I'm looking at a Venza as I type this on my BlackBerry. A question popped into my head as I'm looking at the hideous grille.
Why are designers going out of their way to uglify their cars? This grille is much worse in person then in any picture I've seen of it. Its top bad too because the rest of the car is actually pretty decent looking.
I started thinking about it and their are a lot of cars on the road that are simply ugly just to be different. Why do they do it?
My guess is it's because most people lack a sense of holistic taste when it comes to assessing a vehicle's aesthetics. They probably look to the well known stylistic elements but remain oblivious to the picture as a whole.
This is true for a lot of things in life. It's impossible to possess refined taste in everything.
I don't think the average buyer thinks like us "enthusiasts" do. Design is subjective anyway and your average shopper probably is more interested in what the car offers (value, reliability etc.).
Quote from: cawimmer430 on February 12, 2009, 11:47:38 AM
I don't think the average buyer thinks like us "enthusiasts" do. Design is subjective anyway and your average shopper probably is more interested in what the car offers (value, reliability etc.).
Yup.
Making REALLY BOLD stylistic statements is likely an effective way to communicate to the oblivious buyer, "THIS CAR HAS STYLE!"
By the way, the Venza ain't bad looking - for a Toyota. :thumbsup:
It's not ugly; it's "distinctive."
Quote from: the Teuton on February 12, 2009, 11:56:24 AM
It's not ugly; it's "distinctive."
the Teuton: No, that's di
stinktive.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on February 12, 2009, 11:47:38 AM
I don't think the average buyer thinks like us "enthusiasts" do. Design is subjective anyway and your average shopper probably is more interested in what the car offers (value, reliability etc.).
Beauty is subjective but ugliness is universal!
(http://www.houstoncars.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2009-toyota-venza.png)
That grille is even more "in your face" in person. It's uglier too if that's possible. The rest of the car is actually pretty decent though.
I can't stand those commercials that are trying to sell the *Venza* experience.
It's not a car. It's not a wagon. It's not an SUV. It's a lifestyle. It's a life. It is you.
It is ...VENZA...
Quote from: Tave on February 12, 2009, 02:10:52 PM
I can't stand those commercials that are trying to sell the *Venza* experience.
It's not a car. It's not a wagon. It's not an SUV. It's a lifestyle. It's a life. It is you.
It is ...VENZA...
It's an identity crisis!
I forgot what a Venza was until I saw the picture. By the name, I thought it was some rinky-dink Korean thing.
I reckon it is because some people don't want to drive a car better looking than them.
ewww.
The grill spoils an almost respectable vehicle.
Quote from: sparkplug on February 12, 2009, 05:12:22 PM
I reckon it is because some people don't want to drive a car better looking than them.
Well, either that or since they're on the inside of the car, they don't have to see it so they don't care.
All I know is the stuff coming out for Mazda is starting to look ugly. The new front bumpers for the 3 and RX-8 look like ass. And I figure all the others will go that way sometime.
We've gone over this before.
It's a secret contest between Toyota and Honda to see who can trick us into buying the ugliest mainstream car ever made.
Quote from: Onslaught on February 12, 2009, 09:20:48 PM
All I know is the stuff coming out for Mazda is starting to look ugly. The new front bumpers for the 3 and RX-8 look like ass. And I figure all the others will go that way sometime.
The little black teeth thing in front? I didn't like it at first but it kinda grows on you.. like mold.
Quote from: NomisR on February 12, 2009, 10:52:50 PM
The little black teeth thing in front? I didn't like it at first but it kinda grows on you.. like mold.
That big happy face black plastic shit on the new 3 is just butt ugly. Other than that I like the car but it just kills it for me.
Quote from: Onslaught on February 13, 2009, 04:11:16 AM
That big happy face black plastic shit on the new 3 is just butt ugly. Other than that I like the car but it just kills it for me.
Yeah, I'm not liking the new Mazda front ends either. The new 6 looks good, but the 3 and the RX-8 are too much.
Quote from: HEMI666 on February 13, 2009, 08:53:51 AM
Yeah, I'm not liking the new Mazda front ends either. The new 6 looks good, but the 3 and the RX-8 are too much.
They look like Japanese Peugeots.
(http://image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/Mazda_3_front.jpg)
(http://www.goodcleantech.com/peugeot308-1.jpg)
I like the Peugeot better.
Quote from: Tave on February 13, 2009, 08:59:21 AM
I like the Peugeot better.
The 308 looks better in live photos, but it's still generally ugly.
Those stupid smiles only look good on little cars.
The 3 looks like an evil japanese with a big smile on his face.
The Venza has an awesome side profile. In fact I was going to make a thread about how good it looks in commercials. I suppose 20" wheels and very careful camera angles will do that though...
And car companies are being overburdened more and more by having to design cars that face ever stricter safety regulations & competition from other manufacturers in size and interior volume. It's a tragedy style-wise but we all benefit in the long run.
Quote from: sandertheshark on February 12, 2009, 10:11:23 PM
We've gone over this before.
It's a secret contest between Toyota and Honda to see who can trick us into buying the ugliest mainstream car ever made.
GM already won, granted the Aztek wasn't a huge sales success. But people bought them.
Quote from: MX793 on February 13, 2009, 02:50:29 PM
GM already won, granted the Aztek Asstek wasn't a huge sales success. But people bought them.
You're welcome. :-)
Quote from: Laconian on February 12, 2009, 11:45:17 AM
This is true for a lot of things in life. It's impossible to possess refined taste in everything.
Nonsense!
:praise:
i saw a bright white one (v6 awd) loaded to the max on the showroom floor at a mega dealership yesterday. it looked pretty good in person. a bit quirky, but surprisingly upscale.
Quote from: HEMI666 on February 12, 2009, 01:55:35 PM
(http://www.houstoncars.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2009-toyota-venza.png)
That grille is even more "in your face" in person. It's uglier too if that's possible. The rest of the car is actually pretty decent though.
I'll agree with that. The grille is
hideous in person, even more so than photos suggest. But the rest of the
Camry Wagon Venza is actually fairly decent.
I gotta wonder, and this goes beyond the enthusiast crowd here... would the general public be more accepting of the looks of this car if it were a Dodge/Chrysler? Just talking looks here. Many people I know that have seen the Venza are pretty put off by it... none of which I would call " car people ".
Quote from: Northlands on February 26, 2009, 09:52:48 AM
I gotta wonder, and this goes beyond the enthusiast crowd here... would the general public be more accepting of the looks of this car if it were a Dodge/Chrysler? Just talking looks here. Many people I know that have seen the Venza are pretty put off by it... none of which I would call " car people ".
Like I said. It's just the grille. The rest of the car is actually quite nice.