Dear editor,
In your May 12 editorial Dullness Drives Detroit, you stated your opinion that “creating aesthetics is a risk that manufacturers are not willing to take.” I disagree (a bit). The difference is consumers. The fins and portholes of the past are not functional, so they have been phased out. The “one-percenter” chooses function – look at the Subaru STi, Mitsubishi Evolution, Mazda Miata and Jeep Wrangler.
The spoilers are real and they do what Ferrari and Porsche could only dream about 20 years ago. These vehicles may not be as pretty but they are formidable in the right hands against the most expensive of cars. What makes this new breed of cars so beautiful is their capability.
As for classics of the next generation, they will be cars like the AE86 1986 Toyota Corolla, Nissan 240 SX of the late 1980s, and fox-body Mustang of the mid-1980s. You might consider these mundane, but this new breed of classics is more honest than current collectibles. They only have what is needed for a great driving experience, and that is what makes these cars so special.
Chris Rogers,
Culver City
