Why do cars always seem to get fat and ugly?

[BillsR100]

It's marketing. As the car model size increases, the customer's mental image is still of the smaller version, When they see the new one, its bigger! heavier! better! than what they expected so the new model sells. The customer walks away thinking they gamed the system by buying a bigger car at a smaller car price.
Also, bigger sells, I still cant believe how fucking HUGE a typical everyday pickup truck is these days.
(Disclaimer: We are a two Miata family, 1997, 1999 models)

[tenderfoot]

My pet peeve.!!!!

Datsun 240Z versus all the other crap that followed culminating in the 300ZX. Or was there even later efforts, I stopped looking at that stage.

[chazbird]

So, for example, if the Accord grew too much over its life span, you can get a Civic. A 2007 or Civic is twice as nice and performing car as an original or early generation Accord. Focus too big? Fiesta. There's options in the car segment, less so with trucks and, perhaps bikes.

[RockyRaccoon]

Originally Posted by KeithinSC

Think 60's Bronco. It grew and grew in to the massive OJ Bronco.
Sooo, introduce the Bronco II, which was about the size of the original.
That morphed into the Explorer, IT grew and grew.
Sooo, introduce the Escape. Which was about the size of the original Bronco!
Same deal with the Luv, S10 then Colorado. Surprise, GM is considering bringing a small pickup back to N America.

The circle is just to keep the designers busy Either that or the OEMs forget the original target buyer and listen to the cries of 'bigger-faster-more features'. Then after a few years the screams for 'lighter-simpler-cheaper' get loud enough they introduce a downsized version.

There must be some secret rule of car marketing that says an upated model must never be smaller than its predecessor. They seem to be able to reintroduce former models in smaller sizes after a hiatus (see Thunderbird and Malibu), but never successive models, which is silly, but I guess they figure no one wants less car for their money.

The psychology is all wrong. They need to take a page from the cell phone/laptop marketing handbook. I'd like to see the smaller car get better and more feature-rich than have it get bigger. Why not better sound-deadening technology? Better suspension? But I guess I'm a car buyer talking, and they're car sellers, with an agenda to push me up the amenities ladder to more profitable models.

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Sniper X

I got this for the fun factor too, and man, there is plenty for stock. I will of course up grade it a tad but not much.



With the right wheels and tyrs on it and a couple bolt on power adders, it'll be a hoot even more so than it is right now.

You see boring econobox. I see:


Meh. Who needs a Jeep?!

M

[RockyRaccoon]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

You see boring econobox. I see:


Meh. Who needs a Jeep?!

M

[Balanzed]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

You see boring econobox. I see:


Meh. Who needs a Jeep?!

M

That was what I was thinking too....WRRRAAAP-WRRRAAAP!!!


In regards to the Subby Outback, it has gotten huuuge! Your picture, Rocky, doesn't really show the true difference between them. But up here in Maine you'll still see a lot of the old ones parked in the supermarket lot and having a new one next to one is a study in obscene....IMO of course. It is basically a "small" SUV now.

[seuadr]

Originally Posted by RockyRaccoon

Sadly, Subaru has since made the breed bigger, uglier and less powerful. Sure, the new version gets better mileage, but with the trade-offs, it isn't any fun to drive.

I've been shopping for a new(er) subaru. Honestly, i don't see it. the new impreza hatch was a hoot to drive, as was the 2006 i drove. I felt that, even with a slightly smaller power plant, it was still really fun to drive. Just my 2 cents. the extra 10mpg will be pretty nice, also.

[Animo]

Some cars did go on diet:

2004


2012

[Sniper X]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

You see boring econobox. I see:


Meh. Who needs a Jeep?!

M

My Foci is anything but boring! I love it and it'll just keep getting better!

[Sniper X]

Originally Posted by Balanzed

That was what I was thinking too....WRRRAAAP-WRRRAAAP!!!


In regards to the Subby Outback, it has gotten huuuge! Your picture, Rocky, doesn't really show the true difference between them. But up here in Maine you'll still see a lot of the old ones parked in the supermarket lot and having a new one next to one is a study in obscene....IMO of course. It is basically a "small" SUV now.

The new one is the size of my 1997 Trooper now!@

[PachmanP]

Originally Posted by Animo

Some cars did go on diet:

2004


2012

Is that a minivan?

The upcoming miata is supposed to go in the small direction too which is sweet.

[Sniper X]

Originally Posted by tenderfoot

My pet peeve.!!!!

Datsun 240Z versus all the other crap that followed culminating in the 300ZX. Or was there even later efforts, I stopped looking at that stage.

I think they called that car the Fairlady Z in Japan!

[Grainbelt]

I love that Honda brought us the rest-of-the-world, non-fatass Accord in the form of the Acura TSX. With a manual trans, even!

I had a '90 Accord and I'm pretty sure my sister-in-law's '09 Civic is bigger inside, handles far worse and is fugly as all hell.

[Garp]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

I love that Honda brought us the rest-of-the-world, non-fatass Accord in the form of the Acura TSX. With a manual trans, even!

I had a '90 Accord and I'm pretty sure my sister-in-law's '09 Civic is bigger inside, handles far worse and is fugly as all hell.

Honda are the Kings of Fugly. Kudos for bringing in the Euro Model Accord, but why in God's name did they add the beak off a 92 Skylark to the front end?