Brand Loyalty - Do You Buy with Your Heart or Your Head?

pegaxs on 10/10/2018 - 10:19
Last edited 10/10/2018 - 10:21

Was reading a (really bad) news article this morning about VW coming through "unscathed" *cough cough* from the "Diesel Gate" and "DSG Clutch" scandals of recent times, saying that 62% of buyers would buy the same car again (didn't mention anything about new buyers considering the brand, only current owners.)

This got me to thinking, as a bargain site, what are peoples thoughts? Do you go with the same car brand every time you purchase or do you try and find the the best deal for your money? If you have been a loyalist to one particular brand, what would it take for you to jump ship? If you would never move off the brand you are on, what would they have to completely mess up to lose your business?

While I have no allegiance to any particular car maker, I don't care who makes my car, so long as it is functional, with good features for a good price, my motorcycle loyalty runs thick with Ducati blood clogging my mental ability to make rational decisions when it comes to buying bikes. Sure, I own other bikes, but there is that passion that I cant find a replacement for… The only way they would lose my business would be if they started selling only scooters and dual-sport bikes… Bullshit, lets face it, I would grumble and moan and then buy a Ducati Scooter… :D

Poll Options

  • 2
    I always stick with the same maker for cars.
  • 56
    I just want the best product for the best price.
  • 0
    I have been brand loyal, but next car will be something else.
  • 2
    I'm not brand loyal, but just always find that *XYZ* has great deals.
  • 2
    Me Pop owned 'em, then me Farva, now me. We always buy 'em...
Automotive

Comments

  • GG57 on 10/10/2018 - 10:24
    +5

    I'm not 'brand loyal' in relation to any product.

    For cars, I also remove all of the dealer window decals, number plate frame decals, etc. They sometimes replace them at service time, but I just remove them again.

    It's my car, I can decide what is on it. It is not an advertising medium for dealerships.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2018 - 11:20

      Strict instructions not to stick stuff on your car should be sufficient.

      If they insist on service interval reminder stickers, have some dusty masking tape over the upper right corner of the windshield so they can stick on that. Easy to peel as soon as you leave.

  • bobbified on 10/10/2018 - 11:09
    +1

    saying that 62% of buyers would buy the same car again

    If 62% of buyers would buy the same car, there's still 38% that will not. I wouldn't exactly call that "unscathed".

    • pegaxs on 10/10/2018 - 11:49
      +1

      And it also doesn't take into account the amount of new buyers that would now avoid the product. Hence the "really bad" reference to the news article…

  • yoonibear on 10/10/2018 - 13:04

    We've always bought Ford but that's only because of dads employee discount. The next one will either be a Kia or Toyota.

  • kahn on 10/10/2018 - 13:47
    +3

    I'll keep buying McLarens, thank you very much.

    • Oz8argain on 11/10/2018 - 09:32

      toy cars doesn't count

  • RandomNinja on 10/10/2018 - 13:53

    I generally buy with my head, but sometimes I won't buy because of my heart (eg: X brand might have best value/price, but I won't buy because I've had a bad experience with them)

  • HighAndDry on 10/10/2018 - 14:45
    +1

    I just want the best product for the best price.

    This, except "brand loyalty" has an objective element in that reliability, customer service, and after-care are effectively all part of "the best product" while being pretty much the same thing as "brand".

  • Illian on 10/10/2018 - 16:10

    Cars? Not a chance, that would be silly. Some other things, like TV's, or PSU's, yes.

  • JohnnyB.Cheap on 11/10/2018 - 08:24

    Cars not a chance. Deiselgate is one instance of a brand wide issue. Often the issues are model specific. the recent 'Ford Focus Disaster', which has seen Ford sales across the board fall. Of late dealers are also struggling to move Mustangs with the next model coming out at the end of the year. It's a bad year for Ford.

    Proton - dead
    Dodge - dead
    Hummer - dead

    Car's are a dynamic market. I'd stick Japanese and research recall issues.

    • Oz8argain on 11/10/2018 - 09:33

      i would love to have a mustang if they are cheap C:

  • Euphemistic on 11/10/2018 - 15:30

    I don’t have a particular brand loyalty, but do buy based on gut feel as much as other research. I’ve crossed cars off the list because ‘I just don’t like it’ before, I’ll probably do it again too. I do have an irrational preference for Ford over Holden, but I can’t see myself buying a Ford really. Is possibly but Hyundai, but nothing Chinese - until they prove themselves locally as the Koreans have done.

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