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Who makes the most reliable new cars?

consumerreports.org

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Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#121

Post by saiya-jin »

algidagreen wrote: post #106

Very weird that Volvo Cars, from the land of Spotify and all the other unicorns, has such huge problems with reliability (they consistently rank one of the lowest in the reliability due to infotainment/computer problems). They must be doing something really wrong. All that talent in Sweden and they can't make it stable? The stock has been tanking massively for a while now. Anyone knows whats up? Did they outsource th…

It takes 1 lead architect to make bad long term decisions and you have easily 10+ years of clusterfucks in that area, and we know infotainment was at the bottom of priorities list of conservative manufacturers for a very long time.

I have BMW 5 series F11, not the newest model but TBH given current design I am better off that way. It has tons of tiny or bigger than tiny software bugs in behavior. Seems like some sensors in the car also start to die, giving some rather crazy warnings (ie chassis integrity check when a very good car mechanic went through and didn't find any sign of damage, sometimes big collision flash on screen that is never going to happen, 10+C temperature change and I get tire pressure warnings and so on). The stuff that should be helping you ends up annoying much more and is often disabled, which is outright fail of engineering.

With that software quality, going to newer more integrated and stupidly designed (less physical buttons) version would be a step back, and I very confident they just made it shinier, not better tested. Maybe my next car will be one model earlier than our current one, the problem is with old enough cars even basic things like wires and tubes start to fail.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#123

Post by TheCleric »

stouset wrote: post #107
Tactical45 wrote: post #53

I wonder if hybrid being more reliable than gasoline cars is simply a function of most of those being Toyota, versus any effect stemming from the car being Hybrid.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a component. But I would be surprised if that’s a primary reason. There’s just a lot more to go wrong with an ICE vehicle. You need oil and regular oil changes. A radiator, tubing, and antifreeze. An alternator. A carburetor and a catalytic converter. Timing belts. A exhaust system. None of this (as far as I know, IANAM) is needed for an electric vehicle. A disproportionate amount of…

Yes, but wouldn't a hybrid be a worst of both worlds? All the problems of an ICE engine AND the potential electric issues?

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#124

Post by ajross »

kspacewalk2 wrote: post #32
nonethewiser wrote: post #12

Lexus is toyota. Accura is honda. So it’s really like: 1. Toyota 2. Mini 3. Honda 4. Subaru 5. Mazda Congratulations Japan.

It's incredible how the Japanese carmakers were able to perfect the auto manufacturing process and then proceed to hold that advantage for what, 30+ years now? It's not a secret how they did it, it's been studied to death, every manner of technology/expertise/management transfer has been tried, and still no one comes quite close enough to threaten their position.

To be fair, exactly that level of investment in process and conservatism around change is arguably what led them all (literally every single Japanese manufacturer) to miss the boat on EVs.

Basically, getting to your last sentence: you have the wrong threat model. Making "cars better" is great if what a "car" is doesn't change. But what the market wants is "better cars".

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#125

Post by TheCleric »

omginternets wrote: post #34

Does this account for driving habits? I’ve just purchased a Subaru WRX, and I can’t fight the feeling that the reliability score is in some way influenced by the hoards of idiots that flock to this car for its tuning and hooning potential.

I feel that would get balanced by Subaru's other models, which are mostly not known for such things.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#126

Post by jansan »

stouset wrote: post #107
Tactical45 wrote: post #53

I wonder if hybrid being more reliable than gasoline cars is simply a function of most of those being Toyota, versus any effect stemming from the car being Hybrid.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a component. But I would be surprised if that’s a primary reason. There’s just a lot more to go wrong with an ICE vehicle. You need oil and regular oil changes. A radiator, tubing, and antifreeze. An alternator. A carburetor and a catalytic converter. Timing belts. A exhaust system. None of this (as far as I know, IANAM) is needed for an electric vehicle. A disproportionate amount of…

> You need oil and regular oil changes.

Slightly OT, but I recently found that here in Germany there is a service where you can go to just like to a car wash without making an appointment. They will do the oil change for you within ten minutes or so and you do not even have to get out of your car during that time. This makes oil changes so much less annoying.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#127

Post by omginternets »

TheCleric wrote: post #125
omginternets wrote: post #34

Does this account for driving habits? I’ve just purchased a Subaru WRX, and I can’t fight the feeling that the reliability score is in some way influenced by the hoards of idiots that flock to this car for its tuning and hooning potential.

I feel that would get balanced by Subaru's other models, which are mostly not known for such things.

Very possibly. Still not sure what to make of these rankings though…

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#128

Post by UberFly »

sertbdfgbnfgsd wrote: post #119
UberFly wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Media reports are sadly about as reliable as that story from uncle Bob.

To pick a random example, I just saw one saying tesla touch screens overheat, leading glue to leak inwards into the screen and making them unresponsive. Are you saying this isn't true then?

Even Uncle Bob is correct some of the time. My point being that media over sensationalizes issues and that basing your view on reality through their port window is risky.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#129

Post by saiya-jin »

deng wrote: post #81
jjtheblunt wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do they say about Audi, since it is so related in parts with Porsche via VW parent group?

Audi usually scores pretty well (but again, it'll cost you, the Audi A1 is extremely reliable, but you don't get much car for your money...).

Also, you go for Audi (standard models) mainly for how chassis is modeled (aka looks), internals of VW conglomerate are almost identical to cheaper VW or sometimes also Skoda or Seat.

Interestingly, one of my colleague's worst car experience was Audi, not sure if A1 or A2, but he was very disappointed how unreliable it was. Case point 1.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#130

Post by jansan »

Tactical45 wrote: post #53

I wonder if hybrid being more reliable than gasoline cars is simply a function of most of those being Toyota, versus any effect stemming from the car being Hybrid.

Hybrid motors take a lot of stress from the ICE during load changes. This makes the ICEs potentially live much longer. A lot of taxis areound here are older hybrid Toyotas. They must have at least 400,000km mileage already.
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