Is modern journalism ruining cars?

[Matt UK]

Just musing...

It seems today that modern journalism is as much about entertainment and the personality as it is the content.
If a BMW does big drifts for the YouTube cameras and the equivalent Audi doesn’t it’s a bad car.
And I often read / hear stuff like "of course you really need the 19" wheels to fill out those arches / the sports suspension really improves road holding"

The truth is though how the gearbox shifts or how efficient the TDI diesel engine is or how quiet the car is really are much more important to 95% of car buyers.

Would it be so wrong to to hear "well the engine is a bit lazy and in the twisties it's a bit of a pudding - but for cruising up and down the M4 it really is the most comfy / quietest / economical / reliable car in it's class".
You just can't build a car like that any more - if it doesn't 'handle' or 'do the numbers' it gets slated in the group tests and sales are no doubt impacted. So manufacturers don't take the risk.

Edited by Matt UK on Friday 23 January 22:41

[Matt UK]

Claudia Skies said:

Meanwhile, here's a list of some 2-door coupes with disappointing sales,

Ford Puma

Really? I remember seeing them everywhere a few years into production and the popular press seemed to rate them - I guessed that it was a bit of a sales hit. Evidently not.