Do you find that appearance figures highly in your selection of a replacement vehicle?
For instance I personally find the mid size japanese cars ie; Honda Accord, Toyota Avensis, Mazda 6 etc; rather bland and lacking in visual appeal, although I know that they are very good cars.
Which figures most prominently in your wish list when the time to change looms?
|
I find the above cars a bit too striking in appearance.
I prefer my current Passat Estate for styling. I do think a Mondeo lacks in visual appeal.
Wish list at current financial levels probably includes a Golf Plus or a new model Passat Estate or even a RAV4.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
|
More than it should be probably- the looks of my Ibiza were the sole reason I chose it over a similar Fabia/ Polo.
Ben
|
|
Appearance is very important but it's "only in the eye of the beholder". It matters not one jot whether others think your car is stylish or anything else.
|
I have cars I really like the look of ( usually italian ) but unless I was rich and could afford to have a fleet of cars, I wouldnt buy an alfa.
I dont really mind what the car looks like unless its truely awful. Colour is more important though.
|
I dont really mind what the car looks like unless its truely awful. Colour is more important though.
Yup, me too. I have a Berlingo, and though it is a fine looking car, that was not a consideration when I bought it.
However, even though I am incredibly tight thrifty, I was still prepared to cough up several hundred pounds to avoid getting a white or red car. Strange, really.
|
|
|
|
It matters not one jot whether others think yourcar is stylish or anything else.
Absolutely. I would go further than that, as an urban creature, and say that it should not be readily identifiable as a desirable example even if it is.
My dream car would be something that looked like a fairly rough van, went like a touring car championship racer when required and was fairly comfortable and usable around town. Not really achievable I'm afraid, except partially, and would cost probably a pretty penny in money and attention. I did see a piece about a very amusing looking Vauxhall Vivaro (I think) not long ago, but it had a spoiler and side skirts both of which are no-nos.... I think they said it was pretty noisy inside oo.
|
I go for driveability, comfort, economy, praciticality, functionality, cost to run, insurance group etc. way before looks. Ego's cost huge amounts of cash as do badges, I'd rather spend the cash on something more useful like kids clothing or give it to charity rather than a fancy looking car with a 10K badge stuck on it.
Go for the one you like the best and take into consideration what your needs actually are, after all you're the one paying for it and driving it.
|
Appearance is only of nominal importance in the cars I buy; I think some modern cars are ugly, most of the rest are much of a muchness to me. In my current circumstances I try to strike a balance of acceptable performance with half decent economy, hope it will be reliable, and as long as it doesnt look *totally* ugly/ stupid, it will do. In the past it used to be maximum performance within my limited budget for purchase price and insurance.
Most of the cars I really like the look of are too old to be practical for me currently. But even so I'm a lot more interested in the 'go' than the 'show'.
And totally agree its in the eye of the beholder, too.
:o)
|
|
As long as it goes like stink in a reliable fashion, I don't give a damn.
|
Must admit in my younger days i "liked" to have a "rear view mirror monster", something that when you were steaming up the outside lane in, instantly demasculinated the drivers infront. Twas quite fun to see left hand indicators come on and watch them melt away into the oblivion of the inner lanes when they spotted me coming. Hence i had the Triumph 2,5pi, then the Senator 3.0i. nowadays with advancing age, and the little Honda, motorway driving just aint the same no more!
Billy.
|
From watching people when they buy a car (2nd hand) the looks / badge / status of the vehicle are way more important than anything else; bar colour !
Can be confirmed by customers acceptance to settle for less discount on the car with the badge /style they want . can even settle for less trade in value too when the same fog gets in their eyes !
|
|
|
Must admit in my younger days i "liked" to have a "rear view mirror monster", something that when you were steaming up the outside lane in, instantly demasculinated the drivers infront.
In your dreams. More likely they just thought: "Idiot coming through. Must get out of the way to avoid death by someone else's incompetence."
|
|
|
|
|
I go for driveability, comfort, economy, praciticality, functionality, cost to run, insurance group etc. way before looks. Ego's cost huge amounts of cash as do badges, I'd rather spend the cash on something more useful like kids clothing or give it to charity rather than a fancy looking car with a 10K badge stuck on it.
What has a good looking or desirable car got to do with ego...........unless you're one of those people who are always looking over your shoulder to see who's noticing
why can't you desire something nice without giving two hoots who else cares
i spend sod all on kids clothes and rarely give to charity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hey guys - you can't see it when you are driving it! (You can't see the wheels either)
|
You usually know immediately whether a car is right for you or not - bit like a member of the opposite sex...:-)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
>Appearance is very important but it's "only in the eye of the beholder".
Absolutely! Of course appearance matters.
A car is as much a piece of artwork as furniture or fashion.
Kevin...
|
|
|
"Hey guys - you can't see it when you are driving it! (You can't see the wheels either)"
Brilliant - the whole thing summed up perfectly.
Alloy wheels in particular are for people who gaze at their car's wheels or for people who think that other people gaze at their car's wheels. Both are sad.
|
Functionality and durability is (are?) all that matter to me.
Incidentally, I buy alloys because they are dimensionally more accurate than pressed steel wheels and hence give rise to less wheel/steering vibration problems.
--
L\'escargot.
|
Very important to me. And my cars must have alloy wheels. The alternative is those nasty cheap plastic covers or dull steel wheels that usually end up rusty after a few years.
And as for the view that you don't see the styling or wheels when you're driving - well you could apply that to almost anything. If you wear glasses, you don't see the frames when they're on your face but I still wouldn't want a pair of hideous NHS specs. Or you don't see your underwear when you're dressed but I wouldn't wear pink ones with frilly edges.
|
"Or you don't see your underwear when you're dressed but I wouldn't wear pink ones with frilly edges."
Totally agree. I just don't feel like a man unless my frills are lime green.
;-)
--
Top Turkey - the fastest hands in Brum
|
Got a Xsara- So guess that would be a no then.
For me is comfort, economy, reliability and being able to swap it within a few months without losing a shedload of cash.
Although I have never liked flash cars, personally prefer to be anonymous and let everyone ignore me. Too many stressed out people out there who want to play little power games.
|
|
|
|
Alloy wheels in particular are for people who gaze at their car's wheels or for people who think that other people gaze at their car's wheels. Both are sad.
Now I dont see the need to bring alloy wheels into this! For me alloys are the norm, not something exceptional. My first car when I was 17 in 1989 had standard alloys on it. I have standard factory alloys on my current car, not big blinged up ones, and I dont clean them very often. Alloys = alright, plastic trims = ugly, IMVHO. I like the look of old steel wheels on things like old Sciroccos and Escorts, but plastic wheel trims are my pet hate.
;o)
|
Important to the wife that it had to be silver.
My criteria were large engine, proper saloon, lots of kit, with most of the depreciation already gone.
So my 406 was an obvious choice but it is also a pretty car which I'm glad about.
|
|
It must be important to lots of people actually- how else can you explain the sales success the Pug 206 has been? I bet the majority bought it on looks alone like my mum did, a move she regretted within a year. She admits she bought it mostly for its looks, and thought she could put up with the rubbish seats, driving position, slow rough engine and unreliability. Within a year it was part-exed.
|
I think this whole are is down to how your are perceived by other people, not what you think about the car yourself.
If you turn up somewhere in a 10-year old banger, you're not going to make the same impression as someone in a 2-year old Mondeo.
Likewise the drivers of BMWs - I think we all know what most people think about the drivers of those. 4x4s are falling into the same category.
I guess people fall into two categories - those who by cars based entirely on a logical approach with no thought about the opinions of other people (i.e. those who bought the Mk.1 Fiat Multipla) and those who either consciously or subconsciously consider what other people will think.
|
|
If it don't look no good, it won't be on the drive.
|
|
|
|
It's a fine balance to be struck though. I might like and could afford something exotic but my clients might take the view that I am earning too much. Likewise I couldn't turn up in an old banger. I have to get the balance right. Something that your average customer can afford is what I am for, at least when I'm on customer sites anyway...
|
|
|
I guess people fall into two categories - those who by cars based entirely on a logical approach with no thought about the opinions of other people (i.e. those who bought the Mk.1 Fiat Multipla) and those who either consciously or subconsciously consider what other people will think.
You guess wrong. I couldn't give a flying fig what anyone else thinks about the appearance of my car, I care what I think of the appearance.
Hence I am currently driving around in one of the most georgeous cars on the road - but it's got a Fiat badge on the front.
|
|
|
|
|
so you don't look at your car when your walking to it?
Looking at it when walking away, now that's taking it a little too far...
----------------------------------------------
Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
|
Bluntly ther are some cars that I - me - - think look absymal. The Renault backside for example. I would not own one by choice...
And there are some that look great but are too low - Peugeot 406 Coupe... - for me to easily enter and exit (and worse still Mrs Madf).
So delete the abysmal ones .
Dlete the unfunctional ones.
And the rest are ok.
All the rest is puff and flimflam. As for caring what neighbours think? Never have, never will. It's the mark of the "I'm ruled by others and therefore cannot think for myself so buy the latest fashion and got to have it" society.. - i.e. imo the kind of person I do not wish to be.
But I like creature comforts so they matter.. and function is KEY.
madf
|
I actively choose cars that aren't lookers, having owned since 1991
Pug 309 GTI - horrible looking brute
Corrado - aesthetic disaster
SAAB 900 - ugly and weird
SAAB 9-5 - ugly and dull in a weird way
A6 - not bad, but the only car to have let me down badly
Subaru Legacy - ugly, ugly,ugly
Choose ugly ones, they won't let you down (works for cars too)
|
The way my car looks is very important to me - I love the feeling of looking over your shoulder at it after parking it whilst walking away. It's one of a number of factors which must be met in any car I buy. It must look, in my opinion, fantastic both inside and out.
This is why I also like to modify the appearance of my cars.
|
My car has to look nice, like Michael I have to get the nice feeling when walking towards it.
My current one does give me that feeling, that is mainly down to the wheels which IMO flatter the car perfectly.
Now then next year I'll be bored of it and want to change it again! :-)
Blue
|
|
VW's have always looked nice. I personally think you can't beat the looks of a mk3 golf, but i bet most of you think it's bland and boring. I think all new cars are bland and boring.
|
>>I love the feeling of looking over your shoulder at it after parking it whilst walking away
Michael; why would you be looking over my shoulder after parking your car?
I find the appearance of my car very important after I've lent it to somebody else.
I find the disappearance of my car very distressing. It has happened twice.
Is that what you meant, OP?
|
|
|
|
|
