How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 18:12
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - RT

Under normal circumstances, I'd be changing my car in 18 months time - but most of the possible replacements haven't been launched yet or only just launched - mainly as a result of Ford's sell-off of JLR and Volvo.

Now I don't intend to be first in the queue for a new platform with an all-new engine and I'm concerned that things won't be clear until the first vehicles are well out of warranty so that's 4 years after launch.

Old reputations mean nothing with an all-new model, either way, so how long do you all avoid new models for ?

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 19:06
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - oldroverboy.

You don't.

A car is mostly an emotional purchase. try an MG3 not as bad as you might think. try an MG5. I drove one in dubai a couple of weeks back,,,

MG550 and at that price and at About £10K 1 would not say no here, out there with aircon straining is underpowered, but would be ok here,

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 19:20
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - RT

I do have "functional requirements" which are much easier to rationalise than "emotive" things - I bought impractical things like a Cortina-Lotus when I was younger so got that out of my system.

I'm fine with sorting out which cars to put on my short list - but they'll be kept for several years after the warranty expires so repair costs need to be predictable.

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 20:32
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - gordonbennet

You makes your choice given previous form of the maker.

If they denied responsibility and left their customers in the lurch before, there's a fair chance they'll do it again, lesson learned, why bother at all with their products.

Similarly that maker that does stand by their product, and much more importantly their customer, and admit when they've got some things wrong...including the worldwide Chairman standing up and apologising publicly for losing sight of the ball...that maker has my faith in their integrity to do the right thing, including putting things right should they go wrong.

The latter make doesn't take much guesswork....several contenders for the former.

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 20:38
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - RT

GB - that implies that no brand ever changes - none get better and none get worse - that I can't believe.

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 20:52
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - gordonbennet

GB - that implies that no brand ever changes - none get better and none get worse - that I can't believe.

RT, Bazza has put it far more eloquently than i.

One maker i trust implicitly including most of their dealers, others i distrust completely including most of their dealers, lots in between, i'm yet to be persuaded wrong on either account from what i read and hear about.

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 20:53
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - madf

GB - that implies that no brand ever changes - none get better and none get worse - that I can't believe.

See French cars..

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 20:42
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - bazza

The longer you wait and the more there are on the road then the more likely that glitches and component faults will be corrected by feedback - all other things being equal. But manufacturers will often change sourcing and implement cost-saving measures such as switching to a cheaper component or supplier mid way through the product lifecycle. Also vehicles evolve, not always for the best. The infamous VAG switch to Siemens piezo injectors from original Bosch is an example, plus the equally infamous ESP module design fault. Personally, I would put my new car money into a manufacturer with a solid reputation for design/development but who stands by their product and admits it when they've got it wrong eg Toyota with the VVTi oil consumption fault and Head gasket diesel problems. All manufacturers can get it wrong but there's a difference in how prepared they are to admit fault and put it right.

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Fri 24 Jan 2014 23:23
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - Andrew-T

All these uncertainties add weight to the suggestion that you should keep a car that you trust instead of changing - especially as a new generation usually means more complex electronics with more expensive correction costs.

As a corollary to the original question, how long to regain a reputation once it has been lost?

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Sat 25 Jan 2014 08:07
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - bazza

All these uncertainties add weight to the suggestion that you should keep a car that you trust instead of changing - especially as a new generation usually means more complex electronics with more expensive correction costs.......

That's a very good point AT. Interesting to note that for example the German manufacturers are constantly introducing new technology to stay at the "cutting-edge" of the premium product/brand etc. There have been many problems with DSG gearboxes, piezo injectors, swirl flaps, smart turbos, direct petrol injection etc. All of these cost thousands to fix and the internet is awash with tales of warranty woes and massive bills. IN many ways better to stick with older proven technology, which although not as "sexy" still does the job - look at electronic handbrakes and hill assist for example. Still giving trouble, even on some Toyotas.

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Sat 25 Jan 2014 17:16
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - corax

All these uncertainties add weight to the suggestion that you should keep a car that you trust instead of changing - especially as a new generation usually means more complex electronics with more expensive correction costs.......

IN many ways better to stick with older proven technology, which although not as "sexy" still does the job - look at electronic handbrakes and hill assist for example. Still giving trouble, even on some Toyotas.

Eventually you have to buy a car with newer technology, but I can't see diesels getting any more reliable because some of those parts you have mentioned like turbos are always going to get blocked by soot being recycled via the EGR valve. Manufacturers are throwing increasingly complex components at an engine that was designed years ago to burn a dirty fuel, but what is the alternative for high mileage users - diesel contains an enormous amount of energy per litre.

Apparently there are many problems with stuck injectors that can write an engine off because they cannot be removed. And they are having to be taken out because they fail so frequently. There are people who have set themselves up to remove injectors professionally for work shops using specialist hydraulic pullers because they can't do it themselves without damaging something else like the cylinder head.

The electronic handbrake is pointless though. I have hill assist on my Subaru, and it's very useful. But it's mechanical.

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Sat 25 Jan 2014 08:12
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - RT

All these uncertainties add weight to the suggestion that you should keep a car that you trust instead of changing - especially as a new generation usually means more complex electronics with more expensive correction costs

I don't disagree with that at all - but even trusted cars get eventual failures so 6-7 years from new is as long as I want to go.

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Sat 25 Jan 2014 10:15
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - Andrew-T

< even trusted cars get eventual failures so 6-7 years from new is as long as I want to go. >

So resist the urge to be trendy and get a tried and tested model just before it gets superseded by the new unknown one? May be a bargain too, and probably loaded with all the extras ....

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Sat 25 Jan 2014 08:33
How long to estabilsh a reputation for reliability - xtrailman

Give a new model at least two years.

In that time any problems will show and have time to be rectifield, sometimes its difficult not to jump in early.

I wish i had held back with the Mazda CX-5, i bought after 18 months, mainly because i was bored of my then xtrail and the new version wasnt yet out.

Now after two years the cx-5 has revisions to trim, suspension and additional equipment. Also discounts are greatly increased!

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