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

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#711

Post by defrost » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:13 AM UTC

PierceJoy wrote: post #685

mortify wrote: post #673

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People always drive, not to within certain parameters of the law, but to within their risk tolerance. As cars become more safe, the risk factor reduces which allow people to increase risky behavior. If you want people to drive better, don't put airbags in their steering wheel, put a 6" metal spike pointed at their chest.

Yep. Studies on helmet usage in skiing and snowboarding showed that as helmet usage became more common, brain injuries increased. People felt more protected and thus took more risks.

Which studies?

It wasn't this study:

An Evidence Based Review: Efficacy of Safety Helmets in Reduction of Head Injuries in Recreational Skiers and Snowboarders (2012)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3989528/

from Trauma & Acute Care which concluded:

* The use of safety helmets clearly decreases the risk and severity of head injuries as compared to non-helmeted participants in skiing and snowboarding.

* The beneficial effects of helmets are not negated by unintended risks as their use does not appear to increase the risk of neck or cervical spine injury as compared to non-helmeted participants in skiing and snowboarding.

* The use of safety helmets also does not appear to increase the risk of compensation behavior as compared to non-helmeted participants in skiing and snowboarding.

* Therefore, helmets are strongly recommended during recreational skiing and snowboarding.

I mean, sure, there are BMJ Sports Medicine Opinion Pieces by Dr Paul McCrory who was prolific with his thoughts on the matter but short on evidence, not to mention that whole, ummm, thing:

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/23/1327

(The investigation into his extensive single author pieces).

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#712

Post by wizee » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:15 AM UTC

bmitc wrote: post #330

Funny how Kia ranks so highly above others. But I'm dubious because Mini is near the top. And are Porsche and BMW known to be reliable? You can't even get your oil changed except at slecialized centers. I assume they're reliable in the same way airplanes are: lots of maintenance intervals.

BMW has had some reliability misses in the past (especially with past V8 engines), though their current B48/B58 engines are very reliable. Porsche has a very extensive vehicle testing process before their models come to market, and they have always been known for good reliability (though they have had some misses in the past, like M96 engine IMS bearings and bore scoring from the early-mid 2000s, and 991.1 GT3 engine failures).

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#713

Post by elsonrodriguez » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:15 AM UTC

e-_pusher wrote: post #670

elsonrodriguez wrote: post #583

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's absolutely incredible how Subaru can be so high on this list with their choice of engine style and transmission. With that sort of handicap it's either a testament to how great Subaru is or how terrible every other automaker is.

What do you mean by this? What is wrong with the engine and transmission choice of Subaru that makes it a handicap?

Horizontally opposed engines are inherently less reliable due to the increase in components, an H-4 has two heads and all that entails, an I-4 has one.

CVTs are inherently more fragile than a geared transmission, they simply cannot hold as much torque.

Almost all Subarus sold in the last 3 years have these engines and transmissions and they still hang.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#714

Post by ahoka » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:15 AM UTC

PierceJoy wrote: post #685

mortify wrote: post #673

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People always drive, not to within certain parameters of the law, but to within their risk tolerance. As cars become more safe, the risk factor reduces which allow people to increase risky behavior. If you want people to drive better, don't put airbags in their steering wheel, put a 6" metal spike pointed at their chest.

Yep. Studies on helmet usage in skiing and snowboarding showed that as helmet usage became more common, brain injuries increased. People felt more protected and thus took more risks.

Maybe helmet users just did’t die when headbutting something during snowboarding, so the increasing injury rate is actually good.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#715

Post by Dah00n » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:20 AM UTC

brookside wrote: post #99

I have never understood how the Consumer Reports model of self(reader)-reported reliability can produce can statistically valid results. There are many biases build in to self-reporting surveys. Longtime Consumer Reports readers who buy a Toyota because they believe it is the most reliable make want their choice to have been correct. Their answers about problems with their car will reflect that.

That, in my opinion, best describes a BMW owner. Is it a more reliable car than Alfa? Well, if you service it at the higher requirement and price that a BMW is most often services at then maybe it is.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#716

Post by Dah00n » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:23 AM UTC

jesterson wrote: post #652

eliseumds wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few months ago I ordered an Uber Black in Bangkok and the driver showed up in a C300 AMG. I know it's not a high-end model (~50k USD), but I was shocked at how cheap the entire car felt. The leather is worse than the one used in base VW models, the armrests are pathetically small, visibility is bad. I'd 100% prefer to be a passenger in a Corolla or Camry.

Due to import nuances, they do all sorts of shenanigans in TH for cars. The one you have gotten may have very little to do with Mercedes.

The US made models seem to be the worst ones.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#717

Post by matwood » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:24 AM UTC

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…

Not quite as old, but I drive a 2007 Tundra. Does all the things I need it to do. About a year ago I replaced the foggy headlamps and people thought I had gotten a new car lol

I was at the Toyota dealership not long ago and the mechanic says, “we’re not supposed to say this, but if you just do basic maintenance these cars will go for 20+ years. No way would I sell this for a new one. They cost too much now.”

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#718

Post by doikor » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:25 AM UTC

PierceJoy wrote: post #685

mortify wrote: post #673

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People always drive, not to within certain parameters of the law, but to within their risk tolerance. As cars become more safe, the risk factor reduces which allow people to increase risky behavior. If you want people to drive better, don't put airbags in their steering wheel, put a 6" metal spike pointed at their chest.

Yep. Studies on helmet usage in skiing and snowboarding showed that as helmet usage became more common, brain injuries increased. People felt more protected and thus took more risks.

While a common hypothesis there is no scientific proof of that effect in skiing/snowboarding.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3989528/

> Helmets do not appear to increase the risk compensation behavior among skiers and snowboarders.

Nor has it been proven with a bunch of other activities

> Convincing evidence in support of the risk compensation hypothesis has not been seen with the use of the face-shield in ice-hockey, motor vehicle seat belt use and motorcycle helmet use.

Though the data isn’t the best but what we do have does not seem to support that hypothesis.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#719

Post by solatic » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:27 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…

This is why you buy both :) You have the fun car for when it's working and the reliable car as a fallback when the trouble starts up at the wrong moment.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#720

Post by Dah00n » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 7:29 AM UTC

_yb2s wrote: post #404

kspacewalk2 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 just don't like any model of Japanese cars... they don't drive, look, or feel as good as a high end European car. But man do I wish European cars were half as reliable as Japanese cars. Driving European cars is a hobby for me, but spending every weekend to keep them working gets old sometimes. What's especially annoying is that the high end European cars are ostensibly better made... much more expensive materials,…

Looking at how big a problem with rust Mercedes have I'm not sure the "better rust proofing" is based in reality. Definitely doubt it when compared to a Toyota.