Things we dislike in modern car design!

mini_cooper4

Autotechnik Ace

• Feb 7, 2012

• #1

Post pictures and discuss the things you dislike about modern car designs. Compare old vs new and discuss.
I think with that thread we are going to spare F20's and SL's threads a lot


Two perfect examples(mostly the headlights):

 

K-A

Banned

RPM Ruler

• Feb 7, 2012

• #2

Holy crap, I don't even know where to begin. I should just find all my old posts from numerous Benz and Bimmer Threads and copy/paste them.

 

hoffmeister_fan

Kraftwagen König

• Feb 8, 2012

• #3

not a fan of reverse lights on or below the bumper. From a functional point of view, if a car across from me in a parking lot has those reverse lights and is coming out, it's difficult to see if it reversing until the driver is in motion. Another thing I don't like about those reverse lights on bumpers are that they are much more susceptible to being broken and rendered useless. Also, some of the more modern cars, like the new Continental GT and M-B SL, are too discrete looking, and not as noticeable during the daytime.

 

Cashmere

RPM Ruler

• Feb 8, 2012

• #4

Modern safety regulations resulting in most cars getting elephant ears and clam-shell style hoods.

 

Morrison

Precision Pilot

• Feb 8, 2012

• #5

I like the new SL. That car must not appear on this thread.

 

Levi68

Banned

Tire Trailblazer

• Feb 8, 2012

• #6

+1 on modern safety regulations.

 

Gianclaudio

Aerodynamic Artisan

• Feb 8, 2012

• #7

So many thins I don't know where to start

IMO, since 2000's mainstream cars have become sistematically uglier. BMW, Mercedes, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Fiat: they all changed for the bad.
Even makers of inoffensive, dull cars like Lincoln, Hyundai o Toyota are leaving the dullness for making horrible "things"

I can't compare a 60's car to a XXI century car because of the radical changes in such timeframe, but a 80's or 90's to a XXI, yes.
Compare a 80-90's Bemmer to Bangle era, a Sacco Mercedes to the trip-hop/coke party of now. And that's before talking about the Pininfarina Peugeot of yore versus the "exotic" actual design.

Regards!

 

mini_cooper4

Autotechnik Ace

Thread starter

• Feb 8, 2012

• #8

I agree about the safety regulations too guys and that's probably the main reason we ain't seeing harmonious cars that often anymore
Now let's post some pictures and make this thread UGLY

 

Merc1

Premium

• Feb 8, 2012

• #9

The big blocky front ends and puffy looking hoods on various European cars today in order to comply with the somewhat silly pedestrian safety regulations. Making a car so that it is softer when hitting a pedestrian is borderline stupid IMO. Why not address the areas in the world where cars hit people the most and make changes there instead of turning cars is battering rams with puffy hoods. I.E. the new SL, 3-Series would be better off with out the blunt front end (SL) and the puffy hood (3-Series). This crap is killing "design".


M

 

Q

q5s

Precision Tuner

• Feb 8, 2012

• #10

I just want to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with modern car design.
Yes you have cars like the new 5 series and the new sl but then you have cars like the new a6 and new boxster.
"BMW, Mercedes, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Fiat" as listed by Gianclaudio are prime examples of major screwups.
The reason for their failure is their departure from their core values. As the peugeot is closest to my heart I will focus on it. Maker of the once best handling stylish little devils I used to know 106/205/306/405/etc. suddenly made a 180 turn towards ungainly, massive, beyond ugly, terrible handling mpv style abominations and hasn't recovered since. Bmws once sleek & dynamic (e38 is sleeker than an f20) have turned into fat bloated machines but with a number of turbos under the bonnet atleast they move. New z4 weights as much as a small suv and suvs the size of houses with 4wd, automatic trasmission, several turbos are considered m material but not the previously mentioned z4. That must looks too sport or something.
Getting back to core values. Below is a picture of an old rs4.


Now I haven't seen the "modern design" rs4 but I don't have to. The stance and clean lines will all be there because Audi like Porsche (think 911) have found a formula that works and stuck with it. Bmw did too but let it go and have since been going around in circles reinventing themselves (more like ugly to uglier and back again).

Nobody bought peugeot for the badge, we bought them for their style and handling, once those were out nobody wants to buy them anyone. Similar for alfa/fiat (but with more style less handling). Bmw luckily doesn't have this problem. Even if styling is bad people will still buy them for the badge as that badge translates to status/quality. 90% of them will never reach 30% of the cars handling limit anyhow. Now a 80's peugeot, back from the grocers in the damp, round a round-about, gently lift off to read your exit sign and you find yourself wondering why is traffic suddenly coming towards you.

 

Gianclaudio

Aerodynamic Artisan

• Feb 8, 2012

• #11

Great q5s,

you have just ruined the thread and turned it in another flame topic

 

mini_cooper4

Autotechnik Ace

Thread starter

• Feb 8, 2012

• #12

Morrison you dare to say that you like the new SL looking at the picture in first post ?


Another perfect example. Now we are not only talking about headlights but the whole ugly front(I guess Audi never disappoints):

 

martinbo

Staff member

• Feb 8, 2012

• #13

No, no Gianclaudio... One may or may not agree with q5s' post but it is food for thought (and discussion). I have no issue with it.

 

LaArtist

Wunderkind of Wheels

• Feb 8, 2012

• #14

I hate big door mirrors, huge headlights .. and SUV's

 

martinbo

Staff member

• Feb 8, 2012

• #15

Hey, you know what a major pet peeve of mine is? Front quarter light glass behind the a-pillar. Ugh! Subaru's doing it now - hate it - following in the footsteps of the F F Fre... Sorry can't bring myself to say it.

 

Gianclaudio

Aerodynamic Artisan

• Feb 8, 2012

• #16

martinbo said:

No, no Gianclaudio... One may or may not agree with q5s' post but it is food for thought (and discussion). I have no issue with it.

Click to expand...

And why the turbo and weight talk about Bimmers? We were discussing aesthetics, but obviously some people see a great opportunity to trash brands they don't like. I still don't understand why some people behave like religious extremist, football hooligans or Herbalife resellers

 

mini_cooper4

Autotechnik Ace

Thread starter

• Feb 8, 2012

• #17

Gianclaudio said:

And why the turbo and weight talk about Bimmers? We were discussing aesthetics, but obviously some people see a great opportunity to trash brands they don't like. I still don't understand why some people behave like religious extremist, football hooligans or Herbalife resellers

Click to expand...

Herbalife resellers You are my man

 

Morrison

Precision Pilot

• Feb 8, 2012

• #18

mini_cooper4 said:

Morrison you dare to say that you like the new SL looking at the picture in first post ?


Another perfect example. Now we are not only talking about headlights but the whole ugly front(I guess Audi never disappoints):

Click to expand...

No, I don`t like that photo of the new SL, but that`s because of the color of the car. I hate brown on cars. And man, I love the new A8 so much !! I love it, and you say that`s horrible. The only ugly car that I found on this thread is the new 1er. And you say that Bmw, Audi, Mercedes have ugly cars in there lineups! Yes, they have but that`s a rarely fact, an accident if I can say that. Bmw has gorgeous cars in their line-up such as new 5er,6er,3er, X5, those are beautiful cars. Audi and MB as well got beautiful cars in their lineup. I posted all the ugly beemers IMO and some ugly cars. I must mentioned that the GLK is not the only ugly Merc but if you want I`ll post another pictures later. The facelift of the Koleos is really horrible and I must say that I hate almost all the compact and mini and small cars.

 

martinbo

Staff member

• Feb 8, 2012

• #19

Herbalife reseller: absolutely classic!

Design, whilst almost always considered to be aesthetic-centric, can also encompass mechanical, functional and ergonomic disciplines.

 

mini_cooper4

Autotechnik Ace

Thread starter

• Feb 8, 2012

• #20

Morrison said:

No, I don`t like that photo of the new SL, but that`s because of the color of the car. I hate brown on cars. And man, I love the new A8 so much !! I love it, and you say that`s horrible. The only ugly car that I found on this thread is the new 1er. And you say that Bmw, Audi, Mercedes have ugly cars in there lineups! Yes, they have but that`s a rarely fact, an accident if I can say that. Bmw has gorgeous cars in their line-up such as new 5er,6er,3er, X5, those are beautiful cars. Audi and MB as well got beautiful cars in their lineup. I posted all the ugly beemers IMO and some ugly cars. I must mentioned that the GLK is not the only ugly Merc but if you want I`ll post another pictures later. The facelift of the Koleos is really horrible and I must say that I hate almost all the compact and mini and small cars.

Click to expand...

I appreciate your opinion, Morrison I agree that compared to the other cars in this thread actually the A8 doesn't look that bad But again I've posted a good pic of the A8 with big rims