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Who makes the most reliable new cars?

consumerreports.org

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Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#921

Post by broguinn »

rectang wrote: post #659
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.

I flash my headlights at cars whose lights are too blinding, under the assumption that the driver accidentally left their brights on. If I’m wrong and their lights are always like that, my assumption is that they would appreciate someone letting them know anyway. If it happens a lot, maybe they’ll figure it out and correct their embarrassing problem. And if they’ve jerks who know they’re blinding others but just don’…

Someone flashed their lights at me this very morning at around 5:00 am. At first I thought it was because my lights were off, then realized they thought my brights were on. They weren't, it's just that my new car has LEDs that are - apparently - quite bright.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#922

Post by culi »

DrThunder wrote: post #886
culi wrote: post #865

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> car safety for pedestrians/cyclists has decreased It's also decreased for anyone NOT willing to buy a "light truck" (e.g. a modern SUV). There's a loophole that makes it so that light trucks don't have to be tested against the same safety standards as other vehicles. Basically they just have to prove they're safe to crash into other light trucks but do not have to be tested against regular passenger vehicles. This…

Most modern SUV's aren't trucks in any sense. They crossovers built on car frames.

yes, but I'm speaking about the legal classification. They are always light trucks in the US https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_truck

Side note, the Wikipedia page has a section about how SUVs get away with less stringent emissions standards

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#923

Post by benjijay »

collyw wrote: post #821
throwaway914 wrote: post #777

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My counterpoint to this is there have always been a ton of bad drivers. The most important skill to have is to be a predictable driver. Bad drivers will always exist. You cannot change them, and the great number of them is not likely to drop to 0 overnight. The best thing you can do is drive in a way that even bad drivers expect. Be a speed-limited, blinker-indicating, cautious log in the river. They will parkour aro…

I always thought it was a good idea to assume all the other drivers around me were likely to be incompetent idiots. Obviously not the case, but it means when you do encounter one you will be ready.

My first driving instructor gave me the greatest line on this; "expect other drivers to be idiots, you will never be disappointed"

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#925

Post by jacquesm »

allengeorge wrote: post #839
jacquesm wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mini = BMW. Subaru: depending on which model can have a lot of Toyota parts.

I do not think that Subaru models outside of the BRZ or Solterra have Toyota parts.

There is also the Crosstrek and there are talks to intensify the collaboration even further. The obvious difference in size is possibly going to cause some problems, and Daihatsu, another one of those collaborations is a guide to how that could play out.

Subaru has a ton of engine and 4WD knowledge that would benefit Toyota, the other way around, Toyota has economies of scale and hybrid knowledge that Subaru will likely never have so both come out ahead of a partnership like this and the signs are that they are drawing closer to each other. Toyota has steadily expanded their stake in Subaru which today stands at 20%, and Subaru is now officially a part of the Toyota group.

https://www.torquenews.com/1084/subaru-officially-joins-toyo...

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#926

Post by winrid »

ycombinatrix wrote: post #807
winrid wrote: post #658

The fact that BMW and Mini are at the top of this list should make you ignore this data. First off, the Mini is just a smaller BMW, second the BMWs are complicated and designed to be maintained a certain way because that is how german cars are designed. You don't accidentally go 10k over an oil change on a higher mileage BMW and expect nothing bad to happen, but that would probably be okay on a Honda/Toyota/some Amer…

spoken like someone that hasn't owned a BMW from the last 10 years

did they stop using plastic guides for the timing chains yet? :)

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#927

Post by ghaff »

richiebful1 wrote: post #897
ghaff wrote: post #494

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the other hand anecdata, I had a 13ish year old 4Runner with only about 70K miles lose a transmission line on me a couple years back. The dealership shrugged and said maybe it was a chip on the coating from a piece of gravel. Though it may well have been a manufacturing defect. In any case, ended up having to nurse the vehicle home and basically nurse it 2 months until I could get a new Honda. Which I actually lik…

Why did the transmission line require replacing the vehicle? I've replaced them on a cargo van...it was cheaper and easier than a pair of rear drum brakes, a normal piece of routine maintenance

The transmission was drivable but damaged because it was a bad leak. Given its age and some body damage, it didn't make sense to repair--and I got a ridiculously good trade-in anyway.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#929

Post by vvillena »

HPsquared wrote: post #512
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.

Also headlights are simply higher on average than they used to be (larger vehicles). Very noticeable if you drive a low car. Yet another "arms race" dynamic.

This is indeed a regulation failure. Vehicle lights should have a height limit, but instead, their placement is dictated by aesthetics. SUVs and pickups should have their front lights placed at the bottom front corners, but instead, it's the top front corners.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#930

Post by dreamcompiler »

Nissan has been the General Motors (i.e. a manufacturer of mediocre cars) of Japan for a long time. Its low ranking doesn't surprise me. Likewise Volkswagen has been the GM of Germany for a while too. No surprise there either.

But Mercedes coming in 29/30? That surprises me. I've never owned a Mercedes but I thought they had a reputation for reliability.

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