Consumer Reports picks 'Best Cars'
03-05-2005, 01:54 PM
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Consumer Reports picks 'Best Cars'
This article came out today on CNN.com 
http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/04/pf/a...ex.htm?cnn=yes
Consumer Reports picks 'Best Cars'
For 2004 models, Honda Accord Hybrid best family sedan, Ford Focus best small car.
March 5, 2005: 7:55 AM EST
DETROIT, March 4 (Reuters) - Japanese automobiles are the true kings of the road, judging by the latest annual "Best Cars" issue of Consumer Reports magazine, which hits newsstands next week.
All but one of the vehicles in the magazine's list of "top picks" in 10 different categories for 2005 are Japanese. The exception is Ford's small-sized Focus sedan.
Japanese vehicles also score a clean sweep on a list of 21 vehicles that Consumer Reports says it can recommend because they earned "very good" or "excellent" scores in all five major ratings areas it tested.
The recommendations are important since the spring auto issue from Consumer Reports, which accepts no paid advertising or free samples of the products its reviews, has long been seen as a trusted shopping guide by many U.S. car buyers.
Anything that could accelerate the rate of defection away from Detroit's mass market automakers is clearly bad news for the likes of General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. as they continue to lose market share to fast-growing foreign rivals.
The Big Three can take solace, however, from a Consumer Reports survey showing for the second consecutive year that the average domestic car is more reliable than its average European counterpart.
That trend, which gives Detroit at least some bragging rights, was reported by Consumer Reports for the first time in 24 years in its previous auto issue, in 2004.
Reliability results this year were based on responses from Consumer Report subscribers about a record 810,000 privately owned or leased cars and trucks.
Japanese and Korean automakers once again produced the most trouble-free models, with an overall problem rate of 12 per 100 for the 2004 model year, the same rate they have had for the last three years, Consumer Reports said.
It said GM, Ford and the Chrysler side of DaimlerChrysler AG inched closer to the Asians with an overall problem rate of 17 per 100, however. That matched the industry average and was down from a combined rate of 18 per 100 last year.
By contrast, the problem rate for European automakers rose slightly to 21 per 100 from 20 last year.
"Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Volvo had more than their fair share of problems. Only Audi came out better than average," the magazine said.
"The most reliable brand overall is now Subaru, which averages eight problems per 100," Consumer Reports said. It noted that Honda Motor Co. Ltd., long a reliability leader, now averaged nine problems per 100.
The single most reliable vehicle in the 2004 model year was Hyundai Motor Co, Ltd's low-cost Sonata sedan, with a problem rate of just two per 100.
The showing "further establishes Hyundai's remarkable turnaround from one of the least reliable brands to one of the best," Consumer Reports said of the Korean automaker.
Ford's Lincoln Navigator sport utility vehicle and Nissan's Quest minivan tied for most unreliable vehicle, it said, with problem rates of 49 per 100. Close behind was the pricey Touareg SUV from Volkswagen AG, which had 48 problems for every 100 vehicles.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/04/pf/a...ex.htm?cnn=yes
Consumer Reports picks 'Best Cars'
For 2004 models, Honda Accord Hybrid best family sedan, Ford Focus best small car.
March 5, 2005: 7:55 AM EST
DETROIT, March 4 (Reuters) - Japanese automobiles are the true kings of the road, judging by the latest annual "Best Cars" issue of Consumer Reports magazine, which hits newsstands next week.
All but one of the vehicles in the magazine's list of "top picks" in 10 different categories for 2005 are Japanese. The exception is Ford's small-sized Focus sedan.
Japanese vehicles also score a clean sweep on a list of 21 vehicles that Consumer Reports says it can recommend because they earned "very good" or "excellent" scores in all five major ratings areas it tested.
The recommendations are important since the spring auto issue from Consumer Reports, which accepts no paid advertising or free samples of the products its reviews, has long been seen as a trusted shopping guide by many U.S. car buyers.
Anything that could accelerate the rate of defection away from Detroit's mass market automakers is clearly bad news for the likes of General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. as they continue to lose market share to fast-growing foreign rivals.
The Big Three can take solace, however, from a Consumer Reports survey showing for the second consecutive year that the average domestic car is more reliable than its average European counterpart.
That trend, which gives Detroit at least some bragging rights, was reported by Consumer Reports for the first time in 24 years in its previous auto issue, in 2004.
Reliability results this year were based on responses from Consumer Report subscribers about a record 810,000 privately owned or leased cars and trucks.
Japanese and Korean automakers once again produced the most trouble-free models, with an overall problem rate of 12 per 100 for the 2004 model year, the same rate they have had for the last three years, Consumer Reports said.
It said GM, Ford and the Chrysler side of DaimlerChrysler AG inched closer to the Asians with an overall problem rate of 17 per 100, however. That matched the industry average and was down from a combined rate of 18 per 100 last year.
By contrast, the problem rate for European automakers rose slightly to 21 per 100 from 20 last year.
"Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Volvo had more than their fair share of problems. Only Audi came out better than average," the magazine said.
"The most reliable brand overall is now Subaru, which averages eight problems per 100," Consumer Reports said. It noted that Honda Motor Co. Ltd., long a reliability leader, now averaged nine problems per 100.
The single most reliable vehicle in the 2004 model year was Hyundai Motor Co, Ltd's low-cost Sonata sedan, with a problem rate of just two per 100.
The showing "further establishes Hyundai's remarkable turnaround from one of the least reliable brands to one of the best," Consumer Reports said of the Korean automaker.
Ford's Lincoln Navigator sport utility vehicle and Nissan's Quest minivan tied for most unreliable vehicle, it said, with problem rates of 49 per 100. Close behind was the pricey Touareg SUV from Volkswagen AG, which had 48 problems for every 100 vehicles.
Last edited by shortbear; 03-05-2005 at 01:57 PM.
03-05-2005, 02:20 PM
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This is no surprise. Japanese cars always do good. Only real big surprise here are Hyundai andmaybe subaru being at the top. None of these mags pick benzo's or german cars on top as far as reliabilty because lets face it they don't deserve it. But very informative regardless. BTW I did not know that about the spring issue of consumer reports- interesting and thanks for the tip. 
03-05-2005, 09:45 PM
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Who's responding to those questionaires?
Does Consumers Reports take into account that the average Hyundai driver is probably less aware or concerned about defects than the average Mercedes drive, for example?
I bet if somehow those Mercedes drivers were given Hyundais to drive they'd find lots of "problems".
I bet if somehow those Mercedes drivers were given Hyundais to drive they'd find lots of "problems".
03-05-2005, 10:22 PM
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Hyundai's were a long time problem as reported by their owners in satisfaction surveys.
They have spent considerable resources on improving their quality and the buyers have responded positively. Regardless of brand, If your car is in the shop, it's in the shop and it is kind of hard to ignore that or not notice. That said, yes luxury car buyers are pickier and Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, Audi, etc receive more scrutiny. It is a fact though that MB cars are having a reliability problem the last few years and even the MB top brass now admit it. I sure hope they get it fixed, no one wants to pay top dollar for a car that is always in the shop.
They have spent considerable resources on improving their quality and the buyers have responded positively. Regardless of brand, If your car is in the shop, it's in the shop and it is kind of hard to ignore that or not notice. That said, yes luxury car buyers are pickier and Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, Audi, etc receive more scrutiny. It is a fact though that MB cars are having a reliability problem the last few years and even the MB top brass now admit it. I sure hope they get it fixed, no one wants to pay top dollar for a car that is always in the shop.
03-06-2005, 09:31 AM
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'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
In the last few years, Europe, Japan and USA have become VERY close, relatively speaking, to one another in overall build quality & reliability (according to charts I've seen). I agree that MB has too many problems. We looked at a used S class a couple years ago on the used side of our MB dealer. As soon as we started it we saw a couple of malfunctions on the MFD!!! That's definitely a kill-joy for a prospective buyer
We've had our C230 sedan for about a month now and it has about 800 miles on it. We had a few electronic glitches w/ our old '02 C240, so I've sort of been waiting for a warning message on the MFD about SOMETHING! The other night my wife calls me and says the MFD is showing that the pass. side airbag was deactivated. "D@MN!", I think to myself. The next day I discovered the warning message was completely normal because my daughter had lifted up off of the pass. side front seat while the car was moving, making the car think she was too light for the airbag to be on. Whew! What a relief!!!!!!
We've had our C230 sedan for about a month now and it has about 800 miles on it. We had a few electronic glitches w/ our old '02 C240, so I've sort of been waiting for a warning message on the MFD about SOMETHING! The other night my wife calls me and says the MFD is showing that the pass. side airbag was deactivated. "D@MN!", I think to myself. The next day I discovered the warning message was completely normal because my daughter had lifted up off of the pass. side front seat while the car was moving, making the car think she was too light for the airbag to be on. Whew! What a relief!!!!!!
