What is your favourite car manufacturer?
Discussion
I used to be a massive Ford fan in the RS/XR era(had 7 Ford's over the years), but other than the Mustang now, nothing really interests me from Ford. So I think my favourite car manufacturer would be BMW now. Plus I currently own 2 BMW's, and that is the manufacturer that I've had the most cars from as well(had 9 of them).
So what is your favourite car manufacturer?
So what is your favourite car manufacturer?
Toyota. Not least because Mrs. Hants and I have owned a RAV4 from new; we bought it in 2004 and it has done everything we need since then without a hiccup. It's never broken down, in fact it's never even needed a bulb replacement. OK, it's not the most exciting car to drive, but as a rock solid all rounder for over 20 years it's been brilliant.
Our adult daughter has had a 2014 Toyota Aygo for a few years now and it has also never gone wrong; she loves it.
Honourable mention for BMW; I have a 2012 E92 M3 and it's an excellent driver's car.
Our adult daughter has had a 2014 Toyota Aygo for a few years now and it has also never gone wrong; she loves it.
Honourable mention for BMW; I have a 2012 E92 M3 and it's an excellent driver's car.
Historically, Porsche and BMW. But I’m not so in love with either of them in their current guise. I was also a fast Ford fan back in the 80s and 90s. I was even sponsored by them through my engineering degree.
Today I’m fairly brand agnostic, but really appreciate what Tesla did to spark both the EV revolution and infotainment tech. My next car could come from at least half a dozen different brands, both old guard and new. I’ve always had an interest in French automotive design flair, but never owned a French car. So looking at some of the more interesting French EVs. But also liking the Scandi designed EVs from Polestar and Volvo. I’m even looking at Lexus now they have finally realised that they need to make BEVs.
Today I’m fairly brand agnostic, but really appreciate what Tesla did to spark both the EV revolution and infotainment tech. My next car could come from at least half a dozen different brands, both old guard and new. I’ve always had an interest in French automotive design flair, but never owned a French car. So looking at some of the more interesting French EVs. But also liking the Scandi designed EVs from Polestar and Volvo. I’m even looking at Lexus now they have finally realised that they need to make BEVs.
Land Rover.
My first car was a Land Rover (SIII 109 FWIW). I have owned three and am in the process of buying a fourth. Every time I have sold one I have sworn never to buy another. They are flawed, and expensive, and generally not the most reliable vehicles out there. But, they have a romantic, old world-travelling, authentic, anachronistic 'British Empire' feel to them, even if the current brand is about as far away from the original concept, at least in execution if not capability as it can be. As someone in one of the many 'quadruple-black Defender' threads put it - they started making cars for sheep farmers, they now make cars for weed farmers. While obviously tongue-in-cheek, there is definitely an element of truth there - broadening their appeal was necessary for their survival. But here is still a magic to them. An intangible which I feel is missing from other, superficially similar vehicles. When they work, they are some of the best cars in the world. Instantly identifiable and with real character they are unlike most other large SUVs, which for a lot of larger manufacturers, are just a taller, bigger version of another model. All show and no go, unashamedly optimised for the road, because that's where 99.9% of them will reside. Big 4x4s are Land Rover's raison d'être, and they do it better than anyone else. But the British don't like things to be too perfect, our self-deprecating humour and eccentricity see to that. I also have a Dualit toaster. British, beautiful, and terrible at making toast. We like flawed gems and a bit of inconvenience, so we have something to complain about. Reliability is for people in a hurry. Gentlemen take their time. The journey is the destination.
TL;DR. I like Land Rover incoherent waffle.
My first car was a Land Rover (SIII 109 FWIW). I have owned three and am in the process of buying a fourth. Every time I have sold one I have sworn never to buy another. They are flawed, and expensive, and generally not the most reliable vehicles out there. But, they have a romantic, old world-travelling, authentic, anachronistic 'British Empire' feel to them, even if the current brand is about as far away from the original concept, at least in execution if not capability as it can be. As someone in one of the many 'quadruple-black Defender' threads put it - they started making cars for sheep farmers, they now make cars for weed farmers. While obviously tongue-in-cheek, there is definitely an element of truth there - broadening their appeal was necessary for their survival. But here is still a magic to them. An intangible which I feel is missing from other, superficially similar vehicles. When they work, they are some of the best cars in the world. Instantly identifiable and with real character they are unlike most other large SUVs, which for a lot of larger manufacturers, are just a taller, bigger version of another model. All show and no go, unashamedly optimised for the road, because that's where 99.9% of them will reside. Big 4x4s are Land Rover's raison d'être, and they do it better than anyone else. But the British don't like things to be too perfect, our self-deprecating humour and eccentricity see to that. I also have a Dualit toaster. British, beautiful, and terrible at making toast. We like flawed gems and a bit of inconvenience, so we have something to complain about. Reliability is for people in a hurry. Gentlemen take their time. The journey is the destination.
TL;DR. I like Land Rover incoherent waffle.
BMW if you turn a blind eye to everything after the F3x 4 Series.
I suppose what really worked for me, BMW wise, was the traditional front engine, rear drive, inline six petrol setup with emphasis on the driving experience. That's what BMW always meant to me. They've strayed from that in recent times and no one else has filled the gap so I guess it's a dying genre.
I suppose what really worked for me, BMW wise, was the traditional front engine, rear drive, inline six petrol setup with emphasis on the driving experience. That's what BMW always meant to me. They've strayed from that in recent times and no one else has filled the gap so I guess it's a dying genre.
te English again isn't it?! 
In terms of ownership it is probably MINIs. I like the ride and handling of the ones we have owned, so we do keep going back to them. Never really enjoy larger cars.
Not very aspirational though.....
We have owned a MK1 MR2, a vx220 and 2 x Smart Roadsters, so I think I like the layout is important rather than a particular manufacturer.... (And despite having two I don't particularly like Smart as a manufacturer in general.)
Even our van is rear engined!
Not very aspirational though.....
We have owned a MK1 MR2, a vx220 and 2 x Smart Roadsters, so I think I like the layout is important rather than a particular manufacturer.... (And despite having two I don't particularly like Smart as a manufacturer in general.)
Even our van is rear engined!
cerb4.5lee said:
mike9009 said:
Even our van is rear engined!
I did like that my 1982 Skoda Estelle was rear engined as well, and I liked that it was different to the norm at the time. Always have a soft spot for Ford & Jaguar up until they both decided they didn't want to sell cars anymore.
We had pretty much everyone of their cars in the family for the last forty years.
I'm struggling to think of any manufacturer with a product range that doesn't make me die inside. Renault and the Koreans perhaps?
We had pretty much everyone of their cars in the family for the last forty years.
I'm struggling to think of any manufacturer with a product range that doesn't make me die inside. Renault and the Koreans perhaps?
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