Do you agree with this quote regarding how people buy cars?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"I wish it were as simple as people are poorly informed and we just need to do a better job informing them," Clarke (president of General Motors North America) said recently. "I believe many people buy cars as a function of their belief system and not as an act of problem-solving. That is the phenomenon that we face. It's not a matter of giving you more data; it's a matter of combating beliefs."

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...ST2009070800877

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, there's some truth to that. My belief system influences my car buying decision. I believe that most American cars are worthless ####### and hence, I wouldn't buy one.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I believe that most American cars are worthless ####### and hence, I wouldn't buy one.

What if third parties like Edmunds, JD and Consumer Reports said otherwise?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I believe that most American cars are worthless ####### and hence, I wouldn't buy one.

What if third parties like Edmunds, JD and Consumer Reports said otherwise?

It would take some time for this perception to change. Reputation is one of those things that's rather hard to repair.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I believe that most American cars are worthless ####### and hence, I wouldn't buy one.

What if third parties like Edmunds, JD and Consumer Reports said otherwise?

It would take some time for this perception to change. Reputation is one of those things that's rather hard to repair.

I'm not talking about perception of a brand by society as a whole. I'm talking about your perception. Just yours. Would you buy American if various third-parties were in agreement that a particular model was excellent?

[Amby 490]

I just buy whatever I feel like with no real reason except for "it's pretty". I'm ####### like that.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I just buy whatever I feel like with no real reason except for "it's pretty". I'm ####### like that.

I suppose that also falls under "belief system"

Edited July 10, 2009 by Randomizer

[Amby 490]

[AlHayatZween 2]

we just bought our first car ever 3 weeks ago...

i think we thought like this:

Price range

Miles per gallon

Longevity

Age of the car (we bought used)

[Otto 83]

How much more do I need to know about a Chevy Malibu or an Impala? What am I missing?

[maliciant 7]

I believe many people buy cars as a function of their belief system and not as an act of problem-solving

Does that mean people buy cars cause they look pretty, and not because they need some form of transportation? I really don't understand just what the heck that sentence is really saying? I can only imagine he thinks people should be buying his products instead of his competition, and they are misinformed and making irrational choices if they buy from someone else (really... your product is better than your competition... why didn't you say so?)

Edited July 10, 2009 by maliciant

[NickD 202]

I believe that Clarke is out of his fvcking mind.

[Peikko 1,575]

Advertisers firmly believe people buy because of belief systems. There is no other explanation for the success of advertising.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I've always used the yardstick criteria of reliability, price (to buy, to operate and to maintain) and does it meet my needs. At one stage in my life it was vital that I could fit a 9' tent ridgepole in my car as I went re-enacting War of 1812 time period almost every weekend.

[Peikko 1,575]

Actually, I find the whole thing mindless. I listened to a program yesterday where some guy was spouting on about how advertising hadn't yet caught onto the best way to use the internet, but that they most certainly would given more time...crazy shite.