Super biased Ford study says driving performance cars is good for our wellbeing

Ford dropped a super biased press release showing preliminary evidence that driving a sports car is one of many ways to consistently improve one’s wellbeing.

A car company, not really saying but kind of saying, that driving their performance cars will increase your wellbeing? Imagine that. According to Ford in their latest press release, they dropped earlier today (Jan. 25,2018) “driving a sports car on a daily basis is among the best ways to boost your sense of wellbeing and emotional fulfillment.” The study measured “buzz moments” or presumably moments where one’s heart rate is accelerated, the amount of smiling increases, and one where the pleasure centers of your brain start firing.

Among the eight activities measured, a ride in either a Ford Focus RS, Focus ST or Mustang was used to gather data and find other “buzz moments” these participants experienced.

I’ve copied the chart from the press release they published below.

“We think driving should be an enjoyable, emotional experience,” said Dr Marcel Mathissen, research scientist at Ford of Europe. “The driver-state research Ford and its partners are undertaking is helping to lead us towards safer roads and – importantly – healthier driving.”

It should be noted that the research specifically says that “driving a performance car does much more etc. etc.” It goes without saying but that means it doesn’t have to be a Ford Performance car necessarily that will return the same buzz moments in one’s life.  Whip a Toyota Corolla fast enough, within the legal speed limits, and I reckon you can fire off some of those pleasure center neurons in a similar manner as when you’re in a Ford Mustang.

I concede it’s probably easier to do so in an actual performance car, as Dr. Harry Witchel says, but you don’t have to necessarily go out to your local Ford dealership and pick up a brand new Mustang, Focus RS to get the same effects.

Additionally, this was probably the first time these participants got to experience a bit of high-performance time from the passenger’s seat. If it was in their own car they’d probably be more cautious behind the wheel. And after repeated buzz moments, the novelty may wear off over time.

Sure, get a performance car if you want to improve your well being. But if you’re an average Joe like me, window shop, kiss a girl, go for a run, and dance in your bedroom to your favorite music. Those activities are totally free.