Car trends that you hope die

[Pommygranite]

allroad one said:

Lester H said:

every mainstream car maker attempting to get into every possible niche, often involving crossovers and imitation macho designs. Anyone else out there agree that it would be better if car makers stuck to what they were good at/ liked for?

Edited by Lester H on Saturday 11th June 21:01

Is anyone going to buy a Urus if it goes on sale? Or a Bentayga? Even rich people wouldnt shell out 265k on that.

I absolutely guarantee each one will become their manufacturers biggest seller.

[daveofedinburgh]

Pommygranite said:

I absolutely guarantee each one will become their manufacturers biggest seller.

Sadly you are absolutely spot on.

'The Cayenne saved Porsche/ allowed them to build all those cars that 'you' love'.

How could Bentley/ Jag etc not make that garunteed £ spinner SUV?

I get that the 'manufacturers sticking to what they are good at' thing extends beyond certain marques making SUVs, but almost every seemingly-daft niche-filler will have been deemed viable off the back of extensive (and depressing) market research.

There are a significant number of people out there (who are presumably reasonably intelligent based on how much they will spend) that want something like a 'GT' BMW.

• shudder*

[DoubleD]

Well who would of thought that anyone in their right mind would by an X6, but they do!

[cathalferris]

Small cars jacked up to be pseudo offroaders - see the Qashqai and Juke. Yes, it makes it easier for the elderly to get in and out and has raised visibility etc, but are a styling disaster and higher CoG so handle more poorly by definition.

Touchscreens - cars are environments that absolutely need the haptic feedback from feeling a button and knowing when it was pressed. Touchscreens need to be looked at to be used properly, making it a risk to use when driving as attention gets diverted from the art of driving.

Pseudo-diffusers on cars that have absolutely no use for a real diffuser.

[StescoG66]

Zombie said:

irocfan said:

I can't believe we're 2 pages in and no-one has mentioned these fking things yet!!!




or indeed "...powered by pixie dust..."

Where can I buy these?!!!! My brother NEEDS them on his car! *sniggers*

When I had my Alfa I really wanted to get these and put them either side of the grille.

For a giggle............

[everyeggabird]

TR4man said:

Those stupid single fog lights that come on as the car turns - appears to be mainly VAG models.

What on earth is the purpose of them?

They are just a cheap way of doing it properly.

When our car was specced out from new someone did it properly. They ordered bi-xenon, directional lights. Best part of a grand but didn't pay £145 for a heated windscreen.

[talksthetorque]

everyeggabird said:

They are just a cheap way of doing it properly.

When our car was specced out from new someone did it properly. They ordered bi-xenon, directional lights. Best part of a grand but didn't pay £145 for a heated windscreen.

Perhaps they were a renowned DJ and never got up before lunchtime and went home when it was dark every night.

My first none sheddy car had electric mirrors and windy windows.
That was specced by the manufacturer!

Back on topic- light interior trim in the back of pratical cars. The tip run isn't great when you then have to get all the marks off the c pillar linings.

[Catatafish]

it must have been said already, but simply, the mass of cars. Cars are always too heavy, making a mockery of any green/save the planet/carbon footprint when most aspire to tool around in 2 ton SUV's with single occupancy 95% of the time.

They're also too bloated with all the pedestrian protection. With a touch of innovation and sensible regulation, we can go back to sensible sized, lighter weight and have equivalent safety. Charge road tax proportional to weight, then comes the revolution.

[DoubleD]

[quote=cathalferris]Small cars jacked up to be pseudo offroaders - see the Qashqai and Juke. Yes, it makes it easier for the elderly to get in and out and has raised visibility etc, but are a styling disaster and higher CoG so handle more poorly by definition.


The Qashqai isn't a small car

[LunarOne]

everyeggabird said:

TR4man said:

Those stupid single fog lights that come on as the car turns - appears to be mainly VAG models.

What on earth is the purpose of them?

They are just a cheap way of doing it properly.

When our car was specced out from new someone did it properly. They ordered bi-xenon, directional lights. Best part of a grand but didn't pay £145 for a heated windscreen.

A friend of mine once left his Mondeo in my driveway for a year while he was abroad. I drove it occasionally just to keep it running and the battery charged, but one thing that drove me nuts was the heated windscreen. During the day the sun reflected off the filaments making the glare much worse than it might have been, and during the night every oncoming car's headlights was turned into a wall of sparkling zig-zags. I'd never buy a car with a heated windscreen using that technology. In fact I'd pay not to have it!

[rb5er]

I l9ve heated windscreens. Never had a problem with the zigzags. Great invention.

[djc206]

Drummond Baize said:

Good luck with that. My submission to this thread would be inaccessible bulbs. I liked the good old days, when if a bulb blew, you removed a plastic cover, took the bulb out and then went to Halfords (other motor factors are available) to get a new one. Refitting was the reverse of removal, as Haynes would say.

These days, you need the manual dexterity of a double-jointed gynecologist or the hands of some long-fingered, two-elbowed alien to even get near a bulb that needs replacing, usually because the manufacturer installs a razor-sharp bit of metal about an inch from the bit you need to remove.

You clearly never owned a Peugeot 205. One headlight could be changed in a few seconds the other involved breaking your wrist and half an hour of swearing only to end up damaging the bulb and having to start from square one with your remaining good hand.

[DoubleD]

LunarOne said:

everyeggabird said:

TR4man said:

Those stupid single fog lights that come on as the car turns - appears to be mainly VAG models.

What on earth is the purpose of them?

They are just a cheap way of doing it properly.

When our car was specced out from new someone did it properly. They ordered bi-xenon, directional lights. Best part of a grand but didn't pay £145 for a heated windscreen.

A friend of mine once left his Mondeo in my driveway for a year while he was abroad. I drove it occasionally just to keep it running and the battery charged, but one thing that drove me nuts was the heated windscreen. During the day the sun reflected off the filaments making the glare much worse than it might have been, and during the night every oncoming car's headlights was turned into a wall of sparkling zig-zags. I'd never buy a car with a heated windscreen using that technology. In fact I'd pay not to have it!

I have to agree with the above, I wouldn't buy a car with a heated windscreen.

[loose cannon]

DoubleD said:

LunarOne said:

everyeggabird said:

TR4man said:

Those stupid single fog lights that come on as the car turns - appears to be mainly VAG models.

What on earth is the purpose of them?

They are just a cheap way of doing it properly.

When our car was specced out from new someone did it properly. They ordered bi-xenon, directional lights. Best part of a grand but didn't pay £145 for a heated windscreen.

A friend of mine once left his Mondeo in my driveway for a year while he was abroad. I drove it occasionally just to keep it running and the battery charged, but one thing that drove me nuts was the heated windscreen. During the day the sun reflected off the filaments making the glare much worse than it might have been, and during the night every oncoming car's headlights was turned into a wall of sparkling zig-zags. I'd never buy a car with a heated windscreen using that technology. In fact I'd pay not to have it!

I have to agree with the above, I wouldn't buy a car with a heated windscreen.

Me also, had it on a mk1 focus, absolutely hated it at night and as you say in direct sunlight , just scatters the light all over the place, never again

[Artey]

everyeggabird said:

TR4man said:

Those stupid single fog lights that come on as the car turns - appears to be mainly VAG models.

What on earth is the purpose of them?

They are just a cheap way of doing it properly.

When our car was specced out from new someone did it properly. They ordered bi-xenon, directional lights. Best part of a grand but didn't pay £145 for a heated windscreen.

It's a popular misconception. Active cornering lights using fog lights are not equivalent or replacement for directional headlamps as they cover different area and come on at low speeds only.

[Iva Barchetta]

loose cannon said:

DoubleD said:

LunarOne said:

everyeggabird said:

TR4man said:

Those stupid single fog lights that come on as the car turns - appears to be mainly VAG models.

What on earth is the purpose of them?

They are just a cheap way of doing it properly.

When our car was specced out from new someone did it properly. They ordered bi-xenon, directional lights. Best part of a grand but didn't pay £145 for a heated windscreen.

A friend of mine once left his Mondeo in my driveway for a year while he was abroad. I drove it occasionally just to keep it running and the battery charged, but one thing that drove me nuts was the heated windscreen. During the day the sun reflected off the filaments making the glare much worse than it might have been, and during the night every oncoming car's headlights was turned into a wall of sparkling zig-zags. I'd never buy a car with a heated windscreen using that technology. In fact I'd pay not to have it!

I have to agree with the above, I wouldn't buy a car with a heated windscreen.

Me also, had it on a mk1 focus, absolutely hated it at night and as you say in direct sunlight , just scatters the light all over the place, never again

Counterpoint.

I've had a few Fords with HFS,never had a problem with the lines distracting.
I specced my Fiesta with the "climate"pack to get the HFS,didn't want the AC that also came on it.

[LunarOne]

Iva Barchetta said:

loose cannon said:

DoubleD said:

LunarOne said:

everyeggabird said:

TR4man said:

Those stupid single fog lights that come on as the car turns - appears to be mainly VAG models.

What on earth is the purpose of them?

They are just a cheap way of doing it properly.

When our car was specced out from new someone did it properly. They ordered bi-xenon, directional lights. Best part of a grand but didn't pay £145 for a heated windscreen.

A friend of mine once left his Mondeo in my driveway for a year while he was abroad. I drove it occasionally just to keep it running and the battery charged, but one thing that drove me nuts was the heated windscreen. During the day the sun reflected off the filaments making the glare much worse than it might have been, and during the night every oncoming car's headlights was turned into a wall of sparkling zig-zags. I'd never buy a car with a heated windscreen using that technology. In fact I'd pay not to have it!

I have to agree with the above, I wouldn't buy a car with a heated windscreen.

Me also, had it on a mk1 focus, absolutely hated it at night and as you say in direct sunlight , just scatters the light all over the place, never again

Counterpoint.

I've had a few Fords with HFS,never had a problem with the lines distracting.
I specced my Fiesta with the "climate"pack to get the HFS,didn't want the AC that also came on it.

Countercounterpoint.

When I ordered my 3-series Coupe back in 2001, the salesman told me that it came with the climate control pack. When I told him I wanted the sunroof. "Oh well, in that case you won't get the climate control". Well what if I want climate control AND a sunroof? I asked. He looked at me incredulously as if I had just beamed down into the showroom. "But, why would you want both?!" he asked. "Because I live in Britain and our summers are barely hot enough to need A/C, and the sunroof open on a sunny day is lovely. But when I drive to the South of France or Italy or Spain in summer, I want climate control". Salesman thought I was bananas for wanting both, and ticked both boxes on his screen with a resigned sigh, as if I would be sorry when the car was delivered. Likewise, he told me that I would be the ONLY customer not specifying an automatic transmission on a 330Ci. "I want to drive it myself, not have a computer making my decisions!" I told him.

Loved that car so much, I still have it to this day.

[silentbrown]

LunarOne said:

Likewise, he told me that I would be the ONLY customer not specifying an automatic transmission on a 330Ci.

Must be something about BMW dealers. I remember being told I *must* buy a diesel automatic "for the residuals". Unsurprisingly, I didn't. The idea of driving around in "The Ultimate Residuals Machine" just seemed rather underwhelming.

[LunarOne]

silentbrown said:

LunarOne said:

Likewise, he told me that I would be the ONLY customer not specifying an automatic transmission on a 330Ci.

Must be something about BMW dealers. I remember being told I *must* buy a diesel automatic "for the residuals". Unsurprisingly, I didn't. The idea of driving around in "The Ultimate Residuals Machine" just seemed rather underwhelming.

Does DIESEL count as a new car trend? I hope that dies pretty sharpish!

[Jodyone]

LunarOne said:

Countercounterpoint.

"But, why would you want both?!" he asked. "Because I live in Britain and our summers are barely hot enough to need A/C, and the sunroof open on a sunny day is lovely. But when I drive to the South of France or Italy or Spain in summer, I want climate control". Salesman thought I was bananas for wanting both, and ticked both boxes on his screen with a resigned sigh, as if I would be sorry when the car was delivered.

I've never got this weird substitution. Sunroofs and air-con are quite different things. I've never opened a sunroof to cool down nor turned air-con on to let sunlight and fresh air into the car. I'd choose both, as you say, given the choice. Is it something that has a dedicated page in the car salesman handbook (if they ask for a sunroof sell them AC goddamn), or am I (and you, and countless others) just a bit odd?