Car reliability statistics

Note to self: Must read posts more carefully !

Jeff

 

Yep, I'm regretting mentioning the whole Nissan thing as it probably wasn't really a fair comment tbh. Buying a 2nd hand car is probably not any way to judge the potential reliability of a model/make as it depends on whether the previous owners had maintained it properly etc. For example in the past I've also had two ultra reliable old Cavaliers, two bad VW's and one good one, one great BMW and one slightly iffy one, a wonderful Honda Aerodeck, a reliable Peugeot etc etc...., so I struggle to draw any conclusions othert than perhaps I change my car too often (four/five cars in the last 18 months)!

 

Yep i had a 92 Primera EGT which was a great car, handles superbly, goes like stink + a timing chain instead of a belt. Sold it and now have a Seat Toledo 1.8T - which is a big pile of poo by comparison. Understeers like a pig on stilts, decidely weird suspension - hard one minute, soft the next (mismatched dampers and springs im guessing), power arrives in one great big lump. Oh yeh and it hurts my back.

What i have learnt from this is: dont change your car unless you have to. Youll probably regret it and it will cost you an bucket load.

Anyone know of any decent 92-96 Primera EGTs with good mileage and history going anywhere?......

 

9% of the worlds cars....

Those would come from Sunderland (Nissan), Swindon (Honda), Dagenham, southampton, coventry, solihull and gaydon (Ford), Luton (General Motors)?

Britain's largest car manufacturer is LTI. Who?! London Taxis International. After that there's TVR, Lotus and Metrocab, then all the other little cottage industry sports cars (Radical, Ariel, Westfield, Dax, etc).

 

I think we are capable these days, the UK has nine different volume manufacturers in this country plus the luxery.sports brands. As for as home-grown manufacturers, IMO the motor industry dug its own grave in the 70's.

In hindsight its probably true to say failure was only a matter of time. If GM and Ford are in deep trouble then its shows just how hard the industry is getting.

 

I can't wait

 

Nor can I.............

Yes Isaac, it would include those plants. I didnt mean just the native companies such as the London taxi co and tvr. I think production was around 1.7m last year, not sure what the predictions are for next year.

 

I'm actually wondering if TVR still counts, since it's russian owned. Like Chelsea.

 

TVR Engineering is a UK ltd. company so still counted as a UK company. The Russian bloke is a director.

 

And the owner...

 

lotus is owned by proton last i heard. so does IT still count?

 

Fair point, although I thought Proton sold out to GM (again). Either way, it would then not count.

 

Yes, you could have a point Isaac, being the sole owner of TVR I suppose you could technically call it Russian, but he is the MD and Im positive there's not a parent company involved. Im still calling it British.

Im not sure that the directors at Lotus knows who owns them, I thought Proton was goingt to the wall with VW the interested party?. Why would GM be interested when its not that long ago they were in talks with the US govt about bankruptcy and Saab were supposed to be on their way. Strange indeed!

I did do a something on a companies nationality at Uni, but Ive forgot what it was now.

 

Actually the company that makes the black cabs is something to do with a S.African steel company so even that might not be 100% brit beef.

 

Its no sceret that the MK1 focus is one of the most reliable cars around, it has scored consitantly highly since the start. Our fleet runs amounst other things focuses and mondeos's. They quite comfortbly rack up 130,000 with out any real fuss.

I have driven a focus that had 188,000 miles on the clock, and it still felt tight and pleasing to drive. The steering wheel and gearlever etc where a bit worn, but that can be expected.

100,000 is not a big deal at all for most decent modern cars if properly serviced. Japanese or not...

But definately not french!

 

Jeremy Clarkson drives a Y Reg Focus as his shopping car and he has claimed its the most reliable car he has ever owned.

I have yet to see a broken down focus or a focus with any rust etc. They are a real bargain is probably the car my dad will get when he replaces the Escort.

My dads Escort has not fairly reliable but the same old problems seem to occure on it My mates 1992 Fiesta has 91,000 on the clock and still runs very well, its idles a bit but for £250 who cars?

My uncles Skoda Fabria has clocked up more than 100,000 and only recently has started to cause problems as the Altenator packed up causing ECU problems due to the lack three phase power generation.

My grandad has a Nissan Micra (1992 verson) that had almost 140,000 and still ran perfectly.

My uncles new MG ZR has many problems.

In summary the cars listed in that survey are no surprise to me at all.

 

My 1974 Moto Guzzi has done 100000 miles, with very few problems (apart from the occasional Italian electric gremlin, and an engine rebuild to release 40 extra horses..), and my '76 Land Rover has has gone round the clock twice - which is remarkable as it spends a lot of time driving through mud! It's also remarkable as I service it, and despite this it doesn't brake down..

 

I think its fair to say that most cars were much worse in the 70's than they are today. Even I remember the days when it would be a early dark winters morning and all you could hear is "chi chi chi chi beee chi chi chi brum click chi ch conk"

These days its just "chi chi brum"

 

Don't forget Toyota in Derby where they make the Avensis and Corolla

 

Interesting. Would bear in this mind next time we need a replacement.

BTW what are Japs car when the one we buy are built in UK and the so call German branded are really owned by the Americans.