Styling trends - short rear deck lids

[trinacriabob]

As I see the new Lexus (help me out on the model number), the Maxima/Altima and now the 2010 LaCrosse, I think the short stubby rear deck lid is, for the most part, hideous. They are sedans, not fastbacks.

Not only that, it makes most of the trunk hidden, whereas with a "normally" proportioned rear trunk lid, you can actually look down at things from eye level and move them in, out or around. Maybe, in a rare instance, they might be ok, but mostly they are not ok in my book.

Your thoughts/vote?

[Lamar]

"Other." Depends on the car.

I like it on the Mazda6 and Maxima, but not many others.

[mustang84]

I'm not really a fan, it depends on the car but generally I don't like them. I dislike the whole trend toward short decks and clown-car-like high beltlines and roofs. They make cars look awkward instead of graceful or athletic. Some of it is due to new safety regs, and the rest is due to the ridiculous "bigger is better" mentality that has morphed the Accord from a compact to a full-size car in a 20 year span.

[balthazar]

For me, the whole short deck thing harkens back to the pony car, and in general I don't care for it. I prefer a short hood / long deck proportion, or at least something more balanced. Some treatments work, others like the toyota GS, don't.

[bobo]

Isn't the CTS Coupe the worst offender? I don't have a problem with short decks. In fact, if it improves aerodynamics, I'm all for it.

[Robert Hall]

As I see the new Lexus (help me out on the model number), the Maxima/Altima and now the 2010 LaCrosse, I think the short stubby rear deck lid is, for the most part, hideous. They are sedans, not fastbacks.

Your thoughts/vote?

Perhaps the Lexus GS? It has a really short tail. Very similar greenhouse and tail to the '10 LaCrosse.

I like the ultra short deck on the CTS coupe, since it's a fastback.. the short deck on the CTS sedan looks ok, IMHO.

What I don't like about so many of these designs, though, is the rear quarters end up very wedge-like with a tall, very short deck... it's amazing how tall some cars are from the top of the deck to the bottom of the fascia today..

One of the things I like about the Panthers is they are nicely balanced...longish hood, long decklid...that's an old-style proportion you don't see anymore... I always liked the proportions of the '90-97 Town Cars, perfect for a big American car, IMHO.

[ocnblu]

I don't like them when they're too short. A sedan should look like a sedan, not a hatchback.

[Drew Dowdell]

I like a proportionally short deck lid with a proportionally long hood.

Thusly:

This is something I would consider out of proportion.

[PurdueGuy]

my biggest issue is the opening size. I hate when I have something I want to put in the trunk, and I can clearly see that it would fit in the trunk, but because the opening is too small, I can't actually put it in the trunk.

[regfootball]

CTS coupe is indeed pushing the limits of this.

Who cars though because I am all for the CTS wagon!

[regfootball]

CTS coupe is indeed pushing the limits of this.

Who cares though because I am all for the CTS wagon!

[mustang84]

Isn't the CTS Coupe the worst offender? I don't have a problem with short decks. In fact, if it improves aerodynamics, I'm all for it.

This is mostly why I'm not really a fan of the CTS coupe, even though I love the CTS sedan to death.

[§carlet §wordfish]

I don't really like them on large cars. On compacts, however, if you try to give it a longer rear deck you end up with something dumpy and entirely not-sleek looking, like a K car (or most compact sedans in recent history), because the rear window is forced to come down too steeply.

[2005 EquinoxLS]

They look cooler but the smller opening limits the usefulness. Being as nearly all cars are designed this way today it alsmost forces you to get an SUV or a truck just to haul a box. Where a box fits in my 2 old ones. Yes you have to hook the trunklid when you do that but at least you can do it on those old B-bodies.

[91z4me]

my biggest issue is the opening size. I hate when I have something I want to put in the trunk, and I can clearly see that it would fit in the trunk, but because the opening is too small, I can't actually put it in the trunk.

Worst offender of this ever:

[Robert Hall]

Worst offender of this ever:

Even worse:

I haven't seen one of these in years... ('86 Grand Prix 2+2).

[Camino LS6]

Hate them.

This is one of the worst styling trends of recent cars.