QOTD: Too Late for a First Impression?
We walk through life full of our own biases, veritable containers brimming with grudges and bad feelings and memories of being burned. You’ll never hurt me again, we think of certain corporations and companies and products. And countries of origin. And people. Like cold honey, these lingering resentments harden over time.
Sometimes we realize too late that our feelings were outdated, unwarranted, or misplaced.
It can happen with cars and automotive brands. I’ll never buy Plymouth again, I said back in 2000. That boycott didn’t last long, but not because I got right back on the horse.
For many, experience with a lackluster, poorly built product sends them running into the arms of a competing manufacturer. It’s what led to Detroit’s downfall in the ’70s and ’80s, and the feelings created in the wake of that era keeps customers coming back for their 7th Corolla. Stigma is also what keeps some people from considering a new Hyundai or Kia or Genesis, and it shouldn’t. Times change, and quality improves.
Like voting, no one entity should take your mark of approval for granted, nor should you hand over your loyalty for life.
A Twitter convo yesterday brought us to this point. In a back-and-forth about what else (an early ’80s Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight), one commenter described General Motors as an automaker that builds for the lowest common denominator; however, with a little prodding, this person did admit to being somewhat surprised by some products. The first-generation Cruze apparently served their family better than mine did. Also, this: Last year, while visiting L.A., they signed up for a full-size rental, hoping to get a Maxima or Charger. Instead, a Chevy Impala filled the role.
Disappointment soon turned to something else.
“After a week with the Impala, I thought GM just did not do enough to promote such a competent car,” this commenter said, adding, “GM is famous for perfecting models then discontinuing them.”
Indeed, the Impala nameplate was marching to the gallows at the time of this rental, soon to be vanished from this earth. Say what you will about the viability of large sedans in today’s market, but that realization that a product was not what it seemed is what we’re going for today. Sometimes we only learn how unsuspectingly good something is when it’s too late to capitalize on the knowledge.
Does this describe any vehicle you’ve come across?
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I suppose one big surprise is how much of a difference the powertrain and environment make to whether you enjoy a car. I rented a Fiat 500X turbodiesel with a 6-speed manual in the Spanish mountains and found it to be a barrel of monkeys: torquey, playful, cheap to run, and a far better handler than any compact CUV has a right to be. I rented a 500X 2.4 gas with a 9-speed automatic in the US and hated it: the same seats that hugged me around turns in the mountains were uncomfortably hard and narrow in city traffic, the same suspension that was entertaining when pushed hard was stiff over potholes...and even though I'm certain the 2.4 had way more horsepower, the sullen automatic transmission wanted to share none of it. There is, though, a screaming-orange used 500x (ace-of-base model complete with plastic wheel covers) with the 1.4 turbo gas engine and a 6-speed manual for sale near me at a rock-bottom price. I'm curious to try it, but also pretty sure I'll buy the goddamn thing instead of the sensible EV I was planning on, and bitterly regret it within 30 days. Still...I've tried that engine in a different model and found it to be fun in the way that driving a slow car fast is fun: you're either in the powerband or in the doghouse, and the manual transmission means that's solely your responsibility...and there's an addictive Abarth-with-a-muffler exhaust note that makes slogs to the grocery store weirdly amusing. Basically I'm pretty sure it's the bastard child of a Miata and a RAV4, and I'd have a creepy bipolar relationship with it.
2019 Tahoe, I was shocked how good the steering and brakes were. And a tighter turning circle than my 2003 Maxima. Plenty powerful engine, no problems passing.