Anyone want to talk about...

[08087]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110830/FRANKFURT/110839993

Ford has an Evos 4 dr. gulf wing car in the works, anyone have any thoughts on if it will make it to production or just stay in the books?

I think it's a great idea and would get on a waiting list if it were to come true.

[Mike C.]

Not beyond concept is my vote.

[SIMid]

They will pinch the styling themes there, but they will ditch the doors due to cost.

This one was given gullwings cause it's got the "WOW!" factor for the show. :)

[Totally 80s]

Gull-wing doors are NOT female friendly. Most women do not like them, so it will never see fruition.

[Ikeaboy1]

Looks Great!!!!!










They'll never build it.

[DMCVegas]

Gull-wing doors are NOT female friendly. Most women do not like them, so it will never see fruition.

Actually that's not entirely true on either count.

DMC was the only company to get them right. Everyone else sacrificed door weight by forcing higher door sills. Even in cases where they have made them lower, the doors are not as structurally safe. The only drawback that the DMC-12 has is it's low roof line, otherwise a woman in a skirt or dress can keep her legs crossed and easily lift her legs, and then spin over and simply stand up to discreetly get out without her knees loosing contact with one another.

Volvo a few years ago came up with the YCC concept car that was aimed strictly at women and had lots features that were geared towards females. Some IMO were sexist, others were actually quite practical like the cap-less fuel door that has since made it into production on cars. Interestingly enough it had Gullwing doors that women responded to and thought were quite practical. In fact the whole thing was designed by women. Women who liked and wanted Gullwing Doors.

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2006/05/29-volvo-ycc-concept-design-award/Volvo-YCC-Concept-5.jpg

Gullwing Doors probably will never see mass production on entry and mid level cars because of both the price of engineering them and lazy drivers who won't pony up the cash to replace the struts, but that doesn't mean consumers don't like them.

[sean]

Gull-wing doors are NOT female friendly. Most women do not like them, so it will never see fruition.

I have not found this to be true.

[Totally 80s]

Women may like the look of them but most don't want them on their car. The idea of reaching up and pulling down the door for a small woman is not desirable. Or the idea of getting out and the fear of looking goofy. Also gull-wing doors draw a lot of attention another thing the average "mom" may not want.

Then tell that same woman that if the car rolls over she gets to kick out the window to get out. What soccer mom or twenty year old woman wouldn't love that?

Women make the car buying decision 60 percent of the time. If woman LOVED gull-wing doors all cars would have them.

[DMCVegas]

Women may like the look of them but most don't want them on their car. The idea of reaching up and pulling down the door for a small woman is not desirable. Or the idea of getting out and the fear of looking goofy. Also gull-wing doors draw a lot of attention another thing the average "mom" may not want.

Then tell that same woman that if the car rolls over she gets to kick out the window to get out. What soccer mom or twenty year old woman wouldn't love that?



Well, if more cars had Gullwings, they wouldn't stand out as much. They're absolutely practical since they don't require nearly as much space as a regular door, but it's their rarity that contributes to the novelty factor and thus makes them stand out.

Likewise take a look at SUVs. Their rear hatch doors that automaticly go up are one of the biggest factors that appeal to women who usually are carrying some sort of handbag, as well as other items and need a place to set their items down and sort through them before getting into their cars. A Gullwing keeps valuables even safer by keeping everything within eyesight, not to mention that man or woman, it's a whole lot easier to get a child seated without the doors in the way, especially with little ones where you have to lean in and secure their restraints.

The YCC also was a concept car that was designed BY women, and FOR women. And out of all the choices of doors, women went with Gullwings. Another item to research on this is that when the YCC was debuted, it's Gullwings had motors in them so you could just press a button to lower and raise it. No stretching involved, and once again what women want.

As far as roll-overs are concerned, that's not a concern either. The impact in most rollovers can actually deform the body and doors to the point where you're unable to open them anyway. So extractions are performed with the victims being pulled out of the window openings, or they just cut the car open.

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/default/files/extraction.JPG



Women make the car buying decision 60 percent of the time. If woman LOVED gull-wing doors all cars would have them.

Most women probably don't even know what they are, and have never even had the option to buy them. As far as women making the "decision", 9 times out of 10 the consumer doesn't actually make any sort of decision. Salespeople will tell them what kind of car they're going to buy and then just convince them why they should have it. Which explains why so many cars have SatNav, electrically heated & cooled cup holders, and leather interiors. Each of these extra little items is a profit margin to the manufacturers, so they just keep pushing them onto consumers who in many cases don't even have the opportunity to buy them. Gullwing Doors don't have as high of a profit margin as conventional doors. First off there is the natural higher level of complexity that has to go into their engineering. Second are the additional parts they require. Third is the fact that it doesn't allow for cheap Badge-Engineering. All of these things add up financially and eat profit margins, unlike gadgetry which is dirt-cheap by comparison. I challenge anyone to go online to a Car Maker's website. Price out the most striped down, bare-bones cars you can find. Then see if any lots in your area have them. Chances are they won't have many if any at all. And if you show up, they'll just keep steering you towards the more expensive cars.

The illusion of "Choice" is a great marketing strategy.

[Totally 80s]

How many women choose to buy Deloreans? I'm guessing that its about 1/10 of one percent.

Don't get me wrong, gullwing doors are totally awesome and our counter argument was well written but I think your thinking like a man. Using a lot of logic but very little emotion.

[sean]

Gull-wing doors are NOT female friendly. Most women do not like them, so it will never see fruition.


How many women choose to buy Deloreans? I'm guessing that its about 1/10 of one percent.

How many women like 3 karat diamonds? How many women like 3-day weekends at the spa every month? Now, how many women actually buy them?

Like != going to buy. Women can be, for the most part, more practical then men would be so saying women don't like DeLoreans because they don't buy them might be flawed IMO.

[tyb323]

Most concept cars I've seen have gullwing doors at some stage in their development. It's simply an attention getter on the showroom floor. Buick had a gullwing sedan at the 2008 New York Auto Show. It never came to fruition.

It's impractical and expensive, and contrary to what you all may think on the forums (we have a slight bias =) ), nobody wants them.

I was able to snap a pic of the Buick while I was there -
http://i40.tinypic.com/5l78mq.jpg

[Dangermouse]

Most concept cars I've seen have gullwing doors at some stage in their development. It's simply an attention getter on the showroom floor. Buick had a gullwing sedan at the 2008 New York Auto Show. It never came to fruition.

It's impractical and expensive, and contrary to what you all may think on the forums (we have a slight bias =) ), nobody wants them.

I was able to snap a pic of the Buick while I was there -
http://i40.tinypic.com/5l78mq.jpg

It's also a great way to show off the interior of the car

[sean]

It's impractical and expensive, and contrary to what you all may think on the forums (we have a slight bias =) ), nobody wants them.
]

Right! But would you say they don't like them?

[tyb323]

Right! But would you say they don't like them?

Aesthetically yes, people like them. But in terms of actually buying a car, gullwing doors would probably be a turn off for many. Remember that the public's perception is that the doors swing out not up, they will be afraid of opening their door into traffic (instead of opening away from traffic like they do)

It's kind of like wanting to own a Ferrari. They look awesome but people don't buy them as daily drivers because they percieve them to be horrible daily driving cars

[Totally 80s]

How many women like 3 karat diamonds? How many women like 3-day weekends at the spa every month? Now, how many women actually buy them?

Like != going to buy. Women can be, for the most part, more practical then men would be so saying women don't like DeLoreans because they don't buy them might be flawed IMO.

Every woman I know, EVERY one of them owns a diamond. Your comparison is not the same. Woman are not buying Deloreans & Bricklins because they can't afford them.

Is it opposite day? "Women (for the most part) are more practical than men?" Now I know your f'ing with us. :rofl: Come on man, there is no way you typed that with a straight face. :lol: Was your wife/girlfriend looking over your shoulder as you typed that?

[sean]

: Come on man, there is no way you typed that with a straight face?

I did.

[Dangermouse]

Yes Dear

[sean]

Yes Dear

Does that make you my bitch D?