RossD
Reader
8/4/09 9:06 a.m.
I've never considered myself loyal to one brand of automobile, but I've been leaning towards Fords lately. With my Capri and a couple of my friends owning '05+ F150s, and how Ford hasnt declared Bankruptcy and the new Fiesta is coming out... I think I'm a Ford Guy. (I just might not be an exlusive Ford guy)
What kind of car guy are you? Why?
Josh
HalfDork
8/4/09 9:09 a.m.
Brand loyalists are silly. The only preference I really have is to vehicles that are on the smaller/lighter/higher technology side of the market.
anything small(er), Rwd and manual transmission about sums it up
I have Chevy, Ford, and Mopar. Mostly I lean towards Mopar, because I've always believed in rooting for the underdog.
Grtechguy wrote:
anything small(er), Rwd and manual transmission about sums it up
I'm with him and his hypnotic avatar.
bmws up until they were Bangleized, pretty much anything European. Ive always been a sucker for the ones that break down and cost alot to fix...
P71
SuperDork
8/4/09 9:26 a.m.
I've owned way too many brands to be a fanboy of anything (Acura, AMC, Chevrolet, Datsun, Eagle, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Rambler, Subaru) not to mention the neighbor's/family's/friend's cars I've taken care of/been attached too (Bricklin, Buick, Cadillac, Dodge, Hudson, Jaguar, Lincoln, Nash, Plymouth, Porsche).
I tend to like all AMC's because I like orphans, they're quirky to the extreme, and I grew up with them. I also like nearly every Ferrari (the newer ones are starting to be bleh to me, the 575M/360 days were the last of the pretty). I also love all Mazda cars, especially Protege's. I tend to like anything with a great engine (coughLS1cough). Pre-Toyotafication Subaru's are also a love. And newer Hyundai's. And older SAAB's. And Alfa's.
You see why I have a problem? I just love them all. I appreciate at least 1 car from EVERY manufacturer (yes, even Toyota and VW!!!).
So I'm a car fan.
I am primarily a Ford Guy... a few early Mustang's/Bronco's, an SVO, a Saleen,an F-150, a couple of Gen1 Lightnings and a Pantera.
Lately...I have been e-mailing for pics/info on a couple of 325 ix's, a 356 project car, a Fiesta with mods and a Swift GTi.
As I get older, I find myself wanting a car built by me, for me. What that is, today, I have no clue.
Growing up I was always a Ford gal, mostly because my last name was Ford.
I like so many different styles and brands of cars now, I fear I may be a little bit of a car-whore. There's not too many new cars that I like, I do tend to like older stuff.
GM trucks. Hyundai Cars. Suzuki toys. Honda bikes.
Mopars and RWD/AWD Toyotas.....especially the unkillable '80's Pickups.
owned more toyotas then anything else... but am not picky... my toys have all been I4's... utility cars mostly v6...
i'm itching for some pushrod v8 action... and I still REALLY NEED to play with a 16v turbo at some point... a strong I6 backed to a 5spd trans is something else I really want... and a topless fun car (miata)
long list of cars... not enough time... or moeny
EricM
HalfDork
8/4/09 10:02 a.m.
I have raced FWD for a while, and then I got a Porsche 924S. Not the fastest car, but it taught me that RWD > FWD.
So now I am a snob, but only that the car I drive will be a RWD and a Manual transmission.
Technically my pick up truck qualifies a sprots car in that it is a 5speed and rwd.
I find myself drawn primarily to late 70s/early 80s domestic compacts, and most mid 80s+ japanese cars (minus civics, to many hashed together turds have turned me off BIGTIME). The more "technologicaly advanced" - read: the more wizbang gimicks that we can cram in to entertain soccermoms and appliance driving toolboxes - the less I am attracted. As far as newer cars, I like GM for the cobalt ss, and G8 :tear:, late 90s nissans w/ SR20DE/Ts, Lexus IS, and Ive found myself being drawn to the new Hyundai/Kia offerings
I like pretty much all ethusiest cars, but am an Alfa guy so that I can keep sane on the project front. Even then, I'm overloaded. It's a lot easier when parts are shared among cars, though- at least to me.
Even still, I narrow the time band to late 50's to early 70's.
While I drive a Miata every day, I would not put myself into the "Miata Enthusiest" camp, since it's dead stock, and driven every single day. Whereas the "project" cars are technically inferior.
It's more about being able to focus than being a snob. And I get to learn more about the cars I drive since I have more time with them....
Eric
I am drawn to smaller imports. I find it nice to work on engines/setups that can be worked on by a smaller guy by himself with typical hand tools.
Honda/miata are really my only stable so far.
Fuel injection, independent suspension, light, nimble and CHEAP... oh and turbo friendly.
Once that is over... its all about making the car into something really fun to drive on track. I think I pretty much don't care about anything beyond making it go fast on a road course. Everything else takes 2nd place.
And as far as actual Person goes... I like anyone that likes to work on cars and make them go fast. I'm at HUGE odds with showcar and parking lot pimps.... my tolerance shrinks and shrinks as time goes by.
Mostly Fords, but I did work there for 15 years. Several Mustangs and F-150s, a road race Fiesta, and various family cars. But I've also owned a couple of Hondas, Mazdas, one Porsche and my current BMW. I also had a Dodge (Mitsubishi) and a Camaro along the way, as well. I can appreciate small, light cars as well as big ground pounders with V8s. If it's fun or fast or cool or interesting or useful, I can usually find something to appreciate about it.
JmfnB
SuperDork
8/4/09 11:07 a.m.
I am a sucker for non-running cars.
I like a lot of different types of cars for different reasons.
The Saab C900 is just one of the best blends of solid build quality, useful cargo space, fun, looks and fuel econ that I've found in the 26ish cars that I've owned. Now that I think about it, though, every car I've had was either a Ford, Saab, Mazda, Subaru or Toyota/Lexus. The only one that I've no interest in revisiting is Subaru (fuel econ, AWD weight/complexity/feel, etc). I guess these companies just made enough cheap (used) and appealing cars that I've gravitated toward them.
Mazda and Saab used to make the best utilitarian, yet fun driver's cars for normal people, IMO.
Most newer cars don't appeal to me in any way. Too expensive and not enough substance. Appliances-- not interesting bits of machinery.
lately I have been a sucker for Free cars....
JmfnB
SuperDork
8/4/09 11:32 a.m.
Two baconators, a keglet and a GPS unit to tell your speed make it not free!
Rufledt
New Reader
8/4/09 11:53 a.m.
hard for me to say. my brother sells fords and i guess the most reliable car i've had/my family has had is my old ford van. basically problem free for 23 years (15 years of extreme abuse in there too) but i'm a fan of almost anything fun. basically anything used in a rally at any point is my favorite. not just WRC, if it was in an SCCA club rally i'm all over it. don'tk now why. groing up i had a big rally fetish i guess
Anything that's British and a "project". My latest below.
I'm not a new buyer, but were I, Ford is the only domestic I'd consider. GM and Chrysler were supposed to die. I feel obligated to help that happen.