Best car shape

[MatskiMonk]

You'll need to seriously re-address that as your simply wrong. A3 is a hatchback, end of story. Volkswagen Golf make an 'estate' version, go research that to get a bit of an education, hatchbacks and estates aren't the same, and furthermore, they are EASILY identifiable as separate types of cars, not to be confused by the well informed.

Ha, Okay,... so I need to be better informed then. Tell us your definition of the difference between a Hatchback and an estate... I've inclucded some VAG examples for you to use to explain.

.. I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Prince.M5]

I like Sedan, a car looks good in a sedan form. Such like this:

While station wagon comes in a close second.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Kamm-backs set my pulse going.

 

[Slash]

This, but not in coupe form... or at least not by the door count.
Fastback "sedan" is my pick; the CLS and the A7 are the best looking body style in my opinion.

When I said fastback instead of coupe form I meant it more like this:

 

[eiriksmil]

Ha, Okay,... so I need to be better informed then. Tell us your definition of the difference between a Hatchback and an estate... I've inclucded some VAG examples for you to use to explain.

Well.. Technically the 8P isn't neither a hatchback or an estate - it's a Sportback It's a hatchback with a big rear 3/4 window. If you were looking to buy a small estate that could carry what you needed, you would go with an A4 Avant not an A3 5-door. It's a hatchback.

Also the five-door A5 is called a Sportback. Maybe Audi does not feel they make good enough cars in the standard classes, they need to invent new body styles..

 

[Murcie_LP640]

I'm usually partial to sedans.

 

[roylan101]

for car shapes not in the poll, how about wedge? like the countach and the stratos? those can be pretty interesting,

i like many types of designs, wagons can be pretty cool looking, but i love long hood/nose coupes like astons, bmw 850csi, e-type etc

 

[roylan101]

The best shape of automotive history isn'trepresented in the poll: The teardrop.

[A BUNCH OF SEXY TEAR DROP CARS]

I voted station wagon.

THIS^ cars with these designs are just ridiculously elegant looking, in person they just leave you in awe.

 

[GT Pro]

Coupe

But mid-engined bubble-cockpit supercars also tickle my fancy:

 

[Conza]

I'm also leaving your images as links, images are just cluttering this thread at the moment, so I'll give you the quick definition, then a detailed explanation (I'd also appreciate it if you made your s to [url]s above please).

[quote="MatskiMonk, post: 6923250"]Ha, Okay,... so I need to be better informed then. Tell us your definition of the difference between a Hatchback and an estate... I've inclucded some VAG examples for you to use to explain.

.. I'm genuinely curious.

[url]http://image.automobilemag.com/f/25746323+w750+st0/0910_03_z+2010_volkswagen_golf+side_view.jpg[/url]
[/QUOTE]
The standard Volkswagen Golf Mk VI. A perfect straight forward hatchback, I'm sure you can see why here.
[quote="MatskiMonk, post: 6923250"]

[url]http://www.topcartrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2013-Audi-A3-Three-Door-Hatchback-Side-View.jpg[/url]
[/QUOTE]
Basically same as above, an Audi A3 next generation, a 3-door hatch.
[quote="MatskiMonk, post: 6923250"]

[url]http://www.carspeedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2011-Audi-A3-Sportback-Side.jpg[/url]
[/QUOTE]
Ok, so this is where some may be confused. Like you said before A,B,C,D pillars all visible- but the trick is to ignore the D, as this isn't the defining factor in what type of car this is. It’s just a stretched hatch, and what gives it away is the roof and the boot, this is key, as they both dictate the length of the overhang, which in turn shows us if it’s a hatch or an estate/wagon.

Here is a mock up of the Golf VI Estate above, with the Sportback below.~

I had to shrink down the Sportback, so it'd be to scale, my accuracy is a bit crude, but I used a wheel from both cars until the Sportback's wheel was the same as the Estate's which I included.

~[url]http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/3373/golfestatevaudisportbac.png[/url]

So see how with the estate, the roof keeps going straight out after the wheel arch, where as the sportback its already forming half of the boot? As well, the overhang from the back of the wheel is negligible for the sportback, where as the estate is quite large.

[quote="MatskiMonk, post: 6923250"]

[url]http://autocarpictures.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/2010-Volkswagen-Golf-Estate-VI-side.jpg[/url]
[/QUOTE]

[quote="MatskiMonk, post: 6923250"]
[url]http://image.trucktrend.com/f/10055602/163_0806_08z+2009_Audi_A4_Avant_wagon+side_view.jpg[/url][/QUOTE]

Ah yes, the Avant. According to Wikipedia, Avant is "- the Volkswagen Group corporation-owned marque's term for its estate cars (station wagons)"*

But again, its not quite the same as the Golf, it is certainly an estate car but that roof line slopes down a bit, to disguise it, however the same distinction applies as above, because if you look closely, the roof only starts to decline 'past' the wheel arch once again, also the overhang is again quite large. Now that I've analysed it, I actually quite like it strangely.

I hope this has been informative and useful.

*[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avant_%28disambiguation%29#Transportation[/url]

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Ha, Okay,... so I need to be better informed then. Tell us your definition of the difference between a Hatchback and an estate... I've inclucded some VAG examples for you to use to explain.

.. I'm genuinely curious.

In my opinion it's simply the size factor that defines the difference between an estate and a hatchback. Audi's Sportback is kind of like a hybrid between the two; slightly larger than a hatchback to accomodate more room but still significantly smaller than an estate. Golf and A3 three-door are hatches (a five-door and three-door hatch respectively), third is a sportback, and the Golf Variant and A4 Avant are estates. It's not exactly rocket science.

 

[Conza]

In my opinion it's simply the size factor that defines the difference between an estate and a hatchback. Audi's Sportback is kind of like a hybrid between the two; slightly larger than a hatchback to accomodate more room but still significantly smaller than an estate. Golf and A3 three-door are hatches (a five-door and three-door hatch respectively), third is a sportback, and the Golf Variant and A4 Avant are estates. It's not exactly rocket science.

Well, if you go back to the end of page 2* , you can see the differences there really. When you have to class them, that post gives you the rule of thumb, check out my custom image when you're there.

* https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?p=6926307#post6926307

 

[eiriksmil]

Like he said, it's not rocket science.. The A3 Sportback isn't a wagon, it's too short.

 

[Conza]

Like he said, it's not rocket science.. The A3 Sportback isn't a wagon, it's too short.

I am actually quite fond of it now that Ive researched it a bit, an RS4 Sportsback (not like the S5) would be amazing, Im sure the RS3 is good too.

 

[Ibonibo]

The Rs4 were estate exclusive not so long ago.

i agree with the aboves, not rocket science.

 

[MatskiMonk]

I'm also leaving ...

...

... I hope this has been informative and useful.

Actually it has, thanks for taking the time to post it.

In my opinion it's simply the size factor that defines the difference between an estate and a hatchback. Audi's Sportback is kind of like a hybrid between the two; slightly larger than a hatchback to accomodate more room but still significantly smaller than an estate. Golf and A3 three-door are hatches (a five-door and three-door hatch respectively), third is a sportback, and the Golf Variant and A4 Avant are estates. It's not exactly rocket science.

Like he said, it's not rocket science.. The A3 Sportback isn't a wagon, it's too short.

Yeah, it's not rocket science.. infact the way you both state it isn't scientific at all, just unquantified reference's to size, at least conza had a decent explanation to back up his definition.

Either way, since I really don't like hatchbacks, and I have to admit that the A3/S3/RS3 sportbacks are indeed just hatchbacks - then I guess I like 'em even less now...

 

[Conza]

LOL! Ah, well I enjoyed making the post, even if you're no more fond of hatchbacks.

The reason I like hatchbacks, is because 'I' think they do everything well, they look good, and carry alot, estates carry alot, coupes look good, and sedans imo kind of do neither (I guess better for people and a bit better for luggage than a coupe, most of the time), which is what this thread is meant to be about 'what is the best shape' given all things into consideration, from each individual's perspective, which most of the people here are taking only looks into account.

 

[MatskiMonk]

LOL! Ah, well I enjoyed making the post, even if you're no more fond of hatchbacks.

The reason I like hatchbacks, is because 'I' think they do everything well, they look good, and carry alot, estates carry alot, coupes look good, and sedans imo kind of do neither (I guess better for people and a bit better for luggage than a coupe, most of the time), which is what this thread is meant to be about 'what is the best shape' given all things into consideration, from each individual's perspective, which most of the people here are taking only looks into account.

Well I'm pretty fortunate that my practicality requirements are flexible... I'd only really need to draw the line at a roadster or convertible in that respect, but the rest of the time I can get away with anything from a coupe upwards. I just happen to find the conventional 3 box saloon shape quite appealing.

I don't know what it's like in your part of the world, but over here it seems that 7 out of 10 cars are hatches, I'm the only person at work who's car doesn't have a hatch... my cars is one of only 2 in the car park where I live, that doesn't have a hatch of somekind... and it's not because they need the space or practicality, it's because 3 and 5 door hatches are pretty much all that exist under a certain price point (there's a lack of choice is what I mean by that). I guess I'm just sick of seeing them.

 

[AMCNUT]

I like coupes. When properly executed, the low and long hood, steep windshield rake, b-pillarless design, short deck, and appropriate overhangs are gorgeous. Here are my favourite examples of perfect contemporary coupe design:

 

[Antonisbob]

Any Fastback or Wagon I tend to like.