I think it all comes down to the person and their selective nature.
Example : A person in the market for a particular vehicle test drives multiple vehicles all differently equipped and color but ultimately the same vehicle just cosmetic and option differences. So let’s say the customer wants a red fully loaded vehicle but the vehicle does not exist on the lot. They test a fully loaded blue vehicle but not pleased with the color any small imperfections stand out because in their mind they are trying to convince themselves they don’t like the vehicle. They even test drive a red version but not fully equipped again they find any small imperfections to convince themselves to hold out for the perfect one. They find the perfect one at another dealer, then pride and excitement take over and they no longer need to convince themselves they are making the wrong decision. Any imperfections are less important because in their mind they got what they wanted and it’s perfect.
i am not a picky person, when I bought my 392 non-XR after a 4 month wait for the order to come in the salesman asked if I wanted to test drive it first. I said no just get the paperwork ready. As I was sitting at his desk waiting I heard the sales manger ask him if I tested it. The salesman said, no he doesn’t need to test it he just wants to get out of here. I was even offered the option to buy an XR that another customer backed out of in the same color I ordered. To this day I couldn’t be happier with my 392. When I bought my 08 Nissan Titan the cowling cover under the wipers was cracked. The dealer offered to replace it, I didn’t bother and the truck has been one of my favorite trucks I have owned and the crack is still there.
I have a friend who is always trading vehicles. “This is the perfect truck, it has this it has that.” A month later he will find a squeak that bothers him and all of a sudden the truck is full of issues and is a piece of junk. He trades in for the next perfect truck and the cycle repeats itself.
I agree that vehicles do have SLIGHT variations. 1 turn in or out on a ball joint can mean the difference in a slight pull, even fit and finish quality may vary slightly and faulty components effect opinion. What I don’t agree with is comparing vehicles by their 1/4 mile times, off-road capabilities and road manners as an accurate test to determine one better than another. That is driver skill and control input, a split second jump on a hole shot, tire pressure, vehicle weight, a high gust of wind, driving line and even a dirty air filter will affect performance and opinion. All that contributes to a faulty test result, two vehicles of identical make with identical characteristics will never give identical results because of human error. Just like the same vehicle with the same driver will give different results every time, one inch off the driving line here, a split second of brake more there, even 1°F in temperature changes effects the outcome. If you tested several Jeeps, did they all have full fuel tanks, did they all have exactly the same tire pressure and did you drive the exact same road. If you hit a pothole with one Jeep but not the other did that change your opinion on the ride quality. Did you stop at several red lights with one Jeep but got all greens with the next. Did that effect your opinion on acceleration.
The last thing I will say in this long ass post is what I tell everyone when similar subjects come up in conversation. Buy what you want, enjoy it for what it is and don’t worry about the little shit. You are only on this planet for a short time and none of this shit will matter in the long run because it could all end in an instant.
I know first hand, but that’s not a story I’m telling here.