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Who makes the most reliable new cars?

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Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#61

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.

Yeah there’s certainly a temptation there if you’re into working in cars. Alongside your tuning/hooning remark - some cars certainly attract a particular kind of audience, although if it was really hoards, they would have probably released an STI variant for the new body :(

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#63
post #7

I don't see how 'Tesla' is not top of the list here. For the 'Trouble Areas' I suspected they're normalizing over the 'length of ownership' which would bias the scores towards older car companies.

> don't see how 'Tesla' is not top of the list here

Tesla owners love their cars. This means they tend to overlook issues others might find unacceptable. If my car just refused to drive until I restarted it a few times, that would be a catastrophic fuckup. But I’ve seen Tesla owners shrug that away.

Which is fine! There have always been legendary cars with notorious maintenance issues. But base reliability matters to most, and it matters to track that neutrally.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#64

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.

I think it's just commitment to the process at this point.

The hard bit isn't the process per se, it's executing the process when it would otherwise be easier not to.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#66
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer the opinions of mechanics. There was a reddit thread this year where someone asked "what brand would you tell everyone to avoid", and it was a pretty unanimous "Toyota wins." Hopefully they'll quit making infotainment systems. I like my phone->FM adapter. Edit: I worded my comment poorly. The mechanics all love Toyota. Everything else was on many guys' shit-lists.

Surely Toyota didn't win "most avoided", but rather most recommended? But same re. infotainment. I have a suction cup MagSafe charging mount for my 2004 4Runner and I patched a bluetooth receiver into the stock head unit. Nothing better than that glorious amber glow when driving late at night. LCD's are blinding by comparison. Plus this way I don't ever have to enter the iPhone's crippled CarPlay navigation mode, or…

Yes, they won most recommended, sorry. I spent a while looking for the thread, but can't find it. Here's a very similar one, though, which was in AskReddit vs AskMechanics.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/jbw8i7/mechanics...

Interestingly, on the OP link, they don't list the Tacoma, notoriously one of the most reliable vehicles.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#67
post #46

What a disaster for VW and Mercedes, but it pretty much confirms what everyone here in Germany is saying: reliability has gone downhill, with exception of BMW and Porsche (but it'll cost you), whereas Japan is at the top for ages, with South Korea (Kia, Hyundai) providing a good, cheaper alternative.

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

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#68

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

I wonder if Renault is on the same level as Nissan. I understand they share a lot, but are not present on the American market.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#69
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer the opinions of mechanics. There was a reddit thread this year where someone asked "what brand would you tell everyone to avoid", and it was a pretty unanimous "Toyota wins." Hopefully they'll quit making infotainment systems. I like my phone->FM adapter. Edit: I worded my comment poorly. The mechanics all love Toyota. Everything else was on many guys' shit-lists.

Do you have a link to that thread?

Maybe here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/jbw8i7/mechanics...

Older than I thought, but perhaps I just stumbled across it this year. That's the only one I could find with a big number of comments, like I recall.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#70

The paradox is that hybrids have MORE potential trouble areas than ICE but less reported trouble. All hail McLuhan.

I think this is more likely to be the case that Hybrids are dominated by Toyota/Lexus. See:

> 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.

and:

> Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)... have 146 percent more problems than ICE vehicles. Still, there are PHEVs that buck that trend, including standouts such as the Toyota RAV4 Prime

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