Whose Cars Are Most Reliable?

I don't think reliability can be measured by the amount of QA a company puts into their product. QA only measures things like, are nuts and bolts tightened, consistant gap in body panels, all lights and gauges work; well you get the idea. The moment a car leaves the factory, something may fail on it; something that an inspector wouldn't pick up. Reliability depends on two things; one, how well the factory makes it's product and two, how well the customer treats the car. If a car is not serviced by the owner, we can expect to see unreliability in a short time, but someone who takes care of the car, will see it last a long time without developing problems.

I've owned around 27 different cars and trucks, about 80% of them new. I have always taken care of them and while I have had very few problems with them, owners of the same cars can complain about reliability.

If you are talking American I swear by Chevy trucks and cars, have had vans and pick-ups over 400k running great for my company. If you are talking Japanese you should move there.

The most reliable cars are the ones where the owner spends the time to maintain them.

I've had good luck with Chevy's, Plymouths, VW, and Fords. But then again, I do my own mechanical work. Oil changes are a great time to get under the car and look for "trouble" before it leaves you dead on the side of the road.

Keeping up with required maintenance (ever read the owner's manual?) especially those items the manufacturer recommends out at 50K, 75K, 100K etc. might save you those valves and pistons when you throw a timing belt.

Never buy a first model year. Don't be the guinea pig for the manufacturer. I prefer vehicles that are at least two or three years into production. Most manufacturers have it pretty well sorted out by then.

hi ,

i like ur blog. its right. consumer report is more meaningful and positive if testing is involve in it.