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

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#531

Post by calvinmorrison » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:05 AM UTC

lightedman wrote: post #469

A_D_E_P_T wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

"minor repairs are rarely more than $100" 2005 9-3 Linear here. I wish minor repairs were that cheap. Wait until you need your water pump replaced ;) Get ready to squick hard at the required labor charges (water pump is integral to the engine IIRC, requiring the engine to be pulled.) Right now I need new spark plugs, injectors, and a turbo replaced, and a grounding strap issue somewhere I haven't been able to isolate…

Hello fellow sabers. I wouldn't trade my 88 900T for anything. Its just about to crank over 340K

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#532

Post by technothrasher » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:05 AM UTC

porknubbins wrote: post #454

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…

People complain about new cars being harder to fix because of electronics but I think post OBDII they are actually easier because they tell you what is broken with error codes and also forums of experts are just a click away. I do think its true that you can no longer be a diy hotrodder for most models because there is so much complexity with timing, emissions, fuel efficiency strategies, variable valve timing etc.

> also forums of experts are just a click away.

I've found most car forums tend to drive the real experts away due to them being full of blowhards. The real experts get tired of getting told by these folks they don't know what they're talking about, and end up creating closed invite only forums to trade info and advice on that the casual shade tree mechanic has no access to. I completely gave up on Rennlist after I asked a question about the turbo control system on the Porsche 951 only to realize many useless replies later that these people didn't even understand the basic theory behind how a turbo works. I answered my own question by bench testing an old junk turbo I bought on eBay and reported back to the forum only to be yelled at for not trusting their 'expert' advice. I've had similar experiences on other forums. Don't even get me started on the internet myths of DOT5 brake fluid that pretty much every forum takes as gospel. Even stacks of research papers and mandatory legal requirements don't keep people from spreading false information. Who needs all that nonsense? I now typically just pick up the phone and talk to experts I have personally worked with.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#533

Post by esperent » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:10 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. :)

My mother is still driving a 1999 Corolla hatchback. She bought it around 2005, has driven it every day since.

When her friend passed away, she inherited his 1998 version of the same and has been using it for spares.

Now she's considering selling both, they are classics now so they are actually increasing in value. I'm a bit sad, as I live on the other side of the world and I feel like in my trips home that car is one of the constants in my life. I half expected to inherit it and pass it on to my own children someday.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#534

Post by zik » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:10 AM UTC

jancsika wrote: post #524

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.

From what I've heard the hybrid powertrains are way more complex and prone to extra problems on top of ICE problems. But it's a testament to Toyota's engineering that the Prius makes it seem that this isn't the case. In any case, on the much higher bar of running a car into the ground I think the Prius would get priced out on repairs for the last 20% of the run time. You've got both the regular battery and the hybrid…

The Prius powertrain is the most complex one I've seen in any vehicle. It's amazing that they can make that thing reliable.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#535

Post by calamari4065 » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:10 AM UTC

MikeTheGreat wrote: post #424

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 :)

It's a 6. I guarantee you'll see at least three of them on your way to the grocery store and all of them will be gray.

Yeah it gets me to work every day, but my last car made my commute fun. At least on the days it worked, that is.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#536

Post by calamari4065 » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:14 AM UTC

mrmincent wrote: post #440

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…

I’m absolutely not a car guy, and Mazdas are my perfect car :D We’ve got a 2008 mazda3 that is still running perfectly that we’re hoping to replace with a slightly larger CX-30 or PHEV equivalent once they sort out that product line. They really do seem to just be super reliable and are taking over the “I’m not a car person” market.

Yeah, I think that's what it is. I was never a 'car guy' before, but my last car changed me. Now I have a 'not a car person' car and it's miserable.

Oh well, at least it will keep running until I can afford an EV. We'll probably still keep it around for long range trips because I really don't expect it to die for a long time. 140k miles and I'm certain I'll get at least another 100k out of it if I cared to.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#537

Post by mlhpdx » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:16 AM UTC

underlipton wrote: post #367

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.

Electronic stuff is still reparable. Probably even more cheaply, in some regards (certainly material cost). We've just been made to become accustomed to viewing electronic devices as disposable/primarily replaceable. And while most people have turned a wrench before, knowing how to use a soldering iron/heat gun/magnifier effectively is not a common skill. Could be, though.

My built-in refrigerator was slowly dying. Weak beeping, occasionally power cycling - and getting worse as the days went on. No longer under warranty, and no replacement parts being made. Replacing the fridge would escalate to replacing cabinetry, and possibly a full remodel since that would “enhance” the worn look of everything else. You may know how this goes…

I knew enough to google the symptoms and found someone that would “rebuild” the main circuit board for a flat fee of $250 with about a week to turn around. That’s a fair bit cheaper than the remodel option.

But that got me thinking “if it’s a flat rate, and occasionally something is hard to fix that means most repairs must be trivial or the person wouldn’t be making enough money”. What’s an obvious, easy and cheap circuit board problem? Capacitors.

I had to buy a tester for $150 but I get to keep it. And the bad capacitor it found cost $.08.

Knowing just a little and being willing to learn a little more saved me a considerable amount of time, trouble and money.

I hope the same is true for cars because I have three relatively new ones in the family and we tend to keep them 10-20 years.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#538

Post by zik » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:19 AM UTC

hedgehog wrote: post #461

neogodless wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may have misread the parent comment, which talked about HYBRID vehicles being more reliable than ICE-only vehicles. Hybrid vehicles include all of the comments of an ICE vehicle, plus they have electric batteries and motors, and may have a system of transferring power from either system to the wheels. Overall they have higher complexity than either ICE or electric-only vehicles.

This is not true, at least for the most popular Toyota hybrid drive train. It's probably got fewer moving parts than the ICE counterpart by virtue of dispensing with the automatic transmission. See sibling comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38466406

Check this diagram and tell me it's simpler than an engine and transmission.

https://automotorpad.com/toyota/83449-funcionamiento-sistema...

It's essentially an engine, a transmission, another transmission (power split device), a drive motor and a generator.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#539

Post by calamari4065 » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:19 AM UTC

simonsarris wrote: post #444

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…

huh, my 2014 Mazda 3 (manual 6 speed) I find quite fun to drive. It feels light, it's not some powerhouse but its immensely spritely. It feels like, given the constraints, the engineers were still trying to make something that feels good. Very different from Corollas or Civics that I've owned. I actually bought the 2014 model rather than 2015 because I wanted the last year made in Japan, though I don't know how much…

I have the 6 and it's a bit of a boat. Manual transmission would definitely make it more fun, but I got stuck with the 6-speed auto. Yeah it still has manual shifting but it's just not the same.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great ride and a great car. The only thing I don't like about it is that there's nothing to like.

It's the Brother laser printer of cars. It's fine, it's whatever. It does the thing, it'll do it for years and years and never bother you. But it's still a bland boring box with nothing to love except the fact that it works and only needs serviced every fifth year.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#540

Post by aldebran » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:22 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.

CR poll asks about any problems faced. Phone didn’t connect to the multimedia unit? That’s a problem.

Not saying MB quality hasn’t changed but given the large feature set the problem surface area is also very large. More opportunities for owners to find issues.

By comparison, Lexus uses tried and tested old technology to the point it’s boring to own. But it’s super reliable.

2nd thing not captured here: not all car models are equal. The lower end Mercs and other premium manufacturers models aren’t built to the same standards by my experience. There’s a difference in quality of a German car made in Germany and a German car made in Mexico. The higher end models used to be made in Germany (not sure if that’s still the case).

All of this affects this rating. You might be fine buying an E class but the experience of owning a CLA might be shit.