I often wonder who specifies automotive trends. The quick answer would be the market, but government standards play into design as well. I often wonder how much.
Three design features on older cars that have vanished - without any good reason:
1) Steering columns have migrated from a tilt steering design, to an adjustable rake column design. Since I am 6' 4", I hate the adjustable rake design; the tilt steering column offers a lot more legroom, and is less cumbersome in use. I wonder why manufacturers moved away from the traditional tilt steering design?
2) Spring loaded hinges on car hoods. Again...the move away from this made no sense. The only advantage to the current style hinges is that current style hinges prevent no fore and aft movement of the hood, should a crash occur - making the hood an integral part in absorbing the impact of a crash. On the other hand, prop rods (which replace spring loaded hinges), are less convenient, and prop rods can sometimes be bumped into, or brushed up against, when working under the hood. I miss my spring loaded hinges...
3) Flip up door handles. The current style "pull the handle toward you" replaced flip up handles very quickly, making me wonder if this design change was driven by the market, or by the government? Of door handle designs I have no preference.
Three design features on older cars that have vanished - without any good reason:
1) Steering columns have migrated from a tilt steering design, to an adjustable rake column design. Since I am 6' 4", I hate the adjustable rake design; the tilt steering column offers a lot more legroom, and is less cumbersome in use. I wonder why manufacturers moved away from the traditional tilt steering design?
2) Spring loaded hinges on car hoods. Again...the move away from this made no sense. The only advantage to the current style hinges is that current style hinges prevent no fore and aft movement of the hood, should a crash occur - making the hood an integral part in absorbing the impact of a crash. On the other hand, prop rods (which replace spring loaded hinges), are less convenient, and prop rods can sometimes be bumped into, or brushed up against, when working under the hood. I miss my spring loaded hinges...
3) Flip up door handles. The current style "pull the handle toward you" replaced flip up handles very quickly, making me wonder if this design change was driven by the market, or by the government? Of door handle designs I have no preference.