[Rain Man]

I don't have those near me now, so I haven't eaten in one for years.

I have fond memories of Hardee's growing up. As a teenager, I thought they had very good food, and my local restaurant had one half of a twin package named Courtney who enchanted me, so I would go there just to hear her say "ham and cheese", and possibly brush my hand as she handed me my change. But that's off topic. Let's just say that I liked Hardee's.

I have a policy against going to Carl's Jr when I'm traveling, mostly because I despise those commercials that have people making crunching and grunting and slurping sounds while they're eating. I don't wish to make those sounds and I don't wish to be near people who make those sounds and I don't wish to support a business that supports making those sounds. Their commercials also give me a distinct feeling that their food is mega-caloric, and that if I eat a small hamburger there I'll overshoot my daily calories for the next two days. I recognize that's their brand, and maybe they're right to go for the loud-eating gluttonous market, but that's not me.

Relative to other fast-food brands, I would rate Carl's Jr closer to Long John Silver's than anything else. Both places have flavorful, plentiful food that's incredibly unhealthy. Jack in the Box would also live close to them on the brand map.

I would place Hardee's closest to Arby's. Good creative menu variety and generally good food.

If they were cars, Carl's Jr. would be a 60s muscle car that looks cool, but is loud and get 8 mpg. Hardees would be a Chrysler Crossfire - good and underrated, not well known, and canceled before its time.