Posted on 09/12/2010 7:39:28 PM PDT by ThinkingBuddha
These are the cars that cause us to mumble under our breath when they drive by. So smug. So reliable. Sure! Drive right past our shop! How's a mechanic supposed to make a monthly boat payment with so many of these things on the road?
Yes, the cars we hate most, as mechanics, are the cars that provide us with the fewest repair dollars. I mean, you see a '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee roll into the shop and you can practically smell the transmission rebuild. But the cars on this list? You'll be lucky to sell their owners a set of brake pads or a muffler.
If you're looking for a car to buy, however, this list might provide you with some good clues. Oh, sure ... don't worry about us!
P.S. This list reflects our own experience, of course. So when we cite the ready availability of parts, we're talking about the typical repair experience in metropolitan areas in the Northeast. We're not sure the same is true in North Grainbucket, Iowa.....
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
Cool!
I’ve also noticed that Nissan’s a/c’s get colder.
More propaganda.... Just send your money to Japan.
More propaganda.... Just send your money to Japan.
agreed, this article is questionable at best.
I didn’t read the whole thread but these guys are Massachusetts libs from PBS. That gives you their perspective.
The titan has a dana rear axle/differential. I believe that’s a mopar product.
I had an 82 GL500. good little motor.
bump
I once had an 88 Accord. Loved it. Put nearly 1/4 million miles on it. Once on a trip down to Austin, I was trailing a group of cars obviously breaking the speed limit. Smooth as glass at high speed. I looked down and noticed we were going 110. I backed it down after that.
Anybody know the record for an original clutch on a Mustang GT. My 2004 has 105,212 on it as of this morning. Haven't seen a Ford dealer or any mechanic in 6 years. Air filter, oil and filter changes, fluid replacements, and the 3rd set of tires is it.
More like this is a list of vehicles whose owners fail to perform maintenance because they don’t know their vehicles need it.
I’ve owned several of those vehicles and they’ve needed every bit as much maintenance as any other vehicle I have owned.
I’ve been researching because I’m due for a new sedan. I’m leaning toward the Lincoln MKZ (which is the same basic vehicle as the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan; all are based on the Mazda6).
You might be interested in a lengthy sales analysis at
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2010/09/02/494604.html
Vehicle Segments
Crossovers and SUVs were the top selling segment in the U.S. in August, with sales of 290,371, although the segment’s sales were down for the month by 11.5 percent.
With sales of 249,662, the midsize segment landed in second place, although sales were down by 23.9 percent over last August.
Luxury vehicles sold 79,211 vehicles, up from 78,106 in July, and up 2.1 percent over last August.
Americans bought 997,468 vehicles in August. Of those, 502,100 were cars and 495,368 were trucks.
Asian nameplates sold 285,160 cars and 182,953 trucks, while Europeans sold 64,353 cars and 22,959 trucks. Domestics sold 152,587 cars and 289,456 trucks.
After experiencing the power of a 500hp V8, I would never use the words “V6” and “delight” in the same sentence. I seriously doubt the odd looking Honda Fit could handle as well as a ZR-1 or SLS AMG.
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On the one hand: Handling/Slalom is not cornering/skidpad.
On the other hand: It was late, and I could only remember my overall impression of reading Honda handling numbers over the last decade, not the specifics.
I sat in a friend’s 475HP Mustang a few years ago. It was rocket fast.
May you not get any tickets.
Honda V6 = delight
Mustang Supercharged V8 = exhilaration
Have a great day.
That accordion like crush in an accident is to protect you. The more the car crumples is the less they have to scrape you off the dash board in a serous accident.
Most modern cars shouldn’t need any mechanical repair in the first 65k. Now if you can make it to 150k and can say you’ve not made any mechanical repairs you probably have a Honda or Toyota or maybe a Ford, but almost certainly not a Chrysler (Jeep).
Here’s one that might be a record. last fall I replaced the original front tires on a ‘99 F250 with 70000miles. I didn’t believe the tires were original, but the tire guy swore they were. They were nearly bald tho. I mean like a 16th inch of tread left. Less in some places.
The titan is no work truck. It’s a weekend play truck. I don’t know where you get your horsepower figures. The titan is rated for 317hp/385ft-lb and the 5.4 rated for 310hp/365hp. Furthermore, the ford weighs around 5200lbs and the titan about 4950lbs. Gearing makes a big difference too. I see no surprise that the nissan is quicker in a dragrace than the ford. But who the heck buys a truck for drag racing?
As for towing and payload...that is greatly affected by gearing, transmission, engine, etc. Ford has numerous combinations and permutations available. The nissan has limited combinations. So what you get is only two tow ratings and one payload rating for the nissan...standard tow=7400lbs, optional tow=9400lbs. Ford on the other hand is up to 11,300lbs JUST FOR THE F150. The f250 goes up to 12,500lbs for tow rating. payload for the titan is a measly 2100 lbs. ford f150 is up to 3030lbs depending on options. Up to 3950lbs for the f250 depending on options.
As for engines, the ford 5.4L isn’t even their biggest motor. There is also a 6.2L gas V8 rated at 385hp/405ft-lbs and a 6.7 diesel V8 rated at 390hp/735ft-lbs.
btw, horsepower is not as important as torque in pickup trucks. go back over the torque figures I’ve posted above...and note that those are all 2010model year figures for the fords. the 2011 figures are naturally higher than that.
The nissan is CLEARLY a lightweight in the pickup market.
I think the prius looks good for a basic commuter car. I might drive one if it wasn’t a hybrid and was priced reasonably. And if it wasn’t a toyota.
You want to talk about parts costing.....I had to do some repairs on my Suzuki outboard. Makes one realize that boat really does stand for Break Out Another Thousand.
Yeah, the a/c works great and fast, very important in Sacramento.
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