When Brand Loyalty becomes Arrogance...

"Frosted" (frostedbuns)
02/26/2014 at 10:44 • Filed to: None

I love Volvo, I think they make a great car. I think that buying a used one for 5-7k is a steal. I implore people who are looking for a car in that segment (luxury or high end crossovers/SUVs) to look at a new Volvo before deciding anything. But I know, like any other car make, they have their issues.

As some of you know from a previous post, I have an undying love for Subaru. I love the way the new WRX STI looks. Love the silly giant spoiler. Most people I know like vehicles from various brands from various companies.

It's great to have a love for a certain brand or company and to support them. It's another thing to tell people any car that isn't made by that company is junk. I know a few people that having a conversation about cars with is useless because it'll just end up with "MY CAR MAKE IS BEST AND YOU'RE AN IDIOT".

That's when Brand Loyalty becomes too much for me. When someone can't see the faults of a car and acts as though it's gods gift to humans, it comes off as just ignorance.

Have a 2015 WRX STI for your time -

DISCUSSION (61)

Brian Silvestro > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:47

"I bought this car over that car so it must be better in every way!"

Am I on the right track here?

Frosted > Brian Silvestro
02/26/2014 at 10:49

Basically. Also "Oh you want to modify your car like that? Why didn't you just buy a different car instead shaming your current one."

RacecaR > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:50

Shamefully, I had a bit of brand loyalty idiocracy in the NPOCP post this morning. My Mitsu-itis flared up. After thinking about it a little, I was way off. $5,500 for that car is a little much.

Brian Silvestro > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:50

"The manufacturer made it perfect, there should be no reason to put mudflaps or add 5 horsepower like that. You ruined it."

ncasolowork2 > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:50

As far as I'm concerned Subaru has a monopoly on affordable AWD vehicles. They're not the nicest or the best quality, but there's really little market competition. Until my family can net more than 40 a year they're the only affordable vehicle out there for me.

Frosted > Brian Silvestro
02/26/2014 at 10:53

True story- I put RallyArmor mudflaps on my XC70 instead of OEM ones (15 dollars for 4 instead of 35 for 2) and that was the end of the world for some people.

BrtStlnd > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:54

Good luck with this premise. I've been trying to fight this kind of sentiment on Jalopnik for a long time... asking for reasoned arguments from internet car people is a senseless endeavor.

We all have our biases and tendencies to favor one brand or car over another, which is fine... but everything that you don't like is not total shit.

Brian Silvestro > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:54

That's hilariously sad.

mycarneverruns87 > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:54

I completely get where you are coming from. It happens a lot in my area since it is a small country town. It is worse with the trucks. Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax. They only respect what they drive and nothing else.

What kills me is when people get so close minded about vehicles that they miss out on such great cars from all over that may fit them better than what they could even imagine.

Frosted > ncasolowork2
02/26/2014 at 10:56

Indeed it is and that's what will really keep them going. Mitsubishi only ever competed with the STI, but Subaru always had nice non-performance oriented AWD cars too. I would buy an Outback or a Legacy wagon as a cheaper, reliable family car without question.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:56

I find brand loyalty in general to be somewhat silly, sure there are brands I like more than others but it's important to look at the merits of each individual car not just the badge on the front. I've owned 10 different cars by 8 different makes in the last 6 years, boxing yourself into a single brand or even just a few brands cuts you off from so many great cars.

Jayhawk Jake > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:56

Brand loyalty doesn't bother me much, I just brush it off.

What kills me is brand arrogance. "I would never buy a Kia because 20 years ago my grandmother owned one and it smelled like cigarette smoke"

Kia and Hyundai get the worst end of it, but it happens to every brand eventually. People won't even consider buying one because of some bullshit reason they've made up.

I won't lie, I was almost the same. When I was shopping for cars 2 years ago, my Dad told me to check out Kia, saying they had gotten good. I laughed and said 'pshht, yeah right like I'm going to buy a Kia'. Two months later I was driving home in a brand new Kia Forte Koup, and I loved that car for two years: never gave me any problems, looked good, was nice to drive. Yet there are still throngs of people, even so called car enthusiasts, who won't look past the badge.

Joe_Limon > ncasolowork2
02/26/2014 at 10:57

Well... There is the fusion... Lol who am I kidding.

mycarneverruns87 > Jayhawk Jake
02/26/2014 at 10:59

That makes me mad as well. People have to shit on the brand for no reason at all.

yamahog > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 10:59

I cannot shake my family's American car loyalties... Even though my big fat hypocrite dad and I both ride Japanese motorcycles. THERE IS NO LOGIC TO THIS MADNESS.

Frosted > BrtStlnd
02/26/2014 at 11:00

I'm sure some people won't like this post but it's more of a rant that I wanted to get out.

I hate Kia/Hyundai more than anything but can at least admit that some of their newer models are pretty sharp looking. It's ridiculous that some people can't admit anything good about a brand that isn't the one they love.

Frosted > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
02/26/2014 at 11:01

I'm on my 6th car in 5 years of driving because I just want to experience as many different cars as I can. I have positive and negative things to say about all 6 cars though.

BrtStlnd > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:02

Some people have a really hard time admitting that two things that are in competition are both actually good products, with separately compelling pros and cons.

Chance.Canson > Jayhawk Jake
02/26/2014 at 11:09

A cousin of mine once told me that he would never own another Hyundai after how many issues his Sonata had. The Sonata in question was a former rental car, so those 2x,xxx miles it had on it when he purchased were very hard ones. He now owns a Kia that wasn't a former rental car and loves it.

efme > Jayhawk Jake
02/26/2014 at 11:09

Totally agree. This happens with all brands too though. How many times have you seen online reviews where it starts and ends something like this:

the cloth in my Toyundaia is stained and it won't come out. I brought it to the dealership and they said they cannot do anything about it. I have owned 3 cars in 25 years and this has never happened to me. I will never buy Toyundaia again!

Seen same complaints for credit cards (I'll never use american express again!) 2nd most annoying people online.

gt6xxer > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:15

Its been tough not to be a Mazda loyalist lately. The brand is doing all the things I like.

Jayhawk Jake > efme
02/26/2014 at 11:20

I think that's one of the biggest issues with the digital world we live in today. Everyone can share their opinion, no matter how terrible it is. Couple that with the fact that everyone wants to complain, while not many people care to heap praise, and everything ends up looking worse than it should

jariten1781 > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:24

It's even better when it's nearly identical cars.

I have a specific memory from high school where these two kids were nearing blows about whose car was better. Funny thing was, they were both 3rd gen F-bodys with the same motor: one Firebird, one Camaro. Neither were in decent shape either.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:25

I had a hard time dropping Ford for Subaru. I had 2 and my wife has one. I love the Focus ST but with the winter we have had this year I'm glad I have AWD.

Frosted > Joe_Limon
02/26/2014 at 11:27

The Fusion is AWD? Never knew that.

Übel > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:30

I think the cutoff is when people stop liking a brand because of their cars and start liking cars because of their brand.

I love me a VW new or old, but I also recognize they've made some pretty solid crap cans. On the other hand, I do not at all like Honda, but I totally recognize the brilliance of cars like the S2000 and NSX and would gladly own either.

Victorious Secret > BrtStlnd
02/26/2014 at 11:32

You won't get that here, ever and you know that.

If you bought a car that car is the best and it is infallible.

You know what I say about those kinds of people? that they are insecure about what they bought and they need to somehow justify their purchase to people who don't even care.

I'm not insecure. I know what my own car is good at and what its hilariously bad at. I have no delusions. When someone says "Yea but your car doesn't do this or that or its poor in this or that" I can turn around and say "You're goddamn right, it isn't perfect"

Not many people here can manage that.

For Sweden > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:33

Volvo car is always best car, you heathen

Victorious Secret > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:33

Truck fanboyism is the best.

Just the best.

Or the worst. Definitely the worst.

If you suggested a Ford to a Dodge or et al, you'd think that you personally punched the owner in the balls and shit on his mothers grave.

Frosted > For Sweden
02/26/2014 at 11:35

I am bad person. I am sorry. Please forgive.

N/A POWAAAHH > Brian Silvestro
02/26/2014 at 11:39

*scoffs*

Joe_Limon > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:40

The fusion is available with awd, but it is a really limp wristed awd which sends all power to the front wheels and only sends to the rear when slip is detected. All for fuel savings.

When I was about to buy my impreza I cross shopped it with the Fusion, but the Ford came off as a grandma car.

Sinanigans > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:41

Ahem ***most*** BMW owners...

ncasolowork2 > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:51

Fusion AWD is ~$30k. I would definitely be interested, but not for an extra $10k

Frosted > Joe_Limon
02/26/2014 at 11:52

I don't think I've ever seen an AWD Fusion in the wild. That AWD system sounds very similar to the one in my XC.

CO-OCD > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:58

Because - SUBARU!

I've had 4 because the are awesome for what they are: semi-fast, easily-modifiable and worth the money that is paid for them used and new.

I am loyal forever to Subaru.

That being said I sold my last one almost a year ago and bought a truck, lol. I'll own another, maybe a 4-door 2001 RS 2.5.

STREPITUS > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 11:59

I never understood brand loyalty. My friend's dad is a GM guy. He never will even consider a Mustang or Challenger to replace his Camaro, even if the competition is better and cheaper. I let him try my Mustang last summer and from what I could tell, he really liked it, but went on to claim that will never get one because its not a Camaro, even though my car was $7k cheaper than hos beloved Camaro. If you ask me, thats really dumb. You should get the car you like best regardless of brand, paying more for a car you like less just because of the badge is a stupid waste of money.

Also, I work for Ford. When I was buying my car I figured I'd just the Mustang seeing as how I work for the company, but when I mentioned that to a co-worker he told me that "employees that don't care about cars just get the Ford. Car people give the competition a chance." So I did that. Really liked the Challenger, but liked the Mustang a little bit better. Plus I couldn't get the Challenger exactly like I wanted within my budget.

Joe_Limon > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 12:01

Maybe only in Canada? I have no idea.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 12:02

I find brand loyalty of any type to be counterproductive — I've been burned too many times by companies taking advantage of their brand. Sure, if I'm shopping I'll start looking at the familiar brands, but I will most definitely give all alternatives a serious look.

Another note - I find it amusing that I liked the look of the Evo X and the concept of Subarus in general, and now they've come together in the 2015 WRX STI.

Frosted > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire
02/26/2014 at 12:07

Since Mitsu isn't gonna make another Evo, why not have Subaru make both?!

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > Brian Silvestro
02/26/2014 at 12:16

You sound like my dad.

...Dad..? Is that you??!?

Brian Silvestro > theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil
02/26/2014 at 12:29

Yes.

Rico > Jayhawk Jake
02/26/2014 at 12:36

Don't you now own a Chevy?

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Victorious Secret
02/26/2014 at 12:47

I own an F150 and a GMC. Come at me bro.

Manny05x > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 12:56

So the answer is always Subaru now?

Frosted > Manny05x
02/26/2014 at 13:08

The answer is always buy what you like or is best value for money?

His Stigness > efme
02/26/2014 at 13:24

The same goes for people that buy more expensive cars (German cars) and refuse to take care of them properly and are shocked when they don't work right.

Yes, German cars do have more part failures than others, but that doesn't mean every German car is bad.

And how much wear and tear maintained required on a car should not factor into how reliable it is. My Mercedes, as with most German cars, requires a lot of parts to be changed after 100, but I know this is normal, not everything lasts forever. But if someone else owned my car they would immediately say it's "unreliable."

His Stigness > Brian Silvestro
02/26/2014 at 13:25

If it's not German it's the wrong car!

Brian Silvestro > His Stigness
02/26/2014 at 13:27

EXACTLY

Jayhawk Jake > Rico
02/26/2014 at 13:45

I do, but it has nothing to do with brand affiliation or loyalty.

Rico > Jayhawk Jake
02/26/2014 at 13:48

Okay I thought I was confused, so why go from a Kia which you liked to a Chevy which I'm sure you also like? Was the deal too good to pass up?

All Motor Is Best Motor > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 14:36

I get that, and sometimes the opposite. "I had one bad experience with a Ford, I will never own another Ford".

Jayhawk Jake > Rico
02/26/2014 at 15:13

I wanted a hatchback, turbo, and manual. The Kia had none of those. Couple that with having no self control when it comes to buying things, and the Kia was traded for the Chevy.

bob and john > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 16:43

oh god yea. i have a few aquiantences that (one has a STI, the other is getting is)

the one who has an STI had a WRX that he modded to hell and back. sold it, bought the sti, and within 25 min and throw all the crap that was on his other car on it. His other car wasnt even that old.

but the second dude...oh man. his parents are buying it. they gave him the choice between waiting an extra year while he was in uni and living on res, and then they would get him a LEXUS IS-F, or a subara this year. he chose the subie (he has a civic in the mean time) why a subie over a lexus? because, and i quote: "fuck another car"

dont think i will be speaking to either of them very much soon

Frosted > bob and john
02/26/2014 at 16:46

Jesus yea as much as I love Subaru, I'd take an IS-F over an STI any day.

I guess guy number 1 maybe wanted the extra starting power that an STI offers on top of mods?

bob and john > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 16:49

as far as i could tell he got the sti for the following reason: because its an sti and it has a 6-speed.

i dont want to know how much value he lost on his WRX, or how ripped off he got by the finaincing guy, but when ur in HIGHSCHOOL and you already have a friggen 550AWHP car, like wtf? (oh, and he had the WRX for less then a year)

Frosted > bob and john
02/26/2014 at 16:53

I can see wanting the six speed. But a high schooler with a 550AWHP car is a terrifying thought. My parents didn't want me to have more than 150bhp in my first car back in high school >.>

bob and john > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 16:58

for the money he lost on the trade, it would have been more worth it to just drop it in. the car was already a 5-speed, so just find a wrecked one and pull the tranny.

also, it WAS a 550hp car, but hes a stance bro as well. so slow driving because of the pot holes.

Frosted > bob and john
02/26/2014 at 17:02

I don't get the point of making a car have HELLA PERFORMANCE only to stance it and make it scrap on a leaf.

Also, I'm sorry Impreza. I am so so sorry.

bob and john > Frosted
02/26/2014 at 17:04

pretty much. he was the dude talking about fitment and tht shit. i dont mind stance, and some of them look ok. what i DO mind is stancing a performance car. THAT is beyond stupid.

Rico > Jayhawk Jake
02/26/2014 at 17:22

A very Jalop choice, can't fault you!