Most important coaster attribute

[Brett7710]

Airtime, speed, height and steepness all have a major influence on how much I enjoy a ride, If a ride does well on all of those counts there's a good chance i'll enjoy it even if the ride isn't that comfortable.

Despite that I still voted for Smoothness, grouping ride comfort in general into that option. If a ride is jerky/rough plus the trains are cramped or uncomfortable then i'm not going to enjoy myself very much.
My main example would be The Ultimate - Jerky, rough and a lapbar mechanism that is perfectly placed for my knees to smash into it. Other examples would be many of the older Vekoma and Arrow looping coasters, some older intamin trains/boats are really cramped too such as Colossus at Thorpe and Hydro/Drenched at Oakwood.

 

[michaellll]

I chose other.

The most important thing to for me is an inspired layout that makes the most out of what it tries to be. Now, I might be breaking the rules here a little bit because this could include quite a few of the individual characteristics, but I'm sticking with it.

 

[Pokemaniac]

Empty queuelines and unlimited rides included in the park ticket. Definitely makes any coaster up to and including a hundred times better.

Other than that, I guess the overall experience does it for me. If I'm with friends and the weather is good, any coaster can be fun - even if all we do is ride it once then spend the rest of the day bashing it for being terrible.

And of course, looking good at pictures. At a student budget, I'm not likely to ride many world-class rides in the near future, so all I can do is admiring them.

 

[LiveForTheLaunch]

I agree with Jordan to an extent when it comes to theme. Theme can definitely make a mediocre ride much more awesome, but I don't think I'd choose it as the number one. I think it's a combination of smoothness, airtime, and theme. It's too impossible to pick just one, because kiddie coasters can technically be smooth, but that doesn't make them good. Airtime alone also doesn't make a good ride, because I've been on plenty of coasters that have it but are mediocre. Theme just ties everything together.

 

[dominoes]

I actually have changed my mind. I think fun.
I could ride a coaster, and never ride it agin just because it wasn't fun. That is why I love Flying Fish and Rush equally. And Nemesis and Air. They are all fun. It doesn't matter if they aren't intense. That is why I got so annoyed by people saying that Swarm wasn't good because it lacked intensity. I haven't ridden it, but if it is fun, then I am happy.

 

[billybobjoebob]

Airtime!

Although my second choice would be steepness of the drops, because that can help to extend the airtime. Also, smoothness. Even a woodie has to have some level of smoothness, otherwise it ends up like Mean Streak, awesome layout, but the roughness ruins it

 

[Josh73]

^^ My thought exectly, if a coaster is fun, that's the best coaster.

 

[Hyde]

I too went with other.

Pacing is one of the biggest factors that will make or break a roller coaster for me. Who cares if it has a 200 ft. drop or 8 inversions? If they are awkwardly placed coughBigBearcough the ride can turn into a downward spiral of meaningless elements.