People and cultures, like the arts, traditions and cuisine born of those cultures, come in all flavors, and so do cars. The great thing about global trade is that we have choice in nearly everything we buy. Few, if any, people are forced to purchase a product because no alternatives built by rival companies exist.
And, because we’re not living under the thumb of an oppressive apparatus that demands us proles buy dismal crapboxes from a sole state-owned factory, our driveway diversity is off the charts. Maybe yours tops them all.
Sure, there’s some notable absences. All Chinese-brand cars, for instance. Brands like Seat and Skoda and Holden and Opel and Daihatsu and the PSA Group lineup (for now), Hindustan, and vehicles built at AvtoVAZ factories in Russia. There’s plenty of vehicular nationalities we can’t get our hands on.
Old rarities sometimes float across the oceans, and a person’s advanced age (or globe-trotting career) can mean a now-unattainable brand once passed into their ownership, either here or abroad.
Sadly, your author can’t claim a diverse ownership history of various auto nationalities. Nope, just two countries: America and Japan. No Germans, no Italians, no Swedes (almost, though), no Koreans, and no Brits. My father’s father only owned two nationalities in his life: American and British, though a Renault Dauphine almost fell into his lap in the 1960s. My mom’s father could claim to have owned British, American, and Canadian — specifically, the Chevy-ripoff Acadian brand.
My father was very much the same, owning American, Japanese, and a lone Vauxhall Firenza. There was almost a Russian model once, but that bargain-basement Lada romance was not to be. Same goes for the VW Beetle he left on the lot following a near rollover during a test drive. Indeed, no one in my immediate family has ever owned a German car.
Here’s where you come in. Can you claim more vehicular diversity than anyone in your family or circle of friends? We’re not talking individuals brands or bodystyles, just country of origin (in the headquarters sense, not the production side of things). What’s your tally, B&B?
[Images: General Motors, Citroen, Kia]
I was brought up around a 100% Japanese fleet (aside from my dad’s ’71 Zaporozhets back in Russia): a series of Civics, a single rusty old Corolla, then a pair of gen 1 Mazda MPVs and a Fit. My first car I bought with my own money was a 2012 Civic, married into a 2012 Camry of my wife’s, and bought my ’96 4Runner used. Once I got into my car flipping game I likewise started out in my comfort zone with Japanese (’00 Maxima, ’96 ES300), but then finally dipped my foot into domestics with a pair of old Ford Rangers, and really quite liked the simplicity and availability and low cost of parts. I then took a walk on the wild side with an old B5 Audi A4 Quattro, and now have again bought a domestic car, a lightly used Town & Country. So the fleet is two Toyotas and a Chrysler. Going forward I can see myself buying a Korean car, perhaps a used Gensis G80, I see in them the original LS400 as far as quality per dollar goes.
“Diversity” was the early 60s. Everything from Isettas to ’58 Buick Roadmonsters driving on the same roads.
There’s no diversity now. Nearly everything out there has become a rolling suppository built with a lot of Chinese-made parts in factories scattered around the world owned by multinational conglomorates.
I suppose the now-dead Qube and Element sort of bucked the trend, but looking out my office window just now, other than the city busses, the only real differences come down to size and just how ugly the front fascia has become.
Diversity. Man have they got you by the gonads.
“58 Roadmonster”. Perfect description!!
HaHa!
I currently do not own any cars or trucks but use our Southwind Motorhome as our daily driver.
The 30ft+ length of OUR “Roadmonster” limits where we can go to HUGE parking lots like Costco, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart Supercenter, and the like.
Chrome bumpers, door handles, trim, grille, etc. Round headlights. 14″ wheels with balloon tires and wheel covers. Yes, that was a time when cars had nothing in common with each other, unlike now.
JT, you’re missing the point. The average slob will always drive what his/her neighbor drives, whether it’s a mobile living room or a stoolpile, so that paradigm will always be the most common thing clogging the roads. What is missing (relative to the chrome whores you refer to) are the outliers equivalent to Beetles, the Bugeyes, the bizarre Citroens, real pickemup trucks, Renault 4s, bizarromas like Dauphins, MGAs/Bs/TR3/250/6s/914s/124s, Greenbriers and Type IIs, etc. etc. etc. Even the current Miata has adopted the suppository morphology – one has to buy the FCA abortion of that car to get something that approaches unique.
Yes, but I have no problem whatsoever giving you the exact year, make, model etc, for any 50s or 60s cars. When my wife asks me what that sleek SUV is in front of us, I have to wait till I can get real close and read what it says on the back. Otherwise, I haven’t a clue what it is, not to mention the year. And I’m old enough that my memory isn’t what it used to be!
1985 Ford Mustang GT
1985 Nissan 300zx turbo
1993 Honda Civic Si Hatchback
2005 Mazda3 hatch
2001 Chrysler 300M
2006 Ford Mustang GT
2013 Ford Edge
2015 Ford F150 5.0L
2017 Ford Focus ST (current)
Fiance has a 2014 CR-V.
5 Fords for me, 1 Chrysler and a smattering of Japanese brands in my younger days. I’m about to turn 36.
“Sure, there’s some notable absences. All Chinese-brand cars, for instance.”
Buick Envisions, Cadillac CT6s, etc vehicles literally made in China of 90%+ Chinese-fabricated parts content, assembled in Chinese State Owned facilities, by Chinese citizens, using equipment/machinery that was created by intellectual property theft (stealing plans and schematics from American, German, Japanese and Korean companies, as mandated Chinese Joint Venture domestic partner mandates opened the door to) and a plethora of other Guangzhou Motors/Guangzhou-Guadalajara Motors (GM, or GGM) containing 50% to 90%+ Chinese-fabricated and exported parts (largely knock-down kits) really render that above-referenced quote meaningless (yes, the vehicle may wear a Buick or other Guangzhou Motors GM badge, but so what?).
Unlike the 80s, when “Japan, Inc.” was busy occupying the minds of strategic analysts as an economic and military threat to the very foundation of western societies, which turned out to be a false premise/prediction, China is THE REAL DEAL, and the moron politicians, bureaucrats, business “leaders” and other imbeciles steering national trade and other policies in the U.S., the E.U., and other western societies really have given a true, grave threat of a nation (China, unlike an actually scion Racially and militarily weak Russia, truly does represent an existential threat, not last seen since WWII-era Germany under Hitler, to the very survival of Western Societies.
There should literally be nothing off the table or NOT considered by all western nations to immediately and aggressively stop and reverse China’s further economic and military strengthening.
Unlike Japan in the 80s, and like Germany in the 40s, China IS AN EXISTENTJAL THREAT TO WESTERN VALUES, SOCIETIES AND NATION-STATES, and was fueled as such by idiotic western trade policies, and it’s time to aggressively reverse those policies (China should be isolated and literally sanctioned and embargoed to the point where it breaks, given its open, self-declared words and actions in terms of striving for economic and military hegemony).
And if motorcycles count… we’ve got loads of chinese motorcycles on our streets (and in my garage)
Long rant over ignored/misunderstood wording. Wow.
A bit of a rant perhaps. I just wish he was wrong.
My prediction is well will be speaking Chinese in 40-50 years
whynot
And that s the scary part. DW is Correct. But no one is paying attention.
TTAC is a better place with MORE DEADWEIGHT. INSIGHTFUL COMMENT WITH SOME REAL POT STIRRING ZINGERS !!!
I THINK HE ADDS THEM TO PUNK US SOMETIMES
Currently I have the Kia Stinger and a Yamaha XS850. This is the first time I’ve ever not had an American brand in my driveway.
Overall I’ve had many American cars (all from GM or ChryslerCo), one British car (a Triumph) one SK car, and one Japanese motorcycle.
You have an old Yamaha triple ajla? Very cool! I have its baby brother so to speak, a ’77 XS500, rode it across the entire US and back in 2008. My dream is to build a full Yamaha street bike fleet circa ’78ish: RD400, XS400, XS500, XS650 (Standard variant), XS750 (standard), XS1100.
Yea. I got my endorsement last year and finally pulled the trigger on buying something earlier this month (and sold my Roadmaster). It’s an ’81 XS850 “Midnight Special”. Reminds me of a “bandit” Trans Am. It is a little on the heavy/powerful side for a new rider like me so I’m just keeping it as a back road/weekend thing for now.
Yeah they’re a bit hefty with that shaft drive, definitely more of a “tourer.” Yamaha got on the “cruiser/muscle bike” wagon early with their Midnight Specials, smaller rear alloy wheel with a fat tire, stepped seat, slightly pulled back bars. I’m more of a fan of the “standard” style with flatter bars and flat seat. I’m a massive fan of the “UJM” Japanese bikes of the 70s and into the 80s, just rock solid and easy to work on things for the most part, and many still had a backup kick starter which I think is handy (although iirc XS850 lost this feature from the XS750). My XS500 just sits collecting dust these days, I clean it up and start it and ride it around the block just to cycle fluids a bit. Just no time and no good place to ride.
Not much diversity at the moment, all of my vehicles are from an American brand and were built here, too. I would love a J VIN Honda to add to the collection. My (former) 1995 Accord was a J VIN.
Since others are listing previously owned vehicles, I can say I’ve owned American, Japanese, German, Korean and Yugoslavian (very briefly on that last one, lol).
DW glad to see your back and have toned it down a bit, I thought you might have bought a new caddy and was touring the amish lands.
In my driveway, we have Japanese, Swedes, and in the past German and American and Italian. Mostly foreign and mostly Saabs and Volvo’s.
Swedish, British, German, American. No Asians of any kind thus far, so I’m probably in the minority here.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Mazda
Chevrolet
GMC (current)
GMC
Toyota (current
Chevrolet (current)
Chevrolet (current-does it count if it doesn’t run?)
Mine is kinda like chocolate chip ice cream. Although sometimes i tried different size chips or different vanillas.
1987 ATX/HSC Taurus sedan(first daily)
1969 Type 3 1600TL fastback(hobby)
1998 dodge neon coupe(first new daily)
1973,1974(x2) Type 1 sedans(hobby)
1979 240D sedan(hobby)
1984 245DL wagon(hobby)
1965 Type 1 sedan (frame-off, permanent hobby— a man should leave this one behind for someone special)
2008 PT Wagon(second daily)
2015 Dart Aero (third daily)
2004 PT Wagon (current hobby)
2018 Compass 4×4 (current daily)
I’m 39 and basically monogamous within a tiny polyamorous garage.
Steph, how dare you call the Acadian a ‘rip off’? The Acadian/Beaumont lines took the small Chev, added some different bright work, lenses, Pontiac grilles and instrument panels and provided GM/Pontiac/Buick dealers with a lower priced model, equivalent to the Chevelle/Chevy II. They even offered a Beaumont convertible for one year, which was not available on the comparable Chev.
Canadian Pontiacs were also for many years, primarily Chevs with Pontiac bodies/interiors.
Canada also for many years had a line of Meteor cars. These were primarily Fords with Mercury trim and sold in relatively high volumes.
Remember that in Canada, dealership structures were generally different than in the USA and dealers often had a multi-line structure.
In my ownership/leasing/driving history, no French vehicles although there was a Le Car in the family and I nearly acquired an Alliance. No Eastern Bloc/Soviet vehicles but a close friend had a Lada for a number of years that we spent quite a bit of time driving/working on, and actually quite liked. Only one Swedish vehicle. No Italian, unless you count FCA. But a plethora of Canadian/American, Japanese, German, British, and Korean vehicles.
My goal is to own every active make, so I think diversity is my highest priority. I’ve owned almost 60 already.
At this precise moment, I actually have immense diversity- Chinese, Pacific Rim, US of A, Italian, and German… and I’m actively test driving a British!
As far as what I’ve owned, I have owned:
American, British, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Chinese, Manufactured in Canada, Manufactured in Mexico…
I think all I’m missing is French, Swedish and Russian.
Pretty diverse. My auto history has been a little Japanese heavy, but a bit of everything:
Volvo
Volvo
Ford
Mazda
Land Rover
Mazda
Nissan
Ford
Nissan
Honda
Mazda
Buick
Buick
Have had wagons, sedans, hatchbacks, Body on Frame SUVs and crossovers. No loyalty, I buy what I want.
1972 VW Bug
1988 Volvo 760 Turbo
1991 Nissan Hardbody
1994 Mercury Sable
1997 Honda Civic
2004 Honda Accord
2001 Buick Regal
2012 Mazda3
Somewhat diverse. Best one by far was the Nissan Hardbody. Most disappointing was the Accord.
Right now I have zero diversity; three German cars (2 VW’s bought new and an E30). It’s an odd spot for me bc I have zero brand loyalty and I pride myself on appreciating cars for what they are as opposed to what they aren’t. So my friends, who constantly needle me for sticking up for oddball cars they consider to be crap boxes, can just point to my driveway and make Bund jokes or whatever.
I’ve owned American, Japanese and German over the years however. National identity definitely does influence car design, and I deeply appreciate that.
I have all of the majors covered but nothing French or Italian, and until recently Italian cars were not readily available.
Previously:
3 US-made American cars
1 Canadian-made American car
1 Korean-made Japanese-American car
6 West-Germany-made German cars
1 Italian-made Italian car
3 German-made German cars
Currently:
1 Japanese-made Japanese car
1 Canadian-made Japanese car
1 American-made Japanese car
“Korean made Japanese-American car” as in a Festiva? That’s the only thing coming to mind for that.
Yes.
Here goes:
2 Fords
4 Oldsmobiles
7 Chevys
1 Triumph
1 Rambler
3 Pontiacs
1 Datsun
1 Mercury
1 Nissan
1 Subaru
2 Toyotas
1 Lexus
Right now I have 4 American branded cars (representing each of the “Big” 3), and 2 Toyotas.
3 US VINs
1 ‘J’
1 ‘3’
1 ‘6’
I’ve owned a couple of German cars in the past, not necessarily anxious to repeat the experiment.
Your last line hits the nail square on the head. Someone here once said that if one owns a German car, they’ll never go back to inferior cars. Well, guess what? Owned a German car, one with some of the most flattering of praise from most people for its supposed reliability and longevity. Sold it. Went back to inferior American and Japanese metal that actually do last a long time (my Taurus has 30K more miles than the German car did when I sold it, still on its original powertrain, unlike the German car which had a rebuilt trans before I got it yet still had transmission problems) and are cheap to maintain and repair when needed.
Once one owns a German car, there is an excellent chance that they won’t want to own another inferior car. That’s why there’s leasing.
In my 46 years of driving, I have owned two American cars, one Japanese car, and three German cars. The last 18 years have seen two Audis in my driveway, and they have been generally trouble free (though I grant you that my Toyota Supra was the most trouble free.)
I expect when I have owned my current 2008 Audi for ten years, I will get another one.
My wife has had a bit more diversity. A Mini, a WRX, a Saab Turbo Coupe, A CRX, a Jetta, and a Fiat. (British, 2 Japanese, Swedish, German, and Italian)
“proles”? If you’re going to use made up brain dead Millennial terms like this you will continue to lose all credibility.
+1
Sorry, I was mistaken. Too much caffeine this am.
How many millenials were around in 1948?
Good question Mr Atlas. Pretty sure I’ve seen the term prole most of my life and I’m 50. Millenials have enough baggage being unable to differentiate marketing (synonym for lie) from reality, they don’t need to be unfairly blamed for words they didn’t create (and frankly I quite like the word prole).
Millennials also seem to have different issues with grammar: something in a program “needs documented,” for example.
No, something needs TO BE documented, or “needs documenting!”
Although my boss, who I would call an “anti-Millennial” Millennial (as would he) actually used the proper construct in an E-Mail this morning, so there’s hope!
As for marketing, you really have to have a master’s degree in bovine excrement to be able to come up with some of the stuff that you see out there!
Two GMs of American descent, one J-VIN Honda, the other three (soon to be four) Hondas from Marysville, OH.
Proles have nothing to do with Millennials and has everything to do with “1984”.
Currently owned vehicles? Yes.
2013 Toyota Tacoma SR5 DC/LB (DoubleCab Long Bed) Texas Edition (mine)
2008 Toyota Sienna LE 8-passenger (wife’s)
2012 Kia Forte Koup SX (Daughter No. 1’s)
2013 Chevy Cruze 1LS (Daughter No. 2’s)
2010 Kia Forte Koup EX 5-speed (was Daughter No.1’s, totaled, gotta sell it off)
I’ve also owned other American and Japanese metal, along with a German one (the ’78 Audi Fox).
Only American for me.
American company? American made? Do you include FCA? So many questions……
Does that include your Camry made in good ole Kentucky, USA?
American like AMC Rambler American?
England (Triumph, MINI)
U.S. (Buick,Ford 4, Chevy 2, Jeep)
Sweden (Volvo)
Germany (Porsche)
Japan (Subaru, Honda 2, Scion, Mazda)
Korea (Hyundai)
Current is one of the Ford’s and the MINI
well I have an American (Ford Transit Connect) and Japanese (Nissan Quest).
But if you do a deep dive my “American” is Spanish made British Designed German Engineered, and my “Japanese” has French influence & capital(although not likely many French parts).
Value and low maintenance have always been priorities for me, so American and Japanese vehicles ruled the roost.
1969 VW Fastback (German)
1981 Dodge Colt (Japan)
1989 Pontiac Grand Am (America)
1991 Geo Prizm (American built NUMI, Fremont CA; based on a Japanese Corolla; sold by GM)
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan (Canada)
2003 Toyota Matrix (American built NUMI, Fremont CA)
2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara (Japan)
2013 Chevy Volt (America)
2014 KIA Soul (Korea)
2015 Chevy Spark EV (Korea)
2018 Chevy Volt (America) – Current
2017 Buick LaCrosse (America) – Current
Greetings to another VW Type III alum. Mine was a squareback.
In my estimation the finest vehicles built by VW. All of the pluses of the Beetle, but with more room, and none of the build quality, and reliability glitches of later VW’s.
Black cloud,
How does one go from a bunch of small cars ending with a Volt to a laCrosse?
I’ve got 2 assembled in the United States and 1 assembled in Canada from 2 American Companies and 1 Japanese Company.
1967 Mustang convertible
2016 Terrain (Canadian assembly)
2010 Highlander (Princeton, IN assembly)
I’ve owned a Chinese Scooter (2008 Roketa 150cc) and it was better put together than you would think. Although that was the year that China hosted the Olympics so I wondered if there was extra “pride” in assembly. ;-)
Past rides:
Ford (x2)
Honda (x3)
Isuzu
Mitsubishi
VW
Volvo
Nissan
Current rides:
Dodge
Infiniti
Chevy
I’ll pretty much try anything… once. I don’t so much buy brands or makes, but models. If a model from manufacture checks the right boxes then I get that vehicle. For example my current Corvette. I’m no GM or Chevy fan, but the ‘Vette was the right car at the right time.
There was a period when I believed that Honda and Japanese vehicles overall were superior. My experience has been those gave me the least problems long term. I tend to buy used and keep my vehicles for longer then average. Based on rentals (I travel for work monthly) I would get a Hyundai or Kia. I’ve considered Porsche and Audi but ruled them out for now. Another Ford might be in my future as the new Ranger is appealing replacement for my Dodge Dakota.
This. I’m not big on brands, but the total package for a price. If I like it and it fits my needs, I buy it.
My driveway/garage looks like the island of misfit toys. Okay, here we go…
2015 Toyota Highlander (Japanese brand, built in USA)
2009 Saturn Aura (German car built for US brand meant to compete with Japanese imports using Mexican and Canadian parts, ultimately put out to pasture due to S. Korean competition)
1996 BMW Z3 Roadster (German car built in USA)
1992 GMC Sierra (USA)
You do know that the Saturn Aura was built in Kansas, right? On the same Epsilon platform as the Chevy Malibu and the Pontiac G6? At best, it was styled to look like a German Opel, with a European origin platform, along with (at the time of introduction) one engine designed with European influence (3.6L High Feature).
Nor was it put out to pasture because of the South Koreans, it was more like Brett Ratner and the Automotive Task Force.
Interior looked nothing like Opel Vectra.
Mostly American except the Prelude which was a good used car deal and nice drive but a bit tight for my 6’2” self.
1966 Pontiac Tempest OHC-6 2 door hardtop
1970 Ford Mustang coupe
1973 Chevrolet Impala coupe
1974 Mercury Cougar XR-7
1980 Oldsmobile Toronado diesel
1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1981 Honda Prelude
1987 Ford Thunderbird
1995 Ford Thunderbird LX
Given that I used to change cars the way that most people would change their underwear, I’ll just stick to nationalities with annotations.
British (repeatedly)
French (more times than anyone would be likely to believe)
Italian (more than the Germans, fewer than the British)
German (two in total, four if counting West Germany)
Swedish (only once, with a Saab 96)
American (almost exclusively Jeeps, with a rogue Eagle Premier in there)
Japanese (entirely Subarus, three of which were Brats)
Special mention, as these countries no longer exist and would make Crazy Vaclav proud:
Soviet Union (1987 Lada Niva Cossack; it was slow, heavy, loud, and basic but also very, very good at what it was designed to do)
Czechoslovakia (1978-ish Skoda S110R; truly the poor man’s Porsche)
West Germany (a couple of 1980s Mercedes)
Put it in H! ( One of my favorite Simpsons ever)
from the beginning:
1981 Buick Regal
1985 Buick LeSabre Limited
1988 SAAB 900 Turbo
1988 SAAB 900 Turbo Conv
1988 Cadillac Seville
1991 Cadillac Deville Touring
2001 SAAB 9-5
1997 Land Rover Discovery SE7
1989 Pontiac Grand Prix LE
1991 Buick Park Ave
2003 VW Passat
2003 Infiniti FX35
1972 Citroen DS21
2006 SAAB 9-3 Conv
2009 Nissan Maxima
1987 Mercedes Benz 350SDL
1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
2012 Ford F-150
1973 Cadillac DeVille
2017 Tesla Model-S
2019 Mazda CX5
So, US 11, Sweden 4, Germany 2, Japan 2, France 1, England 1
My maternal grandfather was a WWII vet in Europe. He only owned American cars and mostly Chevrolet’s. My uncles on that side followed largely in his footsteps, only American stuff, until recently including motorcycles.
My fathers side is different. My grandmother, widowed in her 40’s, had one of the first Toyota Corollas, which didn’t sit well in the steel capital of the world. After that came a Citation V6 (powder blue of course) and then an 89 Tempo, which became my sisters car throughout college in the early 2000’s.
My folks had a diverse fleet, but we had mostly Fords as domestics and Honda/Acura’s as imports. The last new domestic was a 90 Lumina coupe, followed by a 92 Camry V6. The 94 Cadillac Deville Concours bought CPO in 1996 was traded on a 95 S320 in 2000 or so. Sadly, my Dad passed earlier this month. Dads last car was a 2012 325 power hardtop convertible. Mom is now driving an Audi Q5, the BMW sits.
My own fleet has been diverse, as has my gearhead brother, who is 4 years younger than me, but has had 4 more cars. These are just mine, not the wife’s ( Beretta, Alero, Legacy, Accord, Mazda 5,Odyssey, Sienna)
81 Regal coupe V6- given by my grandparents at 16 in 1994.
84 Eldorado- HT4100 for the loss.
89 Acura Legend L- Totalled by my dumb young self after a month.
95 Cougar XR7 V8
88 Acura Legend with 5 speed
2001 Hyundai Elantra 5 speed
2001 Ford Focus ZX3 5 speed
2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback (93 Aerostar at same time)
2004 VW Jetta GLS wagon (Lancer totalled by getting rear-ended)
2008 Pontiac G6 ( given for free to run out a lease for a family member)
2010 Nissan Altima
2008 Mazda 5 ( was wifes, then mine)
2016 Chevy Cruze
2017 VW Golf first 5 speed since 01 Focus
89 Ford Mustang GT convertible 5 speed.
If I could drive a French car, I would. My next car after the VW is probably an Alfa Giulia to cover the Italians. Maybe a Jag to cover the Brits (I know)Too many choices out there to drive the same brand/type forever in my opinion.
Gearhead,
Sorry about your dads passing, hopefully, you have good memories to enjoy.
Thank you. My Dad gave me (and my brother) our love of cars and machines, especially airplanes. He enjoyed his cars and driving (fast). He owned a lot over his years, his favorite was his 70 Corvette convertible. I’m glad he was able to enjoy a droptop again before he passed. I was also able to tell him the story as to why I wanted and recently bought the 89 Mustang GT convertible I did.
Tell those you love them that you do. You never know when your (or their) time will come. It was sudden and unexpected for him.
I come from a former Buy American then Buy Mopar family. Every car I or my parents owned in my lifetime, in sequential order:
’79 Ford Granada, 2dr green with white landau (parents)
’89 Plymouth Reliant (parents)
’92 Plymouth Voyager (dad)
’93 Plymouth Sundance (mom, later mine)
’00 Chrysler Neon (mom)
’01 Dodge Caravan (dad)
’04 Chrysler Sebring convertible (dad)
’07 Dodge Caliber (mine)
’08 Hyundai Tiburon (mom)
’10 Dodge Dakota (dad)
’97 Toyota Camry (mine)
’02 Buick Regal (mine)
’05 Buick Allure (mine)
’95 Buick Roadmaster Estate (mine)
’15 Kia Optima Turbo (mine)
’14 Mazda5 (mom)
My sisters started out Mopar, inheriting the Sundance and Neon. The sis with my Sundance then went to an ’02 Saturn SL, then took my Allure, and now has a ’16 Dodge Grand Caravan. The other with the Neon replaced it with a ’10 Mazda3 hatch.
Family of 5- Ford/Plymouth/Dodge/Chrysler/Hyundai/Toyota/Kia/Mazda/Saturn. I suppose that’s fairly pedestrian.
In order of purchase:
1992 Saturn SL1
1997 Chrysler Cirrus
1999 Dodge Caravan
1998 Hyundai Accent GT
1998 Saturn SL2 (bought from my mother, when the Caravan was written off)
2002 Mazda MPV
2007 Saturn ION 2.4
2007 Saturn Vue 3.0L (inherited from my mother)
2007 Ford Ranger 4×4
2011 Ford F150
2012 Hyundai Veloster
2011 Ford Taurus
So:
4 Saturns
3 Fords
2 Chryslers
2 Hyundais
1 Mazda
As for my family, my father’s side is almost exclusively Ford. My step mother has had a couple of Toyotas recently.
On my mother’s side, it was a little more diverse, but all American cars and trucks.
1 Indiana built Toyota, 1 British Indian car (counts as 2 right?), 1 Portuguese built German car-so 6 countries in 3 cars. 7 if you count DW’s Chinese part content.
It really is good to hear from him, it’s been fairly stale here lately
1966 Mustang
1973 Toyota Celica
1957 Chevrolet 3100
1983 Honda Accord (first new car)
1990 Nissan Maxima (first new kid)
1994 Mercury Sable (second new kid)
2004 Mazda 6
1971 Dodge Challenger (divorce gift to myself)
2017 Mazda 6
GM, FCA and 2 Honda’s. So three 1 vins and one J.
Only owned one euro car in my 30+ years of cars which was a 94 Jetta – made in Mexico I think.
I’m going with brand home not manufacturing country with my list:
5 German
3 American
2 British
2 French
1 Japanese
4 US-built American cars
1 Germany-built German car
12 Japan-built Japanese cars
Never had a US-built Japanese car.
9 American
7 German
6 Japanese
4 British
1 Swede
Brand homes:
American (7, but haven’t owned any since 2010)
Italian (1)
German (1)
Japanese (3)
Korean (6, including two I bought with my sons)
Mexican-American pickup truck
Swedish sedan
Japanese motorcycle
Canadian snowblower
Chinese lawnmower
One Japanese, four American, one Japanese/Ford joint venture. Those are all present in my driveway at the moment. You can add Germany if we go back in time.
Cars we’ve had in our immediate family. We had pretty good diversity:
1951 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
1975 Toyota Corolla
1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
1985 Peugeot 505 (and a second one for spare parts, natch)
1987 Mitsubishi Colt
1987 Honda Accord
1989 Plymouth Reliant
1993 Subaru Legacy
1994 Toyota Corolla
1994 Mazda MPV
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1999 Toyota Camry
1999 Chevy Malibu
2005 Toyota Corolla
2008 Subaru Outback
2011 Hyundai Genesis
2012 Infiniti G37
2013 Tesla Model S
2016 Mercedes E350
2016 Acura MDX
I’ve been all over the Asian map & drove all of the big 3 American brands. Never had a European car.
Current Stable:
2015 Buick Encore (that thing is from everywhere)
2013 Hyundai Sonata (built in Alabama)
2013 Ford F-150 (hecho en Missouri)
From your avatar, any Oldsmobiles in your past?
1978 Chevy Malibu
1985 Nissan Sentra
1993 Chevy Silverado
2003 MB E500
2016 VW Sportwagen
1977 Ford F-150 – US built
1994 Ford Ranger – US built
1995 Ford Mustang – US built
1996 Ford Mustang – US built
1997 Ford Explorer – US built
1999 Pontiac Grand Prix – US built
2000 Ford F-150 – US built
2001 Ford Explorer – US built
2002 Ford F-150 – US built
2003 Ford F-150 – US built
2004 Ford F-150 – US built
2006 Ford F-150 – US built
2008 Ford Edge – Canadian built
2006 Acura RSX – Japan built
2010 Ford Mustang – US built
2012 Buick Regal GS – Canadian built
2007 Nissan Maxima – US built
2014 Ford Escape – US built
2014 Cadillac CTS vSport – US built
2017 Cadillac XT5 – current – US built
2017 Cadillac ATS-V -current – US built
21 cars between my wife and I
14 Fords
5 GM
1 Nissan
1 Honda
19 from American mfgs – 2 from Japanese Mfgs
18 made in USA – 2 Made in Canada – 1 POS made in Japan
Diverse ? Like Hawaii.
German car, built in Alabama
German car, built in Mexico
Japanese car, built in Canada
my current diversity is that the two alleged germans are both c sized four door sedans, one is an ace of base, and the other is almost all bells and whistles…so, same sized car, both four door, but opposite poles.
We were always a GM family, before Malaise, and after two just execrable cars, went BMW, Volvo, and Honda.
The number of Chinese parts on my CTS, even though it said “Proudly Assembled in Michigan” (sticker was put on sideways, no surprise) was substantial. There were also a lot of Bosch bits as well.
My last car actually built in the nation claimed, were my 2003 BMW and my 2012 TDi…the diesels were built in Germany.
I don’t like diversity. I stick with my stuff. 3 Mazdas and Highlander. And its been like this for 10 years.
Japanese minivan built in Alabama
German sedan built in Dingolfing
Old Ariens lawn tractor built in Wisconsin
That’s all our stuff with an engine in it.
I only have dead brands in my driveway.
I always for some reason was attracted to dying brands. Toyota Carina – after I bought it was killed by Toyota and replaced with new Avensis model. When I arrived to America Oldsmobile crossed my mind since I read somewhere that it is considered as a premium brand. But thankfully GM killed the whole marque and I bought Mercury instead which of course get scrapped by Ford. After that I bought two Fusions and of course Ford scrapped Fusion too. I am now thinking about Lincoln…
Used to be all 1F’s and 1G’s. Currently J and W. Open to all options. Build what I want, and I will buy it. Eventually.
1969 Camaro
1978 Buick Skylark
1976 Opel Rekord
1972 Opel Rekord
1979 Buick Regal
1988 Opel Rekord
1991 Plymouth Laser
1994 Chevy S-10
1997 Ford F-150
1986 Renault 9
2003 Dodge Stratus
2002 Jeep Wrangler
2004 Mercury Mariner
2008 Jeep Liberty
2013 Ford F-150
2016 Mercedes C450
2017 Porsche Macan
All either American or German, with the exception of the one French beater.
Only the Laser had ties to Japan.
Currently 2 Germans.
This is over the years, right ? Not current
So
Indian
Australian
USA
British
German
Swedish
French
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Brazilian
Russian
South African
Lastly (and admittedly a bit of a stretch) Venezuelan (USA, assembled in Venezuela)
For those who curious what did I own. Not much and my wife does not drive and not she is not Millennial:
Russia
1990 3-door Lada Sputnik – nothing but trouble! Still had carb!
1989 Toyota Carina II – it was owned by German retiree and was in quite good shape.
USA
1994 Ford Taurus GL – bought very used, Americans are no Germans, torque converter problem (slipping clutch) – what else? At least Lada had manual 4 or 5 speed, do not remember.
2002 Mercury Sable Premium – new, most reliable car I ever owned.
2003 Ford Focus 2.3L – At this point I owned three 4-door sedans and all were Fords!
2014 Ford Fusion Titanium
2018 Ford Fusion Titanium AWD
202X Electric Car of choice.
Brands owned over my many years.
Just a poor country boy and could only afford older cars – when I was a young whippersnapper – thus I own many older ones. Many were sold within a month or so. And I got someone else old vehicle and traded it as soon as something else I like, appeared..
Many of these vehicles were 30’s, 40’s and 50’s model years. (only if I owned some of them today)
Most of times, I would go to the Horse swapping meeting on Sundays and you could trade cars, animals, guns, hunting dogs, etc.
I traded cars for many years, thus I drove quite a selection. Many of these cars were like the horses, long in the tooth.
As soon as someone was interested in what I owned, would trade it or sale it and grab someone piece of metal and drive off.
Every other Sunday was usually at the horse swapping place, listening to music, eating home cooking and some preacher was damning my soul to hell for drinking moonshine. Telling us, we all are going down in flames if we did not repent.
Would soon find what else I was interesting in trading for.
When I was a teenager and young man, Driving was fun and enjoyable. Seat belts were not required- most cars did not have them. No photo radar and cops all over, coming up with any reason to raise more revenue with their ticket drives.
Not all the rules that we have today. Open empty bottle was not a crime, like today. Traffic was not like it is today.. grid lock intersections for mile.
I really love these older cars, now as I look back. They all were different and all looked different, too. Not like it is today, cookie cutter vehicles. Just 4 wheels and an engine, is what I call them, now
.
Some of my older models were…
Olds (49)1st semester of high school. Really like this sloped back model. 3 speed on the column. Like the 53 and 56s, too .
Chevies ..Different models over the years. Many over the years , I like the 55, 56 and 57 the best.
Fords ..many sedan and trucks. Enjoyed the 50’s flathead sedans the most. some I got before i got a license. Back in the hills, you could drive without a license..It was not a society of RULES, like it is today. Did not need ins. either on your autos.
Mercury (48 sedan) and a 53-Monaray hardtop
Buick, Road masters, and at least 5 other models.
Pontiac 53
Plymouth 56
Chrysler 48, 57
Dodge 50 conv. 2nd semester of high school.
(Bathtub shaped) Hudson early 50s
Kaiser 48 and early 50s.. They made a sport car in like 53 or 54.
Frasier 49
Packard -late forties
Lincoln… 56 and 60
De Soto …late 50ish fancy sedan
Jeep several over the years and one was a truck. 4 wh – drives were great in all that mud on the dirt roads, I drove.
Willy- I like these models.
53gmc pu and later 50s and 60 trucks.
48 international pu… they made a nice truck for that year.
Sunbeam- small sedan 50 ish – problems
Allstate(think is what was called… little car sold by sears. 50ish- problems
Austin Haley – nothing but problems, sold it within the next month.
Triumph
Old motor bike that you paddled to start. (traded some wild foxes I caught while hunting, for it.)People wanted their skins
Old Harley Davidson motorcycle
Old Indian motorcycle
Now, that I am old and cripple, I only buy new ones. Do not enjoy them like I did the older cars in my younger days.
Newer autos I have owned or now own.
Fords car and trucks
chevies car and truck
honda suvs mostly..trying to stay away from the 4cy turbo with gas in oil problems. .and cvt trannys
toyota sedans and suv
Datsun or( Nissan,now) like the trucks.. not the cvt sedans
Hyundai – suvs Had good luck with the santa fe.
Kia-… The first one of these were junk. Now, they are coming up in the world, but they are over priced, I think.
You can buy a top of line Toyota or some Lexus for what they want for Kia’s suv’s today.
My kids like my sedans and my trucks. Some like the larger GMC Yukons.
Currently, I now own four vehicles….Have two homes and keep several at each. I normally do not sell my autos – now- just give them to the kids for a few buck. Try to buy a newer model every 2-3 years.
Looking to buy a 2020 suv this year, once they all come out. Sure do not like all this infotainment junk.
The Start Stop feature is not my thing. I will not buy another GM product with it.
I still like CD Players, when I can find them in a new auto.
Cars played a large part in my life as did horses and planes.
Glad I had my run at it when I did. Back when driving was fun and lot less rules.
And insurance companies did not blackmail you with their ridiculous rate.
And your govt. make you buy it. (that is the business to own, huh)
What does your credit rating have to do with safe driving? Maybe, they should rate you on your eye or hair color.
Glad that I am an old man…that have seen better times in this country.
Back when we all had the draft facing us at age 18. You had to make decision about what you want to do with your life.
And I join and did my service obligations. And saw the world in the process.
And the American dream for the middle class actually existed. Not the gig economy you have today. Or some hustle on the side.
Sorry, if I bored you.
More a display of stupidity I think :
old battered worthless Little British Cars (BMC products), a close to dead ’59 VW Beetle, a ’69 Chevy C/10 shortbed stepside pickup truck with 250CID i6 engine, three old Mercedes W123 Diesels, a Coupe, sedan and graymarket 7 passenger fully optioned wagon .
I must be insane .
Oh yes : lots of worthless old Honda Motos, three Russian Urals and a vintage BMW R60/6 .
Tony Stark I ain’t .
-Nate
I have owned English, Italian, German, French, Japanese, Mexican and American. Morris Minor, several Minis, several Austins, English Ford Cortina. Numerous Fiats, an Opel Manta, a Volkswagen, a Renault Dauphin, numerous Hondas, a Mazda, a PT Cruiser and numerous Fords. This list does not count at least seventy five percent of the cars owned. All used, mostly old and mostly junk that I enjoyed repairing and driving for the past sixty years. Beside the cars I also owned many motorcycles from England, Japan, America and Chechoslovakia.
“Chechoslovakia”
You mean Jawa? How did you like it?
I liked it quite a bit. I ran it in enduros and scrambles and it was good for that. It was ok on the street but nothing special. I bought it used from a friend and kept it for about a year then moved on to another race bike.
I think I’ve owned Chrysler products from all of their countries of ownership – American (’87 LeBaron, ’98 Voyager), German (’01 PT Cruiser), and Italian (’12 Ram C/V, ’18 Ram 1500)
I also at one point had an impulse-ebay-purchased ’87 LaForza, a vehicle that combined Italian reliability with American engineering. The seats were awesome, though. Occasionally, the lights would work.
Oh, we’re allowed Chinese lawn mowers here ? .
O.K. then : I have a plastic Chinese “Mow Joe” that’s pathetic but works great .
It’s electric and so far I’ve managed to not run over the cord….
I didn’t think you wanted a list of every jalopy I’ve ever owned, most of them were junk anyways .
-Nate
Let’s see…
1. ’87 Buick Skyhawk
2. ’89 Subaru RX
3. ’93 Honda Accord
4. ’00 Acura Integra
5. ’94 Mazda Miata
6. ’95 Mazda Miata
7. ’12 Subaru WRX
8. ’72 VW Beetle
9. ’75 Porsche 914
10. ’68 Porsche 912 (project)
11. ’69 Porsche 912 (project)
12. ’84 Porsche 911
Pretty much everything was made either in Japan or Germany. 2 exceptions: Accord and Buick were both made in US. So not very diverse. But then again I refuse to touch modern German and American cars so only buyer newer Japanese. But for old cars for some reason I like German, flat-engined and aircooled. Go figure.
I’ve owned 3 vehicles built in Japan, 2 built in Mexico, 1 built in Korea, 3 built in Canada (I believe) and the rest built in the USA.
Currently, my driveway is home to two Mazdas, 1 built in Mexico and the other straight from the land of the rising sun.
Repeating what others have done, in roughly sequential order:
1993 Ford Aerostar
1993 Ford Escort
1991 Buick LeSabre
1995 Honda Accord
*1994 Toyota Corolla (brother drove this one)
2003 Honda Accord
2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
2011 Kia Forte
2013 Ford Focus
*1998 Chevy T10 Blazer (bought same day as Focus)
*1998 Chevy Malibomb (mom drove)
2014 Ford Escape
*2003 Buick Century (mom drove)
2014 Focus ST
2016 Mazda Mazda3
2017 Chrysler 300
2017 Mazda Mazda6
**2018 Mazda Mazda3 (bought jointly with mom)
Mom has been mostly domestic (Fords and GMs) with an oddball Dodge Dynasty and a very used Volvo.
Dad has been all domestic aside from his Festiva and Aspire.