RE: PH Blog: Why modern cars are too confusing
Discussion
Jumping in after reading one page, what is needed is a "basic" car,
Ford Anglia sort of thing
No heated seats, central locking, elect windows, electric memory seats, sat nav, phone conn, air con, rain sensitive wipers, etc
It's all weight, creates poorer fuel consumption and things to go wrong.
Ford Anglia sort of thing
No heated seats, central locking, elect windows, electric memory seats, sat nav, phone conn, air con, rain sensitive wipers, etc
It's all weight, creates poorer fuel consumption and things to go wrong.
Which American car manufacturer is it where you choose a model and then there are no set trim specs, just one massive catalogue and you configure the car exactly how you want for literally everything (including performance parts like turbo kits, induction kits, exhausts etc.) I can't remember the name?
This could be where other manufacturers end up.
This could be where other manufacturers end up.
Skyedriver said:
Jumping in after reading one page, what is needed is a "basic" car,
Ford Anglia sort of thing
No heated seats, central locking, elect windows, electric memory seats, sat nav, phone conn, air con, rain sensitive wipers, etc
It's all weight, creates poorer fuel consumption and things to go wrong.
I know. I put this to every new-car PR person and I'm still drowning in the torrent of evasive bullsFord Anglia sort of thing
No heated seats, central locking, elect windows, electric memory seats, sat nav, phone conn, air con, rain sensitive wipers, etc
It's all weight, creates poorer fuel consumption and things to go wrong.
t they produce in response as an excuse.mrclav said:
And if you choose to do so, which I'm sure if you were particularly persistent you could get done (I'm thinking Sultan of Brunei/Eric Clapton one-offs etc), may the Gods of Resale have mercy on your soul.
I can't be the only one whose family expects a car to last 15-20-odd years if you're spending £10k+ on it, and therefore 'resale value' is an alien concept.It doesn't confuse me as cars I had in the 80s and 90s could do everything I needed.
Niche proliferation is helping car makers to make massive products selling us lifestyles and images and killing the planet:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00vlbvy
Niche proliferation is helping car makers to make massive products selling us lifestyles and images and killing the planet:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00vlbvy
As many have said, couldn't agree more. Wasn't there a thread on here about someone complaining about a BMW forum? the people on there were more concered with how big your options list was then how many CC's under the hood.
They'd think a 318d with a shopping list of options ticked was more impressive then a 335i that hasn't got that many.
They'd think a 318d with a shopping list of options ticked was more impressive then a 335i that hasn't got that many.
ambuletz said:
As many have said, couldn't agree more. Wasn't there a thread on here about someone complaining about a BMW forum? the people on there were more concered with how big your options list was then how many CC's under the hood.
They'd think a 318d with a shopping list of options ticked was more impressive then a 335i that hasn't got that many.
Company car culture and 'user chooser' lists?They'd think a 318d with a shopping list of options ticked was more impressive then a 335i that hasn't got that many.
It goes with cars now being consumer durable status symbols rather than a tool to get us from A to B? Isn't that what car makers need to get us to buy them? It's about what it says to the world rather than how it gets us from A to B?
CAR Magazine ran a basic spec. E30 320i in the 80s with steel wheels.
Edited by carinaman on Friday 13th July 01:32
Whilst not wanting to play muse to this folly, I recall lamenting in a thread gone by about things you miss in cars, and I suggested knowing a car's spec by whether it had something as mundane as rear headrests or different wheel trims; I think a thread similar to this blog followed as a nostalgic trip through how standard trim options such as a rear centre arm rest, electric mirrors (heated!) and an electric aerial* made the different between the LS, and the GLS. And that cloth and velour could be seen in different hierarchies.
What it seems to me is that we are entering a full-circle period where we have almost returned to the 'coachbuilt' standards of the early 1900s, before we entered Henry Ford and his 'any colour as long as its black' myth. Now, the consumer gets to decide how their standard model looks, what wheels and equipment it gets, and what shade of grey it is.
We are not yet deciding whether it is two horse or stage, but we have been allowed to choose what colour the carpet in the wagon is. As long as the next purchaser will like it.
What it seems to me is that we are entering a full-circle period where we have almost returned to the 'coachbuilt' standards of the early 1900s, before we entered Henry Ford and his 'any colour as long as its black' myth. Now, the consumer gets to decide how their standard model looks, what wheels and equipment it gets, and what shade of grey it is.
We are not yet deciding whether it is two horse or stage, but we have been allowed to choose what colour the carpet in the wagon is. As long as the next purchaser will like it.
- (Remember electric aerials?! They were amazing!)
0a said:
Auto reverse. Luxury!
This technology is quite clever but I actually like reversing into a spot and am pretty smug when I can do so into a tight space in one go. It's a skill that needs to be worked on and the more you are at one with the extremities of your car the better you will be at driving it.
That's probably why GM is struggling to make any money! Look at Korean cars, simple specs (usually well spec'd to begin with), minimal choices.
I worry about these cars as they get older? Will buyers understand what car they are buying 2nd hand? Will the parts back up be there? Will insurers know what they are?....
I worry about these cars as they get older? Will buyers understand what car they are buying 2nd hand? Will the parts back up be there? Will insurers know what they are?....
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