2015 predicted reliability - CR brand ranking

[Jimzz]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
CR's survey may not be perfect, but most consumers trust them and they were/are correct most of the times about their predict reliability.

Case in point: Toyota Camry was 1 of the most reliable family sedan in USA and it was/is best selling sedan in America for many many years, mainly because of CR's yearly car buying guide almost always rated them as dependable vehicle.

Other than reliability Camry isn't better than other sedans in its class in term of driving dynamic and fuel economy or ..., why it was/is best selling ?

No, I didn't buy my cars based on CR report. But I know many who did.



You mean the Camry that had had major sludging issues when following Toyotas recommended oil changes? The one Toyota covered up and denied till it was about to go to court? Yet that never seemed to get into the ratings or hurt its image as they denied it so long that by the time it was a major issue it was out of sight of JD/CR type review years.

 

[willbur]

Look at who buys Buicks. Typically seniors who drive little and gently and only in good weather. Their cars live an easy life...

 

[willbur]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike

Right how is Buick doing well and the rest of GM not so much? Same drivetrains, brakes, programming.I never understood that.


Look at who buys Buicks. Typically seniors that drive little and gently and only in good weather. Their cars live an easy life and are "reliable"

 

[Jimzz]

Originally Posted By: willbur
Look at who buys Buicks. Typically seniors who drive little and gently and only in good weather. Their cars live an easy life...



That's not as true anymore. Their average age is now in the high 50's. That sounds high but the average age is in the low 50's. So still above average but not in the 70's it use to be a decade ago.

 

[willbur]

Originally Posted By: Jimzz
Originally Posted By: willbur
Look at who buys Buicks. Typically seniors who drive little and gently and only in good weather. Their cars live an easy life...


That's not as true anymore. Their average age is now in the high 50's. That sounds high but the average age is in the low 50's. So still above average but not in the 70's it use to be a decade ago.


I don't know about that. All Buick drivers I observed look over 50 and drive like they are 70!
Sorry about the double post. Typing too fast.

 

[dishdude]

Buick buyers moved on to Toyota. Buick is now a younger person's car.

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: Michael_P
When I saw CR ding a manufacturers model reliability over the complexity of an infotainment system and rough shifting transmission, I wrote them off. A particular model can have red dots across the board (owners survey), but then given a low predicted reliability based on the reviewers vibe. I'm not fond of JD Power either. The best predictors of reliability are auto mechanics.


Auto mechanics are the worst sort of data because they are not statistically significant.

 

[horse123]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Buick buyers moved on to Toyota. Buick is now a younger person's car.


I disagree. Toyota has been having a campaign to try to sell to young people and now young somewhat affluent people are getting Camrys/Corollas/Rav4s as their first cars and 40 year old rat race suckup office workers are buying highlanders/land cruisers.

 

[Michael_P]

Quote:
Auto mechanics are the worst sort of data because they are not statistically significant.


So if an auto mechanic repeatedly works on a particular make, year and model for the same problem, you would not see a pattern? If you were looking at a certain model of car and lets say a dealer mechanic said; "Oh, I replace at least two head gaskets a week on that model", that would not make you think twice?

If you question an individual mechanic, you have to make sure he is not a fanboy. You also have to ask more than one

Individually nothing is statistically significant. Collectively, everything is statistically significant.

 

[jimbrewer]

I don't think it's as useful as it used to be. Differences in car quality in the olden days was more dramatic. So sloppy methodology wasn't such a problem. If a car got a black circle for electrical problems, that meant you were going to have lots of maddening electrical gremlins.

Today it might mean that they got a bad batch of door ajar switches for a couple of day.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Buick buyers moved on to Toyota. Buick is now a younger person's car.


I'd have to agree; I see more and more Toyotas with the left turn signal permanently activated- not to mention taking corners at half the posted advisory speed while riding the brakes the entire time...

 

[Ben Boyle]

Just thought I'd chime in and say that I'm 35 and bought a new Buick Verano 3 months ago.