How do YOU define 'Soul' ?
Discussion
At the moment I'm looking to get something big and cumbersome for throwing children and related gear into at weekends. Time and time again I read that Japanese options (CR-v Rav 4 etc) are soulless things.
Is it just a case of borkability + individuality × wallet rape is "Soul" ?!
What does it mean?! It's a machine!
Is it just a case of borkability + individuality × wallet rape is "Soul" ?!
What does it mean?! It's a machine!
Largely in the eye of the beholder. Buy what suits you, if it works for your circumstances and you like the car who cares if people on a website or some journos think it's got soul or not?
You may well feel it DOES have soul. Or perhaps just not give two s
ts either way as long as it does the required job.
You may well feel it DOES have soul. Or perhaps just not give two s
ts either way as long as it does the required job.Mastodon2 said:
radiodanno said:
What does it mean?! It's a machine!
Character, unique or endearing traits, a sort of personality in one machine where the next is purely designed and intended as transport.have a look at the Subaru Forester chap. I dont know much about the current model, but my 2004 XT has the elusive ingredients that constitute character/soul. Its breadth of ability is quite staggering too (which is confusing, as usually I equate soul to ability with inherent compromise).
So, you work out what you need from a car. To me, soul is when the car has been designed to do something over and beyond, even if it compromises some of the fundamental requirements. So it carries your family around safely, but compromises fuel consumption to pop and bang on the overrun. Or it sacrifices room for a bit of style. Basically adding feel good stuff over a bit of practical stuff.
To me no car comes with "soul", you get the feeling of it by forming an attachment to the car through all the adventures you go through together.
Most people would describe my first car as a white good (Mazda 323 1.3 LX K reg) but that car took me to many places did many silly things taught me a lot about driving and was the setting for a lot of unforgettable times. I was genuinely sad to see it go.
I think I could use a Ferrari 458 to commute to work in and if that is all I did with it I wouldnt bond with it or think it had any soul.
Like the guy on the homepage with the Citroen AX. Most people would say a hits just a soulless boring shopping car but that guy has spent years with that car, through highs and lows and he will never forget that car, you can see the emotion when he finishes the lap, he would give that AX a big man hug and buy it a pint if he could.
Most people would describe my first car as a white good (Mazda 323 1.3 LX K reg) but that car took me to many places did many silly things taught me a lot about driving and was the setting for a lot of unforgettable times. I was genuinely sad to see it go.
I think I could use a Ferrari 458 to commute to work in and if that is all I did with it I wouldnt bond with it or think it had any soul.
Like the guy on the homepage with the Citroen AX. Most people would say a hits just a soulless boring shopping car but that guy has spent years with that car, through highs and lows and he will never forget that car, you can see the emotion when he finishes the lap, he would give that AX a big man hug and buy it a pint if he could.
For some reason I'm not keen on the term soul but character is fine!
Character is in the detail, its not about the the thing breaking down. Its a personal thing but some cars have interesting quirks.
An easy example would be an original mini, you get a burbly engine note, a whiny gearbox, fantastic sharp steering and a bouncy ride, this I feel is, its character.
With some vehicles it takes time to find the character traits as they aren't so obvious and some vehicle are just white goods, do everything okay but nothing really well.
Character is in the detail, its not about the the thing breaking down. Its a personal thing but some cars have interesting quirks.
An easy example would be an original mini, you get a burbly engine note, a whiny gearbox, fantastic sharp steering and a bouncy ride, this I feel is, its character.
With some vehicles it takes time to find the character traits as they aren't so obvious and some vehicle are just white goods, do everything okay but nothing really well.
To define 'soul' in regards to vehicles is tricky. But in regards to my current fleet, my daily hack (Honda Accord) doesn't really have soul, it is an excellent assortment of parts that work in harmony, but it is never going to set the world on fire, it is purposeful, reliable, but it is just a tool. The ST24 though, well it may be a leaky rusty heap but every time I am behind the wheel, it just feels right. It will never be as reliable as the Accord, but it has a lot more character.
No car has soul, the bloody things come off automated production lines. And don't give this crap that Jap cars lack character or "soul", think of the over engineering to rock solids like Subaru, Isuzu, Honda, then think of the the same ppl that thought and building the GTR, Rotary engined RX series, VTEC engines, the Impreza's the FQ's the LFA.....
If there was a character in cars, then the Japanese have applied it in bucket loads. Character is not a car from Italy with the initals AR , as they are very usually a massive disappointment in every department but everyone falls over the looks and then notice it has very little substance.
If there was a character in cars, then the Japanese have applied it in bucket loads. Character is not a car from Italy with the initals AR , as they are very usually a massive disappointment in every department but everyone falls over the looks and then notice it has very little substance.
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