Perceptions of reliabilty
Discussion
Subaru Impreza WRX, reputation for chocolate pistons etc but AFAIK, if treated like a normal car and not tuned or abused, they are utterly bulletproof.
Mrs H bought one new in 04, has done 70k in with with nothing more than basic servicing, a new battery and front calipers. Unfortunately it didn't stop her getting shunted the other week, it's a write off.
She had a 94 Impreza turbo before that, guess what we've just replaced it with.........
Mrs H bought one new in 04, has done 70k in with with nothing more than basic servicing, a new battery and front calipers. Unfortunately it didn't stop her getting shunted the other week, it's a write off.
She had a 94 Impreza turbo before that, guess what we've just replaced it with.........
I think reliability and cost of ownership are two different things.
In twenty years of new - max 4yr old company cars I have seen a variety of reliable and unreliable cars. While everyone thinks that company cars are maintained regardless of cost, that is not true, they are maintained when they NEED maintenance. Everything is pushed to the limits of either legality or manufacturers recommendations.
Fords were terrible, of three Focus estates, non lasted more than 9 months before I rejected them, and I wasn't alone, 10 or more other people I work with had the same reliability issues.
Vauxhalls were a joke, they were faultless (give or take incredibly minor issues) until around 65-70k, then they either continued to run forever, or they died spectacularly before 90k (gearboxes, fuel pumps, suspension collapses, always something major that would make the lease company write it off as uneconomical to repair).
Toyotas were superb, until the 2.2 diesel came around, and all bar one had new engines under warranty.
The surprise for me has been my Alfa, yeah, an Alfa, 3.5 years in and ONE thing has gone wrong, the upper glove box latch died, £55 and it's replaced. Other than being highly sensitive to tyre pressures and makes, its been faultless.
According to our fleet manager the Passat circa 2003 was the most reliable, and I guess he has the facts to prove (from our 500 car fleet)
In twenty years of new - max 4yr old company cars I have seen a variety of reliable and unreliable cars. While everyone thinks that company cars are maintained regardless of cost, that is not true, they are maintained when they NEED maintenance. Everything is pushed to the limits of either legality or manufacturers recommendations.
Fords were terrible, of three Focus estates, non lasted more than 9 months before I rejected them, and I wasn't alone, 10 or more other people I work with had the same reliability issues.
Vauxhalls were a joke, they were faultless (give or take incredibly minor issues) until around 65-70k, then they either continued to run forever, or they died spectacularly before 90k (gearboxes, fuel pumps, suspension collapses, always something major that would make the lease company write it off as uneconomical to repair).
Toyotas were superb, until the 2.2 diesel came around, and all bar one had new engines under warranty.
The surprise for me has been my Alfa, yeah, an Alfa, 3.5 years in and ONE thing has gone wrong, the upper glove box latch died, £55 and it's replaced. Other than being highly sensitive to tyre pressures and makes, its been faultless.
According to our fleet manager the Passat circa 2003 was the most reliable, and I guess he has the facts to prove (from our 500 car fleet)
It's down to expectations. I expected years ago for German cars to be reliable. The bmws I had proved they were not. My old Saab 900 did almost 200k before rust for it. My Lexus has done 100k in 5 hers with nothing more than routine servicing.
As for the land rover in the original post, that's the kind of do list that would put me off owning that brand of car for life... Landcruiser.
As for the land rover in the original post, that's the kind of do list that would put me off owning that brand of car for life... Landcruiser.
Some of the brands perceived as unreliable have been my most reliable!
I've owned 2 Renaults. Apart from a faulty electric window, neither my Clio nor Laguna had much wrong over the 4 years each I owned them. (The Laguna did have a starting issue, solved in 20minutes by the AA).
Vauxhall. I've got a 2006 Astra which I've ran for the last 6 years. Failed mot once for a broken spring. Apart from servicing, nothing else. I've also owned a 1989 and 1995 Astra in the past. Again no major issues. The 95 Astra left me stranded once when the sump gasket went. My most unreliable Vauxhall was a mk2 Cavalier. Between 74 -90k miles it needed a fuel pump, distributor and starter motor. My dad had run the same car from 40-74k miles with no issues.
Citroen. Not as reliable as other makes of car I've owned, but probably better than expected with my ZX which only left me stranded with a wiring to starter motor issue. The only major issue in 3 years. The Xsara however was a complete disaster, and completely lived up to the poor reputation. I've never went near Citroen since!
My own personal experience of Ford is patchy. It's been a while since I've owned or driven one. The last Fords I drove on a regular basis were a mixture of company pool cars or my own personal cars. 90's Fiestas/Escorts/Mondeo. All of which seemed to spend a fair chunk of their lives in the garage!
I've owned 2 Renaults. Apart from a faulty electric window, neither my Clio nor Laguna had much wrong over the 4 years each I owned them. (The Laguna did have a starting issue, solved in 20minutes by the AA).
Vauxhall. I've got a 2006 Astra which I've ran for the last 6 years. Failed mot once for a broken spring. Apart from servicing, nothing else. I've also owned a 1989 and 1995 Astra in the past. Again no major issues. The 95 Astra left me stranded once when the sump gasket went. My most unreliable Vauxhall was a mk2 Cavalier. Between 74 -90k miles it needed a fuel pump, distributor and starter motor. My dad had run the same car from 40-74k miles with no issues.
Citroen. Not as reliable as other makes of car I've owned, but probably better than expected with my ZX which only left me stranded with a wiring to starter motor issue. The only major issue in 3 years. The Xsara however was a complete disaster, and completely lived up to the poor reputation. I've never went near Citroen since!
My own personal experience of Ford is patchy. It's been a while since I've owned or driven one. The last Fords I drove on a regular basis were a mixture of company pool cars or my own personal cars. 90's Fiestas/Escorts/Mondeo. All of which seemed to spend a fair chunk of their lives in the garage!
Edited by ch108 on Saturday 6th February 22:25
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