Distinguishing features

[LongRanger_imp]

On a motorcycle, a lot of attention is usually paid to how the fuel tank looks. The styling, the shape, the design, the finish. Folks also obsess about the engine -- how it looks, how it dominates the focal point of the bike, how it sounds, etc. And headlights certainly haven't escaped the designer's influence either. For many of us, I think these three components (tank, engine, headlight) either attract or disuade us from considering a bike.

On a car, the fuel tank is buried under the vehicle. Same with the engine -- it's under the hood and usually not too attractive. I can't remember the last time I cared to look at mine. While they're both critical styling elements on a bike, they're inconsequential to most car buyers.

So my question is simply: Assuming the tank, engine, and headlight are the focal design elements on a motorcycle, what are the key design elements on a car? The hood? The grill? The shape of the bodywork? What distinguishes one car from the next and gives it a personality, an image, a statement? Why is one car perceived to be cooler, or meaner, or softer, than another?

[Roper_imp]

Definitely the grill. When it's not done right, it's the first thing people notice (Lexus fail.) Then, the fender lines and roof line because they draw your eyes along the length of the body, such as a classic Stingray or Jaguar vs. just about every car made in the 90s.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Ugh, cars. Tis' hard to wrap my mind around a car when motorcycle thoughts don't escape me. So here is my 2 cents, from an opinion who sees cars as purely servants:

* Overall: Gait. Examples of possibly incredible gait: '55 Chevy Belair, Dodge Challenger (pretty well any year), maybe the '70 Plymouth Cuda, ... those come immediately to mind anyway.
* Front grill arrangement for sure. Masculine typically is liked by many. Example: The Ford Edsel grill is not particularly attractive.
* Wheel rims come to mind.
* And arguably the rear end arrangement. Example: There are some pretty ugly arrangements out there. Thinking of the late model Toyota Prius. Like, wha the heck?

[LongRanger_imp]

Perhaps I should have reworded my question. Nobody who buys a car really cares how the fuel tank or engine looks, yet that's mostly what we talk about when it comes to bikes. I find it fascinating that we find these elements so devisive and polarizing on a bike, but inconsequential on a car.

I agree that the headlights and grill are what distinguish one car from the next. A lot of new cars have menacing headlights and angry tailights, with downward pointed brows. Heck, even my R1200RT has an angry front-end. It's intentional and I think it's stoooopid. The CB appears approachable, likeable, and non-assuming by comparison.

[Rocky_imp]

Grille and wheels for me.

[peterbaron]

Yap, wheels, wheels and grille

[the Ferret]

Nothing for me, I just don't care about cars, one bit, never have. They are just conveyances I have to use sometimes. I drive a Honda Ridgeline because (1) it's a Honda (2) it's a truck and I occasionally haul something for my wife or pull a trailer (with a motorcycle on it) and (3) .... wait there is no 3. Couldn't tell you what the grill, headlights or wheels look like without looking at it. I think they are all rectangular, and the grill is chrome. Not sure about the wheels. Factory mags of some sort. I know it has Michelin tires on it lol. It does have a weird slanted thing behind the cab that goes down to the bed rail. Also seen that design on Chevys and Cadillacs pick ups. Don't care what color it is (It's black but my wife picked it out).

Last year I rode my motorcycles 25,000 miles and my truck 4,000 miles. I like to ride my motorcycles every day. I force myself to drive the truck once in awhile so that it gets driven or it will just sit.

[alprider]

The shape of the bodywork with all his accents and details....grill is one of them....or its need not still one...total harmony shall be there or is important for me like by a bike too.....i see still the whole thing....

well for example a grill can dominate very much....clear of course....or its too a question from wich side you see it as first...smileee

[GoldOxide_imp]

In contrast, the mill is the first thing that catches my eye on any ride. If it is air-cooled, even more so because it is usually not obstructed by ugly cooling jackets, radiators, and fake or ornamental dressings. Air-cooled lumps, whether single, twin, triple, inline-4, inline-6, V-anything, and opposed cylinder types are organic in nature to me. There is something fundamentally spiritual about it. Whew! Okay, I am back to earth. To be honest, I don't like the oil-cooler on the CB, but I reckon the engineers put it there for a reason. So be it.

[Bheezy27403_imp]

Definitely the grill. When it's not done right, it's the first thing people notice (Lexus fail.) Then, the fender lines and roof line because they draw your eyes along the length of the body, such as a classic Stingray or Jaguar vs. just about every car made in the 90s.

I'm with you on that one Roper. Those new Lexus grilles are just plain terrible. And, they doubled down on them and added them to the whole lineup. Atrocious.