Are you brand neutral?

[AZjeff]

I admit I'm not. I mostly go with GM although I've owned Fords, 1 Dodge, Nissans, Toyota. When someone posts asking for vehicle advice some guys will suggest multiple brands but their stable doesn't have any. My grandpa drove Ford cars but Chevy trucks, dad was all GM but for 1 Ford Gran Torino so that's probably why. There are brands I just won't own.

How many will/can shop cars with a completely open mind?

 

[dogememe]

No, I would only ever personally buy Ford, GM, and maaaaaybe certain Stellantis or whatever it is this week but not likely.

 

[wpod]

I try to purchase reliablilty.

 

[Nick1994]

I'd like to think I'm open minded. But I'm not really.

I'm not interested in the European cars unless it's an air-cooled VW. Also have zero interest in anything Nissan, Subaru, or Mitsubishi. Or anything GM that's a 4/6 cylinder. Not too much of a Ford fan either.

 

[nomas]

Yes , except for European models .

 

[TomYoung]

Almost nobody is brand neutral. I try to give new brands a fair shake, but will grab a Toyota, Honda, BMW, Porsche over and over again. Oil is the worst, where I would have stayed with Castrol, Mobil 1 until the end of time, but the stopped producing the oils in the specification or got far too expensive.

 

[TomYoung]

I'd like to think I'm open minded. But I'm not really.

I'm not interested in the European cars unless it's an air-cooled VW. Also have zero interest in anything Nissan, Subaru, or Mitsubishi. Or anything GM that's a 4/6 cylinder. Not too much of a Ford fan either.

I kind of get this position, where you can't get excited about the vast majority of new vehicles out there. This is especially the case for those who have lived through the sixties and seventies, when cars were far worse, yet so much better.

 

[Delta]

Foreign only, try to stick with Japanese (except for Nissan, they're like the Chrysler of Japan). VW's are fine.

Only domestic I'd consider is the F150. Rest of the domestic truck makers can't pull their head outta their behind and make a truck that doesn't need engine or transmission work before it's even off a 5 year loan.

They're all junk nowadays, just gotta pick something that isn't quite as junky...

 

[Hyundai Respecter]

No. I stick to H/K because it’s what I know and I’ve never been let down. But if I was looking for a truck I’d be more open minded with GM, Nissan and Toyota. I’d never buy a Ford or Dodge.

 

[supton]

Nope, total Toyota fanboi. Loved my VW but it'd take a small lottery winnings for me to go back.

But to be honest, my next will likely be whatever pile I can scrape up cash for, to some degree, I think all cars suck now. New, they cost too much and have stuff I don't want. Old, and it's a grab-bag of fail, a bit like Forrest's box of chocolates, buying someone else's used car.

 

[Dave Sherman]

I will try to review which brands seem to have good reliability and go from there. The last couple of GM vehicles I've had to deal with have been pretty disappointing, and not surprisingly, the problems I've experienced are very common to those models. The other aspect is that no vehicle is perfect, but if the manufacturer doesn't own up to their flaws, I think that's much worse. Let's just say the dealer experiences in getting the Honda's Takata airbag replaced under a recall versus getting our oil-burning Equinox fixed when we got the letter from GM about the faulty piston rings definitely has me thinking of crossing GM off my list.

 

[Nick1994]

I kind of get this position, where you can't get excited about the vast majority of new vehicles out there. This is especially the case for those who have lived through the sixties and seventies, when cars were far worse, yet so much better.

I'm kind of mixed on that. Reliability plays a big factor into it, but sometimes the cars just suck. Like Mitsubishi and Nissan, their cars have been so outdated for so long. I want the technology and modern-ness. But I don't want the electronic gremlins that come with it like the European cars.

I've had a Tesla which just wasn't all that. And my favorite car that I wish I still had, my Genesis. Full of tech for being a 2015 and lots of reliability issues. But **** that was an awesome car.

 

[fisher83]

I have owned many different brands including Japanese, Korean, and domestic. I've not tried any German brands. I'll probably stick with Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai/Kia and (some) Nissan products as these have all been reliable for me. There are some Mazda's that would be of interest to me also but I've never owned one yet. We only owned one Subaru but not long enough to judge long term. But we didn't have any QC issues in the time we did have it so they're a brand I'd still consider. I've had so-so reliability from Chrysler and Ford stuff, and I've yet to have a single good experience with any of the many GM vehicles I've owned. So I'd say a hard "No" to GM and a "probably not" to Chrysler and Ford.

 

[wag123]

No.
I won't purchase any European brand, and that includes Stellantis. Been there, done that. I have owned several Ford products and had problems with them and their dealers so I shy away from them. I owned one Hyundai, it was the worst car that I ever owned so I won't purchase another one.
I lean towards Toyota due to the fact that I have had excellent luck with their products, and a reliable/durable appliance is what I need now that I am on a fixed income. Driving excitement doesn't interest me any longer, it is hard to get excited about driving in Austin traffic at a typical average speed of only 15 MPH (literally).

 

[Wrenchturner44]

I have owned more Chrysler / Dodge vehicles vs any other make. I have also owned and own a fair amount of GMs. My decision making criteria typically revolves around value (what are my needs then wants vs what I can afford that satisfies each those criteria). I guess what I am saying is that I have been able to purchase more vehicles of one single brand over another that meets my needs value wise.

What I wont buy, is not so much brand related but technology related.

> I won't buy a vehicle with a CVT, nor do I currently own any vehicle with direct fuel injection.
> I would prefer not to own any vehicle that requires premium fuel and a flex fuel capable vehicle is a bonus.
> I try to stay away from known problem vehicles / brands....for example I know that BMWs are premium brand vehicles that are adored by many, but some of them seemed plagued with Hengst oil filter mount leaks and issues. Other brands also have similar specific engine problems so I am not picking on BMW.
> Many of the Asian brands seem to have less than stout coachwork (sheetmetal seems thinner) with stamped door hinges vs forged or cast units.

The biggest thing I think that sways people from one brand to another is their past or future desire of the ownership experience of that particular brand, or whatever that is that they are striving for......styling, vehicle features, performance etc.

Last but not least, for me being able to reasonably repair or service my choice is also consideration.....example that I can think of here is the model of Porsche 911, where you have to remove the rear bumper to replace the air filters....what were the engineers thinking?

 

[Trav]

No run of the mill domestic cars, any trucks or Nissan for me, I am open to most others but prefer Euro, Subaru or Toyota. No EV ever.

 

[wtd]

I've pretty much mostly owned GM most of my life but have owned a 2014 Mustang for almost 10 years. None of them have been problem free so if I had to buy a new vehicle today, I'm not sure what it would be.

I prefer reliability and simplicity but I'm not sure any manufacturer makes anything like that anymore.

Probably if I was going to buy a new truck today, it would be a Ford Superduty with the 7.3L gas engine. No direct injection and no cylinder deactivation.

 

[John Galt]

Well, I have to admit that my first car was a Fiat so I obviously set a low bar….but the Fiat is the one I wish I had kept.

Fiat 850 spider
german Ford Capri
Datsun 200SX
Isuzu Trooper
Chrysler Concord
Jeep grand Cherokee
Buick Rendezvous
Audi A6 avant
Mercedes SUV
Audi A6 sedan
Ford SUV

 

[Deleted member 89374]

I'm a Mopar guy.

 

[CharBaby]

I’ve owned more GM than any other brand in my lifetime and Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth #2 with Honda & Toyota tied at #3 and Nissan #4.