Aesthetics in car design -- what am I missing?? (A rant)

[txchamps]

Alright, alright, I am the first to admit that I do not understand aesthetics when it comes to cars. The first time I saw a Juke, my immediate mental response was "Wow! Cool!". I loved the original VW Bug because of its sheer simplicity. I was a huge Studebaker fan, thinking the late 50's - early 60's Hawks and Champs were the epitome of beauty in design. As you can tell, I am out of step with the mainstream thinking on design aesthetics.

As I grow older, I more and more favor function over form, and feel that if form is not an organic outgrowth of functionality, it is bad design. This is not revolutionary thinking, but I guess it puts me in the minority. (This, I am sure, is a result of the emphasis of art and creativity in my upbringing. Sure, blame my parents....). As Leonard Bernstein once said, (and I paraphrase) a composer could turn out perfectly constructed symphonies one after another, and still suffer from bad form.

So, I am nonplused at the almost universal hatred of the design and look of the current Nissan Versa and Versa Note. I simply do not get it. What is so wrong here?? They are a near perfect execution of form flowing out of function. To achieve the virtues of interior room, fuel efficiency, and low price, they streamlined for reduced wind resistance, offered high roof lines and extended rear to increase head, leg, and storage room, increase the height of the rear for a deep trunk on the sedan or for greater storage on the hatch version, and equipped it with an efficient little 4-banger to give it adequate (if not impressive) power and acceleration. With all the Nissan design cues scattered about, the sedan is a handsome little car, kinda like a miniature Altima, and the hatch looks like a miniature Rogue. Isn't that what they were after? What am I missing???

I am thinking that there is perhaps just a touch of snobbishness involved, the bargain-priced cars getting looked down upon by those who prefer the plushier counters, the high-tech counters, the performance counters (not that any of YOU are like that!) -- I can understand that to a point. I could afford the top-end Altima, the fully-decked-out Rogue or Murano, perhaps the enty-level Infinitis, Acuras, and (gasp) Lexuses -- I simply refuse to pay those kinds of bloated prices when I can get good basic transportation for so much less. That's just me. And I refuse to accept that these cars are ugly simply because of what they are not.

Rant concluded..... I await your thoughts

[Beancooker]

You're not missing anything. They are good cars for their price. That being said, they are not something you look at and go "wow, that's a badass looking car, I have to get one of those". It looks like any other run of the mill sedan, just minus the amenities.
I'm probably not the right guy to reply though, as I just picked up a Q40 and am a little u pleased with my purchase. It looks okay, but not great. I bought it for function, and not because it is a badass car. I'm quite displeased that you can't import addresses from a csv file, or from your phone, to the navigation system. What a letdown.
The high side to this car, was when I outran (quarter mile) my friends 2015 STI. That made me quite a bit happier with my purchase. That and the fact that the sound system is tenfold better as well as the comfort.

But back to your rant, it's just not a show stopper. I think it's safe to say if they produced something that has similar body lines as an S15, with a decent RWD platform and a turbo four banger, in the $20k range, it would be quite a success.

[txchamps]

You're not missing anything. They are good cars for their price. That being said, they are not something you look at and go "wow, that's a badass looking car, I have to get one of those".

Actually, I did say something similar: "Wow, that is one hell of a price, with a roomy interior, and it gets 36 highway! And it looks very nice." I am not trying to impress anyone, not even myself

It looks like any other run of the mill sedan, just minus the amenities.

It looks like a Nissan -- not a Camry, or a Mazda3, a damned Chevy -- so it "unique enough" in that respect. And amenities cost money. I don't mind cranking a window -- I have done it for 60 years, as well as locking and unlocking doors. Heck, my first car didn't even have a radio or an AC. This car has Bluetooth, and I didn't know that until I picked it up from make-ready. I got it so I guess I'll use it, but it was never on my list of boxes to tick. Maybe I'm lucky in that there are so few features there are fewer things to be displeased about

But at least you're not saying it's ugly! I can handle "run of the mill" as long as it's a nice looking "run of the mill".

[themadscientist]

Pure function.



More emphasis on form.



Both will provide sustinence, but one is less efficient, but more exciteing. Pick your snack.

[txchamps]

Excitement comes in many forms, and different folks are excited by different things.

I don't tend to equate cars and driving with the consuming of people (and you missed a bet by not posting Hannibal Lecter eating Ray Liotta's brain). But if you do, hey, that's your thing. I'll just make sure I keep my distance when you're on the road being "excited".

[themadscientist]

You're right, Lector would have been better.

Don't get on my life raft, baby!

I, too, enjoy a strong functional leaning to a product. A machine, a device, even a system that is purely purpose driven can be beautiful in a way that something flashy and stylish just can't achieve. It really depends on the user which should be emphasized.

[txchamps]

^ this is so. I'll take my chances with you on a life raft. I'm quicker on my feet than you might think....

[themadscientist]

You will get sleepy eventually.

[sx moneypit]

[txchamps]

I suffer from chronic insomnia and terminal flatulence. You will be well served to keep your distance.

This thread has gone awry.....

[themadscientist]

You've been jacked by one of the best.

[OriginalWheelman]

The new Versa looks great. Just don't drive a C chassis Versa. They looked like weird but they handled so much better. That's why I bought a Mazda2. It looks good and handles.

[txchamps]

The new Versa looks great. Just don't drive a C chassis Versa. They looked like weird but they handled so much better. That's why I bought a Mazda2. It looks good and handles.

I almost bought a 2012 Versa hatch, cuz I actually liked the looks (there I go again) -- but the only one that was in my price and mileage range had a crappy 4 speed AT. Then I tried a few Mazda2's -- great looks and pep, but just too damn small inside. Had my knees up around my ears in the back seat. And noisy. Too bad because they are cute as hell. I would sure take it over a Ford Fiasco on any given day. Pretty sure it would still be running after the Ford has been totally stripped at the local Pic 'n' Pull.

Heck, I never talked about handling in my original post. The e-chasis Versas are not sporty, but they handle smoothly, grip the road surprisingly well for what they are, and have a smooth, quiet ride, especially for a "subcompact". I have never tested their cornering limits, and I likely won't because I'm just not that type of driver. They look a bit top-heavy, but that is deceiving because they did get a good anti-rollover rating. I'm not going to try to disprove it. The big knock against them is they do not handle wind very well. And as I said, I have terminal flatulence......

[OriginalWheelman]

Well I had a C chassis Versa. I had warranty work done. They gave me a Micra chassis Versa for a loaner. I tried to take the same off ramp at the same speed I took it in my Versa, and understeered a half a lane. I actually tried to buy a new Versa after that, but the salesman tried to screw me. We drove the 2 and fell in love with it. And I don't care about the backseat. I don't sit there. It's a shelf lol. The only thing we miss moving to the Miata is storage space.

[txchamps]

Take it easy on those off ramps, guy

Yeah, the Miata would be sweet. Unfortunately for me, I do need to fit rather large-ish folk in my back seat from time to time, so it was not an option. And I gotta have storage space. Do lots of hauling for the wife for her back yard garden stuff.

[AZhitman]

I'll chime in.

My experience has been as such, and I'll try to stay on-topic. As I've gotten older, I've come to the realization that since I was a young, long-haired lad with way more attitude than brains, bopping around in my loud musclecar and a pair of 28x34 Levi 501s, I've always found some measure of beauty or appeal in almost everything.

In other words, let's take the opposite gender, for example. I can find a feature in almost any woman that's beautiful. Likewise, I find certain "sections" of certain cars appealing. My tastes know no bounds (price point, manufacturer, functionality). But they're real.

The Versa Note catches my eye. A Honda Fit does not. One is well-styled to my eye, the other is mofugly.

BRACE FOR RANDOMNESS:

The first and current generation Murano are beautiful to me. I dig the Ford Flex, but hate the Mustang (improving, but still ugly). The Challenger is beautiful, while the Charger makes me retch. The new Camaro? Back to the trailer park - you suck. The new Impala is some of GM's best work of late - the Malibu is a swing and a miss. The Toyota Venza looks great to me (I want to slam one on some 20" Volks). The newest Durango-thing is so damn sexy from the front-quarter or side view, but it's about a foot too narrow from the rear. The Dart and Avenger are horridly-styled and should have been aborted before leaving the drawing board. Most Audis are ugly to me (although I respect their clean lines). The Toyota iQ is a super design to my eyes. Mini and FIat need to crawl back into the primordial ooze - I find very little about either attractive. The Kia Soul looks like Ebola probably feels, but the Forte is a handsome car all the way around, as is the Sonata. Acura hasn't built anything that makes me look twice in a decade, and both Lexus and Lincoln are dead to me - styling failures from stem to stern.

So, yeah - I like the functionality of a car to shine through. When I see unnecessary things on a car, I question them - Example: Lexus has a HUGE grille, but almost none of it is functional - that grid will be a B**** to get bug guts out of. Fake vents, scoops, strakes, and the like ALL make me question the engineering beneath - if the manufacturer was stupid enough to allow that, what other halfassery did they allow?

I think that's why I love my NB Miata so much. The mechanical bits are covered by the bare minimum of metal, and the shape is what it is. No unnecessary "styling." Just enough clothing to cover the naughty bits and make it slip through the air. THAT is what makes a car appealing to me.

[Bubba1]

Simplicity is what draws me for aesthetics in car design. I also like the functionality to come through but simplicity is the key. For example, I admire a simple basic 3 box design (like a BMW E30). What ruins things for me, is most manufacturers desire to distinguish themselves by adding all sorts of silly additional gimmicks, lines, creases, fake scoops, doodads, and thingamajigs to the point it ruins the overall look (like Nissan's goofy angry beaver tooth grill, or Audi's big mouth bass front - though the rest of the clean lines soften it) I also agree with Greg, the Flex is a pleasant design, and I also like the Challenger's look, but I think both are bit too big.

But while I like functionality and simplicity in car design, I LOVE seductive curvy designs are combined with simplicity, especially from the 60's when European houses like Pininfarina, Bertone, Scaglietti designed literally art on wheels. I'm talking cars Jaguar XKE, Ferrari 275GTB4. Cars that ooze sex appeal without resorting to gimmicks. Unfortunately, there are very few cars made today that have that kind of appeal to me. One that comes to mind is the Jeeaaaaag F type. I know Modern Caddy's get a lotta love here, but I think they're dreadfully overstyled, especially the nose. And as far as the Juke is concerned, my first reaction seeing the front end was to find a receptacle in which to vomit. If Nissan redesigned the front end to not look like a Picasso on LSD painting, I wouldn't mind it so much.

[txchamps]

I LOVE seductive curvy designs are combined with simplicity, especially from the 60's when European houses like Pininfarina, Bertone, Scaglietti designed literally art on wheels. I'm talking cars Jaguar XKE, Ferrari 275GTB4. Cars that ooze sex appeal without resorting to gimmicks.

I dunno -- The profiles are nearly identical, but the Ferrari looks a little bug-eyed to me, and its rear looks as if it's surprised to be there. I always did like the XKE though, even when I was a kid and didn't know anything. But I've never understood "sex appeal" when referring to cars. Beautiful to look at , yes. Sexy? Hey, it's a car. I would never entertain the thought of, uh, well, you know....

If Nissan redesigned the front end [of the Juke] to not look like a Picasso on LSD painting, I wouldn't mind it so much.

But if it looks like a Picasso, isn't that literally "art on wheels"?

[txchamps]

You've been jacked by one of the best.

That's what I like about you, Mad -- you wear your humility on your sleeve. Really, its one of you best features

[txchamps]

AZ, it does my heart good to read you calling the Versa Note "well-styled". I feel vindicated!

Typically the last thing on my list of boxes to tick is the looks, but when it comes to making a decision and finally plunking my money down, looks could be the swing vote. Now, if they only gave it a 1.8 litre engine with 6 speeds. I hate driving at 75 with the revs at 3500. I can just feel the gas leaving the tank

[txchamps]

....it's just not a show stopper. I think it's safe to say if they produced something that has similar body lines as an S15, with a decent RWD platform and a turbo four banger, in the $20k range, it would be quite a success.

So the Versa is ugly because it's not a "show stopper"? There are tons of non-"show stoppers" out there that do not polarize the pundits the way Versa does. I am trying to figure out what rules of aesthetics Versa has violated, because, as I said, I just don't see it.

The Versa is the 16th best selling car in North America, and the 5th best selling small car (as defined by Good Car Bad Car), so it's safe to say that it is already a success, despite being maligned by the "experts". Changing its lines, engine specs, and price point would kinda screw that up, doncha think?