Recognizing cars

[Peggy Gray]

Back in the day, I could recognize the make, model, and approximate year of most cars on the road, at least the ones from 1940-1970. I knew, for example, how to tell the difference between a '55 and '56 Chevy, or a '59 and a '60. I could spot a car a quarter mile away and know it was a '51 Hudson or a '56 Ford Vicky. Now, with a few exceptions (PT Cruiser, Subaru Forester, VW Beetle) they kind of all look the same. I can't tell a Toyota from a Chevy without looking for the logo. I'd like to think this is due to change in the way cars are designed, and not to my getting old.

[Nate Pruitt]

I don't recognize cars at all. I blatantly deny their existence.

It is interesting how the market has been very diluted from originality for a few reasons. Some companies are obviously trying to piggy back off the success of others by virtually stealing their designs, while others work hand in glove so that their vehicles are virtually indistinguishable. There have been so many mergers, buyouts, takeovers, and then on the other side schisms. (Remember how Mercedes and Chrysler were together... and then weren't?) I don't know how the youngest minds could possibly keep up. I doubt it's because you're getting old that you can't, Peggy, not when you're young at heart!

Also, be on the lookout for those Aston Martin clone Fords (thanks to Ford's current ownership of Aston Martin). Much of the stylish appearance- none of the power and handling. Reminds me of the old "kit" cars that used to drive around in Florida pretending to be Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

[Dana Grant]

I can't even recognize my OWN car, let alone other ones!!!

Ever since we bought our new van, I literally have to hit the lock button on the remote to see the lights flash because there are so many other silver van-shaped vehicles in the parking lot!!! ha ha ha I can't believe how many silver vehicles there are out there!!!!!

[John Kennedy]

From the side they all look like Toyota Camrys - and probably half of them are.

I sometimes have to search for our '07 Prius by using the remote zapper - ended up having to replace the battery in the zapper. That was just a few bucks - glad I didn't have to replace the zapper itself - by the time they sell you the zapper and reset the car you're lookin' at several $$$$$

[Billy Cox]

Back in the day, I could recognize the make, model, and approximate year of most cars on the road, at least the ones from 1940-1970. I knew, for example, how to tell the difference between a '55 and '56 Chevy, or a '59 and a '60. I could spot a car a quarter mile away and know it was a '51 Hudson or a '56 Ford Vicky. Now, with a few exceptions (PT Cruiser, Subaru Forester, VW Beetle) they kind of all look the same. I can't tell a Toyota from a Chevy without looking for the logo. I'd like to think this is due to change in the way cars are designed, and not to my getting old.

I can generally recognize most cars, although some designs are quite similar. Granted, I don't pay much attention to the 'kid-hauler' class of vehicles.

[Katelynn Scott]

I plan on combating this problem by eventually purchasing a pink car (or painting my current one). Everyone will be able to tell it's me coming! ;o )

[Dan Henderson]

I plan on combating this problem by eventually purchasing a pink car (or painting my current one). Everyone will be able to tell it's me coming! ;o )

Pink Caddilac?

[Jon Bemis]

I can still recognize the majority of cars, but it's not as easy as it used to be. Anything that is 2 door American iron I have no problem with.

[Dan Henderson]

I can still recognize the majority of cars, but it's not as easy as it used to be. Anything that is 2 door American iron I have no problem with.

Cars ? I've been in the Air Force 30 years but don't expect me to be able to identify one plane from another. I get calls from ambulance drivers all the time, "I can't find the plane" I tell them, look for the big gray one not parked at a terminal ... That's about as descriptive as I can get...

[Larry Parsons]

I can't even recognize my OWN car, let alone other ones!!!

Ever since we bought our new van, I literally have to hit the lock button on the remote to see the lights flash because there are so many other silver van-shaped vehicles in the parking lot!!! ha ha ha I can't believe how many silver vehicles there are out there!!!!!

My mother in law put a hat in the back window to let her know her car>
thanks
Larry

[Gina Stevenson]

I'm with Dana. There are several red vans ot there, too. The other day I wondered why "my lights" did nothing when using remote. Then remembered I was in the next aisle over from "my" (not!) vehicle!

As Peggy has said, once upon a time, cars were distinguishable from each other. We'll add to her list the '67, '68 & '69 Camaros.

[Peggy Gray]

One day somebody went by and honked; my husband came inside and asked, "Who do we know with a light-colored pickup?" I said, "Seriously?" This is Vermont. I was about to ask him the make and/or model, but I realized that even if he'd recognized it (unlikely), we'd probably still have identified the driver by "full-size extended cab, no cap, silver/grey" than "Dodge" or "Chevy".

[Dennis M. Scott]

At age about 15, I was surprised that my dad could distinguish and knew all the cars twenty-five years old or more, and I asked him how he could do it. He said, "Well, they made cars to look different then. Now they all look alike." The year was 1964. Now, I can quickly recall the cars from the sixties, but the newer ones all look alike. At age 87 dad is still driving, and identifies two groups of vehicles: cars and pickups. Other than that, he says, they all look alike.

[Peggy Gray]

For some reason, I have to know what people drive. I know better, but I STILL get into the same conversation with my daughter and granddaughter: "What kind of vehicle does Joe have?" "Reddish" "Well, a car or a truck?" "Car" "Sedan, wagon, hatchback?" "I guess a sedan" "Okay, large like Deanna's, or small like Karen's?" "Sort of small, I guess. Not as small as Karen's" "Never mind".

Then it gets even more complicated. My daughter called me one day and said, "Help solve an argument. What color is Chris's rig? I say it's green, Mika says it's grey." I thought it was grey, but checked with my husband to confirm. His answer? "I don't know, I guess kind of brownish."

When my friend got a new van, I said "I really like the color, but is it blue or purple?" She said, "It's Deep Amethyst."

Sometimes I think Henry Ford had the right idea.

[Billy Cox]

At age about 15, I was surprised that my dad could distinguish and knew all the cars twenty-five years old or more, and I asked him how he could do it. He said, "Well, they made cars to look different then. Now they all look alike." The year was 1964. Now, I can quickly recall the cars from the sixties, but the newer ones all look alike. At age 87 dad is still driving, and identifies two groups of vehicles: cars and pickups. Other than that, he says, they all look alike.

That's an interesting observation, because I couldn't distinguish many cars built in the 1950's because I don't know what cues to look for. I could easily say that they all look the same...and some designs were popular across various brands. Someone who was alive at that time would know which cues to look for, but I don't.

When someone says that the contemporary car models all look alike, I think it's just because the cues have changed and some people haven't learned the new cues.

Now, I have mistaken some of the newer Korean made cars (Hyundai, Kia) for a BMW when I see them in my rearview mirror; likely because of their grill design and the bluish headlights. Some Chrysler models bear a striking resemblance to Bentley and some not-so-recent Mitsubishi sedans resemble Mercedes.

Whenever my wife wants to embarrass me (okay, she's probably not trying), she will point to a newer Camaro and ask if it's a Mustang.