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

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#871

Post by tim333 » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:26 PM 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 1990 Corolla rusted rather. I think the newer ones may have better rust proofing.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#872

Post by lnsru » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:28 PM UTC

thsksbd wrote: post #855

lnsru wrote: post #668

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obviously you can check coolant level by yourself. Roundish coolant container has min indicator. And looks similar for all VW cars.

That's why I know it's low ;) In fact, after picking up some G12, I can even refill it myself! But why is it low? Is it because the seals in the cap are getting old and slightly out gassing? Or is it because I have a hairline crack in a gasket that's about to be a catastrophic crack? There's almost two orders of magnitude difference in price between those two repairs!

That’s a very good question. How often is it too low? Once in 2 year? I could live with that. Once a week? Time to visit repair shop.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#873

Post by lsaferite » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:31 PM UTC

sampo wrote: post #869

vondur wrote: post #453

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People drive horrible now. Running lights, crazy lane changes, excessive speeding etc. Here in the US is started during the pandemic and hasn’t improved.

> People drive horrible now. Running lights, crazy lane changes, excessive speeding etc. No longer bothering to turn off long beam headlights, when there is oncoming traffic. And with the new bright led lights, the long beams are really bright. Sometimes even the low beam lights feel too bright, especially if the oncoming car is big, and thus has its headlights sitting higher up.

Most of the US, AFAIK, doesn't have a mandatory yearly vehicle inspection like Germany (and other countries). Mix that with massive trucks with massive lift kits and you get these fun road behemoths that blind you, even with low beams. It's infuriating. I walked past a lifted truck yesterday in a parking lot and it's hood was level with the top of my head. I'm 6ft tall. It was comically large. How can you drive something like that around? You could hide an entire family in the front blind spot!

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#874

Post by mattbrewsbytes » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:35 PM UTC

denvaar wrote: post #343

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…

> 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.

Its kind of ironic that here in HN, a forum about technology and software, a lot of people have sentiments about less electronics and software. We know this stuff breaks in bad and odd ways and the more you have in a product (car) the more chances there are of it happening. Less is more.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#875

Post by solardev » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:43 PM UTC

jdthedisciple wrote: post #684

solardev wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Subaru finally made an EV (the Solterra). I love the way it drives, but it's more expensive (at least at my dealer) than an entry level Tesla. I'd trust Subaru way more than Tesla though.

> I'd trust Subaru way more than Tesla though. Is it because "Elon bad" or you have some technical reasons?

Mostly because they have a history of dishonesty (like with self driving) and poor build quality. Also I hate their UX, especially that touch screen (I'm old and prefer physical dials and buttons and doorknobs). Don't really want a cool car, just a stable (mechanical) platform for an everyday electric driver with AWD and good clearance.

But Musk doesn't help matters either. I used to really respect him (and still grudingly do, mostly for SpaceX and Starlink), but he seems more and more unhinged over the years. Maybe if he were more hands off Tesla like he was with Starlink? To me Tesla just feels like an edgy image company rather than an old fashioned car company like Subaru. I don't want that whole baggage or culture, I just want a car.

Kudos to Tesla for jumpstarting EVs, but I'd much rather go with the stale Japanese option.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#876

Post by wimp » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:47 PM UTC

paganel wrote: post #792

Mountain_Skies wrote: post #490

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Replacing old style headlight bulbs with LEDs in housings not designed for them is an increasing problem too, making driving at night often something that is best done with a pair of sunglasses.

Often times I think it's just me and my eyesight getting older, which is certainly the case, but it kind of reassures me to see that there are other people noticing this insane phenomenon, too. And I say it is insane because in many, many cases I just have to slow down when encountering those lights coming from the opposite direction, for the sole reason that I get blinded by them and I can't see the road for one, tw…

It also gets worse year over year, as more and more of these vehicles accumulate.

Which is the same pattern as your eyesight gradually degrading. But no, the lights really are blinding everyone. It’s utterly stupid.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#877

Post by rascul » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:53 PM UTC

m463 wrote: post #590

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…

The only argument I can find against old pickup trucks would be lack of safety equipment. even with expensive gas.

Crappy fuel mileage except for some of the small trucks.

Can be a bit dangerous on slick roads with no weight in the back.

Easy to hit things and people while turning if you're not used to the size, and even if you are.

Parts can be more expensive than one might think.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#878

Post by rascul » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:55 PM UTC

BenjiWiebe wrote: post #423

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. :)

When I worked in a tire shop, the highest mileage vehicle I saw was a 500k mile Corolla, driven by the original owners. It was a mid 90s model IIRC. This was in 2018 or so.

I have over 600k on my '99 Silverado.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#879

Post by numlock86 » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:57 PM UTC

cheschire wrote: post #842

numlock86 wrote: post #822

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm surprised Mercedes is so low in the list. They've traditionally been one of the more reliable German brands, that's why they're used as taxis in many countries. Oh, my sweet summer child. I can tell you still have fond memories of the pre-2010 Mercedes era ... Who's gonna tell him?

This is an insulting and patronizing reply as you are implying something you know (or think you know) is common knowledge that only GP would not know. Please share what you believe happened in 2010 to Mercedes to cause the flip from an ideal choice for taxis to this consumer reports ranking.

2010 was when they started using motors from other (cheap) brands like Renault for a lot of models on big scale. Before that you could drive your Mercedes up to like 400,000 km and more and still get money for it or at least sell it to development countries to be used as a - mostly reliable - taxi for example. Been there, done that. Nowadays getting a newer model to 200,000 km before its "end" is the exception rather than the norm. And that's just their cost-down strategy on the motors ...

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#880

Post by lotsofpulp » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:58 PM UTC

PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #620

kyrra wrote: post #522

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you miss my point. When CAFE standards drastically increase the price of small cars, it impacts choice. It's similar to house prices. The more regulations you pile on, the more things cost. While those things are seen as "good", it removes choice and increases cost.

And I think you've missed the point. When CAFE standards specifically carve out an exception for larger vehicles (pickups and SUVs), thus forcing only compacts and sedans and station wagons to be subject to the new standards, of course there's some price pressure that nudges people into bigger cars. If CAFE was applied across the board, there'd be no impact on choice at all. But it's not.

Sorry, I don’t buy it at all. People are not rolling up to my kids’ daycare in F150/XC-90/Suburban/4Runner because of CAFE making smaller cars more expensive.

They are buying it because they like bigger cars, and the people that can’t afford bigger cars still want to sit up higher, hence the popularity of CRV/Rav4 type vehicles.