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03:58:33 - 04/20/2024
General Dakota Board
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Jeff
GenIII
7/30/2005
21:53:47
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 Subject: fordodgchevycrappus
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whats the deal with all these different carmakers all making the same thing these days. seems almost cyclical, that every so often two or more carmakers will come out with awfully similar vehicles.
the newer bigger looking ram was followed by bigger looking ford trucks.
ford mauled their ranger just as dodge mauled the dakota.
i don't see too many 05daks around here, but i do see a lot of very similar looking colorados.
now i saw a chevy something-or-other that looks just like a pt cruiser down to the bumper but with 05dak shapes (no longer can be called "curves").
fords new 500 looks different enough from the chrysler 300, but the 300 and the kia amante look related.
but thats not too fair, since the kia brand seems to always have the motto "if it works for them, we can do a cheaper version that looks the same", which is ok, since i think kia is Supposed to be like a generic drug co.
But the others, they are supposed to be innovative and original, not some automotive gene pool mish mash.
Jeff
'99 3.9 clubcab
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racerX
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/30/2005
23:03:13
| RE: fordodgchevycrappus
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seems most automakers R&D departments consist of digital cameras..
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MoparMadness
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2005
23:47:02
| RE: fordodgchevycrappus
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Not to thrash anyone, but this argument has been going on since cars were first mass produced. Every generation, someone comes out and says that all of that eras cars look the same and complains about the lack of distinctive styling.
The real reason for car similarities is the classification system of vehicles. All full size trucks are about the same size, by making a vehicle too much bigger or too much smaller than the competition usually results in poor sales. The Tundra is a good example, it is really a mid step between the size of Dakota and a Ram, and as a class buster, it didnt sell well. The Excursion is another example, Ford went w/ the bigger is better idea and that backfired.
So basically, to maintain sales, manufacturers try to keep dimensions similar. Well, there is only so much you can do to distinguish two vehicles of almost idenical proportions. If you look at it from this perspective, the designers do an admirable job of making their cars unique. Most car guys can tell that a truck is a Ram from over a block away, even further if it is next to a ford, because he can identify the differences between the two.
So basically, it is the consumers fault for vehicles being styled basically the same way. People are too afraid to step out of the norm and buy something different, thats why there have been so few segment busters that succeed. If you look at auto shows, you get to see the true extent of what designers can dream up, but the fact is that no matter how popular a design is, the people who like it are still afraid to buy one because it is different.
So, in my view, designers do an incredible job making cars that have their own identities within the realms that society will accept.
And anyone who says that all cars look alike is making a pretty ignorant statement. My dear old mother who couldn't care less about cars can still tell the difference between a F150 and a Ram, so any person who considers himself a car guy should have no problem
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