Do these forums help or hinder your car buying decision?
Discussion
Before the days of the interweb I used to choose a car on basically three criteria:
1. Do I think it looks good and will it do what I need it to do?
2. Did it get a good review in the motoring press?
And if those two boxes were ticked:
3. Did I enjoy the test drive?
I've just been using the search function to get some current owners' opinions on a car I am seriously considering. The car definitely meets the first two criteria and if the road test and owners opinions are anything to go by it will also meet the third one as well. So what's the problem?
Well, threads on these forums are basically like a game of Top Trumps. Provided you've got the most power, the highest top speed, fastest acceleration and most desirable badge the length of the list of downsides is irrelevant. Age is irrelevant, running costs are trivial, reliability uncool and if it is possible to buy something faster and more prestigeous second hand then someone will always launch a verbal nuclear attack on anyone looking to buy new.
I wonder how many people have bought the wrong car just so that they can continue to enjoy these forums without comments along the lines of "well you drive a XXXX so what he f*ck do you know?". The problem we have is that most of us do not drive as many cars as the professional road testers and we don't have to be impartial. If someone likes a particular brand and they shout loud enough they will often win the day because they have merely worn down the opposition.
Does anyone else feel this way and has anyone been 'battered' into buying the wrong car because they wanted to get the nod of approval from the loudest voices on this faceless forum?
I'm off out to test drive a terrific value, non-premium, fully loaded family car.
1. Do I think it looks good and will it do what I need it to do?
2. Did it get a good review in the motoring press?
And if those two boxes were ticked:
3. Did I enjoy the test drive?
I've just been using the search function to get some current owners' opinions on a car I am seriously considering. The car definitely meets the first two criteria and if the road test and owners opinions are anything to go by it will also meet the third one as well. So what's the problem?
Well, threads on these forums are basically like a game of Top Trumps. Provided you've got the most power, the highest top speed, fastest acceleration and most desirable badge the length of the list of downsides is irrelevant. Age is irrelevant, running costs are trivial, reliability uncool and if it is possible to buy something faster and more prestigeous second hand then someone will always launch a verbal nuclear attack on anyone looking to buy new.
I wonder how many people have bought the wrong car just so that they can continue to enjoy these forums without comments along the lines of "well you drive a XXXX so what he f*ck do you know?". The problem we have is that most of us do not drive as many cars as the professional road testers and we don't have to be impartial. If someone likes a particular brand and they shout loud enough they will often win the day because they have merely worn down the opposition.
Does anyone else feel this way and has anyone been 'battered' into buying the wrong car because they wanted to get the nod of approval from the loudest voices on this faceless forum?
I'm off out to test drive a terrific value, non-premium, fully loaded family car.
I was thinking this the other day and does the power of the internet influence your car choice, well the people that can be influenced in that way I mean.
My example was over 10 years ago when I was faced with a decision of either buying one of these two (both had 150bhp 16v engines in a 3-door hatch guise)
1) Seat Ibiza Cupra 16v (white wheels)
2) Clio Williams 2/3 (is there a '3')
I had no mags, no internet (the days of porn mags!) so based on my own decision I went for the Ibiza and loved it, however I wonder what would of happened if i'd posted my buying dilemma on the interweb and i'm guessing most would of pointed me in the direction of the Clio, now whether I would of gone that way depends on many factors but it would of given me more to think about!
On a side note, i'm currently in the market for a DSLR camera and to be honest the reviews and peoples own experiences that i've read are so marmite that it's making it a tough old choice!
My example was over 10 years ago when I was faced with a decision of either buying one of these two (both had 150bhp 16v engines in a 3-door hatch guise)
1) Seat Ibiza Cupra 16v (white wheels)
2) Clio Williams 2/3 (is there a '3')
I had no mags, no internet (the days of porn mags!) so based on my own decision I went for the Ibiza and loved it, however I wonder what would of happened if i'd posted my buying dilemma on the interweb and i'm guessing most would of pointed me in the direction of the Clio, now whether I would of gone that way depends on many factors but it would of given me more to think about!
On a side note, i'm currently in the market for a DSLR camera and to be honest the reviews and peoples own experiences that i've read are so marmite that it's making it a tough old choice!
A great help.
I always buy used and do most of the maintenance. If a car has a particular issue that I couldn't live with or fix myself then I'd probably avoid it.
Likewise with the mx5 , it's probably going to be my next car choice.
However you do get used to stereotypical answers, like alfas are unreliable, I've had no problems with mine so far.
I always buy used and do most of the maintenance. If a car has a particular issue that I couldn't live with or fix myself then I'd probably avoid it.
Likewise with the mx5 , it's probably going to be my next car choice.
However you do get used to stereotypical answers, like alfas are unreliable, I've had no problems with mine so far.
redstu said:
However you do get used to stereotypical answers, like alfas are unreliable, I've had no problems with mine so far.
Well you say that, but I'd probably have never bought a GTV V6 without trawling the net first to assess whether it was a realistic proosition or not. And by net I mean here and alfaowner.As a consequence of more information becoming available, it's incumbent on individuals to be more discerning about how they select and process information.
The internet makes interests far more interesting, through the dissemination of knowledge and the creation of communities, as long as you are willing/able to sift through the white noise.
To answer the OP's question in a slightly obtuse way, one of my main car-choice criteria is the quality of its community. I bought an M5 not just because I've always wanted one, or because it's an utterly mind-blowing piece of iconic tarmac weaponry, but because M5board is the richest and most informative marque-specific forum I've yet discovered.
Forums contribute so much to the enjoyment of a hobby - without them I would be much less of a petrolhead.
The internet makes interests far more interesting, through the dissemination of knowledge and the creation of communities, as long as you are willing/able to sift through the white noise.
To answer the OP's question in a slightly obtuse way, one of my main car-choice criteria is the quality of its community. I bought an M5 not just because I've always wanted one, or because it's an utterly mind-blowing piece of iconic tarmac weaponry, but because M5board is the richest and most informative marque-specific forum I've yet discovered.
Forums contribute so much to the enjoyment of a hobby - without them I would be much less of a petrolhead.
Narrowed down my choice of car on a combination of these threads and a few test drives of a few marques. I like the what car threads, people are generally helpful, plus it makes a little game of it, especially if the person in question has some very specific requirements.
For example, when buying my 530, I needed to know if a Phil & Ted's buggy would fit in the boot of the saloon, and leave plenty of space. A very kind chap on the BMW forums who had an e60 saloon and a Phil & Ted's buggy took a few pictures of it in his boot, which certainly helped the choice out there.
For example, when buying my 530, I needed to know if a Phil & Ted's buggy would fit in the boot of the saloon, and leave plenty of space. A very kind chap on the BMW forums who had an e60 saloon and a Phil & Ted's buggy took a few pictures of it in his boot, which certainly helped the choice out there.
Wouldn't have even thought about buying a Rangie, Volvo 960, W124 Merc or a Lexus LS without PH. I rate the classifieds as important as the forums too
I'll usually glean an idea of something I want on here, then head off to another forum for that car to get really nerdy and find out everything about it
Then decide I don't want it now and start the whole process again. Often.
I'll usually glean an idea of something I want on here, then head off to another forum for that car to get really nerdy and find out everything about it
Then decide I don't want it now and start the whole process again. Often.
The problem with reading all these opinions are just that! opinions, same goes for Clarkson and the likes, you need to get out and drive some of the vehicles that takes your fancy and make your own mind up what floats your boat, I drive a 20 year old barge thats been slagged off from here to eternity by people who have never driven one and listened to pub talk from others who have never driven one either, I've spent ££££££'s on it renewing and upgrading, I've been happy to do that, its just how I want it and its fantastic drive!
hornetrider said:
redstu said:
However you do get used to stereotypical answers, like alfas are unreliable, I've had no problems with mine so far.
Well you say that, but I'd probably have never bought a GTV V6 without trawling the net first to assess whether it was a realistic proosition or not. And by net I mean here and alfaowner.plenty said:
To answer the OP's question in a slightly obtuse way, one of my main car-choice criteria is the quality of its community. I bought an M5 not just because I've always wanted one, or because it's an utterly mind-blowing piece of iconic tarmac weaponry, but because M5board is the richest and most informative marque-specific forum I've yet discovered.
Forums contribute so much to the enjoyment of a hobby - without them I would be much less of a petrolhead.
Likewise. Although not a main criteria, if I was trying to choose between otherwise equally desirable cars, the quality of the owners' clubs would definitely be a factor.Forums contribute so much to the enjoyment of a hobby - without them I would be much less of a petrolhead.
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