The Big American Three, Which would you pick!

The Big American Three, Which would you pick!


  • Total voters
    96
Hah, sweet! My favorite car for the longest time was a 1957 Belair coupe, in bright arrest-me-red, with chrome dripping off every single possible corner and orifice. Never got into the 55s, but Tim Taylor had one on Home Improvement, my favorite show as a kid, so I rather like those more today. (Yeah, I was a messed up kid.)

When the C5 Corvette was unveiled in Popular Science (see what I mean about the messed up part?) I drooled over that for the next 3 years. So even though they're getting raped right now, the General all the way. 8)

By the time I was able to distinguish the difference between the tri-5's I disliked the 57's. I've also grown to more and more like the 210s. They have far less chrome/polish on them, but not quite so weak as the 150's. I also like the fact that the 55 is marginally smaller. Oh and uhhh Two-lane Blacktop made my dad and I want to build a '55 with a tilt-forward fiberglass front end. That was actually going to be my first car but sadly, things don't work out as you plan and we never had the opportunity to even start on one.

My friends dad had picked up a first year c5 z06 for dirt cheap because the previous owner blew the engine with 9k miles on it. In hanging out with them all the time I really gained respect for the car. I was pissed when I missed out on an opportunity to have him take me on a no holds barred highway run at midnight... He had a policy of taking that car up to 120mph every time he drove it. Faster when roads are empty or taking people on joy rides.

Anyhow back on topic: GM looks like it has the best potential for a comeback (if all these performance cars they plan to come out with don't bite them in the ass) which is another reason I picked them.
 
Been asking that question to myself as well and discovered that I'm a GM guy. (Probably influenced by my first car and the fact that the Focus absolutely didn't grew on me when I drove it a couple of years ago). Chrysler's not represented well enough in Europe to have an opinion on them.
 
Definetly I'm a Ford Guy (Euro For's of course). Since I was a kid I've been travelling in Ford's (except the first car I can remember my parents had: a TALBOT Horizon... ?? OMG!) and they have been excellent cars. Very good reliability, fun to drive and good designs.
 
Ford, definitely. They seem to have better cars in fewer divisions while GM has few good cars spread around. I know the Fusion is a Mazda 6, but it is not an Impala so I love it (And the Ford Fiesta that is coming, I will :hump: that car).
 
JipJopJones said:
GM, easy... All you have to say is.... CHevelle, EL Camino, Camaro, Nova, Trans Am, GTX, GNX, GTO, need I go on?
Yes, yes you do:

http://img466.imageshack.**/img466/1436/corvettelogojor48e512sy3.jpg
 
This wasn't an easy question it bears a lot on what point in time we are talking about. All my mechanic friends perfer Fords, citing various truths of GM backwardness (if they put the 3800 V6 in another car - so help me). Plus Ford seems to have gotten a much better showing elsewhere with the Euro Focus, Mondeo, Escort Cosworth, RS, and the Falcon. Arguably GM too with the Holdens.

But here in North America, especially at this point in time, I have to go with Chrysler. I always found their muscle cars of old to be the best looking of the bunch (although from my understanding the competitors beat them on technical merits). No question they have been in a big lull for a long time. But now they have the Viper, the Charger, the Magnum, the 300C, the Neon SRT-4 on its way out and the New Challenger on its way in, the (arguably) class leading Ram, and that great Hemi engine. (and what ever happened to that MeFourTwelve supercar?) I would take the Challenger any day over the Mustang or the new Camaro.

GM has the engine advantage with the LS7, sure, but a large portion of their range is sad (saturn, buick). Ford is trying very hard on the design side, and a lot of the stuff in Europe is great, but here we only get the five-hundred not the Mondeo, and a watered down focus with no hot version.

Don't get me wrong though - this was tough - Chrysler has plenty to be embarassed about: Sebring, PT Cruiser, Nitro.

Gratuitous picture
2006-Dodge-Challenger-Concept-SA-Top-1024x768.jpg
 
Growing up my parents bought a lot of crappy American cars and drove them into the ground. We've had crap from all three of them. And I have to say, I always hated the Fords the most. First, my mom and my aunts had a penchant for the big green Ford LTD station wagons with the fake wood panelling. Always green with the fake wood panelling. I hate the way they look, I hate the fake wood grain, I hate the pre-clear coat paint, the gigantic body gaps, I hate the smell of the interiors, I hate the thin-spoked steering wheel that's only vaguely tied to the front wheels, I hate the wobbly suspension, I hate the impossible to read gauges (which are now back in the new Mustang, yipee), I hate the retarded 1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8 9/10 keypad on the doors, it's frigging 2007 knock it off already. A lot of that hatred sticks with me, aside from the GT I wouldn't take a Ford. My Mom has owned virtually nothing but Fords, coming from the boxy Lincoln Continental then to a Taurus. I really don't like Mustangs, more of a Corvette fan. Of course most of today's Ford lineup is bland front wheel drive anonoboxes so it doesn't interest me at all. The last Ford that interested me was the Focus SVT. I like to call Ford "Bored" because the designs are (were) uninspiring front wheel drive bores. And I have contempt for them for the way they historically destroy themselves -- i.e. having a competitive car like the Taurus and letting it wither on the vine against Camry/Accord; letting the SHO Taurus go away; milking the Clown Victoria platform since the Nixon administration; killing off cars with potential like the SVT Cobra, Lightning, and Focus; to me it epitomizes laziness and self-defeat.

Although GM has a lot of bland blobmobiles, there are things to like -- Corvette, Solstace, CTS-V come to mind. I guess GM, but it's a question of who sucks less.

I've owned two Chryslers from new (94 Eagle Vision and 02 Jeep Liberty) and found them agreeable but I think Chrysler has somewhat lost its way lately and I don't think I'll be considering one as my next car.
 
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For me, the quality of Chrystlers always sucked...and it's not things like head gaskets, or needing premature ring-jobs...it was things like...after only 2 years, the trunk wouldn't stay open, the radio stopped working, the electric mirrors were fussy, if you tried to open 2 windows at ones, they would slow to LESS than half of their one-window speed, etc.

As far as GM, I only owned one, but I usually end up with them when I rent. For me, they just don't fit my body. They must use a different set of body forms than anyone else (but honda) because they are just uncomfortable for me to sit in, and drive. The controls don't seem to be in logical places, etc. I will admit...I've been seeing a lot of good things come out of GM in the past year and a half, or so...so things could change, but for now...

I'm a ford guy. I've had good luck with quality, and how they feel. The way the controls work make sense for me, and they are just more...comfortable.

Now...don't get me wrong...save for the exterior of the new Mustang, and it's driver's-half of the dash, there really isn't a "Ford" that I think I like the styling of. Within the Ford brands, I love the unique styling of the Mazda3, I love how the 6 drives, I think the Jag XK is fantastic to look at, sit in , and drive, and I don't mind the Lincoln MXZ or Zephyr, or whatever they are calling it this week.

I would have said "And they have Aston" but...they really don't anymore...

Umm...the Volvo c30 is really cool and unique, for the US anyway, but I will say I'd take a Freightliner over an International any day of the week, well...when it comes to coahbuilt firetrucks anyways...my truck-driver-Uncle is a Mack man...

Always loved the styling and respect the capabilities of the Range Rover, and I've got a crush on the new LR2. I think it looks really cool...no idea about the rest of the package, though.

I'm a Ford guy. If they made the Mustang body as a hatchback (because i hate having a good sized trunk you can't access, and hatchbacks don't have to look like Golfs [hey, if the new Xk is a hatch, why not the mustang?]) I'd probably have one in my parking space right now.
 
As far as GM, I only owned one, but I usually end up with them when I rent. For me, they just don't fit my body. They must use a different set of body forms than anyone else (but honda) because they are just uncomfortable for me to sit in, and drive. The controls don't seem to be in logical places, etc.

Speaking of ergonomics, have you driven the previous generation Mustang? It's completely wrong. The steering wheel, seats, pedals, floor, shifter, and radio are all in the worst possible position... I still love Terminator Cobras though. :heart:
 
I despise American cars with a passion but, I do respect and admire Ford for making Aston Martin, Land Rover and Jaguar profitable. Ford's American lineup is pretty pathetic and weak in every way, though.

The only time they begin to get a car right, is when the Germans help them. :whistle:
 
I really hope all of them survive. Each one has some great models that I wouldn't mind owning one day.

Ford: Volvo S60R, Mazdaspeed6, Mustang GT.
GM: G8, Corvette, Camaro, Sky Redline
Chrysler: Challenger (modded to have a Plymouth 'Cuda nameplate :D), Jeep Wrangler, heck even a Charger looks pretty mean even though it has too many doors.

Yeah, each one has some genuine turds too (Sebring, Uplander, USA-spec Focus...) but I'll gladly overlook them.
 
Guess i keep thinking of this as just the normal line Ford/Lincoln v Chevy/Cadillac v Dodge/Chrysler. That just me. I would go for Chrysler despite owning a Jaguar which is Ford i just think that if i had to pick a plain vanilla i would go for the 300. I have owned a GM SAAB that was broke more than the homeless, and i have had a Dodge Ram Charger that was indisputably indestructible. Don't know about the Jaguar but i will tell you this and keep it on the DL (first day with the dealer and i say whats that noise and what do you know it was something to replace)
 
Oh god, this like being able to choose what flavor lube you want for your anal raping. I'm going with GM. Ford has the most factory defects and I have had bad experience with Chrysler products in the past, both rental cars and my Jeep. GM has a few models that are actually fairly reliable according to consumer reports, but I will still have to put up with the craptacular American interior.

At least with GM I could get the new Camaro.

PS - I was assuming that this was just for the main Ford, GM, and Chrysler badges, not any of the "import" badges they own. If I can choose those then I would go with Ford and take the new S80 V8, Mazda 3, 6, or RX8, or an Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
 
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i'm a chrysler guy.. love the damn things..

small list of ones my parents and i've owned..

'27 dodge
84 k car
85 k wagon
86 k car vert
89 newyorker
88 horizon tc3
88 daytona turbo
88 jeep cherokee
90 eagle talon turbo fwd
91 eagle talon turbo awd
92 eagle taon turbo awd
93 dodge d250
95 neon
95 avenger (auto and stick)
95 sebring coupe
96 avenger
96 jeep cherokee
97 LHS
01 sebring coupe
05 2500 cummins

the majority of them have been pretty damn reliable..

besides.. chrysler has some of the best damn concept cars..i mean comeon.. the me412 made the slr mclaren look like a corolla.. and who would ever think of shoving a v10 into a bike..

i've had a few fords and a few gms.. never really liked them as much..
 
I despise American cars with a passion but, I do respect and admire Ford for making Aston Martin, Land Rover and Jaguar profitable.

x2 + Volvo (whole PAG).

Ford has shown that you don't have to ruin the car in the name of cutting costs (unlike GM - my god, what have they done to SAAB).
 
Given I'm an Aussie, I'll have to vote GM because of Holden and whatnot. I also love the Corvette!

Don't mind the Ford GT though :whistle:
 
GM all the way baby! Chevy to be more precise but any GM will do for me. my impala and caprice prove that 8)
 
I grew up with a Toyota, that is the Toyota I drive today. I can only go from my impressions and past family/friend experience with cars. GM from as far back as I can trace car history in my family is by far the worst of the three. As old as my dad's Pontiac Phoniex to a late 90s Chevrolet Cavalier most have been absolutely terrible with few good words to say. Ford has been either good or very bad I had an uncle who was pro Ford, today he drives a Toyota Camry. Chrysler is really the only one where I see some light and few negatives. My dad liked his Plymouth Fury II and my uncle's Grand Cherokee has been alright. The only bad car I know of is a Chrysler Intrepid my friend had which had a gutless engine and electrics that were going wrong. That car was sold because he needed money not so much money pits like the majority of the GMs and a good deal of the Fords. So for me its old Chrysler for causing the least problems.
 
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