The Mclaren is souless and not souless: what is soul?
Discussion
IS soul in a car any longer important- as one can easily see most buyers seem pretty satisfied with just about anything that is fuel efficient, well-built, reliable and a good value.
So is there, can there, ever be anything more to the MODERN CAR than that?
Example: Just about everyone has rung in on the new Mclaren. "It has soul" and "it is not soul-less".
Question: What is soul in a car?
General Answer: according to the motoring press and most enthusiasts over the last many years, we can agree that soul is personified and most whole-heartedly agreed to be in the DNA of:
Most 911's and old Porsche's of any stripe.
BMW m3 mk 1
BMW m3 mk2 50%
Audi Urquattro
Lancia Delta
Zonda
All Lotii
All Nobles
VW golf mk 1 and 2
Many old and oldish Ferrari's
Most any Renault Clio
Most small older Peugeot's 205/306
Specific answers? your say...
So is there, can there, ever be anything more to the MODERN CAR than that?
Example: Just about everyone has rung in on the new Mclaren. "It has soul" and "it is not soul-less".
Question: What is soul in a car?
General Answer: according to the motoring press and most enthusiasts over the last many years, we can agree that soul is personified and most whole-heartedly agreed to be in the DNA of:
Most 911's and old Porsche's of any stripe.
BMW m3 mk 1
BMW m3 mk2 50%
Audi Urquattro
Lancia Delta
Zonda
All Lotii
All Nobles
VW golf mk 1 and 2
Many old and oldish Ferrari's
Most any Renault Clio
Most small older Peugeot's 205/306
Specific answers? your say...
Edited by j123 on Sunday 6th March 00:28
Mr Dave said:
I think its all a load of balls. A car doesnt have soul.
Soul is a load of balls used by PR companies and car reviewers and people trying to show of how much of a car person they are.
Load of balls.
A load of what, sorry? You didn't seem to mention it... Soul is a load of balls used by PR companies and car reviewers and people trying to show of how much of a car person they are.
Load of balls.
Very true, it's just a load of marketing bumf that really makes no sense.
It is still important, but only to those that 'get it'.
Most sporty Italian cars have soul, but also some classics such as Jags.
The German manufacturers are not usually described in this way, they tend to be lauded mainly for their engineering.
Lotus and Noble, I'm not sure, but certainly not in the same way as, for example, an Alfa.
Most sporty Italian cars have soul, but also some classics such as Jags.
The German manufacturers are not usually described in this way, they tend to be lauded mainly for their engineering.
Lotus and Noble, I'm not sure, but certainly not in the same way as, for example, an Alfa.
For me, soul means a car has its faults, but you like/love it anyway (or dislike it), much like you would a person.
Or alternatively, if you have an 'emotional attachment' to your car for whatever reason, you could think of it as having a soul.
Having said that, I dislike the marketing of cars by saying 'with incredible soul' or other phrases along those lines. It all does seem a bit fake. I'd like the car companies to just tell us about the car, give it a slogan if they want, then we'll decide if we like it or not. I don't need to be told of the passion that is waiting to be unleashed from a lump of metal by some marketing berk.
Or alternatively, if you have an 'emotional attachment' to your car for whatever reason, you could think of it as having a soul.
Having said that, I dislike the marketing of cars by saying 'with incredible soul' or other phrases along those lines. It all does seem a bit fake. I'd like the car companies to just tell us about the car, give it a slogan if they want, then we'll decide if we like it or not. I don't need to be told of the passion that is waiting to be unleashed from a lump of metal by some marketing berk.
ks to fans of Italian bangers.Some cars provoke an emotional reaction in the way they look and feel. Such cars have a distinct character quite unlike anything else.
An individual, characterful car will inspire some but not all enthusiasts; those who connect cannot do without it in a car branding highly efficient, maybe even excellent cars which lack this individuality (such as most modern Audis) as "souless", those who don't connect are left unimpressed by any shortcomings the characterful car may have in dynamics or lack in cup holders. Maybe it is the difference between a car enthusiast and a driving enthusiast.
An individual, characterful car will inspire some but not all enthusiasts; those who connect cannot do without it in a car branding highly efficient, maybe even excellent cars which lack this individuality (such as most modern Audis) as "souless", those who don't connect are left unimpressed by any shortcomings the characterful car may have in dynamics or lack in cup holders. Maybe it is the difference between a car enthusiast and a driving enthusiast.
It has a bit to do with history I think. If you sit in the car and it has the feel of being connected to all of the history, it feels "soulful" I guess.
Alfas were good at that since up until recently they still had the engines out of their classic sportscars in them. And they broke down all the time.
But there's more to it as well. A truly good design can evoke an emotional response, like a sculpture. It's getting harder to do these days, with all of the constraints upon design, but
Alfas were good at that since up until recently they still had the engines out of their classic sportscars in them. And they broke down all the time.
But there's more to it as well. A truly good design can evoke an emotional response, like a sculpture. It's getting harder to do these days, with all of the constraints upon design, but
adycav said:
Ask Andy.
Or Corey
I'd class a MK1 MX-5 as soulful, however IMO most modern superminis & hatches just aren't. All boils down to how the car drives I think, something with woefully over-assisted steering and wooden brakes is certainly anything but soulful.
It's a rather silly term to apply to cars though.
Soul may be long dead in new cars. I think soul in a car is when it let's you down in some very basic aspect yet over achieves in other areas and in a few areas the car over achieves when you were not expecting. On a different note some engines seem to have a soul from when you try to get them to start, as they warm up, to when they are singing full song loud and powerful. Soul is also like personality. Some older cars have a certain technique to start you never quite figure out or do and it is unique to that car.
Having said all that. The OP's BMW's, Pagani (maybe), late model 911's don't have a whole lot of soul. Soul has been refined out so much. Just sort of an eccentric now when you have soul if you are not plain stranded at the side of the road or in the garage.
Having said all that. The OP's BMW's, Pagani (maybe), late model 911's don't have a whole lot of soul. Soul has been refined out so much. Just sort of an eccentric now when you have soul if you are not plain stranded at the side of the road or in the garage.
Edited by PiB on Sunday 6th March 06:10
Do you look at a car and think....
Hhhhhhmmmmmmmm
....or do you think.
Hmmm that's an interesting science project on wheels that conforms to all the European emmisions, Health and Safety and colision tests.
Modern cars tend to be souless because of all the red tape that needs to be cut and bean counters making it impossible for a designer to have creative freedom. Auto CAD has killed car design in the 80's and has made us all drive generic tin boxes designed to be fuctional first and desirability a long distant after thought. Even the super car elite has falled foul to this and it is a real shame that there is little out there to inspire people to get behind the wheel. Still while Petrol is £8 per Gallon there's no point driving for the fun of it anyway.
Hhhhhhmmmmmmmm
....or do you think.
Hmmm that's an interesting science project on wheels that conforms to all the European emmisions, Health and Safety and colision tests.
Modern cars tend to be souless because of all the red tape that needs to be cut and bean counters making it impossible for a designer to have creative freedom. Auto CAD has killed car design in the 80's and has made us all drive generic tin boxes designed to be fuctional first and desirability a long distant after thought. Even the super car elite has falled foul to this and it is a real shame that there is little out there to inspire people to get behind the wheel. Still while Petrol is £8 per Gallon there's no point driving for the fun of it anyway.
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