Why are modern cars dull?
Why are modern cars dull?
Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
Why are 90% of modern cars (everyday cars like Focus' and 307s) so boring and dull?
It's not that they're bad, but nothing is exciting or fun in these cars. They all like a personality like older cars.

If you look at older everyday cars they all have a personality and "soul" if you know what I mean, just something about regular everyday cars that is a bit wet-paint. Can't put my finger on why scratchchin

Fartgalen

6,928 posts

236 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
Maybe because modern cars aren't old ?

Mr Happy

5,893 posts

249 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
Tell me about it, I'm afflicted with a 59 reg VX Ashtray while my company car comes and there is *no* driving pleasure to be gleaned from it whatsoever.

It is the epitome of white goods with an engine attached!

balls-out

3,794 posts

260 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
Because to most people they are as much a consumer item as a fridge, but with a badge that tells everybody how wealthy you are.
Try a US car with a stonking great V8. They have soul a BM can only dream of

Mr POD

5,153 posts

221 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
PSBuckshot said:
Why are 90% of modern cars (everyday cars like Focus' and 307s) so boring and dull?
It's not that they're bad, but nothing is exciting or fun in these cars. They all like a personality like older cars.

If you look at older everyday cars they all have a personality and "soul" if you know what I mean, just something about regular everyday cars that is a bit wet-paint. Can't put my finger on why scratchchin
Designed by committee, to appeal to a bloke called mike who sits near me at work. The people than buy new cars, with their own money are conservative, careful, law abidding, middle class, office types, who have never done anything reckless or exciting, and just want something safe and soleless.

Which is why I'm going to buy a 2.4 JTD 156 as a daily driver !!!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
balls-out said:
Because to most people they are as much a consumer item as a fridge, but with a badge that tells everybody how wealthy you are.
Sentence of the year.

turbopug

285 posts

182 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
Health and safety is a big factor.


ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
Most car buyers are not enthusiasts. They don't want character, soul, foibles, etc, they want reliable, conservative, status symbols. Most car companies cater for non-enthusiasts.

Of course, you don't need to buy from them, but driving a "different" car tends to take a bit more effort, which shouldn't be a problem for an enthusiast.

Negative Creep

26,064 posts

256 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
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Impact regulations and NCAP tests have sucked the soul out of car design IMO

George H

14,714 posts

193 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
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Even modern supercars seem so dull compared to their 80s equivalents, not just regular cars.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
turbopug said:
Health and safety is a big factor.
I was thinking this but still couldn't understand why they're boring.

LuS1fer

43,508 posts

274 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
Our Mondeo is competent but lacks any character. The visibility out is poor so it's hard to be confident about where it starts and ends. It lacks chuckability. My old Golf has great visibility and you can see the extremities and chuck and park it with alacrity. It's a handy tool.

Most modern cars are heavy, bloated and claustrophobic and are too competent so there is never any fun element.

aizvara

2,067 posts

196 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
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Are you talking about the handling? Or something else? I found the Mk1 Focus quite fun to drive, to take one of the OP's examples.
I think that cars, like most inanimate things, are what you make of them.

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
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You're confusing character with rubbish.

Go and get into mk1 Astra and in every measure it will be not as good. But the fact that you have to be more involved in the driving is very important, which is why steam locos are always better than diesels.

sawman

5,168 posts

259 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
balls-out said:
a fridge, but with a badge that tells everybody how wealthy you are.
Is that a Smug?

miniman

30,042 posts

291 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
This is precisely why I've bought a 1995 525i to run around in instead of a modern bland-o-box.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
aizvara said:
Are you talking about the handling? Or something else? I found the Mk1 Focus quite fun to drive, to take one of the OP's examples.
I think that cars, like most inanimate things, are what you make of them.
Talking about the car itself.
The feeling you get after the first drive will always be better in an older car.

aizvara

2,067 posts

196 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
miniman said:
This is precisely why I've bought a 1995 525i to run around in instead of a modern bland-o-box.
Where do you draw the line? I'm sure some would say those are bland compared to the E28.

Off topic: Personally, I really like the E34 - I'd love an 3.6 M5 with throwing star wheels, though I'm told they are a money pit.

EDLT

15,421 posts

235 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
I drove a Mk1 cavalier once, it was ste. There was literally nothing good about it at all, the whole old cars = character/soul is bks.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
quotequote all
EDLT said:
I drove a Mk1 cavalier once, it was ste. There was literally nothing good about it at all, the whole old cars = character/soul is bks.
Obviously some cars are more suited to the example than others....