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Sept 24, 2007 21:14:44 GMT
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Am in a nearly-new Nissan Primera today. All very nice, quick, efficent etc but sitting in it, I can't help thinking that a Lambo Countach offers more in the way of visibility. Side windows are restricted to two slits up the side while the rear window seems more about decoration than vision.
The mirrors would be useful if they weren't so small and this being low-spec, there are no parking sensors. Not that I'd know how to use them...
The a pillars are so chunky that Bigfoot could hide in your blind spots while the lack of a sunroof means that you need valium to survive anything longer than a quick trip to the shops.
The engine pulls well but there are six gears. Why?! This just means that you are changing gear all of the time. I prefer the H van where you stay in top all day unless climbing mountains - which may require second.
Then there's the computery thing on the dash. Allows you to play with various features, including mpg so you pay even less attention to the world around you - what little of it you can see.
And they call this progress? For me, cars peaked in the mid-80s. Fuel injection systems made cars much more reliable, less likely to require fettling and more fuel efficient but they hadn't yet got so complicated that you needed a degree in eletropants to work on them. Windows were still large as designers clearly recognised the need to see out.
But if you fancied the simple life, you could choose a 2CV, Fiat 126, Skoda or Lada - four very different cars. A Cavalier or Sierra made a fine choice and were about as complex as a kinder egg toy to work on. Even I could probably change a clutch on a Cavalier. It's that simple.
So, what eras do others regard as the glory years?
Ian - dreaming of a Cavalier convertible
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Sept 24, 2007 21:21:14 GMT
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whats your opinion of the dials, and the dash layout?  |
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Sept 24, 2007 21:23:36 GMT
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I agree with you. I can't get on with modern car styling...they no longer look like cars. Very few modern cars tickle my fancy. Your mid-80s theory sounds about right to me. |
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Sept 24, 2007 21:30:55 GMT
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whats your opinion of the dials, and the dash layout? Fuggin stoopid!! If I wanted to get a crick in my neck looking at dials in the centre of the car, I'd buy a Morris Minor! or borrow the wife's Mini... |
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Sept 24, 2007 21:34:29 GMT
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all the best things were designed in '84 and released in '85. just like me  actually i'm with you ian, for the most part. the 80s produced some spectacular cars. but then each era/generation has their gems. but i'm yet to find a car thats newish (02 on) with good visibility. and i worked in a multi franchised dealership... |
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Sept 24, 2007 21:41:45 GMT
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doesnt get any prettier than an 89 405
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
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Sept 24, 2007 21:43:09 GMT
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A lot of new cars definitely have form over function, the visibility on my dad's 407SW is laughable. The windscreen is a super curvy job that makes it extremely difficult to judge how far the front of the car is stuck out, the rear window is so tiny that it is utterly useless. Without the parking sensors you would find it EXTREMELY difficult to park anywhere. The wing mirrors on it are OK, but I've used a few new cars where they were surprisingly inadequate.
Funny to think that after all these years, some car designs still mess up the basics.
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Sept 24, 2007 21:43:33 GMT
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50's IMO   But I hold a torch for the disposable futuristic mass produced but still old 80's!  WANT! dribble |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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Sept 25, 2007 7:13:11 GMT
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Our '97 Mundano is an absolute cow to reverse because you can see cock-all over your shoulders.
I can split this into features of modern cars I like and features I don't e.g.
I like:
Airbags (once had a crash in a non-airbag equipped car which involved my bonce hitting the steering wheel followed by a bit of reconstructive surgery)
Heating and ventilation (both our A/C equipped cars demist the car in seconds and keep it that way)
Fuel injection
5-speed gearboxes
I don't like:
The indicators in a 2nd generation Vectra. What's that all about?
Power steering with no feel.
Rear discs on cars that don't need them which seize up for fun
Not being able to see the front of the car to park it (and I'm 6 feet tall)
Bland samey styling
I don't think there has been a golden age of motoring as such. I still love all the cars I loved as a kid but one or two have stood out over the years.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Sept 25, 2007 13:34:46 GMT
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It's a shame that NCAP testing doesn't take visibility into account, if you can't see things then you're much more likely to hit them, surely  There's a lot to be said for late '80s or early '90s cars, our old Passat was just fantastic (with aircon). Sold with 160,000 on the clock and I was doing 120mph in it the day before ;D |
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Sept 25, 2007 13:38:59 GMT
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My Dad had one of them nissans a couple of years ago,a saloon version(quite rare apparently).Dad loved it,mum hated it so it had to go and they got a 206 HDi 1.4 mum loves it Dad hates it  |
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RA40tony
Europe
Rollin' rollin' rollin'
Posts: 768
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Sept 25, 2007 13:50:42 GMT
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Just got a new 07 Mitsi Colt 1.3 and I love it for everyday driving and long distances, relaxing, A/C (perfect in Greece) BUT can't see end of bonnet (I'm 6'3) and need the parking sensors due to the awful rear visibility. The side mirrors are huge though.
But for cruising, drifting all over the place and being a hooligan the celica rules!!
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1979 Toyota Celica GT. Currently Gone.
1975 Toyota Celica ST. 13x7 Allycats, "the stick" applied. 100kW 4AGE... Sold
1963 Karmann Ghia - Lo & Slo, Sold.
1965 VW Fastback - cruising
1953 Oval Ragtop, work in progress...
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Sept 25, 2007 16:18:48 GMT
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Why do you need to see anything when you have an 5 star NCAP safety rating and eleventy billion airbags? Just crash into it instead. The P12 Primera is grim, I like the styling but in most respects they're worse than a Primera from 10-15 years ago - worse to drive, less economical, slower and have that stupid farking dash that you have to look away from the road for several seconds to read. |
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Sept 25, 2007 16:21:13 GMT
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And don't even get me started on the heater controls! Menus!!! What's that about? What's so bad about a simple knob or lever? I had chilly feet and it took me ages to find out how to direct hot air to them. Technology for no better reason than it looks flashy in the showroom.
And no, I haven't driven an i-drive Beemer yet. I fear it would kill me.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,521
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Sept 25, 2007 16:28:18 GMT
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Pretty sure Setright had a bee in his bonnet about car manufacturers giving people what there were able to sell to them rather than using technically superior designs.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Sept 25, 2007 16:53:59 GMT
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I don't think this is an anti-technology deal, more of an anti-sh!tty design deal.
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Sept 25, 2007 17:05:47 GMT
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whats your opinion of the dials, and the dash layout? Fuggin stoopid!! If I wanted to get a crick in my neck looking at dials in the centre of the car, I'd buy a Morris Minor! or borrow the wife's Mini... lmao. we made/ still make, for service, those dials where i work.  also the HVACs. ;D |
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MaxN
Part of things
Posts: 482
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Sept 25, 2007 17:37:59 GMT
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Since I binned my E30, I have nothing but modern stuff in my garage  My daily driver is a 2004 325i - the last of the decent looking ones which is slammed full of creature comforts and options - sports pack, comfort pack, convenience pack auto box and light gray leather FTW. It is incredibly comfortable - I have driven it over a thousand miles in a day on more than one occasion, stopping only for gas/bile breaks as needed. It is incredibly competent and the exhaust note is pretty nice - in the way that only a straight-six can be. Still not figured out how to use the indicators though The other two ? A 2005 Bini Cooper S with a few mods (wheels, brakes, Pulley, stick) I drive this when I am not car pooling and for track days. Great fun to drive, but a little too high-tech, I tend to drive it a lot more than I originally intended - I have put 45K miles on this in 14 months ! Finally, a 2003 MR2 Spyder. This is much more of a back-to-basics car than many realize, it is small, light and extremely responsive. The MR layout is great on twisty roads and the track, it is a great 'storm across the desert to Vegas' car. With the roof down it is fantastic fun. With the roof up however it is terrible, Stevie Wonder would be at home in it. I do not use it as much as I would like, I have put no more than 15K miles on it in the last three years The real beauty though is the simplicity of the car - while it is injected it has very few gadgets...... I am currently haggling over another E30 though, not sure what to replace........ |
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