Ford: Quality equal to Toyota

[mstrjon32]

Everyone will believe what they want to believe, but the fact of the matter is, I almost never see 1980's Honda's and Toyota's on the road. Occasionally I'll see an old pop-up headlight Accord of Toyota Cressida or something and its usually rusted through and belting out nasty smoke. As for Domestic makes? I see at least a handful of 1980's domestics (both GM and Ford) out cruising daily. I'm not talking about restored or cared for ones either, I'm talking beat up old 80's Oldsmobiles and Chevy Caprices. Old Regals; countless old trucks, of course the infamous red-neck 3rd gen Camaro. I don't know what it is, but I see a lot less oil burning domestics than I do imports.

When import lovers can admit you see more older imports than domestics, than I'll admit they're more reliable. Until then, I'm not giving preference to either. I'm just tired of hearing that the domestic makers can't build good cars...

 

[RogerKlugerAus05]

I have had many cars over the 45 years of car ownership and must be just short of 10 million miles driven. I have been let down and stranded by three cars in all that time, all Ford. I now have 2 Toyotas, beautifully made and so far trouble free with 32k and 10k miles respectively. Will never buy Ford again, I was a Ford man as was my father before me but no more.
Roger

 

[Max_Wander]

yes, 45 yrs ago, Ford's quality was NOT on par with Toyota

 

[tenderloin]

As far as losing money by the domestic companies....if one does not look at the healthcare/retirement plans that add over a thousand dollars per vehicle ..for workers retired..then one is trying not to be fair.

Next, the dollars slippage against the yen also has a major part of what the Japanese car makers make in profit..even on cars made here.

Not knocking the imports. Most are very good. The domestics are competitive IMO and getting more so every model year.

Choose your vehicle and enjoy...no matter who builds it

 

[JasonC]

I have had my share of Fords, Chevys and Pontiacs in my 12 years of driving and havent been let down by any of them. I will never own a car made by an asian company. I dont't think for an instance that they make better vehicles. If they did then Toyota wouldn't have had so many recalls this year.

 

[brianl703]

Quote:

---

I don't know what it is, but I see a lot less oil burning domestics than I do imports.

---

You gotta understand..most of the people who drive those oil burners spent all their money on rims, fake dual exhaust, in-dash DVD player, spoiler, and don't have anything left over for the ring job.

 

[Steve S]

Quote:

---

I have had my share of Fords, Chevys and Pontiacs in my 12 years of driving and havent been let down by any of them. I will never own a car made by an asian company. I dont't think for an instance that they make better vehicles. If they did then Toyota wouldn't have had so many recalls this year.

---

How many recalls did Ford Or Chevrolet have ? All the cars suck quality wise .Tin cans with gizmos.

 

[eddiehaskell]

Quote:

---

Lets see how they do after 3 or 4 years of ownership?

---

Umm, Ok...

http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2006133

Toyota averages 1.79 problems over a 3 year period and Ford averages 2.24.

The Fords averaged 0.45 more problems.

When reliability is that close....who cares which is "more" reliable...

 

[javacontour]

Well, since I do two to three years of typical driving in one year, I do! (40K+/year)

One or two visits to a repair shop every year are much better than 2 or three. (Since you can't have 1.79 or 2.24 visits each year.)

It looks like a used Mercury is probably your best used car buy!

 

[VeeDubb]

I think the gap in reliability across most major automakers is so close now, there are probably other factors that matter more. I wouldn't hesitate to take any car from any major automaker across country with my family.

I love VW's which are probably among the least reliable. But they have such nice driving dynamics, interior and exterior styling that I'm willing to put up with a few extra visit to the dealer over a five year period. I've bought Fords in the past and I'll buy them again when they build cars that can match the styling and driveability of VWs.

 

[eddiehaskell]

Quote:

---

Well, since I do two to three years of typical driving in one year, I do! (40K+/year)

---

So in 40k miles, on average, you may or may not require ONE extra trip to the dealer (the difference is 0.45 so odds are you won't need to make that voyage).

 

[javacontour]

It means every other year I'll have an extra trip if not more. If average driving is 12K to 15K per year, and looking at the averages of 36K to 45K miles, for the average Toyota, I'll have 2 visits in 36K to 45K miles and for the average Ford I'll have 3 (since you can't have .79 or .24 visits.

Or, when you look at 72K to 90K miles, if the rate stays the same, you'll have on average 4 visits in two years vs 5.

Sure, not much difference. There is still better than a 50/50 chance that the Ford will be only 4 visits instead of 5. Again, a bit less likely that the 3.58 will only be 3, but given what I've experienced, I like my odds.

Given that I'm averaging under 1 repair per year on a now 206K Geo Prizm (Toyota Corolla with the GM badge) I believe I have a better chance of beating the odds with a Toyota than I do with a Ford. I believe I've had three repairs (not counting wear items like tires and brakes) from 106K miles to 206K miles in four years (the other 15K / year goes on my other car) I'm more than satisfied with my choice.

I know, subjective, and others will have different experiences.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Quote:

---

I think the gap in reliability across most major automakers is so close now, there are probably other factors that matter more. I wouldn't hesitate to take any car from any major automaker across country with my family.

I love VW's which are probably among the least reliable. But they have such nice driving dynamics, interior and exterior styling that I'm willing to put up with a few extra visit to the dealer over a five year period. I've bought Fords in the past and I'll buy them again when they build cars that can match the styling and driveability of VWs.

---

I agree completely with that first paragraph.

 

[bxd20]

Quote:

---

I have had many cars over the 45 years of car ownership and must be just short of 10 million miles driven. I have been let down and stranded by three cars in all that time, all Ford. I now have 2 Toyotas, beautifully made and so far trouble free with 32k and 10k miles respectively. Will never buy Ford again, I was a Ford man as was my father before me but no more.
Roger

---

So let's see, 10 MILLION miles, during which 3 breakdowns happened in Fords.

That proves it, they are terrible terrible cars. Actually I can't get my Explorer to go more than 750k miles it seems without having to fix something.

Such junk.

(Yes I'm joking. Telling us you've driven 10M miles, during which 3 Fords have stranded you, doesn't tell us how many Fords you've owned during that period, how many Toyotas (only the two you mentioned??), how many GM/Holdens, etc. We need a lot more detail for your post to mean anything.)

 

[heath1]

edit: no comment

 

[mitchcoyote]

Let's don't forget up and coming Hyundai...

 

[surfstar]

Quote:

---

Toyota averages 1.79 problems over a 3 year period and Ford averages 2.24.

The Fords averaged 0.45 more problems.

---

Try looking at it this way: 0.45/1.79 = 25%...So the Ford is 25% LESS reliable than the Toyota. That's a straight C versus an A+ in grading terms.

 

[01rangerxl]

Quote:

---

For many of us baby boomers who have switched to the dark side and will probably never go back to the big 3, it's a waist of time to continue trying to convince us that things are different now. It's like trying to convince us that the cattle prodder doesn't hurt too much anymore, so why won't you try being patriotic again?
If the big 3 want to get back on their feet, and it will take a long time, they need to focus on the next generation of drivers. They need to build the best looking, best handling, most powerful, best braking, most fuel efficient vehicle in their price range and then build on that. That generation of kids will become brand loyal and upgrade to the next class of vehicle of that brand without even thinking twice, and on and on and on, assuming that company is ready with a quality vehicle for them when their ready to upgrade.
BTW- our best allies in the world today are the Britts, Australians and Japanese...and it's not even close. If you don't believe me, go do some real world operational planning with some coalition forces sometime. It will be an eye opener!

---

It is your loss. Japanese cars used to be horrible little tin cans that make today's Korean cars look like Lexuses. They changed. Why so little faith in Ford, GM, and Chrysler?

My dad is an open minded baby boomer. He will buy anything once. He currently owns a 2004 Civic Hybrid and 2002 Ford Ranger. Guess which one rattles and has uneven gaps on the inside? The Civic. Guess which one decided to make a mysterious burning smell? The Civic. Guess which one will be sold first? The Civic. Guess which one my dad likes the most? The Ranger. The Ranger is not perfect either. It needed an idler pully replaced under warranty because it made noise when it rained, but other than that it has been great.

 

[dailydriver]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

For many of us baby boomers who have switched to the dark side and will probably never go back to the big 3, it's a waist of time to continue trying to convince us that things are different now. It's like trying to convince us that the cattle prodder doesn't hurt too much anymore, so why won't you try being patriotic again?
If the big 3 want to get back on their feet, and it will take a long time, they need to focus on the next generation of drivers. They need to build the best looking, best handling, most powerful, best braking, most fuel efficient vehicle in their price range and then build on that. That generation of kids will become brand loyal and upgrade to the next class of vehicle of that brand without even thinking twice, and on and on and on, assuming that company is ready with a quality vehicle for them when their ready to upgrade.
BTW- our best allies in the world today are the Britts, Australians and Japanese...and it's not even close. If you don't believe me, go do some real world operational planning with some coalition forces sometime. It will be an eye opener!

---

It is your loss. Japanese cars used to be horrible little tin cans that make today's Korean cars look like Lexuses. They changed. Why so little faith in Ford, GM, and Chrysler?

My dad is an open minded baby boomer. He will buy anything once. He currently owns a 2004 Civic Hybrid and 2002 Ford Ranger. Guess which one rattles and has uneven gaps on the inside? The Civic. Guess which one decided to make a mysterious burning smell? The Civic. Guess which one will be sold first? The Civic. Guess which one my dad likes the most? The Ranger. The Ranger is not perfect either. It needed an idler pully replaced under warranty because it made noise when it rained, but other than that it has been great.

---

EXACTLY!! It's so funny that sooo many forget what total, P.O.S. rustbuckets the original

Toyopets and Coronas were. Yet all of the sheeple gave them a chance when they DID improve and make good product. Of course they are incapable of thinking far enough to do the same for domestic nameplates.

 

[Gary Allan]

Those surveys depict (mainly) the build quality of a car. All of the manufacturers are probably close in that regard. The rest is engineering and parts procurement.

Ford's problems that require them to heavily rebate and discount their offerings has nothing to do with their quality or value. It has to do with market share and a corporate profit model that demands near 100% capacity production. Put one pebble in the path and they're tap dancing to keep the trains on time.

If they made the finest cars in the world, quality-wise, even at competitive prices ..there just aren't enough customers to go around.

This is, naturally, exclusive of "engineering" brain farts. The Explorer tire situation, the multiple Power Stroke situations, the head cracking 2.9 V6 situation ..the various transmission situations ..all of which had nothing to do with "quality" per se~.

The American auto industry is so integrated into the economy that even the engineering brain farts are "managed". They're a jobs program ..effectively providing a social service to the population. Now that others, who have not been our social benefactors, are allowed into the arena ..unencumbered by the social burden that the Big 3 are laden with, they're strained in delivering their benefits to the public.

We're being weaned from that which they provided us in terms of watershed benefits ..just like all manufacturing did. It married the cost of living of the producer to the purchase of the product. Now that most of the manufacturing has been brokered to "others" we're basically reduced to the service of assembly.