RE: PH Blog: Why modern cars are too confusing
Discussion
Dr Interceptor said:
Get with the times... 
Modern production techniques and just in time supply chains means that cars can be built in any kind of configuration the customer desires. Gone are the days when they built ten red ones, ten blue ones, ten yellow ones... now every car that goes down the line is different to the last.
Yes, those days are gone, they just build 30 silver ones !Modern production techniques and just in time supply chains means that cars can be built in any kind of configuration the customer desires. Gone are the days when they built ten red ones, ten blue ones, ten yellow ones... now every car that goes down the line is different to the last.
Although it has revived the Q-car in a way 
Your S4 example, if it wasn't for the exhausts, would work extremely well. Same with the Lexus IS-F
I find the latest F10 BMW 5-series particularly confusing though, since they seem to have incorporated the old tell-tale 6-cylinder signs into the standard 520d, ie the twin exhaust and chrome slats in the grille
Your S4 example, if it wasn't for the exhausts, would work extremely well. Same with the Lexus IS-FI find the latest F10 BMW 5-series particularly confusing though, since they seem to have incorporated the old tell-tale 6-cylinder signs into the standard 520d, ie the twin exhaust and chrome slats in the grille
All this. Bloody hate it! Marketing Bods way of confusing customer by adding unecessary clutter to an over-cluttered marketing world to ensure we pay more for more 'stuffing clutter' we do not need. Does the general punter on the street not realize that it's the 'options' and 'option grades' that give the major car manufacturers the extra 2-3% of profit they desparately need? And, the punters fall for it.
I was due to change my company car last year but got fed up with all the sales b
ks and over-shiny useless gadgets that most cars have as 'must haves'[whatever they may be?]. Ended-up choosing a very smart 170bhp VW Passat that has all the bits any real man would ever need...it's even nicely appointed with a leather interior. Seats 4-5 adults very comfortably, returns 48-50mpg wherever I drive, has a bit of poke when needed, a cavernous boot and cheap as chips on tax. My colleagues have no idea why I didn't go for the E-Class Mercedes option...why? Too much unecessarily confusing chuffing 'stuff'.
By way of proving the point. I have a very smart little MGB for playing with at weekends. Always brings a smile to my face, and, all the other chaps and chap'esses on the road. I've lost count how many hundreds of smiles, waves and nods I've received. The B' has simple wind-up windows, a manual aerial, a 1970's FM/MW radio, 4speed+O/D gearbox, and thankfully, no...mercifully, no PAS, no ABS, no EMU/ECU, no self-levelling HID's, and no marketing bks trying to sell me extended warranties or enticing me into buying another new car by way of a champagne tasting evening at the local corporate 'squares' garage car showroom. I did attend one once, but even the champagne had failed to originate from anywhere near Reims; let alone Bouteille en France.
I was due to change my company car last year but got fed up with all the sales b
ks and over-shiny useless gadgets that most cars have as 'must haves'[whatever they may be?]. Ended-up choosing a very smart 170bhp VW Passat that has all the bits any real man would ever need...it's even nicely appointed with a leather interior. Seats 4-5 adults very comfortably, returns 48-50mpg wherever I drive, has a bit of poke when needed, a cavernous boot and cheap as chips on tax. My colleagues have no idea why I didn't go for the E-Class Mercedes option...why? Too much unecessarily confusing chuffing 'stuff'.By way of proving the point. I have a very smart little MGB for playing with at weekends. Always brings a smile to my face, and, all the other chaps and chap'esses on the road. I've lost count how many hundreds of smiles, waves and nods I've received. The B' has simple wind-up windows, a manual aerial, a 1970's FM/MW radio, 4speed+O/D gearbox, and thankfully, no...mercifully, no PAS, no ABS, no EMU/ECU, no self-levelling HID's, and no marketing b
ks trying to sell me extended warranties or enticing me into buying another new car by way of a champagne tasting evening at the local corporate 'squares' garage car showroom. I did attend one once, but even the champagne had failed to originate from anywhere near Reims; let alone Bouteille en France.Leins said:
I find the latest F10 BMW 5-series particularly confusing though, since they seem to have incorporated the old tell-tale 6-cylinder signs into the standard 520d, ie the twin exhaust and chrome slats in the grille
I suspect that's as much to do with the six pot disappearing further up the range as anything else. Anything "smaller" than a 530i / 530d is now four pot powered.Riggers said:
Garlick said:
monthefish said:
Stuff...
Yeah, OK 
You could equally argue that they are stand alone models within the Mini brand,
so just as Audi have A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 (and variants thereof), Mini has Coupe, Countryman, Lcubman, and so going back to the orignal article, Mini probably has less variants of car available than Audi for example.
Choice is good, though I do miss seeing a more sporty looking car and thinking "there's a nice rare, sporty model". Now it's a sea of 4 pot oil burning saloons with S-Line or M Sport bodykits which does detract from the performance models somewhat. I appreciate that's a selfish view, though I can't help think 'mutton dressed as lamb'.
The paradox of choice (or why choice isn't always a good thing) is well documented - this TED video is worth a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO6XEQIsCoM
Personally, I find all the choice a bit pointless, especially as most non-PH people will still go for the grey 320i with the M-Tech body kit and black leather seats for fear of upsetting resale value or standing out too much.
I think this presents an opportunity. If a manufacturer made a simple car range, they might actually swipe up a fair amount of market share from people who just want a no nonsense car. Take Apple as an example - they don't ask customers to make many choices - they have white and black iPhones, 32gb or 64gb. By contrast, I don't know what the differences are between Sony's various phones outside of the ambitious marketing blurbs.
Personally, I find all the choice a bit pointless, especially as most non-PH people will still go for the grey 320i with the M-Tech body kit and black leather seats for fear of upsetting resale value or standing out too much.
I think this presents an opportunity. If a manufacturer made a simple car range, they might actually swipe up a fair amount of market share from people who just want a no nonsense car. Take Apple as an example - they don't ask customers to make many choices - they have white and black iPhones, 32gb or 64gb. By contrast, I don't know what the differences are between Sony's various phones outside of the ambitious marketing blurbs.
I blame BMW mainly. Along with Audi they have infected the market with more niches and crossovers than it knows what to do with. Some of the biggest crimes are the GT's but the bewildering array of X's started the ball rolling. I guess going back a decade the French started the 'in between an estate and a mini van' concept, I'll include them as well. Trim levels should go back to L, GL, S and Ghia and you should be able to order an M5 with no stereo or centre console if you wish? The other issue is the demographic. Leasing companies want to offer Mr Rep half leather
and DAB, marketing BS sells and the average Joe isn't buying therefore they have to cater to those who are.
and DAB, marketing BS sells and the average Joe isn't buying therefore they have to cater to those who are.
I totally agree. Was looking on a leasing site to order a new Vauxhall( I know!) But I havent a clue what the specs actually mean nowadays. There are so many to choose from and they all have everything it seems, there are also loads of engines that would appear the same but are just slightly different power outputs.
Why would you make two with 10hp difference for example.
I gave up in the end.
Why would you make two with 10hp difference for example.
I gave up in the end.
go have a look at the mg website.
http://mg.co.uk/6-gt/#model_specifications
so what engine do you want on your mg6? 1.8? saloon or hatchback? +3 trim levels. simples.
http://mg.co.uk/6-gt/#model_specifications
so what engine do you want on your mg6? 1.8? saloon or hatchback? +3 trim levels. simples.
I love all the different options available. I'd never tick the box on some of them, but I don't find it distressing that people don't have to chose a particular trim level to get access to all options.
Have a look at descriptions of US buyers options for the system you seem to want; certain engines are only available if you upgrade your trim levels etc. I'd rather be able to have just a radio and a nice engine without speccing leather interior etc. if it kept things in budget.
Have a look at descriptions of US buyers options for the system you seem to want; certain engines are only available if you upgrade your trim levels etc. I'd rather be able to have just a radio and a nice engine without speccing leather interior etc. if it kept things in budget.
HebdenHedgehog said:
I recently had to hire a cheap car and was given a Hyundai i10
Horrid to look at (in and out) and the matrials used felt grim - but to drive the 1.2 engine was quite peppy (well, up to 70mph anyway), gears changed easily, and it had lots of toys (ipod friendly stereo and air con!). things have come a long way in even the past 10 years...
So that cheap nasty runabout actually does 90% of the things we need to do and has many of the things 90% of us want 90% of the time
Looked at an i20 for the sister in law about a month ago, vs a Polo and a Fiesta. In isolation the i20 was actually quite impressive for a cheap Korean econobox, then you drove the other two and realised where Hyundai had cut corners...or more correctly where VW and Ford had cascaded down from the bigger brothers.Horrid to look at (in and out) and the matrials used felt grim - but to drive the 1.2 engine was quite peppy (well, up to 70mph anyway), gears changed easily, and it had lots of toys (ipod friendly stereo and air con!). things have come a long way in even the past 10 years...
So that cheap nasty runabout actually does 90% of the things we need to do and has many of the things 90% of us want 90% of the time
In another nod to complexity, I've now got to the point where I don't want to own a modern car without a warranty. Never bothered with any of my cars except for the S2000 (which never needed the warranty anyway), but Becs' Golf has one which I've just extended, and my next car will have one too:-
- Turbos
- Direct Injection systems
- Expensive, integrated multimedia systems which cost several hundred to replace
- Components which have been engineered down to a price (I'm looking at you, Ford and VAG)
- Multiplexed integrated computer systems controlling everything
- Electric windows/mirrors/seats/tailgates/handbrakes/gloveboxes/cupholders...
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