Learn English – Difference between “what car would you like to buy?” and “what kind of car would you like to buy?”

word-choice

As a nonnative speaker, I have been curious about the difference between "what car" and "what kind of car". To me, these two seem exactly similar.

For example, when I go to the car dealership, a salesman asks, "what car would you like to buy?" or "what kind of car would you like to buy?"

What is the difference between these two questions?

Best Answer

Yes, there is a difference.

What kind of car involves questions such as the following: Do you want to buy a Kia, an Acura, a BMW, or a Ford? Do you want to by coupe, a sedan, or an SUV? Do you want the car to have a manual or automatic transmission? Do you want two-wheel or four-wheel drive? Etc.

What car in your context may mean that you've taken a look at some cars, and the salesman asks you which car, out of all the cars you've seen, you want to buy. Or the salesman simply asks you from the start what car you'd like to buy. He may be assuming that you already know exactly what you want. I think it would make more sense for the salesman to ask, "How can I help you? What kind of car are you looking for?" :-)