When I came back from the party and saw the note "Car God" added to WeChat, I realized that helping others choose cars has become something I use to represent myself socially. This seemingly magical and unusual skill is nothing more than the accumulation of relevant experience in the industry over the years and the observation and understanding of people's needs.
The basics of identifying people and cars
When choosing a vehicle for someone else, the first step is to get to know them. This is not just about asking about their budget and usage, but more importantly, observing their lifestyle and hidden preferences. Just like a doctor’s consultation, you need to make a comprehensive judgment based on your career, family situation, daily commuting and even aesthetic taste. Many people actually don’t know when they buy a car. Understanding one's own true needs is often misdirected by advertisements or fashion trends. Therefore, professional recommenders need to dig out clues like detectives. For example, a salesperson who travels on intercity highways all year round has completely different needs than a mother who only picks up her children in the city. This determines the choice of model in terms of power, space and comfort.
A niche choice for literary young people
The classmate who loves Sony and SLRs may seem easy-going on the surface, but in his heart he has a persistent pursuit of unique designs. When recommending models to him, you must avoid mainstream street cars and choose products with distinctive design languages and brands with stories to tell. For example, DS, a niche brand that emphasizes French aesthetics, its interior detail processing and appearance recognition exactly fit his desire for "different". Such users usually don't care about sales data, but pay more attention to the fit of the vehicle with their own temperament, and feel that the car is an extension of their personal taste. The niche choice also means that the convenience of post-maintenance needs to be informed in advance to ensure that he makes a decision with knowledge of the situation.
Pragmatic considerations for families with two children
For old classmates who are welcoming their second child, the core recommendation is to be "pragmatic". Space is a necessity, so don’t go after seven seats. You have to carefully consider the actual seating and loading conditions for two children and their parents. MPVs or large five-seat SUVs are often more flexible options. The addition of a new member to the family means increased expenses, and it is important to control the expenses of buying and maintaining a car strictly. He recommended a domestic seven-seater SUV priced at RMB 100,000. This type of vehicle has ample space in the 2023 market, has various configurations, and can better balance budget and functionality. For ordinary working-class families, vehicles are a tool to improve the quality of livelihood, not a burden.
Urban girl’s car buying philosophy
The classmate who claims to be a "girly girl" has a contradiction between emotion and reality in her car purchase needs. She longs for good looks and cares about whether the color and lines of the vehicle are "cute" or "fashionable". At the same time, she also makes careful calculations and is very sensitive to price, fuel consumption and maintenance costs. , a classic hatchback like the Volkswagen Polo, with a classic and attractive appearance, a large market share, easy maintenance and low cost, is a rational choice. When recommending, it is necessary to emphasize its reliability and economy, and implement the "girlish heart" into the specific car use scenarios. For example, convenient parking and flexible maneuverability can effectively impress her.
Accurate matching of budget and needs
Every recommendation cannot avoid budget. I will first select two to three models of mainstream brands according to the price range given by the other party for comparison. For example, a budget of 150,000 in 2024 can cover most joint venture compact cars and some domestic SUVs. When comparing, the core should be highlighted. The difference lies in whether we pay more attention to fuel consumption, safety configuration, or the sense of technology and power. With the support of feedback from real car owners and data from third-party evaluations, the credibility of the recommendations can be enhanced. The idea of "getting it done in one step" that exceeds the budget is often unrealistic. Meeting core needs within a reasonable range is the key.
The hidden costs of long-term car ownership
Purchasing a car is a one-time investment, but subsequent insurance, fuel costs, maintenance, and depreciation are long-term expenses. When making recommendations, I must break down these hidden costs. For example, the cost of new energy vehicles is low, but charging conditions must be considered; luxury brands have a good experience, but the parts-to-part ratio is high and the maintenance costs are staggering. For ordinary families, I would be more inclined to recommend models with high market retention and sufficient parts supply, which can significantly reduce the difficulty and cost of subsequent maintenance. The right car should give people peace of mind rather than regret in the next five to eight years.
When choosing a vehicle for yourself or your family, what is the most tangled and important point? Is it the appearance that is hard to give up? Is it the space that must be protected? Or is it the budget that is strictly controlled until the end? Feel free to share your confusion in the comment area?
