What is the most important attribute of a new car?

[robemcdonald]

This was prompted by the current radio add for the new Audi A3. Not only is it a terrible add with some warbling bint singing out of tune but more importantly comes with a sad message; you can order an A3 now. Whats so bad about that? Well it says that the car is launched later this year, so you can't test drive it, you can't sit in it and presumably you can't even take a look at it. You can buy it though.
Has it come to this? Will people just buy a car because a terrible advert tells them to?

[Kiltox]

Lots of company car drivers will, yes....

[LD1Racing]

Where's the 'a combination of all of the above' option?

[cheesyblob]

LD1Racing said:

Where's the 'a combination of all of the above' option?

The question is which is the most important, not which things do you look for.

[Pints]

Vote cast and it would seem I'm in the PH majority, but if I asked this question of 20 friends, family and work colleagues, I'm quite certain the poll would look quite different.

Some of the usual lines that I hear spouted:
"That car must cost you a lot in fuel and insurance"
"It's a VW so it's reliable"
"I want any coupe because I don't like the look of hatchbacks"

[Kiltox]

Pints said:

"It's a VW so it's reliable"

Need to line these people up

[thinfourth2]

If i was buying a brand new car it must be a damn cheap car to own as in cheaper then fixing a banger up

[Kiltox]

thinfourth2 said:

If i was buying a brand new car it must be a damn cheap car to own as in cheaper then fixing a banger up

Don't think I'm far away from that at £75pcm and being fairly sure it'll start every morning.

Granted, it is a tumble drier on wheels.

[Pints]

[redacted]

[jackal]

Your poll needs some adjustment

When you get past 40, the noise is most important followed by how nice the interior is to siy in ... Speed and handling come last.

[bazking69]

Cost of ownership is the major influence for me, not having an infinite budget to play with, and being a general tightwad.

Badge is definately the most unimportant factor for me, but is probably the sole reason many people, blinded by the marketing and conspicuious consumption, choose their new car sadly.

[Pints]

jackal said:

Your poll needs some adjustment

When you get past 40, the noise is most important followed by how nice the interior is to siy in ... Speed and handling come last.

[V6Alfisti]

Automatically I went for handling but then thought:-

Would I drive a bug eyed Ford scorpio if it was one of the top 15 handling cars in the world - No
Would I drive a slightly girly but great handling MX5 - Yes (I have owned one)
Would I drive the most beautiful car in the world, even if it drove like a boat - Yes

So went for looks , in reality it is a balance of attributes.

[busta]

I was going to put speed an handling but the reality is my main concern would be price. I'd choose the fastest and best handling car I could afford, so price is the overriding factor.

Comfort comes after those 2 and lastly looks.

[wackojacko]

How it drives !

[Deva Link]

robemcdonald said:

Has it come to this? Will people just buy a car because a terrible advert tells them to?

There are tales of people waiting 12mths for the current diesel A3's so if you want one in the medium-term future then you've got to get it ordered.