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Who makes the most reliable new cars?

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Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#551

Post by Zuiii »

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…

Isn't mazda that shitty company that thinks it can take legal action against you for doing things with your own car?

Edit: Yep, it is[1]. No thanks.

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37921584

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#552

Post by timbit42 »

imrehg wrote: post #433
timbit42 wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A taxi driver in Vancouver had a 2004 Prius and drove it 1 million kilometres with only regular maintenance and no failures. Toyota bought it back from him and took it to Japan to study it.

This sounded interesting, so looked it up, some more details in https://www.vanmag.com/city/people/vancouver-taxi-driver-wor... It looks like it wasn't the 1+M km version that they bought back, but the chap was an early adopter of Prius in that taxi role, and they bought back (exchanged?) his first one from 2001: > For those working on the next generation Prius 2004 model, Grant’s taxi held invaluable information abo…

I must have read 1 million miles, which would be 1.6 million kilometres.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#553

Post by mkii »

nickpeterson wrote: post #471
mplewis wrote: post #253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed! I recently learned about an aspect of this which is named and tied to national brand strategy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Japan

I feel like China could really gain by taking a page or two from this playbook.

Not arguing against your point, but there's an active element in America media that's very anti-Chinese. When's the last time you saw a story that was cool or innocent related to China in HN (because MSM's totally out of the question)?

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#554

Post by laurencerowe »

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. :)

> 2 to end: you're not really serious about running it into the ground. :)

It’s more that the ground is much closer for other makes!

I think Toyotas may make more sense as new buys though since they hold their value so well.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#555

Post by digdugdirk »

orwin wrote: post #546
eru wrote: post #506

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if that's just an American thing, or more global?

It's a US thing, pedestrian safety continued to improve in France (mainly caused by infrastructure improvements), but we are starting to have the same sized cars, with the same issues)

I've always understood the US's giant car problem was an unintended consequence of the CAFE fuel efficiency legislation, why is Europe getting caught up in the giant car fad? I'd imagine that'd be much more obvious of a terrible idea when the streets are half the size.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#556

Post by arcanemachiner »

technothrasher wrote: post #532
porknubbins wrote: post #454

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 a…

> Don't even get me started on the internet myths of DOT5 brake fluid that pretty much every forum takes as gospel.

Please do!

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#558

Post by riku_iki »

bastawhiz wrote: post #548
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.

I'm genuinely curious how that would be true. Doesn't a hybrid have ~all of the parts of an ICE vehicle and ~all of the parts of an EV? Wouldn't that mean it can fail in far more ways?

I am not expert at all, but my belief before this discussion was that hybrid is:

- ICE, which charges battery in stable cycle

- E-motor do all torque

So, you don't need transmission, and ICE has way less stress, plus regenerative breaks puts way less mechanical stress on the system

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#559

Post by imwally »

randerson wrote: post #401
AlbertCory wrote: post #381

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I've solved the parking lot problem with a $29 Apple AirTag.

If you use Apple CarPlay or connect your iPhone to Bluetooth Apple Maps will remember where you parked your car once you disconnect. I use this feature quite a bit to know how far I have to walk back to the car when I’m out on a hike.

Though, I imagine an AirTag will give you more precise location.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#560

Post by tylerstorm »

purpleblue wrote: post #411
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…

I have a 2012 Honda Fit that they will need to pry off my cold dead hands. It's my favorite car of all time, it's everything that I want from a car. Except possibly a larger gas tank.

I have a 2009 Honda Fit and feel the same way. 181k miles and still working perfectly!
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