QOTD: Which Trend Do You Want to Wish Away?

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Like 26-year-olds playing oddly mature high schoolers in films and on TV, some trends evolve into industry standards — the go-to blueprint for success. If the big guys are doing it, then by God, the creators say, so will we. This is the way to go.

The auto industry functions much like Hollywood in this regard, though the major players would insist that careful and predictive analysis of consumer buying behavior are behind their pursuit of the Next. Big. Thing. In crafting the vehicular landscape OEMs are convinced will make you hot, trends materialize. Rivals swerve into the same lane, desperate not to be left behind. Suddenly, once-unique attributes become ubiquitous. Departures become the norm. Think tailfins in the late 1950s, landau roofs in the late ’60s to early ’80s, plastic cladding in the late ’90s/early ’00s, and ginormous, child-swallowing grilles in the 2010s.

As there’s too many trends to mention, why don’t you list some you’d like to see hurled into the sun in the New Year?

I’ll get things started. I’m not sure about you guys (apologies for using a gendered term), but the “upcoming performance electric crossover that promises blistering acceleration” can disappear tomorrow, as far as I’m concerned. I can’t think of anything of less practical importance than a 210-mile two-row EV’s ability to duck below the five-second bar. We get it — EVs and crossovers aren’t lame if they’re pointlessly fast.

While I understand the need to tickle the ego of affluent-but-secretly-vain greenies, holy mother of God do I hate hearing about 0-60 times when the only figures buyers in this segment should care about are range and charging time. This writer simply cannot get excited over a really quick crossover EV. It’s a recipe for a low-emission impound lot, too.

Maybe while we’re at it, 2019 can serve as an assembly point for usage of the word “mobility.” Once gathered, we’ll usher those utterances into the sea. But wait, you protest — mobility isn’t a trend, it’s a thing that’s always existed. It’s like banishing the concept of travel or movement. True. For many folks, however, the word mobility serves as a tablet of Extra Strength Anti-Viagra, and it’s the overuse of this word that rankles many car aficionados. The future holds salvation for us all if we play our cards right, but for now, sales of cars and trucks are what’s keeping automakers afloat. Not scooters and ride-hailing ventures. These four-wheeled conveyances still matter.

Anyway, it’s your turn at bat. What automotive trend would you like to see diminished in 2019?

[Image: Toyota]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Speedlaw Speedlaw on Dec 29, 2018

    Colors...bring them back. I know sales managers order white, silver, and sometimes black, but it takes a custom order to get a color. My 08 MDX is silver off the lot...Honda did ONE good color per year, and rotated it in and out. Spare tire, please. My last two cars had none. I know that the 35 lb space saver and jack are just begging to be removed for fuel efficiency, but runflats suck. Mondo wheels. What moron spec-ed 19 inch wheels for my FIL caddy XTS ? They aren't even the big ones..this is a luxury car for older folks who aren't pushing envelopes. Likewise, I ordered 18 inch wheels and passed up 19's on my current car....I got potholes, MAAN. I think that one is somewhat planned obsolescence. They sell you a warranty for the wheels for potholes. One OE rim is normally the price of two and a half aftermarket wheels. Good business all around, and I only opted out once I realized that I need a 55/50 sidewall in the NYC area and once I went -1 on the low profile 17 inch wheels to a 255/50/16 my rim bending dropped to ZERO...and the tires were still pretty much as sticky as the OE fitments- current car has 40/45 split, but the winters will be equal and probably 50 series again..... Runflats. Waiting for my current set to wear out.... 2.0T engines in luxury cars. Great for that GTi....or Nissan POS Rogue. Don't insult me with a 2.0T in car with a sticker over 40K. We aren't europe....gas is not $10/Gallon . Be a hero and for my 50k toss me two more pistons.... I'm ok with the grilles that scare kids and small pets...at this point they have to do something to make them look different. Last rant...CVT does ok in snow machines, but please, please keep them out of my car. A cvt is a clear "no buy" for me.

  • AtoB AtoB on Dec 30, 2018

    "why don’t you list some you’d like to see hurled into the sun in the New Year?" Hydrogen.

    • See 1 previous
    • RHD RHD on Jan 01, 2019

      @RHD ...highly toxic nuclear waste...

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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