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10 Worst Auto Fads
Topic Started: Jul 7 2009, 07:58 PM (1,176 Views)
Celica Baby
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Can you see what I'm saying?
I found this interesting and thought I would share: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/listarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=1069499&topart=vans

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jedimario
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RAWR
"Huge SUVs"

Oh my, look how progressive and enviromentally aware these people are!

The huge SUV will always be around, it is too useful. Whether or not it'll always run on gas might be debatable.

I hate politics.
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

The padded vinyl roofs might be the worst idea to put on the outside of a car. WHY would anyone want that? Just more time and money spent taking care of it.

Wonder how many people were hurt who had cars with automatic seat belts? Another dumb idea.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
My thoughts on the 10:

10. Vinyl/Landau Roof - Never cared for them. If you like the idea of a two tone...buy a two-toned car.

9. Fake Wood Paneling - I don't care what the article says, I love simulated wood side panels! To me it isn't a station wagon without them, regardless if they look like garbage within a few years. Too bad there are no American wagons left to apply wood side panels to.

8. Talking Cars - I've never had one of these, but I know people who have. Not a novelty I could live with. I'd probably end up strangling the car to get the voice to shut up. I hate the little warning buzzers that go off in normal cars to let you know the door's open or the seatbelt isn't buckled. I can't imagine a voice repeating "Door ajar" over and over again. AHHHHHHHH! Voices in my head! Oh, no. It's just the car...

7. Automatic Seat Belts - The first on this list that I've directly experienced on a car I owned. My '94 Eagle Talon had these and I hated them. I'm a strong advocate of always wearing seatbelts, and yet even I disabled the ones on the Talon. I'll never own another car with this feature! Guilty of this one, but not by choice (used car).

6. Spinning Rims - I never "got" this one. At all. Never owned spinners and never will!

5. Branded Decals - Not only am I guilty of this one, they even show a picture of a V6 Mustang just like the '05 I had. I ordered it new and tried to delete the side stripes- in '05 Ford would not delete them. In later years V6 owners could get them deleted. GTs never had them in the first place, though I believe you can order them. So I'm guilty of this one, but not by choice.

4. Carbon Fiber Accents - *Yawn* Poser.

3. Digital Dashboards - Guilty of this one and proud of it! My '83 Supra had the digital dash and not only was it the most user friendly instrument cluster I've ever seen, it was also 100% reliable. The same cannot be said of those installed into the cars mentioned like the Dodge Daytona, Corvette, and Nissan 300ZX. While this was a used car and I had no choice, I would have chosen this option given the chance.

2. Huge SUVs - Some people need them. Most do not. I hate SUVs because I drive a small sports car and it is extremely hard to see around them. Especially when some idiot in a Kia Sorrento parks blocking part of your driveway so you can't see to back out of it. I have pics...

1. Fake Air Intakes/Outputs/Hood Scoops - Once again, posers. The Talon had fake air intake scoops on the rear fenders. Then again, the Talon is a vehicle posing as a real car so I suppose it makes sense that it would have them.
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JustDavid
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SUV
My Parents had an '83 Ford T-bird with the digital dash as well as voice. It always cracked me up when the car would say "Ding-your lights are on" or "Ding-the door is ajar." (The door is a jar? What?)

My Aunt had an '83 Nissan 810/Maxima wagon that, unfortunately, I don't remember very well except that it was 80s Nissan burgandy. It did talk and had the digital dash as well.
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
My thoughts on the 10:

Quote:
 
10. Vinyl/Landau Roof - Never cared for them. If you like the idea of a two tone...buy a two-toned car.


I guess I am different, I think the landau roof has its purposes, The old caddy's and big yacht mopars looked real classy withthe padded landau roof, I also like the vinyl roof look, I don't care if they are hard to keep care of,

Quote:
 
9. Fake Wood Paneling - I don't care what the article says, I love simulated wood side panels! To me it isn't a station wagon without them, regardless if they look like garbage within a few years. Too bad there are no American wagons left to apply wood side panels to.


I agree with swifty, Wagons have billboards on the sides and faux wood panelling is justthe thing to fill the space. I have faux wood on my Chryco Town and County wagon

Quote:
 
8. Talking Cars - I've never had one of these, but I know people who have. Not a novelty I could live with. I'd probably end up strangling the car to get the voice to shut up. I hate the little warning buzzers that go off in normal cars to let you know the door's open or the seatbelt isn't buckled. I can't imagine a voice repeating "Door ajar" over and over again. AHHHHHHHH! Voices in my head! Oh, no. It's just the car...


My Taurus had a female personality, 'your Door is a jar, your door is ajar" I hated it, hated it

Quote:
 
7. Automatic Seat Belts - The first on this list that I've directly experienced on a car I owned. My '94 Eagle Talon had these and I hated them. I'm a strong advocate of always wearing seatbelts, and yet even I disabled the ones on the Talon. I'll never own another car with this feature! Guilty of this one, but not by choice (used car).


Agree hated this also, Rode in a Fiero once, the darn things almost strangled me.

Quote:
 
6. Spinning Rims - I never "got" this one. At all. Never owned spinners and never will!


Spinners belong in the 50's and on 50's cars, and not the spinners the article talks about

Quote:
 
5. Branded Decals - Not only am I guilty of this one, they even show a picture of a V6 Mustang just like the '05 I had. I ordered it new and tried to delete the side stripes- in '05 Ford would not delete them. In later years V6 owners could get them deleted. GTs never had them in the first place, though I believe you can order them. So I'm guilty of this one, but not by choice.


No problem with this, A big ole sunscreen "MUSTANG" acroso the window is AOK with me, but the do only belong on performance cars, or ecletic cars like a VOLKSWAGON. It is not the same with "WINDSTAR" scrolled across the bus I drive.

Quote:
 
4. Carbon Fiber Accents - *Yawn* Poser.
Double poser
Quote:
 

3. Digital Dashboards - Guilty of this one and proud of it! My '83 Supra had the digital dash and not only was it the most user friendly instrument cluster I've ever seen, it was also 100% reliable. The same cannot be said of those installed into the cars mentioned like the Dodge Daytona, Corvette, and Nissan 300ZX. While this was a used car and I had no choice, I would have chosen this option given the chance.


My Town and Country had a digital dashboard, love dit, was a little hard to get used to but after I did, just loved it,

Quote:
 
2. Huge SUVs - Some people need them. Most do not. I hate SUVs because I drive a small sports car and it is extremely hard to see around them. Especially when some idiot in a Kia Sorrento parks blocking part of your driveway so you can't see to back out of it. I have pics...


Some SUV's are just too big, Chevy Suburban, or an Escalade, Hummers, I didn't think KIA made a big car. However I would just have the big piece of junk towed.

Quote:
 
1. Fake Air Intakes/Outputs/Hood Scoops - Once again, posers. The Talon had fake air intake scoops on the rear fenders. Then again, the Talon is a vehicle posing as a real car so I suppose it makes sense that it would have them.


Double poser!
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
I actually don't agree with this guys opinion, hidden windshield wipers would of rated #1 IMHO, close behind - 4 cyl sports cars, and keyless entry systems,

Some of what he disses is indictatuive of the era, part o fthe culture of the time, and has a cherished spot in automotive history,

low rider cars, come and gone and come again
gasser's a classic from the past, pity.
4 cyl sports cars......... how silly, how 70's
tapestry vinyl

how about mural's on vans

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jedimario
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RAWR
Oh James, you're going places you don't know my friend...

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

...the list is a whole lot longer too :P
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69Stang
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Station Wagon
Swifty
Jul 8 2009, 03:12 AM
Then again, the Talon is a vehicle posing as a real car so I suppose it makes sense that it would have them.
:D Laughed my butt off...no, out loud!
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
Pics, Not sure about the first pic, my bar of Zest looks alot like the red one right now.

nice rag top from britain, It would be fun to tool around in one of hose all day. love to own one for teh summer months.

Fiero, not a bad concept, not a bad looking car, but whoa, the start of GM decline and this car is one of the many reasons. Quality killed this one. and poor seat belts
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jedimario
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RAWR
The point is that they are 4-banger true sports cars, and that Elise will school many much more expensive and just about every less expensive car on the market when it comes to being a true sports car. Camaros and Mustangs ain't got nothing on it :P
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james_autos
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Minivan
10. Vinyl/Landau Roof - Not that many cars built in the 70's were that good (especially the crap British Leyland used to spew out with), but some of the nice cars that were around were ruined with horrible vinyl roofs. I'd like to meet the bright spark that came up with this......

9. Fake Wood Paneling - I don't think any cars sold in the UK had fake wood panelling. Purely and American thing, and I'm glad it stayed put. I like cars to look like cars, not like holiday chalets.

8. Talking Cars - Something that the Austin Maestro was famous for, and it was tacky.

7. Automatic Seat Belts - Like the fake wood panelling, these didn't exist in the UK. How lazy do you have to be to have you seatbelt done up automatically? No wonder it didn't last. I remember seeing one for the first time in San Francisco on holiday - I thought it was quite funny.

6. Spinning Rims - They just look so wrong. They look bad on big SUV's, but considerably worse on a knackered old Ford Fiesta or similar (which I have seen). They tried to ban them here because people claimed it made cars looked like they were still moving when they were stationary.

5. Branded Decals - I can think of a lot worse. I suppose they look alright on some cars, but only if they are factory fitted.

4. Carbon Fiber Accents - Not really too sure what these are.

3. Digital Dashboards - Another 80's fad. But as long as they work, I have nothing against them.

2. Huge SUVs - Sports Utility Vehicles. Most people don't really need them - they're not real off-roaders and they do the same as what a smaller car does. The only SUV's that are actually any good off road are Land-Rovers, although most are owned by people who lives in towns and whose idea of off-roading is pulling up on a grass verge.

1. Fake Air Intakes/Outputs/Hood Scoops - Very, very, very tacky. For God's sake, what is the point in sticking bit of Halford's to your car when they actually serve no purpose. They're a waste of money, add no value to the car whatsoever and look silly.
Edited by james_autos, Jul 9 2009, 08:52 AM.
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jedimario
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RAWR
The Hummers aren't too bad either, James. I think the minority bit of their ownership justifies their existance, they know how to have fun:

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Now, Yukon and Escalade owners got nothing. I suppose the Escalade EXT is reasonable though, I have seen people get the beds of those things dirty.
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Sak
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Ezekiel 25:17
Carbon fiber trim is for MORONS. Fake intakes, etc. are to be laughed at. Frequently.

The biggest joke going is the current trend in which one intellectual mutant would bore three Buick portholes on each side of whatever he or she is driving. The ironies abound when it's a Cadillac, don't they? And, when you're a complete dimwit, and put them on your Audi A4, you should indeed have your car confiscated, and the only thing you'd be allowed to convey would be a 24-inch Schwinn Varsity. Then, you could take baseball cards and clothesline them within the spokes to make the sound real cool.
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jedimario
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RAWR
Ok, I wasn't going to post this, but now that this thread is back...

The worst automotive fad in the history of the automobile is none other than the worshipped, mighty, savior hybrid.

The hybrid is a fad. Let's see some of the characteristics here, at least the ones that I will predict.

It's long-term appeal is next to nothing. Sure, there will be fans in the future, like the guys that still dig vinyl tops :P, but they will have nostalgia on their minds rather than the enviroment. Why? It's already in danger of being eclipsed by much more efficient technologies: hydrogen, deisel, and most prominately, electric vehicles. These will eclipse the hybrid, and the day of these cars' arrivals is constantly getting closer and closer, shortening the hybrid's lifespan even further.

It's a fancy technology that has a bit of "oh that's neat" appeal but in the end this will prove to be novelty. Digital gauges of the 80s, anyone? This type of appeal fades fast and furiously because it's not really useful, as explained below.

The level of popularity is right there with other fads. Nearly everyone likes them, but not quite enough for everyone to have one (or at least to put up the extra dough).

It's a textbook case of the sum of the parts being greater than the whole. People like the power, sound, overall feel, and low cost of a traditional internal combustion engine. People like the efficiency and long-term savings of an electric vehicle. So why not put them together? Well, the result is in front of you everyday. With the hybrid, we have a car that is more expensive than a traditionally powered one, less powerful, more complicated, and less refined than a regular ICE powered car. It's also less efficient and possibly more complex than a fully electric vehicle and probalby less powerful as well, once the electric car gets on its feet. ICEs and electric engines (short of starters) just do not go together.

Well there you have it. Tell me I'm stupid if you wish.
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

Not stupid at all Rob. Take a look at Audi and VW diesels which average in the mid 40s mpg on the highway and are much cheaper to maintain than a hybrid. Hyrbids sure aren't cheap to buy nor maintain. Check out the following link.

AutoBlog Hyrbid Story

I think Hybrids are pretty much just a stepping stone in the evolution to a non internal combustion engine. With the advent of new diesel technology, hybrids are now officially off my radar for new car buying. Now if Ford would just put a diesel option on the next generation Ranger and or Fiesta, imagine the fuel econ and possibilities. :D

Good points Rob. I'm with ya on this one.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Sak
Jul 17 2009, 07:26 PM
Carbon fiber trim is for MORONS. Fake intakes, etc. are to be laughed at. Frequently.

The biggest joke going is the current trend in which one intellectual mutant would bore three Buick portholes on each side of whatever he or she is driving. The ironies abound when it's a Cadillac, don't they? And, when you're a complete dimwit, and put them on your Audi A4, you should indeed have your car confiscated, and the only thing you'd be allowed to convey would be a 24-inch Schwinn Varsity. Then, you could take baseball cards and clothesline them within the spokes to make the sound real cool.
No, the biggest idiot with the Buick portholes is the owner of a blue/silver two tone '85 Toyota Supra here in my hometown. Buick portholes on a sports car. Yeah, that's a smart idea... Doesn't help that it's exactly the year and paint scheme Supra I'm looking for and it's ruined. :(
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Tone
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Rocket 88
I notice a lot of those Buick portholes recently. The owners must actually cut holes in their vehicles to install these!

I would also like to mention the plastic um, "private body parts" that one sometimes sees hanging from tow hooks on pickup trucks, as well as the big fat vertical exhaust pipes that come out of the bed. They do look cool though. I saw some photos on line of weird exhaust pipes on Japanese cars that came out and then went up at 45 degree angles, extending way up into the air.

My least favorite auto fad occurred in the early 1990s. It consisted of bright pink or green plastic squares you clipped to your windshield wipers. Stupid and Ugly ! My favorite and most intriguing practice, not a fad, is to paint a car matte black with yellow, blue, orange, and red flames in front. It looks especially good on a streamlined early 50s model.
Edited by Tone, Jul 25 2009, 06:39 PM.
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mookie427
I like this guys lack of style
concerning the SUV debate. My thoughts on the matter are that people must have a permit to own an SUV or off-roader, showing that they need a vehicle such as that to do their job (farmers etc) thus keeping these ghastly creations off the roads for the most part.
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jedimario
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RAWR
Big government = baaaaad :P
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ErnestHughes
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Fullsize
fiero :rolleyes: :bored:
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Snowowl
Minivan
mookie427
Jul 25 2009, 06:58 PM
concerning the SUV debate. My thoughts on the matter are that people must have a permit to own an SUV or off-roader, showing that they need a vehicle such as that to do their job (farmers etc) thus keeping these ghastly creations off the roads for the most part.
Fine then you can come and plow out my street and driveway at 03:00 so I can go to work.
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mookie427
I like this guys lack of style
Snowowl
Jul 26 2009, 04:44 AM
mookie427
Jul 25 2009, 06:58 PM
concerning the SUV debate. My thoughts on the matter are that people must have a permit to own an SUV or off-roader, showing that they need a vehicle such as that to do their job (farmers etc) thus keeping these ghastly creations off the roads for the most part.
Fine then you can come and plow out my street and driveway at 03:00 so I can go to work.
that's what snowploughs, gritters etc are for.....
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jedimario
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RAWR
So the government should be plowing everyone's personal driveway?
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Snowowl
Minivan
Heck we're lucky if they even plow our neighborhood within 48 hours of a storm...
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