Modern supercar design prioritizes performance over practicality, resulting in vehicles that struggle with everyday road conditions. The author points out a recurring frustration: apologizing for a car’s inability to navigate standard driveways, speed bumps, or poorly maintained roads. This isn’t a driver error; it’s a design flaw.
The Absurdity of Apologies
The author humorously highlights the almost automatic apologetic reflex when driving a low-slung vehicle in non-ideal situations. This behavior is absurd because the fault lies with the vehicle’s design, not the driver’s maneuvering. The comparison to apologizing for minor inconveniences in restaurants further emphasizes the illogical nature of accepting blame for a car’s limitations.
Manufacturer Neglect
Car manufacturers are aware of road conditions yet continue to produce vehicles with insufficient ground clearance. Hydraulic nose lifters are sometimes included as a workaround, but these systems are often slow, unreliable, or require the car to be moving at a crawl to activate.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about a fundamental disconnect between automotive engineering and real-world usability. The pursuit of extreme aerodynamics and low ride heights often renders these vehicles impractical for daily use. The issue isn’t the roads being too rough; it’s the cars being too fragile.
The solution is simple: manufacturers should prioritize a modest increase in ground clearance and optimize lift systems for faster, more reliable operation. Until then, drivers will continue to apologize for the mistakes of design teams.
