Dear automakers: you can't beat the legends.

"Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)" (brycehimelrick)
12/15/2015 at 13:32 • Filed to: None

Few cars have achieved legendary status. A few that have are the Jeep Wrangler, Porsche 911, I’d even say Subaru Outback. These cars are legends, there owners buy them sometimes without cross-shopping other models. But they have one thing in common, they simply cannot be beat by any other car. What I mean is that the Wrangler for example has had multiple competitors, such as the Geo Tracker, That Isuzu Vehicross thing, Suzuki Samurai and Toyota fj cruiser. None of these cars beat the Wrangler.

These were not bad cars or anything, they just weren’t Wranglers. Same goes for the Outback , the passat and lancer wagons were not bad cars. they just weren’t Outbacks. People who buy these cars want these cars and only these. They are buying the segments legend. I guarantee you that nobody said I want a Wrangler but I should check out the fj cruiser first. Many have tried but most have failed. Because these buyers just dont cross shop. Its like ice cream, I want vanilla but there is also a mocha ice cream I know the mocha might be better but I came here wanting vanilla and Im going to get it.

Bryce Himelrick is an aspiring auto journalist and car enthusiast. He is trying to improve his articles every day.

DISCUSSION (15)

Party-vi > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 13:37

I think the issue is that, while competing cars can and would beat these legends, they aren’t the same car. The Wrangler is a terrible car. Lousy gas consumption, crappy handling, and a plastic-fantastic interior. But, it’s a Wrangler, and no-one else makes anything like it.

Berang > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 13:39

You mean to say you can’t beat brand recognition.

functionoverfashion > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 13:45

Is the Wrangler the Applebee’s of cars? The 911 would be, Starbucks? The Outback... well. Too easy. There are lots of better local restaurants but people like to go with what they know.

TractorPillow > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 13:45

Hope this comes off constructively. If you aspire to be an auto journalist I recommend editing your articles. Learn the difference between “they’re, their, there.” Capitalize the important words in your title. Capitalize proper nouns (Lancer, I). Learn about apostrophes (segment’s legend). This was just based on a quick read. Basically this article would get a 7th grader a C- in a junior high English class.

Hope I wasn’t too harsh, but if you’re really aspiring to be a writer then better I tell you early so you can work on it.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 13:46

“nobody said I want a Wrangler but I should check out the fj cruiser first.”

I wanted a wrangler, but chose a Nissan Xterra after comparison.

HammerheadFistpunch > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 13:48

Part of the problem is DIRECT competition. No one else makes a rear engine sports car, no one else makes an open top 4 door 4x4, no one else makes an affordable corssover wagon. Niche products that just hit the nail on the head. That being said, there is a lot to be said for loyalty. Why buy a zune?

Berang > TractorPillow
12/15/2015 at 13:49

Don’t forget the difference between its and it’s.

Even the pros on the front page mess that up a bunch.

Autohaus Derp > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 13:52

Kinja'd!!!

I ..uh... I don’t think the Outback would ever be considered Legendary.

Also, quicktip, copy and paste it to/from MS Word and hit F7, it will save you much grammar flaming.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 13:53

The thing is, this goes for any car. It’s called listening to your heart rather than your head (for lack of a better way to put it). If you listen to your heart, every car is a little different. You will probably end up with a car that is, objectively, not the best. If you listen to your head, things fall into categories and you try to pick the best out of the category you want.

True enough, things like the Wrangler are extra special in that they are not just slightly inferior vehicles but in fact objectively terrible for most duties and yet are very appealing. But the basic principle applies to all cars. A person buying a full size sedan using their head buys a Camry. The same person using their heart would probably end up in an Accord.

TractorPillow > Berang
12/15/2015 at 13:54

The pros on the FP average about 1 glaring error an article . I’ve come to just accept it is based on quick turnaround on articles (even though deep down I think that's not an excuse).

There are more errors in this article, I just honestly couldn’t read it all the way through.

Mattbob > HammerheadFistpunch
12/15/2015 at 14:26

FM radio man!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > Mattbob
12/15/2015 at 14:27

right?! Im actually that guy that buys the other guys stuff out of spite and even though I didn’t buy a zune...I probably would have if I had cared about the ipod craze at all.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch
12/15/2015 at 14:30

I still use my Zune every day... Because it has outlasted 3 iPod touchs.

CobraJoe > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 15:42

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I do rather agree with this statemet, especially if the “competition” is only half assed. Using a car chassis for a truck thingy, using a soft FWD chassis for a sports coupe, you can’t really compete if you’re not really trying.

However, one thing I do beg of the manufacturers, even if you can’t beat the legends NEVER STOP TRYING. Some of the most interesting models were failed attempts to beat the legend. The Volvo S60R was an attempt to beat the M3. The BRZ is a swing at the Miata. The Genesis coupe was aimed at the Mustang. These are all great cars that deserve to be hooned with the best, even if they aren’t the “best”.

WiscoProud > Bryce H(Wants an M coupe)
12/15/2015 at 16:10

I actually did cross shop a wrangler against an FJ Cruiser and Xterra. I ended up buying the Xterra. I presume a two-door will someday be in my possession, but as a daily driver there were many better. For a singular off road purpose, it might have won.