Consumer Reports: Most Reliable Used Cars for 2009 - Page 2

IS-SV · 02-28-09, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil4X

It's probably fair to say that you can find anecdotal reports of good and bad "experienced" cars just about anywhere. Our '92 Plymouth minivan (Project Cheapskate) just turned over 100K miles last week and is still returning a solid 20+ mpg in city driving. Still no serious problems. Obviously Chrysler Corp. once knew how to do something right.

I guess we should be amazed when a Chrysler product is trouble free at the 100K mile mark

, but that's not really much of an accomplishment for Toyotas and Hondas that I've owned with high mileage.

mmarshall · 02-28-09, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil4X

It's probably fair to say that you can find anecdotal reports of good and bad "experienced" cars just about anywhere. Our '92 Plymouth minivan (Project Cheapskate) just turned over 100K miles last week and is still returning a solid 20+ mpg in city driving. Still no serious problems. Obviously Chrysler Corp. once knew how to do something right.

No new transmissions in that period? That is very unusual for a Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler minivan of that vintage, particularly with the 4-speed UltraDrive automatic. I've seen a number of them go through 3-5 transmissions in their lifetime...most of them have had at least one replacement.

Burnaby · 03-13-09, 10:43 AM

I notice the CR article link is last reviewed date: April 2009.

Are these folks talking to us from the future?

IS-SV · 03-13-09, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnaby

I notice the CR article link is last reviewed date: April 2009.

Probably already reviewed for April edition of magazine.

madmax2k1 · 03-13-09, 11:45 AM

I'm so sick and tired of CR Cars reliability ratings it's nauseating; These are the type of reports that re-enforce the perceptions of the general buying public about cars; it can be summed up in this sentence:

American cars are junk and Japanese cars are great.

There are also perceptions about Japanese cars where the consensus is that Honda and Toyota are better than the rest.

I think the metrics used by CR to measure the reliability of a toaster or a DVD player do no apply to cars; the only measure of reliability of a car is a 50K long term test, everything else is utter crap.

I think most cars (except exotics) produced in the last 5 years are fairly reliable as long as they're maintained well by their owners.

FYI, I drive a Japanese car.

YEH · 03-13-09, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmax2k1

I'm so sick and tired of CR Cars reliability ratings it's nauseating; These are the type of reports that re-enforce the perceptions of the general buying public about cars; it can be summed up in this sentence:

American cars are junk and Japanese cars are great.

But then again, the reliability ratings for JD Power and Autobild aren't that different from CR's.

IS350jet · 03-14-09, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmax2k1

the only measure of reliability of a car is a 50K long term test, everything else is utter crap.

CR's reliability reports for model years 1999 through 2009 isn't long enough for you?

mmarshall · 03-14-09, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmax2k1

I think the metrics used by CR to measure the reliability of a toaster or a DVD player do no apply to cars; the only measure of reliability of a car is a 50K long term test, everything else is utter crap.

And, in most cars, that's exactly what the people who fill out CR's reliability surveys are doing.........putting miles on their cars. If they aren't, the surveys aren't worth much. But, except for travelling salespeople and those who commute long distances every day, you can't expect 50K miles on a car that is only a couple of years old.

Quote:

I think most cars (except exotics) produced in the last 5 years are fairly reliable as long as they're maintained well by their owners.

Yes and no. Several European makes, including Mercedes and Land Rover, are notoriously unreliable even as fairly new vehicles. Mercedes, however, has shown some improvement in the last couple of years. But almost all German makes still have electrical problems, even in their early lives.

Quote:

FYI, I drive a Japanese car.

And WHY do many people who, like you, drive Japanese-designed cars, CHOOSE them? Because of their reliability records, which themselves are verified by........(you got it)....... Consumer Reports.

FKL · 03-13-09, 01:43 PM

I tend to agree,madmax. From reading CR exclusively, one could derive the mindset that the only truely "good" cars are imports from Japan. They completely negate innovations, design detailing, and road manners in their testing. It's reliability and cost of ownership which dominates their ratings criteria. There's nothing wrong with that persay, just the reader needs to be aware.

mmarshall · 03-13-09, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FKL

I tend to agree,madmax. From reading CR exclusively, one could derive the mindset that the only truely "good" cars are imports from Japan.

No. That is incorrect. While Japanese-designed cars DO tend to dominate the reliability ratings (and for good reason), CR is quick to give American and European-designed vehicles credit when it is due. For example, many Ford products, lately, have shown good reliability, almost to Japanese levels, and CR has noted that. CR is also noting the improvements in the reliability of several Mercedes products, after years of being in the tank.

IS-SV · 03-13-09, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmarshall

While Japanese-designed cars DO tend to dominate the reliability ratings (and for good reason), CR is quick to give American and European-designed vehicles credit when it is due. For example, many Ford products, lately, have shown good reliability, almost to Japanese levels, and CR has noted that. CR is also noting the improvements in the reliability of several Mercedes products, after years of being in the tank.

I agree and I've put the CR reliability data to the test on several Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Mercedes, Jaguar, Porsche, Ford, GM vehicles that I've actually owned. The ownership experiences from a reliability standpoint closely mirrored the reliability charts that CR publishes.

mmarshall · 03-13-09, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IS-SV

I agree and I've put the CR reliability data to the test on several Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Mercedes, Jaguar, Porsche, Ford, GM vehicles that I've actually owned. The ownership experiences from a reliability standpoint closely mirrored the reliability charts that CR publishes.

Yes, it has in my experience as well.

bitkahuna · 03-14-09, 11:07 AM

sure most hondas and toyotas are very reliable, but if you still have them at 100k the car may not have died but you likely will of boredom.

IS-SV · 03-14-09, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitkahuna

sure most hondas and toyotas are very reliable, but if you still have them at 100k the car may not have died but you likely will of boredom.

So true with many Japanese cars.

For example I owned a Toyota Highlander for 3 years, and by the 2nd day I owned it I knew this car was going to be very boring, but very practical as a daily driver. Fortunately I also had a Porsche and Mercedes in the garage to mix things up.

mmarshall · 03-14-09, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IS-SV

So true with many Japanese cars.

For example I owned a Toyota Highlander for 3 years, and by the 2nd day I owned it I knew this car was going to be very boring, but very practical as a daily driver. Fortunately I also had a Porsche and Mercedes in the garage to mix things up.

Yes, but guess what will be getting you around when the Porsche and Mercedes are..............

And Porsche and Mercedes service/repair, when not free or warranty-covered, costs big $$$$$.