First model year: Are you skeptical?

[Popinski]

I would never buy a first-year model. I always wait until the next 1 or 2 model years.

Here is a recent recall of the brand new 2011 Hyundai Sonata. 16,300 Hyundai Sonata's have been recalled due to steering joint seperating. Two cars has been reported so far and both fixed under warranty.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
I would never buy a first-year model. I always wait until the next 1 or 2 model years.

Here is a recent recall of the brand new 2011 Hyundai Sonata. 16,300 Hyundai Sonata's have been recalled due to steering joint seperating. Two cars has been reported so far and both fixed under warranty.


+1 Totally agree except...purchase a two or three year old vehicle thats been well taken care of and low mileage....and you'll save 40 to 50%.

 

[The Critic]

The worst part is that a number of first year cars often have issues that do not show up until the vehicle is out of warranty, which can be an expensive repair depending on the issue.

 

[Summerwind]

I generaly agree as well, however I have a "First-Year New Re-Design" in my '88 Olds Cutlass Supreme, and have had extremely good luck with it.

 

[Herz]

which is why i opted for the v6 4.3 in my sierra vs the 4.8 or 5.3 which had just come out a year or two prior.

 

[SaturnIonVue]

+1 here too. It seems that very few first year models are without at least nagging little problems, and many have had some pretty serious issues. I am convinced of this enough that I wouldn't buy a first year model, ever. With some makes, to my mind, like GM 70's and 80's models there never seemed to be an attempt to correct known defective parts over several MY. This seemed true especially for electrical parts during those years.

One very pervasive problem with GM FWD cars today seems to be related to their intermediate steering shaft (U-joint looking thing connecting the steering wheel shaft to steering rack), which thumps-bumps within a few thousands miles of being new. Supposedly they aren't defective or dangerous in that condition, but it sure sounds like it is. GM may have tried to fix the problem, but I've heard of numerous reports, and experienced that problem myself with two different models from 04 to 08 MYs.

 

[Spector]

My first year 92 model change Camry is still going at 210,000, most still original equip, starter, alternator, exhaust system, etc. So, guess I was lucky

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: Spector
My first year 92 model change Camry is still going at 210,000, most still original equip, starter, alternator, exhaust system, etc. So, guess I was lucky


That was built when Toyota was still hungry.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

My 2001 Civic had only the thermal overload circuit go bad twice. I don't count the alternator at 180k/2009.

 

[super20dan]

bought an 80 amc eagle-it turned out to be a turkey

 

[eljefino]

A good reason to not buy new... let someone else take the depreciation hit then compute your odds in favor of the known decent ones.

Is vain for most to think they maintain (or drive) a car better than the average joe on the street... at 100k with just oil changes it's not too late to catch up on everything else.

 

[IndyIan]

My old Neon was made in the first couple months of production in Jan, 1994. The real expensive repair has been the headgasket but other than that its been pretty good. In the windsheild defrost vent there is a piece of plastic screwed in with exposed tips of self tapping screws, its to direct more air to the drivers side and its not easily seen, but it looks like a little assembly line engineering.
They did change quite a few things in the next year though, 4 to 5 bolt hubs, changed the PCV system, changed the power steering fill cap, put a milder cam in to combat vibration at idle, put in a taller differential gear, and increased the ride height with taller springs.

 

[Kestas]

Also never buy a last model year vehicle. The tooling isn't maintained or refreshed as often as it should because the production facilities know that the tooling will soon be retired.

When I was working for the auto companies, I noticed that it sometimes took five years to work out the bugs. By then the fickle market has deemed the model to be stale and is looking for something new... a lose-lose proposition for both manufacturer and buyer when it comes to reliable vehicles.

That said, I've owned a number of exceptions. The first-year 98 Ford ZX2 comes to mind.

 

[SLCraig]

My dad bought his 2000 Maxima in the fall of 1999. It has been a fantastic car. It is a new revision of the VQ30DE (VQ30DE-K) and also a full body redesign. That car is rock solid.

I don't care as much as I used to about first model years.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: pbm
Originally Posted By: Spector
My first year 92 model change Camry is still going at 210,000, most still original equip, starter, alternator, exhaust system, etc. So, guess I was lucky


That was built when Toyota was still hungry.


Hmmm... My 2005 Corolla is going on to 200k with everything still original but spark plugs (1 set), coolant (1 change), PCV (1), Tires (1 set), a few filters and of course oil changes. EVERYTHING else is factory.

Still runs and looks great!

Exactly when did Toyota stop being "hungry"...

Back to the subject.. I try to stay away from first years of anything. And interesting on the last year of a vehicles run!

Bill

 

[Mr_Incredible]

It's certainly something I keep in mind, though I don't buy new anymore myself. I got new 2009 Prius for Wife, but it wasn't in that category.

I purchased a new 1988 Chevy 1500. They had only been making the new model for a couple of months. I had that stupid truck in the shop 14 times for various problems, culminating in a cracked block due to head gasket problem at around 66k miles. It's good thing I had also purchased an extended warranty (the only one I've ever bought.)

I sold it and bought a Ford.

 

[Rickey]

Bill in Utah:
Quote:

"Exactly when did Toyota stop being "hungry"... whistle "

End Quote:

Did we forget about Toyota's "little issue with sludge"?
Etc.?



Rickey.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: Rickey
Bill in Utah:
Quote:

"Exactly when did Toyota stop being "hungry"... whistle "

End Quote:

Did we forget about Toyota's "little issue with sludge"?
Etc.?



Rickey.



First of all I was not asking YOU about HIS statement.

Second of all unless you want this thread to get locked up and members getting time off we do not need to list EVERY manufactures problems because if we do, the list will be VERY long and slanted towards other manufactures other than the ones YOU have a problem with.

But thank you for proving my point.

I'll leave it at that...

 

[Audi Junkie]

It makes sense to not buy from the 1st wave.

I pre-ordered my new model 2002 B6 Audi, sold it within 6 months, no probs for me but those cars are dogs.

Last models years were n/g for me too. My 06 RSX was terrible. The windshield was loose upon delivery and took 2 tries to fix. A known-problem from the factory, but they still sold the car as-is. Many many issues with that car. CR dropped it from it's Recommended List for the last year!

My 07 Accord was iffy too.

Looks like the "new" Civics have problems too.

otoh, Mom's 96 Passat, last year of the model has been excellent.

otoh, Mom's 86 Accord was excellent, a new model.

So, it seems to ~depend~.

I took a chance on the 3rd model year VW Tiguan, made in Germany.
Revised engine, de-bugged chassis with basic equipment.

I'm crossing my fingers.

 

[Propflux01]

I bought my Sonata new in '05. It was one of the first few made ( Oct 05 Man Date). Only issue I have had with it was horn went out, and Power window switch went out, all under warrentee. I have just turned 93K on it with original everything except oil/filter and coolant, of course.