Ever look at a car and wonder why

[wtwo3]

So I'm sitting at a red light on my way to pick up my daughter from school. In front of me is a Dodge Avenger. This was a particularly long red light, so it gave me some time to think. What went through the individual's thought process when they thought, "this is the best car for me to spend my hard earned money on"?

Was it some insane deal they were offered. Did they truly think a Dodge Avenger was a great car? Do they have some unreasonable affinity for the Avengers and thought this Dodge Avenger made them feel like they're one of them?

Do you guys ever see a car and wonder what thought process went into buying it?

Before all of you respond, allow me to get through the customary G22/G80 hate - "mAyBe ThEy DiDn'T sEe ThE fRoNt BeFoRe ThEy BoUgHt It" . There... now that that's out of the way, lets hear your thoughts on what people think when they buy certain cars.

[GOLFFRR]

people like/value different things. Simple as that
Its like that with partners also haha or fashion sense! you go what are they thinking meanwhile they are saying the same im sure about us

[dscabra]

I buy what I like and expect others do the same. The Avenger was said to be very reliable and affordable.

[Alfisti]

I think his point is the atrocious reliability and maintenance costs. All I can suspect is people are unware of such things.

[wtwo3]

I agree to the "people buy what they like". I was just hoping for a bit more introspection...

[Murf993]

Some people don't really care much about what car they drive as long is it was cheap and is somewhat reliable. This is a car forum so some folks on here might get that. I look at the car and I'm meh, but to each their own. Maybe the owner would rather spend their money on hair care products or designer underwear. That's the great thing about living in a free country, you get to pick what you like.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Murf993

Some people don't really care much about what car they drive as long is it was cheap and is somewhat reliable. This is a car forum so some folks on here might get that. I look at the car and I'm meh, but to each their own. Maybe the owner would rather spend their money on hair care products or designer underwear. That's the great thing about living in a free country, you get to pick what you like.

Man that car is butt ugly. Can't believe it's the same company that made my Durango RT

[Ultimateone]

This seems like a really judgmental thread about what people can and can't afford.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Ultimateone

This seems like a really judgmental thread about what people can and can't afford.

Wasn't the intention though I can see how it may be taken that way.

It was more about why this car as opposed to that. Why a Dodge Avenger over a Camry or a Ford Fusion or anything else in the class. Sometimes I look at cars and it's a head scratcher for me, and not because I'm comparing across different classes. I don't look at a Civic and think "wow can't believe they're driving that instead of a 3 series".

Maybe I worded my post poorly. And I understand not all car purchase decisions are thoroughly thought out especially for people who don't have enthusiasm for cars in general. But it's still a major purchase, so some sort of thought went into it. Each purchase has some story behind it. And I'm not talking about just taking what you could find on the used market. Every car was at one point purchased brand new.

[ryan stewart]

My mom went and CHOSE a Chevy Malibu Maxx. She had a pretty new Honda Civic Hybrid prior that was still perfectly reliable. And she had replaced a Suzuki Vitara with the Civic, and the Vitara was only a few years old (although it was a POS once it left the assembly line).

Some people just like terrible cars.

[wtwo3]

I'll give some personal experience as an example.

My 2016 Q50 RS400. It was outdated even before I bought it. While the engine was sweet, the transmission was stuck on "lazy sunday afternoon" mode all the time. The steering felt like a video game controller. But I still bought it brand new because Infiniti was practically giving away cars. I got an over 15% discount on it.

2008 Lexus IS350. Everyone told me I should buy a 335i, but I went with the Lexus. At this point in my life I was purchasing cars as opposed to leasing, and I was ALL about long term reliability (and if you ever peruse Club Lexus forums... so is pretty much everyone there). In addition to that I loved how soft touch all of the materials felt, how comfortable the seats were, and I liked the way it looked.

[M_Six]

As far as a Civic vs a 3-series, Wifey's car is a 2006 Civic she bought new for about $16k. You couldn't buy a new 3-series in 2006 for that. She's put nothing into it aside from normal maintenance and it still drives fine nearly 16 years later. Not sure the BMW 3-series would have been as cheap to own and as dependable. We could easily afford something newer for her, and I've tried to talk her into a Mazda 3 or some such thing, but she hates changing cars as much as she hates changing computers. I'd love to dump my MB GLC300 for a Honda CR-V Hybrid, but they're made of unobtainium these days, apparently.

[tigermack]

You'd be surprised how many people has no interest in cars, they just want to get to point A to point B without any setbacks. So, they get whatever is affordable to them and whatever deal is there.

[///MPhatic]

A lot of people don't have the choices you and I may have. The Avenger is what, the size of a 5-series? But you could have 2 of them new for the price of the 5-series? And 5 of them used for the price of a 5-series.

I guess I always think it's price, but maybe they just, gulp, like it? *shudders

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by M_Six

As far as a Civic vs a 3-series, Wifey's car is a 2006 Civic she bought new for about $16k. You couldn't buy a new 3-series in 2006 for that. She's put nothing into it aside from normal maintenance and it still drives fine nearly 16 years later. Not sure the BMW 3-series would have been as cheap to own and as dependable. We could easily afford something newer for her, and I've tried to talk her into a Mazda 3 or some such thing, but she hates changing cars as much as she hates changing computers. I'd love to dump my MB GLC300 for a Honda CR-V Hybrid, but they're made of unobtainium these days, apparently.

Yeah my point was I DON'T look at something like a civic and think, wow can't believe they're driving that instead of a 3 series. It's more around the story behind why someone picked one car in a specific class vs. any other car in that class, and in some cases the answer is clearer than other situations.

With something like a Civic it's easy to see why. Reputation for long term dependability and a pretty good driving car as well. But then there's someone out there who bought a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross over a Toyota Rav4. or CX5 or CRV. Were they given a good deal on it? Did they only visit one dealership and run into a pushy salesman?

This brings up another question. Are there certain segments where salesmen have greater influence over buying decisions than other segments?

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

A lot of people don't have the choices you and I may have. The Avenger is what, the size of a 5-series? But you could have 2 of them new for the price of the 5-series? And 5 of them used for the price of a 5-series.

I guess I always think it's price, but maybe they just, gulp, like it? *shudders

Yeah I'm not comparing an Avenger to a 5 series. I'm comparing it to other cars in its class. Like a Camry or a Fusion etc.

That's what I wonder... did they pick it because they actually preferred it over a Camry or Fusion... or was there some major deal that was cut... or was it a pushy salesman?

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by tigermack

You'd be surprised how many people has no interest in cars, they just want to get to point A to point B without any setbacks. So, they get whatever is affordable to them and whatever deal is there.

This is true... but I'd like to think if I'm spending over $10k on something I'd give it SOME thought.... but maybe it's as simple as you say.

[tcphoto]

Just look around you and notice people's choices in most anything, it will certainly make you scratch your head. I usually think to myself, that person looked in the mirror before leaving home and said to themselves, I look good and am ready to face the World! And no, I have no desire to drive an Avenger, Civic or a Camry.

[HighlandPete]

Having had time in the trade and close to it in the past, some very strange buying habits out there. Buying on color, how a car is different than the masses, 'cute' to look at, like the wheels, the list goes on.

Parked next to a new 4-series the other day, driver was there with the window down. It did look good in Portimao Blue. So started out with "good looking car". Owner responded that she had visited the BMW dealer (driving a Merc at the time) and saw the car and liked the fresh new look, particularly the front, (yes the grilles) and bought it there and then. Absolutely loves it.

You will probably find a similar story for virtually every model of vehicle out there for sale.

[sygazelle]

I totally get your question and I wonder the same thing. Absolutely not in a judgemental way, but just from a standpoint of what leads people to their purchase decisions. It's a fascinating questions. Heck, people are fascinating. Their thought processes are a wonderment to me, including my own!

We bright and fantastic BMW owners can't even go 3 posts into a new thread without somebody having a different opinion than somebody else. If I started a thread asking the question, "on a sunny day, is the sky blue?, I'd get a variety of answers even though the answer is simply yes! For me, that's why these off-topic threads are so fun. It's intriguing just how different we all think about virtually everything, including what's important and making a car purchase decision.

[DETRoadster]

My 70 year old mom no doubt sits at a light behind all manner of BMWs and thinks "why on earth would anyone want to drive that?"

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

/Endthread