Folding metal roofs
Discussion
This one more than makes up for it
There are more ugly saloons etc. than convertibles, no?
I would assume it is down to needing somewhat of a boot, even with the roof down, and cost, If the roof is made from say, 3 folding panels, it will cost a hell of a lot less than a more intricate design.
There are more ugly saloons etc. than convertibles, no?
I would assume it is down to needing somewhat of a boot, even with the roof down, and cost, If the roof is made from say, 3 folding panels, it will cost a hell of a lot less than a more intricate design.
The Peugeot is not too bad looking (imho), the Colt, I grant you, is a wee bit weird (almost back to front).
As I have mentioned in other threads before - live and let live - what floats your boat, is somebody else's amusement.
I do feel your pain however, we are all frustrated designers wanting to unleash our masterpiece on the world, and the only thing stopping us is time and talent
.
In a free market, if people proactively buy a car (or anything for that matter) - then they theoretically like it and it is not for us to say they have no taste.
Having said that, a free market assumes that there is ‘lots’ of choice in a given product area. Convertibles are a fairly ‘niche’ area and people have to take what they can afford.
The result is that, manufacturers can produce an ‘ugly’ car that people will still buy, simply because it falls in their price criteria, is new, and is a convertible. (The threads topic)
Peoples priorities are all important (type of car/ new or used), I personally would rather buy a second hand ‘classy brief’ over something like the Colt – because the product form is more important to me than the age of the vehicle.
Other people regard the ‘new’ aspect of the car as the more important factor – and will purchase what ever is available at that point in time despite the fact that the vehicle might be ‘Pug’ ugly. (Hasten to add this is a reference to the Beano [ask yer faither] rather than Peugeot who I happen to think have had some great designs over the years).
In summary, people will buy anything, until something better comes along.
As I have mentioned in other threads before - live and let live - what floats your boat, is somebody else's amusement.
I do feel your pain however, we are all frustrated designers wanting to unleash our masterpiece on the world, and the only thing stopping us is time and talent
.In a free market, if people proactively buy a car (or anything for that matter) - then they theoretically like it and it is not for us to say they have no taste.
Having said that, a free market assumes that there is ‘lots’ of choice in a given product area. Convertibles are a fairly ‘niche’ area and people have to take what they can afford.
The result is that, manufacturers can produce an ‘ugly’ car that people will still buy, simply because it falls in their price criteria, is new, and is a convertible. (The threads topic)
Peoples priorities are all important (type of car/ new or used), I personally would rather buy a second hand ‘classy brief’ over something like the Colt – because the product form is more important to me than the age of the vehicle.
Other people regard the ‘new’ aspect of the car as the more important factor – and will purchase what ever is available at that point in time despite the fact that the vehicle might be ‘Pug’ ugly. (Hasten to add this is a reference to the Beano [ask yer faither] rather than Peugeot who I happen to think have had some great designs over the years).
In summary, people will buy anything, until something better comes along.
SLK and SL? 
(OK I'm being partisan here...;))
The Tigra CC looks quite well done too. It's *usually* the 4 seat or 2+2 variants that look clumsy.
On the subject of the Colt - yes it is a dumpy little thing but IIRC it's bargain-tastic cheap and hey! the roof comes off. Probably going to be bombproof too - the Pugs and Renaults are a bit scary: I can almost guarantee that the thing will fail partially closed in a rainstorm in a town centre
(OK I'm being partisan here...;))The Tigra CC looks quite well done too. It's *usually* the 4 seat or 2+2 variants that look clumsy.
On the subject of the Colt - yes it is a dumpy little thing but IIRC it's bargain-tastic cheap and hey! the roof comes off. Probably going to be bombproof too - the Pugs and Renaults are a bit scary: I can almost guarantee that the thing will fail partially closed in a rainstorm in a town centre
_rubinho_ said:
<pics of two ugly cars>
Why do they (car companies) design them and why do they (stupid people) buy them? These two (Peugeot 308CC and Mitsubishi Colt C2C) are particularly ghastly!
I don't think the convertible versions look much worse then the 'normal' versions of those cars. And they'd still look hideous with the roof up if they were soft top (see pug 306 cab etc)Why do they (car companies) design them and why do they (stupid people) buy them? These two (Peugeot 308CC and Mitsubishi Colt C2C) are particularly ghastly!
To prove your point you need to find a good looking car that is totally ruined by the conversion to a 'CC', rather then already ugly cars that still look ugly as cabrio's.
varsas said:
To prove your point you need to find a good looking car that is totally ruined by the conversion to a 'CC', rather then already ugly cars that still look ugly as cabrio's.
I might have forgotten something obvious, but I'm not sure that anyone has ever turned a good-looking coupe/hatchback into a CC. All of the good looking CCs that I can think of were designed as CCs from the ground up. Edited by kambites on Thursday 8th April 08:45
I do think they look a bit clumsy and add unnecessary weight to what should be a 'sports car' but at the same time the market obviously demands the insulation, security and decreased road noise.
In my eyes, a roof on a convertible is an umbrella and no more.
However, with the likes of the 206/Colt etc, the blonde ladies who buy them probably only put the roof down 2 or 3 times a year!
That said, was impressed by the Z4 and new 3 series roof.
In my eyes, a roof on a convertible is an umbrella and no more.
However, with the likes of the 206/Colt etc, the blonde ladies who buy them probably only put the roof down 2 or 3 times a year!
That said, was impressed by the Z4 and new 3 series roof.
kambites said:
varsas said:
To prove your point you need to find a good looking car that is totally ruined by the conversion to a 'CC', rather then already ugly cars that still look ugly as cabrio's.
I might have forgotten something obvious, but I'm not sure that anyone has ever turned a good-looking coupe/hatchback into a CC. All of the good looking CCs that I can think of were designed as CCs from the ground up. Edited by kambites on Thursday 8th April 08:45
varsas said:
I quite like the current BMW 3 series coupe, and still think it looks pretty good as a CC. As you say, there are good looking CC's, so it's not the hard top folding roof that makes cars ugly which is what the OP seemed to be saying(?) My point is the cars were ugly before, are ugly after being made into CC, but that isn't the roof's fault. It'd be the same if they were soft tops.
Ah, I don't much like the looks of the 3-series coupe in either coupe or CC form. 
Alec said:
AlexVTR said:
There not bad
And atleast its not all flapping about in the wind 
Does look better than the colt tough imho.
The C70 is pretty good looking tough (imho), and as mentioned the Ferrari.
kambites said:
varsas said:
I quite like the current BMW 3 series coupe, and still think it looks pretty good as a CC. As you say, there are good looking CC's, so it's not the hard top folding roof that makes cars ugly which is what the OP seemed to be saying(?) My point is the cars were ugly before, are ugly after being made into CC, but that isn't the roof's fault. It'd be the same if they were soft tops.
Ah, I don't much like the looks of the 3-series coupe in either coupe or CC form. Edited by varsas on Thursday 8th April 09:25
Yeah I was inherently agreeing with you, I can't actually think of an example of a pretty car that got ruined by adding a CC. Some (such as the Astra) have even got better looking, IMO.
I can understand the question "why would anyone buy a 308CC?", but then I can equally understand the question "why would anyone buy a 308?".
I can understand the question "why would anyone buy a 308CC?", but then I can equally understand the question "why would anyone buy a 308?".
Edited by kambites on Thursday 8th April 09:21
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