America used to be full of GM people or Ford people - people who traded in one GM product for another, over and over again, throughout their lifetime.  They might move up from a Chevrolet to a Cadillac if their career took off, but wouldn't dream of leaving General Motors.  Even after Japanese automakers reached mainstream success in America, the pattern remained.  Some people were just Honda buyers, or Toyota fans.

Not anymore.

The New York Times reports, "So far this year, only about 20 percent of car shoppers stayed with the same brand when they purchased a new vehicle, according to a study by the Oregon-based firm CNW Marketing Research."  The same study showed that, in the 1980's, "Nearly four in five Americans were repeat buyers." 

Buying patterns are changing, Kicking Tires reports, because cars are improving.  "In any given segment, most products have the same safety and convenience features, so distinction becomes more a matter of individual taste."  Today's car buyer uses the internet to comparison shop "down to the smallest detail." 

And we know a great site where you can do that...

The change in buying habits has forced the auto industry to re-think how it sells its products.  The Times notes, "In the glory days of Detroit's Big Three, the companies and their advertising agencies invested heavily to market slogans that covered a wide range of products. Ad campaigns like Chevrolet's ‘Heartbeat of America' and ‘Have You Driven a Ford Lately?' were used to market everything from small cars to big pickup trucks."  Commercials didn't sell a specific car or truck, they marketed the company behind it.

Today, Kicking Tires explains, "Automakers have to sell products on an individual basis rather than relying on their brand." 

The trend, however, is great news for consumers.  It means that automakers are forced to concentrate on building an excellent car in order to compete in any particular segment of the market.  Unable to count on customer loyalty, automakers need to build the best car they can in order to stay afloat.  Buyers, meanwhile, are in the powerful position of picking from dozens of well-made cars.

The news might even pave the way for the resurgence of Detroit - five of the top ten cars in our Affordable Midsize Car ranking list, at the moment, are built by American automakers.

If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.