German Car Forum

I'm not sure if this topic is already made before by someone, at least I couldn't find it with the search function.
But if it does exist, mods can close this one.

Introduction
As a true carfanatic/lover, you'd be very much into details of a car. I myself am very into details of car. Sometimes it enhances the car or sometimes it kind of ruins it.

When you're staring at a photo or seeing a car in flesh, there're always compliments or criticism coming across your mind.
It may occur that there're moments where you have thoughts that are somewhere along the negative lines like:
- "I wish they made that a bit differently"
- "What have they been thinking"
- "This is a step backwards from its predecessor" etc.

Or you have something positive in your mind like:
- "That's really clever"
- "Who's that genious who thought of that"
- "Such a beautiful design and craftmanship" etc.

Any familiar experiences?

Subject of this thread
This thread is dedicated about details of a car.
Whether it's about the exterior or interior designs or engineering itself. It doesn't matter, it concerns about any details of the car itself.
Since everyone will have different opinions about something they like or dislike in a car, please share your experiences.
I think we all are very curious about other people's opinions and point of views.
And please do explain why you like or dislike a certain detail on a car.

Details I like/dislike
I'll kick off with a few of my opinions about certain details.

Buttons in Mercedes-Benz C-class W203

It concerns the buttons above the navigationscreen in this photo.
Why I dislike them? Well if it's full optioned it's alright but if you don't have that much equipped in the C-class, you'd be staring at blank buttons.
It keeps you reminding and wondering what that blank button would do if you ordered that option.

Rearlight of the Audi Q7, BMW 3-series E90, BMW 7 series and the Lexus IS250




It concerns about the orange color in the rearlights. Some of the more expensive models don't have that orange color in the rearlights like the Q7 and the extra option on the 3-seires.
It may sound a bit stupid but I think the orange color looks a bit cheap in my opinion. The Audi Q7 and BMW 7 series is somehow bearable. The 3 series has such a beautiful front but the rear lights with that orange color kinda ruins it. The Lexus IS250 is very nice but the orange color keeps reminding me of Toyota somehow.

Trunk lid area around the numberplate of the normal BMW 5-series.


I'm not much of a fan of the area around numberplate on trunklid that goes inwards. I much prefer the M5 trunklid, looks much better. More solid and clean.

BMW 7 series rear


What a rearrangement and change of lights could do for a car. From the in my opinion the dull not so sexy looking rear transformed to the most sexy looking rear in the topclass segment. Awesome.

Cover of the trunklidframe of the Mercedes C-class W204


I couldn't find a trunk photo of the previous C-class the W203 so I substituted it with a trunk photo of an E-class, W211.
The point is that the framearm holding trunklid isn't covered anymore like in the previous C-classes, W203 and the W202. It's exposed now, it's not much of a big point but the change is certainly not better in my opinion. They probably did that to increase more cubic meters or because of the exterior design or maybe something else?

Great thread Alwing.

I'll think of some things and answer back.

Doh. Almost forgot about this great thread.

Anyhow, I'm now going to list a number of details on the exterior of vehicles which I like.

Rear Ends:

As I explained a few times before, I am great fan the classical wide-wheel arch, glass hatch rear-end styling. Though overtly typical of the Porsche 911 - and best carried out on the 993 generation in my opinion - the Wiesmann GT makes well of this particular styling theme.





I should also mention that I love lightbars. Though considered as a "dated styling trait" by most, I feel that they add a great deal of character to a vehicle; evidently through the 993, 964, Toyota Supra (MK3), Lexus LS400, etc.

I also appreciate rear-end styling themes found on that of Esprit, F355 and the NSX.







Actually, come to think of it, even the Zonda somewhat carries this styling tradition too - albeit at a much more extreme level.

Silhouette

And the above styling trait most always lead onto the typical 90's Silhouette theme of the supercar.







Suffice to say, I absolutely love 90's design

Front-end:

I'm a great fan of front-ends with minimal overhang and generally, a square cut design; as not only seen on the Honda NSX, but Honda's S2000.



The Pagani Zonda and TVR Sagaris have a similar design element in as they too have mininmal overhang, but do such in a manor which is quite unlike an S2000, or NSX. Rather than being squarely cut, they aggressively slope downwards. As I'm struggling to find the words...



More later (including some German autos )

I'll just be critical about my fav brand:

My own car in the 1st place:



Now, look at that stupid plastic around the stick. It's definitely cheap looking. It doesn't feel so though, but still that's the biggest interior disappointment afaic... And yes, it bothers me... Plus the fact that there were no LEDS or CELIS Led stripes in the rear lights from the beginning. Bad!

My next car:



Ok, i will not have that problem with my car, but this is more or less how looks the top of the offer, the 4.8i. For 100+k i expect bumpers to be in car's color and not this plastic which although nicely shaped, overall feel is ruined like in this pic. This is luxury SAV after all... Bad!

3er sedan:



Look at that rear, i mean what's so exciting about it? Or nice? Especially rear lights, they're weakest point of the rear, imo. To me they look like some 1990 design or something. The boot lid is very nicely executed and helps as much as it can, but the lights are completely wrong, both shape and graphics. Bad!

X3



Look at those headlights, what the ... is that? I mean, i could have drawn such design in 5 minutes! Not even after FL they look good 'cuase simply they have shape problems, nothing else. Do i need to mention unpainted plastic, just like by X5? Bad!

6 series



Not much to bitch about except my everlasting problem with 6er is the sad front. Imo, it had to be more aggressive, it simply had to...

Z4

Did it really need to have front lights like Citroen C2?

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That's about that for now, i may edit my post though...