Gotta warn ya!

kenchan

op - anything u touch dies..?

ImportConvert

My issue has been buying vehicles from known "problem companies" (Nissan, Chrysler, Infiniti, etc.) and expecting them to be reliable vehicles.


Well, screw that. I'm listening to what others already know, and just made a safe bet and went with Mazda. Basically, I'm buying known quality and expecting it to be so, instead of buying known "problems" and expecting them NOT to be so...I bet it works better for me!

MagmaRed370z

Kia above BMW ? Riiiiiight....

ImportConvert

Kia and Hyundai are following Toyota's late 80's/early 90's business model, and I do recall hearing that people said similar things about Toyota. Later, Lexus.

BlackZeda

I would never BUY a new BMW under the recommendation of every owner I know.

m4a1mustang

Better have deep pockets and a lot of time on your hands.









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The loaners are great, though!

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Rusty

Have a '13 Grand Cherokee with 39,000 miles. Zero problems. Had '04 Grand Cherokee with 130,000 with zero problems. Had '98 Grand Cherokee with 145,000 miles. Had to replace starter. Have '08 Dodge Power Wagon with 59,000 miles. Zero problems. Had '99 Dodge 1500 4x4 with 125,000 miles. Had to replace a u-joint in the front axle at 100,000 miles. I've had less problems with the Mopars then I've had with the gm's and fords that I've owned over the years.

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Davey

I tend to think Nissan's poor ranking is mostly due to the Renault garbage like the Versa and their tendency to put a problematic CVT in every car.

And 370Z CSC's.

Zbrah

Now that you reminded me of the CSC the ranking makes a lot more sense now. My Hyundai never left me stranded while I had it and I was happily beating that clutch to hell too. Can't say the same about my Z

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ImportConvert

My 370Z was a PITA.

Loud whining and different steering feel after hitting the corners (aeration issues of the power steering fluid is my guess, yes, it was checked multiple times. Nissan North America said "Normal, deal with it).

Horrible vibration from warped rotors caused by not gently torquing the lug nuts (never had a car warp rotors in the shop before multiple times. Even tore up some Z1 slotted rotors). Dealership performed all work. THere was a HUGE thread I started a few years ago about it.

NAV screen would randomly go black instead of "coming back" after the reverse-camera image went away.

Transmission was hell to shift in rainy weather. Yes, rain made it hard to shift. I don't know why. Yes, I was running Redline MT-85. It would also grind for a shift or two in cold weather. Never had a manual do that before when it wasn't my fault, but this one did. Clutch to the fire-wall, too. Not a user error. I would almost bend the shifter trying to go into first on rainy days. It was a pain the arse.

My CSC never failed.

My Berk CBE fit for crap, was always hanging down because the hangers would slide out of the rubber hanger things. Berk customer service was non-existent. Not Nissan's fault, just screw Berk. Don't buy their junk. I called multiple times about the issue, and even paid them via credit card (or at least gave them the #) for a new set of rubber hanger grommets, and they told me they would fab me a hanger that would work with their exhaust. I never got the grommets, or the hanger. I didn't check to see if I was charged the $20'ish, either, so they may have not charged me, but their product was always a pain. Sounded good though and I felt more seat of the pants from it.

So yeah, I can see why Nissan ranked low, considering the 370Z is named one of their more reliable models.

All that said, dammit, the Jeep was so much worse!

Zipper 104

Yup....Every person I know with a Beemer won't ever buy one again.
If you just must drink the Koolaid, don't own it past the end of the warranty.
OTOH, a couple of friends own KIAs.....bulletproof.

104

ImportConvert

BMW is like Jeep and Nissan. Some of them last. FOREVER! And some of them...die and die and die! I went to school with a girl who had around 200K on an older 3-series. I think a flat tire was the only problem she ever had with it. I also knew a Dr who bought a brand new E46 M3 back in the early 2000's. It was ALWAYS in the shop, would randomly die after a cold start, etc. Total POS.

Kia...I have literally NEVER heard of one dying. Of any cause, for any reason. Supreme Leader would be proud!

UNKNOWN_370

Took the thought out my brain!!!

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ImportConvert

Eh, I think partly, I'm picky. Most people don't periodically check the underside of their vehicle for leaks. Most will not notice worn bushings causing strikes to the axles/struts/etc. I do, and I go hunting for WHY. So you have to understand, any time I buy a vehicle, I'm going to find a LOT of stuff wrong with it that the previous owner would be stunned to learn about.

Same for firearms.

Here is a perfect example on the firearm front.

There is a company which produces a TON of M4 bolt carrier groups for a ton of distributors. I bought one. I ran it hard. I noted ejection was not very consistent. So I compared it to my Colt BCG, which is built to the current TDP. I swapped the Colt extractor spring in. No change occurred. I then removed the Colt ejector spring. I noted that it was different from the one that I removed from the other BCG. (Also I would point out, ejection from the Colt was flawless). So I swapped ejector springs. Here is the result:

Original aftermarket BCG with Colt extractor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMX_y5pvEVA

Colt BCG, 100% factory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohM_fBpL6u8

Aftermarket BCG with Colt ejector spring in place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PMxUlANtXo

I know the video quality sucks because it's slow-motion using my cell phone, but track the path of the ejected casings in each video.

I am literally the only person who has made waves, according to multiple vendors I spoke with. A friend of mine took the issue directly to the top of the company (Friends) who makes the BCG, and showed him the videos, etc. They have been using this spring for several years now. Noone has sought to do any PiP of the product until I did.

My point being? I find issues that most people overlook. Most people wonder why their **** breaks. I find out what's GOING to make it break, and head it off, if possible at all.

Example: My Jeep was VERY costly to own...but it did not ever leave me stranded. Why? I took care of things before they became disabling issues.

So no, not everything I touch dies. I simply find what's wrong with things that others overlook, and increase the envelope of performance to avoid failure, whenever possible.