# Have you owned an automobile (or truck) from each of the Big 3 automakers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342 "2026-04-17T22:37:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/21 "2026-04-17T23:40:00Z")
You could make it the Big 4 as I currently own a 1965 AMC/Rambler Marlin. As I have owned many (15+) older/antique vehicles, from the Big 3/4 including an IHC, along with my newer daily drivers it would be easier to list which ones weren’t part of the Big 3/4. That would be one, my wife’s 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/22 "2026-04-17T23:42:08Z")
YES. List cars I have owned from first to mos recent: Dodge Omni Dodge Spirit Ford LTD Mercury Grand Marquis Chevrolet Celebrity Ford Focus Ford Festiva ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/23 "2026-04-17T23:42:17Z")
'74 Dodge Dart. What a piece of shit. Wouldn’t start when the outside temperature was under 20 degrees F. Ford Maverick. What a far worse piece of shit than the Dart. The floorboards rotted away, filling the interior with the aroma of exhaust. At least it didn’t catch on fire and explode. Never owned a GMC piece of shit. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/24 "2026-04-17T23:44:08Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Nobody in my extended family’s ever owned an American car… they were considered to be of low quality and reliability… Same here for nearly my entire life. While I think they have greatly increased in both quality and reliability over the years, so have the other manufacturers. I’ve personally owned a Volkswagen, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Subaru, another Toyota, and another Subaru. My parents owned several Volvos, an Audi, a Honda, a BMW, and a Toyota. As you can see, I’ve settled on Toyotas and Subarus, which are two of the highest-rated automobile manufacturers in Consumer Reports. I would also not hesitate to buy a Honda. The Volkswagen and BMW I owned years ago were fun to drive, but were crap with respect to reliability. I basically decided I care about reliability above all other considerations. > [@Tride](#): > > …and the Subie blew a head gasket. That actually happened to my first Subaru at around 190K miles. I might have given up on them at that point, but I read they had fixed the issue. (And I haven’t run into the problem with any subsequent vehicles.) As for the Big 3 U.S. automakers, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of a Ford Edge that I rented once, but I still wouldn’t buy one until and unless their reliability exceeds that of the other manufacturers on the market. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/25 "2026-04-17T23:45:57Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > My late wife bought a couple Jeeps while we were married, and that’s as close as I’ve ever come to giving Chrysler a dime. Your disdain for Chrysler has been duly noted before. And it’s reasonably justified. Jeeps seem to have a reputation for poor reliability. My previous Dodge Caravan, while far from being a lemon, did have various issues, mostly minor, and a few major. My previous Sebring was a remarkably good and reliable car, and I mainly got rid of it because it was turning into an aging rustbucket, had a small engine oil leak of unknown source, needed new front brakes, and the catalytic converter was shot – although the latter never seemed to affect performance so I just lived with it. The current Camry is clearly a superior car by any measure, but there are still design features about the sporty Sebring that I miss! But to answer the OP’s question, yes. I have owned vehicles from Volkswagen (loved it!), Ford (piece of shit), Nissan (Datsun 280Z – never really liked it), GM (Chevrolet Caprice – totally adored it!), Chrysler (twice), and Toyota (currently). ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/26 "2026-04-17T23:54:04Z")
Yep! Chevy Luv was my first vehicle (which is barely a Chevy); had some other GMs over the years (I’ve had a lot of cars). First Ford I ever had was a Ford Focus, though I also had a much older Ford Mustang a little later… I’ve had a Dodge Caravan, and a few different Jeeps over the years also. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/27 "2026-04-18T00:01:20Z")
Not personally. In college I had a Plymouth Reliant and then an old Mustang. My family had a GMC pickup that I used but I didn’t own it. After I moved to Asia, I’ve only had Toyotas and a Nissan. Oh, I owned an older BMW for a while as well. I don’t care that much about cars so I forget. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/28 "2026-04-18T00:17:18Z")
Yes, so I hit two of them. But I’ve never owned a Chrysler. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/29 "2026-04-18T01:17:42Z")
My GF had a Mavrick, I can confirm that yes is was a bigger rust bucket than the Dart! It had a hole in the fender above the front tire that created a fountain when it rained. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/30 "2026-04-18T01:37:28Z")
Chrysler, AMC, Mercury, Ford, Chevy, Plymouth (actually a Mitsubishi), Mercury, Ford, Chevy, GMC. Spousal units include Buick. Opel, Datsun(pre-Nissan), Nissan (post-Datsun) ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/31 "2026-04-18T01:43:25Z")
Had a Chevy Chevette in college. Hubs had a Ford Tempo when I met him in college. Then a Plymouth Voyager when we started having kids in '92. None since! ---
**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/32 "2026-04-18T01:57:38Z")
Yes; 85 Grand Am. 94 Ranger, 03 Durango; but mostly Honda these days. With a exception - I did recently buy an 82 Corvette ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/33 "2026-04-18T02:22:44Z")
Yes. I’ve owned three different Chevrolets, which covers GM. I had a Ford pickup truck. And I had a Jeep, which is part of Chrysler. I now own a Toyota. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/34 "2026-04-18T02:24:17Z")
My dad retired from Chrysler/Daimler/Stellantis. My wife’s family has Ford and GM employees. I drove a slew of Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge growing up. LeBaron, Shadow, LeBaron again, Cirrus, Daytona IROC R/T, Intrepid, Eagle Talon, PTCruiser. Then a brief fling with some GM in a Pontiac G6 and an Impala, then a Mercury Milan Hybrid before moving to a couple of Volvos and now a Polestar. My wife has also driven all 3, I won’t do an exhaustive list but Ford Escape,Pontiac Grand Prix, and Jeep Grand Cherokee round them out. She has not done any Japanese or European or Korean cars. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/35 "2026-04-18T02:27:12Z")
Yes, I have: - Three from Chrysler (Reliant, LeBaron, PT Cruiser) - One from Ford (Mustang) - One from GM (Corvette) Also: - Two Mazdas (Protege, CX-7) - One Subaru (Outback) - One Hyundai (Sonata) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/36 "2026-04-18T03:58:17Z")
'59 Pontiac, Sunbeam, Volvo, Datsun, Plymouth, Ford, Dodge, Subaru, Toyota ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/37 "2026-04-18T04:12:54Z")
Have I owned a car from each of the Big Three? You bet: Toyota Prius & Lexus ES350 Honda Accord (& 3 motorcycles) Nissan 350Z & Sentra What? Although I notice that currently the US’ Big Three are actually [4, 5, and 6 worldwide.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_automotive_manufacturers_by_production) (Chrysler is now part of Stellantis.) The worldwide Big Three are Toyota, VW, and Hyundai/Kia. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/38 "2026-04-18T04:17:45Z")
Six Chevrolets and one Cadillac, four Fords and one Mercury, one Dodge, and (#5 in its day) one Studebaker. So, yes from the big 3 but not the big four (GM, Ford, Chrysler, AMC). I currently have a Chevy, Ford, and a Hyundai. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/39 "2026-04-18T04:28:15Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > 74 Dodge Dart. What a piece of shit. Wouldn’t start when the outside temperature was under 20 degrees F. I had one of those. Ate voltage regulators for breakfast. I never forgave Chrysler for that one and never bought anything from them again. As for the others, Chevy C20, Blazer, Silverado, 2 S10s, 2 Pontiac Grand Ams and a Catalina. Fords were a Mustang, a Mercury Grand Marquis , Lynx and Marquis. I’ve also had an AMC Matador, an International half ton, a Honda Accord, a Toyota Yaris and currently own a Hyundai Elantra. Throw in a few motorcycles and I’ve had a pretty fair sampling. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342/40 "2026-04-18T04:39:33Z")
In order that I owned them: Dodge (GM), Oldsmobile (GM), Pontiac (GM), Oldsmobile (GM), Nissan, Nissan, Dodge (GM), Toyota, Chevy (GM), Dodge (GM), Buick (GM), Dodge (GM), VW, Ford, Ford, Cadillac (GM), VW, Ford, MG, Buick (GM), VW, Jeep (Chrysler) Only one Chrysler, three Fords, lots of GMs. So, yes, at least 1 from each of the Big 3. And if we are counting motorcycles, two Hondas and one Harley. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-owned-an-automobile-or-truck-from-each-of-the-big-3-automakers/1029342.md?page=3)