Quote:
Originally Posted by barry12345
What is tragic here is most of us in our family learnt with time not to trust the big three. A couple of examples we purchased new proved this to us many years ago. Then some members of our family did it again last year. Having more trust in the imports not intentially passing problems along. This Volkswagon episode means there are now major issues trust wise potentially with more brands.
|
Barry, the trust issue becomes muddier by the month as more new models are announced that are made here or there, or made by one manufacturer for another (such as the new Mazda model made by Toyota, or is that vice versa, I forget).
Many manufacturers, VAG being right at the top, have been riding on undeserved reps and clever marketing for years or decades. Subaru is a major deadbeat in this department. Nissan also, for their models made over the last 5-10 years.
Mercedes should hang its head in shame for the first incarnation of the Smart. Utter crap and pitiful service and parts support. No wonder they sold it here in Canada but let a private firm take on importing it to the USA for that generation.
I could go on. Best bet for those of us in the older-car world is to latch onto one model that shows decent promise and has good owner forum support and hang on. I may go the Volvo XC70 route next year, the 2004-up build years are acceptable and though they are troublesome cars, there is fantastic forum and private DIY site support.
It's either that or a 2007-ish Chev Impala. Not as good as a Camry but I could never bring myself to drive a Toyota. Local taxi drivers report they get 600-800,000 kms on the Impalas and more than 1 million kms off the Camrys before they are retired. (Both assume one engine change during their service life.)
Aside: the driver who had the longest-lived Camry, 1.2 m kms, actually bought the car for his personal use after it was retired (bylaw mandates taxis be retired at 8 yrs of age).