All the best cars come from Japan according to UK survey

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2008/06/20/mjapan120.xml

Most of us knew this already, but for those few who don't (and you know who you are;))


Japanese cars Honda, Toyota, Daihatsu are most reliable, survey says


By Tom Peterkin

Last Updated: 12:01am BST 20/06/2008





Japanese car manufacturers have enhanced their already formidable reputation for first class engineering by leading a reliability league table drawn up in one of the UK's most detailed motoring surveys.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/graphics/2008/06/20/honda-350.jpg Cars made by Japanese companies comfortably outperformed British models when it came to dependability, according to the survey carried out by Which? Car magazine.

UK-based cars performed poorly with Land Rover coming joint bottom of the table with America's Crysler Dodge.


Japanese manufacturers took the first seven places in a reliability table of 38 brands compiled by the magazine.

Honda was the winning manufacturer, according to the study of 89,768 cars, which were up to eight years old.

Statistical analysis was used to calculate a Brand Reliability Index percentage based on readers' reports of total breakdowns, faults that required a vehicle to be taken to a garage and minor niggles.
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Break-downs were weighted more heavily than niggles. Honda achieved 85 per cent followed by Toyota, Daihatsu, Lexus, Mazda, Subaru and Suzuki.
The Korean Hyundai brand was the first to make inroads into Japanese domination, scoring 80 per cent.

The table was divided into reliability categories ranging from the best "very good" through "good", "average" and "poor" with the least reliable being described as "very poor".

Eight of the top ten most reliable brands were from Japan. The seven manufacturers in the "very good" category were all Japanese.
Only Hyundai and Porsche from Germany made it into the "good" category.
In contrast, British manufacturers were at the bottom of the table, with Rover (70 per cent "very poor") and MG (73 per cent "very poor"), brands that are no longer in production, and Vauxhall (75 per cent "poor") joining Land Rover (67 per cent "very poor") towards the bottom of the list.
Of the UK-based companies, only Mini (78 per cent) and Jaguar reached the average figure.

Despite Japan's overall success in the manufacturers', there was a blip in Honda's record with the firm's Civic model - made in Swindon, Wiltshire - which was in joint-bottom spot in the individual models' list.

Richard Headland, the Which? Car' editor, said: "Japan continues to show the rest of the world how to make consistently reliable cars, although the new Honda Civic shows they're not infallible. Some British-built cars, on the other hand, don't exactly run like clockwork. Land Rover, in particular, needs to raise its game."

The Which? Car survey said: "Japan continues to blaze a trail for making reliable cars. The 'Which? Car' 'very good' reliability category is not simply dominated by Japanese brands. It is Japanese brands."

Of the British cars, Mini, Jaguar, Vauxhall and Land Rover, it said: "None of these brands is under British ownership any more, but most are built in the UK. Tata, Land Rover's new owner must improve reliability."

porche is on the top of the british cars in reliability ehh

dont they use Toyota Compents in most of their cars =P

Since when is Porsche British? For as long as Ive been around, they have been German.
This study pretty much affirms what most of us on here already know.

Porsche has always been German.

Perhaps it is being confused with Lotus Cars. Lotus uses Toyota's 2ZZ engine. Lotus is a British company, although like all those other British car companies listed (MINI, MG, Rover, Land Rover, Jaguar), is not British-owned; it is owned by Proton, the Malaysian car company.

I dont think Lotus uses Toyota engines anymore. Last year I read they switched over to using GM Ecotech engines. Something to do with how Toyota wanted more money for the engines than what Lotus wanted to pay...

Lotus still uses Toyota engines.

"Despite Japan's overall success in the manufacturers', there was a blip in Honda's record with the firm's Civic model - made in Swindon, Wiltshire - which was in joint-bottom spot in the individual models' list."

That's strange. I thought the Civic was at the top of the compact car list? :confused:

"Despite Japan's overall success in the manufacturers', there was a blip in Honda's record with the firm's Civic model - made in Swindon, Wiltshire - which was in joint-bottom spot in the individual models' list."

That's strange. I thought the Civic was at the top of the compact car list? :confused:

As an auto manufacturer, Honda as a company (combining all models, such as Fit/Jazz, Civic, Accord, etc.) is at the top of the manufacturer's list, but the Honda Civic, as an individual car, is at the bottom of the cars' list.

The Civic sold in Britain and Europe is completely different from the Civic sold in North America.
http://img.worldcarfans.com/US/2005/8/1/2050801.004/2050801.004.Mini5L.jpg

^^^ I like that Civic better than ours but I know Honda got burned bringing a Si hatch over. Plus Americans generally don't care for hatchbacks hence the outrage against the new Subaru Impreza and STi hatchbacks. I love hatchbacks myself but I'm iffy on the Subaru hatchback as far as looks but its growing on me some what. :D:thumbup:

Ive always thought it was kind of weird that hatchbacks arent popular, but SUVs are. I guess I fail to see where a hatchback is all that different from a crossover SUV.

Ive always thought it was kind of weird that hatchbacks arent popular, but SUVs are. I guess I fail to see where a hatchback is all that different from a crossover SUV.

Agreed. Ask your fellow Americans why they will not buy hatchbacks or station wagons, yet will buy station wagons/hatchbacks on stilts, relabelled as "SUV" or "crossover".

I like the Euro Civic, it looks fantastic and most certainly fits the high tech look of its interior. I also really like hatchbacks, I quite like the Fit, Versa and Yaris hatches more than their sedan versions(minus the Fit which doesn't have one). The Impreza...always looked better as a hatch IMO...except this newer one which I still despise the looks, being the first time I really like the Evo instead when it comes to looks. The Legacy on the other hand always looked great as a wagon.

^^^^Actually I believe there is a FIT sedan variant but its obviously not sold in the U.S. Of course its nothing to get excited about.

^^^^Actually I believe there is a FIT sedan variant but its obviously not sold in the U.S. Of course its nothing to get excited about.

Wow! First time I heard about this. Doing a search, I found the following on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlxIiu1k_VE. It seems the FIT sedan is named the Honda City or Honda Fit Aria. I think it actually is not bad looking, and sort of reminds me of the Yaris Sedan/Vios.

Agreed. Ask your fellow Americans why they will not buy hatchbacks or station wagons, yet will buy station wagons/hatchbacks on stilts, relabelled as "SUV" or "crossover".
Station wagons have a stigma of not being, "cool". Its kind of the same thing with minivans.
SUVs are a status symbol. Its a sign that you are successful and SUVs make a person feel bigger and more powerful.
Id have no problem driving a hatchback. I couldnt care less if anyone thinks my car is cool. For me, its all about having a vehicle that gets me where I want to go in comfort and that gets the highest possible gas milage with the least possible number of breakdowns/repairs.
Last year, my brother and his wife were looking to replace her '00 Lincoln LS with something that was more fuel-efficient (the LS only gets about 23-25 mpg) and had a little more room inside. They have a black Lab and when they take long trips, with the dog and their luggage and a cooler and what not; it gets little crowded in the LS, so they usually end up taking my brother's Ford Super. The SD only gets about 14 mpg (its got a 6.8L V10 under the hood), so the fuel bill gets a little crazy on long trips.
Anyways, she really liked the Edge, but it was going to cost them something like $600 a month for 7 years. Granted, the Edge had a lot of cool features. It has the panoramic glass roof, AWD, Sirius and power everything; but come on!
I told them they could buy a used Ford Freestyle or Toyota Highlander for way less than that, but they didnt like that idea. They said the Freestyle was too plain and they wont buy a Toyota because its foreign (yet they will buy an Edge thats made in Mexico :lol:).
They ended up just keeping the LS.

Station wagons have a stigma of not being, "cool". Its kind of the same thing with minivans.
SUVs are a status symbol. Its a sign that you are successful and SUVs make a person feel bigger and more powerful.
Id have no problem driving a hatchback. I couldnt care less if anyone thinks my car is cool. For me, its all about having a vehicle that gets me where I want to go in comfort and that gets the highest possible gas milage with the least possible number of breakdowns/repairs.
Last year, my brother and his wife were looking to replace her '00 Lincoln LS with something that was more fuel-efficient (the LS only gets about 23-25 mpg) and had a little more room inside. They have a black Lab and when they take long trips, with the dog and their luggage and a cooler and what not; it gets little crowded in the LS, so they usually end up taking my brother's Ford Super. The SD only gets about 14 mpg (its got a 6.8L V10 under the hood), so the fuel bill gets a little crazy on long trips.
Anyways, she really liked the Edge, but it was going to cost them something like $600 a month for 7 years. Granted, the Edge had a lot of cool features. It has the panoramic glass roof, AWD, Sirius and power everything; but come on!
I told them they could buy a used Ford Freestyle or Toyota Highlander for way less than that, but they didnt like that idea. They said the Freestyle was too plain and they wont buy a Toyota because its foreign (yet they will buy an Edge thats made in Mexico :lol:).
They ended up just keeping the LS.

Ah, the Freestyle and the Gen1 Highlander: probably the best examples of modern station wagons that I can think of. I have a good friend who bought a rare used 4-cylinder Highlander. (The 4-cylinder Highlanders are very, very rare here in Canada.) He was not somebody who would buy a SUV, and through discussion about his decision, we decided that he bought it because it was the only example of a station wagon that he could find.

I like the Freestyle, and I was hoping that the Gen2 Highlander would have turned out more like the Freestyle, instead of being more aggressively SUVish, as it did turn out. I don't understand how Ford failed with the Freestyle. Instead of trying to market the Freestyle, they went and produced the Flex. If Ford could not sell the Freestyle, will it be able to sell the Flex?

I think SUVs also cater to an insecurity that Americans have: SUVs (and big personal use pickup trucks) make them feel powerful in a "threatening" world.

I am venturing off topic, now, am I not?

I think SUVs also cater to an insecurity that Americans have: SUVs (and big personal use pickup trucks) make them feel powerful in a "threatening" world.

I am venturing off topic, now, am I not?


Yes but lets keep going:lol::lol::lol:

I agree. Its an insecurity that most Americans, not all have. Things are changing. Also it goes back to that marketing of you have to have a tank to not only keep you "safe" but also have room to carry two bags of groceries so you have enough space.

I find it amazing that most American's don't understand efficiency of space. Meaning they are dumb founded that a car such as a Yaris or even Corolla has "space." Now I'm not saying those cars are for everyone but the point is we have been ingrained in our minds you need a bus to haul around 2 kids and some stuff. Oh and the big one is they "target" the kids in that they say you would want to keep your kids safe so buy a huge SUV. Naturally that's soft spot for parents in the market for a car. Nothing wrong in keeping your kids safe but don't do it all blind hope.

Okay I'm making generalizations but they are true. We have this false sense of security when in reality SUVs create bigger blind spots. Takes longer to stop (weight), harder to maneuver in an emergency situation than a car. Yes its relative to what type of vehicle but for the most part its true. Now if you need an SUV and actually use it, good for you. But as we all know that's rarely the case. Now i'm not saying everyone should buy Yaris sized cars, I'm just saying we have this false sense of getting more than we need and hanging on to that mentality. Hence why cars have gotten bigger. Nothing wrong if you need a big car but I question if you get it to get it just cause they tell you need a big car when in reality you don't. Obviously cars aren't perfect or the end all be all but they are just as capable.

Okay now we can get back to our regular program. End of rant.:lol::lol::lol::thumbup:

Yes but lets keep going:lol::lol::lol:

I agree. Its an insecurity that most Americans, not all have. Things are changing. Also it goes back to that marketing of you have to have a tank to not only keep you "safe" but also have room to carry two bags of groceries so you have enough space.

I find it amazing that most American's don't understand efficiency of space. Meaning they are dumb founded that a car such as a Yaris or even Corolla has "space." Now I'm not saying those cars are for everyone but the point is we have been ingrained in our minds you need a bus to haul around 2 kids and some stuff. Oh and the big one is they "target" the kids in that they say you would want to keep your kids safe so buy a huge SUV. Naturally that's soft spot for parents in the market for a car. Nothing wrong in keeping your kids safe but don't do it all blind hope.

Okay I'm making generalizations but they are true. We have this false sense of security when in reality SUVs create bigger blind spots. Takes longer to stop (weight), harder to maneuver in an emergency situation than a car. Yes its relative to what type of vehicle but for the most part its true. Now if you need an SUV and actually use it, good for you. But as we all know that's rarely the case. Now i'm not saying everyone should buy Yaris sized cars, I'm just saying we have this false sense of getting more than we need and hanging on to that mentality. Hence why cars have gotten bigger. Nothing wrong if you need a big car but I question if you get it to get it just cause they tell you need a big car when in reality you don't. Obviously cars aren't perfect or the end all be all but they are just as capable.

Okay now we can get back to our regular program. End of rant.:lol::lol::lol::thumbup:


We are going to smaller cars.. yet the world is moving towards bigger cars.. i.e.. China etc..etc... :D

We are going to smaller cars.. yet the world is moving towards bigger cars.. i.e.. China etc..etc... :D


well their economy is going up so they can afford to get bigger and bigger
ours is going down
so ours is going smaller and smaller.
=P

the day i see houston riding around in more small cars than big-ol stupid trucks
i know gas has gotten to expensive
even with prices this high
more SUVs and trucks on the road that cars currently
slowly the cars are taking over
eventually we will all be riding around in tiny little IQ's =P

Yep, I'm well aware of the changing market but I was generally pointing out what may be the case regarding bigger cars and perception.

China I just read is tight on gas supply and also they are raising gas prices there so maybe that will help slow down the demand as it has in the U.S. and stabilize the prices for awhile at least. Yes its a shock that its gone up but the real shock is more so to do with the short amount of time it went up so we didn't have a chance to really adjust. yes I know it was creeping up to 3.00 a gallon but up to 4.00 it was quicker so its an economic blow to everyone.:thumbdown