Why did you buy your car?

[the Teuton]

This sounds like a marketing exercise, and to a degree it is, but really I am just intrigued why people buy the way they do, especially people who buy newer cars.  It's also easy to say that I bought my car because it was cheap, but I there were other factors for me getting my car such as the AWD and the fact I loved my STi wagon in Gran Turismo 2.

So you have up to 3 votes and a thread to explain why you bought what you did.  Go!

[Raza]

Performance, value, and brand, I suppose.  I'd be lying if I said the fact it is a Volkswagen didn't give me a more favorable view of it.  Aftermarket potential is there, too, but not overly important beyond a few choice handling bits and a little more power.  It is very practical, I think it looks good, I love the color, the price was right (though without value, price is fairly unimportant at this level), it is comfortable and of good quality, and I did need a car.  So I did my best to only choose three.

You missed gas mileage.

[Laconian]

Reliability, performance, value. I've always thought that Miatas offer the best bang for the buck, and I love a good deal.

[dazzleman]

Exterior style/performance/interior quality & comfort

[Soup DeVille]

When I bought the Civic, I had narrowed it down to the Focus SVT, the Si, and the Mazda Protege5.

I wanted an economical, practical small car that didn't completely crush my driving pleasure. All three really delivered.

The P5 had the best interior features, but lacked in front seat space.

The Focus was the best handling, and on par with the Si for most everything else, but the salesman was an ass, so I walked.

The Civic was available for about 3 grand below MSRP.

[Rupert]

Only three options? Fuck that.

[Vinsanity]

How about "I took a test drive and really liked how it drove"?





Besides that, I chose value and exterior style

[Onslaught]

I had a garage full of auto body parts for one. I still do and will make another track car one day I hope with them.
I found a good one that was cheap in the junk yard.
It was as close to my go cart as I could find for the road.
I knew it was reliable. I didn't know it would be this good however.

I wanted to look gay.

Out of the list

Price
Performance- around a curve not in a line.
Brand

[dazzleman]

Only three options? Fuck that.

You're such a fucking rebel, man.  You must have been a nightmare as a teenager. 

[Rupert]

You're such a fucking rebel, man.  You must have been a nightmare as a teenager. 

If I'd had different parents, for sure.

[Rupert]

For the MG, I chose utility, comfort, and reliability.

[dazzleman]

For the MG, I chose utility, comfort, and reliability.

[dazzleman]

If I'd had different parents, for sure.

So your parents were OK with you being a stoner? 

[Rupert]

They didn't punish me for it, if that's what you mean.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Volvo...

Comfort/interior
Value
Other (please explain): I have issues

[dazzleman]

They didn't punish me for it, if that's what you mean.

Punishment would have made you worse, I suspect.

[Rupert]

Not necessarily, but there was little they could do short of kicking me out that would have prevented me from doing what I wanted. Everyone has to sleep sometimes...

[dazzleman]

Not necessarily, but there was little they could do short of kicking me out that would have prevented me from doing what I wanted. Everyone has to sleep sometimes...

Maybe boot camp would have done the trick.....

[the Teuton]

Only three options? Fuck that.

It makes you really have to think why you bought your car.  Prioritize.

[TBR]

Well I bought it because it was available, it was a MT (I selected performance), and it got good fuel economy.

[Tave]

So far I'm the only person who voted for color. The dealership had several Aveos in stock, and I chose black.

[Raza]

So far I'm the only person who voted for color. The dealership had several Aveos in stock, and I chose black.

Did you choose the Aveo solely because it was black and no other comparable cars were black?  Did you pay for features that you didn't want because you wanted a black car?

[Tave]

Did you choose the Aveo solely because it was black and no other comparable cars were black?

Like I said, they had plenty of Aveos, mine is black, and I wanted black more than any of the other similarly-equipped colors I could have chosen.

[Raza]

Like I said, they had plenty of Aveos, mine is black, and I wanted black more than any of the other similarly-equipped colors I could have chosen.

Hmm.  If they didn't have a black one and couldn't acquire one, would still have bought an Aveo from them?

[Tave]

I was pretty keen on a black/manual combo: less in love with the idea of the Aveo itself.

[Raza]

I was pretty keen on a black/manual combo: less in love with the idea of the Aveo itself.

Then I think you choose correctly (by picking color).  I was overjoyed that my car was black, but even if it had been silver or even red I'd have bought it, as long as it were a stick.

I had originally found a stick silver Wolfsburg at a shady VW/Subaru dealer where I drove the 08 WRX, but was so unhappy with their salesmanship that I hoped that another salesman at my servicing dealership would be able to help me out.  And he was.  So it all worked out.

[Vinsanity]

Admittedly, the hype/image did somewhat play into my decision. It does sound cooler to say that you drive a Caddy compared to saying you drive a Volvo, Maxima, or Acura TL.

[Raza]

Admittedly, the hype/image did somewhat play into my decision. It does sound cooler to say that you drive a Caddy compared to saying you drive a Volvo, Maxima, or Acura TL.

Cooler than Acura?  Never!

[Vinsanity]

Cooler than Acura?  Never!

Yeah, I would have bought a Jetta, but I figured I would quickly get tired of having to explain myself as to why I bought a Jetta. And reassuring everyone that I still like girls.

[Raza]

Yeah, I would have bought a Jetta, but I figured I would quickly get tired of having to explain myself as to why I bought a Jetta. And reassuring everyone that I like girls.

Well, no one needs reassurance of that, generally.  Girls love Jettas and the people who drive them.  All of them.  Physically and indiscriminately.  I've seen it.