Which cars are classy these days?
Discussion
MaxSo said:
Each person's definition of "classy" is obviously quite subjective, but to me it is primarily about behaviour. So if you translate this to cars, you are mainly thinking about your preconceptions about what kind of behaviour you would expect from the driver of a particular car.
In people, most may agree that classiness is a trait exuded by those that are, inter alia:
- Genuine
- Considerate
- Polite, and bestowed with good manners
- Someone of integrity
- Restrained
- Calm
- Graceful
(Hint: these have nothing to with money: they are all free).
Although less important, from a visual standpoint, people who may typically thought to be classy also tend to avoid trends or fads, tend not to be showy, and tend to favour simple, elegant aesthetics over fashion or "luxury" / "premium" looks.
Given the above, when thinking about cars, I'd postulate it is mainly about how likely, in perceived wisdom, is the driver of that car to be someone who exhibits these traits. We've seen various posters here comment on suggested cars by judging what type of person they are most often perceived to be driven by. I'd suggest this is possibly why many cars from the German brands are no longer considered to be classy. Rightly or wrongly, the behaviour of the drivers of many of these cars (not all) is often perceived (by many, not all) to exhibit traits which are antithetical to those of classiness. That is, they are often perceived to be:
- Inconsiderate or selfish
- Impolite, with bad manners
- Lacking calmness; easily angered
- Lacking in restraint
- Showy
Further, and in relation to aesthetics, many modern cars may also be seen to be ‘unclassy’ if they are:
- Disingenuous (unnecessary sports styling, false diffusers, false exhausts)
- Ungraceful (tacky LED DRLs, poorly proportioned, unnecessarily large)
- ‘Trendy’ (animated indicators, bedazzled headlights, fancy LED DRLs, needlessly large wheels, needlessly low profile tyres, false sport styling, large grills, aggressive ‘presence’)
- Overtly luxurious/premium.
Given all of the above, this is possibly why some of the most frequently mentioned "classy" cars are Land Rover Defenders, certain Volvos and various classic cars. It’s why I’d also agree that something like a Skoda Yeti can be a classy car. Or a VW up!. In relation to Volvo; however, I’d say the previous generation V70 was more classy than the current V90, which has perhaps erred a little bit too much in the direction of the ‘unclassy’ aesthetic traits. This is probably at least partly why the V90 is also likely to be much more popular, driven by a wider range of people, and therefore probably less easily able to be distinguished as conforming to the traits of classiness outlined above.
Ultimately, it is less about what the car looks like and more about the associations seeing it invoke in each person. This is largely about stereotypes, generalisations and about personal experience. There are always going to be exceptions. If suddenly, overnight, all of the ‘German brands’ started wafting about with impeccable road manners then people’s perception of the drivers of those cars would start to change. Eventually, over time, the existing associations would be diluted and more people may consider some of these cars to be classy once again, because they would start to be associated with classy behaviour. The styling traits of the cars (aggressive, LEDs, large wheels etc) may then no longer continue to be associated with ‘unclassy’ behaviour. This is unlikely; however, as the styling of the cars arguably a)influences behaviour and/or b) appeals to people with certain pre-existing behavioural traits. (This is a generalisation of a stereotype. Please don’t get upset if you drive one of these cars and consider yourself to exhibit classy driving traits).
Society is arguably becoming less ‘classy’. Many would agree that people seem to be getting more angry, rude and impatient. This is probably why it is more difficult to pick new cars as being classy, as they are associated with the standard of behaviour that is occurring now. Older cars, particularly classic cars, may be associated with past, higher, standards of behaviour. It’s rare that you see classic cars being driven on the road, but when you do they are (almost) never driven in anything approaching an unclassy manner (again, this is a generalisation; there will be exceptions. If you once saw someone in a classic car tailgating a pensioner then there is no need to mention it).
Of new cars though, my suggestions would be:
- VW up!
- BMW i3
- Skoda Superb Estate SE
- Skoda Yeti
Spot on. It's not about show or go, it's about being understated and sophisticated. A Golf SE in a subtle colour is classier than a GTI with big alloys and LED lights everywhere for example, even if it's not as good a car to drive.In people, most may agree that classiness is a trait exuded by those that are, inter alia:
- Genuine
- Considerate
- Polite, and bestowed with good manners
- Someone of integrity
- Restrained
- Calm
- Graceful
(Hint: these have nothing to with money: they are all free).
Although less important, from a visual standpoint, people who may typically thought to be classy also tend to avoid trends or fads, tend not to be showy, and tend to favour simple, elegant aesthetics over fashion or "luxury" / "premium" looks.
Given the above, when thinking about cars, I'd postulate it is mainly about how likely, in perceived wisdom, is the driver of that car to be someone who exhibits these traits. We've seen various posters here comment on suggested cars by judging what type of person they are most often perceived to be driven by. I'd suggest this is possibly why many cars from the German brands are no longer considered to be classy. Rightly or wrongly, the behaviour of the drivers of many of these cars (not all) is often perceived (by many, not all) to exhibit traits which are antithetical to those of classiness. That is, they are often perceived to be:
- Inconsiderate or selfish
- Impolite, with bad manners
- Lacking calmness; easily angered
- Lacking in restraint
- Showy
Further, and in relation to aesthetics, many modern cars may also be seen to be ‘unclassy’ if they are:
- Disingenuous (unnecessary sports styling, false diffusers, false exhausts)
- Ungraceful (tacky LED DRLs, poorly proportioned, unnecessarily large)
- ‘Trendy’ (animated indicators, bedazzled headlights, fancy LED DRLs, needlessly large wheels, needlessly low profile tyres, false sport styling, large grills, aggressive ‘presence’)
- Overtly luxurious/premium.
Given all of the above, this is possibly why some of the most frequently mentioned "classy" cars are Land Rover Defenders, certain Volvos and various classic cars. It’s why I’d also agree that something like a Skoda Yeti can be a classy car. Or a VW up!. In relation to Volvo; however, I’d say the previous generation V70 was more classy than the current V90, which has perhaps erred a little bit too much in the direction of the ‘unclassy’ aesthetic traits. This is probably at least partly why the V90 is also likely to be much more popular, driven by a wider range of people, and therefore probably less easily able to be distinguished as conforming to the traits of classiness outlined above.
Ultimately, it is less about what the car looks like and more about the associations seeing it invoke in each person. This is largely about stereotypes, generalisations and about personal experience. There are always going to be exceptions. If suddenly, overnight, all of the ‘German brands’ started wafting about with impeccable road manners then people’s perception of the drivers of those cars would start to change. Eventually, over time, the existing associations would be diluted and more people may consider some of these cars to be classy once again, because they would start to be associated with classy behaviour. The styling traits of the cars (aggressive, LEDs, large wheels etc) may then no longer continue to be associated with ‘unclassy’ behaviour. This is unlikely; however, as the styling of the cars arguably a)influences behaviour and/or b) appeals to people with certain pre-existing behavioural traits. (This is a generalisation of a stereotype. Please don’t get upset if you drive one of these cars and consider yourself to exhibit classy driving traits).
Society is arguably becoming less ‘classy’. Many would agree that people seem to be getting more angry, rude and impatient. This is probably why it is more difficult to pick new cars as being classy, as they are associated with the standard of behaviour that is occurring now. Older cars, particularly classic cars, may be associated with past, higher, standards of behaviour. It’s rare that you see classic cars being driven on the road, but when you do they are (almost) never driven in anything approaching an unclassy manner (again, this is a generalisation; there will be exceptions. If you once saw someone in a classic car tailgating a pensioner then there is no need to mention it).
Of new cars though, my suggestions would be:
- VW up!
- BMW i3
- Skoda Superb Estate SE
- Skoda Yeti
Skoda's do this very well, as do Volvo's and even "SE spec" BMW's
MaxSo said:
Each person's definition of "classy" is obviously quite subjective, but to me it is primarily about behaviour. So if you translate this to cars, you are mainly thinking about your preconceptions about what kind of behaviour you would expect from the driver of a particular car.
In people, most may agree that classiness is a trait exuded by those that are, inter alia:
- Genuine
- Considerate
- Polite, and bestowed with good manners
- Someone of integrity
- Restrained
- Calm
- Graceful
(Hint: these have nothing to with money: they are all free).
Others... they are often perceived to be:
- Inconsiderate or selfish
- Impolite, with bad manners
- Lacking calmness; easily angered
- Lacking in restraint
- Showy
To quote my late dad;In people, most may agree that classiness is a trait exuded by those that are, inter alia:
- Genuine
- Considerate
- Polite, and bestowed with good manners
- Someone of integrity
- Restrained
- Calm
- Graceful
(Hint: these have nothing to with money: they are all free).
Others... they are often perceived to be:
- Inconsiderate or selfish
- Impolite, with bad manners
- Lacking calmness; easily angered
- Lacking in restraint
- Showy
'You can't buy class, son.'
I thought "classy" was only a word used by Ron Burgundy and ladies of the night who used it to describe themselves in an effort to appeal to a slightly more upmarket clientele.
Notwithstanding, as the modern automotive styling vernacular is prompted largely by the purchasing tastes of a of spray tan salon owner from Cheshire who recently branched out into an*l bleaching and is doing a roaring business,it is little surprise that the current rolling trinkets are vajazzled as tastefully as said salon owner's Christmas tree with corresponding "class" levels (nil).
That said, the "class" comes from the person behind the wheel. Largely speaking, most peoples memories of "classy cars" seem to be cars from an era of rudimentary finance where the majority of cash buying old money bought certain types of vehicles (RR classics or A124s for example) and it is these now perceived as being tasteful.
Notwithstanding, as the modern automotive styling vernacular is prompted largely by the purchasing tastes of a of spray tan salon owner from Cheshire who recently branched out into an*l bleaching and is doing a roaring business,it is little surprise that the current rolling trinkets are vajazzled as tastefully as said salon owner's Christmas tree with corresponding "class" levels (nil).
That said, the "class" comes from the person behind the wheel. Largely speaking, most peoples memories of "classy cars" seem to be cars from an era of rudimentary finance where the majority of cash buying old money bought certain types of vehicles (RR classics or A124s for example) and it is these now perceived as being tasteful.
CS Garth said:
That said, the "class" comes from the person behind the wheel. Largely speaking, most peoples memories of "classy cars" seem to be cars from an era of rudimentary finance where the majority of cash buying old money bought certain types of vehicles (RR classics or A124s for example) and it is these now perceived as being tasteful.
Ernest Hemingway said:
The rich were dull and they drank too much, or they played too much backgammon. They were dull and they were repetitious. He remembered poor Scott Fitzgerald and his romantic awe of them and how he had started a story once that began, ‘The very rich are different from you and me.’ And how some one had said to Scott, Yes, they have more money. But that was not humorous to Scott. He thought they were a special glamorous race and when he found they weren't it wrecked him as much as any other thing that wrecked him.
otolith said:
CS Garth said:
That said, the "class" comes from the person behind the wheel. Largely speaking, most peoples memories of "classy cars" seem to be cars from an era of rudimentary finance where the majority of cash buying old money bought certain types of vehicles (RR classics or A124s for example) and it is these now perceived as being tasteful.
Ernest Hemingway said:
The rich were dull and they drank too much, or they played too much backgammon. They were dull and they were repetitious. He remembered poor Scott Fitzgerald and his romantic awe of them and how he had started a story once that began, ‘The very rich are different from you and me.’ And how some one had said to Scott, Yes, they have more money. But that was not humorous to Scott. He thought they were a special glamorous race and when he found they weren't it wrecked him as much as any other thing that wrecked him.
Believe the above may hit the spot?
More pictures here: http://www.bramley.com/carsales/details/Volkswagen...
Have no connection with garage.
EDIT: SWMBO says it has no class. Ah well. At least one of us is correct.
Edited by SDB660 on Monday 27th February 13:20
CS Garth said:
Hemmingway was an affectatious inverted snob with a bag of chips on his shoulder - that's just him putting down Fitzgerald because he was knocking out some decent text!
That and more, but he had a fair point about the adulation of the wealthy. The middle classes desperately trying to figure out how to emulate them is embarrassing.otolith said:
CS Garth said:
Hemmingway was an affectatious inverted snob with a bag of chips on his shoulder - that's just him putting down Fitzgerald because he was knocking out some decent text!
That and more, but he had a fair point about the adulation of the wealthy. The middle classes desperately trying to figure out how to emulate them is embarrassing.
SDB660 said:
Believe the above may hit the spot?
More pictures here: http://www.bramley.com/carsales/details/Volkswagen...
Have no connection with garage.
EDIT: SWMBO says it has no class. Ah well. At least one of us is correct.
Edited by SDB660 on Monday 27th February 13:20
dme123 said:
These (X350s) seem to be mostly owned by moderately successful but extremely self important red faced men in their 50s/60s who are in The Rotary Club and dream of being a freemason as far as I can see. They'll get classier once they follow the natural Jaguar trajectory and become the conveyance of choice for the landlords of flat roofed pubs and PH skinflints from the Bargain Barge thread.. The 2003 models are there now.
Brutal but accurate!
SDB660 said:
Believe the above may hit the spot?
More pictures here: http://www.bramley.com/carsales/details/Volkswagen...
Have no connection with garage.
EDIT: SWMBO says it has no class. Ah well. At least one of us is correct.
Edited by SDB660 on Monday 27th February 13:20
Fastchas said:
SDB660 said:
Believe the above may hit the spot?
More pictures here: http://www.bramley.com/carsales/details/Volkswagen...
Have no connection with garage.
EDIT: SWMBO says it has no class. Ah well. At least one of us is correct.
Edited by SDB660 on Monday 27th February 13:20
Much like the old Top Gear Cool Wall, people are mistakenly believing 'classy' (or 'cool') is synonymous with 'stuff I like'. An objectively terrible car can still be classy. Likewise an objectively good car can still be vulgar - like that VW
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