Do car reviews/road tests still have a place?

[adycav]

"Of course they do, you fool!" you may be thinking.

But don't be so hasty.


1) It's often said that there's no such thing as a 'bad' car any more.

2) Newer cars are all quite similar within their respective classes to drive, with many differences between them often being so infinitesimal that the majority of the ham-fisted public cannot discern them

3) Any preferences are all down to personal taste, and one man's meat is another man's poison - we all like different things

4) It's easier than ever to drive a selection of cars to find one that you like

5) When I've bought a car (or extensively driven one) I have a habit of looking at reviews out of curiosity. Most don't seem to relate to my experiences at all.


What do you think?

[Negative Creep]

I'm naturally suspicious of car reviews. I can imagine major car makers being reluctant to lend cars in future if they keep getting bad reviews.............

[redgriff500]

I only buy 10+ yr old cars so getting test drives of any use is neigh on impossible so I tend to read up as much as possible before looking for a car.

But yes the reviews typically over the Yorkshire moors etc don't really bear much relationship to my reality.

Recently bought an FD RX7 and TBH it depends which review you read as to which comparable car is the best (Supra, Skyline, 968 etc). I bought it because it's gorgeous !

[Perd Hapley]

They'll be interesting to read in 50 years time.

[Jasandjules]

I've never paid attention to car reviews/road tests per se. As you say, one man's meat is another man's poison.

For example, I can't for the life of me get a comfy driving position in an E92 BMW. I don't understand why not. But I just can't. So no matter how good the reviews might be, it's not for me.

Let's face it, I like TVRs, so realistically I don't pay attention to reviews....

[blambert]

Has anyone got the link to the journo writing about how stty Ferrari are with road tests, basically ousting the whole thing? Was it Chris Harris?

Since then I've always been a little bit dubious.


Edit: http://ca.jalopnik.com/5760248/how-ferrari-spins

[Chrisw666]

If I'm comparing 2 or more cars I try to find a group test or tests from the same source. But I don't think I have ever read a scathing review of any car.

[Johnboy Mac]

An interesting topic by the OP. Personally, I've always taken a cynical view to auto articals, reviews and tests and have no trust in any particular magazine unlike twenty years ago.

[greeneggsnsam]

Like them or not, car reviews are an excellent way for car manufacturers to advertise their products. Not every company can promote their cars with billboards and stuff. Would Noble be as big as they are without the excellent reviews? Would anyone have heard of Aerial?

Similarly they are a fairly good way to keep manufacturers in check. It's easy to cut corners and make a desirable looking car that is a pig to drive, but if the motoring press scathe the car then it will genuinely affect sales- people research their cars before buying (well some do...). If there were no reviews I think the industry would be worse off.

And the whole "opinion" thing is about choice, isn't it? You compare experiences with certain reviewers on cars you have driven and then you can see if you trust their judgement on cars you haven't. You don't have to take every reviewer as the same person.

[wackojacko]

I like to read a variety of reviews and hear from owners when they get delivery of their cars or have had them for while depending on age of the car etc.

[kiteless]

Clearly, there are those out there whereby motor journal reviews hold no interest.

For example, an Ops Manager at the last company I worked for drove - willingly - a Ssangyong Kyron. It's not as if he was a thick bloke; Ops Manager demands a modicum of intelligence. Yet I often wondered long on his decision to purchase such an ugly, poorly built, sluggard of a vehicle when he could have had something better.

A Transit, for example.

Or a hospital trolley.