Interestingly, I tend not to follow my own advice. The car I always think I’m going to buy at the beginning of the shopping experience is different from what I end up buying. I chalk that up to research and refined opinions after test-driving the cars. The decisions have always ended up being good ones, and I guess I will (naively? :) ) take it as evidence of my open mind.

And yet, my advice is often not followed. Why that is, I’m not sure. But I suppose that a lot of the time, people asking for advice are really looking for validation of their existing opinions, rather than objective information that might change their minds. So if the opinion doesn’t hit the validation button, it goes into the circular file.

Because it is the ones who hold questionable opinions who are most likely to need validation, the ratio of advice dispensed to advice taken is inherently low. Guess it must go with the territory.

Ouch! as bad as that eh?

She had it narrowed down to a new Passat or a TL.

She really liked the Passat, but her previous two cars, a 92 accord coupe and a 01 accord coupe had 500k and 320k on them when she stopped driving them.

I told her that she was not guranteed that type of reliability with the VW.

She’s had the TL for 2 years now and couldn’t be happier.

Why was her ‘01 Sentra “just about dead”? That’s just 7 years. I’ve had domestic cars last longer than that.

One night I got a call asking for a good solid SUV that had a GVWR of over 5000lbs, for that tax break. Cayenne (”too flashy), Touraeg (”Don’t like VWs.”), Suburban/Tahoe (”Had four of those, don’t want another”), QX45 (”Don’t like how it looks”) and finally, the Land Cruiser, despite it’s relatively weak engine. He ended up with the Land Cruiser and was so happy with it, he replaced it with an LX470.

Another time, I recommended a Cayenne, Range Rover, etc. to a friend’s father looking for a capable luxury SUV. He ended up with a G500 and couldn’t be happier. Even takes it off-road in the Sierras.

If asked, I try really hard to help someone find what is right for them, not what I would buy. At times I’ve also been the go-to guy for using the ‘net to scare up good deals and competitive quotes.

It is pretty well established that enthusiasts in any area are the unpaid consultants to many people in their circle come buying time.

After hearing all about how no minivans were comfortable for her, I got her to try an Odyssey. They kept that car for over ten years. They rarely put any repair money into it, and when she got it in the divorce, it had over 160k miles (twice what they ever kept a Taurus for).

There are some other successes as well. I find the key to giving advice is to not give it to people who you think won’t use it.

My sister asked about a compact hatch that was good value. I recommended the Versa, she got an SX4. My consolation is that now she can’t get rid of it fast enough.

Then a friend wanted a reliable used car, something larger than her crashed Echo. I found a mint Elantra for her, she bought an Ion.

People.

Then I give them my opinion on one or two choices that are good in that segment. About 50 to 60 % buy close to what I recommend.

If it is an SUV, I abstain, since I have no idea how to give advice on something that has no fundamental basis in logic. :-)

These days, when I advise people, I ask them what they want out of a car, and taylor my advice accordingly. Most want reliability and safety above all, and economy close behind. I’m not sure what my batting average is. Both my siblings took my advice in the early ’90s (and bought Toyotas–they wanted reliability) but then my sister and her husband, well, he, unilaterally, got a Jeep Cherokee, and then she got a Volvo XC90, neither of which I would have recommended. Then he got an Audi TT. I had told him to look at Miatas and Boxsters.

Several people have recently refrained from buying certain cars on my advice, mainly due to the reliability problems I informed them about.

My dad worked his way through new bug eye sprite, then 15 years of detroit including a 64 mustang and 69 camaro, a late model 2002, an E400, then 25 years of solid axle explorers and double solid axle grand wagoneers, forcing dealer to take back the SUVs under lemon approach every so many months on half of them.

He finally asked my opinion, told him known design flaws are tolerated based on detailed cost benefit analysis. There are few accidentally bad things on jeeps and fords and suchlike.

Said Ford will forecast warranty costs of leaving out a seal on a shaft, compared to the $0.10 seal. If its less than $0.10 per car for warranty cost, leave out the seal.

Told him he can buy a Honda, all dressed up with Acura badge, and formatted as a SUV. He now says the MDX is the best vehicle he ever drove. Wife is buying an RDX after about 5 explorers.

How’s it go again?

Idiots are smarter than morons, morons are smarter than imbeciles…

I find that because I know so much about cars in general terms that I find that I can hardly decide for myself what I want.

I tend to have modes like: Sporty/impracticle/cheap: Miata
Family/Luxury/moderately fun: G35
Family/Roomy/Fun(ish): Odyssey
Cheap/Cheap/Commuter: Fit

I would pretty much be happy with a 6 car garage. I could probably whittle my moods down to six. (chuckle)

It’s much more likely I’ll get asked about service issues for cars people already own, or what oil, tires etc. are best for them.

I have had a few converts though. It is immensely satisfying when you help someone find they’re ‘perfect’ car that they otherwise would’ve never known about. I’ve had luck convincing some that life’s too short to drive shitty cars. Buy something you can get passionate about otherwise buy a bus pass.