Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

memorialmonorail OP t1_j254hsh wrote

Reply to comment by Th3truthhurts in Taking an electric vehicle for a test drive boosts some prospective buyers’ identity as early technology adopters – and that strengthened self-perception translates into a higher likelihood the test-driver will want to buy the car, new research suggests. by memorialmonorail

It's not quite that simple. In this study, the test drive reinforced a personal symbolic meaning - specifically, the test-driver's self-perception as a user of new gadgetry - and that reinforced identity was the ticket to intention to buy. The study found two other self-perceptions were not reinforced - being an environmentalist or an authority on cars. And the test drive also reinforced the prospective buyer's sense that the car would be a status symbol - but that symbolic meaning was not associated with intention to buy.

4

xratedcheese t1_j267e5c wrote

> the test-driver's self-perception as a user of new gadgetry

It's a shame so many people want that feeling. Too many gadgets are replaced before their time just because people feel good about wearing a "user of new gadgetry" badge.

3