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Consumer Reports: Best cars for making it to 200,000 miles - Top 10 all Toyota & Honda, Prius #1

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Eug, Apr 3, 2015.

  1. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Oh I don't know about that. I've talked to a number of shop owners who just can' t give a thumbs up to brands like VW, Ford, Dodge,
    Owner end up getting lots of probs like check engine lights and other bugaboos that have them taking their nearly new car back to the dealer for repairs.
    Consumer Reports did a brand ranking a year ago. Jeep, Ford, Dodge, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Nissan, Volkswagen were the lowest in reverse order of 23 brands..

    Lexus, Acura, Audi, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda, Honda were the top in foward order. I think Mazdas will end up costing big bucks to keeps going over 100k or so miles.

    CR Best Cars ISSN 1550-4301
     
  2. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    There was a TSB a couple of years after buying it, we brought it in, and they replaced some parts in the transmission. Never had an issue with the transmission before or after.
     
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Note, they specified the 4 cylinder for the Accord. The transmission was weak behind the V6 in the early 2000's. Brother had first hand experience with it. It could also be an issue with the Odyssey of that era.
    Late 1990's, maybe early 2000's, CR was reporting Subaru had as many problems per 100 cars as the American brands at the time. They've improved, but going 200k miles generally going more than 10 years.
    Yep, they group telemetric and radio complaints with engine and transmission problems.
     
  4. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    That was a quick fix to try to get it beyond 100k miles.

    You are still lucky. Others not so lucky even after their fix.
     
  5. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Wait, didn't we just have a Prius TSB to extended the inverter warranty? :whistle: Anyway...Honda and Toyota are still hands down overall the best...but we already knew that.
     
  6. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    This photo has been in my album for years, but still true...

    [​IMG]
     
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Stupid me . . . I bought our cabin filter on line for $8 (including shipping) and changed it out in 2 minutes. I'm a bit slow now that I'm getting older. Yep ... a bit-O-markup when you go dealer.
    ;)
    .
     
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'm comparing to the 80's and I think most automotive manufacturers have come a long way. They all learn from each other, and now a days car manufacturing is more and more of a total global affair. Many manufacturers share the same parts vendors.

    Of course as long as there is more than one auto manufacturer you're going to be able to rank them. Somebody will always be on the top, somebody on the bottom.

    But like I said, there was a reason I bought a Honda Fit for probably a couple thousand dollars more than I could of bought a similar "looking" Hyundai Accent. There's a reason I trusted Toyota and the HSD in Prius. Toyota and Honda still build quality automobiles.

    But where 20-25 years ago, I'd say there was a big difference between say a Rav 4 and a Ford Escape, I'd feel comfortable at least comparing and considering the two vehicles today. I think you can look at a Ford Focus or Chevy Cruz alongside a Toyota Corolla.

    When the bullet hits the bone, I still might go or recommend going with the Honda or Toyota but the difference or quality line I think is much, much closer and comparable.

    I'd say part of it is the improvement of other brands, and part of it regrettably is the deterioration of Toyota and Honda. For example, the buzz on the new Honda Fits being built in a new plant in Mexico has been that they've been hampered by a lot of problems. Honda probably will get it all sorted out, but early adopters of the new Honda Fit have had fit and finish issues not typical of Honda in the past.

    I suppose SOMEDAY something would of killed my 1992 Honda Accord, but it wasn't dying easy. The thing went on, and on, and on...

    Don't know if anybody is building cars up to those standards today. Early 90's Accords, Camrys and Corollas felt like you could keep them running nearly forever.
     
    PLSPUSH and Tideland Prius like this.
  9. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    My Lexus RX300 has 320,000 miles on it with the original engine and transmission doing regular oil changes and maintenance. Lexus' mechanics are perfectionists and make the car feel brand new with every major service.
     
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  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I agree. I should check with my friend on his mum's 1991 Corolla LE 5-spd. When I last saw it 8 years ago, it was still in pristine condition. White with red interior and original AM/FM radio (wasn't switched out to some aftermarket unit from Best Buy).
     
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  11. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I have a niece with a 2002 Civic sedan that has been making quite the oil spot in the street for years, the transmission is covered in oil, its dipstick doesn't even seal and I know the car has received little service over the years.
    This Civic is near 180k miles and has not had a major breakdown since she got it at 100k miles.
    Now that is a bullet proof car. She's been warned for years the time for major repair or replacement is coming.
    She turns 30 this month and it's up to her to do the right thing or seek good advice.

    Article does not say Prius is #1, it happens to be listed first.
    I can say the Prius / PiP are last place in sales to date this year of all those ten.
    Camry and Corolla combined sales are 190,000 to date 2015. Of those, maybe 8k are hybrids (Camrys) which are way overpriced now IMO.
    Prius plus PiP is about 25k and 49th in sales of all vehicles in US.

    What a difference 5 years makes.
     
    #31 cycledrum, Apr 4, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 5, 2015
  12. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

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    Actually yes it does. In fact, I even posted the relevant blurb right in my original post.

    With seating for five, hatchback versatility, rock-solid reliability, and an amazing 44-mpg overall in our tests, there’s a lot to like about the Prius. That’s why it’s a top-scorer in our Ratings, and a perennial favorite in our owner satisfaction surveys. And those owners like to drive them, with more examples on the far side of 200K than any other model in our survey.

    That article doesn't claim the Prius is #1 in sales or anything of the sort.

    And if anything, that just makes the #1 status for the Prius all the more remarkable.
     
  13. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    CD, 2014 or 2015 cars do not have 200k miles
     
  14. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Find a new dealer.....
     
  15. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    My '97 sure didn't. I dumped it eighteen months ago, at 175k, when it had too much upcoming repair expense. Meanwhile, the '86 Accord that was replaced by my first Prius (a 2010), is now just six blocks away and still running. And the spouse still refuses to give up her daily driver '89 Integra.

    The Subaru is very good when Honda and Toyota are not in the comparison lineup.
     
  16. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Oh brother ....
    CR is saying these are the ten most reliable vehicles you can buy, and they have many other good attributes.
    Yes, CR says Prius has more examples North of 200k miles than other 9.
    Anyone think Prius sales are going to go up because of this article? I don't.
    I think Prius sales go up when gas prices go up because Prius is Mostly known for MPGs. It sure isn't known as such a hunk of a car for the price.
     
  17. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

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    ^^^ do not know why, but for some reason you keep making strawman arguments.
     
  18. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    Likewise surprised Mazdas are not on the list. When we needed used parts none of the junk yard had one with less then 248k.
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the article is not about sales. most car buyers aren't looking for cars that will go 200,000 miles. used car buyers maybe.
     
  20. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    That's ok, bisco. It is not about reliability either.