Why is sportiness rated so high nowadays?
Discussion
This is a good question. Maybe it's just me but even the comfy E-class gets a little bit sharper handling and ride every new generation.
I guess the majority of males pick the cars in the household and they want cars with a little "sport" (aka excitement) sprinkled on top. Wasn't the Ford S-max a mild shock to Ford as it sold so much better than they predicted?
Also, fresh (aka sporty) design sells better than boring, traditional design (I'm aware that this comes down to the car model/car brand image - read a school paper when I was in College about Toyota buyers actually preferring plain, very understated design...).
I guess the majority of males pick the cars in the household and they want cars with a little "sport" (aka excitement) sprinkled on top. Wasn't the Ford S-max a mild shock to Ford as it sold so much better than they predicted?
Also, fresh (aka sporty) design sells better than boring, traditional design (I'm aware that this comes down to the car model/car brand image - read a school paper when I was in College about Toyota buyers actually preferring plain, very understated design...).
caraddict said:
Also, fresh (aka sporty) design sells better than boring, traditional design (I'm aware that this comes down to the car model/car brand image - read a school paper when I was in College about Toyota buyers actually preferring plain, very understated design...).
Of course one marketing strategy is to own multiple brands using the same platforms to target different consumers. The obvious example of the VW Group: Seat tries (or tried) to project a young, sporty image while I often suspect Skoda make their cars dowdier than they have to in order to target a 'sensible' demographic.
Rushmore said:
Are "Sport" edition cars for grown-ups who are too shy to admit that they would secretly be a Halfrauds Dubscene hangaround but dont know how to use a spanner?
You raise a good point there. So many features we are now seeing on new mid-range cars are just spin-offs from the modifying scene 10 years ago. LED lights.
Screens in the dashboard.
'Privacy' glass.
Big alloys, over-wide tyres and no suspension.
Keyless entry.
Remote start.
When someone puts the effort into fitting them to a hatchback people laugh and mock them, but when their company car has them as standard they become very cool?
busta said:
You raise a good point there. So many features we are now seeing on new mid-range cars are just spin-offs from the modifying scene 10 years ago.
LED lights.
Screens in the dashboard.
'Privacy' glass.
Big alloys, over-wide tyres and no suspension.
Keyless entry.
Remote start.
When someone puts the effort into fitting them to a hatchback people laugh and mock them, but when their company car has them as standard they become very cool?
A couple of decades ago, in my boyracer days... I had a Mk1 Golf GTi. Black with red trim. Halfrauds was my favourite store. I got some red roll on strips to go along the side of the car. I'm sure I double the power and improved the handling immensely with my go-faster stripes. As long as I was convincedLED lights.
Screens in the dashboard.
'Privacy' glass.
Big alloys, over-wide tyres and no suspension.
Keyless entry.
Remote start.
When someone puts the effort into fitting them to a hatchback people laugh and mock them, but when their company car has them as standard they become very cool?
Ok, I'll bite - I've gone from a standard 1.9TDi A4 to a 2.8 V6 Quattro A4 with the factory sports suspension. Both '96 models, both with factory 16" wheels with 55-profile tyres.
The sports suspension is far, far better than the standard - corners nicely now without the horrific wallowiness or body roll that was evident on the standard kit, and loses very little if anything in the comfort stakes. Although, given that both cars are 15 years old and not on 19" wheels with 35-profile tyres, this may not be the same situation as with current cars...
The sports suspension is far, far better than the standard - corners nicely now without the horrific wallowiness or body roll that was evident on the standard kit, and loses very little if anything in the comfort stakes. Although, given that both cars are 15 years old and not on 19" wheels with 35-profile tyres, this may not be the same situation as with current cars...
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