Do superficial touches of a car matter more than we admit?
Discussion
Do you ever think that all the oily stuff in a car doesn't matter as much as you think? I'm a bit worried I might get flamed for this thread, but it's not a troll; I'm genuinely wondering something. Bear with me while I waffle for a while.
Not too long ago, I had a poke around a Scirocco with leather trim and toys. Since I already drive a Skoda Octavia, this was never going to be to be a quantum leap but it was just a nicer place to be. Even though most of the controls were in the same place, little things like damped grab handles and trim that felt slightly softer made me feel good quite apart from any driving experience.
I had a poke around a Civic Type R (FN2) yesterday too after thinking they were relatively cheap and I might be interested in one. I haven't steered one yet but I was amazed how certain things made me feel positive about the car. The shape of the triangular exhausts and its angular space-ship styling made me feel good about the car (even if it does try a little too hard with the external appearance of something based on a shopping car). The 80's Sci-Fi digital glowing display that lights up when you put the key in reminded me of all my childhood Battlestar Galactica fantasies. The Big Red Start Button is the most silly gimmick of the lot but I must confess to being a bit won over by the feel of it.
You'll notice that I've said bugger all about how either car drove in comparison to my VRS Octavia. And that's my point.
A couple of years ago, I had a chat to someone who worked for Apple who worked on the packaging for their products. At that time, an engineer worked on exactly the right amount of vaccuum when you're opening the box of your new iPod just so the resistance to opening it would make you feel positive about the buying experience. Owning your new toy would be an event you'd subconsciously appreciate and enjoy, making you more likely to buy another company's products in future.
The engineers of car companies will subtly add little things to cars that justify a feel-good factor that many people will never consciously notice but they will subconsciously feel better about the car in question. The difference when poking around the CTR was that I was consciously aware of being manipulated... and I didn't mind at all. That thought made me feel a little bit like handing my man-card in.
I've always been a believer in oily bits over superficial guff. I was always more interested in how a car went down the road; was it quick around corners? Did the steering have a good feel? Did the engine have a decent amount of oomph? Interior niceties and frivolous gimmicks were unnecessarily expensive wastes and extra things to go wrong that I didn't need.
Yet if you take me back to Apple and away from cars, I'm the other way round. Objectively, HTC make phones that work just as well and have functions that iPhones don't. Pound-for-pound, a cheap modern PC laptop would blow my ageing Mac away in objective testing. But I don't mind at all because the Apple products I own do all the things that I need them to do (and I don't need the extra functionality), and they're nice objects to hold and use.
Coming back to cars for a moment... I don't track my car, use it for a bit of commuting and occasionally blat down a B-Road. If I'm unlikely to exceed a speed limit, never use a Dab Of Oppo on the A38 or push it enough for RWD to come into its own and I like the push of a bit of extra power compared to a 1.4 Golfocastra for a decent overtake... would I be happier with a slightly flashy but ultimately less capable machine than I would be with a very focused driver's tool?
I'm not advcating bling over substance in all areas. I hope you'll never see me opting for an Audi S-Line or similar. I despair the use of 20 inch wheels on shopping cars, I like a bit of RWD oversteer on a track, and I care how a car feels while cornering. I know how most of the oily bits of a car work, I'm genuinely fascinated how some cars are road weapons and appreciate I something a little pokier than an Econobox please.
I suppose the point of my post is to say that I think there are times at 6.37am on a rainy morning when I'm on my way to work that I might appreciate an interesting door handle and a pretty LED instrument panel more than I'd appreciate trying to get the roof up on an Elise with a wet driver's seat when I'm late for work. If a FWD hatch with blingy bits can produce a bit of shove, go round a corner well enough to make me smile when I'm in the mood for driving fun and have enough superficial shiny bits to make me smile when there's no driving fun to be had, would that make me a happier man than if I drove a basic looking and feeling macho RWD V8 on most days? For those people who have insufficient space, time or funds for more than one car, I suspect many PHers might feel that way.
I'm not sure if that makes me refreshingly honest or a PHer in need of a damn good slap and revocation of membership!
Well PHers... Discuss. I reserve the right to regret/disown this whole post, especially if I'm driving a V8 RWD car in a couple of years.
Not too long ago, I had a poke around a Scirocco with leather trim and toys. Since I already drive a Skoda Octavia, this was never going to be to be a quantum leap but it was just a nicer place to be. Even though most of the controls were in the same place, little things like damped grab handles and trim that felt slightly softer made me feel good quite apart from any driving experience.
I had a poke around a Civic Type R (FN2) yesterday too after thinking they were relatively cheap and I might be interested in one. I haven't steered one yet but I was amazed how certain things made me feel positive about the car. The shape of the triangular exhausts and its angular space-ship styling made me feel good about the car (even if it does try a little too hard with the external appearance of something based on a shopping car). The 80's Sci-Fi digital glowing display that lights up when you put the key in reminded me of all my childhood Battlestar Galactica fantasies. The Big Red Start Button is the most silly gimmick of the lot but I must confess to being a bit won over by the feel of it.
You'll notice that I've said bugger all about how either car drove in comparison to my VRS Octavia. And that's my point.
A couple of years ago, I had a chat to someone who worked for Apple who worked on the packaging for their products. At that time, an engineer worked on exactly the right amount of vaccuum when you're opening the box of your new iPod just so the resistance to opening it would make you feel positive about the buying experience. Owning your new toy would be an event you'd subconsciously appreciate and enjoy, making you more likely to buy another company's products in future.
The engineers of car companies will subtly add little things to cars that justify a feel-good factor that many people will never consciously notice but they will subconsciously feel better about the car in question. The difference when poking around the CTR was that I was consciously aware of being manipulated... and I didn't mind at all. That thought made me feel a little bit like handing my man-card in.
I've always been a believer in oily bits over superficial guff. I was always more interested in how a car went down the road; was it quick around corners? Did the steering have a good feel? Did the engine have a decent amount of oomph? Interior niceties and frivolous gimmicks were unnecessarily expensive wastes and extra things to go wrong that I didn't need.
Yet if you take me back to Apple and away from cars, I'm the other way round. Objectively, HTC make phones that work just as well and have functions that iPhones don't. Pound-for-pound, a cheap modern PC laptop would blow my ageing Mac away in objective testing. But I don't mind at all because the Apple products I own do all the things that I need them to do (and I don't need the extra functionality), and they're nice objects to hold and use.
Coming back to cars for a moment... I don't track my car, use it for a bit of commuting and occasionally blat down a B-Road. If I'm unlikely to exceed a speed limit, never use a Dab Of Oppo on the A38 or push it enough for RWD to come into its own and I like the push of a bit of extra power compared to a 1.4 Golfocastra for a decent overtake... would I be happier with a slightly flashy but ultimately less capable machine than I would be with a very focused driver's tool?
I'm not advcating bling over substance in all areas. I hope you'll never see me opting for an Audi S-Line or similar. I despair the use of 20 inch wheels on shopping cars, I like a bit of RWD oversteer on a track, and I care how a car feels while cornering. I know how most of the oily bits of a car work, I'm genuinely fascinated how some cars are road weapons and appreciate I something a little pokier than an Econobox please.
I suppose the point of my post is to say that I think there are times at 6.37am on a rainy morning when I'm on my way to work that I might appreciate an interesting door handle and a pretty LED instrument panel more than I'd appreciate trying to get the roof up on an Elise with a wet driver's seat when I'm late for work. If a FWD hatch with blingy bits can produce a bit of shove, go round a corner well enough to make me smile when I'm in the mood for driving fun and have enough superficial shiny bits to make me smile when there's no driving fun to be had, would that make me a happier man than if I drove a basic looking and feeling macho RWD V8 on most days? For those people who have insufficient space, time or funds for more than one car, I suspect many PHers might feel that way.
I'm not sure if that makes me refreshingly honest or a PHer in need of a damn good slap and revocation of membership!
Well PHers... Discuss. I reserve the right to regret/disown this whole post, especially if I'm driving a V8 RWD car in a couple of years.
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Wednesday 25th July 15:16
Yes, but I do drive an alfa. Examples:
It doesn't have door handles, you have to push the lock barrel (which is flush to the door)
The coolant, petrol and clock gauges which can only be viewed by the driver.
Clamshell bonnet
Washer jets built into the wiper mechanism to tidy up the bonnet
Neither of which enhance the performance of the car, very superficial but I like them
It doesn't have door handles, you have to push the lock barrel (which is flush to the door)
The coolant, petrol and clock gauges which can only be viewed by the driver.
Clamshell bonnet
Washer jets built into the wiper mechanism to tidy up the bonnet
Neither of which enhance the performance of the car, very superficial but I like them
Pete102 said:
Yes, but I do drive an alfa. Examples:
It doesn't have door handles, you have to push the lock barrel (which is flush to the door)
The coolant, petrol and clock gauges which can only be viewed by the driver.
Clamshell bonnet
Washer jets built into the wiper mechanism to tidy up the bonnet
Neither of which enhance the performance of the car, very superficial but I like them
My Alfa has all those things too, is yours a GTV?It doesn't have door handles, you have to push the lock barrel (which is flush to the door)
The coolant, petrol and clock gauges which can only be viewed by the driver.
Clamshell bonnet
Washer jets built into the wiper mechanism to tidy up the bonnet
Neither of which enhance the performance of the car, very superficial but I like them
EDIT: Yes it is.
Engine is a big part of it for me. Noise
Edited by SturdyHSV on Wednesday 25th July 15:36
My sights are moving as I get older.
It used to be 100% about handling, engine.
Now it's about all those touches as long as handling,engine are good enough. I am getting obsessed by how good the built in GPS/touch screen is, and whether I like the look of the dashboard (especially at night). My focus is definitely the interior rather than exterior of the car.
Good enough is also a moving feast. My next car is unlikely to be sports car/GT fast or sports car/GT handling which used to be my default start point.
It used to be 100% about handling, engine.
Now it's about all those touches as long as handling,engine are good enough. I am getting obsessed by how good the built in GPS/touch screen is, and whether I like the look of the dashboard (especially at night). My focus is definitely the interior rather than exterior of the car.
Good enough is also a moving feast. My next car is unlikely to be sports car/GT fast or sports car/GT handling which used to be my default start point.
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