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

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#491

Post by Sophistifunk » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:17 AM UTC

_yb2s wrote: post #394

SkyPuncher wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, the computers don’t tend to break. The things that do break are essentially the same as they were 20 years ago. The bells and whistles are mostly for creatures comfort. The mechanical components haven’t changed much. The only thing that I couldn’t fix on my own in my 2020 vs my 2006 was re-alignment of lane keep system after replacing the windshield.

As a car nerd, a popular opinion is to avoid cars with computers because they could fail anytime, and can't be macgyvered into a repair roadside.... but after ~50 years of computerized cars, it seems that simple solid state computers, ruggedized and often potted in epoxy essentially never fail. And moreover, they can both give early warnings before you're stranded, and diagnostic data that can be used to pinpoint and…

It's not computers breaking you need to fear, but your engine management refusing to turn on when you've put a in third-party window washer motor that doesn't provide the correct response to some proprietary encrypted canbus query.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#492

Post by connicpu » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:19 AM UTC

riku_iki wrote: post #475

jancsika wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. :)

I thought hybrid powertrains are simpler and more reliable in long run, so prius should be #1.

Definitely not, at least in systems where both the engine and motor-generator mechanically connect. You only reduce complexity when it's basically just an EV where the ICE can recharge the battery, such as the Chevy Volt or Mazda's new rotary engine vehicle.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#493

Post by riku_iki » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:19 AM UTC

bagels wrote: post #382

My parents bought a new Chrysler because "It's american". Transmission failure a few months in, and out of commission for 6 months. Not surprised to see them in last.

you can tell them that toyotas are produced in US nowdays..

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#494

Post by ghaff » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:20 AM UTC

Lazare wrote: post #376

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…

Interestingly the article actually calls out the 4Runner as "among the most reliable models in the survey". Apparently the newer model years are still pretty solid!

On the other hand anecdata, I had a 13ish year old 4Runner with only about 70K miles lose a transmission line on me a couple years back. The dealership shrugged and said maybe it was a chip on the coating from a piece of gravel. Though it may well have been a manufacturing defect. In any case, ended up having to nurse the vehicle home and basically nurse it 2 months until I could get a new Honda.

Which I actually like a lot better. The 4Runner is a very old platform. Other than the infortainment system, a rental I coincidentally had a couple years back was basically identical to the fairly poor handling SUV I had for 10+ years.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#495

Post by an_aparallel » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:22 AM UTC

bagels wrote: post #383

an_aparallel wrote: post #366

my 2001 honda accord stared getting on (took a few too many hits) - i installed a very good after market system in it - with hefty subs/amps. the replacement 2013 accord euro...absolutely impractical to do the same DIY...the dash computer integrated console with A/C controls is a nightmare to replace with fascia which has space for double DIN... i wonder if i should downgrade again to a classic Honda integra, or pre-…

Don't buy an old integra or a civic unless you like dealing with regular car theft.

Is this country dependant? I used to drive a civic :)

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#496

Post by starkparker » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:24 AM UTC

connicpu wrote: post #492

riku_iki wrote: post #475

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought hybrid powertrains are simpler and more reliable in long run, so prius should be #1.

Definitely not, at least in systems where both the engine and motor-generator mechanically connect. You only reduce complexity when it's basically just an EV where the ICE can recharge the battery, such as the Chevy Volt or Mazda's new rotary engine vehicle.

Oddly enough, then:

> There are interesting insights with the reliability of electrified models this year. Overall, hybrids have 26 percent fewer problems than cars powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). Some standouts include the Lexus UX and NX Hybrid and the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, and RAV4 Hybrid.

> Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are more of a mixed bag. As a category, they have 146 percent more problems than ICE vehicles. Several PHEVs are even less reliable than their conventional counterparts, such as the below-average Audi Q5 and Chrysler Pacifica. The latter has the lowest score in our survey, at 14.

> Electric cars and electric SUVs don’t fare much better, with average reliability scores of 44 and 43, respectively. At the bottom of our vehicle-type rankings are electric pickup trucks, with an average score of 30.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#497

Post by zeusk » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:29 AM UTC

BeetleB wrote: post #417

SkyPuncher wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, the computers don’t tend to break. The things that do break are essentially the same as they were 20 years ago. The bells and whistles are mostly for creatures comfort. The mechanical components haven’t changed much. The only thing that I couldn’t fix on my own in my 2020 vs my 2006 was re-alignment of lane keep system after replacing the windshield.

Do computers last 20+ years in cars? As others have mentioned, sensors and stuff related to safety fail all the time. I recently paid $800 to re-enable the safety systems in my (newer) car after a part failed. I've never had such expensive repairs on my 20 year old car.

My 2001 BMW with electronic throttle and fuel injection is doing just fine, the weakest point is plastic in the engine bay gets brittle and starts rotting (especially around coolant system).

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#498

Post by demosthanos » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:30 AM UTC

porphyra wrote: post #481

Do they still count over-the-air software updates as "recalls" that negatively impact the reliability? I don't have the CR subscription so I can't see the detailed breakdown...

Is there a problem with counting software updates as recalls?

I like the idea of penalizing manufacturers for frequent software updates: they either mean that there are frequent safety issues addressed after manufacturing (so calling them recalls is 100% appropriate) or they mean that the manufacturer is constantly fiddling with the infotainment system. Neither of those are traits I want in a car manufacturer.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#499

Post by userbinator » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:30 AM UTC

yaomtc wrote: post #231

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…

> car safety has drastically improved Safety between cars, and within cars, has improved. However, due to the increasing size of the average vehicle on the road, among other factors, car safety for pedestrians/cyclists has decreased. https://www.npr.org/2023/06/26/1184034017/us-pedestrian-deat...

Visibility has also decreased, which is likely a factor in that.

Modern cars with huge pillars feel absolutely claustrophobic especially compared to those with wraparound windshields which were common mid-century.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#500

Post by abawany » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:30 AM UTC

blinding-streak wrote: post #286

What the hell happened to Mercedes? 29th out of 30 on the list. Truly awful. I've never driven one (let alone owned one) but by the marketing (and price) you'd think it was the greatest vehicle on earth.

I had an older one (W210) for a while and have to say the driving experience is amazing - the words tank and vault come to mind. I also mostly worked on it myself and this older model was very maintainable and well thought generally - the only exceptions were the pusher cables on the sunroof and the insanely-buried evaporator coil. I've also driven the Car2Go Mercedes models and even though they were the cheapest Mercedes, they still drove very well imo. I miss driving Mercedes cars.