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454 messages,  Last post on Feb 01, 2013 at 8:39 AM

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Messages Page 45 of 46

#435 of 454 Re: Taste Over Time [michaell] by fezo

Jun 14, 2010 (5:19 pm)

Replying to: michaell (Jun 14, 2010 2:16 pm)
The Suzukis drive me crazy. They are pretty decent looking vehicles for what they are but I wouldn't be driving one, thanks.

#436 of 454 Re: Taste Over Time [fezo] by texases

Jun 14, 2010 (5:56 pm)

Replying to: fezo (Jun 14, 2010 5:19 pm)
Well, they're not really Suzukis, anyway. The new Kizashi's getting great reviews, and the long term test is also really positive:
Inside Line likes the Kizashi

#437 of 454 Re: Taste Over Time [writer] by berri

Jun 14, 2010 (6:31 pm)

Replying to: writer (Jun 14, 2010 7:52 am)
I agree that you get used to stuff over time. However, I think a lot of current styling is a bit overwrought, maybe influenced by video gaming or something. The exteriors and interiors seem exaggerated. Maybe it goes with the big tire trend right now. Stuff tends to go in trends in the US, so I expect more conservative or classic lines will be around in a few years.

#438 of 454 Re: Taste Over Time [berri] by writer

Mar 14, 2011 (10:37 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jun 14, 2010 6:31 pm)
"I agree that you get used to stuff over time."
 
Getting back to what I was saying back then, it is not just a matter of getting used to styles, but that styles do not exist in a vacuum. In some cases a car looks just fine in another context. Think of the M-B that Chris Plummer drives in "The Sound of Music". If you have a nice example of one, you can take it to almost any auto show and it will draw a crowd -- yes, I think it would even go down well at a "Tuner club show".
 
On the other hand, I mentioned that the new Challenger can look too big if you are sitting at a stoplight surrounded with Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris or Mazda 2. On the other hand, it looks a lot better when surrounded by minivans.
 
Context has a lot of sub-issues. For example, some cars look better in real life than in pictures. I was not impressed by the Chevy Cruze when I saw the first pictures, but having seen it in the real world, I think it was quite a nice looking car.

#439 of 454 I would find it interesting to know... by iluvmysephia1

Jun 03, 2011 (11:23 pm)


 
If Sarah Palin would know what kind of car this is if she saw it tooling down the street in Anchorage or...Ketchikan...or Juneau, Alaska...somewhere. What kind of car is this Sarah?
 
Do ya know? Huh?

#440 of 454 Re: Taste Over Time [writer] by xrunner2

Jun 07, 2011 (10:04 am)

Replying to: writer (Mar 14, 2011 10:37 pm)
I was not impressed by the Chevy Cruze when I saw the first pictures, but having seen it in the real world, I think it was quite a nice looking car.
 
Strongly agree. BUT, magazine reviewers don't give good marks to the Cruze engine.
 
Too many cars in last few years get awful front-end, grille styling. Reminds one of some bottom feeder fish with big gaping mouths.

#441 of 454 Re: Taste Over Time [xrunner2] by berri

Jun 07, 2011 (11:12 am)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jun 07, 2011 10:04 am)
magazine reviewers don't give good marks to the Cruze engine
 
I think one of GM's top priorities should be improving its 4 cyl drive trains. Different 4 cyl GM rentals I've had seem to lack a lot from many of their competitors 4cyl vehicles. Ford was lucky to develop and improve their 4 banger with Mazda, but you'd think GM could work with Opel on this? I think this is really a weak spot in an improving GM product portfolio.

#442 of 454 New Civic not too good by xrunner2

Jun 10, 2011 (12:31 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jun 07, 2011 11:12 am)
On Cruze engine.
 
GM should just give up and try to get some kind of licensing/manufacturing agreement for their 4 cyl engines. The GM cars using these could have a logo on trunk lid, "Honda Power".
 
Honda has been exclusive supplier to Indycar racing series for about the last 5 years. These engines have been bullit-proof.
 
On styling, Honda really goofed up their new gen Civic. Last one was tasteful, a little on the edge. New gen is, well, generic.

#443 of 454 Everything Changes(?) by writer

May 10, 2012 (1:58 pm)

There have been so many changes in the last five years. The biggest changes were that Ford and Hyundai found excellent design staffs, and Mazda -- well something went wrong there. Maybe it was in the water supply. Their latest mistake was the Mazda 5.
 
Looking back at message 442 about the new GM 4 cylinder engines (nice number by the way ...), it is a bit late for me to make this comment but I would have suggested that "xrunner2" look over at one of the "GM" topics. The first of the new aluminum 4's that showed up around 2003 in the Cavalier was designed by Lotus. There is nothing wrong with the basic design of the engine. It is just that GM has done a cheap tuning job (cheap parts and assembly, so no VVT, though they did have balancing shafts right from the start) and aimed it towards economy. I have had 2 cars with these 4s, and I can say it seems to be quite reliable. And of course it is so very nice to have an aluminum block in Canada where it helps the heater to come up quickly.
 
But enough of that. Back to styling:
 
I hope Japan gets over the "simple cube look" disease really soon.

#444 of 454 It's a lost cause by steve_ HOST

Sep 24, 2012 (6:55 pm)

Especially with sedans.
 
"Designers have long struggled with fitting passengers comfortably into a car while maintaining the desired exterior shape. The riddle has become increasingly difficult to solve with the growing importance of aerodynamics in boosting a vehicle’s fuel economy. There isn’t much latitude if you are sculpting a car for minimum drag."
 
Why Do Cars Look Alike? (Wall St. Journal)

Messages Page 45 of 46

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