The question of why people buy bad vehicles must start with the question of exactly what a bad vehicle is.
We will define a bad vehicle as one with known design faults, a higher than average rate of major system failures, a low reliability rating, or one with a combination of all three of these characteristic. A vehicle that is known to be ugly, one that rides exceptionally poorly, or one that doesn’t sell particularly well isn’t automatically a bad vehicle if it works well and doesn’t need repairs on a consistent basis.
So, why do people buy these kinds of vehicles?
We all know that Toyotas are known for their reliability and low ownership costs, we all know that Ford trucks are built “Ford Tough”, and we all know that the quality of Korean manufacturers has skyrocketed in the past few years.
Consumer Reports and other automotive research companies usually rate these types of vehicle high on their list of “bests”. Conversely, there is another end of the list, because not every vehicle can be the best.
The answer to the question of why people by bad vehicles is largely dependent on each person, but there are some general reasons why different people buy bad vehicles.
People are uninformed/receive misinformation:
The largest reason people buy bad vehicles is because they are either uninformed or misinformed.
Many people are attracted to a certain vehicle for one reason or another, and even if one especially appeals to them, they may not know that it has struggled with major engine problems in the past, it has a record of poor reliability, or it has some other type of major issue.
Misinformation is also a common reason people buy vehicles widely known to be bad. Everyone has different opinions, including vehicle testers, and many publications don’t always blatantly state common vehicle issues because of contracts they have with each manufacturer. Finding consistent information can be much harder than it might seem.
People make assumptions:
Many people understand the best cars to be ones they have experienced before and those which have never given them reason to doubt their capability. Don’t be fooled though… just because a vehicle from 10 years ago never gave you any issues, doesn’t mean the current version is just as good.
Friends and family with the same make and model as the one you are currently researching aren’t surefire indicators of quality, reliability, or efficiency.
Not every vehicle is made the same way. Even though patterns and indicators can be mapped to a certain make or model year doesn’t mean that you will have the same fantastic experience that your neighbor has had with the same vehicle.
People get a “Good Deal”:
Buying a vehicle isn’t always about just what someone prefers. Price and cost of ownership play a big role into which vehicles many people buy. If there happens to be an unbelievable deal on a certain car, someone will probably take a chance on it.
When this happens, it becomes a short-term cost versus a long-term reward scenario. Plenty of “bad” vehicles last a long time, but many of them also end up costing their owners dearly with greater than average running costs over a longer period of time.
Everybody loves a good deal, but make sure to weigh all of your options before you buy. And though it is very possible to find a very good vehicle at a price you can afford, it is much easier to find the bad ones, because more people have given them up or have had to get rid of them.
People need a vehicle right now:
During a time of need, it is always easiest to go with one of the most convenient options available. With a vehicle being an important means of daily transportation, it might seem best to go with the easiest or cheapest option available.
As with the “good deal”, there is usually a higher number of vehicles that are traditionally considered less than stellar in the used vehicle market, especially the lower in price you choose to go.
Many used vehicles that are cheaper than others in their segments are often this way because they are known to have more issues than usual or have reliability concerns. As a result, their values can drop much more than vehicles that have a better track record. Again, buying the cheapest, most convenient vehicle doesn’t always mean better, even for someone who needs something now.
People are loyal:
Loyalty is a good thing, and there are people everywhere who have bought one brand of automobile their whole lives. As is the case with all manufacturers – even Toyota and Honda – the chance that every vehicle across a lineup will be stellar is slim.
Do not assume that because your Ford F-150 hasn’t let you down once in its 200,000 miles of travel that a Ford Fiesta will do the same. This is just an example but the application can be used for nearly every automaker.
Even though loyalty is a good thing, you should always be willing to try something else. Always do your research to find out if sticking with the same brand for the foreseeable future is actually a good option.
People think that “It will never happen to them”:
Not every vehicle with a bad reputation will be garbage. Usually, with the proper car and maintenance, even a bad vehicle can last a long time. However, don’t assume that because you take meticulous care of your vehicle, something bad can’t happen.
The same can be said of even the best vehicles. Your recently-purchased Toyota Camry may be rated very well by just about everybody, but that doesn’t mean you will get 300,000 miles out of it like some other people do.
Bad things happen all the time, and any mechanical or electrical part could fail at any time. Never think that, “it can’t happen to you,” because if it does, you will be unprepared to respond appropriately or make the necessary repairs.
People just want/need/like a particular vehicle:
Buying a vehicle isn’t always about finding the best one possible. Every once in a while, people just want what they want, and that’s OK.
Everybody has their own preferences, and there is definitely no shortage of options on the market. So, the answer to the question of why people buy “bad” cars doesn’t always come with a complex answer. Sometimes the answer is just, “because.”
