Posted on 12/26/2004 4:36:26 PM PST by Brilliant
The price of unreliability is getting outrageous. If you want to buy what Consumer Reports has determined will be the least reliable sedan available in the U.S., you're going to have to shell out between $75,000 and $125,000. That's because the dubious honor went to a car Consumer Reports also calls "sumptuous," "quiet and luxurious" and "a delight to drive": the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Mercedes-Benz (a division of DaimlerChrysler) has been struggling with quality problems over the last few years. But the rest of the list of the least reliable sedans reads like the valet lot of a Davos hotel at convention time. Ten of the 11 are European-made and include some of the most celebrated and technologically advanced sedans on the market, including 3 Mercedes-Benz models, 2 BMWs and 2 Jaguars (see table). The average price: $51,000, compared with an average price of $32,000 for the mostly Japanese vehicles on the list of most reliable sedans.
The problems, says David Champion, a former Land Rover and Nissan engineer who runs the auto testing program for Consumer Reports, are electronic. "The engineers have gone a little wild," he says. "They've put in every bell and whistle that they think of, and sometimes they don't have the attention to detail to make these systems work."
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a computer-driven suspension system that reduces body roll as the vehicle whips around a corner. It has cruise control that automatically slows the car down if it gets too close to another car. Its seats are adjustable 14 ways, and they are ventilated by a system that uses eight fans to whisk away perspiration.
But drivers who responded to Consumer Reports' surveys cited "serious" problems with the vehicles' electrical systems, power equipment and accessories. The S430 Consumer Reports used for its own test came with a broken "back" button on the navigation system. One small mistake in entering a destination address made the system unusable.
Mercedes-Benz doesn't believe there's a problem, saying in a statement: "The data utilized by Consumer Reports is volunteered by [Consumer Reports] readers, not verified, and does not correlate to our own data or that of other surveys." In recent J.D. Power and Associates studies Mercedes-Benz scored better than the industry average for initial quality but worse than the industry average for longer-term dependability.
BMW says it has fixed the problems with its 7 Series-but not by making the vehicles any simpler. "People drive our cars because they're sophisticated," says spokesman David Buchko. "Our goal is not to take stuff out of the car but to make what's in the car as reliable as possible." Sales of the high-end sedans for both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are suffering. Through the end of October, 7 Series sales were down 19% from 2003 and S-Class sales were off 12%.
I do not trust the dealers to handle oil changes as the TDi models require a special oil (VW505.01 spec) and dealers are notorious for not using it, which invalidates the vehicle's warranty.
Sounds like the German engineers screwed up the new Beetle according to a friend. He told me the Chilton's manual on oil changes begins something like, "Changing the oil is not easy on the Beetle." Of course, bring it to the dealer is what they want.
Well, Einstein, that's a real talented comment. Ever heard of Mercedes Benz racing, BMW, Leica, Zeiss Optical, Thorenz, Revox, Dual, Mescherschmidt aircraft, V1, V@ rockets, hydrogen water, the Fokkor aircraft, BMW aircraft in the 1920s? Do you know what origination of the BMW logo came from?
If you're so bright, answer the question.
I expect you do not have a clue.
Ergo, you can go to your Pontica dealer and take a Pontica Sundance off the lot. Drive it for 11.5 miles and dump it in the ditch.
People who buy these goofy things ought to get their heads examined. I can easily afford one, but I really honestly love my 1992 Buick Century station wagon, which runs beautifully all the time. I take it to the "car hospital" once a year when it's due for inspection, and ask the mechanics to give it a good look-over and fix anything that looks like it might cause trouble soon -- never anything major. Never had any problems that took me off the road without plenty of advance warning (needing a new alternator was the only thing that it ever needed between inspections, and it didn't die on me -- just asked nicely "Could I please have new alternator within the next week or so?").
This is my fifth GM car; all bought very used; all made me very happy. Sprung more for this one than any of the previous ones -- $3500 four years ago.
Click on my screen name to see mine. Santa just gave me another too. Love those things.
Never buy some over-engineered POS in which you have to pull the engine to change the spark plugs.
My definition of "luxury" in a car is one that DOES get you from point A to point B, on a regular basis. The cars described in this article don't even come close to providing "luxury".
Actually the Russian t-34 was superior to most German tanks in more than quality. It could kill the panther out to about 1000 K and could hold its own with the Tiger, it is considered to be the best Tank in WWII. The Tiger was sent to Russia in order to stem the T-34 tide. T-34s were built fast and cheap but with great armor and a excellent gun. Our M4 was very reliable and fast to build and a good thing too!!
A butt fan ?
The F-41 option. I always got it on my company Caprices, year after year. That and limited slip with snow tires in a Minnesota winter would get you most places.
Audi A6. On my second term and haven't had any problems in 5+ years now. Great car all around, better than BMW or MB."
Just leased a 2004 allroad wagon (gussied up A6 Avant). Two year lease. Loaded, Nav, Satellite. Something is too noisy in the driveline. Handles awesome.
The 2005 A6 is a beautiful luxury sport sedan, clearly competitive with MB E320, BMW 530i, Jag S 3.0, etc.
I expect they all are subject to troubles. I finished a four year lease on a 2000 MB ML320. This was the least reliable new vehicle I have ever owned.
Mercedes Chairman HAS admitted their reliability problems. I won't consider another, until it is proved they make them better.
I have had them all: Two BMW 5 series, Porsche, Volvo, Saab, Opel, Fiat, two VWs, two Toyotas, Mazda, two Chevys, MG.
Best overall were the BMWs. Their 5 series has been the benchmark against which competitors are compared. Next best was a Chevy pickup with 305 V8. And of course VWs deserve mention.
The new Bangle BMW shapes are growing on me. The i-Drive is something which BMW has NOT got right.
So come August 2006 I'll need another. Based on recommendations I'll carefully consider Acura, Lexus, Infiniti. Even Suburu. And of course BMW, Audi, Volvo, Saab.
But there is simply nothing like a fine German machine, and German car buffs like me will put up with a degree of repair.
Ideally European delivery of a Volvo V70 R, BMW X3, Porsche Cayenne 6. Or station wagons. Possibly Saab if they go awd.
Wish VW/Audi had European delivery.
But the MB pushed me far away, for a long time.
Actually, not to split the hair (but here goes) in 1995 the sport suspension was one up from F41.
It went: stock (slusho) - F41 - sport - LE(which is what came on the SS).
Sport + the LT1 makes one nice, if a bit long in the tooth, ride. She's shopping; I'm trying to figure out where to put the Chevy and keep the neighborhood nazis off my back.
... it will likely never see 40 again here in Key West
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I hear that! I'm still driving two 1980's German Cars, back in the era when US comapinrs were trying to relearn what a car was suppose do be (Remember the K-cars? - gag) . Be it Porsche 944's, BMW 3-series, or VW Sciroccos, I love 'em. Real German sports cars - not some 'Made in Brazil or South Africa or Mexico, but actually made in Germany. All fun cars to drive. I keep them like new, mostly because I can't buy replacements in terms of value - the cars are basic, reliable transportation, good styling, good handling good gas mileage - produced in the era when fuel injection (a very good thing) was becoming the norm, yet the Japanese trend to gadget-ize everything had not kicked in and you could still get manual windows (hurray!) Call me a luddite, but I don't need a GPS in my dash, On-star satellite door-unlocking nonsense, mysterious and weird little 'check engine' lights, or engine error codes. Nowadays the race to out-gizmo the competition makes cars unappealing. Bring back the 1972 Ford Bronco, the Land Rover defender 90, the old Chevy Suburban, The Porsche 944 and keep your 14-way power seats! I want a car - not something from Battlestar Gallactica.
Remember the days when if you fumbled a wrench, you always knew where to find it? (on the ground, under the car). Nowadays, a fumbled socket could very mean a trip back to Sear's Tool Department for a new tool. :-)
1967 was a fine year for automobile designers - the was a good era - up until the Industry did a collective brain lobotomy on 1973.
Amazing my cheap Volkswagen New Beetle has been completely reliable in over the year I've owned it. And its not even a new car!
My wife is a Z-car nut. We have 260Z, 280Z, 280ZX, and four '87/88 300ZX's (been looking for a solid 240Z rebuilder, skipped the Z32 90's 300's, and waiting on a 350)). We just sold our 420SEL Benz. I kept my Towncar, 'cause it gets 25 mpg on regular, instead of 16-18 on high test. Of course, I have to replace air bag suspension parts at 100K! But, our Benz made over a quarter million miles before departing to a new home...
My kayak toter is an '88 Volvo Turbo wagon. It goes most places, and I can carry my dog, Spot, whereever I wish (dalmations SHED!!!). But, when it snows, out comes the Explorer 4X4. It always goes, and wife can do most of the maintainance. She does everything to the cars, from starters and brakes, to oil changes and tune-ups. I stay out of the way! I am a qualified driver...
They were too cheap or too prince nez to go with Linux. LOL!!!
If you mean the transmission fluid, forget it. It has to be dealer-serviced with special tools. The motor oil can still be topped off at periodic intervals and I highly recommend Mobil 1 Synthetic in VW's. It keeps my NB purring on the road.
There's an excellent review of the Toyota Prius in AA's "Westways." The owners say its a great car and it climbs hills better than the old conventional engine Toyota Camry they had and it accelerates quickly on freeways. Maintenance has been surprisingly cheap: $5-60 every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Although the car needs a Prius-certified technician, most of the maintenance is fairly routine. Quite simply put, like Toyotas in general, its a reliable car and the company is learning how to build better hybrids. The battery will kick in when you don't need the power or speed. An on-board computer manages everything smoothly. And oh yeah, the battery is warranted to last 10 years or 150,000 miles and Toyota has successfully tested it for longer periods. A hybrid might be a good buy if you love the joy of passing a gas station.
My car was built in Mexico and so far it hasn't fallen apart around me. Some people get cars that are perfect and some wind up with lemons. It can affect their perceptions of the brand. I love my VW.
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