Probably the saddest thing I've ever admitted to....

specialman

specialman

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Pat MacInnes
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So, being an insufferable bore, especially when it comes to eyeing up cars and pointing them out to my (uninterested) missus, I realised that three new cars share striking similarities in the design of their rear side windows and boot lid:

cars4.jpg


Probably no difficulty guessing the cars but these shared designs have been bugging me intensely lately, definitely bugging me more than that weird, stepped rear window on the Discovery 3/4 and definitely more than not knowing what BMW were smoking when they introduced the 5-series 'GT'.

There, it's off my chest. I feel somewhat cleansed.... :D
 
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Sad, sad, sad. VERY Sad! :shrug: :D
 
modern cars all have a generally generic shape now, thats why i prefer classic and retro cars. We currently have 2 mk3 escorts, one hatchback and one estate.
 
the BMW 5 series GT .. don't get me started on that one.......... let alone the X6.. seriously , where is the market need for an "off road" coupe?

going to guess 1 is Astra
2 is new focus or fester (sic)
3 civic?
 
Oh I wish the car makers would take a look at some of their classic designs...My favourites of all time would be the Citroen Ds and the Citroen SM...superb designs, of the future, back in the 60's 70's!

Citroen have now introduced the DS name again, but they're just not the same. :(
 
Lynton said:
the BMW 5 series GT .. don't get me started on that one.......... let alone the X6.. seriously , where is the market need for an "off road" coupe?
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Totally agree.

BUT they did make a stunningly gorgeous car a few years back that was a flop. The retro-styled Z8. Lovely!
 
I'm still struggling with the three, my guess:

1) scirocco
2) megane
3) seat

Come on put us out of our misery?
 
30 years ago every car was very individual and instantly recognisable, now they do all look the same and I would be pushed to name a lot if not most cars, but its not nesesarly a bad thing..........just look at the price on the windscreen, dont pay a fortune for the badge on the boot.
 
The scirocco and Leon rears are also similar
 
specialman said:
The non-existent prize goes to YV :LOL:
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Calling Matty, Marcel and Digital failure.....

I hereby DEMAND (yes in capitals and bold) not ask politely, and sod the untermobs.... that YV has her "special name" changed to Geekgirl..
 
With regards the rear side window shape, Ford have had this since 2006 when they launched the S-Max they even made a feature of it in the advertising. It has become a design signature for most European Ford cars since. Looks like several other manufacturers have since taken a fancy to it too.
 
I'm guessing crash legislation has something to do with the convergence of designs, presumably there are only so many efficient ways of packaging everything whilst meeting all those EU rules (and still trying to look reasonably 'nice'). Thicker pillars, higher waistines etc all push cars towards a similar layout.

However, that said I'm mighty impressed that Radical somehow managed to modify an SR3 enough for it to get Type Approval...http://www.sr3sl.com
 
Give me a pristine mk2 RS2000 XPACK in yellow any day of the week. My dream car ....
 
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I've seen a mk 2 escort stripped to a bare shell before being rebuilt, classic yes, would I put my kids in it, no way, there's a reason road deaths have dropped and the tin box I saw being phased out in favour of crumple zones airbags and abs is it.

If a modern car was in a high speed accident with an escort it'd kill everyone in it.
 
The rear end of my RCZ doesnt seem to have been copied (yet) :)

Matt
 
I suppose if you factor in all the safety regs and wind tunnel testing when stuck in a computer to design a car there must be a limited amount of shapes available that are cost effective to produce and so cars all start to look the same?
 
For me, it's more the fact that the bottom window line joins up to that of the rear spoiller, and the top of the rear window follows a line into the downward line of the rear window. It all seems a bit too convenient design-wise, as if they've all been given a book and just chose the same design.

FruitFlakes and The hofmeister kink - I spent all 250-miles of the round trip to Warrington firstly looking at all the BMWs I saw to check they had the kink, then working what other cars had it too. Seems Ford, the newer Volvos, some of the Vauxhalls and a selection of other mainstream cars all share the same sweep of the rear passenger window. Audi doesn't have it though on its A4/A6/A8 but didn't see its other models to check. Old Astra coupes didn't have it either.

I think 'hofmeister kink' spotting may become all-consuming!! :LOL:

MatBin said:
The rear end of my RCZ doesnt seem to have been copied (yet) :)...
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Yep, saw one of these today. I love it but when you actually look at the window line in isolation, it is a very strange design.
 
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Ricardodaforce said:
Totally agree.

BUT they did make a stunningly gorgeous car a few years back that was a flop. The retro-styled Z8. Lovely!
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unfortunatly the z8 was a flop because of the insane price tag, and if i remember right they didn't make money on the sales either? stunning car though with the e39 m5 v8 engine!

Al
 
:LOL:

I came up with the same as Yv, without even scrolling through the thread, sad or what :D
 
Alan_T said:
unfortunatly the z8 was a flop because of the insane price tag, and if i remember right they didn't make money on the sales either? stunning car though with the e39 m5 v8 engine!

Al
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You forgot the key reason it didn't sell well in the UK.......

It was only available as LHD.
 
specialman said:
For me, it's more the fact that the bottom window line joins up to that of the rear spoiller, and the top of the rear window follows a line into the downward line of the rear window. It all seems a bit too convenient design-wise, as if they've all been given a book and just chose the same design.

FruitFlakes and The hofmeister kink - I spent all 250-miles of the round trip to Warrington firstly looking at all the BMWs I saw to check they had the kink, then working what other cars had it too. Seems Ford, the newer Volvos, some of the Vauxhalls and a selection of other mainstream cars all share the same sweep of the rear passenger window. Audi doesn't have it though on its A4/A6/A8 but didn't see its other models to check. Old Astra coupes didn't have it either.

I think 'hofmeister kink' spotting may become all-consuming!! :LOL:



Yep, saw one of these today. I love it but when you actually look at the window line in isolation, it is a very strange design.
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Its French, need I say more :)
Actually its Swiss, same factory as Aston Martin Vantage and Audi TT I believe.
Matt
 
Alan_T said:
unfortunatly the z8 was a flop because of the insane price tag, and if i remember right they didn't make money on the sales either? stunning car though with the e39 m5 v8 engine!

Al
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I'd have one tomorrow, if I could find one at sensible price.
Two nice examples here:

Z8

Also, it would have to be one that didn't have the front top suspension mounts that cracked on simple pot holes. :eek: I can't remember for the life of me if BMW ever did admit that there was aproblem.

Kev.
 
kevshore said:
I'd have one tomorrow, if I could find one at sensible price.
Two nice examples here:

Z8

Also, it would have to be one that didn't have the front top suspension mounts that cracked on simple pot holes. :eek: I can't remember for the life of me if BMW ever did admit that there was aproblem.

Kev.
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If its anything like some of the problems they have had with their bikes it will be a case of them putting it right without actually admitting there's anything wrong, keeps the mystique of them being near perfect in tact.
Matt
 
kevshore said:
I'd have one tomorrow, if I could find one at sensible price.
Two nice examples here:

Z8

Also, it would have to be one that didn't have the front top suspension mounts that cracked on simple pot holes. :eek: I can't remember for the life of me if BMW ever did admit that there was aproblem.

Kev.
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Wow! I see what you mean about the price! Such a lovely car though.
 
Yv said:
megane
focus
astra

?
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Ah, all front engined, front wheel drive hatchbacks, no wonder I didn't know (care) what any of them were :naughty:

Last hatchbacks that interested me were the Talbot Sunbeam (Lotus) and Vauxhall Chevette (HSR)
 
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