Trucks & Brand Name Loyalty

[NWSCREW]

I have owned Chevy, never crossed over into the Dodge zone, in the 70's and 80's, I never liked the sound of their starter, lol the only truck that ever made me walk, was my 88 Silverado, a Ford has never made me walk...out of all the Ford's I have owned, I just like the ride, interior, and the way they are assembled, and, when I get ready to buy again, I will look at all of them, and make "my" personal choice, just like I did in 01, when I bought my supercrew, I got in the back seat of each supercrew, of all three brand's, and the f150, was the only one, that felt like a true "leg room" back seat, I got hooked on Ford back in 94' and have been driving them ever since...

 

[Silverado4x4]

I have been raised around GM vehicles since I was knee high to a grasshopper and thats just the way its been. I almost bought a F-350 4x4 about 10 years ago but couldnt bring myself to it, it was a fealing like cheating on someone.

I have converted my wifes family to GM vehicles (father, brother and sister-in-law) and if I went out and bought a Ford or Dodge man I would NEVER hear the end of it but I have nothing against eather brand. There American and I bleed red white and blue and even try to buy American electronics but its nearly impossible.

 

[Bernie]

This subject is interesting.

Most of us would head right back to Brand X today if we were replacing our truck without hesitation. Most of us wouldn't even go drive Brand Y and Z before we bought another new Brand X truck... even though Brand X Y & Z all make very good trucks.

I think it's funny how we become loyal to a particular brand. I'd probably be standing in line over at GMC today if I was looking for a new truck... I'll admit it. I think Ford and Dodge really make good products, but I doubt I'd write the check for one.

I know we have our resident FANBOYS who blindly think their choice is just "best", but I'm just talking about the average real truck guy here. Forget all of that "Brand X makes the best trucks period" baloney and tell me why we do this stuff.

WHAT MAKES US SO LOYAL TO A BRAND?

Anybody?

EDIT: ANYBODY who turns this thread into a brand name pissing match will get a weeks vacation from TMC. Fair Warning.

Brand loyalty? What's that?

I don't buy a vehicle because a certain company makes it, I buy it because it's the best value for meeting my current requirements. Now, "best value" doesn't mean "cheapest purchase price", it's a lot more involved than that, including things like fuel economy, maintenance, repair costs, etc. I might pay more for a vehicle that will cost me less in the long run, instead of buying something cheaper to start with and get hammered later with high repair or maintenance costs.

The only place "brand loyalty" comes into play in that kind of equation is in terms of past experience with a particular brand, or more specifically, a particular brand and model. For example, some of the early Dodge crew cabs had rear windows that didn't open and I backed out of buying one new at the last minute when I discovered that (got a Suburban instead), and front end alignments on 350 series Fords are a royal PITA, so I won't buy another one.

I do tend to stick with American brands though, having only owned one non-American vehicle in my entire life (a 1979 Sabb model 99 hatchback that was a blast to drive, but a PITA to get parts for) because my experience has been that they can be problematic to repair at times. It really sucks when you have to order motor mounts from freaking Sweden, wait three months to get them, pay Customs fees when they arrive, then find out they sent the wrong ones.

I also tend to keep my vehicles until they are no longer repairable (either physically or economically) and then scrap them. In fact, I've never actually sold any vehicle I've ever owned. So you can see that repair and maintenance costs are a big factor in my vehicle buying criteria.

 

[PenguinLTZ]

Growing up...all Fords, all the time.

Even me, my first 4 vehicles were Ford.

I got smart when I was 19, and bought my first Chevy. I got smarter at 20 and bought my second.

I was a genious at 25 when, after wrecking my new Ford truck, I never bought another.

 

[RebelThunder]

While I like the way some Fords or Dodges look, there is only a 0.1% chance I'd buy one.

 

[hawaiian boy]

I love my Ford now, but who knows next week I might be in a Dodge rig. My last two rigs were GM's, a slammed 1991 Chevy silverado and a slapped 2000 GMC sierra. Also when I was a kid had a lifted chevy k-5 full size blazer. Life's about variety, can't be stale or the same ol' same ol'!

 

[Darkanion]

I guess we had so many different types of vehicles when I was growing up, I've tended more along the lines of which brands to avoid than which ones to buy.

"Most" of what we had when I was growing up was GM products.. Chevy cars & trucks, Cadillac cars.. I can't remember any Pontiacs from back then.. A couple of Oldsmobiles.. We had a few Fords and Lincolns mixed in there too.. Not many Chrysler products of any type.. NO foreign makes that I can recall..

Since I've been buying vehicles for myself, it's been a Nissan, a Subaru, a Honda, an Acura, the GMC truck I had, and the current Subaru.. I also had a couple of Fords, mixed in there, too.. But, one of those never was in my name and the other one I didn't actually pay for, myself.. So, I don't count those as "my" purchases..

Who knows what'll be next for me? I sure as heck don't! We'll see what sticks my fancy in 2 or 3 yrs when I start "wanting something.. else!"

 

[OG-TERROR]

While I like the way some Fords or Dodges look, there is only a 0.1% chance I'd buy one.

"So you're telling me there is a chance."

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[mbarclay]

I personally think that weither its ford dodge or GM they are all pretty much equal. I've only owned dodge trucks myself and really doubt I will ever change. My dad and grandfather both had dodge trucks when I was born and I've just been raised around them I guess. I remember when I was like 5 riding around with my dad in his 78' powerwagon that was lifted on 40's with a 426 hemi from a charger that he had put in it. He actually is getting a 2010 CTD in a month or so. I guess im just like some of you guys brand loyal for no apparent reason lol

 

[CJ Hungus]

While I like the way some Fords or Dodges look, there is only a 0.1% chance I'd buy one.

"So you're telling me there is a chance."

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