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Detroit, 10:50 AM
Wed Dec 9
26 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/28/09
10/27/09
I think we can really attribute Ford's successes to the Tempo. I dunno' I'm just throwing that out there. #consumerreports
10/28/09
10/27/09
And some of the overseas models are pretty sweet.
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
(Your spell checker should be suggesting "a lot" for "alot", not "allot". [getfirefox.com] ) #consumerreports
10/28/09
10/28/09
BTW quit whining about a small technicality in spelling. Im sorry that allot got your panties in a knot. #consumerreports
10/28/09
10/27/09
Ford, which is perceived as offering quality and reliability on par with Asian automakers
You're confused, it's not a perception survey. Nor is it one of those JD Powers Initial Quality Surveys. It's "based on Consumer Reports subscribers' experiences with 1.4 million vehicles."
Here are all CR's most reliable mid-size cars:
Toyota Prius
Ford Fusion Hybrid*
Volvo S40 (FWD)*
Mercury Milan Hybrid*
Ford Fusion (FWD)
Nissan Altima Hybrid
Mercury Milan (FWD)
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Lotta hybrids. The Ratings for models with * are based on data for one model year only. They're all recommended by CR except for the Volvo which scored low in their safety testing.
Ford Mustang is among the most reliable "Sporty cars, coupes & convertibles", though it doesn't get a recommendation; Lincoln MKZ is among the most reliable "Upscale/luxury cars" and gets a recommendation. Go Ford!
Chrysler and GM don't have a single most reliable car, truck or SUV in the survey. And all three domestics have a least reliable pickup truck. #consumerreports
10/27/09
10/27/09
"the Volvo which scored low in their safety testing"
The Chinese haven't bought 'em yet; what happened?
10/27/09
Most reliable pickup trucks: Toyota Tundra (V6), Toyota Tacoma (V6, 2WD), Honda Ridgeline
Least reliable pickup trucks: Chevrolet Colorado (4WD), GMC Canyon (4WD), Ford F-250 (turbodiesel, 4WD)*, Nissan Titan (2WD)*
CR didn't like the Volvo S40: Overall, however, the S40 trails the competition. The noisy five-cylinder engine has decent acceleration, but is somewhat slow compared with some other sporty sedans, and the ride is very stiff. The rear seat is cramped, with very tight leg room. But those aren't safety issues, so that explanation of why some extremely reliable cars like the S40 and the Honda Insight don't get a recommendation is misleading. (Note that this is the only area where CR's opinion enters the survey results.) #consumerreports
10/28/09
And the Titan's a perennial joke. #consumerreports
10/27/09
Ford updates the triplets to rave reviews from the public and media. Still the same basic cars, but better. Sales go up.
Mazda re-engineers the 6 into an Accord wannabe because "people" said the original was too small thinking they could cash in on the CamCord success. It now has confused styling, more weight, is less fun to drive and Mazda can't give them away in the US.
Interesting. #consumerreports
10/27/09
Let's talk in 8 years and match up a 2009 Ford vs a 2009 Honda/Toyota and see where things stand then. #consumerreports
10/27/09
My grandfather has an '03 Sable - yes, the old one - with over 110k; it's been brilliant (as was the '01 that preceded it), and most other Tauri I've seen around here from 2000-up are similar. And now the Fusion's the second-most-reliable family car. I like this trend. #consumerreports
10/27/09
Hell, this girl who I am trying very hard to become more then just friends with, has a 300k+ Dodge Grand Caravan (2003). In the long run, I'd trust American over anything else. Excluding certain, specific models of course. Just depends on the model, engine, transmission. #consumerreports
10/27/09
I once drove a PT cruiser as a rental car. Never again. #consumerreports
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
Is the Prius that reliable? I have a difficult time trusting a vehicle with so many batteries and electronics. Also, it's still a fairly new technology that hasn't been around enough to test how reliable it is.
I wonder how well they will work after a few winters up north with all the cold and the salt. #consumerreports
10/27/09
10/27/09
I guess I question the Prius mainly because of the batteries. How long do they actually last? Even if it is included in the "standard maintenance", replacing the batteries is akin to replacing a major component on a normal car (such as a transmission).
If my Vic needed a transmission every 5 years, I would not consider it reliable.
I didn't realize the platform was that old though. #consumerreports
10/27/09
The Prius has also been the most reliable car in JD Powers and TrueDelta surveys (though the 2008 Toyota Yaris did even better in the most recent TrueDelta survey). #consumerreports
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
Not true. It depends how you manage discharge-recharge cycles and state of charge, just like NiMH batteries. If you repeatedly drain to 0 and recharge to 100%, lifetime will be terrible for most lithium chemistries, but only homebrew conversions and Chinese prototypes do that. "Tesla engineers have determined that a Tesla battery pack should last approximately seven years or over 100,000 miles under normal use." (I think Tesla doesn't have to offer a specific battery warranty because it's not part of the emissions system of a fuel-burning car, like the Prius.) If it worries you, you can pay Tesla $12,000 up front for a guaranteed replacement battery in 7 years. #consumerreports
10/28/09
Seven years wouldn't shock me, but I'd bet that seven years wouldn't be much different regardless of how often and how aggressively the car is driven. Dan Rutter has a rant about this here; the man generally knows his shit.
Basically, what I'm saying is that the Tesla's batteries are going to be entirely useless within a decade, which isn't necessarily true of the Prius and other NiMH and NiCd-using electric-motored cars. And Tesla's survival over the next decade is by no means guaranteed. Who wants a hundred-large lawn ornament? Anyone? #consumerreports
10/27/09
10/27/09
The definition of "quality" at 200K miles is a lot different than the same definition with 90 days of new car purchase. Both data points are valid.
At 200K, it is things like good engineering and strict maintenance that play a larger role in the definition of "quality".
Besides, most car owners sell or trade before the 200K mark, making that data point mostly irrelevant except for those who buy at the very low end of the marketplace. #consumerreports
10/27/09
The definition of "quality" at 200K miles is a lot different than the same definition with 90 days of new car purchase. Both data points are valid.
At 200K, it is things like good engineering and strict maintenance that play a larger role in the definition of "quality".
Besides, most car owners sell or trade before the 200K mark, making that data point mostly irrelevant except for those who buy at the very low end of the marketplace. #consumerreports
10/27/09
I've driven more than one newish (<10k) rental "Mustang" that had broken crap on them. #consumerreports
10/27/09
10/28/09
11/03/09
10/27/09
This is a CNBC guy (who knows nothing about cars) reporting about a study by Consumer Reports (who know nothing about cars.)
I gotta take anything either entity says with a microbe hanging off of a grain of salt, even if it swung in GM's or Chrysler's favor.
10/27/09
Are you insinuating the availability of capital when Ford wanted but not for GM/Chrysler soon after has more to do with their lack of bailout than their brilliant autos and marketing genius? #consumerreports
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
A Ford built in Mexico is extremely American, if you mean "North American" and not "from the USA". #consumerreports
10/30/09
10/30/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
Unfortunately for Ford, CR is not quite saying that. Some Ford models are doing well and getting recommendations, but they're dragged down by unreliable models. In the survey, Scion's the most reliable nameplate, with cars ranging from about 32-60% more reliable than average, followed by Honda (18-84%), then Toyota (minus 8 worse than average to 78%). Ford comes in 16th (minus 110-57%), Mercury 10th (minus 13 - 54%) and Lincoln 20th (minus 70 - 55%).
The graph is interesting. Buy a subscription to see it, if CR steers you away from one overpriced unreliable appliance it's paid for itself. #consumerreports
10/27/09
Scion's cars IMHO are ugly and underpowered. I'd rather have a GTI with all the electrical problems than be caught dead in one of 'em.
I think that you referring to a car as an "appliance" sums it up. I don't buy transportation, I buy a feeling, the unbridled glee of having something different, odd perhaps, that maybe takes some skill or talent to keep running. How the hec am I supposed to be a Jalop if my cars always run perfect?
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
RWD > FWD.
EDIT: Oh, SURE, give me an edit button NOW on a post that DOESN'T NEED IT. Excellent.
10/27/09
Consumer Reports? Never mind, not even useful as birdcage liner. #consumerreports
10/27/09
Complete the circle and sell the Lions. #consumerreports