How do you judge a car ??
Discussion
Do you quantify a car based on numbers alone? If so, do you truly understand the figures? Or do you judge it based on how it makes you feel, to look at, to drive, to own?
Would be interesting to see how many people get pulled into the clever marketing that is the technical specification of a car... Or maybe you truly understand the figures and your decision is founded on a good understanding of your motoring needs and how a particular car meets those needs... Or maybe you make your decision based on your desires, and figures do not even come into the equation; maybe you buy it just because you want it...
what are your thoughts?
Would be interesting to see how many people get pulled into the clever marketing that is the technical specification of a car... Or maybe you truly understand the figures and your decision is founded on a good understanding of your motoring needs and how a particular car meets those needs... Or maybe you make your decision based on your desires, and figures do not even come into the equation; maybe you buy it just because you want it...
what are your thoughts?
Edited by lou556 on Wednesday 27th June 12:49
I hate it when people add "Discuss" at the end of the post.
The way I chose my latest car was I needed something for the dog, the trailer, the boat and as a general load carrier for the business. Hence I opted for a Nissan Terrano. It could have been one of many 4x4 options out there but this one was a good price.
The way I chose my latest car was I needed something for the dog, the trailer, the boat and as a general load carrier for the business. Hence I opted for a Nissan Terrano. It could have been one of many 4x4 options out there but this one was a good price.
I bought the TVR Chimaera because, well, have you seen one? Driven one? Once you've done that, it's sold......
The Passat was bought because the dog fit in the back (before purchase we took the dog and put her in the boot). Other Estates were not large enough save for a Volvo but it was so slow....
The Passat was bought because the dog fit in the back (before purchase we took the dog and put her in the boot). Other Estates were not large enough save for a Volvo but it was so slow....
how the car is fit for the purpose it's meant to do. for example i wouldn't judge a lotus elise expecting it to be as refined as an S class but i'd hope it's bloody good to drive; and i wouldn't judge an S class on so much as how it drives, but what it's like as a barge.
horses for courses but that's how i judge them. subjective opinions also enter the equation too, mind!!
horses for courses but that's how i judge them. subjective opinions also enter the equation too, mind!!
I have to like the way it looks first, then a further decision would be made on how it drives, if it's terrible then move to another car and start again. It has to drive well, look nice and put a smile on my face. Quite simple for me.
I have just changed my MINI up to a 1 series and both drive excellently, enjoying having a more grown up car however.
I have just changed my MINI up to a 1 series and both drive excellently, enjoying having a more grown up car however.
I guess it depends what i need first (I have no kids, no dogs and fairly little in the way of obligations that I need my car for) and what I want which is generally sound, power and fun whilst being able to be useful and comfortable (subjective) when needed.
So my next car will probably be a z4m, two seats, lovely sound, awesome to drive and quite nice on motorways.
The only slight issues are the low gears in traffic and a few other bits but I'll happily fob them off as "character" if I'm happy with the important bits
Since I like my bikes I like my cars to be a bit raw,fast and fun otherwise I have little use for one other than rain protection and shopping..............
So my next car will probably be a z4m, two seats, lovely sound, awesome to drive and quite nice on motorways.
The only slight issues are the low gears in traffic and a few other bits but I'll happily fob them off as "character" if I'm happy with the important bits
Since I like my bikes I like my cars to be a bit raw,fast and fun otherwise I have little use for one other than rain protection and shopping..............
I have a set of criteria, some objective, some subjective, some mandatory, some flexible. Any car I consider must meet the mandatory criteria but those are usually fairly easy to meet, so that gives me a list to consider for test drives.
After that, it's the one that meets enough of my flexible criteria, which tends to include stuff about how the car drives, how helpful the dealers are, the public image associated with the brand, my personal feelings about the styling etc.
The benefit of the "mandatory but not too onerous" criteria is that it means the actual power/torque/mpg figures of the cars I test drive aren't that important to me - they all meet my minimum acceptable criteria and after that other things become more important, so I don't get dragged into the "must have the biggest power figure" (or similar) traps.
After that, it's the one that meets enough of my flexible criteria, which tends to include stuff about how the car drives, how helpful the dealers are, the public image associated with the brand, my personal feelings about the styling etc.
The benefit of the "mandatory but not too onerous" criteria is that it means the actual power/torque/mpg figures of the cars I test drive aren't that important to me - they all meet my minimum acceptable criteria and after that other things become more important, so I don't get dragged into the "must have the biggest power figure" (or similar) traps.
Last week I drove a number of different cars for some work I was doing.
Prior to going out on the road I looked through the specs of them and it appeared clear on paper which car should be the best and which should be the worst.
In reality I much preferred some of the 'theoretically worse' cars to the car that looked the best on paper.
Only way to judge in my opinion is to look at car and the paperwork.
Prior to going out on the road I looked through the specs of them and it appeared clear on paper which car should be the best and which should be the worst.
In reality I much preferred some of the 'theoretically worse' cars to the car that looked the best on paper.
Only way to judge in my opinion is to look at car and the paperwork.
Cyder said:
Last week I drove a number of different cars for some work I was doing.
Prior to going out on the road I looked through the specs of them and it appeared clear on paper which car should be the best and which should be the worst.
In reality I much preferred some of the 'theoretically worse' cars to the car that looked the best on paper.
Only way to judge in my opinion is to look at car and the paperwork.
Doesn't your example show that looking at the paperwork is essentially irrelevant? Driving the car is what made the like/not like decision for you.Prior to going out on the road I looked through the specs of them and it appeared clear on paper which car should be the best and which should be the worst.
In reality I much preferred some of the 'theoretically worse' cars to the car that looked the best on paper.
Only way to judge in my opinion is to look at car and the paperwork.
ewenm said:
Cyder said:
Last week I drove a number of different cars for some work I was doing.
Prior to going out on the road I looked through the specs of them and it appeared clear on paper which car should be the best and which should be the worst.
In reality I much preferred some of the 'theoretically worse' cars to the car that looked the best on paper.
Only way to judge in my opinion is to look at car and the paperwork.
Doesn't your example show that looking at the paperwork is essentially irrelevant? Driving the car is what made the like/not like decision for you.Prior to going out on the road I looked through the specs of them and it appeared clear on paper which car should be the best and which should be the worst.
In reality I much preferred some of the 'theoretically worse' cars to the car that looked the best on paper.
Only way to judge in my opinion is to look at car and the paperwork.
I didn't write the post very well at all, what I meant to say at the end really was that actually driving the car is the best way to make a judgement on it, but it's handy to read the paperwork to understand what it is that you're looking at/driving.
ewenm said:
I have a set of criteria, some objective, some subjective, some mandatory, some flexible. Any car I consider must meet the mandatory criteria but those are usually fairly easy to meet, so that gives me a list to consider for test drives.
After that, it's the one that meets enough of my flexible criteria, which tends to include stuff about how the car drives, how helpful the dealers are, the public image associated with the brand, my personal feelings about the styling etc.
The benefit of the "mandatory but not too onerous" criteria is that it means the actual power/torque/mpg figures of the cars I test drive aren't that important to me - they all meet my minimum acceptable criteria and after that other things become more important, so I don't get dragged into the "must have the biggest power figure" (or similar) traps.
Pretty much this. After that, it's the one that meets enough of my flexible criteria, which tends to include stuff about how the car drives, how helpful the dealers are, the public image associated with the brand, my personal feelings about the styling etc.
The benefit of the "mandatory but not too onerous" criteria is that it means the actual power/torque/mpg figures of the cars I test drive aren't that important to me - they all meet my minimum acceptable criteria and after that other things become more important, so I don't get dragged into the "must have the biggest power figure" (or similar) traps.
I have a criteria and then narrow my search. This includes looks to a certain extent too. There's plenty of great cars out there that I just wouldn't want to buy because I really don't like the styling.
If I was a nerd then I'd create a cross matrix with a list of everything that is important/required in a car and then put grades for each model you're looking at. (0 if the car doesn't meet that particular creiteria). The ones which come out with the most highest grades get a test drive. Then it's all down to how the car feels and makes you feel.
Not that I'm that nerdy... ;-)
Its how a car looks and makes me feel is my main focus.
Having said that, i wouldnt even test drive a car with a high 0-60 figure if i was after a performance car so i guess i could be missing out.
So, in order..
- Looks
- Feel (including grin factor - hate that saying but its the only thing that explains it!)
- Reliability
- performance figures
- Safety
- practicality
- MPG
- status
- other peoples opinion
Points for who can guess what i drive...
Having said that, i wouldnt even test drive a car with a high 0-60 figure if i was after a performance car so i guess i could be missing out.
So, in order..
- Looks
- Feel (including grin factor - hate that saying but its the only thing that explains it!)
- Reliability
- performance figures
- Safety
- practicality
- MPG
- status
- other peoples opinion
Points for who can guess what i drive...
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