Why do Americans want their cars to look like a whale shark?

Driven5 wrote: It's not necessarily that the whole car is ugly, just the nose and passengers side on the Veloster!

FTFY

Yeah but the Juke doesn't have this grill that people hate

novaderrik wrote: maybe it's time to tell people that they should stay out of the way of vehicles when they are pedestrians if they don't want to get hurt... but that would be bad, because it's not cool to tell people to take personal responsibility any more.

This, basic Newtonian physics dictate that pedestrians and cyclists can and should simply stay out of the way of cars, but science is scary and hard, you aren't responsible for anything, and you certainly have the right to not be offended!

Don't even get me started on the laws that require bicyclists to ride in the lane of traffic rather than the sidewalk, when available.

Driven5 wrote: Don't even get me started on the laws that require bicyclists to ride in the lane of traffic rather than the sidewalk, when available.

Yes, car vs. bike = fail every time

bike vs. pedestrian isn't usually fatal.

I have a "Smiley" Mazda. I don't think it's as bad as the Sonata hybrid.

nocones wrote: Yeah but the Juke doesn't have this grill that people hate

Correct.... it just has everything else that people hate. Talk about getting beat to death with an ugly stick...

What's a grille?

In Audi's case, my understanding is that the grill on the 2006 A4 was very consciously trying to emulate the look of the grill on the 1930s Auto Union race cars. I really don't understand why anyone would think that a grill from an 80 year old open wheel (Nazi!) race car would work on a modern sedan, but...

Driven5 wrote: Don't even get me started on the laws that require bicyclists to ride in the lane of traffic rather than the sidewalk, when available.

it's much MUCH safer to ride a bike on the road than on the sidewalk.

as an avid bicyclist. I will take my chances with the cars rather than the pedestrians. At least people in cars are pretending to look where they are going

I ride my bike someplace that isn't paved. Because trees and small animals rarely try to cut me off :)

codrus wrote: In Audi's case, my understanding is that the grill on the 2006 A4 was very consciously trying to emulate the look of the grill on the 1930s Auto Union race cars. I really don't understand why anyone would think that a grill from an 80 year old open wheel (Nazi!) race car would work on a modern sedan, but...

My understanding as well. Audi pretty much lost me as a buyer after the B5/D2 (we owned both - still have the B5). The fish mouth look is hideous. Only thing lately to come close is Mazdas "The Joker" face front ends.

slowride wrote: I have a "Smiley" Mazda. I don't think it's as bad as the Sonata hybrid.

I literally LOL'ed the first time I saw that car, this has the worst "krill grill."

I actually don't mind the smiley Mazdas. They look a bit silly but not ugly.

I agree! Plus the Mazda makes up for it a bit by being entertaining to drive.

Shark Face:

If they were actual grilles, they wouldn't bother me... as much, anyway. But it's ridiculous to put 20 square feet of outsized gaping black maw on the front of the car, then fill in 13 of those square feet with black faux mesh that's actually solid.

Hyundai is a prime offender (concept car):

although the Lexus "Predator Mouth" is right up there too.

I can tell you why cars have huge grills.. because SUVs and trucks have huge grills.

Duke wrote: If they were actual grilles, they wouldn't bother me... as much, anyway. But it's ridiculous to put 20 square feet of outsized gaping black maw on the front of the car, then fill in 13 of those square feet with black faux mesh that's actually solid.

I drove past a Ford EV the other day (actually thinking of leasing one for my wife) and they appear to be all faux-grille. Instead of Nissan's Hey, look at me, I'm an EV, Ford seems to want to keep it subtle.

"

^At least they're up front about it

You could paint the bracing around the intake the same color as the body to get a normal look.

The new Lexus grille makes them look like overfilled inflate-a-mates.

Hmmm. I really don't have a problem with the new style or old style of grills. I like a wide variety of car styles to be honest.