Cars, What's your country preference?

[kenny]

Most Americans want cars from companies based ONLY in one of the big 3, America, Japan, or Germany.
It can get quite passionate, and even hostile.
When the American big-3 (Chevy, Ford and Chrysler) lost sales to Japanese companies in the 70s and 80s Japanese cars got vandalized in Detroit, America's car manufacturing capital.

Often we inherit our car-country preference from our parents.
"Son, Buy American!"
Or, "I'd only consider a Toyota or Honda."

What is your preference?

Note, all cars are now global products, with parts coming from many countries.
Honda makes some cars in USA, as does Mercedes.
Mazda and VW make some in Mexico; in fact, Mexico recently surpassed Japan in manufacturing numbers but the brand names are not Mexican.
So, this poll is not about where the car is actually made, but the company's home country.

BTW, PS allows only 10 poll answers so I've only listed what I suspect are the most-represented on American roads.
Notably absent from American roads is cars from the world's largest car maker, China.
In alphabetical order ...

 

[Dancing Fire]

We own 5 Japanese cars. 2 Lexus made in Japan. 2 Hondas made in the US and 1 American made Toyota truck.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Ich bin ein Porsche-Liebhaber!



ETA: I hope I didn't just commit a JKF jelly donut type gaffe here--google translater can be a little wacky!

 

[kenny]

We own 5 Japanese cars. 2 Lexus made in Japan. 2 Hondas made in the US and 1 American made Toyota truck.

So for this poll ALL come from companies based in Japan.

 

[VRBeauty]

I don't choose my cars based on their country of origin, I choose based on the characteristics I want. Last time I was looking for a car, that led me to a MINI, nominally a British car. Interestingly, National Geographic did a story on the (then) new MINI that followed a car through the production process. Turns out the MINI's parts came from all over the globe, and that the engine was built in Mexico. But the whole thing was assembled in England, so I guess that makes it a British car!

 

[aljdewey]

Or, "I'd only consider a Toyota or Honda."

Yup - this for me. These are the cars I've had great success with, so it's what I stick to.

 

[kenny]

I don't choose my cars based on their country of origin, I choose based on the characteristics I want. Last time I was looking for a car, that led me to a MINI, nominally a British car. Interestingly, National Geographic did a story on the (then) new MINI that followed a car through the production process. Turns out the MINI's parts came from all over the globe, and that the engine was built in Mexico. But the whole thing was assembled in England, so I guess that makes it a British car!

So, I guess you'd vote for, Other, or no preference ... or you'd vote for UK.

 

[zoebartlett]

I don't go by country but rather, by company. I prefer Toyota and Honda. I really liked the Subaru I had years ago, but I thought it was kind of expensive for what it came with.

 

[MarionC]

My Dad always said Buy American, but I'm mostly a Porsche girl: manual 6-speed 4WD SUV & a Boxster...and a Tundra for hauling horse feed. [except I have a bale of hay on the back of my Cayenne right now ] Before that, BMWs.

 

[AprilBaby]

I voted don't care. We have a Toyota, a mercury and four hyundi.

 

[dk168]

I have only owned 2 cars, an old Mini Cooper and then a new MINI Cooper, the first one lasted 6 years before I traded it in to get my current MINI in 2002.

I have been to the MINI Oxford factory where some of the current MINIs are built except for the Countryman.

My next car will also be a MINI, a 4x4 MINI Cooper Countryman D All 4, and it will be built in Austria where all the Countryman models are built.

No preference where a car is built, providing it is well-built with good design and reliability.

DK

 

[kenny]

In my dreams I'd have an Itallian stallion like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, or Maserati...but I have settle for my Japanese Honda.

BTW, if you want a Honda made in Japan instead of USA you can wander around the lot looking at the VINs.
The ones starting with J are made in Japan.
Not that I'd ever do that.

 

[portia]

Ich bin ein Porsche-Liebhaber!



ETA: I hope I didn't just commit a JKF jelly donut type gaffe here--google translater can be a little wacky!

Big ditto! I love my German cars!

 

[Dancing Fire]

In my dreams I'd have an Itallian stallion like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, or Maserati...but I have settle for my Japanese Honda.

BTW, if you want a Honda made in Japan instead of USA you can wander around the lot looking at the VINs.
The ones starting with J are made in Japan.
Not that I'd ever do that.

next to impossible to find one nowadays. I asked the SA where my DD bought her Accord...Do you have one car on this lot that was made in Japan and his answer was NO, not even one!

 

[pandabee]

Japanese cars for me, my dad got us spoiled on them! FI is starting to come to the dark side too, he has always been all about American cars (his mom worked for GM for several years) but after driving my new Toyota Highlander he's starting to see the appeal

 

[misskittycat]

German and Swedish for us. I love my Volvo.

 

[jaysonsmom]

I've had 3 SUV's from different countries, all in a row, and here are my reviews:

American Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited: Very plush interior, feels like driving in a recliner with home theater inside. Mechanics were crap, transmission gave out short of 100K miles, and steering wheel honked/groaned every time I made a wide turn.

Japanese Lexus RX330 (made in Japan): Exquisite attention to every detail, lots of technological features that were great to have and also looked good. Leather upholstery and sound system looked good, but were lacking in Umph-factor. Very reliable engine that served me well! Loved my Lexus the best!

German Audi Q7 TDI quattro: Love the exterior design, the engineering and power. This is a driver's car if you like hugging the rode, and zoom zooming past everyone. However, the interior design etc are just "functional" and designed to look minimalistic. Everything feels solid and sturdy, but not very pretty to look at. Jury is still out on this car, I've only had it for a couple months.

 

[Jennifer W]

No particular country preference because of the country itself, but by default, it will have to be French or British. I want hydraulic suspension, always. So that means I can pick from one French model or two British (Rolls Royce or Range Rover). I can't afford a Rolls and I don't need a 4 wheel drive, so that means it's going to be a French car. Always. Not because it's French, just because it's hydraulic. Nothing else pleases me now.

In the past, I've had two German cars (Audi and Mercedes), a Landrover (British) and a Renault (French). I thought they were all great, until I got a hydraulic car, then there was no going back. If you can find one, try it!

 

[Dancing Fire]

In the past, I've had two German cars (Audi and Mercedes), a Landrover (British) and a Renault (French). I thought they were all great, until I got a hydraulic car, then there was no going back. If you can find one, try it!

Jenn W
Is this your car?..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-_-kbwxKtU

 

[mayerling]

Japanese cars are the cheapest where I'm from, so that's what my family's always driven. I drive a Vauxhall, which I got when I was still living in the UK where Vauxhalls are popular. Vauxhall is the British name of a dutch car, I think. Anyway, in my country you'll see mostly Japanese since they're cheapest, but you'll also find Italian (not only sports cars), French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Czech, British, Korean (and maybe something else I can't come up with right now). I was very surprised that in my two months in the US I didn't see any European cars (other than Mercedes, BMW, and Audi).

 

[Jennifer W]

In the past, I've had two German cars (Audi and Mercedes), a Landrover (British) and a Renault (French). I thought they were all great, until I got a hydraulic car, then there was no going back. If you can find one, try it!

Jenn W
Is this your car?..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-_-kbwxKtU

DF, honestly. Please respect my privacy and don't post photos of my car online. You KNOW I only let you film that on the understanding it was private...

Ha! Nope, not mine. But it could totally do that if it wanted to... It could.

 

[iLander]

I prefer to go with the anal-retentive car builders of Germany and Japan.

 

[cflutist]

We have always owned Toyota products: Corolla, Cressida, Turbo Supra, pickup Truck, Camry, and now Lexus RX450h (hybrid).

Oh but that doesn't count hubby's 1969 Jaguar XKE (it has been parked in my garage since hubby moved in with me in 1995).
He also brought over an Austin Healy Sprite, but I put my foot down and said that we are not having 4 cars with a 3-car garage. So he sold that one.

 

[azstonie]

First car bought by myself, college graduation in 1981: Toyota Starlet. Great 'car,' more like a rolling mini fridge in style. Never a mechanical problem although when I took it in for its first oil change at the stealership, they did NOT change the oil but told me they did/receipted for oil change. I know they did not because my father owned several car repair shops and he rigged it up so we would be able to tell. Never went back to the stealership for service after that.

I currently own a Tundra V8 pickup, 11 years old and going STRONG.

I worked for the admin offices of Toyota USA for a very brief period, they were the most abusive employer I ever saw; I was not shocked they tried to lie their way out of those stuck accelerator problems a few years ago. Very aggressive/bullying company in the location where I worked, might be different elsewhere.

Mazda 626, had two of them. Fantastic cars, fun to drive, stylish and never a problem with the mechanical aspects or the stealership.

Volkswagen New Beetles: Had two TDIs (Audi engines) OMG, so much fun to drive! So much Bull$h*t from the stealership: Stole my Amsoil motor oil that I brought to the stealership to use in place of their crappy motor oil (I know how to check, see above "Toyota' experience)---broke the driver's side window and tried to hide that from me; when I drove away fro the service dept I tried to get the window to roll up and all I heard was broken glass grinding in the doorframe, did a U turn back to the service writer, demonstrated problem and was told how much they were going to charge me to fix it! I said Uh huh, manager right now (no charge); one of the NBs would just suddenly decclerate and remain in that state for days. Sold that one back to the stealership and MADE MONEY on the deal. Here's the funny part: Both times the car did this, I took it to the stealership and said "FIX IT please." The claimed it wasn't happening, I must be nutz. So after the second time I took it back in and said "Wanna buy it?" They test drove it and wrote me a nice check.

Would never buy VW again from a mechanical standpoint and a stealership standpoint.

BMW: Had a 5-er. Stiff ride but fun in the mountains. Lasted forever, sold to a friend who had it a good long time too.

Mercedes: Service problems with age only, problems being lousy dealerships although found a good dealership in North San Diego County who could actually fix things, not just change oil.

1940 Jaguar: Good looking car. Required an escort vehicle when we took it out due to assumed breakdown

1914 SVG: Bought from an elderly woman in Pennsylvania and trucked it to our place in CA. Restored it the rest of the way. Joined Horseless Carriage Club and had a lot of fun car trips with it. As a kid, it was my job when the adults when in to eat/drink to stay with the cars and keep people from touching them/stealing parts They'd bring me out a burger and off we would go. We dressed in the clothing from the 1914 general time period.

Now driving in addition to the Tundra listed above, a KIA Soul. Trouble free. Fun ride. It is an around-town car for us. Tons of cool features for the money. Good stealership experience. Will buy Kia or Hyundai next car, probably the Cadenza or the K9.

 

[Autumnovember]

German, I have had two audi's and have never had any issues with my cars! I had a Japanese car as my first and enjoyed it and didn't have any problems with it!

We had a 2006 range rover and I doubt we will ever get a British car again. Nothing but electrical issues every single month!!

 

[kenny]

In the past, I've had two German cars (Audi and Mercedes), a Landrover (British) and a Renault (French). I thought they were all great, until I got a hydraulic car, then there was no going back. If you can find one, try it!

Jenn W
Is this your car?..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-_-kbwxKtU

DF, honestly. Please respect my privacy and don't post photos of my car online. You KNOW I only let you film that on the understanding it was private...

Ha! Nope, not mine. But it could totally do that if it wanted to... It could.

Yeah! ... but could your car do THIS?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n5rIWEUh0U

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I've only owned five cars in my lifetime...one German, three Japanese and one American. My preference is Japanese and right now I have a Mazda, BUT, I'd for sure consider a BMW if finances permitted

 

[chrono]

German and Japan.

 

[mary poppins]

We don't purchase based on country and are not loyal to any one brand. Our families have had American (Buick, Lincoln, Mercury, Saturn), Japanese (Toyota, Mazda, Nissan and Honda) and Swedish (Volvo). Our most current purchase was German (BMW) and parents recently gave us their Korean (Hyundai).

Overall, have been pretty happy with out international clan.

 

[arkieb1]

We have owned Aussie made Holdens and BMWs.