I'm in the process of buying another (secondhand) car, and have naturally been perusing various online reviews of several models.
What a confusing business this can be! For just about every model can be found an equal number of ecstatic and damning reports - it makes one wonder if they're actually referring to the same car...
So do others find reviews helpful - or is it just 'information overload'?
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probably the best reviews are written by owners
You could check out owners review section of the parkers web site and also the readers review section of what car web site.
I think its fair to say that you will get an unbiased overview of the cars of the cars that you are interested in as us owners are not taking back hand deals to show cars in a favoured opinion.
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Reviews tell you more about the reviewer, I think, than the reviewed. This is particularly the case with today's 'classic car' journalism. And I'm an ex-reviewer.
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I tend not so look very hard at what the motoring press turn out - they have their agenda and it may well not match mine. I do pay attention to pointers for possible issues with a car, but thats as far as it goes.
That said, I do like owners reviews as they can be more specific about odd things you notice in car ownership that a days blast around the countryside wont tell you.
Car reviews would have said I should have bought a Ka, not a Charade. Hmm, no thanks!
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Thanks for the replies, chaps.
I agree that owners' reviews should be more telling, but even here I've seen the same diverse opinions expressed :-(
It could be argued that people are more inclined to air their gripes with a car, whilst a (potentially much larger) proportion is perfectly happy with the model - but chooses not to say so.
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>> even here I've seen the same diverse opinions expressed :-(
The ones I read on a well-known site confirmed what you say. I had the feeling that perhaps rival manufacturers were posing as "owners" just to diss the competition.
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I have the same issues with reveiwers as others. Reviews are often written by snooty nosed gits whose idea of a good car is its ability to acclerate and corner..
Reality is with traffic jams and motorways, comfort is all.
No issues with potholes or bumps.
No hard suspension.
No noise.
No rattles.
And reliability..
That rules out about 75% of all cars straight away.
Then I look at size and fuel consumption and running costs- FIRST - if the car does not meet my criteria, I am not interested.
And ease of entry and access is vital... so that rules out a lot more low slung cars: having to pull yourself UP out of a seat to get over the sill is a nogo for SWMBO.
Last time I bought a car,choice was Fiat Punto or Yaris.
Simples.
Last edited by: madf on Thu 15 Apr 10 at 10:26
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I still think there is value in what owners say, esp if its from a decent number of them because even if some like the car and some dont, you can get an idea from what the owner writes about as to their priorities with a car.
The fact that I know one person who has had 60k trouble-free miles from a Fiat Stilo is interesting and relevant - as interesting and relevant as someone who's Stilo has spent most of its time in the garage being fixed.
Its the broad spread of information from a large number of sources that is of far more use than one mans idea of things.
Once presented with a wealth of information, you can process it relevant to your own values and decide on that basis.
My Charade for instance - HJs CBC suggests driveshaft problems. Well mine had its originals changed at 13k and at 54k the ones fitted are fine, so a more accurate piece of info is that you should make sure they have had the originals replaced ( I asked this very question before buying ).
There is also a bit on exhausts failing quickly - well mine lasted 6 years before being replaced.
Same for front tyre wear - mine lasted nigh on 50k, but read the CBC an you would think they will be spent in 10k. Its just not the case.
Truth is, I had this list of things to check before I bought the car and things to look out for as I went along, but none of them were relevant really to my car.
For anyone thinking of buying one, its important that they know of my experience so they dont assume they will have all these problems because it wouldnt be accurate. So the wider the sample, the better.
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Here is my own guideline.
Read the reviews by motoring journos. Take a note of pictures. Read the specification figures.
But discard what they say about the car's practicality, reliability (they can't really say on test drive), drivability (depends on driver) etc.
Then read reviews by owners in Parker's, What Cars, HJs etc. Note which are good and bad points. Some negative points may not affect you (some one may find legroom less but you may find it generous). Try to see if any mechnaical/electrical breakdown/niggles reported. Then from users' forums, try to figure out how easy to rectify those faults. Try to see if there is a trend/pattern in reviews. For example, what are MPG figures quoted by reviewers? Is there any common faults mentioned? What are spare parts prices etc.
Then short list which cars you want to test drive.
After test drive, short list which ones you want to buy (it should ideally be just one or may be up to three if they are quite similar cars).
Then calculate long term running cost (do a best guess based on facts) and haggle with dealers for best price.
Choose a car and once you bought it, start enjoying it by not thinking how you could have got it cheaper elsewhere or whether your car is better than your neighbours' etc.
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I always used to read up on a potential purchase in the which? car buyers guide + Parkers.
This may be worth a butchers ~ www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/buying_guide/
Let us know what sort of car you're thinking about - and we'll pick it to pieces :)
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I find the "Driver Power" survey useful, unfortunately my car went from 6th to 17th this year, but its twin with different badges was No 1 in its category.
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>>> unfortunately my car went from 6th to 17th this year, but its twin with different badges was No 1 in its category. <<<
Which unscrambled reads - Kia Ceed down from 6th to 17th, Hyundai i30 was No 1.
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Car reviews - useful or confusing? - diddy1234
