Just got a 2007 Prius with 150k on it. I’m still getting use to it, but they’re supposed to be reliable. More importantly parts are plentiful and fairly cheap.
Same. Owned a Volkswagen previously and seeing the ratings difference makes me glad I changed. I was also affected by the diesel emissions scandal at VW. So, that was fun.
VW requires their mechanics get the least amount of training of any manufacture. I had a VW (pre scandal diesel) and it was very reliable - but only because I did all the work myself. When I took it in I had problems.
It seems to vary from generation to generation with them in terms of reliability. I have a 2017 6th generation golf that has been flawless for reliability so far. Apparently, the surrounding generations were not as good in that department from my understanding.
I also drive a manual and do my own maintenance like you, fwiw. So my experience may be different from the average driver.
My mom had an Audi Q5 (basically a dolled up Volkswagen Toureg) that thing was such a POS. First there was a piston issue that required warranty replacement. Then it started burning oil, and I legit question if they even actually did the piston replacement. It burned a quart every week, but by then, the warranty had expired, so she had to deal with just adding a quart every week. Then it started misfiring, had to change like 5 things out before we got it to stop. She traded it in shortly after, and bought a Toyota instead. I’d been trying to talk her into Toyota when she bought the Audi, but she wanted the fancy German car. Ended up learning the hard way why those things suck. I feel for whoever ended up buying that POS used.
That Toyota 1 year service with warranty is absolutely insane. Will be my next car because of that. £250 for yearly warranty on top of £200+ servicing isn’t great.
I am interested in the differentiation between Ford/Lincoln, GMC/Chevrolet/Cadillac/Buick, and Dodge/Ram/Chrysler, given that each of those groupings is the same manufacturer. And in GM’s case especially they have multiple vehicles under all three marquees that are the same damn car underneath with different badges and trim colors.
Not surprised to see Chrysler at the bottom, though.
It is wrong to see that as a “US car manufacturers” problem. That mistakenly implies that other corporations would not behave this way or that this is anomalous behavior. This is how monopolies behave and it is the end state of any insufficiently regulated market.
Probably down to factory quality control and parts sourcing. Sure most of the parts are coming out of China. But, companies can get better or worse quality parts for more or less money. And once those parts are put in a car, you can have differing levels (read: costs) of the work being double checked.
I’ve been in a few newer A class vehicles. My god. It’s like being the the back of a fiat panda ride quality wise. The amount of issues about the screens dying (Speedo, oil, everything and MOT failure) on 2 year old cars costing £700+ for whole unit replacements is insane.
Glad to see Chrysler down at the bottom where they belong. My MIL’s old 200 needed a new timing belt/chain at 60k miles before it was eventually totalled out by another Stellantis product (old man backing out of his driveway into traffic in a Jeep).
I have a Mini EV… it’s been awesome. The only downside is the range is only realistically around 100mi but it’s good for most of the driving I do. Longer trips we take me wife’s car.
I’m hoping to EVify mine. Unless Honda makes an electric one, which case they’d have my money in an instant, I just want to keep this handy compact mofo going forever.
Used to work on the line at a Honda plant building Accords and Acuras. What makes me wary of Honda cars is the fact that something like 70% of the workforce there were temps.
They have this ridiculous system, where they hire everyone as temps, and then use a lottery to bring temps into a full time position. Except that means some temps will work there for over a decade… still as temps. I talked with these guys, they exist. decade of work as temp. no healthcare, no pension, no retirement, no sick days, no nothing. miss 3 days in that decade? you’re fired.
So despite their reputation, I still put them behind Toyota, just because of that. who knows? the seatbelt you trust with your life might be installed wrong and cross threaded and just pop right out during that crash. all because they had a temp do it their first day on the line.
Probably because they use french Renault engines. Slightly joking aside, Merc have been poor for a while. The S class is still the top tier passenger car.
How are mini that high up? It makes no sense. The BMW minis (everything from the last 20 years) are notoriously unreliable. The old ones aren’t great either but they aren’t stand out bad for the time. Cool little cars, but complete shit mechanically.
Kinda surprising, given that the boxer engines tend to start having serious problems at a fairly young age (…which is due to some inherent problems with boxer engine designs and the difficulty in making them sufficiently rigid). So I guess once you switch to an electric motor, Subarus suddenly have improved long-term reliability.
They cheaped out on the head gaskets themselves in the ej25 series engines (naturally aspirated). If the gaskets are replaced with the MLS (multi-level steel) ones that came stock in the turbo models, they’ll probably last longer than the rest of the car. At some point Subaru got wise and started putting MLS gaskets in all of their engines, so it’s not really a problem anymore.
As for head gaskets going on turbo subarus, I’d put that squarely on wrx’s and sti’s being some of the most abused vehicles out there.
Oil burning is the only real issue’s they have these days. At least for Subaru.
Subaru fixed headgaskets with the new FA and FB series engines. Oil burning is typically consistent so just know how often you need to top it up if it’s a problem, or just get early oil changes. Otherwise they’re very reliable, just hard to work on.
And it’s really only the internal engine work that’s tough without pulling it. Everything else is actually pretty straightforward imo as a shade-tree mechanic
As a Subaru driver, nice.
I’m a happy Toyota owner as well.
Just got a 2007 Prius with 150k on it. I’m still getting use to it, but they’re supposed to be reliable. More importantly parts are plentiful and fairly cheap.
I believe that gen engine had an issue with oil consumption due to bad rings, so keep an eye on your oil levels.
I do that anyways!
Same. Owned a Volkswagen previously and seeing the ratings difference makes me glad I changed. I was also affected by the diesel emissions scandal at VW. So, that was fun.
VW requires their mechanics get the least amount of training of any manufacture. I had a VW (pre scandal diesel) and it was very reliable - but only because I did all the work myself. When I took it in I had problems.
It seems to vary from generation to generation with them in terms of reliability. I have a 2017 6th generation golf that has been flawless for reliability so far. Apparently, the surrounding generations were not as good in that department from my understanding.
I also drive a manual and do my own maintenance like you, fwiw. So my experience may be different from the average driver.
My mom had an Audi Q5 (basically a dolled up Volkswagen Toureg) that thing was such a POS. First there was a piston issue that required warranty replacement. Then it started burning oil, and I legit question if they even actually did the piston replacement. It burned a quart every week, but by then, the warranty had expired, so she had to deal with just adding a quart every week. Then it started misfiring, had to change like 5 things out before we got it to stop. She traded it in shortly after, and bought a Toyota instead. I’d been trying to talk her into Toyota when she bought the Audi, but she wanted the fancy German car. Ended up learning the hard way why those things suck. I feel for whoever ended up buying that POS used.
Same here.
Though I wish they were more focused on full EV, rather than the hybrid models (and not even PHEV)
That Toyota 1 year service with warranty is absolutely insane. Will be my next car because of that. £250 for yearly warranty on top of £200+ servicing isn’t great.
I am interested in the differentiation between Ford/Lincoln, GMC/Chevrolet/Cadillac/Buick, and Dodge/Ram/Chrysler, given that each of those groupings is the same manufacturer. And in GM’s case especially they have multiple vehicles under all three marquees that are the same damn car underneath with different badges and trim colors.
Not surprised to see Chrysler at the bottom, though.
What a pile of crap the U.S. auto manufacturers are. They purposefully build cars that break to increase revenue.
It is wrong to see that as a “US car manufacturers” problem. That mistakenly implies that other corporations would not behave this way or that this is anomalous behavior. This is how monopolies behave and it is the end state of any insufficiently regulated market.
Probably down to factory quality control and parts sourcing. Sure most of the parts are coming out of China. But, companies can get better or worse quality parts for more or less money. And once those parts are put in a car, you can have differing levels (read: costs) of the work being double checked.
Clearly, all those brand new Mercedes-Benz drivers are regretting not opting for the used 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe they could have had. Live and learn…
I’ve been in a few newer A class vehicles. My god. It’s like being the the back of a fiat panda ride quality wise. The amount of issues about the screens dying (Speedo, oil, everything and MOT failure) on 2 year old cars costing £700+ for whole unit replacements is insane.
Expect Hyundai/Kia trend downward for the coming years as the used market gets filled with Theta engines. Bummer since the Gamma was solid.
How’s the Kappa? Asking because I have an Ioniq Hybrid
No clue.
Glad to see Chrysler down at the bottom where they belong. My MIL’s old 200 needed a new timing belt/chain at 60k miles before it was eventually totalled out by another Stellantis product (old man backing out of his driveway into traffic in a Jeep).
On my phone screen, it looked like Lotus was at the top and that didn’t seem right.
With the image compression in the thumbnail, it looked like Lada to me which had me doubly confused.
I have a Mini EV… it’s been awesome. The only downside is the range is only realistically around 100mi but it’s good for most of the driving I do. Longer trips we take me wife’s car.
Honda would be higher if it weren’t for the Ridgeline.
I ❤️🔥 my Element though.
I’m hoping to EVify mine. Unless Honda makes an electric one, which case they’d have my money in an instant, I just want to keep this handy compact mofo going forever.
Used to work on the line at a Honda plant building Accords and Acuras. What makes me wary of Honda cars is the fact that something like 70% of the workforce there were temps.
They have this ridiculous system, where they hire everyone as temps, and then use a lottery to bring temps into a full time position. Except that means some temps will work there for over a decade… still as temps. I talked with these guys, they exist. decade of work as temp. no healthcare, no pension, no retirement, no sick days, no nothing. miss 3 days in that decade? you’re fired.
So despite their reputation, I still put them behind Toyota, just because of that. who knows? the seatbelt you trust with your life might be installed wrong and cross threaded and just pop right out during that crash. all because they had a temp do it their first day on the line.
Mazda here, not a single problem in 9 years… but boy do I want that ex90 when it comes out 😓
Japanese and German cars are very reliable, surprise, surprise.
Actually it’s looking like German cars are extremely bimodal.
Mercedes is 2nd from the bottom though.
Probably because they use french Renault engines. Slightly joking aside, Merc have been poor for a while. The S class is still the top tier passenger car.
How are mini that high up? It makes no sense. The BMW minis (everything from the last 20 years) are notoriously unreliable. The old ones aren’t great either but they aren’t stand out bad for the time. Cool little cars, but complete shit mechanically.
I thought Nissan would be higher.
Nissans have been garbage since their CVT transition
Nissan only exists to give people with no money and bad credit an opportunity to buy a new car.
Of which they promptly destroy in creative ways
Kinda surprising, given that the boxer engines tend to start having serious problems at a fairly young age (…which is due to some inherent problems with boxer engine designs and the difficulty in making them sufficiently rigid). So I guess once you switch to an electric motor, Subarus suddenly have improved long-term reliability.
Subaru boxer engines are very reliable, they are just a pain to work on. The main issues Subie’s have is computer issues in warm climates.
Pre 2005 this statement would get you brigaded with head gasket issues, but yeah haven’t heard of those being a regular issue in a while.
I wonder how many of the head gasket complaints were from yobbos who kept the boost super high
They cheaped out on the head gaskets themselves in the ej25 series engines (naturally aspirated). If the gaskets are replaced with the MLS (multi-level steel) ones that came stock in the turbo models, they’ll probably last longer than the rest of the car. At some point Subaru got wise and started putting MLS gaskets in all of their engines, so it’s not really a problem anymore. As for head gaskets going on turbo subarus, I’d put that squarely on wrx’s and sti’s being some of the most abused vehicles out there.
Happened to my old 98 forrester and that thing didn’t have a turbo at all, so no idea really.
Yeah, the head gasket issues were annoying in the early 2000s.
That issue finally got fixed. My Impreza has been crazy reliable compared to every other car I’ve owned.
Oil burning is the only real issue’s they have these days. At least for Subaru.
Subaru fixed headgaskets with the new FA and FB series engines. Oil burning is typically consistent so just know how often you need to top it up if it’s a problem, or just get early oil changes. Otherwise they’re very reliable, just hard to work on.
And it’s really only the internal engine work that’s tough without pulling it. Everything else is actually pretty straightforward imo as a shade-tree mechanic