Buying in to the hype
Discussion
I don't know about others but when car searching I look at reviews, youtube videos etc and build up a picture of the car that barely matches reality.
I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
I feel a lot of it is because driving impressions are usually based on spirited B round blasts and track driving that I very rarely do so never get close to exploiting a chassis to its full potential.
Any one else feel like this?
I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
I feel a lot of it is because driving impressions are usually based on spirited B round blasts and track driving that I very rarely do so never get close to exploiting a chassis to its full potential.
Any one else feel like this?
Edited by rotaryjam on Monday 17th June 16:55
Edited by rotaryjam on Monday 17th June 18:14
One of the things you might start to spot if you watch for it is the reviews are often written by the manufacturer.
They'll round up all the journo's and youtubers, ship them off to somewhere nice, feed and beer them, and they'll then get to drive the car, usually for a short enough time to get a few pics and vids, on a carefully curated route.
They'll be given a press pack with all the info, phrases they can use etc. They also get stock images in the press pack.
Then when they all get back and write their reviews often there's a publication embargo, so they all land on the same day.
So in that regard you're not really getting a review, you're getting what the manufacturer wants you to think/know. The review is just a rehash of the press release, and that's what you can often spot, when they all mention the new wheel size, or the new colour available, or all use the same phrases eg. "ground up changes".
You'd be better off looking 6+ months down the line to longer term or similar reviews. Also find someone who you agree with, ie the things that are important to them are important to you, and the sorts of roads they drive on, are similar to yours. No point watching a race drivers hooning it round the track when you're doing the motorway slog in it daily. In this regard it's a lot like film reviewers, you need to find the one that aligns best to you.
They'll round up all the journo's and youtubers, ship them off to somewhere nice, feed and beer them, and they'll then get to drive the car, usually for a short enough time to get a few pics and vids, on a carefully curated route.
They'll be given a press pack with all the info, phrases they can use etc. They also get stock images in the press pack.
Then when they all get back and write their reviews often there's a publication embargo, so they all land on the same day.
So in that regard you're not really getting a review, you're getting what the manufacturer wants you to think/know. The review is just a rehash of the press release, and that's what you can often spot, when they all mention the new wheel size, or the new colour available, or all use the same phrases eg. "ground up changes".
You'd be better off looking 6+ months down the line to longer term or similar reviews. Also find someone who you agree with, ie the things that are important to them are important to you, and the sorts of roads they drive on, are similar to yours. No point watching a race drivers hooning it round the track when you're doing the motorway slog in it daily. In this regard it's a lot like film reviewers, you need to find the one that aligns best to you.
rotaryjam said:
I don't know about others but when car searching I look at reviews, youtube videos etc and build up a picture of the car that barely matches reality.
I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't get gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
You bought a car you'd previously had and didn't like, on the strength of YT reviews despite your own opinion having owned one? Now that is the power of the internet and marketing summed up in one case study.I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't get gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
Bonkers.
Wills2 said:
rotaryjam said:
I don't know about others but when car searching I look at reviews, youtube videos etc and build up a picture of the car that barely matches reality.
I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't get gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
You bought a car you'd previously had and didn't like, on the strength of YT reviews despite your own opinion having owned one? Now that is the power of the internet and marketing summed up in one case study.I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't get gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
Bonkers.
What car is it?
Or is it secret?
s m said:
Wills2 said:
rotaryjam said:
I don't know about others but when car searching I look at reviews, youtube videos etc and build up a picture of the car that barely matches reality.
I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't get gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
You bought a car you'd previously had and didn't like, on the strength of YT reviews despite your own opinion having owned one? Now that is the power of the internet and marketing summed up in one case study.I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't get gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
Bonkers.
What car is it?
Or is it secret?
I pay no, and I really mean no attention to what UK reviewers say, most of them have no real engineering or motoring or driving background and are just English lit graduates who fell into it because they are the sort of person who "loves cars" because they have a Golf GTD.
90% of it is regurgitating manufacturer press packs, and they have zero qualification to actually assess a cars driving characteristics or say anything useful of interesting about the engineering. The droning bores on YouTube are usually even less competent to assess a car than the English lit graduates.
There are exceptions, but they're few and fewer by the year, and the US Motoring press is still in another league of excellence compared to the subjective, marketing lead crap we have here.
There are also more hardcore youtubers who will get under the car and poke about with the thing properly, or look at the kinematics of the suspension, or are actual people with an opinion worth hearing and not the Dunning-Kruger pogs who write all the mainstream stuff.
You need to drive it for yourself, only way to know. AS another poster said though, the fact you bought a car based entirely off the marketing funded reviews and videos speaks to the effectiveness of the manufacturers control of the reviews.
90% of it is regurgitating manufacturer press packs, and they have zero qualification to actually assess a cars driving characteristics or say anything useful of interesting about the engineering. The droning bores on YouTube are usually even less competent to assess a car than the English lit graduates.
There are exceptions, but they're few and fewer by the year, and the US Motoring press is still in another league of excellence compared to the subjective, marketing lead crap we have here.
There are also more hardcore youtubers who will get under the car and poke about with the thing properly, or look at the kinematics of the suspension, or are actual people with an opinion worth hearing and not the Dunning-Kruger pogs who write all the mainstream stuff.
You need to drive it for yourself, only way to know. AS another poster said though, the fact you bought a car based entirely off the marketing funded reviews and videos speaks to the effectiveness of the manufacturers control of the reviews.
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Monday 17th June 17:32
Everyone said the 911 is the everyday supercar that you can drive to the shops and to work.
So I bought one and I find it tiring. I wouldn't want to drive it everyday. Maybe they meant for young people who aren't interested in taking things easy when they're not "on it".
I did used to commute in stop-start London traffic in a Skyline GTR that was set up for drag racing - this was when I was in my 30s but nowadays I don't think I could be arsed to drive it even as a weekend car!
So I bought one and I find it tiring. I wouldn't want to drive it everyday. Maybe they meant for young people who aren't interested in taking things easy when they're not "on it".
I did used to commute in stop-start London traffic in a Skyline GTR that was set up for drag racing - this was when I was in my 30s but nowadays I don't think I could be arsed to drive it even as a weekend car!
Wills2 said:
rotaryjam said:
I don't know about others but when car searching I look at reviews, youtube videos etc and build up a picture of the car that barely matches reality.
I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't get gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
You bought a car you'd previously had and didn't like, on the strength of YT reviews despite your own opinion having owned one? Now that is the power of the internet and marketing summed up in one case study.I've had this so bad that i just bought a car which I've already had previously and didn't get gel with, but the reading all the reviews made me think it was going to be amazing.
Bonkers.
It is really easy to be influenced though. I find that reading reviews of hi fi equipment makes me doubt my own thoughts. If I read enough about a particular pair of speakers I end up thinking they must be great, I must have been wrong, getting them out again and after a bit realising I was right all along. Rinse and repeat.
Thing is with hyped up cars they're written according to the perfect drive. So a hot hatch on a nice winding B road, or a big luxury car driving across the country.
So you might find a car that's hugely engaging, fun and somewhat intense on a good drive, may make for a tiresome daily driver. By contrast a large luxury vehicle will be amazing if you spend hours in the car on the motorway, but not so easy parking in Tesco on a weekly shop.
So you might find a car that's hugely engaging, fun and somewhat intense on a good drive, may make for a tiresome daily driver. By contrast a large luxury vehicle will be amazing if you spend hours in the car on the motorway, but not so easy parking in Tesco on a weekly shop.
I've recently bought an E46 M3, partly because of the hype, but also because I've had an E46 before and other 6 cylinder BMWs and have always loved them.
The M3 though is definitely a car that you have to "drive" the gearbox is hard work, the suspension on mine is like a rock, so not much fun unless the roads are smooth.
I'm going to persevere though, oil change for the gearbox, back to std suspension and maybe some smaller wheels.
If I can sort those bits out, yes you could drive it daily, they can relaxing quite well on good roads, and can also be a hooligan if you want.
Am I in love with it after all the hype, not yet, but if can sort out the gearbox and ride, then, yes it will definitely live up to the hype...
The M3 though is definitely a car that you have to "drive" the gearbox is hard work, the suspension on mine is like a rock, so not much fun unless the roads are smooth.
I'm going to persevere though, oil change for the gearbox, back to std suspension and maybe some smaller wheels.
If I can sort those bits out, yes you could drive it daily, they can relaxing quite well on good roads, and can also be a hooligan if you want.
Am I in love with it after all the hype, not yet, but if can sort out the gearbox and ride, then, yes it will definitely live up to the hype...
s m said:
Hmm …..
What car is it?
Or is it secret?
Sorry no secret. Cayman S 987, everyone raves about them and of course there are lots of good points but I find two key bits a bit naff- namely the gear change is a very mediocre and the clutch feel is 'squishy'. I've driven 4 and they've all been the same. What car is it?
Or is it secret?
None of the reviews mention any of that.
I bought into the hype with the E92 M3. I absolutely loved it on a quick test drive, however living with it day to day I quickly fell out with it though. My expectations were miles too high for it I think, and the flaws it had raised their head pretty quickly(it feels heavy at low speeds(and low revs)/it has poor brakes/all the fizz is at the top end of the revs, plus obviously the mpg and the lack of range are frustrating too).
I sold it after only 10 months/10k miles.
I sold it after only 10 months/10k miles.
mac96 said:
It is really easy to be influenced though. I find that reading reviews of hi fi equipment makes me doubt my own thoughts. If I read enough about a particular pair of speakers I end up thinking they must be great, I must have been wrong, getting them out again and after a bit realising I was right all along. Rinse and repeat.
At least you do it with hi fis and not a car!cerb4.5lee said:
I bought into the hype with the E92 M3. I absolutely loved it on a quick test drive, however living with it day to day I quickly fell out with it though. My expectations were miles too high for it I think, and the flaws it had raised their head pretty quickly(it feels heavy at low speeds(and low revs)/it has poor brakes/all the fizz is at the top end of the revs, plus obviously the mpg and the lack of range are frustrating too).
I sold it after only 10 months/10k miles.
Interesting, that was one of the other cars I was looking atI sold it after only 10 months/10k miles.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff