Why are most cars so ugly? - Page 5

The finest motor car in the world.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/355...w-will-ferrell

Critics hated it, but they still ended up selling like hotcakes. I agree with the fact that the design trajectory of the Camry is likely always going to resemble that of a toaster, but that is not to say that the majority of people "hate" radical designs. The fact is that taste vary from person to person, and that a big part of whether a new design will succeed is based on factors not related to the aesthetics of the design.

You're right, BMW set company sales records but they are a smaller brand. They can afford to be edgy. The badge and driving dynamics helped. I do maintain that when it comes to cars, most people don't want anything too flashy.

+100

...off-topic, but why are so many companies trying to implement the hard-top convertible into their automotive line-ups? Especially considering, most of them are far from graceful, and in some instances come off as awkward are unattractive. Outside of MB, Infiniti (G37 coupe), or to some degree Volvo, a share fail to get it correct, i.e. Ferrari, Chrysler Sebring, Lexus (IS & SC), etc.

A desire to have the latest gadget, no matter how silly. There is a place for folding hardtops - they make excellent sense for a luxury coupe like the Volvo, the E92 3-series, Mercedes-Benz SL, the Lexus SC and such; they give you top down fun with the practicality of a daily driver (sans trunk space). Down the line, I expect them to be dropped from cars with more sporting pretensions, where their weright penalty makes less sense, like the Z4 or M3.

I agree with you but don't think they have as much of a place in the luxury coupe realm since top down you can't go away for a weekend without using the rear seat as your trunk. My wife and I have taken our MX-5 away for days at a time and having a decent size trunk top up or top down is very useful.

I completely and 100% agree with the OP. It's so dissapointing the way cars are being designed these days. And obviously the answer for this isn't that modest cars have to have modest looks, just look at cars like the old S2000, G35 or RSX (which I own and love). All are beautiful, sporty cars, but are completely affordable and practical. I carry large amounts of cargo (my entire DJ set-up) in the back of my car and it's still sleek and beautiful.

But it seems like cars like these are being discontinued or ruined as of late. It seems as though more and more emphasis is being placed on mediocrity or, middle-of-the-road designs. Getting consumers to buy their cars instead of the competition because it has "heated seats and a navigation system", rather than beautiful styling, quality, and practicality.

But if we back up 5 or 10 years, and look again at Honda/Acura's designs. I find nearly every one of their cars attractive. The RSX, NSX, Civic, S2000, Accord, CR-V, TL, TSX and RL. Not just Honda/Acura though, but also BMW, Toyota, Nissan, and many others. But like I said before, all these good looked cars have been discontinuted or ruined. Why is that? What is it about designers today that they create such unattractive vehicles?

Hasn't changed much over 30 years:

Acuras only recently became ugly, a few years ago they were building this:

...

Eh?

haha

Ah, the G-class. One of my all-time favourite cars. And probably the only current Merc that I would be seen behind the wheel of.

I always thought that the big names, mercedes bmw etc are the drivers of car design. Even people who don't have one want to see some design cues present on their own cars feeling everything else is dated. The car companies oblige, but since it is too much money to retool completely they incorporate one or two cues and end up with what you see today.

It's like a fat girl in the midwest thinking if she just buys the same bikini as Bar Rafali, she will look hot. A failure in thinking on both counts.

Yeah, that's exactly my point.