New Sentra / New Corolla

[JonCarson]

These two cars look too similar IMO.
Both are okay looking cars.
Neither is very exciting, and that's the problem.
I just hope an SE-R version of the Sentra will be bolder and more distinguished.
http://carpoint.msn.com/merismus/Gallery/c438031a.jpg
http://carpoint.msn.com/merismus/Gallery/c438270a.jpg

[GTR]

it looks like toyota bought some sentra's from nisan and molded on an altima bumper. i have yet to see how the corralla's new rear (if it is new) looks like.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

The rear of the 2001 Corolla is the same as the 2000 except the backup lights are round now.

[Max Ima]

These two photos give me new-found respect for the Focus. It really stands out. Nevertheless, Nissan seems to have learned a lesson from the previous Sentra and designed a car that marches right in line with the status quo. Sentra sales are strong, so I suppose middle-of-the-road design is where it's at in this segment.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Max Ima:
These two photos give me new-found respect for the Focus. It really stands out. Nevertheless, Nissan seems to have learned a lesson from the previous Sentra and designed a car that marches right in line with the status quo. Sentra sales are strong, so I suppose middle-of-the-road design is where it's at in this segment. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree with your statements (except the respect for the Ford part). Nissan cant get too outrageous with one of their "staple" cars. The Corolla is now the worlds best selling car...why stray far from that?

[JonCarson]

Ok. Here are pics of both cars' rears for comparison.

Like 99ESMAX said, Corolla has only really made the reverse lights rounder.

http://carpoint.msn.com/merismus/Gallery/c438032a.jpg
http://carpoint.msn.com/merismus/Gallery/c438271a.jpg

[Max Ima]

carsonjon:
It wasn't easy writing that I respected Ford, but I must admit (and perhaps you might find a wee part of your mind to agree) that the Focus was a pretty solid effort. Especially that hatch coupe. In the spirit of "fresh alloy," a member must give props where props are due.

[Slack00]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Max Ima:
These two photos give me new-found respect for the Focus. It really stands out. Nevertheless, Nissan seems to have learned a lesson from the previous Sentra and designed a car that marches right in line with the status quo. Sentra sales are strong, so I suppose middle-of-the-road design is where it's at in this segment. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I couldn't agree with you more... http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif

The trouble with making a real "statement" in terms of the styling of a car is that some people might not like that statement. In fact, the more outrageous and risky the styling, the more potential buyers there are at stake. Sports cars can have outrageous shapes because they are meant to be smaller volume, passionate, intense cars. They don't pander to mass appeal, only to enthusiast appeal.

And, like in other posts in this Sentra forum, we see how Nissan has moved to a car with more mass appeal and bang for the buck than pure performance. (But don't lose heart...more on that later...) The styling, to me, tries to make an impression of a sedan and not merely a "compact with four doors." This is a good move on Nissan's part, because it means a lot less offended potential buyers. They can't afford a "love it or hate it" styling statement on a volume leader such as the Sentra. Looking at the front and rear fascias, it seems like a much larger sedan than it is real life. The Corolla is sharper and more distinct, but it also looks like a little subcompact. IMO, I lean towards the sharpness of the Corolla in the front and especially the rear, but the profile view DEFINITELY belongs to the Sentra. But the front and rear do well to create an impression of Nissans larger sedans.

The good news is, an SE-R is in the works, and I'm anxious to see what they do to make it more sporty looking. http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/grin.gif

Kudos to Ford and the Focus. You have to admire Ford. Ford has traditionally been the boldest manufacturer (in terms of styling) of the past fifteen years or so. (Well, I dunno...Chrysler is really giving them a run for their money...but wheras Chrysler seems more fascinated by Retro, Ford seems to be truly distinctive by breaking new ground). When it comes to outrageous designs, they take the cake.

Heck even as far back as the sixties, Lee Iacocca was famous for being scoffed at by marketing execs when he took the courageous step in saying he had planned on selling 100,000 units of his new sports coupe. The 1965 Mustang, as it became to be known, sold more than 500,000 units in its first year. http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/shocked.gif

In 1986, when cars were really shoebox looking, Ford took a HUGE risk on its new, very round Taurus. Of course, the Taurus became the number one selling car in America for many years after that.

In the middle nineties, roundness seemed to be all the rage...all the sports car were slippery looking bars of soap. Ford said
"We are going to start a trend in edgy cars" and made the Cougar and the Focus, followed by refreshenings of the Mustang. All have been major successes around the globe.

Ford seems to say "We are the styling leaders; everybody else can follow us or get steamrollered." Their styles are very fresh and innovative...their New Edge design philosophy was not meant to be appreciated right away, but grow on you over time...like meeting a new person, at first you may be standoffish or he might seem rather awkward, but after a while you may find yourself really wanting to hang around them.

To Ford's credit, they are pretty smart business people....they have a better global marketing strategy than most...they are doing quite well in Europe and other markets, wheras other domestics have barely entered the arena.

While Ford has struck paydirt with its risky maneuvers more often than not, sometimes when Ford goes prospecting, all they find is DIRT. They have had some MISERABLE failures...The Edsel, for one, is an infamously ugly car for its day. The latest ovoid Taurus didn't fare so well. The late seventies Mustangs barely sold at all....and the same goes for many other forgotten cars that Ford would rather leave that way..... http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/blush.gif

So, Ford has hit the mark pretty closely with the new Focus...but I think the best cars to characterize the early 2000's is yet to come...(bum bum BUM! http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif)....all I can say is.... the quarter panel of the new Z ...it looks really impressive http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/grin.gif http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/grin.gif http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/grin.gif.... Nissan will have its distinct, aggressive car... and I predict the new Z will be the biggest head turner to wear the badge in a long time....


[This message has been edited by Slack00 (edited 07-03-2000).]

[JonCarson]

Wow 'Slack00'!
Thank you for putting so much into that last post.

I'd have to say that I quite agree with you concerning Ford's bold and quite frequently successful design strategies.

I also agree with you, Max Ima, and your comments on the Ford Focus. I greatly respect Ford for designing and bringing to market this great little hatch.

I think your last post was meant to be directed at someone else. If you look back, you'll see that I really only posted those pics and very brief commentary on the Corolla and Sentra.

[Max Ima]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by carsonjon:


I also agree with you, Max Ima, and your comments on the Ford Focus. I greatly respect Ford for designing and bringing to market this great little hatch.

I think your last post was meant to be directed at someone else. If you look back, you'll see that I really only posted those pics and very brief commentary on the Corolla and Sentra.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My bad, carsonjon. You're right. Zcarnut "hadn't seen the light" on the Focus. Altho' I checked out a hatchback from the rear and it was really disappointing. It looked broad and flat and totally unstyled. Apparently Ford ran out of design gas there.