It seems like these days, all I see is stance, big fancy wheels, "euro" this and that, roof racks, JDM, blah blah blah. It's all so boring and all so the same. What's the deal? Why do people strive to be unique by looking all the same?
I understand the idea of wanting your car to stand out in the parking lots full of white appliances, but can no one think for themselves?
Does mediocrity hold sway?
It has always been that way.
Agreed, trends are trendy.
Let's all be different together! 
That's depressing. It's gotten to the point where whenever I see something that I think it cool/different, I save it. I don't have that many. haha
Cool and different always means old and obscure. In different places, that may mean different things, but here in Oregon we have so many late 60s-early 70s GM muscle, a 69 Camaro is almost conformist.
However, in recent weeks I have seen some truly obscure:
Mustang II - with the full Pro Touring treatment. Never seen a Mustang II look this good before. Alfa Spyder - anything old and Italian that still runs is gonna be obscure here. Gremlin X - no visual mods, not restored, just a solid survivor complete with slightly faded paint and stickers. Even has the stock rallys with caps. Pinto Wagon - not sure what "sport pack" designation it carries, but did have the porthole/panel trim. And the oddest of them all... a butchered last gen Matador, complete with the blower (fake or not?) sticking crudely out of the hood and stupidly wide rears that require the rear end to be all jacked up. Not what I would do to a Matador, but its not mine, and is unique.
The market place has changes as well. At one point the Ford Taurus was the best selling car in the US, and the most boring. The reason for the "success" was because Ford then owned Hertz, one of the largest auto rental outlets in the world and was selling themselves the Taurus as rental cars. That skewed the sales figures.
In this light, most folks renting a car or leasing a company car wanted simple boring easy access, low lift-over vehicles. With Fords selling so well, other manufacturers followed suit leaving us with a decade of puffy featureless cars.
The tastes of the buying public are most often ignored for the bigger picture, corporate fleets, rental cars, simple transportation, and business vehicles, (Probably why white is the best selling color for utility vehicles and mini vans. Businesses can more easily apply their graphics to a white van.) which now is heavily influenced by over-seas sales/rentals/etc. Possibly why Ford is now demoting their Mustang to a "world platform" vehicle, better world wide sales.
What you're seeing is the tiny tip of a much larger event. Other than a few special editions or specialty marketed cars, bland is the future and nose height and design being dictated by regulations requiring less injury to pedestrians rather that any styling exercises or breakthroughs.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around how a taller nose height on a 4,000lb moving object hitting a 200lb object is significantly better. Seems like it ends up with a larger area in front of you being obscured - then again adding forward radar should help with that and maybe forward lower cameras...
stupid trends are stupid. Get off my lawn.
We can't fully appreciate a styling era till it's gone and can be looked at in context. I think that in general we've got some damn fine looking vehicles out there right now. I particularly like the expressiveness of the Bangle tradition, and how it's influenced Hyundai and Mazda.
I was talking more about how people modify their cars, than the cars themselves.
The taller nose is for crush space. Most 200 lb objects prefer to dent a hood instead of landing on a thinly covered engine.
So, R&R, you're asking why not every car is 100% unique? That's a challenge.
kreb wrote: I particularly like the expressiveness of the Bangle tradition, and how it's influenced Hyundai and Mazda.
On the other hand, to me Chris Bangle is possibly the worst thing that ever happened to car styling.
Keith Tanner wrote: The taller nose is for crush space. Most 200 lb objects prefer to dent a hood instead of landing on a thinly covered engine. So, R&R, you're asking why not every car is 100% unique? That's a challenge.
Not every, that would be a silly demand. I just feel like every featured car I see on the internet looks like it's from Stanceworks or Speedhunters.
Maybe my taste is just wrong. I'm a fan of the cobbled $500 hot mess that still has style for miles.
Above is pretty much why I'm a member of this forum.
The styles are pretty similar if you are looking at modern cars. We are living in a period of stunning automotive design, almost every car is beautiful. Add some nice wheels and adjust the ride height, that's all you need to do, because cars are so good looking stock.
Not getting hit by a 4,000lb moving object would seem to be a better strategy than a squishier object. We need a better class of drivers and pedestrians.
GameboyRMH wrote:kreb wrote: I particularly like the expressiveness of the Bangle tradition, and how it's influenced Hyundai and Mazda.On the other hand, to me Chris Bangle is possibly the worst thing that ever happened to car styling.
I disliked bangle's work at first.. but it has grown on me.. and his influence has inspired some awesome looking cars.
As for personalized styling.. there is a reason I decided to keep my Saab rather than selling it for something else. nothing else on the road like it
here's a uniquely modded car.
I <3 singers
"back in the day" Automotive engineers and stylists were car guys and artists. Now much of it is done by contractors and marketing specialists who were making toasters last week. They just don't have their hearts in it. Add in aggressive bean counters and safety/emission regs and it's all over with. Sure, there are a few bright spots and some talented, passionate people in the business, but it's just not what it once was.
oldtin wrote: here's a uniquely modded car.I <3 singers
I guess it's all taste. I would say that was boring, just my opinion.
I like something like this. Yeah rising suns are overdone, but that's a cool ride.
You'd be nonconformist too, if you looked just like me.
bmwbav wrote: The styles are pretty similar if you are looking at modern cars. We are living in a period of stunning automotive design, almost every car is beautiful. Add some nice wheels and adjust the ride height, that's all you need to do, because cars are so good looking stock.
No no no, don't you see? Everything here and now is terrible!! Only things elsewhere or in the past are good! Don't you see how green the grass is over there? On the other side?
/s
RoughandReady wrote: I like something like this. Yeah rising suns are overdone, but that's a cool ride.
Yup, that's cool for sure. It's a shame the douche in the flat billed cap with a penis on his back is in the pic. That's not really non conformist, though. Ratty J-tin is pretty common--just check out Ratsun.com. I love it, but it's kinda the cool thing these days. I blame the hipsters.
sethmeister4 wrote:RoughandReady wrote: I like something like this. Yeah rising suns are overdone, but that's a cool ride.Yup, that's cool for sure. It's a shame the douche in the flat billed cap with a penis on his back is in the pic. That's not really non conformist, though. Ratty J-tin is pretty common--just check out Ratsun.com. I love it, but it's kinda the cool thing these days. I blame the hipsters.
Well yeah, all trends are trends. But I'd say the car does look unique and probably unique even when paired up with other ratty j-tin. I like this expressiveness more than another stanced BMW with an instagram filter.
My theory is that all the aero testing and associated software that figures out drag and what not are all coming to the same conclusion as to what a cars shape needs to be. There for all cars are starting to look the same.
I can see a new trend. We will start paying more for smaller rims and tires. LOL
You'll need to log in to post.
