From this link:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=2095
"In J.D. Power’s 2006 Initial Quality Study (IQS), 30 of 37 makes fell within two-tenths of a manufacturing defect per car of the average. The difference between number three (Toyota) and number 32 (Hummer) was 0.27 problems per car. In J.D.’s most recent Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), 23 of 37 makes fell within half a problem per car of the 2.27 average. Only four makes— three of them domestic— bettered the average by more than half a problem per car.
Real-world problems occur in wholes. A car cannot have 1.79 problems. So Toyota’s VDS score of 179 implies that the typical Toyota has two problems in its third year. And Ford’s score of 224 implies… much the same thing. Buy a Toyota over an alleged “Fix or Repair Daily” car, and you gain no guarantees, just a middling chance of avoiding a single additional problem in the third year."
This is something I've understood for a long, long time. Many folks still suffer from the delusion that Japanese cars are more reliable than American cars. Not so. These guys (figuratively pictured below)...
...generally will tell you about a Pontiac or a Ford or a Dodge they had once that "did this," or "did that."
And you know, that Pontiac or Ford or Dodge probably did do those things.
...and then when they got their Taiwanian-yooter it hasn't broken down one time. I don't doubt that either...
...but none of that changes the fact that there are tens of thousands of domestic cars on the road with 150K plus miles on the odometer which have given little to no trouble in all those miles, and there are likely as many Japanese cars which have given plenty of trouble. The differences are nearly impossible to discern in the last 15 to 20 years.
I have a friend with a fairly late model Lexus. He said it is the best car he's ever owned, and would buy another. When I asked him if he'd had any trouble with it, he said "only" a transmission. That cost him over 2000 bucks to fix, and it happened before the car had much more than 100,000 miles on it. But he's still a big Lexus fan, and encourages others to buy one. I do believe he is typical of the average Japanese car fan who has a Harley-Davidson-esque allegiance to the Toyota, Honda, Nissan, or whomever. In other words, they (like Harley) can do no wrong. (HD fans, don't think I'm bashing Harleys--I'm not, and I actually own one, I'm just properly categorizing folks here).
Anyway, for those of you who haven't bought into the whole "Japanese cars are more reliable" myth, please understand that many folks and institutions will work overtime to confuse you. The membership here seems overwhelmingly in the import camp, so be careful of any perceived consensus in these pages as to which cars are better. Seek the truth, however, and you'll soon realize that the differences between domestic cars and Japanese cars (reliability-wise) are a non-issue.
By what you wish, of course. But when some schmoe tells you to get a Honda, Nissan, Toyota, or whatever--because it's "more reliable," be wise and know. He may not realize it, but he's full of it.
Just settin' the record straight (for thinking individuals) and stirrin' the pot for the rest.
Dan
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=2095
"In J.D. Power’s 2006 Initial Quality Study (IQS), 30 of 37 makes fell within two-tenths of a manufacturing defect per car of the average. The difference between number three (Toyota) and number 32 (Hummer) was 0.27 problems per car. In J.D.’s most recent Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), 23 of 37 makes fell within half a problem per car of the 2.27 average. Only four makes— three of them domestic— bettered the average by more than half a problem per car.
Real-world problems occur in wholes. A car cannot have 1.79 problems. So Toyota’s VDS score of 179 implies that the typical Toyota has two problems in its third year. And Ford’s score of 224 implies… much the same thing. Buy a Toyota over an alleged “Fix or Repair Daily” car, and you gain no guarantees, just a middling chance of avoiding a single additional problem in the third year."
This is something I've understood for a long, long time. Many folks still suffer from the delusion that Japanese cars are more reliable than American cars. Not so. These guys (figuratively pictured below)...
...generally will tell you about a Pontiac or a Ford or a Dodge they had once that "did this," or "did that."
And you know, that Pontiac or Ford or Dodge probably did do those things.
...but none of that changes the fact that there are tens of thousands of domestic cars on the road with 150K plus miles on the odometer which have given little to no trouble in all those miles, and there are likely as many Japanese cars which have given plenty of trouble. The differences are nearly impossible to discern in the last 15 to 20 years.
I have a friend with a fairly late model Lexus. He said it is the best car he's ever owned, and would buy another. When I asked him if he'd had any trouble with it, he said "only" a transmission. That cost him over 2000 bucks to fix, and it happened before the car had much more than 100,000 miles on it. But he's still a big Lexus fan, and encourages others to buy one. I do believe he is typical of the average Japanese car fan who has a Harley-Davidson-esque allegiance to the Toyota, Honda, Nissan, or whomever. In other words, they (like Harley) can do no wrong. (HD fans, don't think I'm bashing Harleys--I'm not, and I actually own one, I'm just properly categorizing folks here).
Anyway, for those of you who haven't bought into the whole "Japanese cars are more reliable" myth, please understand that many folks and institutions will work overtime to confuse you. The membership here seems overwhelmingly in the import camp, so be careful of any perceived consensus in these pages as to which cars are better. Seek the truth, however, and you'll soon realize that the differences between domestic cars and Japanese cars (reliability-wise) are a non-issue.
By what you wish, of course. But when some schmoe tells you to get a Honda, Nissan, Toyota, or whatever--because it's "more reliable," be wise and know. He may not realize it, but he's full of it.
Just settin' the record straight (for thinking individuals) and stirrin' the pot for the rest.
Dan