How brand diverse are you?

Chris_V wrote: I've seen bad examples of about every make, and had great examples of about every make, too. So I have to take each individual example as it's own discreet experience and let it not cloud ny judgement of others of the same make and/or model. Especially if you're talking about examples decades apart. For example, my direct experience with a Chevy Cavalier had no influence one way otr the other on my purchase of my Volt. Why should it?

I don't think it's black and white. You can't say everything made by one manufacturer is great/crap due to one specific car, but depending on the types of issues and how prevalent they appear to be for other people, you may wish to avoid (or pursue) a particular era/generation/model/powerplant/etc...

On the flipside, with a bit of research, there do seem to be some corporate philosophies which affect cars' real usability/quality/whether they suit someone. Obviously, this is not a black/white thing, but it's not unreasonable for expectations to be colored a bit by experience here.

I'd like to try a Miata again. I didn't like the one I had, but despite fixing many of its problems, I failed to replace the shocks. So I know I can't paint all Miatas with that car's deficiencies.

Your Volt is such a radical car that one wouldn't expect it to share much character with a cavalier; the bowtie on the front seems likely to be the strongest similarity.

I think your point has some validity, I just think that within reason it's not always necessary to view each individual car from a completely clean slate; take advantage of what you do know about them where appropriate.

I dunno; I'm not sure I even disagree with you strongly enough to post a counterpoint. I just think that while a generally open mind should be kept, there are some real patterns to be observed.

Lessee it's been-

Toyota Eagle (Mitsubishi not AMC) Ford Mazda Mazda Chevrolet (by way of Toyota) MINI Ford Jeep (AMC not Chrysler) Mazda Mazda

Not real brand loyal, but I've been all over the Mazda/Ford map. I tend to get the best performance value out of said Mazdas. I currently own two Mazdas, will be trading Mazda#2 for...Mazda#2 the Chevy Prism, the Jeep, and the MINI. Because of my project path, my next car or two will also likely be Mazdas (I'm on the hunt for a B2200 and a decent n/a Miata)

I've always driven either Japanese or American cars. I've had a four Toyotas, two Hondas, a Geo, a Ford, and a Mazda. Currently driving a Fit and probably will get another one when this one keels over. Wife has Cobalt and has driven German and American cars.

At the moment I've got 5 Fords, a Jeep, a Mazda and a Triumph. If I had to stick to one brand, it would be Ford. Not counting a 68 Bug and the Triumph that's mostly Mazda, I've never owned anything European. I don't see that ever changing. I've owned 5-6 Japanese cars and three of them have been RX7s, the rest were Mazda (626) Toyota (Corolla) and Nissan (Stanza). Everything else has been Fords or GMs and mostly V8 powered.

I have one of those Saab families. My parents have had them for years. Dad buys crappy ones and flips, parts out, etc on a very regular basis. My brother has had 10+ of them. I'm on my 8th.

I'm slowly stepping out of the box, though. Had a Subaru for a while, I've had my Miata for a year and a half now, and briefly had an Audi.

So currently I have a Saab and a Mazda.

55 Chevy; 74 Kawasaki 500 triple; 65 Nissan Cedric; 67 Datsun RL411 "SSS" ; 70 Audi 100LS; 78 Rabbit; 80 Jetta; 69 Mercury Comet (Montego body - urban guerrilla car); 77 Porsche 911S; 86 Golf; 85 Toyota MR2; 1974 Toyota Corolla (SCCA ITB); 1987 Acura Integra; 1989 Ford Bronco II; 1989 BMW 318is; 1994 BMW 318is; 1976 Volvo 242 (daughter's HS/college car); 1995 Honda Civic (Daughter's college grad 'present'); 1994 Ford Explorer 2-dr; 1990 Suzuki Katana 750; 1993 Kawasaki Ninja 250; 1997 BMW 318ti; 1995 Kawasaki 500 Ninja; 2000 Suzuki 1200S Bandit; 1999 Subaru 2.5RS; 1990 760 Volvo wagon (bought, cleaned up, sold to daughter); 1982 Volvo 5.0L Ford powered; 2000 Subaru 2.5RS; 1995 Toyota Corolla Wagon (bought, cleaned up, sold to daughter); 2006 Subaru WRX 5 door; 2008 Mini Clubman; 2009 Subaru WRX 5 door; 2000 Honda Accord (mom-in-law's low mileage car when she stopped driving)

Today we have the Clubman, the 5.0L Volvo and the Accord. Never sat down and listed them all.....

MichaelYount wrote: 74 Kawasaki 500 triple;

Would that happen to be the 500 TWO STROKE triple perhaps???

If it's cheap, I'll drive it.

Over the years I have had a mish mash of cars, never had a bad one.

My loyalty tended toward Jeep and Chrysler products.

Some one asked me why I keep buying Ford products now.

Excellent dealer only a mile away, was my answer. Besides never having a bad one.

And having worked at GM shops.

I've owned three Mazdas, a Mitsubishi, a Subaru, a GM Saab, a Nissan, and a Ford. I still own the Ford, the Mitsu, and one of the Mazdas. My preferences for cars leans Japanese (esp. Mazdas), although I am a Ford boy when it comes to American cars.

I will be selling the Mitsu soon and find myself looking at Germans (Audi, BMW) and Swedes (Volvos) for a replacement winter beater, and also because I've never owned a European car besides the GM900.

Flight Service wrote:

MichaelYount wrote: 74 Kawasaki 500 triple;

Would that happen to be the 500 TWO STROKE triple perhaps???

Don't think Kawasaki ever built any other kind! Screaming Green Meanie. Expansion chambers, specially jetted Mikunis, twin disc brakes up front (only came with one), ported. Would run with the lightly modded 750 triple-2's back in the day. Three rules - 1) don't try to turn it much - frame a flexible flyer; 2) for God's sake, when you open the throttle have it pointed straight and get up over the tank BEFORE it hits 4500 rpm; 3) plan regular stops - only got 50-60 miles per tank of fuel. But was it ever fun leaving the HD's and Honda 750's in a cloud of two-stroke smoke. Of course - not quick at all by today's two-wheeled standard. But high 11's was screaming back then. And the sound....