Why do fancy cars look fancy and cheap cars don't? Can't you just slap a Lamborghini-style chassis onto a lawnmower engine if you want?

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨58008@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨nostupidquestions@lemmy.world⁩

That’s obviously an exaggeration, but why don’t manufacturers of basic cars just put a fancy-looking exterior onto them? Aren’t you mainly paying for the engine and electrics and upholstery and sound system with fancy cars? Why is it (seemingly) only Lamborghini and Ferrari that look like Lamborghini and Ferrari? Is chassis manufacturing more difficult than it seems to a numbnut like me? I assume it’s just pressing sheets of metal into a mould, so I’m probably way off the mark.

It’s like when you see a computer mouse that’s named something like GamerStealth eXtreme Zero Pro, and it’s the worst piece of shit you’ve ever used but looks like it came from Area 51. Same for PC cases, actually. Alienware rigs look a million percent better than they actually are. Why is this not also the case for cars?

Full disclosure: I know nothing about cars. I just know that when I see a fancy car, and check the make, it’s BMW or something high end, and when I see a pygmy hippo lookin’ motherfucker, it’s made by one of those “buy one, get one free” type manufacturers that appeal to meth head soccer moms. And by “fancy” I don’t even mean “luxury”, just obviously high quality. Most BMWs and Rolls-Royce don’t look like spaceships, but they nevertheless look really impressive. Again, I need to stress that I know nothing about cars.

Cheers!

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CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Look at the 1950 American cars.

One reason for the perception that cars look fancy or not is that you become accustomed to a design when you see it all the time.

Supercars are wildly impractical, and slapping that body on a Corolla chassis would make a Corolla that only seats 2 and has no space for bags, but somehow takes up a lot more space than a Corolla. Also, downforce is bad for fuel efficiency.

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- Quicky@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  In fairness, the 10th gen Civics (in Europe at least) looked absolutely badass compared to pretty much any other family hatchback when they released. They were a lot pointier and aggressive looking than their boring counterparts.
  
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- XeroxCool@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Supercars are quite small. They have very low roofs and are often quite wide, so your sense of scale is thrown off.
  
  2025 corolla: 182"L x 70"W x 56"H 2000 corolla: 174" x 67" x 55" 2004 murcielago: 180" x 80" x 44"
  2006 gallardo: 169 x 75 x 46
  2018 huracan: 176 x 76 x 46 2024 296 gtb: 180 x 77 x 47
  Xxxx chiron: 179 x 80 x 47
  Xxxx F40: 172 x 78 x 44
  Even the veyron, a sweaty potato on wheels: 176 x 79 x 47
  
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  - CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Thanks for including the 2000 Corolla. I forget how big they’ve gotten.
    
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- 21Cabbage@lemmynsfw.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Plus it would surprise me little if an economy motor had a hard time pushing a supercar frame and body.
  
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  - Addv4@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    It depends on the frame and the ideals of the manufacturer. You can make a sports car with essentially an economy motor from the same brand (Miata, MR2) or maybe a reliable engine from another (Lotus with Toyota engines), but largely it comes down to if the brand wants to spend money to do it.
    
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BilboBargains@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I would argue that it is already the case that cheap cars look and perform excellently, compared with cars produced fifty years ago. They are more reliable, economical, comfortable, higher performance, superior in virtually every respect.

The other factor to consider is the use case. Something like a Ferrari is not reliable compared to a VW Golf, it sucks at carrying passengers and cargo, terrible fuel economy, it is horrible value for money and inferior in most ways apart from one - compensating for a small penis. That is its chief purpose and it is supremely well crafted for this use case.

Source: automotive engineer of 25 years.

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- Buelldozer@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  
  I would argue that it is already the case that cheap cars look and perform excellently, compared with cars produced fifty years ago.
  
  50 years? Try 30 and even 20 could be argued.
  
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  - BilboBargains@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    I would not argue against that. Two steps forward and one back is usually how it goes with technology. Reliability is the problem that has only been achieved relatively recently. I remember a time when the hard shoulder was full of stalled vehicles. Japanese cars from the 70s and 80s were notably inferior to their competitors. We’ve come a long way in making this technology polished and affordable to the masses. Now the science shows us it is contributing to climate change and we have a new challenge. So it goes.
    
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- wabafee@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  In order words cheap cars = big penis , expensive cars = smaller penis.
  
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  - BilboBargains@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Car companies hate this one trick.
    
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TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Firstly: Designing an appealing sports/luxury car is expensive and many companies hire skilled professionals from known design firms to help accomplish this. The design often comes first and much of the car is constructed to fit the aesthetic and theme. Cheaper vehicles are more utilitarian with a more “that’ll do” attitude instead of being designed with artistic intention.

Secondly: Almost ever car maker has their own luxury brand or subsidiary. Selling cheap luxury/sports cars would undermine their own brand’s prestige and market segregation. There is a reason why dedicated luxury brands will not make budget-friendly vehicles unless legally forced to.

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HiTekRedNek@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
Because when they do, they start charging more for them. cough Kia/Hyundai

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RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
Lots and lots of reasons.

I’m basing this on your comparison of normal cars to currently existing exotics.

Predominantly - the vast majority of people don’t want an exotic car. They want to go from home to work and the store, maybe a drive for a leisure trip. They’re boring. They want to get their stuff and people in and out of the car easily and conveniently.

Exotics do not do this well. There’s minimal trunk space and fit two people, often “snugly.” They require some contortions to get into and out of. Now think of how out of shape many people are and see if they fit into a highly contoured and snug race seat and can crawl in behind a scissor- or butterfly-style door with a very low roof.

Engineering-wise it’s a big cost issue, both for the manufacturer and customer. Those compact, low, aerodynamic bodies on exotic cars take a lot of work to pack all the mechanicals in along with having to design a body that is crash-worthy for each new exotic style. On top of that, they’re often mid-engine, which means a lot of specialty parts like transaxles, and wildly different handling characteristics than the average consumer is used to when you shift weight to the back of the vehicle.

Manufacturers are sticking with the “boring” designs because they’re based on existing engineering that is safe, requires minimal cost to make the new iteration, aerodynamic, fuel efficient, and has proven to be sellable to consumers. Profit is king. They’re not going to take chances on crazy styles that may not sell because again, people are boring.

I know people are going to chime in about mundane cars in production today that have some of the features I mentioned and treat them as an exception that invalidates the opinions I’ve offered, but the point is that if they were economical and profitable designs in an exotic body they would be more widespread. “You could just take “x” engine and transmission and build a “y” around it” argument.

I would suggest maintenance is a cost problem, too…some exotics literally require the car be split - the entire rear of the car containing the engine and transaxle removed from the rest of the car because of the compact engineering and inaccessibility to some wear parts. However if Toyota made a low-buck supercar looking commuter car I’d hope the maintenance would be cheaper and easier.

So there you have it. Cost of design, engineering, and maintenance. Boring consumers, convenience, and safety. Affordability and profit. That’s why we don’t have exotics everywhere. The market has determined that the few Halo cars we see like the Supra or C8 Corvette, or even the Mustang, is all the market will bear.

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the_crotch@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
If you make a Toyota fancy, you end up with a Lexus. If you make a Honda fancy, you end up with an Acura. If you make a Volkswagen fancy, you end up with an Audi. If you make a Nissan fancy, you end up with an infinity.

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- Bgugi@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  
  If you make a Volkswagen fancy, you end up with an Audi Or a Porsche. Or a Bentley. Or a laborghini. Or a Bugatti.
  
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neidu3@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

Fancy chassis on a cheap car.

Add big displacement and you’ve got a Dodge or some of the Fords

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supakaity@piefed.blahaj.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
What's really interesting is when people take an actual lawn mower like the Kei class Honda Beat with its 3 cylinder 7k RPM mid chassis engine and engine swap it with a 200HP motorbike engine to get one of the most insane sleeper cars of all time.
I used to have a VW Polo that had turbo upgrade, full muffler refit, high flow cat, pod filter, tuned ecu, upgraded brakes, tires, adjustable suspension. This little thing looked like a basic nothing. Stoc standard white paintjob piece of rubbish, sitting silent at the lights. Until you punched the pedal, then it'd roar like a dragon and take off like a damn rocket. It wasn't anywhere near as good as my Golf R overall, but it was a stupidity fun little go-cart.

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someguy3@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
They want to “reserve” ~~features~~ looks and styles for expensive cars to make you upgrade.

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A_norny_mousse@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I’m the opposite: I find it increasingly harder to distinguish car makers just from looking at the car (without seeing the logo of course). They all look snazzy.

I just know that when I see a fancy car, and check the make, it’s BMW or something high end, and when I see a pygmy hippo lookin’ motherfucker, it’s made by one of those “buy one, get one free” type manufacturers that appeal to meth head soccer moms.

First of all, car manufacturers invest A LOT of resources into evoking that specific reaction in (potential) customers.

And I don’t like your attitude towards people who have less money than you.

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- lemming741@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Go to a junk yard and look around the import section. Without a front bumper, it can be very hard to tell what make a car is.
  
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cecilkorik@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
You absolutely can slap a Lambo body on anything (provided it fits) and there is a literal cottage industry that exists around doing so. It’s not popular because, let’s be honest, it’s pretty silly, and everyone involved acknowledges its pretty much just for fun and entertainment. The status symbol of “owning a Lamborghini” goes away forever the second you start the engine.

There is a lot of psychology that goes into designing the appearance of cars. Like, an extreme amount. Car companies spend millions designing and refining body shapes and styles, and building brand images, and pushing commercials that seed these ideas into your head about their brand looking a certain way and that look therefore implying quality, they’re connecting all those dots in your head, one marketing campaign at a time, and it works because we’re honestly pretty gullible creatures at least when somebody wants to spend millions upon millions of dollars researching exactly how they can weasel their way into your brain.

And this might surprise you, but the same “looks incredible but the worst piece of shit ever” can certainly apply to luxury vehicles. Aside from notorious reliability and repairability issues, Lamborghinis don’t usually win any races either. They won’t win a drag race, they won’t win an oval track race, they won’t win a rally race. They’re fast, certainly, but they’re not the fastest and for what you pay for a Lamborghini you could build a much, MUCH better purpose-built race car. You could probably build 10 purpose-built race cars. Hell, people build race cars out of junkyard parts that can beat Lamborghinis. They’re not the end-all-be-all of cars, nor are any of the other luxury brands. They have some nice features but they also have a lot of dumb features and yes, a lot of cut corners too. They’re designed to be desirable and profitable, not to be the best.

So to answer your question, it absolutely IS the case for cars, in fact it’s probably even moreso the case than it is with computer parts. Unless you really need to roar down the highway towing a 10,000 pound trailer at 80 mph and still get up to that speed in 5 seconds flat, you really only need like probably 30-50 horsepower max for most of the daily driving that people do, but people’s driving habits and attitudes would have to change and they would hate the feel of gradual acceleration, so they would simply never buy such a car. I think we really underestimate how incredible even the cheapest “crappiest” cars are. We’re talking about machines cheap enough for almost everybody in our society to own, that can drive at high speeds, in perfectly dry, climate-controlled comfort, carrying many passengers and cargo, in almost any weather short of a tornado or flood, with excellent reliability for hundreds of thousands of miles, that provide constant lighting and electricity and entertainment, all while maintaining a high degree of safety for the occupants.

If you’d rather putter around on a riding lawnmower with a Lamborghini body kit on it, you absolutely can do that, but you have to understand that once you start comparing the limited features and abilities it provides you will quickly find what you’ve constructed is the real “piece of shit” in comparison. Just don’t forget your slow-moving vehicle sign!

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- A_norny_mousse@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  
  You absolutely can slap a Lambo body on anything (provided it fits) and there is a literal cottage industry that exists around doing so. It’s not popular because, let’s be honest, it’s pretty silly, and everyone involved acknowledges its pretty much just for fun and entertainment.
  
  There used to be one or two pretty popular versions of this though; not an exact copy but just a sporty chassis on top of a ubiquitous and cheap model, like the Karman Ghia on top of the VW Beetle.
  
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rabber@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Because it’s not that easy and a fancy car looks fancy because it’s a work of art and every detail counts

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofmeister_kink?wprov=sfla1

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- Quicky@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  New kink unlocked
  
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  - rabber@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    It actually is a kink of mine
    
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cloudless@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Some Chinese EVs copy the style of fancy cars. For example the Xiaomi EV practically ripped off a Porsche.

Original, high quality designs require high development costs. Also a good design should consider the functionality as well, such as aerodynamics specific to the power and handling of the vehicle. Weight distribution etc.

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syklemil@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
It’s generally conspicuous consumption, where the main point is to flaunt wealth.

Functional aspects like how well an engine runs or a clock displays time are part of that, as poorly functioning but expensive-looking stuff is generally derided, but you also can get great-working stuff that doesn’t look flashy.

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barneypiccolo@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
They have “kit cars,” which are all the parts you need to build a fancy vehicle on the chassis and drive train of a normal car. When I was young, Ford Pintos were common chassis for kit cars.

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- CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  That’s how you end up with something like this that isn’t fooling anybody:
  
  …autoevolution.com/…/jay-leno-drives-the-worst-fe…
  
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Delphia@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Some companies spend a lot of money on market research and trying to get ahead of trends (Mercedes Benz, Honda, Toyota) some companies disregard common sense and do what they want (Alfa, The French in general) and cheaper brands dont waste the money on price point cars. Its not an Iron clad rule but people buy a german to project wealth, you buy other euros to project style, you buy Honda and Toyota for reliability. You buy a Nissan Altima because they will finance you, you buy a Chinese car because you arent keeping it past warranty expiry anyway.

As to what sets them apart. Little things like painted brake calipers, the quality of the badging, the texture on the plastic interior, little trim pieces that stop you seeing any of the interior workings, the windscreen wipers looking “chunky”. Wheels and stance also play a large part of the image. Wide wheels simply look more expensive, as do lower profile tyres.

Then things get a little more tactile, the dull thump when you shut the door over the higher pitched clank, the thickness of the interior plastics and number of fasteners making the interior feel sturdier even though you cant see the difference, the sensation of the indicators being put on, the UI on the touchscreen…

Prestige brands also dont do trim level names/badges very often. They like letters and numbers like 330i M-Sport or c65 AMG. Lexus followed suit with the LS400. They WANT you to say “Yeah, I got the Touring package” or “I bought the AMG sports pack” and they know their owners want to do it too.

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- the_crotch@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Lexus models work like (2 letter body style)(size of engine). My IS250 is identical to the same model year IS300 or IS500, the only difference is my 2.5L engine. Their main trim level upgrade is f-sport.
  
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Yaky@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
I don’t know much about cars either, but that does happen. For example, Cadillac Escalade was/is based on a less-fancy-looking GMC SUV (Suburban?). Chevy Volt is also Cadillac ELR (different body and interior, same drivetrain), Opel Ampera (in Europe), and Buick Velite (in China, because Buick has a better brand recognition there)

Some cheaper car models come with variety of “sport editions” and out-of-factory tint and spoilers, which would be the equivalent to the RGB computer peripherals that you mentioned, and appeal to specific customers.

TBH I don’t know why some expensive car designs are perceived as “fancy” or “impressive”. I think they are mostly boring. And quality-wise, anything above bottom tier would have materials that last decades now.

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NutinButNet@hilariouschaos.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
You forget that the companies making those cheap cars are often the same companies of the fancier cars. Thinking Hyundai and their Genesis line.

Hyundai will never make a Sonata look like a fancy super car because then they won’t have any reason for someone to want to pay more for the fancier models that their Genesis line has for 3x the cost.

The people buying the fancier cars want something exotic that no one else is driving on the roads. They will willingly pay the premium for that luxury to not look like the rest of the cars on the road. Many also don’t care what’s under the hood, i.e. doesn’t matter if a cheaper Chevy can beat their Maserati, they’re buying the car for the exotic looks.

And then you also have some people who don’t want something flashy even if it is cheap. When I lived in a not so great area, I specifically did not want anything that drew attention to me. For example, I didn’t even want to wear knock offs of high end clothing like a knock off of Gucci clothing because it makes people think I have money and am a target for being robbed. So yes, I want the generic 4 door sedan the broke college kids are driving. Maybe the local thief won’t be so likely to smash my windows or try to carjack me.

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Opinionhaver@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

Is chassis manufacturing more difficult than it seems

Yes, I remember watching a video explaining how the bend on the side of an Audi differs between cheaper and more expensive models due to ease of manufacturing. That makes intuitive sense too: a nicely carved stick is more valuable and takes more time to make than one that’s simply had the bark removed. The body design of a Lamborghini is orders of magnitude more elaborate than that of a VW Golf so ofcourse it’s going to also cost much more.

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- Dyf_Tfh@lemmynsfw.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  I dont know if you are talking about this one by bsport. It is one of the enlightening video about cars that i ever saw.
  
  More expensive car have sharper bends that cannot be replicated on a cheaper car. This is especially true when you compare a commercial van to a nice car.
  
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  - Buelldozer@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Oh wow, that explains why so many of the new Audis look worse than my 2015!
    
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alsimoneau@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
Isn’t that what Scion does?

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NABDad@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I think our 2021 Honda Civic Sport looks pretty fancy. No one is going to mistake it for a Ferrari, but I think it’s pretty hot for the price.

I also wouldn’t fit in any real sports car anyway.

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- BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  That counts as an expensive car
  
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Crazyslinkz@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I would like to mention manufacturing. Mass production of body panels. Those sleek looks may come at a cost.

Another thing is kit cars, basically get a chassis and replace body panels. Lawn mower engine…

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_car

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Witchfire@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
it’s subjective. They all look the same to me.

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gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
You’re describing either a kit-car or custom fab.

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ifGoingToCrashDont@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

why don’t manufacturers of basic cars just put a fancy-looking exterior onto them?

They do. This is exactly what Hyundai does for the Genesis brand.

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givesomefucks@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

but why don’t manufacturers of basic cars just put a fancy-looking exterior onto them?

“Kit cars” are a thing…

Not sure what’s popular these days, but for a while people were putting Shelby Cobra bodies on Miatas.

It’s way more than a Miata, but way less than an authentic Shelby.

So people who just care about the looks have been doing this for decades now.

But when it happens as a production, people don’t buy it because other people recognize it for what it is, look at the PT Cruiser.

So if a couple people do it, it passes as expensive. If a lot do it, it comes off as tacky and becomes a joke.

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hperrin@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Check out the new Corvette.

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bitjunkie@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Cheaper cars have been taking design cues from supercars for at least a couple decades

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ddplf@szmer.info ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I’m not sure if I get your point, I think car makers do try to make your everyday bun and greens fetchers often overly stylized and aggressive.

Take for example the late Ford Mondeo/Fusion (2013-2024 IIRC), which absolutely and intentionally ~~stolen~~incorporated the Aston Martin design.

All the VAG beaters (VW, Skoda, Seat, etc) are furious at everybody for being around them and taking their lane, even if there’s only one lane.

Hyundai Staria is some dandy looking son of a bitch, and it’s a soccer momma van!

Even the good ol’ janky Dacia is doing it’s best to look way above it’s pay grade.

Frankly, at this point, it’d be harder no to name a brand that isn’t aesthetically going through a mid-life crysis. You know? Go for it! Give me one.

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sunbrrnslapper@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I didn’t know I wanted to slap a Lamborghini-style chassis onto a lawnmower, but now I do.

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- bradorsomething@ttrpg.network ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  I never want to look like something a cop will pay attention to. Better high performance in a boring sedan shell.
  
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