Study Concludes That Budget Brands Are Most Satisfying To Own

But why is that so?

A reader might (possibly incorrectly) conclude it's because budget brands have fewer defects, are more reliable, more comfortable, have a better feel, are more durable, etc.

It *might* be because owners of economy brands have lower expectations than those who buy luxury cars, and because they have lower expectations, their expectations are more easily met. (BTW, lower expectations are not a bad thing!)

I often read of people who believe that luxury cars -- because they are "luxury" and because they carry a hefty price tag -- should not have anything wrong with them, and should not break down. If they ever purchase their first luxury car, they are disappointed to discover that it's still "just a car"; Imperfect, needing repairs and maintenance, and pricier to own in the long run :-/

People's thinking, for the most part, determines how happy or unhappy they are.

I have long ago decided to ignore ANY poll until I see what the people were actually asked - and HOW they were asked it as well.

Is a cheaper car more satisfying because that is ALL the car they can afford - and therefore they cannot complain about the car itself? IE -
Would ANY car that is cheap enough for them to be able to buy be a satisfaction.

And of course - there are reduced expectations for the money - people do not their rear seats to recline and massage in a cheap car.

@TomM Your disdain for poor to average income people shows your bigotry.

MDarringer: In case I need to spell it out to you, your externalization pathology[1] is conspicuous, blatant, and obvious! You have expressed your Islamophobic paranoia in other posts, and yet you attribute your bigotry to others. You are easily unhinged by anyone who disagrees with you, and yet you claim others are “triggered.” You spew hatred at anyone whose views differ from yours, and then you attribute your hate and venom to them.

I mention this in the (remote and unlikely) hope that you might see the truth in what I say, and make the connection between your own characteristics, and how they contribute to your own ongoing misery, which you share so clearly with us in your posts.

_____
[1] An externalization pathology is typified by attributing one’s own characteristics to others. For example, a habitual liar will be suspicious of others, believing they cannot be trusted; A racist will be fearful and suspicious of other ethnicities, believing they harbor hate towards him; One who holds others in contempt will accuse them of looking down on others. Externalization pathology typically includes the twin elements of self-loathing combined with denial. The sufferer loathes himself, but cannot come to terms with his deeper beliefs, and so he redirects his loathing at others, and vilifies them.

@TheSteve love you, bro.

Matt - I have no disdain for poor and average income people. However it is likely this poll is bogus.

These polls are generally skewed by their choice of Questions - as well as the people they poll. So - the question I have is - "budget Brands are most satisfying to own" to WHO. Certainly the people who can afford better will not agree. And would average person really - given the choice between a budget brand and a higher level vehicle for NO COST at all - choose a budget car over a Rolls Royce?

The reason why this poll comes to this conclusion is because there are more people who buy lower priced cars than buy premium ones - because that is what they can afford. People who cannot afford to buy a more expensive "thing"- overlook the trade-offs and lack of quality for the same reason that Rich people - who CAN afford to buy a better car expect higher quality and less problems. WE BOTH KNOW that higher priced cars are often so because they include many more and newer features - so they often require more service. However - we also know that the car that has Crank windows will never suffer from window motor failure too. Cars that only have an AM-FM radio will not suffer slow input in their Nav system and entertainment screen - because they don't have those either.

Matt = THe problem with studies like this is that they provide no real useful information.

Let me give YOU an example using YOU

According to the HEADLINE - you would be more satisfied with a 3 cylinder mini-size budget car than you would be with a new TVR or Lincoln Continental. I doubt you would even consider buying a mini-size budget car. You might say - I can afford a TVR. But - if the study is valid - then you should still be more satisfied with the budget car.

And the reason why is because you are expecting performance that a budget car does not offer. And you are willing to spend for it and have he ability to pay. For those who cannot - they cannot actually say if they would really prefer the BUDGET CAR over a better one - because they cannot buy a better one.They are ONLY saying is that their car is satisfactory for what they paid - not otherwise.

@TomM take your pills. The dementia is getting the best of you. Nothing you said is based in any sort of logic. You remain someone that had hate in his heart for people who cannot afford an S Class like yourself.

Studies actually DO provide useful information once you dig into the data which the headline and post simply cannot do.

Studies show--for example--that trendiness and payment price is a better predictor of which premium vehicle a customer will lease than brand loyalty.

And so on...

Matt - Take your own pills =- YOu have YET to mention a actual Study that says what you say - only that you repeat nonsense of useless polls.

The fact is - as I pointed out about YOU - all this study ACTUALLY says is that people who actually BUY BUDGET CARS are satisfied with them - nothing more. I would still want to see their questions and statistics before I would judge anything else - since it is completely LOGICAL that people who can afford a better car - will NOT be SATISFIED with a cheap one.

I have no hate in my heart for people who cannot afford an S class - I had a gaggle of kids and put them all through college - all have advanced degrees - and there was a time when all I could afford was to put a car together from parts from the junkyard - and that is how EVERY one of my kids got their first car too.I understand this completely - but this "study" is flawed - badly.

ANd AS I have pointed out - it can only predict satisfaction for cars that people have actually bought. If you never bought a budget car - polling you about satisfaction of them is worthless. So - all it shows is that people who actually bought a budget car - knew what they were buying and are happy they actually can buy a new car - nothing else. It cannot predict satisfaction with people who do not buy budget cars. Nor can it predict satisfaction of people who bought more expensive cars either.

And I am sorry - but every study I have seen shows that people are loyal to a brand they have bought often over years and several purchases. As an example - people continue to buy Toyota Camry's and BMW 3 series vehicles long after they have been surpassed by other makes.

@TomM you proved my point.

When you said: "I have no hate in my heart for people who cannot afford an S class - I had a gaggle of kids and put them all through college - all have advanced degrees..."

You imply your disdain for the poor via your crowing about putting your "gaggle of kids" through college. For putting them though college, you obviously feel a sense of superiority vis a vis "lesser" people who cannot afford to make that happen. That if your bigotry.

You are nothing if not a hypocrite.

As for the market research that regularly comes to the management of any and every dealer and not providing it to you, (1) it's not for your eyes and (2) because you disagree with it you would dismiss it anyway.

You can continue to say that I have failed to provide you with the proof, but that is just your arrogance talking because you believe you have a right to it, and you don't.

Namaste and MAGA.

Skoda is really a remarkable company with great products. Makes sense because their entire lineup are build on VW's formidable platforms. It's a pity they don't sell Skoda's in the states.

I agree. But Skoda should replace VW.

Lowered expectations win again!