audi's vs bmw's (and car magazines)

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <g6u38a1wu5.fsf@daedalus.crosslink.net> shields@tembel.org (Michael Shields) writes:

> No car can do everything -- the best you can ask is that it do what
> you want it to do well, and that it has sensible design tradeoffs.

Exactly.  I've seen people sketch out triangles, with things like
"Performance", "Handling", "Load carrying capacity" at the apexes and
then try to place all of their alternatives on the triangle - hoping
that one would be in the exact centre.  Of course, this assumes equal
weighting for all attributes.

In fact, it's multi-dimensional and doesn't lend itself to either
verbal or visual representation.  Years ago, VAG used to issue German
dealers with a "lifestyle" selection pack - the dealer asked questions
about your family, hobbies, where you lived, etc., and used a knitting
needle to pull cards out of a folder.  It worked once for me, and gave
me a stripped-down Passat with a KN engine.

> Hmm, also it should look good.

The ur-quattro is now sans badges (apart from the four rings on the
grill) and sans door decals.  And black. Stealth - that's the thing.

--
 Phil Payne
 Phone: 0385 302803   Fax: 01536 723021
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