Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey 2009

[GS69]

The reason that I brought up Subaru is bc I thought I remember them ranking like 3rd on a recent JD Powers survey ... even higher than Toyota ... but I must have been dreaming bc despite all my searching, I cannot find that info.

[mmarshall]

Originally Posted by FisforFast

I did not say that Subarus were not reliable, I said that they did not appeal to the broader population. They are not necessarily affordable, they are very expensive to maintain for cars their price, and they aren't exactly pretty.

They are not expensive to maintain by AWD standards. AWD products usually require more routine maintenance/inspections than FWD/RWD. With Subies, that added maintenance, as you point out, is there, but minimal. The generally good reliability of Subaru AWD systems, of course, drives that cost down even more.

A brake job on a WRX around here is in upwards of $6000 when all is said and done; I reckon a brake job on my R8 is cheaper.

Whoa. Wait a minute. $6000 for WRX brakes? Somebody is getting taken to the cleaners. Even though WRX brakes are larger then those of regular Imprezas, they should run a couple of hundered dollars....even all four should be well under $1000. The STi, of course, has more expensive Brembos, but even so, should not run anywhere near $6000, given a normal brake job without added work.

They also have sub-par automatic transmissions, which in this day-and-age is unacceptable.

If, by "sub-par", you mean too-wide ratios and a lack of flexbility, I'll agree with you that the 4-speed automatics in the non-turbo 2.5L models could use at least another gear (the new 2.5L, BTW, in the 2010 Legacy/Outback has a paddle-shift, 6-range CVT). Other Subaru automatics, with different engines, use 5-speeds. But Subie automatics are not necessarily "sub-par" in the reliability department. I have not seen many of them fail or be replaced........certainly not like, say, in a Dodge/Plymouth minivan, where they often go through several trannies in the vehicle's lifetime.

[FisforFast]

Originally Posted by mmarshall

Whoa. Wait a minute. $6000 for WRX brakes? Somebody is getting taken to the cleaners. Even though WRX brakes are larger then those of regular Imprezas, they should run a couple of hundered dollars....even all four should be well under $1000. The STi, of course, has more expensive Brembos, but even so, should not run anywhere near $6000, given a normal brake job without added work.

My friend got quoted $6k to have the job done at the local dealership. We instead bought all the parts for about $1k and did it on jackstands in my driveway.

[mmarshall]

Originally Posted by FisforFast

My friend got quoted $6k to have the job done at the local dealership. We instead bought all the parts for about $1k and did it on jackstands in my driveway.

OK......I just noticed that you are in Canada. That might (?) account for at least some of the difference. Subaru doesn't necessarily operate there like they do here in the U.S. But, even accounting for the difference in Canadian and American dollars, that's still quite stiff.
Here in America, for 1K, you could have probably had it done at a dealership, and maybe (?) got back some change.

[IS-SV]

Should I expect to see this Auto edition in my mailbox soon?

[LexBob2]

Originally Posted by IS-SV

Should I expect to see this Auto edition in my mailbox soon?

I just read a news headline which said December issues.

[IS-SV]

Originally Posted by LexBob2

I just read a news headline which said December issues.

Thanks, I'll watch for it. I find the specific model reliability survey data to be useful.

[UDel]

Not surprised the Volkswagen Touareg was the worst vehicle in reliability again. I am surprised the new Honda Insight hybrid was the number 1 car in reliability because I believe Consumer Reports really did not like it in a previous test and was pretty critical of it and even did not recommend it.



http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...rs-score-well/

[Gojirra99]

The fact that they do not like the Insight hybrid in many ways doesn't mean the car can't be reliable ...

[S2000toIS350]

I would hope reliability would weigh issues (fuel system) that lead to the car being unusable much higher than other issues (rattles).

My point is, if the radio craps out none of us would score a car as unreliable. In their set up a radio failure and a squeak result in a bad score.

The lesson here is, data without real assessment = noise.

[LexBob2]

The reliability reports (from owner surveys) and the reviews (from the road tests and editor reviews) are two separate areas in the CR reports.

A car can get a favorable review from the magazine and not so good reliability ratings from the owner survey and vice versa.

[newr]

Originally Posted by S2000toIS350

The lesson here is, data without real assessment = noise.

.....................

[The G Man]

But newr, you experience with Honda is not typical.

[mmarshall]

Originally Posted by The G Man

But newr, you experience with Honda is not typical.

That is correct. Although there have been some transmission issues in the past, the average Honda/Toyota product, if serviced properly, lasts a good 200K miles, and usually doesn't need major repairs before 100-150K. Honda and Toyota did not get their good reputations just out of thin air....for the most part, they earned it.

[ivanz]

I had an 03 Honda Pilot until I sold it last year (~95k kms). Nothing ever needed to be fixed except a cosmetic issue (chrome was rubbing off the interior driver door handle).
No rattles or any other issues with it at all.