HOLY SHIT, VW, Ford lead in U.S. auto quality survey

[DainBramaged]

Less than a month after Ford Motor Co. was pummeled in one quality survey, a second survey has ranked it the No. 2 highest-quality U.S. automaker.

The second survey, released by Strategic Vision Inc. on Tuesday, said that customers' overall feeling about their vehicles is more important than particular problems.

Volkswagen was the top-ranked car company in the survey, helped by the Golf, Jetta and Tiguan models.

Ford owners reported more problems with their vehicles than the industry average, but rated the overall quality of the vehicles highly, according to the survey. They were particularly happy with the Ford Mustang coupe and convertible, the Flex, and the F-150 and 250/350 pickup trucks.



Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110712/RETAIL01/307129858/1272#ixzz1Rub4gcbw

Corporation Total quality score Percent reporting
Volkswagen of America 881 27
Ford Motor Co* 863 28
American Honda Motor* 862 19
Nissan Motor Corp* 862 21
INDUSTRY AVERAGE 861 24
General Motors Co** 860 27
Toyota Motor Sales 854 20
Chrysler Group 853 28
Hyundai Motor America 852 28
* Statistical tie
** Excludes Saab

[kenny blankenship]

1. that is also a huge turnaround for VW

oh "overall feeling about their vehicles is more important than particular problems."

I see. As long as you remember how the commercial made you feel, you still think it's a good car.

[DainBramaged]

2. I remember VW nearly pulling out of the US because sales were so bad

and their engineers refused to put cup holders in cars because they were 'superfluous'.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Does quality include years of reliable operation?

Our family's decision to buy Toyotas for many years was based on info that they would run reliably for many years and miles without major problems. We found that Toyota's reliability has declined since 2001. If we could afford even a used car today, it would be a Honda.

Before I would spend money on a Ford (if I had any), I would want to know if it could be counted on to run reliably, without major problems such as transmission failures, for at least 7 years.

[DainBramaged]

4. Read the beloved Consumer Reports that's all

You've already stated you think japanese cars are superior, why bother with domestics?

[LiberalEsto]

12. I did not say I thought Japanese cars were superior

I feel that you may be biased against Japanese cars and anyone who says they like them, and jumped to a conclusion too quickly.

What I said was that we found that Toyotas were very reliable in the past, until around 2000-2001. We experienced many problems with a 2001 Camry, and while we're happy with the engine and mileage performance of our 2005 Toyota Matrix so far, we think the body, both interior and exterior, is crap.

My in-laws had one Buick after another after another blow transmissions within a couple of years. We convinced them to get a Toyota Camry some years ago - maybe 1995 - and it is still running fine.

Until I get some solid evidence that Ford or other American cars can show a long-time track record of reliability, I am withholding judgement on them. The last time we bought an American car, a Dodge Caravan around 1992, it was one expensive disaster after another.

The issue is moot anyway, since I've been out of work for almost 3 years and there isn't any way we can afford even a used car in the foreseeable future. If it turns out that we can some day afford another used car, and if Fords or other American cars are showing years of reliable performance, we would certainly consider them.

[DainBramaged]

13. Our family's decision to buy Toyotas for many years was based on info that they would run reliably

Did I write those words?

[LiberalEsto]

17. It appears you have some sort of axe to grind

I also wrote, immediately after that sentence, "We found that Toyota's reliability has declined since 2001."

My only concern regarding cars is that our finances are very limited, and we can't afford to take chances pissing our money away on unreliable cars, no matter what the manufacturer.

[DainBramaged]

18. I've been a UAW member since 1984, NEVER owned a japanese or korean car

or German for that matter, but GERMANY SUPPORTS UNIONS.


Is my axe big enough?

[guitar man]

5. I've got a 95 Lincoln mark viii

239,000 miles and it has its original engine, transmission, rear end, alternator, starter, power steering pump... bought it used in '03 with 100k miles and a meticulous set of maintenence records so I know none of that has ever been changed out. About the only things I've had to replace have been the water pump and fuel pump. My neighbor has a '94 Mercury Cougar with almost 300k miles, same story. They are great cars

[Union Scribe]

14. I'll never get why posters rush to brag about telling union labor to fuck themselves. nt

[DainBramaged]

16. It's amazing here, a bit of good news for non-Asian makes, and the defenders jump in

to tell us how fucking wonderful their cars are. I don't give a happy monkey fuck how good they think they are, THEY helped send good manufacturing jobs overseas.

[LiberalEsto]

21. That was the fault of the car manufacturers

I certainly do not blame the auto workers, but the fucking greedy car corporations decided years ago to sell us crap.

[HopeHoops]

6. Ford I can understand, but VW? WTF?

[mrmpa]

7. Bought a VW last year....

The car was built in Canada, my last car a Ford had also been built in Canada in 2001. This was the first time I had bought a vehicle that was a "European" brand. I wanted to buy another Ford, but the cost in a few cases was 50% of what I bought my home for.

So far so good with the VW.

[DainBramaged]

20. VW's sign and drive program is HUGE for kids under 30 who NEED a good car

My beautiful Daughter is actually thinking about a Jetta, go figure. But Germany supports Unions, so it's all good.

[kenny blankenship]

22. Do they support unions in the US as well as Germany?

Corporations usually don't tolerate unions beyond the power of govt and unions to force them to do so. So far, VW doesn't have any unionized plants in the US, if I understand this article correctly.

[DainBramaged]

24. You are correct. But then again, VW doesn't have the impact yet

[mrmpa]

25. They are also good at meeting the AAA price.......

I had a price from AAA that was $10,000 less than the list price. The dealer gave me the AAA price. I'm over 50 and I bought the Routan Van and am very happy with it.

[Brickbat]

8. Since 2001, we've owned four Fords: an F-250 diesel, a Focus wagon, a Focus sedan and a Taurus.

They've all been excellent, excellent cars.

[taught_me_patience]

9. Telling line: "Ford owners reported more problems with their vehicles than the industry average"

I drive a Ford, it's not close to the quality of the Honda that I had before.

[taught_me_patience]

10. dupe: delete

[tammywammy]

11. I have a Tiguan and have had no issues with it.

My previous Beetle had small issues, but definitely nothing that was a "deal breaker" and no more issues than my previous American made vehicles.

I think all the manufacturers have issues with some models, but in general I think cars made today are all pretty good quality wise.

[Oasis_]

29. I think we're going with the Ford Edge

but the Tiguan is a VERY, very nice vehicle. I've wanted an Edge for two years now, but couldn't justify the expense. Now that it's time for a trade in, the Edge it is... : )

Oasis

[aikoaiko]

15. If I can afford it, the Ford Flex will be my next vehicle.

Its a useful car.

[tammywammy]

19. The Flex is nice

I seriously considered the Escape before I purchased the Tiguan. The Tiguan came with more features "standard" and I just wasn't impressed with the interior fit & finish. Don't get me wrong, the Escape is a very nice vehicle, it just wasn't for me. I got a better deal with the Tiguan than I would have with the Escape.

[mrmpa]

26. It's a sweet car....that was my first choice before the

Routan, but it was way too expensive for my budget. The Flex was great to drive.

[Initech]

23. I really badly want a CC.

[JonTheGreat]

27. Always Diesel VW's for me. Never owned any other brand of car. My car now has 298,000 miles.

I love VW's especially the Diesel ones. Every car I've ever owned has been a diesel VW with a manual gearbox.

I still see the one I sold 10 years ago being driven everyday, too.

My current Jetta TDI is 9 years old, has a lifetime average on 50.2mpg and has 298,000 miles with minimal issues along the way

[flvegan]

28. You know, DB, I have a lot of respect for VW, but I'd buy a Ford.

I love what Vee-Dub has done...seriously, Bugatti, Lamborghini but were I spending my money, I'd have a Ford.

That's actually a lie. Had I the money, I'd still be knee-deep in getting a CTS-V Wagon. God, but I love love love that car.