Who makes the most reliable new cars? • Hacker News Board

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#421

Post by matt_heimer » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:08 AM UTC

emodendroket wrote: post #349

denvaar wrote: post #343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> extremely mechanical 4Runner Same sentiment for my washer/dryer. Bought an older (used) set for $300, They have lasted 7 years so far, which is in addition to however long they were in use before: I would guess at least 7 more. Seems like lots of people lament how things like cars, refrigerators, washers, etc. are becoming less mechanical and more electronic. Maybe there's a market for "bespoke" mechanical items.

I don’t think all that many people really feel this way in the end. A significant majority of new car buyers feel very strongly about having Apple CarPlay for instance. And hey, me too.

Adding Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to older vehicles is easier than adding it to a newer one. On a newer vehicle you have to worry about car systems like the AC, seat controls, etc being integrated into the infotainment system. On an older car with a single din radio (w/ cassette deck or cd) you can just buy an off the shelf radio that has CarPlay and Android Auto.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#422

Post by bichiliad » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:08 AM UTC

calamari4065 wrote: post #416

I've had a regrettably excellent experience with my 2015 Mazda. Easily the most reliable machine I've owned. Which is unfortunate because it's a soulless, joyless shitbox and I hate it. It just starts every single time, but it's not fun to drive. I see dozens of the exact same model on the road every day and they're all boring. The interior is fine, the handling is pretty good, the power is fine, fuel economy is fine…

out of curiosity, what was your prior car?

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#423

Post by BenjiWiebe » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:08 AM UTC

jancsika wrote: post #256

laurencerowe wrote: post #199

Note that these stats only account for reliability in the first three years: > Then the brand reliability score was calculated by averaging results from 2021 to 2023. As someone who usually buys ~10 year old cars and drives them into the ground I'm much more interested in long term reliability. It may correlate but these stats are not that!

> As someone who usually buys ~10 year old cars and drives them into the ground I'm much more interested in long term reliability. That's a much simpler list: 1: Toyota Corolla 2 to end: you're not really serious about running it into the ground. :)

When I worked in a tire shop, the highest mileage vehicle I saw was a 500k mile Corolla, driven by the original owners. It was a mid 90s model IIRC. This was in 2018 or so.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#424

Post by MikeTheGreat » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:09 AM UTC

calamari4065 wrote: post #416

I've had a regrettably excellent experience with my 2015 Mazda. Easily the most reliable machine I've owned. Which is unfortunate because it's a soulless, joyless shitbox and I hate it. It just starts every single time, but it's not fun to drive. I see dozens of the exact same model on the road every day and they're all boring. The interior is fine, the handling is pretty good, the power is fine, fuel economy is fine…

2015 Mazda, you say? If you could also include the model I'd be grateful, because this all sounds great.

We're talking about a car that gets you to and from work, not about dating in your 20's :)

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#425

Post by LegitShady » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:10 AM UTC

dunco wrote: post #364

paxys wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nothing happened. They have always had a terrible reputation for quality, and the results show it. People buy it for the brand name, and that's about it.

Tell that to the all the ~80s w118's etc. around the world still working as taxis and running off vegetable oil

the 80s started 40 years ago.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#426

Post by matt_heimer » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:10 AM UTC

AlbertCory wrote: post #381

sharkweek wrote: post #213

My 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner is old enough to drink and outside of routine maintenance requires almost no thought. "It's time to get a new car" given that car safety has drastically improved and I have two younger kids in that thing a few times a week but I'm honestly having a really hard time giving it up, something so reliable and plainly functional. New cars with all their computers and smart technology only look lik…

There's one thing about "newer" cars (mine's a 2014) that older cars don't tend to have, and that's the ability to make the car beep remotely. That is insanely valuable in large parking lots. Bluetooth stereo: that, you could install after-market.

We used to install security systems with remotes in our old cars. Using the remote to trigger the alarm/horn works exactly the same as it does today.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#427

Post by arthurofbabylon » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:11 AM UTC

I remember watching friends buying cars a couple years ago – some were buying Teslas for about $50k USD, and one bought a 1996 Toyota Rav-4 for $2.5k USD. It was so, so fun to ride/drive in that Rav-4 – you could see everything, the driver awareness was phenomenal, the mechanical/tactile solidity was satisfying. The ultimate goal (going from one place to another) 100% matched the Tesla's capability.

Is the Tesla better? It is safer and quieter, and it doesn't require gas stations. So yes, it is better. Is it 2,000% better (following the price difference)? No – it is maybe 5-10% better.

(If I were to buy a car right now, I would choose the Rav-4.)

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#428

Post by InvaderFizz » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:12 AM UTC

A_D_E_P_T wrote: post #274

webel0 wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I keep on thinking that a premium market will develop for Toyota and Honda cars from roughly ~2006-2010. Those cars were the height of internal combustion technology without all of the electronics.

Yeah. I honestly don't know if I'd trade my 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero for a 2023 anything. No trouble, no nonsense, it's fast enough, it doesn't nag at me if I drive around the block without my seatbelt, and minor repairs are rarely more than $100. A few years back, I had a late model Mercedes GLS, and the damn thing was in the shop almost every other month, and each time it was at least $300-400. Mostly it was electronic c…

On most cars you can disable the seatbelt chime with the right sequence, it's just not advertised and won't be found in the manual, but is easily found online.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#429

Post by mike_hock » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:13 AM UTC

saulrh wrote: post #285

AmVess wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep the 4Runner and buy something new for a family hauler. New vehicles are much safer from a structural standpoint than older ones. Modern high strength steels form the safety cage of the vehicle, and greatly reduce the risk of injury in offset frontal impacts, side impacts, and rear impacts. And then you have the multitudes of air bags. Finally, the various electronic gizmos that further reduce risk of injury. The…

To expand... - Improved FEM makes modern crumple zones deeper and smoother - Heavy use of composites dramatically improve the raw amount of energy absorbed by the car instead of the passengers - Better manufacturing methods mean parts can be shaped/placed to be less likely to enter the cabin - Better placement of more airbags means you're more likely to hit something soft - Better seats and better placements of bette…

I'm guessing you sell ESC systems.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#430

Post by Tool_of_Society » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:13 AM UTC

webel0 wrote: post #232

sharkweek wrote: post #213

My 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner is old enough to drink and outside of routine maintenance requires almost no thought. "It's time to get a new car" given that car safety has drastically improved and I have two younger kids in that thing a few times a week but I'm honestly having a really hard time giving it up, something so reliable and plainly functional. New cars with all their computers and smart technology only look lik…

Yes, I keep on thinking that a premium market will develop for Toyota and Honda cars from roughly ~2006-2010. Those cars were the height of internal combustion technology without all of the electronics.

Under the electronic stuff the third gen honda fit is basically the same as my 95 honda del sol.