Why do people care about car styling/looks?
Discussion
Why do people care about car styling/looks?
I consider myself a 'petrolhead' but I don't think a cars looks are that important to me.
In the past I've been guilty of sneering from behind my keyboard at people that come and post on Pistonheads and only seem concerned about a car's looks. Because all true car lovers know that how a car handles at the limit, drives in general, performs, feels and sounds are all much more important, right?
So aren't all of those people who only seem concerned about a cars looks ignorant of that fact? ...and therefore they're not true petrolheads/pistonheads/car lovers? and therefore how did they arrive at this website?!
Obviously I realise that that is a very arrogant (and likely ignorant) attitude to hold, so I thought rather than criticise, why not try to find out the reasons behind this other viewpoint?
So why? Why do people care about a cars looks at all?
It's often an extreme obsession too. Because People seriously debate if the new Audi mini box saloon looks better or worse the the BMW or Merc version, when they all look the same, and crap too. None of them look like an E-type do they? Are you really going to choose your next new car based on the fact that you somehow find it ever so slightly less ill proportioned than the competition?
I can understand appreciating good looks, but I wouldn't choose a car based on it.
Growing up I had models or 911s, and pictures of 308s and Testerossas on my wall (and still do!).I think the Ferrari 308GTB is one of the most beautiful cars ever created. I love the look at the 512TR (more so than the Testarossa) even now. The Testarossa's looks are widley critisced for being too miami vice, or over the top, but to me it's the ultimate boyhood supercar (along with the Countach QV), looking like a big red wedge of Ferrari sex. So obviously taste and subjectivity affect what people think looks good, but why are looks important in judging a car in the first place? I wouldn't want to own a 308 or 512TR that had had an engine replacement with a 1 litre diesel, even though the car would look exactly the same.
Another car I loved the looks of when I was younger was the Mitsubishi 3000GT (haha!). I remember a twin test (perhaps on the good 'old' top gear?) of it with the RX7 (which these days I think is another beautiful car) but back then I thought the big bright red (kinda) wedge of Japanese coupe looked better than the sleeker curvier RX7. Years later I could have bought either either one, and although I've been very tempted by RX7's over the years, I would never dream of getting a 3000GT now. Because since I actually started driving cars I've realised that for getting pleasure out them comes from the drive itself, the looks of the thing are almost completely unimportant. In that respect everything I've read about the 3000GT make it sound like the I'd hate it. Also to a much lesser extent, the thirst, reliability, sound and turbo charged nature of the RX7 put me off that too. So I never bought either.
The love of my car life, my DC2 Integra Type-R is also not much of a looker. Personally I love it's looks, but apart from the generic sleekness, racy looking spoon front lip spoiler and lightweight racy looking wheels, it's hard to explain why. Overall it's a very bland, boring looking car! But I think when I look at it I see the beauty beneath the sheet metal. But if you didn't like the way it drove, why on earth would anyone have one?
I'm having trouble thinking of any well regarded, classic (modern or not) drivers cars that are terrifically ugly. A lot of them don't look traditionally beautiful, Pug 205, Integrale, but those two never get criticised for their looks. The integrale is imo, one of the best looking cars ever, but completely because of how evocative it is. It is just a square box hatchback with a bluff nose and ridiculous wheel arches. My point there is that great drivers cars always seem to 'look' good, probably more because of the feeling they give you when you see one, not necessarily because of what they look like. Like the difference between sexy and beautiful. Or Attractive vs Pretty.
Perhaps people really think a good looking car makes them look good?! Surely not, because people are people and cars are cars. You are not your good looking car. You are just driving that car. I think that (showing off) is more where brand and badge image come into it instead. Snobbery of which is another sign of not being a true car enthusiast. 'Branding' is for marketing departments and cows bums, not for car enthusiasts.
And if it turns out although people do care about looks they don't really buy cars based on looks alone, or even by looks first and foremost, then why do people post about it all the time? It would be like if we all constantly posted about what our favourite colour was, "I really like the colour blue!" "Are you kidding! blue is horrible! red is a much nicer colour!" - complete meaningless nonsense!
But obviously there must be some reason for it. I would like to know what it is. I've always thought that as soon as I've jumped into a car and started driving it, the looks are irrelevant. Because I can't see them any more. And I'm the only person that matters when it comes to my own cars looks, because anyone else is likely to have a different opinion on this completely subjective issue anyway. They may or may not think my cars looks nice, but there is absolutely nothing I can do about that, and I'm not sure why that would matter to anyone anyway.
Please believe this isn't a stupid attempt at trolling a forum. Seriously, why do you care about how a car looks? especially if it's to the extent that you would buy it over another, less nice looking car.
I consider myself a 'petrolhead' but I don't think a cars looks are that important to me.
In the past I've been guilty of sneering from behind my keyboard at people that come and post on Pistonheads and only seem concerned about a car's looks. Because all true car lovers know that how a car handles at the limit, drives in general, performs, feels and sounds are all much more important, right?
So aren't all of those people who only seem concerned about a cars looks ignorant of that fact? ...and therefore they're not true petrolheads/pistonheads/car lovers? and therefore how did they arrive at this website?!
Obviously I realise that that is a very arrogant (and likely ignorant) attitude to hold, so I thought rather than criticise, why not try to find out the reasons behind this other viewpoint?
So why? Why do people care about a cars looks at all?
It's often an extreme obsession too. Because People seriously debate if the new Audi mini box saloon looks better or worse the the BMW or Merc version, when they all look the same, and crap too. None of them look like an E-type do they? Are you really going to choose your next new car based on the fact that you somehow find it ever so slightly less ill proportioned than the competition?
I can understand appreciating good looks, but I wouldn't choose a car based on it.
Growing up I had models or 911s, and pictures of 308s and Testerossas on my wall (and still do!).I think the Ferrari 308GTB is one of the most beautiful cars ever created. I love the look at the 512TR (more so than the Testarossa) even now. The Testarossa's looks are widley critisced for being too miami vice, or over the top, but to me it's the ultimate boyhood supercar (along with the Countach QV), looking like a big red wedge of Ferrari sex. So obviously taste and subjectivity affect what people think looks good, but why are looks important in judging a car in the first place? I wouldn't want to own a 308 or 512TR that had had an engine replacement with a 1 litre diesel, even though the car would look exactly the same.
Another car I loved the looks of when I was younger was the Mitsubishi 3000GT (haha!). I remember a twin test (perhaps on the good 'old' top gear?) of it with the RX7 (which these days I think is another beautiful car) but back then I thought the big bright red (kinda) wedge of Japanese coupe looked better than the sleeker curvier RX7. Years later I could have bought either either one, and although I've been very tempted by RX7's over the years, I would never dream of getting a 3000GT now. Because since I actually started driving cars I've realised that for getting pleasure out them comes from the drive itself, the looks of the thing are almost completely unimportant. In that respect everything I've read about the 3000GT make it sound like the I'd hate it. Also to a much lesser extent, the thirst, reliability, sound and turbo charged nature of the RX7 put me off that too. So I never bought either.
The love of my car life, my DC2 Integra Type-R is also not much of a looker. Personally I love it's looks, but apart from the generic sleekness, racy looking spoon front lip spoiler and lightweight racy looking wheels, it's hard to explain why. Overall it's a very bland, boring looking car! But I think when I look at it I see the beauty beneath the sheet metal. But if you didn't like the way it drove, why on earth would anyone have one?
I'm having trouble thinking of any well regarded, classic (modern or not) drivers cars that are terrifically ugly. A lot of them don't look traditionally beautiful, Pug 205, Integrale, but those two never get criticised for their looks. The integrale is imo, one of the best looking cars ever, but completely because of how evocative it is. It is just a square box hatchback with a bluff nose and ridiculous wheel arches. My point there is that great drivers cars always seem to 'look' good, probably more because of the feeling they give you when you see one, not necessarily because of what they look like. Like the difference between sexy and beautiful. Or Attractive vs Pretty.
Perhaps people really think a good looking car makes them look good?! Surely not, because people are people and cars are cars. You are not your good looking car. You are just driving that car. I think that (showing off) is more where brand and badge image come into it instead. Snobbery of which is another sign of not being a true car enthusiast. 'Branding' is for marketing departments and cows bums, not for car enthusiasts.
And if it turns out although people do care about looks they don't really buy cars based on looks alone, or even by looks first and foremost, then why do people post about it all the time? It would be like if we all constantly posted about what our favourite colour was, "I really like the colour blue!" "Are you kidding! blue is horrible! red is a much nicer colour!" - complete meaningless nonsense!
But obviously there must be some reason for it. I would like to know what it is. I've always thought that as soon as I've jumped into a car and started driving it, the looks are irrelevant. Because I can't see them any more. And I'm the only person that matters when it comes to my own cars looks, because anyone else is likely to have a different opinion on this completely subjective issue anyway. They may or may not think my cars looks nice, but there is absolutely nothing I can do about that, and I'm not sure why that would matter to anyone anyway.
Please believe this isn't a stupid attempt at trolling a forum. Seriously, why do you care about how a car looks? especially if it's to the extent that you would buy it over another, less nice looking car.
Tbh i'm not too bothered about looks either.99% i'm neutral on and there's a few faves and everything else is in between.
The word ugly gets banded about too often - only 2 cars fit that criteria - Fiat Multipla and.Ford Scorpio.
I love the E type as much as the next man,but do i think it is beautiful? no not really.
The word ugly gets banded about too often - only 2 cars fit that criteria - Fiat Multipla and.Ford Scorpio.
I love the E type as much as the next man,but do i think it is beautiful? no not really.
The looks of a car certainly aren't top of my priority (my previous civic ek4 vti and current BMW 130i are not particularly well thought of looks wise).
There are probably a handful of cars that I wouldn't buy due to looks, but if a car fitted my needs / desires in every other respect (ie BMW M135i) then I would quite happily live with it.
The other thing worth mentioning is that if I like the look of something, then I couldn't give two hoots what somebody else thinks.
There are probably a handful of cars that I wouldn't buy due to looks, but if a car fitted my needs / desires in every other respect (ie BMW M135i) then I would quite happily live with it.
The other thing worth mentioning is that if I like the look of something, then I couldn't give two hoots what somebody else thinks.
Patrick Bateman said:
Why would you not care how it looks?
It's not the only factor when choosing a car but it is pretty big, initial appeal of a car tends to stem from its appearance.
+1. Looks come into it, but there are many other factors for most petrolheads I'd imagine - purchase price, performance, handling, size, interior/comfort, running costs and possibly depreciation. Unless it was a snotter/shed/workhorse, looks certainly come into it for me. I wouldn't blow serious money on a car that is, to my mind, ugly. Bit odd that the OP claims that looks don't matter to him then goes on about various cars he likes the looks of....It's not the only factor when choosing a car but it is pretty big, initial appeal of a car tends to stem from its appearance.
Vladimir said:
The whole looks thing is hilarious. And for a bloke, rather sad because it's so subjective and if I'm honest, a bit gay.
Still it keeps Audi, BMW and Mercedes profitable with all their faux S, M, AMG tat and keeps companies like Khan in the money.
This is quite a contradiction, you clearly don't mind appearances as you have the latest 1 series but then it's also faux M in itself.Still it keeps Audi, BMW and Mercedes profitable with all their faux S, M, AMG tat and keeps companies like Khan in the money.
Forget looks, image is what it's all about these days. How wealthy does it make you look? Will it impress the neighbours? Is it 'gay' (whatever that's supposed to mean)? Is it a 'hairdresser' car (again, meaningless yet somehow important). Are you 'too old' for it (or too young)? Is it a reps car or a footballers car?
These are the things of most concern to the masses, and often mentioned and debated on here (shamefully).
These are the things of most concern to the masses, and often mentioned and debated on here (shamefully).
Because, to a lot of people, the looks also evoke an emotive response around desirability, in addition to the various other factors you mention, so become part of the decision making process. Not necessarily the main or overriding criteria, but it's in the mix. It is also something on which everybody is capable of taking their own subjective view, whereas for most people (even a few of the driving gods on here) a factor like on-limit handling is something they will rarely experience for themselves, if at all, so becomes somewhat theoretical...
Edited by Yiliterate on Thursday 20th March 07:49
Same reason most pick a wife who they find easy on the eye.
Personally I wouldn't put up with a high maintenance wife or car but it's nice to see either around.
If the choice was an ugly, fantastic car or a pretty, useless car I'd have the ugly one.
But usually the choice is a good, pretty car or a good, ugly car - then I would pick the pretty one as would 99% of the population
Same with houses etc
Personally I wouldn't put up with a high maintenance wife or car but it's nice to see either around.
If the choice was an ugly, fantastic car or a pretty, useless car I'd have the ugly one.
But usually the choice is a good, pretty car or a good, ugly car - then I would pick the pretty one as would 99% of the population
Same with houses etc
Patrick Bateman said:
This is quite a contradiction, you clearly don't mind appearances as you have the latest 1 series but then it's also faux M in itself.
I have it because it's a very good car. That is all.The brand for those who only care about looks (apart from maybe the 4c) is Alfa.
Patrick Bateman said:
Vladimir said:
The whole looks thing is hilarious. And for a bloke, rather sad because it's so subjective and if I'm honest, a bit gay.
Still it keeps Audi, BMW and Mercedes profitable with all their faux S, M, AMG tat and keeps companies like Khan in the money.
This is quite a contradiction, you clearly don't mind appearances as you have the latest 1 series but then it's also faux M in itself.Still it keeps Audi, BMW and Mercedes profitable with all their faux S, M, AMG tat and keeps companies like Khan in the money.
Vladimir, it's not gay at all you plank.
Why will you need around £2million for one of these:
when one of these will set you back under £500k and beat anything those two above can do performance wise?
Looks are important to lots of people, including men, who are far less gay than someone with a campervan.
Why will you need around £2million for one of these:
when one of these will set you back under £500k and beat anything those two above can do performance wise?
Looks are important to lots of people, including men, who are far less gay than someone with a campervan.
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