Apalachin Community Press, August 1999

Car Keys

Recently, there was a section in the big city's daily paper (that other paper, the one you have to pay for) that was entitled, The Best in Town. In case you didn't see it, area businesses were listed as being the best, second best or third best in ranking according to their specialty. Instead of being helpful and informative, the pamphlet seemed humorous. The results of the "votes" were unexpected and the irony was funny. It would have been interesting if each person had one vote in the Triple Cities.

Often times, customers will chat with us during the day, and the conversation frequently turns to automobiles. Questions most often asked are, "Which cars are the most reliable?" or "What make is the best quality for our money?" Sometimes we can inform them about specific and consistent problems with a particular year and model. We recognize that everyone expects something different from their vehicle, and these vehicles fill many different needs. There is no Best Car in Town. It is relative.

If you are considering buying a car that is new to you, and you have a specific make and model in mind, ask someone that you know who has the same type. If you don't know anyone, maybe your friends do. Gather as much information about the car as you can find, so that you can make an educated decision. Do not go to the showroom and ask a salesperson to compare the make that they are selling to another. They are trained to sell you a car rather than give unbiased opinions about cars in general. In other words, they may be tempted to stuff the ballot boxes, (in their favor, of course), if anyone should take a "vote." Every car manufacturer has its strengths and weaknesses, which means that you will buy a car with some favorable aspects and some less favorable aspects, and these vary according to the make that you buy.

Public opinion polls are informative and interesting, if they really are the public's opinion. Don't allow anyone to sway your thinking by giving them more clout than they deserve. Do your research, know your expectations and needs and make your decision.

Have fun and drive carefully. Now, which way to The Best Pizza Restaurant in Town?