Pretentious performance: Factory installed gimmicks

[Sagaris]

It seems that American car companies are the worst when it comes to factory installed badging, bodywork, and marketing gimmicks. Yes, some of them are functional, Yes, some of them are installed on vehicles that actually DO perform well, but it just occurred to me that there are very few understated performance cars from America. Especially before domestic companies embraced 4-valve per cylinder designs and variable cam timing.

Discuss and post up some of the absurd gimmicks as well as some examples of understated Domestic cars with good performance.

Gimmicks:
"Powered By Ford", "Cold Air Induction" That awesome 5.0 shouldn't need those kind of labels to give the owners a warm fuzzy feeling.


"Ram Air" hood scoops There is nothing performance oriented about this car. Sure its a V6 tail-dragger but the steering has as much feel as a 10mm thick prophylactic rubber and is outgunned by many lesser cars that don't try to pull off a boy-racer appearance.


And possibly worst of all, any car with the word "SPORT" plastered across the side. What in the hell is sporty about a base model car with a pinstripe and a spoiler?

There are plenty more, post em up.

[Zed You]

[bryangb]

Toyota Corolla S

^beat me to it

[breakfasteatre]

push button start. why

[TooFitToQuit]

"Powered By Ford", "Cold Air Induction" That awesome 5.0 shouldn't need those kind of labels to give the owners a warm fuzzy feeling.

Good thing that's a 3V 4.6

[Lwize]

Engine noise enhancers.

[Aonarch]

Engine noise enhancers.

[VarianceVQ]

push button start. why

Has nothing to do with performance pretense in most cases. It's part of the keyless entry experience.

[Horror Business]

S2000's push button start is totally laughable.

1) Insert key
2) Turn key
3) Push Start

The only good defense I have heard is that it makes things faster if you spin out and stall on the track. But by then you have already lost a few seconds on your lap.

[Aonarch]

[Harv]

[A.Wilder]

what is that?

[sforsancho]

Have to disagree with 'Powered by Ford,' that emblem goes way back. Awesome to see in kit cars and one-offs with Ford engine swaps.




There's this little gem though, for a couple of years on every awful per-bankruptcy car GM produced.

[JettaMobile]

what is that?

Sound generator called a "soundakator" found in what they consider sporty Audi/VW's (gti, R, TT, etc.). It vibrates to add noise depending on engine load, speed, etc.

[JLJetta]

How is this any different than BMW selling "M-look" and MB selling "AMG-Look" packages?

Audi and VW does it as well. "S-line" and "R-Line" which are LOOKS, not performance.

[2.0_Mazda]

the vents

[Live-Wire]

H.O 'High Output' badges... typically the engine wasn't available in a lesser output version, the HO version was just the last step in the rung of displacements for that vehicle. Case in point I rented a 300. Had the 3.5L, was stamped 3.5L H.O. on the engine cover... The vehicle had a 4 speed automatic and felt dog slow (compared to the 5 speed car another buddy got at another rental place a few months prior)... Good decent fuel economy and was comfy. But was not what I'd call a H.O. car.

[Pool Runner]

Dual exhaust outlets on a realatively tame, base four cylinder motor.

[Ducky 2.0T]

the vents

http://garenwisner.blogspot.com/2012...ole-buick.html

[Decahedron]

Dual exhaust outlets on a realatively tame, base four cylinder motor.

I could very well be flexing my ignorance muscles here, but of all base econo cars, this would actuallly makes some sense, as there are two banks of 2 cylinders, no?

[TooFitToQuit]

I could very well be flexing my ignorance muscles here, but of all base econo cars, this would actuallly makes some sense, as there are two banks of 2 cylinders, no?

I'm about 98% certain that the headers route to a single pipe under the car and then back out to two, which still negates the need for two mufflers / tips.

[Decahedron]

sounds right to me

[chrismkay3]

i think the factory installed stopwatch on sport chrono cars is a huge gimmick. the rest of the package is cool though...

[UnimogR]

All this crap is what happens when manufacturers decided that they wanted to waste money paying consultants and marketing idiots to think up most of this nonsense.


Not only are these things completely worthless, and many times offensive, but they also cost THE BUYER more money.

If manufacturers want to look where to save money and cut costs...bring marketing back in house and make sure it is done in a reasonable and cost effective way without insulting the buyers.

Congrats to GM for telling the network carrying the stupor bowl next year to stuff it. No million dollar moronic ads.

[Zstampe]

Lexus isf "quad" exhaust.

[SnowGTI2003]

I'm about 98% certain that the headers route to a single pipe under the car and then back out to two, which still negates the need for two mufflers / tips.

Yup. Like that on all imprezas.

[UnimogR]

Yup. Like that on all imprezas.

How much extra do you think that PHONY exhaust system costs the customer. My guess is about 400 bucks. Sheesh!

400 more smackers for .....nothing.

[Sir UNBANNED_GERBIL M.B.]

How is this any different than BMW selling "M-look" and MB selling "AMG-Look" packages?

Audi and VW does it as well. "S-line" and "R-Line" which are LOOKS, not performance.

My Audi would disagree. Full SLine package includes lower and stiffer suspension.

[VarianceVQ]

How much extra do you think that PHONY exhaust system costs the customer. My guess is about 400 bucks. Sheesh!

400 more smackers for .....nothing.

How about you come back with a figure you didn't completely pull out of thin air.

[TooFitToQuit]

How about you come back with a figure you didn't completely pull out of thin air.

I'll guess about $40-50.

[bryangb]

The Ford Mustang in whole is a gimmick if you ask me. GT, Mach 1, cobra, SS, BRZ...whatever bull**** they're calling it now. It's still a big heavy car that performs no better than a Ford Fusion

[TooFitToQuit]

The Ford Mustang in whole is a gimmick if you ask me. GT, Mach 1, cobra, SS, BRZ...whatever bull**** they're calling it now. It's still a big heavy car that performs no better than a Ford Fusion

Troll elsewhere please

[hillgiant]

Plastic Engine Covers


Look at my plastic engine cover. LOOK AT IT!!!1!!!

[SnowGTI2003]

The Ford Mustang in whole is a gimmick if you ask me. GT, Mach 1, cobra, SS, BRZ...whatever bull**** they're calling it now. It's still a big heavy car that performs no better than a Ford Fusion

[Espresso]

The Ford Mustang in whole is a gimmick if you ask me. GT, Mach 1, cobra, SS, BRZ...whatever bull**** they're calling it now. It's still a big heavy car that performs no better than a Ford Fusion

Lol Que...