[2hot2handle]

How much does the manufacturer of a car influence your decision?

Will you only buy a certain make and model?

Company loyalty examples being Ford, Toyota. or do you have country loyalty buying only American, Japanese, German?

What are these loyalties based on? Who took bailout money? You've never had a lemon with the company?

I'm really curious how other people make their decisions when buying cars

[Car54]

First I determine what purpose it will serve or what the need of it is for, then I determine what features or options I need or want, then style, then price.

Over the years, Ford and Chrysler have been the ones I go to the most because they have had what I wanted, at the price, and the most reliability for the period of time I kept the vehicles.

[Overkill0084]

First, when possible I buy used. Well, newer used anyway.
I have owned a number of different brands through the years. I like Ford for the most part, but I don't currently own one. My last vehicle purchase was a 2008 Dodge 1500 that I found at the Ford dealer (Dec 09). I simply couldn't find a used SuperCrew F150 with a 6.5' bed anywhere at that time. I traded a 05 Ford Focus in for it.
The Wifemobile is a 2006 Suzuki XL7. That thing has been flawless aside from normal wear items. Bought it for the long warranty and it's practicality.
The closest thing to a lemon I've had was the Focus. It required a transmission rebuild. It kept popping out of third gear. Ford had a TSB for it. It was covered under warranty and the dealer gave me a rental for the duration. So no actual pain. A good dealership is a must. If you're taken care of well, you will have fewer hard feelings if a car goes wrong, IMHO.
Factors:
How well does it fit my needs or criteria?
Price.
Warranty.
History of vehicle. (reliability, common problems etc.)
Dealership impression, quality. Sounds silly, but will they cut me loose after they have the cash? Will they be there to help without pushback when something fails?

[Bigcountry02]

Originally Posted by 2hot2handle

How much does the manufacturer of a car influence your decision?

Will you only buy a certain make and model?

Company loyalty examples being Ford, Toyota. or do you have country loyalty buying only American, Japanese, German?

What are these loyalties based on? Who took bailout money? You've never had a lemon with the company?

I'm really curious how other people make their decisions when buying cars

1. Years ago it did, now the manufacturer of the vehicle does mean anything!

2. Nope!

3. Lately, country loyalty has been European vehicles, when over in Germany!

4. Loyalties to the older, older Dodge cars/trucks (pre-1976), bailout funds and the cars still have issues. I have had used lemons, fixed those issues. Last new lemon was 1991 Ford Escort GT, issue with the brakes (rotors warped), the passive seatbelt (motor was failing after 6 months and jamming) on the driver side, and the a/c (after a year O-ring) and that is to name a few of the problems. Dealer was dragging their feet to fix and when they did fix the problem, those problems still remained! Warranty expired and then they wanted money for the same problem they never completely fixed.

I had issues with my VW, lucky the problems with my coil packs started in Germany, German maintenance was wonderful. Now where I purchased the car from in the states did not even fix the belt tensioner unit, their comment - we will change the belt out in time! When finally stationed in Germany local dealer maintenance service, listened to the noise, the belt tensioner was bad!

My view it is good or bad; but, if the dealership both in sales and maintenance is superior and customer service is on the money and no BS - then they will get my business. They change their tune, I am gone!

Price
Warranty
Dealership Customer Service

[Trez]

International Harvesters seem to be the only vehicles I cant break!!! Ive killed just about everything else!!
Ive found them to be simple and reliable. Ive spent big $$ on newer cars and somethings allways breaking and costing more $$. Yet, most of the IH's I bought were junk outta someones yard... and have had only something minor wrong with them. I have fixed a couple up and ended up driving them for years with spending very little to no money (except for normal maintence)... The first one i had was a 73 pickup i paid $300 for had the transmission rebuilt for $500 and drove it for 3 yrs. It still runs, but needs a lot of tlc. I plan on rebuilding it, and have a "new" truck for the price of another used vehicle...

I like them so much, It will be influence my next tractor and gun purchase!!! (A IH M1 Garand! )

[Poink88]

I always had very good luck with Toyota and I kept coming back due to that. I drive a 2007 Camry now that I bought used.

My previous one was 1997 Camry, also bought used and drove until it reached 300,000 miles. I "sold" it to my son as his first car on 2008 and still gets 27/33 mpg to date. I did minimal maintenance on it too.

[fireguy]

I've been in Fords now for over 11 years. I think I'll stay with them. I will need another vehicle in the next couple of years and won't spend any money with GM or Chrisler, they took the gobiment money and still have problems.
Ford found a way to work it out on their own and I like and admire that.

[Bigdog57]

I personally avoid Ford/Mercury like the plague - had a very bad experience with a new 1979 Mercury Monarch two-door - extremely poor quality and very poor dealer support. Extendedd warranty was not honored. Mom bought her four-door Monarch the same day - had many of the same problems, but Dad is a dedicated Ford man. She suffered with that lemon longer than I did.
I prefer Dodge, and am on my third, a 2005 Grand Caravan. I had actually checked around for a small pick-up truck, but couldn't find one that I liked or fit my needs. The GC does. Have had it for 14 months and love it.
Have had a Toyota Tercel - still have it but it's nonfunctional. Okay for a small car but not what I really needed - no cargo, towing or utility capability. I wore it out though.
Several friends have Toyotas and like them. Others like their Hondas.

Being 6'4" and north of 350 pounds, finding a car or truck that truly 'fits' me is not easy.

[JTJ]

I had a 2001 Subaru Legacy that was a lemon. It lasted until the warranty went out. Things really started breaking at 30K miles. It was cheaper to dump it and get a new car than do the repairs. Subaru charges more for an alternator than Mercedes. Same with most of their parts. My Chevy Malibu has not had any problems so far but there are not many miles on it.
I just started having a problem with my 02 Dodge Diesel. still trying to figure it out.

[TXnorton]

Over the past 40 years, I have had Chevy's, Fords, Dodges, Toyotas and Honda's. The Honda's were actually the best vehicles I ever had. The two Dodges were crap (this was the mid to late 1980s though). I drive full-size pick-up trucks, and now have an F-250 diesel. I bought the Ford diesel over the Chevy as most of the oilfield hands I know or worked with all drove the Ford F-250’s hauling 5th wheels or other heavy loads.

I bought mine in late 2006, and I figure it is a 20 year truck for me, so I doubt I’ll buy another one any time soon. But if I had to I would buy another Ford diesel in a heartbeat.

I will never buy another GM or Chrysler product after their participation in the “bail-out” program.

I bought the wife a certified pre-owned Mercedes ML-320i (diesel engine cross-over type model) for a good price after her Suburban was stolen. Still deciding on how good the M-B is, we are having a few minor maintenance issues with it (but the warranty is great!).