Ford.
Massive problems with a 2006 Mondeo TDCI (purchased new). Over-complex and flawed engine design, totally incompetant dealers and 'customer service' that was beyond a joke. Sold at considerable loss.
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>Ford.<
I have had an almost irrational prejudice against Fords since the 60s, when they mostly made 'cheap' cars with the metal stretched over the maximum volume, and more than a little pseudo-American styling. Also they were built not far from here, which meant the local scallies often had master keys.
I know things are different now, but until I have an unpleasant experience I shall stick with Pugs.
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Renault Espace........
tic, shudder, tic, tic, slaver.........
:-(
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24 cars in and I've had neither a Vauxhall, nor anything with a non-European badge (I include Ford in the Euro badge category). I fully expect never to own a Vauxhall, but after many years I am finally putting Japanese and Korean cars on my "possibles" list. Whether this will turn into a purchase or not is another question, I can still feel my irriational instinct for European badges swelling up in my chest.
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I have time for Eastern makes, be it Toyota to Hyundai.
Not happy about French or Italian makes.
Never had much time for Ford or Vauxhall as I prefer to go for cars that are not that mainstream (despite the fact the new Mondeo and Insignia get very good reviews and are no doubt better than my current motor in some ways).
I can't understand the hype about BMW. Reading the latest review about the new 3 series 330D thingy, the tyres, seats and suspension are built for someone with the backside of steel, such is the harsh ride. Dashboards look so plain.
The rest of the German makes.....MB I would entertain, Audi I wouldn't touch with a barge pole and fistfuls of money being thrust at me, but that is due to personal experience of appaling build quality of their new cars.
Ultiamtely I think the question comes down to styling (sometimes over quality), circumstances (it can be difficult to sometimes find the car you want with the things you want it to do-you need to cobble two makes together in your mind to get what you want) and costs over quality (value for money). I look at some cars and wonder how they can charge so much for so little.
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France, French men/women and French cars......................
I think that sums matters up
PS
Not keen on Italian cars..............
and then there are the English - not the cars just the English
Only joking!
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What about the auld alliance, FB?
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I think that disappeared when Scotland had its own credit crunch and was forced into an Act of Union.
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MINIs. I'm amazed they can charge so much for them. To me they are styled like a toy, the interior particularly wouldn't look out of place in a nursery. A triumph of marketing.
Modern French cars. Some are nicely styled but I've heard of too many quality and reliability issues from people I know. I love older ones though, Citroen CX particularly, despite the ones I've owned giving me grey hair because of the electrics.
BMWs and most Porsches leave me cold. Not sure why, totally irrational.
Vauxhalls. Yawn.
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SsangYong. I just can't see anything I like about any of their models. The Rodius has to be the most hideous looking modern vehicle there is.
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I'm quietly pleased that so many people seem to have an irrational bias against Fords and Vauxhalls etc. This makes them cheaper to buy for those of us who seem to get on with them quite well.
The other advantage in driving such cars is that women find you less attractive and this saves an awful lot of hassle on a daily basis.
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 29/10/2008 at 10:25
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The other advantage in driving such cars is that women find you less attractive and this saves an awful lot of hassle on a daily basis.
Well i must have the looks of a camel then, i drive neither and i certainly don't beat em off with a stick..;)
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Well, I guess we all have our different crosses to bear GB......
" go on shoo...I've told you once....I have a Mondeo and a Signum......go on......get......shoo !!"
Edit - and then I woke up........
;-)
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 29/10/2008 at 10:37
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My bias is i think justified because I worked in the trade for many years so have spent an awful lot of time in an awful lot of different cars.
I find Audi and VW loathsome on account of the quality advantage their respective brands used to have having now been reduced to virtually nothing along with their reliability, but still charge silly prices. On the flip side, I do like Skoda and Seat so its not a VAG issue, but cynical branding.
I dont like Renault/Peugeot because every french car ive had has been unreliable and those I came across in the trade were generally highly disliked by mechanics and salespersons since their restoration costs were often far higher than jap cars which rarely needed anything more than a tire and never came back for warranty work.
I do however like Citroen because they do try to sell interesting cars atleast.
I now have a deep dislike for Nissan because their cars seem to have lost that reliability. I know someone with an X-trail and another with a Qashqai, both of which are comically bad. Renault is like a cancer in reliability terms clearly.
My bias is now always towards japanese/far eastern cars, if not for their cutting edge interiors, but just for their excellent engineering and reliability in teh main.
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Agreed Stu.
My mantra has always been: cheap and reliable. The daft thing is, Vauxhalls should thus be right up my street, but I just can't bring myself to like them. Irritating really.
Any far-eastern car is fine by me, be it a Honda or a Proton. Have a lot of respect for the newer Fords, and will probably end up with one in the fullness of time. They seem to have that magic mix -- good to drive, cheap and reliable, which is a rare commodity. Problem being that, other than the Mondeo, they ain't quite cheap enough.... But the newer Mondeo is a definite for the list eventually.
Citroens as well. I've been *this* far from buying a Citroen twice now (a ZX and a Xsara). When the C5 inevitably sinks like a stone value-wise, who knows.
Totally agree about Nissan -- the newer cars are horrible. Renault, you are EVIL.
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My mantra has always been: cheap and reliable.
Opel Mantra?
;-)
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With VW, and particularly Audi, I can't get the impression out of my head that they're Skodas and Seats with nicer trim and vastly inflated prices. The least reliable car I've ever owned was also a 4yr old, low mileage VW, so I guess there is some personal influence here.
Other than that I try to keep an open mind. I thought Renaults were iffy until I put my prejudices aside and bought one, and as such would own another tomorrow.
I think the facts are that If you bought five cars tomorrow from each of the mainstream manufacturers, the significant majority of them would give no significant problems over a typical three year ownership period.
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Renault used to be good and we have had quite a few of them, but with each generation the quality has gone down. The last Clio we changed for a new Citroen C3, BIG MISTAKE, it made the Clio seem like a premium vehicle.
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None at all.
I like vehicles.
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I've owned cars from (counts in head..) 11 manufacturers, and most countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Japan). My ownership experience plus what I've heard leads me to the following irrationality:
Not mad keen on modern Fords (had a mk1 XR2; feel they're a bit dull; I do like anything pre 1984). Vauxhalls feel like Fords but less exciting even (first car was a Viva HC). Irrational prejudice about French (rust; had a Renault 18) and Italian (reliability; had a Fiat Uno). I like Volvos (before they got bought by Ford; had a 940S) and Saabs (before they got bought by GM; not had one). I like Japanese, except Nissan (now tainted by Renault; have had Toyota and Mazda). I like SEAT (had an Ibiza and Leon) and Skoda but not Audi & VW (I like older VW though; had a 1971 beetle, polo mk1, Golf mk2 and Corrado). Quite like mercs (not had one), but can't see the fuss about BMW (wife had an E46 coupe). Ambivalent re Korean etc, not really had any experience, but warming to the more recent ones. I like jaguar (except the X-type, which feels like a Mondeo in a posh frock; not had one).
Makes no sense to me even! But there you go. The whole point of prejudice is that it's irrational.
For the record, I drive an 04 Avensis and ride a Yamaha Fazer 600. Both Japanese.
Cheers,
Alex.
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There is a list of things I don`t like. Lack of galvanising and plastic pulleys, would be just an example out of a list of about 50 things...;)
But bias against a particular make.. no.
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Vauxhall. Had to drive company pool cars in the 1980s/1990s and the gearboxes were always shot to pieces. Can't stand the interior of the Vectra - a slab of vertical shiny plastic.
Chrysler - why buy one - what's the point - just to show off how little money you have but want to show off anyway?
Otherwise I'll have anything that suits my needs and pocket.
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>If you bought five cars tomorrow from each of the mainstream manufacturers, the significant majority of them would give no significant problems <
Come on, DP - what is a 'significant' majority out of five? 3? 4? If you had said 500, that might be significant. :-)
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