Style!

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JohnBM01

JohnBM01

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JMarine25
GTPlanet, when it comes to automobiles, many of you may have seen me use the word "style," or "styling." As an art person and a sort of a person who knows ladies' fashion, I've seen style before. Cars have character and emotion. Each car has a style statement. A car like the Scion tC is from a youth market-oriented company, but it can be stylish. While not seriously beautiful, it is very nice, and I have very high faith in this car being successful by at least the end of the year. The most bashed on car other than the Civic is the boxy Xb. The styling is nothing like a Nissan Silvia S15, but it has a unique kind of style. It's something like an SUV or a minivan. It's kind of a Kei car that is well respected by tuner fans here in the States. The Corvette ZO6 is styled like a sexy lady whom roars with its powerful engine. And what about the Silvia S15? The car is styled very beautifully. I'm not big on Nissan, but this car is very lovely, especially the rather sporty Spec-R Aero model of the S15 Silvia. The Ferrari F50 is styled like a race car for the road- and it is. The latest Accord models are styled well as well, though my favorite is the two-door version. Ladies and gentlemen, this topic is about style with cars. How do you bring about a fair balance with a car's outer character? Think about what kind of styling went into the 1959 and 1963 Corvettes, the Datsun 240Z, Toyota 2000GT, or anything like that?

So people, let's talk about style with cars. Styling cues are also acceptable here. So let's talk style, folks! But style among automobiles, alright? So let's go, right now! Vamanos, ahora mismo!
 
Doug will probably turn over in his grave when he reads this, oh wait, Doug's not dead yet, but style is the major deciding factor in me chosing a car.

The reason for me as to why style is so important is, I'm a fairly simple person and just about any vehicle out there is going to cater to my needs, performance and option wise, when I'm searching for a car. So that leaves me with the great pleasure of chosing a vehicle based on it's exterior styling.
Say I needed an SUV. I'd chose the Chevy Trail Blazer. I think it's the best looking SUV out there. (Excluding the "out of my price range" luxury SUV's like the Navigator.)
Now the Trail Blazer with all it's standard options suit my basic needs. Now Doug for example, needs his SUV to get to 60mph the fastest. I really don't care about acceleration times when it comes to an SUV. The only option I would persue would be 4x4 capabilities and the Trailblazer fills that need.
I don't care about gas milage, cargo capacity, towing capacity, wheel base or any of that other stuff Doug deems so important. So that's why styling is so important to me. I want a vehicle that stirs emotion in me when I look at it.
Styling is the only reason why I purchased my Lexus IS 300. I think the car is absolutely beautiful. Now the car is not the fastest out there, but I don't really care and it didn't play a part in my buying decision.
In a way I got lucky because my favorite car came with Lexus quality, reliability and service. I think it's all wonderful, but it didn't influence my buying decision, but all the better.

All cars need to look hawt as well as perform their basic function. I guess I'm kind of a "fashion before function" kind of guy when it comes to cars. But that's OK, as usually any vehicle out on the market today will suit my needs now.

I'm sleepy.
 
boombexus
Doug will probably turn over in his grave when he reads this, oh wait, Doug's not dead yet, but style is the major deciding factor in me chosing a car.
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He will be, once he reads that.

Style is important. A particular style is not. I won't buy a mediocre car because I like the way it looks. But I'm in the process of buying a new car right now, and there are a lot of good cars I'm walking right past because the styling is horrendous.

The current crop of cars are nothing but backlash against the perceived anonymity of the mid/late-'90s cars. Almost any of those cars is better designed, from a purely aesthetic standpoint, than most of the current cars. But manufacturers are desperate to establish identity in this conglomerate and incestuous industry, and going on the theory that 'there's no such thing as bad publicity', they are putting anything out, so long as it is recognizable or at least striking.
 
Hiya! :D :O :lol: Meow! (='.'=)

Style indeed is very important to me! :O I would nominate the McCutey (McLaren F1) as my all time favorite! It have a style on its body that looks like a car from the future that is sent back into our time. Its body style actually isnt designed just for pleasing the owner and looking good all the time. Its body ACTUALLY HAVE A PURPOSE! TO PERFORM! And so it does! :O

I getting alittle confused right now from reading Driving Ambition as I read that the McCutey's windtunnel test is VERY important as Gordan tries to do a special kind of air flow to the car. We all know how air goes over and under the car, but this one is different. It goes over and under....and also wut I believe from my reading is it goes to the holes next to the fog lights, and the air actually flows though the body! But in a inward within the body shell of the car that actually keeps the front planted at high speed onto the ground. The air flows out through the side of the car I think. It flows out from the side of the door, possibly why there are those gill looking design on the doors.

Anyways... I am still confused and gotta keep reading to try to understand the McLaren F1. BACK to topic!
Yea..um...:O The McLaren F1s body is a car I luv because of the beautiful styling on it that makes sense for how SUPERB it performs and the look of a 6 digit price! :O
Its styling on the inside is very RARE and possibly the only kind of its type. The driver sits....in the middle and the other two sits a little bit back and on the side! A three seat LAYOUT! :O
And lastly, unlike many supercars...McCutey got enough style to actually be a USEABLE EVERYDAY CAR! The reason for this is because it actually have trunk space..... VERY LIKE "OH MY GODDESS" I dont know any other supercars with a 6 digit price actually have as much trunk space as McLaren F1! I have a video on McLaren F1 being reviewed by Tiff from Top Gear and he stated something like The McLaren F1 have as much trunk space as a Fiesta...:odd: Anyways darn gotta GO! :O:O
 
I like a car to look good, that one of the main reasons I liked the Xtreme so much. It just looks good. Hell I know its not fast, and it never will be, but at least it looks good and the ladies find it rather nice, which is all that matter. Come on we know just about everything we do is for the ladies.

There are many cars out there that are really good lookers but perform like crap. I think Chysler has a great styling department. While not all of them look good, there are quite a few that do. The 300C and 300M look sweet, but they also can get up and go I would think.
 
boombexus
Doug will probably turn over in his grave when he reads this, oh wait, Doug's not dead yet, but style is the major deciding factor in me chosing a car.

The reason for me as to why style is so important is, I'm a fairly simple person and just about any vehicle out there is going to cater to my needs, performance and option wise, when I'm searching for a car. So that leaves me with the great pleasure of chosing a vehicle based on it's exterior styling.
Say I needed an SUV. I'd chose the Chevy Trail Blazer. I think it's the best looking SUV out there. (Excluding the "out of my price range" luxury SUV's like the Navigator.)
Click to expand...

Now let's put two things out there.

1. The Chevrolet Trailblazer honestly looks as if it was styled in 1994. With the possible exception of the current Ford Escape, I have never seen something that's looked so dated so soon.
2. The extended-length Chevrolet Trailblazer is the ugliest vehicle on the market:
05124361990003LRG.jpg

Chevrolet's spies couldn't do a good enough job to figure out that the 2002 Ford Explorer would have a third row of seats, so the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer couldn't accomodate a third row of seats, so they had to make that ungainly, horrid-looking beast to stick a third row in.

Anyway - obviously my most important factor is not styling when recommending cars to other people. Horsepower, price, and features are all significantly more important, and consequently, the Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT V8, which I find to be so ugly, is one of my favourite large SUV choices. And Rob, we all know you wouldn't have bought that Lexus if it looked how it did and had 120 horsepower, front-wheel drive, no air-conditioning, and a 4-speed automatic. Styling may be the most important factor, but price, horsepower, and features all tell you which cars to check out.
 
boombexus
Styling is the only reason why I purchased my Lexus IS 300. I think the car is absolutely beautiful. Now the car is not the fastest out there, but I don't really care and it didn't play a part in my buying decision.
In a way I got lucky because my favorite car came with Lexus quality, reliability and service. I think it's all wonderful, but it didn't influence my buying decision, but all the better.
I'm sleepy.
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I find the is300 to be drop dead gorgeous too for some reason. It looks so refined, yet sporty enough to look like it's hiding something from the average cargoer. It's #3 on my top 3 list. I love it.
 
Would you all say, then, that styling is about as important than performance? Who knows? The nicest-styled car can be a crappy performer. The ugliest-styled car can own all others in its class.

GTPlanet, if the latest issue of "Car and Driver" is true, Nissan's Cube may be heading to America. With its boxy looks, it LOOKS to challenge the Scion Xb. While machines like the Cube and the Xb may lack in style (in many people's minds here in the States), others like it because it's unique and uniquely styled. It's not the first of its kind, though. These two cars are low, pimpy rides. Sometimes, cars can have many styles. For example, the latest Lotus Elise is styled rather aggressively. The style is more like... taking a full-size supercar, then shrinking it down to be an unreal curve-hugging machine. The GTO/Monaro is styled rather softly. This is a car can change peoples' minds about this car being "just another Pontiac." You can also count the Cadillac CTS-V as being styled somewhat out of the norm.

Style continues on, as will this discussion.
 
JohnBM01
Would you all say, then, that styling is about as important than performance? Who knows? The nicest-styled car can be a crappy performer. The ugliest-styled car can own all others in its class.
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No. Performance - all categories - is more important. I've consistently found the Pontiac Aztek AWD to be one of the best midsize SUVs for sale because of its generous standard spec and low price. It's a good deal. If you want to be shallow about the car-buying process, go ahead, but you're missing out.
 
Like I said, I won't buy a mediocre car that looks good, but I won't by a good car that looks awful. So while I don't turn Doug's blind eye to questions of styling, I do agree that performance is more important.
 
The 1960 Chevrolet Corvette is the most beautiful car ever built. period. That is style. Style depends on the owner's tastes. that's why I am disgusted with new BMW's styling. it's just ugly looking. and benz is elegant, but kind of bland. chevy needs help.


Actually I think the new Buicks are pretty nice looking. (Ican't believe I said that)
 
ooh ooh ooh!!!!!! I think I know this!!!!!


lemme think........




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💡




Is it Hippocrite?

(I'm thinking of a word that starts with p
 
Well for me I'd think the '49 Mercury is the most beautiful car, it has beautiful lines and nice curves. Its such a timeless design, well everything about it is beautiful. Another would be the Dodge Viper SRT10. It has in your face styling that screams ''hey look at me'' and performance to back it up. Same with the old vipers they have more of a ''badass'' look to them, they look mean yet beautiful at the same time. IMO the viper, any viper is the symbol of modern american muscle....without the V8.
 
sorry my mispelling has caused you life threatening injury and emotional trauma. I should be ashamed.but i'm not....
 
menglan
sorry my mispelling has caused you life threatening injury and emotional trauma. I should be ashamed.but i'm not....
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God you're stupid. Just ****ing stupid. It's not even a contest.
 
Style is in the eye of the beholder. For eveyone that thinks your car is "*****in", there are 2 that think its crap.

An example:

My idea of style is a '68 Chevelle in primer w/ a tricked out big block. Visually its not that appealing to the masses, but to me its a gem. One of my friends thinks its ugly as hell, but thinks that an Escalade w/ 6 tv's and 24 inch rims in style. I on the other hand, think its crap.

All in all, its different strokes for different folks.
James-
 
king jame II
My idea of style is a '68 Chevelle in primer w/ a tricked out big block. Visually its not that appealing to the masses, but to me its a gem. One of my friends thinks its ugly as hell, but thinks that an Escalade w/ 6 tv's and 24 inch rims in style. I on the other hand, think its crap.

All in all, its different strokes for different folks.
James-
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Yes it is, I also happen to think large "dubs" and TVs are just plain...thinking of how to say this nicely...tiresome.

Style isn't all that's important, but personally if I'm spending a good sum of money I probably wouldn't choose a car that's ugly even if it has superior performance. Doesn't meant it's a bad car, or I don't admire it. Fore example, the Lancia Delta HF integral; it's not all the stylish, but its a excellent vehicle. Rally winner, road holding and handling of a Porsche, and some say better; years latter it can match up with other AWDs such as Lancer Evolution and WRX STi. I admire it deeply, just not the styling..:P

When it comes to less expensive, daily driving cars; I'm the type that doesn't go for the "best" looking really. Another example, the Ford Focus. May not be the best in design, even though I kind-of like its canny look, but its a exceptional compact car that would be on my "shopping list" if I was in the market.

When it comes to expensive purchases, design does mean something to me. Of course, most expensive cars are good looking. One of my favorite super cars is the Pagani Zonda, and not just because of its drop dead looks, but its excellent performance, which also matters.
 
Cadillac Styling As of Late...

Cadillacs then were told to have more of a "grandfatherly" image. While the Cadillac Cien concept car (there's some aliteration for you) shown signs of new designs by Cadillac, Cadillacs since then have gone more to a more sporty, futuristic-like designs. I can recall the Deville or Seville... one of them, of 1999. The image was rather, "grandfatherly," but there was a lot of class to be had. The taillights were tall at the rear, but still had slick lines.

Now it's September 2004. Since five years ago, the image of Cadillacs have changed. I laughed when they wanted to appeal to a younger audience. Maybe for performance, maybe for a mean car, but I'd go in a different direction. One big reason is because since I'm 21 years old, I don't see myself with a CTS-V. Don't see myself as a Cadillac driver. Only exceptions would be some lovely El Dorados from the 1960s. I think they have better styling than the ones now. The only exceptions are the XLR Convertible, and the you-can't-have-this Northstar LMP race car that debutted at the 2000 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. But the CTS-V with the Corvette engine, could have been styled better. The grill alone is a disappointment.
 
Are you off? Cadillac styling now is so far superior to how it's been at any time in its past. And their product line is better too. I too laughed when they said they'd appeal to a younger audience - mainly because they'd failed at this goal twice before - but they've clearly suceeded now.
 
I will admit, though. Cadillac is stepping up here in the States. And with that new car coming soon (is it the STS?), it wants to get as many accolades and respect as possible. I seen those commercials about it while I was watching college football this weekend. Stuff like:

"Real performance cars have two seats." (ahem... Mazda RX-8?)
"Four-wheel drive is only good in snow."
"America can't build a world-class car."

It may sound like I'm bashing Cadillac, but... I don't know. I respect Cadillac stepping up as it is, just that I don't think with the styling, that you can have a car to be proud of. Of course, these are my views. I'm not saying it's everyone's, and my voice isn't the final voice. So comment at will. And while I'm at it, congratulations to Petter Solberg and Team Subaru for being the winning manufacturer of the Rally Japan. It should be a BIG win at home.

Speaking of Subaru, I know we talked about the performance aspects of this car, M5, but the Legacy is pretty nice to me. Since the Houston Auto Show, I could imagine myself riding in this car. I think it's a car I could live with and would fit in with the kind of image I want to express to the world. I like a car that's stylish, can turn heads, and can stun. I look good, but it isn't like I'm Ricky Martin or Usher in terms of my looks, but I know what I'd want to live with. I guess that's just me. I'm an art person, and I want to show that.
 
The Legacy Turbo is more of a A4/3-series/G35 competitor than a Camry/Accord/Altima competitor, I've decided. Against the premium-brand sport sedans like the A4 and G35 it stacks up pretty well. It is a decent car, but it's not a decent midsize sedan. Which is why they'll never achieve volume sales.
 
I've always said that, but you'll find that the vast majority of uneducated and even many of the educated members prefer style over substance 99% of the time.
 
Well, I only wanted to focus on style for this thread. Now, this thread is about car styling. I'm very well aware, know, and understand that function is better than form. But you are right.

I just seen the Corvette C6 on this "MotorWeek" rerun. So I recall the C5. I'd like to see how aftermarket parts for the C6 would come out, especially with the front and rear of the car. I don't mean anything like with the "Words fail me..." thread expressed last month or so, but more like interesting parts. Perhaps even some C5 body parts for the C6. Whether or not it will be like an RX-7 conversion I heard about (imagine an RX-8 front end on late-model RX-7) remains to be seen.

My question to ask you is, how important is car styling to a car owner? A person who has a 1959 Corvette knows that he/she has a wonderfully-styled car, and if he/she wants something stylish and cool, go for it. You have my word. But I consider the newest GTO to be Pontiac's best-looking offering and can perhaps back it up with great engine performance over its rivals (or set me straight, M5Power!). So, what can a car's styling say about a car?
 

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