Topic: Car Brand Perception Survey, some surprises

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Unlike some people I am not hung up on reliability with one exception.   A car may die on me exactly once in the middle of a journey. A second occurrence and its gone. 

I've never really owned an unreliable vehicle IMO, but will echo that comment.

[mmret]

A friend of mine had a Hyundai Pony which was 100% reliable but the ROOF rusted away.

This was my family's first car upon arriving on Canadian shores (well, technically Kingston, but anyways...).

I was rather young then but that thing actually managed to get us from Kingston to Sudbury a few years later, all four of us and whatever we had packed into that little thing. Scariest moment was when a transport truck drove by in the opposite direction and the car moved sidways.

The heater never worked, which means your left arm was always cleaning off the windshield with a cloth in the winter (I handled the passenger side of the windshield), but weirdly enough it never broke down, and we sold it for like $300. I think we traded it on a K Car.

The roof was okay.

[safristi]

 Roofies OK.............damn wot date woz dat ****...............

[tpl]

I used to drive SAABs until they decided to get overpriced so I drove VW Golfs until the Insurance Co decided that they wanted too much money 'cos I lived in Cabbagetown.  I wouldn't buy a SAAB now as they are not "real" Saabs.   Volvos are old mans cars... my perception.  That leaves expensive German cars as all there is.

Unlike some people I am not hung up on reliability with one exception.   A car may die on me exactly once in the middle of a journey. A second occurrence and its gone. 

Mini Cooper?

I dunno Mitlov.   I call that a German car now so it still counts.   What I REALLY want is a diesel BMW with real tires and a dipstick  but a smaller engine than the 335d, a manny tranny and  and to be on the road here for <$50k including the necessary sport and leather packages.  Preferably a 325xiD if such a thing could be made.  A nice simple 2.5l single turbo diesel engine  with maybe 180 bhp and 300+ lbs ft of torque. No Bluetec I don't give a damn if I cant drive it in California but certainly as clean as this years Euro diesel standards

[safristi]

tpl thank GAWD ya didn't say a smaller dipstick................. i can run flat fer a few rounds ..after that i'm DONE....

[airbalancer]

I used to drive SAABs until they decided to get overpriced so I drove VW Golfs until the Insurance Co decided that they wanted too much money 'cos I lived in Cabbagetown.  I wouldn't buy a SAAB now as they are not "real" Saabs.   Volvos are old mans cars... my perception.  That leaves expensive German cars as all there is.

Unlike some people I am not hung up on reliability with one exception.   A car may die on me exactly once in the middle of a journey. A second occurrence and its gone. 

Mini Cooper?

I dunno Mitlov.   I call that a German car now so it still counts.   What I REALLY want is a diesel BMW with real tires and a dipstick  but a smaller engine than the 335d, a manny tranny and  and to be on the road here for <$50k including the necessary sport and leather packages.  Preferably a 325xiD if such a thing could be made.  A nice simple 2.5l single turbo diesel engine  with maybe 180 bhp and 300+ lbs ft of torque. No Bluetec I don't give a damn if I cant drive it in California but certainly as clean as this years Euro diesel standards

So the close you will come to that is a VW in NA
"The Jetta Clean-diesel TDI is Volkswagen's latest and most
technologically advanced TDI diesel engine. Developing 140 HP and 235 lb/ft of
torque, this turbocharged 16-valve diesel engine power plant is equipped with
a common-rail injection system that delivers great power in a manner that is
so smooth and quiet that you will likely mistake it for a conventional
gasoline engine. Despite the added power this engine will return fuel
efficiency figures that will be similar to the previous TDI engine, which,
were 5.1 litres/100 km on the highway."

[mmret]

Obviously, you've spoken to some uninformed people. 
(or in an area that has very few if any Hyundais.)
In Ottawa/Gatineau, they are extremely popular.

There is a maroon Veracruz in my building's parking complex. Makes the Lexus RX look awful, imo.

[tpl]

Yes AirB thats right.... and that may be it when the time comes. at less than 10,000 km/year  I just can't justify a new BMW and really to be honest i won't get payback on a diesel in my remaining lifetime.   But it would be/will be great when gas hits >$2/litre.

[airbalancer]

It takes a long time to erase a negative feeling once that feeling settles over a particular line. Look how long it is taking/has taken Hyundai to overcome it's old image of "cheap" vehicles.
I believe most people still think these are cheap cars, atleast  the people I have spoken with.
There is only a small KIA dealer in the area.

Obviously, you've spoken to some uninformed people. 
(or in an area that has very few if any Hyundais.)
In Ottawa/Gatineau, they are extremely popular.

The people I speak with are very informed people, as they do not work for the government

[safristi]

That rules out All of Quebec and Eastern Canada then...........

[barrie1]

I guess I'll have to take your word for it Rrocket as you are a real engineer, right. THese lists are only as good as the info they accurately put in them and we have now way of proving them right or wrong. Many of you do not believe very few of the Magazines and their articles already so what makes this list so proper and correct? The only non-reliable cars I have ever owned were both Imports. One from Japan and one from Britain. They both were junk but for different reasons. The body fell off of one in the 1st year and the other had total garbage for a engine. The only good part of the drivetrain was the TH400 transmission that it had in it. They are both better built now but I won't buy another one of either ever again. 

[airbalancer]

 

[initial_D]

Link:  http://www.canadiandriver.com/news_2008/01/16/080116-1.htm

No surprise for top 2, but the next 3?  Ford, Chev and GMC?

Opps, always a "but.....     

However, Consumer Reports warns that in many cases, consumers' views do not accurately reflect the automaker's recent track record. The magazine cited Mercedes-Benz, which finished in the top five for quality, but which placed 33rd out of 36 in Consumer Reports' latest rankings for predicted reliability over time.

Ford & Chevy still have a strong following, they will get positive inputs regardless.

I have answered numerous surveys, mostly work related. When the surveys are long, and questions are long, and the choices are more than 3, the enthusiasm to answer them correctly decreases a lot as the survey goes on. Most people will just want it to be over with. I have doubts about the accuracy of such survey, just another set of interesting numbers.

[barrie1]

Well said,  Trainman. Many people do not for example like the JP Powers reports but the Car Companies love them and figure they are the best indicator of a products quality. Not everyone agree's. 

[UmroAyyar]

What kind of accuracy people are looking for?

The title says it, its a 'Perception' survey, its what people like about what they own.

Its pretty clear, my brand is better or your brand is junk doesn't apply here.

My car is better than anyone else's because thats what I own and it fulfills my needs.