JD Power 2007 IQS: Mercedes up 20 spots to #5
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JD Power 2007 IQS: Mercedes up 20 spots to #5
Some people on this forum have saying that Mercedes quality has improved a great deal for 2007.
Well, the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, released today for 2007 models, supports this assertion. Mercedes moved all the way from #25 last year to #5 this year.
Article on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2007/AUTOS/06/06/...ity/index.html
Quote from this article:
Mercedes-Benz has not done well in J.D. Power surveys in the past but jumped 20 places in the rankings this year to finish fifth.
"All Mercedes-Benz models in the study improved substantially," said Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power, in the announcement, "and the breadth and speed of these improvements demonstrates the Mercedes-Benz commitment to quality."
They also stress that Ford did well. Ford models have also been doing very well in TrueDelta's vehicle reliability research.
Be aware that the IQS includes two types of defects: design defects that cannot be repaired and manufacturing defects that can. My critique based on including two different things in one score:
Critique of J.D. Power's IQS
The design defects portion kills BMW because of iDrive, for example.
Well, the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, released today for 2007 models, supports this assertion. Mercedes moved all the way from #25 last year to #5 this year.
Article on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2007/AUTOS/06/06/...ity/index.html
Quote from this article:
Mercedes-Benz has not done well in J.D. Power surveys in the past but jumped 20 places in the rankings this year to finish fifth.
"All Mercedes-Benz models in the study improved substantially," said Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power, in the announcement, "and the breadth and speed of these improvements demonstrates the Mercedes-Benz commitment to quality."
They also stress that Ford did well. Ford models have also been doing very well in TrueDelta's vehicle reliability research.
Be aware that the IQS includes two types of defects: design defects that cannot be repaired and manufacturing defects that can. My critique based on including two different things in one score:
Critique of J.D. Power's IQS
The design defects portion kills BMW because of iDrive, for example.
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From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
Wow, this is just what Mercedes-Benz needed. I just knew the new S-Class would lead the way. Wait a mintue the LS460 was outdone by the S-Class, no freakin way. The Lexus boys ain't gonna like this. Watch how long it takes one of them to call these surveys (that they worship) bs now!
M
M
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I rushed my initial post to get the news out.
The J.D. Power release is here:
http://www.jdpower.com/press-release...spx?id=2007088
It shows, among other things, that the E-Class had the fewest problems among "midsize premium cars," while the S-Class tied the A8 for fewest among "large premium cars." The Lexus LS came in third.
The differences are probably small. In a blog entry I've now taken a closer look at the differences. Essentially, the spread is tighter than ever. Land Rover remains the worst, but isn't way behind like it was just last year. It actually improved the most in terms of the problem rate. And 2/3 of brands are within 1/6 of a problem per car of the average.
The difference between #5 Mercedes and #21 BMW? About one-fifth of a problem per car.
With differences this small, I can't see that initial quality should drive many purchases. After all, how could it make sense to buy your second or third choice just to save a fraction of a problem per car?
My blog entry on the IQS:
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=123
The J.D. Power release is here:
http://www.jdpower.com/press-release...spx?id=2007088
It shows, among other things, that the E-Class had the fewest problems among "midsize premium cars," while the S-Class tied the A8 for fewest among "large premium cars." The Lexus LS came in third.
The differences are probably small. In a blog entry I've now taken a closer look at the differences. Essentially, the spread is tighter than ever. Land Rover remains the worst, but isn't way behind like it was just last year. It actually improved the most in terms of the problem rate. And 2/3 of brands are within 1/6 of a problem per car of the average.
The difference between #5 Mercedes and #21 BMW? About one-fifth of a problem per car.
With differences this small, I can't see that initial quality should drive many purchases. After all, how could it make sense to buy your second or third choice just to save a fraction of a problem per car?
My blog entry on the IQS:
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=123
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From: Lymington Hampshire UK
E220cdi Estate Avantgarde March 2008
What was also amazing was the fact that the new S class had fewer faults per hundred cars than any other model of any brand in any category. Best there is.
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There are a few reasons to be surprised by the tie between the S-Class and A8 for first place. But the largest might be that these scores include any problems with using the controls.
BMW has been slammed by this because people complain about the iDrive. Yet the S-Class and A8 each have their own versions of the iDrive. Do the Mercedes and A8 versions work that much better that no one complains?
BMW has been slammed by this because people complain about the iDrive. Yet the S-Class and A8 each have their own versions of the iDrive. Do the Mercedes and A8 versions work that much better that no one complains?
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Lymington Hampshire UK
E220cdi Estate Avantgarde March 2008
There are a few reasons to be surprised by the tie between the S-Class and A8 for first place. But the largest might be that these scores include any problems with using the controls.
BMW has been slammed by this because people complain about the iDrive. Yet the S-Class and A8 each have their own versions of the iDrive. Do the Mercedes and A8 versions work that much better that no one complains?
BMW has been slammed by this because people complain about the iDrive. Yet the S-Class and A8 each have their own versions of the iDrive. Do the Mercedes and A8 versions work that much better that no one complains?
Out Of Control!!
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From: West Michigan
2007 E63
I tried out the Comand controller and the iDrive at the auto show early this year. The Comand was much more intuitive to use than the iDrive, although the iDrive is much improved with the update.
I have not had the opportunity to test the MMI yet.
I have not had the opportunity to test the MMI yet.
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A Wall Street Journal article the other day detailed the changes made to improve the IQS scores. These included working on the brake dust issue and providing new buyers with a much more thorough overview of how to use various controls. The latter partly explains why iDrive kills BMW's scores but similarly complex controls didn't hurt Mercedes this year--the new S-Class did best of all. (AsianML reports that the controls are also easier to use, which also helps.)
Link (sub req'd): http://online.wsj.com/article/eyes_o...l?mod=djemroad
They linked to one of my related blog entries at the bottom, which made me happy
Link (sub req'd): http://online.wsj.com/article/eyes_o...l?mod=djemroad
They linked to one of my related blog entries at the bottom, which made me happy
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From: san francisco
C32
Since when do IQS scores matter much anyway? Are you seriously planning to even only leasing your car for 6 months? I will believe MB has improved their QC when the long term surveys come back for the 07 and 08 models.
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From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
I think everyone in the known world feels that way and rightly so. That said I still think for a brand new model MB to be the #1 car in the survey (over an equally new Lexus LS) says something about MB improving quality, at the very least. The W220 was the total opposite.
M
M
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From: Lymington Hampshire UK
E220cdi Estate Avantgarde March 2008
I think everyone in the known world feels that way and rightly so. That said I still think for a brand new model MB to be the #1 car in the survey (over an equally new Lexus LS) says something about MB improving quality, at the very least. The W220 was the total opposite.
M
M
All Mercedes were fully galvanised from 2003 onwards, and huge efforts have been made to improve reliability and reduce faults. The later 220 series have been miles better than earlier ones. I have now done nearly 30,000 miles in my December 2005 220 series and it has been faultless.
