CR Bad Bets

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LouDawg

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Here is CR's list of *used* cars to avoid based on their consumer surveys. Here is what they say about the list:

"The list...is compiled from overall reliability data covering 1997-2006 models with...much-worse-than-average reliability. CR...Bad Bets include only the models for which we have sufficient data for at least three model years. Models that were brand-new in 2005 or 2006 do not appear. Problems with the engine, engine cooling, transmission, and drive system were weighted more heavily than other problems."

Yes, yes, I know it's CR. Just throwing it out there for thoughts and opinions.

================================

BMW 7 Series
BMW X5 (V8)
Chevrolet Astro
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet Express
Chevrolet S-10 (4WD)
Chevrolet Venture
Chevrolet Uplander
Chrysler Town & Country (AWD)
Dodge Grand Caravan (AWD)
GMC Jimmy
GMC Sonoma (4WD)
GMC Safari
GMC Savana
Infiniti QX56
Jaguar S-Type
Jaguar X-Type
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sedona (except ‘06)
Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover LR3
Lincoln Aviator
Lincoln Navigator
Mercedes-Benz CLK
Mercedes-Benz M-Class (V8)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (V8)
Mercedes-Benz SL
Nissan Armada
Nissan Titan
Oldsmobile Bravada
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Oldsmobile Silhouette
Pontiac Aztek
Pontiac Trans Sport
Pontiac Montana
Pontiac Montana SV6
Volkswagen Cabrio
Volkswagen Jetta (turbo, gas)
Volkswagen Jetta (V6)
Volkswagen New Beetle (4-cyl.)
Volkswagen Touareg
Volvo XC90 (6-cyl.)
 
Is that the complete list? I have nothing against Fords (I even owned one) but I'm surprised to see ZERO Fords on it.
 
Yes, that was the complete list.

There are two Lincolns, so I guess one could consider that Ford. I've always had good luck with Fords, but everyone's experiences are different.
 
Read an article about the Aztec written by a writer from one of the auto magazines, a guy I believe who had an engineering degree and had been involved with the auto industry prior to becoming a writer. He lauded the Aztek but lambasted how the vehicle was marketed.

He told of others with Azteks that adored the reliable dependable machine.

But, minus scientific replicable statistics, it mainly comes down to subjective feelings, right?

I dunno'.

Just sprinkling things with the proverbial salt grain.

It would be nifty to peek at the manufacturer's computerized data bases wherein the dealer's service departments input what problems folks are having with their vehicle when they bring it in for repair. That info would likely be much more useful than what bubble sheeple fill in on a survey.
 
Sorry...I have 2 friends who buy nothing but used Chevy 4x4 Blazers with 30-40k on the clock and drive them 250-300k on original drivetrain. Both do 6-10 OCI's on ST oil. Makes me crazy just thinking about it. One of the guys strayed off and got a Nissan Sentra....hates it and is trying to figure out how to get back into a Blazer without losing his shirt. His daily commute is 110 miles.
 
A lot of GM models appear, but the ones that appear are all the same vehicles... Over and over.

Examples?

Blazer/Jimmy/Bravada
S10/Sonoma
Astro/Safari
Venture/Uplander/Silhouette/Montana/TransSport
 
Quote:

Sorry...I have 2 friends who buy nothing but used Chevy 4x4 Blazers with 30-40k on the clock and drive them 250-300k on original drivetrain. Both do 6-10 OCI's on ST oil. Makes me crazy just thinking about it. One of the guys strayed off and got a Nissan Sentra....hates it and is trying to figure out how to get back into a Blazer without losing his shirt. His daily commute is 110 miles.

Click to expand...

All in all, Blazers are reliable. The 4.3L is a good engine, and you can do a lot worse than a 4L60E for a transmission. I could see 2.2L S-10s getting on the list, but not 4.3L models. My cousin had a 1998 2-door LS. It had some fit an finish issues, and some of the features (power windows, radio) could have been better, but the engine and drivetrain were rock solid...especially considering how much we abused the poor truck.
 
Well it preety much echo's what I see and or hear about all the time! I think it is fairly accurate. I would add a few vechile too the list if it were my list. I would not normaly have the S-10 on their at all even the 4x4 models. I think that the S-10's were fairly reliable by GM standards especialy when you look at how affordable they were even in the 4X4 models. I think you have to take into account the higher then average expectations that most of their readership has. The bar is set really high by most of their readers. I think it is important to have realistic expecatations for the make and model you are buying. You can not buy a GM or Kia and expect Honda or Toyota like build quality and durability! If you bought an S-10 4X4 for $5000-$7000 less then a comparble Tacoma you can not expect as much money left in the vechile in terms of materials,design,fit and finish! While their are still some real bargins out their you do still usualy get what you pay for! Now on the more expensive vechiles on that list it is a shame since their profit margin per vechile is rather high for the OEM. Their is no excuse for any vechile costing more then $17,000 dollars to be a nickle and dime machine or a rattle trap!!!

I often wounder haveing been a Tech. early in life how much of this is related to failure to fix a problem the first time. Nothing will ruin a reputation faster then poor diagnostics and poor work! You really have to have dealerships willing to pay a good wage to attract and keep the best technicians! You also have to have excellent on going education for the techicians!

VW and BMW got themself in a lot of trouble by being to cheap with their suppliers! You get what you pay for and a supplier is not going to lose money. So if you ask for a cheap part that is what you get!GM and Ford have a simalar problem. You can not let the bean counters lead the company! Nothing kills great engineering like a bean counter!

Nissan's Armada and Titan were grought to market too soon. They should have worked a little longer on both design flaws and production flaws before bringing them to market! Toyta brought their Tundra to market much latter then they had initaly wanted to for that very reason! The engineers refused to sign off on it because they wanted most testing and they got their wish! You have to let the engineers responceable for the product make the final desision as when it is ready not the marketing department!
 
The old blazer belongs onthe list for poor design alone! You are right though that the 4.3 was fairly reliable power plant especialy by GM standards. The only ones that were bad for the Central Port Injection models!

The blazer really was not competitive in terms of usuable cabin space,NVH,and refinement in it's segment! As for mechanical issues the chasis and interior parts were more likely to fail then the power train.
 
Best car made would be at the bottom of CR's list because it had the evil "poor rear window visibility", LOL.


I'm a subscriber (by gift) and complete the surveys. And trust them more then the other car rags but take some of what they say with a grain. For example, "low marks for engine noise". One of the trucks I drove had that comment. It sounded great, had a tuned air intake resonator and well thought out exhaust, and made all those good sounds a v8 motorhead enjoys? Guess to CR it was too loud? so they marked it down.
 
Quote:

Nothing kills great engineering like a bean counter!

Click to expand...


I think I just may have to make a poster of that and frame it...with the proper acknowledgement to it's author. Hmmm...maybe have a T-Shirt made too.
thumbsup.gif
 
I subscribe to CR. I love reading the car reports because they seem to place high priorities on things that "gearheads" or car people really care about. I got my best laugh when they downgraded or wouldn't recommend the Porsche 944 because you couldn't fir a wheelchair in the hatch. Unbelievable! They really killed Mercedes in the most recent issue.
 
Have to agree with the Volvo XC90. The techs at the Volvo dealer call it a $50K piece of excrement.
 
Jeep Grand Cherokee?! They said once that this is the most unreliable vehicle in the country. I want proof. 116K miles. 12 year old Jeep. Second owner.
Changed:
Water Pump
Radiator
Motor/Trans Mount (Too much off roading)
Shocks (Louisiana roads)
Regular wear and tear parts.

CR needs to pull their heads out and write some UNBIASED REVIEWS!
 
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