Why do some ppl have a difficult time grasping the 'Cool Wall'?

[edkwon]

When you talk to ppl about what makes certain things 'cool': music, fashion, ppl, etc...

They all seem to 'get' that no matter how superlative something is (prettiest, flashiest, most expensive) doesn't necessarily make something cool. In fact something that had a special quality that once made it cool, can lose that cool factor depending on who else appreciates it (like your favorite underground rock band who becomes big, and overexposed, and selling itself out, or played out fashions, fads, expressions that were once cool, but no longer.

But when this concept is applied to cars, for some reason ppl think porsches, ferraris, and lamborghinis are 'cool' simply based on a shallow set of superlative qualities (fast, powerful, good looking).

For example the porsche 911 is a fast and brilliantly engineered car, but its been around forever, hasn't really changed, has lost its cool cache with owners ages ago once they became easy and safe to drive and now is driven by every housewife and her hairdresser in beverly hills. yet, a fun, yet infinitely slower and cheaper obscure imported hatchback is infinitely cooler and often has a much cooler level of owner driving it.

I could point out many examples, but a lot of ppl dont seem to grasp this concept.

[Mineworksfine]

Couldn't agree more. The Rule of the Cool is a hard thing to quantify I admit, but given that the Fiat Multipla is an ugly, slow POS that's appalling to drive (and I know as I drive one!) yet is still deemed Cool on the Cool Wall, I understand your frustrations that people can't grasp it.

My other car is a Seat Ibiza FR Cupra 1.9 TDi - uncool, and a diseasel, but it puts as big a grin on my face as the Impreza I used to have and does over 50mpg. Great car but uncool.

One needs a certain depth to deal with the concept, and only the shallow fail to do that, but most of them don't watch Top Gear.....

[efoolution]

Originally Posted by edkwon

[...]I could point out many examples, but a lot of ppl dont seem to grasp this concept.

You are absolutley right, and it´s sad. Cool always is against the mainstream opinion, cool is always different ... If it´s all about cubes, circles are cool - if everybody craves Hypercars, eco-boxes are cool. Those are the rules of cool - mainstream is never cool.

I don´t agree on your 911 opinion though ... the 911 is seriously cool. Every Sportcar nowadays wants to be special, outrageous, loud and shouty, every 2 years a new model, new funky design, new this, new that ... the 911 isn´t following these trends, it is what it is. And that´s cool. If everybody is running around, changing constandly, jumping every bandwagon ... and you´re just standing still because you know what you can do and don´t have to be worried about anything ... it doesn´t get any cooler than that.

[edkwon]

Originally Posted by efoolution

I don´t agree on your 911 opinion though ... the 911 is seriously cool. Every Sportcar nowadays wants to be special, outrageous, loud and shouty, every 2 years a new model, new funky design, new this, new that ... the 911 isn´t following these trends, it is what it is. And that´s cool. If everybody is running around, changing constandly, jumping every bandwagon ... and you´re just standing still because you know what you can do and don´t have to be worried about anything ... it doesn´t get any cooler than that.

My amendment to that statement is older pre-safety aids 911s were very cool, probably 964(?) and older. because they were scary, difficult to handle beasts that made clear examples of drivers who lacked talent. They were particularly good at punishing, injuring, sometimes even killing unworthy owners who had too much money and not enough driver sense.

Modern ones are designed to be reined in so much from the start, kind of like a prize racehorse who is crippled/castrated/and lobotomized to the point that they are docile enough to allow a child to ride them. Of course in the case of cars, there are switches to turn them off, but the absence of such safety aids in the first place would scare away the unworthy from even trying.

That's how i view a lot of modern supercars. Something once great that has been tamed and beaten to allow its dignity to be dirtied by being ridden by talenteless tools.

[Speedtouch]

Yes, I do also disagree with you efoolution, and agree entirely with edkwon. The old Porsches, that were a bit lairy are still sort of cool, but the new ones are not. Where I live, they are way too common, and sure they are very good cars (they are German after all), and I'm sure business for Porsche is going very well, but I just don't want one.

Having had just one day with Morgans, I can instantly see how cool these things are. They are still made with wooden frames, and (I can't believe I'm saying this) on this front I am siding with Hammond. I've never quite understood why people call them cool, but really, they are something properly special, and cars which have that special quality are very cool indeed. I know this theory agrees with the Porsche one said above, that individuality is cool, but I think even though Porsche have not changed it, it still lacks this something special. On my way home I saw an Aston V8, and to be brutally honest, I wasn't all that impressed by it, which for me, is very surprising. There is a very niche market for cars like Morgans, and I like it, but Porsche have outsold their niche.

[jayhawk]

All supercars, as much as I love them, are seriously dorky because A)only men "get" them and B)only rich jerks can own them. I think it is generally agreed that urban Italian men are pretty cool; and they ride around on Vespas!

[edkwon]

Another age-idea that holds true is that 'if your parents like it or think its cool' then it can be no longer considered cool. Likewise if one likes a car (or anything) for reasons that would make your old parents approve or like it, then those reasons cannot make it cool (i.e. practicality, ease of driving, safety).

This is one of the reasons why an piece of engineering brilliance like the Veyron, is not cool. As Clarkson and Tiff Needel demonstrated in both their reviews, its too comfortable, too easy to drive, for something that once held the title 'fastest car in the world'. It takes phenomenal talent to make something like that, but it sacrifices its right to be considered 'cool' among car enthusiast circles.

[Labcoatguy]

Originally Posted by edkwon

Another age-idea that holds true is that 'if your parents like it or think its cool' then it can be no longer considered cool.

That brings up the issue, are '60s muscle cars cool? Baby boomers love them now because they were around when they were kids, so by that logic they're uncool. Also, what if you and your parents like a car for different reasons?

[Momentum57]

think about The Presidents of the United States of America they had the song Lump and it was over played till they died but they did some other great stuff. Anything that was cool can come back after enough time has passed. Now about cars if you bought a SHO or say a SS Impala you have found cool and if your looking into the next ten years try the Excursion and the Suburban (and if not your driving it ironically).

[avanti]

If I had my little way, I'd eat peaches every day.

[Cobol74]

Sorry, anything called 'Excursion' or 'Suburban' can not now, or in the future every be cool, no matter what they look like, or how they go!

[Lupin_IV]

I beg to differ, there are some classic vehicles carrying the Suburban designation that are cool - the Nash Ambassador Suburban for example.

[katwalk]

My car was cool before the wall burnt down

[bartboy9891]

It's a matter of opinion, I find the 911 cool for instance. Is your "definition" of cool wrong?

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by edkwon

for some reason ppl think porsches, ferraris, and lamborghinis are 'cool' simply based on a shallow set of superlative qualities (fast, powerful, good looking).

First of all, if you call fast, powerful, and good looking a "shallow" set of values again I'll stick a pencil in your eye. Secondly most people are simply used to associating cool with anything they happen to like. We happen to be blessed with presenters that like using their vocabulary to the best extent possible. Personally i always liked the fact that the Cool Wall didn't completely make sense. I'm sure you could argue all day that it provides arelevant commentary on modern society, but to be honest i think its just a awesome excuse to bullshit about cars, and thats why i like it.


Disclaimer:I have no intentions to actually stab anybody with pencils, it called a joke, so don't neg rep me and whine to Quicky

[edkwon]

Originally Posted by Labcoatguy

That brings up the issue, are '60s muscle cars cool? Baby boomers love them now because they were around when they were kids, so by that logic they're uncool. Also, what if you and your parents like a car for different reasons?

I know what youre trying to say but think about what you just typed and you'll see youre actually agreeing with me. youre nitpicking details, but you cannot deny what i'm saying is basically true. How many times has something you perceived as 'cool' been devalued because your parents said 'i like that a lot'.

Perception of cool is partly a way of maintaining uniqueness and exclusivity and someone you perceive as 'uncool' (i.e. parents, ignorant car ppl, ppl you dislike, etc....) agreeing w you encroaches on your personal territory.


Besides this whole discussion is academic. Because something is 'cool' doesn't mean its something i desire. Frankly what i 'want' is something practical, nice, fast, powerful, and most of the cars that i do like are frankly...uncool.

There is often a certain price to cool and it means giving up conviniences.

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

It's a matter of opinion, I find the 911 cool for instance. Is your "definition" of cool wrong?

unfortunately, even tho you may find it cool, my definition is still correct

its similar to enjoying a ghastly fast food item even tho you know most ppl find it digusting. call it a 'guilty pleasure' if you will

[timbuktu]

All this talk about "cool" reminds me of Russell Peters and Indian accents...

+ YouTube Video

"Aren't we hip? Aren't we cool?" This might be NSFW cuz Russell likes to cuss so...ummm...beware?

Anyways, onto serious matters, I think a proper Suburban can be cool. And by proper I meant a beat to hell proper work truck. Or how about an FJ40? I don't know if back in the day it was more than mere transportation, but today I see one that's still got a nice patina and hasn't been lifted and think...mmm...I'd like one of those.

I agree with edkwonthat current Porsches aren't cool, but not because of the prick factor. I think its hard for any new car to be considered cool. We haven't had enough time to be charmed or horrified by them.

And don't forget the rules, i.e. celebrity owners and Kristen Scott Thomas.

[mclarensmps]

I find the Honda Element cool, as I do just about ANY Volvo, others disagree, so I'm right

[Dsemaj]

The 911 is definitely not cool. Just think about the people who drive them - can you ever think of one cool person that has driven one? Everyone I've seen driving a 911 is a wanker

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by edkwon

its similar to enjoying a ghastly fast food item even tho you know most ppl find it digusting. call it a 'guilty pleasure' if you will

I know i just threatened to stab you, but now i want to hug you.