Car trends that you hope die

[smithyithy]

Dave Hedgehog said:

the A class is FWD thou, BMW tag line is The ultimate driving machine and they compromised the 1 series to make it RWD

I read this quite often and while it may be true, I bet less than 10% of drivers actually know it's RWD, know what RWD is, or even care.

[Zombie]

Infinite variations of what is essentially the same car. The current range of VAG / BMW / Merc products is ridiculous.

[smithyithy]

Zombie said:

Infinite variations of what is essentially the same car. The current range of VAG / BMW / Merc products is ridiculous.

You'll take that back when the time comes that you want an SUV-coupe of a saloon-hatch.

[BlueHave]

Car dealers that insist on kissing and crawling up your arse when your 'just in for a look'

[Fractk]

Zombie said:

Infinite variations of what is essentially the same car. The current range of VAG / BMW / Merc products is ridiculous.

Apparently the cost to design and make various body styles has gone down a lot and they want to just target every single person out there. I don't see any point being a fan of any of these companies anymore. They just seem to release cars like throwing darts at a dart board.

[DanSI]

trickywoo said:

Slammed Audi or vw in general. Anything slammed really.

This will keep happening as long as theres a "youth" following for loud and low (modified) cars... so until the end of time then!

Just like the old Corsa used to be a favourite with this similar crowd.

So what did Vauxhall do, release the new one, to look even more aesthetically racy and chavvy, thats just begging for a makeover from the Halfords "ripspeed" isle. There was always be a following.

[DanSI]

But I agree, there does seem to be a trend for Mk4 Golf's, that have the windows tinted, slammed, and dropped on deep dish alloys! Ohhh so predictable.

[Vitorio]

talksthetorque said:

Is a 2 series Active tourer still st if it has XDrive?

Yes, it still looks bloody awful, and the ride height is still pensioner-level. There even is a 7 seater version apparently....

wheel drivenness does not make a car not st, look at the 3 and 5 series GT, ridiculous hideous monstrosities.

[NDNDNDND]

Vitorio said:

talksthetorque said:

Is a 2 series Active tourer still st if it has XDrive?

Yes, it still looks bloody awful, and the ride height is still pensioner-level. There even is a 7 seater version apparently....

wheel drivenness does not make a car not st, look at the 3 and 5 series GT, ridiculous hideous monstrosities.

The 2-series does however herald the death of a RWD philosophy that has defined BMW for decades.

In my opinion the 2-series is such a statement of determined, lowest-common-denominator sttiness that it immediately makes everything else with a BMW badge instantly less speaking by association. But then, this is a company that has forgotten itself so spectacularly that it introduced fake engine noise into M-cars...

Actually, that's another trend thread should die horribly: faked engine noises.

[Vitorio]

NDNDNDND said:

The 2-series does however herald the death of a RWD philosophy that has defined BMW for decades.

In my opinion the 2-series is such a statement of determined, lowest-common-denominator sttiness that it immediately makes everything else with a BMW badge instantly less speaking by association. But then, this is a company that has forgotten itself so spectacularly that it introduced fake engine noise into M-cars...

Actually, that's another trend thread should die horribly: faked engine noises.

Agreed, the FWD-ness plus the 3-pot really are a blemish on BMW's brand.

But as for the fake engine noise, i dont want it to die, i want it to be kept out of certain cars. I drove a Clio DCi for 4 months, which was fitted with R-link. Now obviously i know the Clio V6 noises produced by the speakers are fake and mildly yobbish, they did make driving a bit more fun (partially because of the tongue in cheek nature of it all, you could also select some wacky zoomy futuristic EV noise), and i wouldnt mind seeing systems like that in more cars, its frivolous and imho a nice way of making the experience of a 1.5 derv slightly more interesting

Non-optional fake noise on performance cars though... peh, just design a proper exhaust to make it sound good.

[Justin Case]

OLLIs
People who needlessly use acronyms in the mistaken belief that it makes them look cool*

[Kawasicki]

fwd

I'm hoping that at least the first few years of in hub motored cars will be rwd.

[Fractk]

Zombie said:

Infinite variations of what is essentially the same car. The current range of VAG / BMW / Merc products is ridiculous.

Apparently the cost to design and make various body styles has gone down a lot and they want to just target every single person out there. I don't see any point being a fan of any of these companies anymore. They just seem to release cars like throwing darts at a dart board.

[Lester H]

Vitorio said:

talksthetorque said:

Is a 2 series Active tourer still st if it has XDrive?

Yes, it still looks bloody awful, and the ride height is still pensioner-level. There even is a 7 seater version apparently....

wheel drivenness does not make a car not st, look at the 3 and 5 series GT, ridiculous hideous monstrosities.

Can't say it bothers me if BMW make a posh scenic which will be good of its kind. More depressing, the sub text of posters here, is that all big makers fell that they have to inhabit every single niche.

Edited by Lester H on Saturday 20th August 00:23

[DoubleD]

These companies are in business to make a profit, not to keep a few internet geeks happy.

[Lester H]

DoubleD said:

These companies are in business to make a profit, not to keep a few internet geeks happy.

Fair enough. just a little sad maybe, for many, not geeks, who associate a particular marque with particular characteristics, which kept things simple

[DegsyE39]

DoubleD said:

These companies are in business to make a profit, not to keep a few internet geeks happy.

But N/A straight six engines and RWD used to be BMW's USP when they just make gopping mpv's for posters on mumsnet they chip away at their heritage, cachet and USP.

If they slowly make half the range FWD they'll just end up another vauxhall.. And then the badge snobs who buy the crumby financed 2 series to show off to the neighbours wont want one anymore!! Short sighted business practice IMHO

[DegsyE39]

NDNDNDND said:

Vitorio said:

talksthetorque said:

Is a 2 series Active tourer still st if it has XDrive?

Yes, it still looks bloody awful, and the ride height is still pensioner-level. There even is a 7 seater version apparently....

wheel drivenness does not make a car not st, look at the 3 and 5 series GT, ridiculous hideous monstrosities.

The 2-series does however herald the death of a RWD philosophy that has defined BMW for decades.

In my opinion the 2-series is such a statement of determined, lowest-common-denominator sttiness that it immediately makes everything else with a BMW badge instantly less speaking by association. But then, this is a company that has forgotten itself so spectacularly that it introduced fake engine noise into M-cars...

Actually, that's another trend thread should die horribly: faked engine noises.

+1 Its sad what BMW have become..

[Some Gump]

DegsyE39 said:

But N/A straight six engines and RWD used to be BMW's USP when they just make gopping mpv's for posters on mumsnet they chip away at their heritage, cachet and USP.

If they slowly make half the range FWD they'll just end up another vauxhall.. And then the badge snobs who buy the crumby financed 2 series to show off to the neighbours wont want one anymore!! Short sighted business practice IMHO

As per all other successful brands. Where would Porsche (at times worlds most profitable brand) be if they stuck to their guns on over engineered air cooled 911's? The 924/44 saved them, the 928 saved them, then the 996/986 made them profitable. The Cayenne is their top seller. The problem with playing o the PH market is most of us don't buy new cars, we buy better older ones...

[Zombie]

smithyithy said:

Zombie said:

Infinite variations of what is essentially the same car. The current range of VAG / BMW / Merc products is ridiculous.

You'll take that back when the time comes that you want an SUV-coupe of a saloon-hatch.

If only they made one with an edible taco roof. With optional cheese dip and jalapinios.

Fractk said:

Zombie said:

Infinite variations of what is essentially the same car. The current range of VAG / BMW / Merc products is ridiculous.

Apparently the cost to design and make various body styles has gone down a lot and they want to just target every single person out there. I don't see any point being a fan of any of these companies anymore. They just seem to release cars like throwing darts at a dart board.

Thanks for explaining my point using different words. Oh the irony.