wikedgolf
08-05-2004, 05:47 PM
Audi join 'dodgy car' table
Japanese prove the most reliable
By Maureen Coleman
mcoleman@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
05 August 2004
German cars lag way behind their Japanese rivals on reliability, a new Which? survey revealed today.
According to the annual reliability report, Audi and BMW have joined Volkswagen in the worst category.
However, Japanese manufacturers are going from strength to strength. Honda, Mazda, Lexus and Toyota are still top of the table and have been joined by Suzuki. Korean manufacturer Hyundai also keeps its place in the top rank.
At the other end of the table, the picture is gloomy for German brands, which no longer live up to their dependable reputation.
VW, which fell into the lowest category last year, has been joined by BMW and Audi, which has dropped two places in two years.
Ford shows it's possible for a manufacturer to reverse its reliability fortunes.
Constantly rated by Which? as poor prior to 2001, this year it consolidates its position in the good category.
The likes of Citroen, Fiat, Land Rover, Peugeot, Renault, Rover and Vauxhall show few signs of following suit.
For the Germans, there is more bad news. They occupy the bottom three places in the individual model breakdown table for cars up to two years old.
The worst offender is the Audi TT for the second year running: around one in five has broken down in the last year. The old model Mercedes E-class is second from bottom, while the VW Polo is third.
By contrast, owners of Japanese cars still have plenty to smile about. For the third consecutive year not a single Mazda 323 in the survey broke down. Other cars that were breakdown-free are the Hyundai Getz, MG ZT/ZT-T, Toyota Corrola and the outgoing Toyota Corolla Verso.
Malcolm Coles, editor of Which? said: "German cars have always been expensive, but our survey reveals a worrying drop in reliability that makes them look distinctly over-priced.
"Audi, BMW and VW may be the choice of more badge-conscious buyers, but owners of Japanese cars are far less likely to spend time on the hard shoulder or face hefty garage bills."
© 2004 Independent News and Media (NI)
Japanese prove the most reliable
By Maureen Coleman
mcoleman@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
05 August 2004
German cars lag way behind their Japanese rivals on reliability, a new Which? survey revealed today.
According to the annual reliability report, Audi and BMW have joined Volkswagen in the worst category.
However, Japanese manufacturers are going from strength to strength. Honda, Mazda, Lexus and Toyota are still top of the table and have been joined by Suzuki. Korean manufacturer Hyundai also keeps its place in the top rank.
At the other end of the table, the picture is gloomy for German brands, which no longer live up to their dependable reputation.
VW, which fell into the lowest category last year, has been joined by BMW and Audi, which has dropped two places in two years.
Ford shows it's possible for a manufacturer to reverse its reliability fortunes.
Constantly rated by Which? as poor prior to 2001, this year it consolidates its position in the good category.
The likes of Citroen, Fiat, Land Rover, Peugeot, Renault, Rover and Vauxhall show few signs of following suit.
For the Germans, there is more bad news. They occupy the bottom three places in the individual model breakdown table for cars up to two years old.
The worst offender is the Audi TT for the second year running: around one in five has broken down in the last year. The old model Mercedes E-class is second from bottom, while the VW Polo is third.
By contrast, owners of Japanese cars still have plenty to smile about. For the third consecutive year not a single Mazda 323 in the survey broke down. Other cars that were breakdown-free are the Hyundai Getz, MG ZT/ZT-T, Toyota Corrola and the outgoing Toyota Corolla Verso.
Malcolm Coles, editor of Which? said: "German cars have always been expensive, but our survey reveals a worrying drop in reliability that makes them look distinctly over-priced.
"Audi, BMW and VW may be the choice of more badge-conscious buyers, but owners of Japanese cars are far less likely to spend time on the hard shoulder or face hefty garage bills."
© 2004 Independent News and Media (NI)