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Adjusted for inflation, I spend less of my paycheck on cars and gas now then when gas was under a buck a gallon and I made $7.50 an hour. Sounds like you just need a better job.
I do fine, I am just a supreme cheapo. If I was a quadrillionaire I would not overpay for any car.
A car IS, in part, an appliance. The basic functions of a car are pretty boring - reliably get you from Point A to Point B. There is a long continuum of form vs function (throw price in there on as another axis), and a lot of people are looking for function first and form second.
Taste vary quite a bit, and I generally find the massive cars you prefer to be both ugly and boring and overpriced for what you get, whereas you find the smaller cars I prefer ugly and boring. Trying to make some over-arching statement based on your own preferences is mistaking the personal for the universal.
The push toward better gas mileage also is a push toward better aerodynamics and lighter cars, which results in a similarity of styling, as well.
That is all I want my car to do for the least money possible. I'd drive the ugliest, smallest, blandest car available, if it was cheap and fuel efficient.
Sure, I like old cars, fast cars, 4x4s, but those vehicles are not practical for my lifestyle and budget. Further, I would rather spend my money on other things than a car.
I completely disagree with the OP, there are plenty of un, comfortable, exciting cars today as well as the "appliance" cars, but that's no different from years past, a Corolla has always been a Corolla, so to speak.
Could you clarify by pointing to the cars of early that were such significant style icons in the economy section, that are sorely lacking today, particularly find some from the 80's, if you don't mind.
Still here, been busy lately with work and some other commitments. I've been reading this thread on my Droid for the past days but it's damn near impossible to write a coherent reply on that keyboard.
So you want to know vehicles of the 1970's and 1980's that had style? Ok here:
1987 Buick GNX
http://s3.amazonaws.com/autorevo/Production/2801/3210625/DrNbwk_640.jpg (broken link)
1984 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1979 Pontiac Trans AM
1989 Chevy Iroc Z Camaro
1978 Lincoln Mark Series
1980 Chevrolet Corvette
Need I go on?
Of course the Corvette is still around and a great vehicle and the Camaro just recently started being produced again, but the rest of the vehicles? All a part of automotive history.
There's a shift in America to vehicles that are slow, small, and generic. I was reading an article before I left for work about the 10 great vehicles you can't buy yet and ALL of them are just...BLAH. They're all small, fuel efficient, ugly, uncomfortable looking, and just lifeless appliances; can't wait to buy one? Says who?
I wonder if there will ever become a day where car enthusiasts like myself will have to resort to buying pre-owned cars because all the news one are just soulless garbage? I like my vehicles either big, fast, or old- NOT small, cramped, and bland. Who else agrees with me?
If it ISN'T a fairly big car/truck/SUV, a fast and low-slung sports car, or a classic...I don't think I want it in my garage!
Anyone else feel the same about the majority of new vehicles on the marketplace?
I couldn't agree with you more. Where is the style, the joy of just driving instead of just commuting from A to B. Vehicles cost a large amount of money and for me I keep them til the wheels fall off and I spend a lot of time in it. So for my money I want something enjoyable to drive, looks good , and gets good mileage , not some boring vanilla looking vehicle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vmaxnc
I've been involved with the audio/video industry for 25+ years. Since the advent of digital music and cube speakers, there has been a huge shift from audio performance (Hi Fi) to "how many generic songs can I fit on my Ipod?". People are becoming more satisfied with mediocre performance than ever before and convincing themselves that a crappy MP3 played through a $100 plastic speaker system actually sounds good.
We're becoming increasingly isolated from the experience of living.
This one gets me , all the music downloads played thru crappy little earbuds.. where is the full audio experience... know one seems to care anymore. Sure I've got an MP3 player here at work but other than that I still want to listen to my CD's in my car and on my home stereo system.
Not that I'm driving anything really cool, it's just a 2000 VW Jetta TDI, thats been modded to go a little faster, and handle a little better, and look a little sportier. And it still gets 45-48mpg. I've also had a higher end stereo system installed so I can listen to my CD's..
Still here, been busy lately with work and some other commitments. I've been reading this thread on my Droid for the past days but it's damn near impossible to write a coherent reply on that keyboard.
So you want to know vehicles of the 1970's and 1980's that had style? Ok here:
1987 Buick GNX
1984 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1979 Pontiac Trans AM
1989 Chevy Iroc Z Camaro
1978 Lincoln Mark Series
1980 Chevrolet Corvette
Need I go on?
Of course the Corvette is still around and a great vehicle and the Camaro just recently started being produced again, but the rest of the vehicles? All a part of automotive history.
You're not exactly talking low cost vehicles though, adjust for inflation and purchasing power and find out what that price range would be today, and you'll likely end up in a category of the market where you can find just as fun or more fun cars, with what a lot of people would consider style and good looks.
There's a shift in America to vehicles that are slow, small, and generic. I was reading an article before I left for work about the 10 great vehicles you can't buy yet and ALL of them are just...BLAH. They're all small, fuel efficient, ugly, uncomfortable looking, and just lifeless appliances; can't wait to buy one? Says who?
Actually, the trend (in mid-sized sedans, anyway) is towards growing bigger. The Accord, Legacy, Camry, TSX, A4, etc. - all but one or two exceptions - have grown in thier most recent redesigns. As for thier being bland and generic, I have no argument.
I get that designers want thier cars to stand out, but standing out for being so ugly is never a good thing (looking at you, Acura, Mazda).
Still here, been busy lately with work and some other commitments. I've been reading this thread on my Droid for the past days but it's damn near impossible to write a coherent reply on that keyboard.
So you want to know vehicles of the 1970's and 1980's that had style? Ok here:
1987 Buick GNX
1984 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1979 Pontiac Trans AM
1989 Chevy Iroc Z Camaro
1978 Lincoln Mark Series
1980 Chevrolet Corvette
Need I go on?
Of course the Corvette is still around and a great vehicle and the Camaro just recently started being produced again, but the rest of the vehicles? All a part of automotive history.
The C3 was at best a mediocre sports car. It is my least favorite Corvette generation. I think the C6 is by far the best car, and only the C2 comes close in style.
Large boat luxury cars have never been my thing so even with style, they had no appeal to me. Large two-doors like the Lincoln Mark are especially unappealing to me. These cars can't go around a cloverleaf faster than 30 MPH without taking chunks of rubber off their tires.
Most of the cars on this list do not have intrinsic engineering quality. They have style, but that was what Detroit valued most then.
If I am going back in time for cars with style my list might include:
Triumph TR4/TR6
Jaguar E-type
Datsun 240z
Corvette C2
Mustang (original Fastback) - but remember this was a car for anyone to buy
Datsun Fairlady
Lincoln Continental (suicide doors) - my one exception to the luxury boat cars
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. They're all small, fuel efficient, ugly, uncomfortable looking, and just lifeless appliances; can't wait to buy one? Says who?
