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The Daily Routine: Wake up, shake off the cobwebs, get dressed, and, if you're like me, scramble to find last night' s notes for today's adventures. After fueling up with a high-octane caffeine concoction, you are out the door. And, if you are like 60 plus percent of the population, you get in your car for the trip to work. Automobiles have become more than a necessity. They, like the clothing we wear and the furniture we order and wait for months to arrive, have become an extension of who we are. Our cars, however useful they can be for moving us from point A to point B, also fulfill a less tangible purpose: Telling those whose heads we turn or whose noses we turn up about the person inside. Let's say I drive a 400 horsepower Dodge Viper. I make the statement that what I want is POWER, POWER, POWER! Let's say I drive a minivan. More than likely it is functionality and safety that turns me on. Allow me to digress. I realize, as do the manufacturers, that not everyone buys cars to recharge their self-esteem or to make an impression. Many purchases are made strictly on the basis of budget or practicality. There are differences in vehicle design and production in regard to powertrain configurations, performance, conveniences, paint schemes, safety features, etc., because different buyers have different reasons for buying different cars. The reason you chose one model over another, one trim level over another, or even one dealership over another is because of what is referred to in sales psychology as Hot Buttons. | Hot Buttons trigger a need or a desire and are the reasons, tangible or intangible, rational or irrational, that explain why we buy what we buy. After all, why would you buy an LS model with power accessories, cd changer, sunroof, aluminum alloy wheels and heated seats instead of the stripped down L model if each car will perform the same basic function? Why spend the extra money on the 8-cylinder engine when you know good and well that the 6-cylinder is more efficient, more economical and has all of the passing power that anyone would need? Why? Because it's what you want . For performance evaluations, there are publications such as Motor Trend Magazine, Car & Driver, AutoWeek, et.al that are filled with comparison tests for competing classes of autos. Things to look for in these articles are 0-60 acceleration tests, braking tests, quarter-mile acceleration tests, handling evaluations and road tests. These evaluations are generally done by accomplished drivers under controlled situations where they are at liberty to test the limits of the car's capabilities and liabilities. For safety, look to Consumer Reports and the manufacturer's web sites and showroom literature. Chances are, if a manufacturer is boasting about the results of government crash tests and driver survivability, then the information is reliable and accurate. Check side, front, and rear impact test results as well as things such as braking tests, and acceleration tests from the 40 to 65 mph range. How a vehicle survives an accident isn't the only safety consideration; think about active safety as well: how quickly does the car accelerate when merging into traffic, and how does it handle in emergency evasive maneuvers. The J.D. Power & Associates publications are excellent for checking initial and long-term quality ratings. | |
| Some people that I encounter are eager to spend thousands of dollars on their purchases and have never driven the object of their desire. By all means, drive the car! The worst thing you can do is to buy or lease a car without experiencing it first-hand. What if you absolutely hate it? A day or two behind the wheel gives you the opportunity to put the car in your element and run it through your daily routine. It also allows you to make decisions based on your feelings and opinions, not those of a salesperson. Many dealerships and individual sellers are more than happy to allow you to take the vehicle home for at least a day. Accept the invitation, and then drive by a mirrored glass building and smile, because you may have just found your Hot Buttons. | If you have any questions or comments about this column, you can email jason@dishmag.com. |
www.Dishmag.com / Issue 4 - January 2009
