PHers - negativity concerning potentially exciting new cars

[adycav]

There seems to be an increasing trend on this site for many members to spout vitriol regarding what in my opinion are exciting vehicular prospects.

This occurs well before the cars in question are driven by respected journalists and in some cases before the sodding final specs are even made known! Now I'm all for slagging off shite when we all know it's shite, but can we not at least wait until the finished article is released?!

As I'm sure that many of you have noticed this has occurred to the point of tedium with the new Focus RS. Here is another example, from today in fact:

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

"Audi launches a £43k version of a £25k car. So instead of a Cayman or Boxster which will drive rings around it or (most of) an M3 whose performance (and pedigree) would crush it, Audi is hoping someone will give up 43 large for a few extra hp, chav-tastic bodykit, and some RS badges"

There are many other examples. I would post more but reading them depresses me. Just look at any 'news' post relating to a BMW/Audi/Porsche/4x4/GT-R/Impreza/MINI etc etc.


Now I assumed that this site would be full of motoring enthusiasts, with a commensurate interest in performance cars. I'm sure that this is the case for the majority. However I for one am tired of reading all the negativity.

My hypothesis? This behaviour can only be explained by a combination of the wonderful British traits of reverse snobbery and envy. The vast majority of the 'haters' either have no indication of what they drive in their profile, or they drive a £2000 stbox/shopping car.

This is not an attack on those with a limited budget or no desire to spend a lot of money on a car, I've owned some nails in my time as I'm sure most of us have. But what in God's name is wrong with admiring a powerful performance car, especially in these silly green times?

Feedback/comments welcome!

Edited - twice! - for cretinuos spelling

Edited by adycav on Tuesday 24th February 14:47

[gingerpaul]

As PH has become more popular it has attracted more idiots. Not a great surprise really. Fortunately the vast majority stay in the P&P and GG so don't disrupt the whole site.

[LukeBird]

gingerpaul said:

As PH has become more popular it has attracted more idiots. Not a great surprise really. Fortunately the vast majority stay in the P&P and GG so don't disrupt the whole site.

If I see something like the OP quoted, I may have a look at the poster's name and see if it's worth bothering...
Usually if they're new I won't bother!

[ol' dirty]

Some times it's like reading the comments on Youtube on PH.

As said, fortunatly, most of it stays in the GG & P&P

[14-7]

It amuses me when people say that given car being reviewed should have more horsepower, more turbos blah blah blah.

Then you look at their profile and they drive a diesel Mondeo or something.

[Garlick]

gingerpaul said:

As PH has become more popular it has attracted more idiots. Not a great surprise really. Fortunately the vast majority stay in the P&P and GG so don't disrupt the whole site.

Shhh. Don't mention the other forums

I tend to agree in the main, and it's a shame. It seems to be the current trend to post the most offensive or single - minded comment you can think of......or simply base your opinions on those of Clarkson. Thankfully, this type of member remains in the minority.

[kambites]

Garlick said:

Thankfully, this type of member remains in the minority.

I'm not at all convinced of that. Even if it's a minority now, I don't believe it will be for very long, the way things are going.

[sleep envy]

Garlick said:

simply base your opinions on those of Clarkson

surprising how many sheep PH seems to attract

[Garlick]

kambites said:

Garlick said:

Thankfully, this type of member remains in the minority.

I'm not at all convinced of that. Even if it's a minority now, I don't believe it will be for very long, the way things are going.

Perhaps you're right, it's my job to stop it and to ask PHers to self police where possible.

[M@H]

kambites said:

Garlick said:

Thankfully, this type of member remains in the minority.

I'm not at all convinced of that.

Me neither, but as said, they do tend to loiter in the "main" areas and not pollute the specific sections too much. P&P is just a schoolboy tittering session these days..

Matt.

[mrmr96]

gingerpaul said:

As PH has become more popular it has attracted more idiots. Not a great surprise really. Fortunately the vast majority stay in the P&P and GG so don't disrupt the whole site.

Indeed, unfortunately the idiots are more vocal than most, so their input of nonsense is disproportionally large.

[ExPat2B]

My take on it is that peoples opinions of cars are very subjective and personal, and when you combine that with a high sticker price you bring out the worst in people.

People want a 40-100k purchase to be perfect for them. Since everyone is different, no car, no matter how good, is going to be perfect for everybody. Push the envelope and you take an even bigger risk of polarising opinions.

[touching cloth]

sleep envy said:

Garlick said:

simply base your opinions on those of Clarkson

surprising how many sheep PH seems to attract

Yep, I agree with that 100%, you're absolutely right.

[sleep envy]

ExPat2B said:

People want a 40-100k purchase to be perfect for them. Since everyone is different, no car, no matter how good, is going to be perfect for everybody. Push the envelope and you take an even bigger risk of polarising opinions.

or the fact that people who care too much what others think fell the need to defend their purchase

that's pretty sad in itself

Edited by sleep envy on Tuesday 24th February 14:40

[jkennyd]

I'm with the OP on this one all the way. I really look forward to new motors and whats being built into them, the design, new engineering features blah blah. It pisses me off when peeps start to slag a car off when they have no idea what the car is all about or is ever likely to drive one.

Get the blinkers off and Shut the fk up. They wont be happy till a car comes along that runs on all the hot air these guys blow.

[kambites]

sleep envy said:

or the fact that people who care too much what others think fell the need to defend their purchase

that's pretty sad in itself

That's something that's always confused me. People seem to take a criticism of the car that they drive as a personal attack sometimes. Some brands and/or types of car seem to attract this more than others, too.

I guess we all do it to some extent. Heated debate is sometimes a necessary part of being an enthusiast. Some people do seem unnecessarily sensitive to it though.

[chevronb37]

I've lived and breathed cars since I could first talk, but I find many of the opinions on here to be ridiculous. I've always tried to be positive about most things, but plenty of folk on here have nothing better to do than cuss cars which they will never own.

[adycav]

Well sorry for all the moaning folks - being negative about negativity! - but it was the Audi TTRS comments that sent me over the edge.

How can a motoring enthusiast NOT be al liitle bit interested in a 340-odd ps AWD compact coupe? Yes it's got a steepish list price but in a few years...

[LuS1fer]

I largely agree but in the case of the RS, while I admire it for it's performance and capability, I can't not criticise it's appearance which I couldn't tolerate, even for a nanosecond. It's only my opinion of course and doesn't detract from the car itself although it may well influence how I perceive those who drive them. For me, that's not being negative about the car itself but rather modern Ford design - though I have to accept other people seem to like it. I'd like to see more subtle versions as an alternative (even the Escort Cosworth was subtle in comparison) - in the 70's you would get this option from Ford by S and Ghia models for example. My only despair is that should I choose to buy a performance hatch, the Ford automatically gets crossed off the list, which is a shame.

As for other stuff, the main negativity I find is usually the styling aspect (RR, GTR, BMW 5 GT, BMW 1 series) but I am buyed by the fact that when a well-styled car comes along (possible Z2), the comments tend to be equally positive even if that is getting to be a rare occurrence.

As for the technical and theoretical stuff, it seems to me that people expect some sort of perfect car when after 100 years, it seems clear that's not possible.

[gingerpaul]

mrmr96 said:

gingerpaul said:

As PH has become more popular it has attracted more idiots. Not a great surprise really. Fortunately the vast majority stay in the P&P and GG so don't disrupt the whole site.

Indeed, unfortunately the idiots are more vocal than most, so their input of nonsense is disproportionally large.

That's true in the real world too. They get the same treatment from me. Generally they get ignored.

ol' dirty said:

Some times it's like reading the comments on Youtube on PH.