Consumer Reports, OOPS

[peter78]

I got my April Consumer Reports Auto Issue today and I looked through it. Last year I noticed that they put the 2003 Toyota 4Runner V6 as a used car to avoid buying. Well, this year they have it as a reliable used car to buy. This is a little strange to me, if it was one of the worst cars and now you would think it is the same or maybe slightly better and now it is not on the list of used cars to avoid or buy. But nooooo, they said oops, we made a mistake, it is now a great car to buy.

Go figure.
:wtf:

 

[no1sportz]

Strange. Sounds like the opposite of what happened with the Nissan Titans/Armadas. Came out and everyone claimed it a great truck. Now check their opinions!

 

[bulldog-yota]

I believe they base it on statistics they gather throughout the year. The problem with the V6 was the initial complaints, which was quickly fixed. So now nobody complains anymore and life is good.

Like the 03 GX got hammered and still is with a bad rating for the driveline, yet it is just the slipjoint bind which is fixed with a little greasing every service or so. Hardly something that will leave you by the roadside, yet if you just look at the table it doesn't look pretty.

 

[peter78]

I believe they base it on statistics they gather throughout the year. The problem with the V6 was the initial complaints, which was quickly fixed. So now nobody complains anymore and life is good.

:bigok: :bouncy2: :yesyes: :driving:

 

[Thai]

Like the 03 GX got hammered and still is with a bad rating for the driveline, yet it is just the slipjoint bind which is fixed with a little greasing every service or so. Hardly something that will leave you by the roadside, yet if you just look at the table it doesn't look pretty.

Well, there are some GX owners who are still having the driveline clunk despite many attempts at fixing it. TEXGX is one of them. He loves his GX, except for the clunk/thump.

 

[peter78]

Thai, speaking of Consumer Reports did you see the write ups for Mercedes-Benz. For reliability on 5 year old cars they are last, bottom of the barrell, terrible. Sorry.......

Maybe it is just another OOOPS. By the way, Lexus is at the top with Toyota second and oh yes, Mecedes-Benz being (well you know) LAST.:xnuts:

 

[Thai]

Thai, speaking of Consumer Reports did you see the write ups for Mercedes-Benz. For reliability on 5 year old cars they are last, bottom of the barrell, terrible. Sorry.......

Maybe it is just another OOOPS. By the way, Lexus is at the top with Toyota second and oh yes, Mecedes-Benz being (well you know) LAST.:xnuts:

Nope...it doesn't surprise me at all. When will MB learn??

Now, i don't want to bash my car's own company. Think about this...the 2006 S-class still ranks piss-poor among JD Powers and Consumer Reports evaluations...and it's in it's last year of production (2006). So, for over 5 years since introduction, Mercedes has NOT excised all of S-class demons. It has not gone up in any major quality surveys. You would think that there should be some improvement each year. What does MB decide to do?? Get a brandnew design out with even more electronics instead of fixing known problems! This is why i am not surprised by the dismal ratings.

MB needs to fix what is broken...not dig another hole deeper!

But, to defend my truck, it's not made where 99% of MB cars & SUVs are made. Hopefully, G Class is of better quality/durability since it is hand-assembled at Magna-Steyr factory in Graz, Austria. Hopefully.:

 

[peter78]

Man, I can't even give you a hard time as you agree with me. And you are right about your Mercedes being different, heck they don't even have it in thier records.

 

[Thai]

Man, I can't even give you a hard time as you agree with me.

Well, it's pretty hard to argue against unanimous verdit from all the surveys! This is why my other two vehicles are Toyotas. I got to have something to backup my "German precision engineering"!

 

[greasefingers]

I believe that people also respond to surveys more, when they have a problem(s). I know for one I never take surveys if I am 100 % satisfied.

 

[nh00gts]

From what i read in past consumer reports, the 03 V6 was the first year of the new engine and had some bugs to work out.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

The first year of any generation change is bound to have problems and I'm sure after the '03 model alot of issues were addressed and fixed. No big deal but I generally buy a 3rd year into any new vehicle or generation change. Look how much better the '99 Runners got from '96.

 

[peter78]

The first year of any generation change is bound to have problems and I'm sure after the '03 model alot of issues were addressed and fixed. No big deal but I generally buy a 3rd year into any new vehicle or generation change. Look how much better the '99 Runners got from '96.

Good point, but your 99 is the 4th year, right?

96------ Year One
97------ Year Two
98------ Year Three
99------ Year Four

 

[RonMAIDEN]

3rd year is just the average and with 3rd gens the '99 is the year to have since it got the upgrades and had the tallest coils (along with most of the '00s) and the only year of the Sports to have the smaller plastic flares which i wanted since the painted overwide Limited flares get scratched off road too easily.

 

[Casper]

Well, there are some GX owners who are still having the driveline clunk despite many attempts at fixing it. TEXGX is one of them. He loves his GX, except for the clunk/thump.

Im in the same boat...love the truck but the axle rap is annoying as hell.