TTAC's Top Ten Trunk Hinges – Your Submissions Please

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Now that we’ve nailed that whole cupholder thing, it’s time to tackle the important stuff: trunk hinges. I reckon trunk lid hardware is an excellent indication of a given model’s overall build quality. Bad hinges, bad car. Great hinges, great car. There’s a range of important factors here: materials quality, appearance, reliability, longevity and action. To wit: I was appalled when I pressed the Maybach 57S electric trunk closer and watched the rear lid descend like an old, poorly made guillotine (don’t ask me how I know). My Odyssey’s tailgate closes in a more graceful arc. So, again, here’s the deal: email robertfarago1@gmail.com with your nominations for best trunk hinges, your rationale and a jpeg (or link to same). I’ll post them in a gallery. Then Eddy and I will choose the top ten based entirely on your wit and our whims. Thanks, in advance for your help.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Martin Schwoerer Martin Schwoerer on May 25, 2009

    Hate to be the luddite here -- and late to the party too, to boot -- but the original Mini's external trunk hinges were good enough and pretty enough. Is there any downside to them, other that they looked cheap? Car design is so superficial.

  • Stulgs Stulgs on May 26, 2009

    The Mazda 3 Sedan trunk hinges are very interesting and effective.

  • Mike B. Mike B. on May 29, 2009

    There is OVERWHELMING evidence that customers prefer Deck lids equipped with Goosenecks hinges over Deck lids with 4-bar systems. Primarily because of two features: Trunk opening is typically larger and the free rise function where the customer hits their key FOB and the trunk automatically opens. The downfall with goosenecks in the past is luggage crush, where the hinges push down ontop of the luggage upon closing. GM has taken this design and made it a whole lot better. The all new 2009 Opel Insignia now mounts these gooseneck hinges over the wheel-well and now customers get the best of both worlds a wide opening, free rise functionality and more vertical space ....great job GM Engineering

  • Rmwill Rmwill on May 29, 2009

    Goosenecks suck. Every car body engineer and customer knows it. Popping up automatically is a BAD thing. However, they are cheap. Why do you think VW had Campy do the Phaeton and did shitty goosenecks for all the other vehicles?

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