Deciding on a car can be quite a tough decision..
I'd begin by asking what are you really looking for ? Do you love cars or just the status of owning a particular type/brand of car
Where I'm getting to ? Do you want to show you have made it and need a status symbol to show to the world you have arrived and can afford a premium priced expensive car ? IF so you dont need to do read further -simply buy the most expensive one in your price range.
If you are looking for something specific and need some help in deciding what you need from a set of different options..this maybe helpful for you.
The most important of all - Intial impression without knowing any specs, just the gut feel and what it means to you:
What thoughts does that brand name bring to you ? E.g the name brings images of luxurious leather ineriors, comfortable suspension, etc etc Or antilag systems, rev match downshifts, exhaust burble etc etc..
This is most important as you will be investing a major chunk of your paycheck and will be living with it for the next few years -its got to feel right from inside, its got to mean something to you.
Think - are you buying it due to peer pressure or some friends reccomending it to you etc.
If you are blank and are not inclined towards any particular model then its a matter of time you will realise what you want and will be stuck with something which does not suit you.Tust me on this..
Spend some time asking yourself what really matters to you ?
If you know for sure and have an image of what you need exactly then the 1st hurdle is past we will go ahead and analyse if that image in your mind would really translate into the same real world performance..
If not - take some test drives, read some reviews, look at some images/vids of the cars and see which way you wold prefer..
Advertised specs and statistics:Higher bhp numbers mean nothing, you can read about it here in more detail.
Its the weight,gearing, final drive, tyre size and vehicle dynamics is what determines a faster car.
If you are looking for bragging rights on hi horsepower figures - then I'd say go ahead but then my next question would be what you thinking of doing with that kind of power ? Can you even use it on the road/track/dragstrip and how would you feel if a car with a lower bhp figure beat you in all aspects ?
Would you still feel proud with a car/engine with hi bhp stats but not particularly fast anywhere else ?
As a general thumb rule -
(I) More torque and wider power band at lower rpms at around 1500 to 3500 is what everyone needs 99% of the time not peak horsepower at a particular spike of engine rpm.
(II)Less wt is better
Keeping this in mind ..and analyse the advertised specs.
Also at this stage instead of just declaring the winner here based on the specs I will ask you "what kind of a driver are you ?"
(a)You usually have the music system on and love to cruise at moderate speeds in city traffic
(b)You do mostly city driving but love to race around
(c)You do mostly city driving and keep an eye on the mileage
(d)Not much of city driving but mostly expressways/highways etc in a realxed way
(e) You dont drive and will be in the back seat.
(f)Not much of city driving but mostly expressways/highways etc as if trying to set a land speed record.
(g)You are a petrol head , or an enthusiast who has just started into the world of cars..
Based on your driving style and profile see where the engine makes the most torque ? does it match with your driving style ? forget the concept of more hp is better it doesnt work that way always.
Also remember even if a heavier car has more power and torque than a lighter one the lighter one will feel much better in terms of handling and braking as the vehicle dynamics matter the most when you are pushing it.
A better handling car is more fun as you can actually use the entire power of that engine as compared to a bulky heavier more powerful car.
E.g you maybe able to lay down only 70% of the power down on the road with a heavy car as compared to a lighter well handling car which could lay down 100% of the power on the road with confidence and some more to spare.
<to be continued ..wife is going to kick my ass>
