Here's some good, general info about the car makers. Since everyone on NS is 12 and listens to whatever they say in Teen Steam magazine, everyone is going to tell you to get a WRX or an Audi (probably because Bam Margera drives one). They think european cars are actually reliable. newsflash: they never have been. The euros build excellent race cars but their production models have never been anything to write home about. American cars were cool in the 60's. That was 40 years ago. This study says the same thing I've always said: like it or not, the japs sre still way ahead of the game. If you don't like it, just remember, you are 12 and you are saying 48 000 car owners in a study by a major, respected firm are wrong. Good luck with that.
In a study of three-year-old vehicles, Japan-based manufacturers are still tops in dependability, while domestics show improvement.
The 2001 Honda S2000 was the highest ranked Premium Sports Car, and American Honda was the second-highest ranked corporation in the 2004 VDS.
The Chevrolet Tahoe was the highest ranked Full-Size SUV, and General Motors Corporation was ranked fourth in the 2004 VDS.
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Porsche Cars North American was ranked third on the corporate ratings of the 2004 VDS.
Seven different Toyota and Lexus models earned the top score in their individual categories, and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. received the top corporate ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).
Toyota's Lexus brand was the top-ranked nameplate for the tenth consecutive year, followed by General Motor's Buick nameplate, Nissan's Infiniti brand, Ford's Lincoln brand, and GM's Cadillac brand.
The Vehicle Dependability Study measures problem symptoms of three-year-old vehicles. The 2004 VDS is based on the responses received from more than 48,000 original owners of 2001 model-year cars and light trucks. The vehicles are scored based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).
The brands with the most improvement in PP100 for 2004 over last year are Kia with 77 fewer problems, Suzuki with 38 fewer problems, and Audi with 23 fewer problems, although all three brands remain below the industry average.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. 207 PP100
American Honda Motor Co. 210 PP100
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. 240 PP100
General Motors Corporation 262 PP100
BMW of North America 264 PP100
Industry Average 269 PP100
Nissan North America 271 PP100
Ford Motor Company 275 PP100
Subaru of America, Inc. 288 PP100
DaimlerChrysler 302 PP100
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. 327 PP100
Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Vehicle Dependability Study
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'Dude, check out this nasty gouge.'
'Your mom has a nasty gouge.'
'221 is fucking hilarious'
~221