What's MORE Important For You? A Vehicle That Is FUN/Pleasing To Drive Or One That Works 100 Percent Of The Time?

A thought occurred to me today as I was doing my usual New Jersey to New York commute. I was piloting my modified Volkswagen Golf when I realized "Boy, I am lucky that I have a daily that is both reliable and gives me a smile."

For me, it's nice to have a vehicle that would have an overlap if you were to draw a Venn diagram. Although it's had a couple issues over the years, like needing a software reflash due to a fault code that popped up (CEL) and a hit and run while parked on a Brooklyn street, it's always turned over for me — even when left for dead, sitting for six weeks.

But, I realize this is not everyone's experience with their beater and a Golf isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea.

For example, some enthusiasts actually don't mind sacrificing reliability for a more fun driving experience. While others prefer to have an auto that's 100 percent reliable and sacrifice the fun factor.

That said, I've got to ask: What's MORE important to you? A vehicle that is FUN and pleasing to drive, OR having one that works 100 percent of the time? When choosing my daily, I split the difference and got something that I knew would deliver on both fronts.

TomM - 8/28/2019 7:19:59 AM

+3 Boost

All cars/vehicles are made by humans using materials often dug up from under the ground - ie - NEVER perfect. Even things like castings of supposedly solid metals can come up to have voids in the casting that cause problems.

THere will never be a vehicle that is 100% perfect - cars are designed based on Tolerances - plus or minus - they have to be - and it is when ALL the differences go to one side that problems are more likely to develop. Normally they - at least to some extent - cancel each other out - but chance says that there will be that one where they don't.

Knowing that - an early failure under warranty is normally explained by a defective part - and that is the purpose of warranties. Early production vehicles tend to have more of these as they Beta test in the real world on customers.

THat leaves a car that has the characteristics that you want in the experience of owning that car - as being something you CAN choose through options/features.

MDarringer - 8/28/2019 8:23:30 AM

+2 Boost

It's a patently dumb question. The two parameters are NOT mutually exclusive. There are so many cars that are fun/pleasing to drive that at 100% reliable that there is no excuse for something like a Giulia Quadrashitpile and its horrible reliability.

vdiv - 8/28/2019 12:31:05 PM

+4 Boost

So perhaps a less dumb question, would you rather drive one vehicle that is both fun and reliable, or would you take your chance and try others that could be neither?

Ccoxx - 8/28/2019 12:35:05 PM

+2 Boost

Fun ranks highest!

countguy - 8/28/2019 1:18:07 PM

+4 Boost

There is no reason to have to pick one. There are many cars that are awesome to drive and are also reliable.

MDarringer - 8/28/2019 7:11:49 PM

+1 Boost

You do realize that the Corolla is far better built, right?

skytop - 8/28/2019 10:42:13 PM

+1 Boost

Both! And that's what my VW GTI deliver for me.

arrowmg - 8/28/2019 10:51:28 PM

+1 Boost

funny you mentioned the NJT, because there was a time between 2006 to 2014 that I did the phila to manhattan round trip commute every Saturday morning in a Japanese brand that you guys love to hate. Sorry, to break it to you but my M35 then later my M37/Q70 carved that highway up. Most times, I was just trying to quickly get to my destination and back, but once the car only lanes opened up below Cranbury EVERYBODY wanted to race and they all got the business - audi, porsche, beemers, golfs/gtis, mitsubishis, etc all the cars the german fanboys and tuners love - you name it. Some I lost, but many I won because I never felt out of control once I hit triple digits, and most guys racing me never expected a larger sedan to be that composed. Luckily I never got a speeding ticket nor had a break down - EVER!!! Too bad Infiniti has sold it's soul to the bland and boring SUV gods now - I wouldn't dare think of pushing any of the new stuff that hard.