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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Cars / November 2006

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Edge - High beltline

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Howard Nelson - 17 Nov 2006 15:00 GMT
Just saw my first picture of the 2007 Edge. It has that "high beltline" look
which I cannot stand. What is driving this design in most new cars? Is it
simply copcat style or a way of meeting some regulatory standard (safety or
other)? Inquiring minds want to know. Anyone on the newsgroup have a thought
about this?
Howard
sleepdog@optonline.net - 17 Nov 2006 15:13 GMT
> Just saw my first picture of the 2007 Edge. It has that "high beltline" look
> which I cannot stand. What is driving this design in most new cars? Is it
> simply copcat style or a way of meeting some regulatory standard (safety or
> other)? Inquiring minds want to know. Anyone on the newsgroup have a thought
> about this?
> Howard

Copycat.  Do a google image search on the Murano or FX45.
C. E. White - 17 Nov 2006 15:15 GMT
>> Just saw my first picture of the 2007 Edge. It has that "high beltline"
>> look
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Copycat.  Do a google image search on the Murano or FX45.

Or RAV4, or Saturn Vue, or RX-330, or MDX, or CRV, or ....

My SO just bought a RAV4 and she commented how many vehicles had that
"look."
Signature

Regards,

Ed White
http://home.mindspring.com/~ed_white/ - my automotive opinions
http://home.mindspring.com/~ed_white/id7.html - my oil filter comparison

RustY© - 17 Nov 2006 19:47 GMT
> ............What is driving this design in most new cars? ...........

Cost!  As new methods of production and materials are found they are used to
their limits to reduce costs.  Panel shapes have been most affected by this
in recent years.
Ford? - 18 Nov 2006 07:19 GMT
> Just saw my first picture of the 2007 Edge. It has that "high beltline" look
> which I cannot stand. What is driving this design in most new cars? Is it
> simply copcat style or a way of meeting some regulatory standard (safety or
> other)? Inquiring minds want to know. Anyone on the newsgroup have a thought
> about this?

I hate it too.
It does lower window cost, at the cost of reduced vision.
C. E. White - 19 Nov 2006 13:54 GMT
> I hate it too.
> It does lower window cost, at the cost of reduced vision.

So you think there is a significant difference in cost between a few square
feet of glass vs. sheet metal on the outside of the door and
plastic/fabric/sound deadening on the inside of the door? If anything, I
think a lower beltline would lower cost.

As for vision- Where are your eyes? I suppose the lower beltline might give
you a little better vision to the rear quarters, but it is probbaly only a
minor difference. In my opinion this is strictly a styling thing.  High
beltlines are "in" right now. Wait a few years and low beltlines wil be
back.

Ed
RustY© - 19 Nov 2006 15:41 GMT
> So you think there is a significant difference in cost between a few square
> feet of glass vs. sheet metal on the outside of the door and
> plastic/fabric/sound deadening on the inside of the door?

No. It is more likely the production method that saves the cost.  And to
produce a lower car that meets the crash tests could cost more.  As for
'significant' cost - that would be anything over and including one penny.
Rodan - 20 Nov 2006 07:07 GMT
..... a lower beltline might give a little better vision to the
rear, but it is probably only a minor difference.    In my
opinion it is strictly a styling thing.  High beltlines are "in"
right now. Wait a few years and low beltlines will be back.
_________________________________________________

Jim Warman  wrote:

.... the Chrysler Crossfire looks like a regurgitated Gremlin
to me... I'm not going to buy one so it doesn't matter much.
Like the Pacer, the Gremlin, the Aztec, the Avalanche and
many others, there are cars that are bone ugly, cars that
only a mother could love....  and it is all a matter of taste.
__________________________________________________

That is it: just taste.   Auto stylists try to predict the trend
and deliver what they think will sell.   When the chopped-top
look was a big hit among retro fans, auto makers concluded
that everyone must want the high beltline's restricted visibility.

My favorite uglification was the 1960 Plymouth.   Decorated
with a large tail fin and a chrome strip angling upward over
a two-tone panel at the front wheel well, it was an instant
eyesore.    The insult was made made worse by TV ads
showing the car rotating on a turntable while a smirking actor
said, "It's beautiful ... it's ahead of its time ... it's 1970 new."

Best regards to all AAFers.

Rodan.
Jeff - 19 Nov 2006 14:17 GMT
> Just saw my first picture of the 2007 Edge. It has that "high beltline"
> look
> which I cannot stand. What is driving this design in most new cars?

People buying them.

> Is it
> simply copcat style or a way of meeting some regulatory standard (safety
> or
> other)?

No, it is meeting an accounting standard: Making money.

> Inquiring minds want to know. Anyone on the newsgroup have a thought
> about this?
> Howard
Jim Warman - 19 Nov 2006 21:23 GMT
I don't like proscuitto ham.... why do they keep making it?

Because people buy it..... and eat it.... Since I don't like it, I don't buy
it and I don't consider it....

How about that Chrysler Crossfire?  Looks like a regurgitated Gremlin to
me..... I'm not going to buy one so it doesn't matter much.

Here-in lies a great secret to todays consumerism..... if we don't like
something, we can avoid it.... complaining , in this context, serves no
purpose (other than to highlight that we have nobody at home to talk to). If
we hope to change styling trends, we could set our goals on achieving a job
as an automotive stylist... but, at that point, we run the risk that some
critic wont like our design....

Like the Pacer, the Gremlin, the Aztec, the Avalanche and God knows how many
others, old or new..... there are cars that are bone ugly... there are cars
that only a mother could love.... and there is the odd car that is an orgasm
on wheels... and it is all a matter of taste. I've seen cars that I thought
were ugly when they were introduced.... only to find that the styling did,
indeed, "grow" on me (unfortunately, there are occasions where I did an
about face when I decide they were growing like a fungus)

Like women... one mans "curvaceous" is another mans "fat"....

Like chili... one mans "hot" is another mans "ho-hum"....

That leaves us with two truths in this life... the "c" in crap music is
silent... if that doesn't apply, there is a good chance I don't know music
when I hear it.... but I do know sh.t when I hear it....

This gratuitous rambling has been brought to you by one really opinionated
old bastuhd that doesn't really give a rats rosy red what anyone thinks....

> Just saw my first picture of the 2007 Edge. It has that "high beltline"
> look
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> about this?
> Howard
 
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