If there's a liberal bias against American cars, how do you explain that the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Altima, Fiat 500L and the Lexus IS300 ranked the lowest in their class?

 

Indeed, but you recognized it as well so kudos for that..

and so I'll save you my litany on the definition of "reliability" so often conflated into things that do not have anything to do with reliability.

Suffice to say road noise and comfort in and out of the car have nothing to do with reliability...

Peace!

 

Was that before or after the presidential election...?

 

I'd look to JD before CR....

I've only been to the dealer for a fix once in 15 months of ownership: Reflashing my DIC because when i put it in Valet mode at a restaurant, I couldn't get it out. It's possible it was a user error at that (Could have gotten the password wrong)

Other than that, i've only touched my car for oil changes and voluntary mods. If this keeps up for 4 more years, I'll be an even happier camper.

 

i should add: NO paint issues from the factory. I thought i might need the triple flush but i haven't seen anything become worse since that initial thought 1 year ago so... The cabin is a warm place but I'm not picky, especially when it hits me that ... "I have a corvette!!!!"

 

I've been very pleased with my new 2017 C7's reliability.

I was extremely pleased with my last new Corvette's reliability too, a new 1977 C3.

 

Most automotive quality reports now a days include usage of the infotainment systems. If an owner needs to go to the dealer to receive instruction on how the system works that is considered a failure. Across the rating systems I see a number of cars downgraded because of owners being confused by the infotainment systems. Is that a true failure? The product is doing what is designed to do in the way it was designed to do it. Some people would never catch on no matter how simple you made the interface. Myself I would prefer to see failures related to Customer Confusion separated out of the overall reliability data and noted in a separate table. Failures should be real failures where somebody had to repair or replace an item not tell the owner how it is supposed to work. Usability is a different category that has to be accounted for in a different manner.

The main problem with CR data is that it is accurate for its sample size which is very limited. The number of people who submit reports is small. On top of that by the nature of Consumer's Union they have a specific set of values that may not represent a true cross section of owners. That means they can be somewhat biased about the things they complain about. This is true of all of their ratings not just on cars. You can get more reliable info from places like JD Power and others. I doubt most car companies consider CR a valuable feedback tool to improve their quality or the direction of their designs.

Bill

 

No problems at all with my 2016 Z06 A8.

Had to laugh when I saw the comment about "tire noise". About as ridiculous as the people who buy a sports car and then they say, "it rides hard". Obviously they should not be buying a sports car. Maybe a Pinto or a Vega, or possibly an old Buick would be their thing.

Probably the same people who buy a house next to an airport that's been there forever and then complain about about airplane noise - duh.

 

 

Except the tire noise from the rear of the car is a bit on the loud side compared to EQUIVALENT cars. Again, no matter what crap they give you, make excuses.

 

No, the vast majority seem to just make excuses for them.

A bunch of these issues are design issues, not random quality issues. EVERY 2014 and 2015 A6 and A8 will overheat when pushed. The A8 is just flawed. I've had 2 (and 3 torque converters) and while a "better" one can be lived with compared to they way the bad ones behave, it still just sucks compared to other equivalent transmissions. Z06 overheating is across the board. Then add a high number of random failures on top of that.

GM's attitude is the same for everyone, again, people just make excuses for it or haven't felt the full brunt of it.

 

Damn, good thing they didn't have my car. There would have been no article. Nothing to write about except maybe how loud the exhaust is as it is in sport all the time. C.R, wouldn't have sold many issues based on my ownership of 3 years and 45,000 miles.

 

You do realize that tire noise has absolutely nothing to do with reliability, right?

 

You seem to have a problem accepting the fact that just because you've had a bad experience, the vast majority have not. You're justifiably pissed, and I would be too, but that's no excuse for losing your grip on reality and making up wild theories as to why the vast majority do not agree with you. I've had a lot more problems with the Audis (2), BMWs (7) and MBs (2) I've owned than any of my 4 Corvettes (2 C6s and 2 C7s). Prior to 2005, I only purchased German cars, and Corvettes have been a pleasant surprise, and trouble-free experience for me.

The vast majority do not agree with you because they haven't experienced the problems you have. There are hundreds if not thousands of reports of C7s that haven't been in for any warranty repairs. I'm one of them and on my 2nd now.

My original '14 never had any services other than routine oil change services. My 18 is also flawless. My single data-points cancel yours. I have no excuses to make.

 

Wow... sounds like that shouldn't even be considered when weighing the accuracy of the publication today then.

 

The self-report methodology hasn't changed. It was a big story at the time that an identical car can have bad ratings with one badge and great ratings with another, and a big black-eye for CR. They've been beaten up for other similar illogical ratings differences on identical products, which illustrate methodological flaws due to the unreliability of human perceptions.

I said it was 30 years ago because you asked me for additional data. Perhaps you feel like looking for it. I don't.

 

Just don't get it do you. EVERY 14 and 15 auto will overheat. The Z06's overheat. FACT. EVERY ONE, just make them do what GM claims they can do. The A8 is flawed. EVERY ONE. Tons of reports of those problems. Even the "working" ones don't work great. No, they are not warranty issues because the dealer just tells people that's they way they are, nothing to fix. Most people don't know better, and they really can only do so much with them anyway.

Lots of clues to indicate bad engineering and lack of testing, not to mention just not caring.

Now, you want random failures: 3 shocks, starter, oil pump (taking engine out), PDR, torque converter (not for the normal issues, true hard failure), glove box. Others I can't even remember right now.

I love the whole "vast majority" statement. The vast majority are sitting in their garage doing nothing most of the time. Those will have the same number of failures as a painting.

 

after reading CR I'm sure some M-B owners are very very dismayed by their brand rating! Guess libs don't like them either.

 

A8 is the transmission, I thought. I had no idea any transmissions were bad. maybe i should pay more attention to what you THINK.