Most Reliable Car Companies 2008 - Scion #1

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I used to work for a German engineering company, so hopefully I can comment on some of their traits.


I bet they loved you to death.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I used to work for a German engineering company, so hopefully I can comment on some of their traits.


I bet they loved you to death.

Don't know, they never really communicate to us.

 

[tom slick]

according to the principle of kaizen, Japanese engineering is never complete.
As a retired mechanic friend of mine complains "honda doesn't have standardized year models, just cars assembled around a certain time with similar parts"

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I used to work for a German engineering company, so hopefully I can comment on some of their traits.


I bet they loved you to death.

Don't know, they never really communicate to us.


Well, I've given up on communicating "to" you also.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: cheetahdriver
Originally Posted By: Pablo
German cars. Who knew?


i did.

my audi A6 and Porsche CayenneS both went back under the lemon law. 11 years apart (94 audi, 05 cayenne) yet same result. next time someone talks to me about german reliability....
I know better!!!

 

[Max_Wander]

With what, 3 models, Scion is king? lol Poor GM, they have multiple branded clones of bad models, that just can't help their average.

 

[edwardh1]

GM gave us the Chevette, Vega and Citation

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: edwardh1
GM gave us the Chevette, Vega and Citation

Mazda gave us the RX-7.
Nissan gave us really bad Sentras from 1995 up until around 2004. Several Maximas have been hit or miss quality wise. The 3.3L Xterra and Quest engine has been plagued with early deaths.

 

[mstrjon32]

Japanese pride is half the reason I wouldn't buy a Japanese car. I'd love to see them fail, but sadly that day probably won't come. I can dream, though.

I have no problems with the Germans, though.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: mstrjon32
Japanese pride is half the reason I wouldn't buy a Japanese car. I'd love to see them fail, but sadly that day probably won't come. I can dream, though.

I have no problems with the Germans, though.

Good point.

I wouldn't buy certain Japanese cars because of all the pain my mom went through when her Honda CRV had the AC compressor fail multiple times under warranty. They were friendly the first time, after that, we were treated as bums.

After mom crashed her CRV, she bought a 2002 Toyota Solara. In 2003, the oil pan gasket leaked, and the head of the service department said "Toyota cars do not leak oil." One and a half hours later, a mechanic confirmed that the engine was leaking oil there. The man did not apologize for his stupid comment.

I will not buy a Nissan because:
1. They built several lousy engines, what a shame that at one time, Nissan engines were extremely tough.
2. I still can't forgive them for making the Skyline GT-R so ugly, and without an inline 6. It used to be very attractive.

I would consider a Mazda, as long as it doesn't have a rotary engine. Those engines seem to die much more quickly than conventional engines.

I would consider a Subaru.

 

[GMFan]

My parents have a 1999 VW Jetta....

German engineering is very good. However, things are delicate in these cars, like a plastic dipstick tube, or the cup holders and glove box lid that I have never seen intact on these cars.

The car drives like a dream, but they are expensive to maintain....and are not the most reliable. However, German cars tend to be a "true driver's car" and you won't care if you have to fix it more often....because it drives so nicely. However, for the average American Joe who appreciates frugality and durability over engineering "finesse" the German cars can become a burden.

PandaBear is spot on with Americans engineering simplicity. Where the Germans will design a cupholder that uses springs, and dinky plastic pieces that compensate for the size of the cup, Americans will carve out a hole in the GI Joe plastic console. The German design is swift and precise but delicate. The American cup holder will do the job....crudely.

Ask any mechanic which car they would rather wrench on.....a Chevy of VW. I know mechanics who won't touch a VW, but can fix anything in a Chevy pickup in under 2 hours.

 

[Buffman]

my subaru is actually a lot easier IMO to work on than my roadmaster. Then again my TPS sensor on my Roadmaster is $30, whereas the subie unit is $350!! I've owned Honda, Ford, GM, and now subaru. Of all those vehicles Ive had the best luck and relibaility with the GMs (subaru is untested as of now just bought it)

Originally Posted By: PandaBear


American engineering is the opposite. We have a culture of abusing products and customers that abuse products and blame them on the manufacture. Therefore the engineering is more conservative and old school. Push rod engine? body on frame? iron block? solid axles? they have their place because of customer abuses and comfort with older technologies.


I'll take my solid axle car any day of the week unless I really want a car that carves corners, and even then a solid axle can do it just as well. From what I understand OHC technology was only a few years after the initial design of the pushrod technology, but the modern pushrod architecture didn't come about until 1950.. So I don't consider the I head pushrod setup Old Technology.


Originally Posted By: tom slick
according to the principle of kaizen, Japanese engineering is never complete.
As a retired mechanic friend of mine complains "honda doesn't have standardized year models, just cars assembled around a certain time with similar parts"

I recognize that word. Kaizen. That's right, It's a continous improvement. That's all fine and dandy, but when you spend more time "improving" things rather than actually using them, you fall behind and wonder why you're not making money.. Our Kaizen group at work turned a 2 month long move project into a year..

 

[Audi Junkie]

It looks like the #1 most reliable car is Chinese?

I'd like to see a good service life study where a percent of cars sold vs cars currently registered is calculated and compared. I think that would be an eye opener. Likely more 1977 Benz are on the road than 1977 GMs, as a percent of examples sold.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: edwardh1
GM gave us the Chevette, Vega and Citation

Mazda gave us the RX-7.
Nissan gave us really bad Sentras from 1995 up until around 2004. Several Maximas have been hit or miss quality wise. The 3.3L Xterra and Quest engine has been plagued with early deaths.


Now Chrysler is in talks with Nissan/Renault. Now Nissan can really screw up Chrysler. Wait, is that even possible?

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: Pablo
German cars. Who knew?

I can't say I know anyone who's bought a volkswagon twice... New or used. Expensive parts and labour and repeat visits to get things fixed scares them away.

That is not the fault of the cars. They are great cars. But VW dealerships suck.

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: Buffman
I recognize that word. Kaizen. That's right, It's a continous improvement. That's all fine and dandy, but when you spend more time "improving" things rather than actually using them, you fall behind and wonder why you're not making money.. Our Kaizen group at work turned a 2 month long move project into a year..


I'm sorry your Kaizen group at work are idiots & don't know how to implement.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: Pablo
German cars. Who knew?

I can't say I know anyone who's bought a volkswagon twice... New or used. Expensive parts and labour and repeat visits to get things fixed scares them away.

I had an Audi (which belongs to VW), and it was the best car I've ever owned. Actually better put together than the Accord that I owned before it, not to mention the fun-to-drive factor. I would not mind buying another VW/Audi product again. Sure, they may have their quirks and it's just luck of the draw if yours will have more than its fare share. If someone needs a rugged work horse, then a german car may not be the right choice. German cars are for those who don't treat their cars as appliances. There is a fair number of buyers in both groups, enough to keep german car companies in business.

 

[Max_Wander]

Originally Posted By: mstrjon32
Japanese pride is half the reason I wouldn't buy a Japanese car. I'd love to see them fail, but sadly that day probably won't come. I can dream, though.


They make good products with low failure rates; ya, right. I would have nothing to do with that!

Quote:

I have no problems with the Germans, though.


edit: Inappropriate remarks about Germans removed.

 

[Max_Wander]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I would imagine the Vic is right there with the Fusion, and there's no Mazda in that car. Ford also owns 40% of Mazda.

It's 33% which is a 'controlling share' according to Japenese law. Ford's best decision ever was to tech rob an unsung company like Mazda.

The Crown Vic! Saying the crown vic is a binnacle of reliablity is like saying the wheel is the most reliable form of roller.... it's been around for EVER and theyre in every corner of North America, if it was still unreliable after like 500 years, then you'd really have to wonder. Kinda the same deal with GM V8's, theyre older than Pteradactyls... one would only hope that screwin around with them for that long could yeild a useful product today.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: Max_Wander
edit: Inappropriate remarks about Germans removed.


I can only wonder what those were.