Your first car.

[Billy Hoyle]

1982 Oldsmobile Fiernza. A white hatchback. 50,000 miles. Purchased in 1992 for $2000.

My cousin owned a used car dealership, and my mom promised him we'd buy my first car from him. It had nothing but problems for the year and a half that I had it (had to hold my breath every time I went to start it). We sold it for $500 to a family friend who was going to fix and flip it and he discovered my prick cousin had rolled the mileage back. It was replaced by a 1991 Dodge Shadow that got both my sister and me through HS and college.

[tower912]

Bought an 1980 Honda Accord two door hatch in the summer of 88.  A year later I bought a 1989 Dodge Shadow new.   The quality control was so good that there was a Sundance badge on the dashboard.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Audi has gotten A LOT better.  10-12 years ago I'd agree, but people I know with recent Audis have have loved them and not had any real issues.

VW, I think it depends on the model.  We've had a VW Crossport for 18 months with no issues.  Same with other people I know with the SUVs.  Jettas and other sedans could be a different issue.

Audi and VW share about 60-70% of the same components depending on the model. I have driven 5 VWs over the last 14 years or so (3 Passats, 1 Atlas and 1 Tiguan) and have never had a single issue with any of them.

[JWags85]

I guess Audi is sort of mid tier, but they're still just fancy VWs 

That list also highlights how hilariously empirical people's experiences can be.

My BIL and his brother have done very well in the restaurant industry and they like a bit of flash.  Both of them drive Range Rover products and have for the last 5-6 years.  2 standard Ranges, a Range Sport, and a Range Rover Velar.  My sister in law has an Escalade.  The other brother's wife has a Porsche Cayenne, she previously had a Lexus SUV. 

They got rid of the Lexus cause it was a maintenance nightmare.  Had tons of issues.  Then, in the last 9 months, the Porsche has been in the shop 3 times.  My SIL's Escalade has been a money pit and they've sworn off Cadillac forever.

Meanwhile, both Range's, notorious maintenance FUBARs, have been dreams.  Only in the shop for routine maintenance and a sensor issue that ended up being a simple reset.  Really amusing.

[RJax55]

That list also highlights how hilariously empirical people's experiences can be.

My BIL and his brother have done very well in the restaurant industry and they like a bit of flash.  Both of them drive Range Rover products and have for the last 5-6 years.  2 standard Ranges, a Range Sport, and a Range Rover Velar.  My sister in law has an Escalade.  The other brother's wife has a Porsche Cayenne, she previously had a Lexus SUV. 

They got rid of the Lexus cause it was a maintenance nightmare.  Had tons of issues.  Then, in the last 9 months, the Porsche has been in the shop 3 times.  My SIL's Escalade has been a money pit and they've sworn off Cadillac forever.

Meanwhile, both Range's, notorious maintenance FUBARs, have been dreams.  Only in the shop for routine maintenance and a sensor issue that ended up being a simple reset.  Really amusing.

It's funny to see Kia and Hyundai near the top of that list considering the issue the brand is having with thefts. Is that a dependability issue?

[tower912]

No.

[dgies9156]

Audi and VW share about 60-70% of the same components depending on the model. I have driven 5 VWs over the last 14 years or so (3 Passats, 1 Atlas and 1 Tiguan) and have never had a single issue with any of them.

I bought a 2008 Volkswagen Eos hardtop convertible used in 2011 with 29,000. Have owned it for a decade, had my children drive it in high school and college, and never had a problem with it. The car now has 97,000 miles on it and runs well.

The car has an Audi A4 turbocharged engine. It has been in Florida since 2018 and admittedly has been babied.

My first car was a 1975 Chevy Nova with a 350 cubic inch (5.74 liter) V8 engine. I have a suspicion that car is being driven somewhere in the Chicago area even as we speak. Thing was ugly as sin but indestructible.

[MU82]

Cadillac was ranked a lot higher and Honda a lot lower than I would have expected on the JD Power list.

As Wags said, these kinds of rankings need to be taken with a grain of salt.

Consumer Reports surveys thousands upon thousands of owners each year to record their experiences. One interesting thing of the last couple of years is that Teslas, in general, have received poor grades for quality and reliability ... but in answering the question "Would you buy this vehicle again?" the vast majority of Tesla owners have said yes. Again, grain of salt.

[Hards Alumni]

Cadillac was ranked a lot higher and Honda a lot lower than I would have expected on the JD Power list.

As Wags said, these kinds of rankings need to be taken with a grain of salt.

Consumer Reports surveys thousands upon thousands of owners each year to record their experiences. One interesting thing of the last couple of years is that Teslas, in general, have received poor grades for quality and reliability ... but in answering the question "Would you buy this vehicle again?" the vast majority of Tesla owners have said yes. Again, grain of salt.

That's because Tesla is a cult, not a car company.  None of them want to admit that their Teslas are cheaply made and have poor quality control.  The tech is cool, they're saving the environment, and Elon Musk is their savior.

[MU82]

That's because Tesla is a cult, not a car company.  None of them want to admit that their Teslas are cheaply made and have poor quality control.  The tech is cool, they're saving the environment, and Elon Musk is their savior.

That's undoubtedly true for some. And not for others.

[JWags85]

That's undoubtedly true for some. And not for others.

Agreed.  Tesla has sold roughly 2 million units since the start of 2020.  Those aren't all myopic giddy Elon fanboys.  Hell, I had a good family friend who has a 2023 TSLA Model X funded in good part by gains made by shorting TSLA since late last year

[Hards Alumni]

That's undoubtedly true for some. And not for others.

I was referring to the people who acknowledge that their junk but would continue to buy them.  They're the culty dimwits.

[lawdog77]

I was referring to the people who acknowledge that their junk but would continue to buy them.  They're the culty dimwits.

Except "their"[sic] not junk. There might be some design flaws, but the technology they use is nothing sore of impressive, and progressing with each model. That's probably why many would buy Tesla again.

[BrewCity83]

It's funny to see Kia and Hyundai near the top of that list considering the issue the brand is having with thefts. Is that a dependability issue?

Kias and Hyundais are so dependable, they'll start in seconds, every time, even without a key!

[RJax55]

Kias and Hyundais are so dependable, they'll start in seconds, every time, even without a key!

What's worse... Can't start your car or can't find your car in the morning?

[tower912]

Depends on the car.

[MU82]

Except "their"[sic] not junk. There might be some design flaws, but the technology they use is nothing sore of impressive, and progressing with each model. That's probably why many would buy Tesla again.

My daughter and son-in-law have a Model X. It has had lots of issues, mostly fit-and-finish stuff that individually seems minor but collectively is quite annoying, but they did have one engine issue that took 3 tries for Tesla to fix. Thankfully, it was still under warranty.

My daughter doesn't like the car much and I think she'd trade it for something else if the car market wasn't so crazy now. My son-in-law, who definitely is into high-tech stuff, likes it despite its flaws and he'd probably say he'd get another Tesla.

[JWags85]

My daughter and son-in-law have a Model X. It has had lots of issues, mostly fit-and-finish stuff that individually seems minor but collectively is quite annoying, but they did have one engine issue that took 3 tries for Tesla to fix. Thankfully, it was still under warranty.

My daughter doesn't like the car much and I think she'd trade it for something else if the car market wasn't so crazy now. My son-in-law, who definitely is into high-tech stuff, likes it despite its flaws and he'd probably say he'd get another Tesla.

I mean, look at Land Rover.  They've been a maintenance and reliability nightmare the majority of the last 20-25 years.  But they still have steady and often growing sales.  They are a status symbol, but also attractive, comfortable, and usually drive beautifully.  Other luxury cars have similar issues.  Reliability is great but its not the end all be all for everyone.   

[Hards Alumni]

Except "their"[sic] not junk. There might be some design flaws, but the technology they use is nothing sore of impressive, and progressing with each model. That's probably why many would buy Tesla again.

Except they kind of are.  In five years the big boys will have better QC and overall better EVs.

Tesla gets credit for pushing them.

[tower912]

I think of all these trendy big city neighborhoods where almost all of the parking is on the street.   Where are electric cars going to charge?   I can have the necessary equipment installed in my garage and charge it every night.   What about the tightly packed trendy north side of Chicago?

[21Jumpstreet]

Took my drivers test in a big old conversion van with the electronic couch/bed in the back (we called it the hoopty), first car I drove regularly was a baller Ford Escort Pony 4-speed with the super high tech automatic seatbelts, around an '88. First car I bought on my own was a red '96 Ford Escort 5-speed.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

This car without the vinyl top and fancy wheels. Tried to take out the Delta Chi back porch one night with my rear bumper. The porch won.

[Lighthouse 84]

1980 Toyota Celica. Drove 3 guys, 22 cases of Bud and luggage to Lauderdale on spring break from MU in 1984, with another 3 guys in another car. The other car broke down in West Palm so 6 of us, luggage and 19.5 cases of Bud drove to Lauderdale.

Great car until someone ran a stop sign and broadsided me in 1987.

[Warrior Code]

2000 Olds Intrigue. Great car. The governor was set at 110, but don't ask me how I know

[MU82]

I think of all these trendy big city neighborhoods where almost all of the parking is on the street.   Where are electric cars going to charge?   I can have the necessary equipment installed in my garage and charge it every night.   What about the tightly packed trendy north side of Chicago?

That's an excellent point, and obviously not just Chicago.