Almost need a support group for those who want to KEEP their tape on.

I've been looking at my S2K picture collection, and looking hard at my die-cast models, and looking at tape-off pictures here and in other threads, and I think I might have an idea as to why Honda blacked it out.

(I'm not a design student, but I play one on TV...)

With the tape ON, the gently sloping line from nose up to the rear is barely perceptible, almost subliminal, helping the purposeful shape look more aggressive, predatorially hunched lower in front (the typical sports-car pose.)

With the tape OFF (on non-black vehicles) the effect is mostly lost as the eye tends to be distracted and follow the sharper angle up the windscreen, and overall the car looks like it sits flatter.

Also, the roundness of the top corners of the windscreen break from the more linear and angular shapes on the car. The Miata coefficient goes up slightly with the tape off -- in other words, it gets cuter and rounder.

When I see picture of the tape removed, I am forced to SEE the windshield hoop and I keep FEELING like its the Cabriolet-esque basket-handle.

Either way, it is a fairly dramatic change in appearance and some will love it, some will not.


Before I looked at all these pictures real hard, trying to get into the mind of the Honda sculptors (we're not worthy!) -- I already had objections to removing it, one practical and one dogmatic:

1) its one more awkward place to wax (and more seams to CATCH wax build-up for that wonderful smegma look)

2) Honda (insert sound of angels and thunder) put it there for a reason


Normally, I'd laugh out anyone who'd use #2 as a sole reason to leave their car's design aesthetic alone, but most cars ARE all about design compromises in getting from prototype to production (and CAN be visually improved) -- I don't believe this one is.

Just my opinion.


(addenda)

I just dragged myself over to http://www.miata.net and slogged through some of the photos, and I am even more convinced now that Honda blacked it out to help people NOT mistake the S2000 for a Miata.

Even this bimbo -- normally entrusted to pontificate about cars -- who KNEW it wasn't a Miata, couldn't help but comment several times how much like a Miata it looks:

http://carpoint.msn.com/Vip/Job/Honda/S2000/2000.asp

Gender has NOTHING to do with the review of course.

[Edited by SilverFog on 04-05-2001 at 11:21 PM]

 

Congratulations, I just did a search, and you are the first person to use that word on this board.

 

This is just great, I was really enthusiastic about removing my windshield tape today....when I was just about done, I noticed that the top corner of the windshield wasn't even painted! It was still the primer and there were even some bare metal exposed! Those lazy mutherf*ckers at Honda put that windshield tape right over my windshield strip without even bothering to finish their job. Is it possible to take this back to teh dealer for warranty work? I mean they have to take it back, its an unfinished job. Just ranting.....

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by autoxEX
[B]...the top corner of the windshield wasn't even painted!

 

Hey SilverFog....my favorite part is her name. Ann Job!!! Boy......I sure could use an Ann Job!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by autoxEX
[B]This is just great, I was really enthusiastic about removing my windshield tape today....when I was just about done, I noticed that the top corner of the windshield wasn't even painted!

 

Anyone got pics of Silver with no tape????

 

While photopoint is still free...



P.S. I don't know why Pinky might think Silver w/o tape looks anything short of fabulous!

 

I took the tape off my yellow and I'd have to see it looks great with the top down, but I feel kinda funny when the top's up -- it's the like soft-top is now an after-thought tacked onto the car rather than being a nice top that coordinates with the windshield frame -- perhaps if the windshield frame were a different shape somehow, less curvature at the top, or something.

In any case, I have to remove some of the left-over adhesive too, so thanks for the tip on the "hair dryer,isopropyl alcohol 70%,cotton towel" tip.

From what I hear thru my dad at AHM, the designer took one last look at the car before production and said it had to have tape on it. Whether that's fact or not, who knows.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SteveUCI
[B]I took the tape off my yellow and I'd have to see it looks great with the top down, but I feel kinda funny when the top's up -- it's the like soft-top is now an after-thought tacked onto the car rather than being a nice top that coordinates with the windshield frame -- perhaps if the windshield frame were a different shape somehow, less curvature at the top, or something.

In any case, I have to remove some of the left-over adhesive too, so thanks for the tip on the "hair dryer,isopropyl alcohol 70%,cotton towel" tip.

From what I hear thru my dad at AHM, the designer took one last look at the car before production and said it had to have tape on it.