turn out bland designs that try to offend as little people as possible.

This is why a lot of cars look so similar, just like the Mazda9
http://www.geocities.com/rollo75/mazda9.jpg

[ShiftingGears]

Rollo, did the Holden Commodore or the Mazda 9 come out first? :o

[555-04Q2]

The cars from the mid 60's to mid 70's were the best for me, especially from America. A lot of American classics were made during this period and to be totally honest, American has not made a decent car since then :(

[schmenke]

America has not made a decent car since the Model T :D :p :

[CCFanatic]

America has not made a decent car since the Model T :D :p :


I agree with you on that. Best car for someone like me, 17, is I think a Mazda 6.

[grassrootsracer]

I prefer the styling and serviceability of many classic cars (1930's-early 1970's and almost completely European or Japanese), but the safety and technology of modern cars. Most modern cars have plastic panels all over the place, particularly in the engine bay, that prevent anyone from seeing all the cool bits. In the case of my Datsun, I can easily access everything to work on it, and can even sit in the engine bay.

[Luffield]

Could I be the only one to see the irony of the letters on the reg plate????

[Luffield]

And talking of old and new.

The wife has just acquired herself a 1995 Vauxall Cavalier SRi 16v that (and it's hard for me to admit this) is almost certainly quicker and more entertaining to drive than my 2000 Vectra SRi. :eek:

[Iain]

You just have to look at the touring car stats to know that. ;)

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I agree with you on that. Best car for someone like me, 17, is I think a Mazda 6.

17 and a Mazda 6? :eek: Don't they cost around £14,000? And I guess the smallest engine they do is a 1.6? and aren't they designed for retired people? :p

Do youths in every country other than the UK drive sensibly? :dozey:

[Luffield]

You just have to look at the touring car stats to know that. ;)

Cheers Iain. I feel better for that!!!!!! :p

[Luffield]

Good job I liveried it up while she wasn't looking ;)