Porsche beats Lexus and Infiniti in initial quality

"Audi posted the largest improvement in ranking, moving from number 26 in 2007 to number 10 in 2008."

Funny how I was de-boosted for quoting. Silly fanboys.

IQS is nice to look at but the true test is the VDS which is the first three years of ownership. Most people are happy with the car they purchased after the first couple of weeks.. It's after years when it makes a difference

Reliability:
German > Japanese

According to the results, in the top then, there were 3 German companies and 3 Japanese companies.

Star, You are right.
Reliability:
American > German > Japanese

In the VERY top is a German one. The Japanese are owned again.

"TopGear", I don't know about that. I still see Porsche in the first place.

Who let you escape from the mental hospital?

See, he even sounds like one :)

anyone who wants to see the chart can go here:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/j-dd-power-releases-2008-initial-quality-study/

Sheep...are you blind? Porsche... numero uno. German for the WIN!

Yeah, i'm constantly seeing homeless guys driving BMW's round here....

So funny to see the sheep getting mad. LOL...

BMW is for poor people who can't afford a Porsche. My guess is you can't afford neither!

"Initial Quality"? Why don't they ever do studies on "Longterm Quality"? Anybody can come up with good Initial Quality, I mean just ask Ford. Initial Quality ratings are deceptive and full of sh*t.

Actually, initial quality is a good harbinger of long term durability on a model to model basis. Lexus has also consistently placed in the top 3, sounds about right.

I am just happy that Infiniti was ranked in front of Lexus. I am ok with Porsche being number 1

You know? I'm really sick of hearing about these INITIAL quality control reports. Every year around the same time we hear about how Porsche beats Mercedes, BMW, and Audi in the INITIAL QUALITY CONTROL report.

How come we never hear about the final quality control reports? Who cares about what the initial report is. You can have 0 things wrong in the beginning, and later have over 200 things wrong when another car can have 20 things wrong in the beginning and ends up with 100 things being wrong at the end.

In 5 years and 45K of owning 2 Porsches, one new, one used, the only problem I ever had was when the little plastic cap over a wiper arm came loose. I'm not counting a check engine light, because that was fixed when I screwed the gas cap on better.

wow 45k.....that's a lot of miles......how can nothing go wrong in such extreme useage? AMAZING.

yes. 9k miles a year is SOOOOO much.

This report is usually praised when BMW isnt shown as below average. I am for one suprised to see that.

Porsche-87
Infiniti-98
Lexus-99
Mercedes-Benz
Toyota-104
Mercury-104
Honda-109
Ford-110
Jaguar-112
Audi-112
Cadillac-113
Chevrolet-113
Hyundai-114
Pontiac-114
Lincoln-115
Buick-118
Acura-119
Kia-119
Nissan-124
Volvo-124
BMW-126
GMC-127
Mazda-127
Volkswagen-128
HUMMER-132
Subaru-133
Scion-138
Dodge-141
Chrysler-142
Mitsubishi-149
Saab-149
Suzuki-152
Saturn-157
Land Rover-161
MINI-163
Jeep-167

1. Porsche -87
2. Infiniti -98
3. Lexus -99
4. Mercedes-Benz -104
5. Toyota -104
6. Mercury -109
7. Honda -110
8. Ford -112
9. Jaguar -112
10. Audi -113
11. Cadillac -113
12. Chevrolet -113
13. Hyundai -114
14. Pontiac -114
15. Lincoln -115
16. Buick -118
Industry Average-118
Below Industry Average
17. Acura -119
18. Kia -119
19. Nissan -124
20. Volvo -124
21. BMW -126
22. GMC -127
23. Mazda -127
24. Volkswagen -128
25. HUMMER -132
26. Subaru -133
27. Scion -138
28. Dodge -141
29. Chrysler -142
30. Mitsubishi -149
31. Saab -149
32. Suzuki -152
33. Saturn -157
34. Land Rover -161
35. MINI -163
36. Jeep -167

Thank you for providing the listing, Silver.

I can now say Mercedes now is making better cars, now if only they can last longer and keep it up!

Now BMW I see is still making POS cars even with the MINI

Well, every Mercedes is known for outlasting as much as three generation Lexus cars, so I would not worry about their longevity. I don't see any Japanese car manufactured before 2003 in even acceptable condition on the road but I see German cars from the 80's still looking and driving like new.

"Star"

Keep dreaming buddy, keep on dreaming.....U must be on cloud 9.

This isn't a recent development. Last year, the S-Class and A8 were tied for having the best initial quality in the entire car industry.

I don't know which planet you live on but I see a lot of Lexus in the shop as well. My friend is a salesman at a local dealership and I've went in and checked out their shop. I've seen enough in for repairs that I don't think it's superior to Merc or BMW.

I'm not a band wagoner. Instead I actually go and see for myself at the local shops. There are some in Mercedes shops as well don't get me wrong but no automaker is perfect, certainly not Toyota. With Toyota growing sacrifices have been made and quality is always a factor when the demand is so high so I wouldn't be so quick to bash the Germans.

Then where are all the old Lexus and Toyota cars. They claim they sold so many of them. So what happened?

"Japanese cars are made to last forever literally"

Only their ghosts might last that long in some cheap Japanese horror movie. LOL...

Japanese cars are thin cans that fall apart in record time. That's common knowledge.
Where are all those tens of millions of Corollas and Civics? Not on the streets, that's for sure. Junkyards are the only place were Japanese cars older than 5-6 years old can be found. The few older than 5-6 years old that are still on the street are an absolute danger to the other participants in traffic considering how poor their technical condition is. Fortunately, not many Japanese cars are still in running condition after 5-6 years. The point where the life of a Japanese car ends is the point where the German car just got warmed up.

"90% of all Camry's sold since 1991 are still on the road."

R. L. Polk & Co.

I love stars inconclusive and ignorant bashing on japanese cars. time to get me some popcorn!

It's a shame that Ford makes better cars than BMW

yeah..uh..what's up with that? even i wouldnt think a ford could ever beat bwm's

Jaguar Still in the top 9 with a new car launch. way to go Jaguar. In the top 10 since 99

Go Benz and Jag!!!!

Not news - for the last 8 years, Porsche has consistently placed high in these initial quality rankings. They are the ONLY "exotic" sports car that can be driven as a daily driver without a problem. It is also the cheapest to maintain among the top sports cars, and yes, even cheaper than an M3. Just change the oil every 10,000 miles and your set.

Well, well, well. Porsche in first place. I guess that's why those Cayennes are selling so well. Seriously though, that's why Porsche is so successful. It has exotic appeal but you can drive it to work it you want to. I've had several BMW owners warn me away from the brand.

You can say German cars are built more solidly than the Japanese but the Japanese definitely get the reliability nod. Look how many trucks they sell. If it wasn't for the Ford 150, they would all be Japanese.

Ladies & Gentlemen - Boys & Girls

We need to cut the crap about how Japanese are better quality or how their made to last forever.

In recent years I think ALL brands have raised the bar in terms of build quality and I mean EVERY AUTOMAKER. As far as German's make cars that aren't meant to last that isn't right to say that either. Germans aren't inferior to Lexus or Infiniti. I had an S-Class that was built in 1985 and my family ran it to 2005. Aside from the interior wood pieces coming a tad loose the panels, seats, and comfort was still there.

I sat in my friends LS400 in 2001 and the interior seemed to have held up pretty well too. All arguments aside Lexus fanboys need to stick their heads out of their BEHIND and quit using that "Oh Toyota's are built better than Germans" because in this year, 2008, it's safe to say all luxury brands are built very well. The general population can't even tell the minor differences because it's so minimal.

Now back to the topic at hand,

I'm not surprised that Porsche beat Lexus and Infiniti. Porsche has great quality and their fit and finish is world class.

a63 ur sclass is still garbage. so is ur r8. only ur quality LS is worthy of owning.

I think that these details are also interesting:

"the 2008 Honda Civic, CR-V and Fit captured three segment awards, more than any other nameplate in the 2008 Initial Quality Study.

The study named the Honda Fit as the highest-ranked subcompact car. The Honda Civic was the highest-ranked compact car, while the Mazda MX-5 Miata was the highest-ranked compact sporty car. The Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class was the highest-ranked compact premium sporty car, while the Infiniti EX-Series was the highest-ranked entry premium vehicle. The Lexus LS was the highest-ranked large premium car, while the Chevrolet Malibu was the highest-ranked midsize car. The Pontiac Grand Prix took home honors as the highest-ranked large car.

Also receiving segment awards were the Ford E-Series, Lincoln Navigator and Toyota Sequoia.

The Porsche 911 has the fewest quality problems in the industry, with 67 problems per 100 vehicles, the study noted.

The Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, won the Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing the vehicles with the fewest defects and malfunctions. The plant builds the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, CLS-Class, E-Class sedan and wagon and S-Class."

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=126748

People, you have to remember IQS is a variety of things:

For example you may not have any quality issues at all in the 1st 90 days of ownership of the car.

HOWEVER

If you list the following:

1. The cup holders don't hold my 64oz big gulp
2. The nav system doesn't show real time traffic like Acura’s
3. The glove box door is too big
4. The metallic brakes leave dust powder on my rims
5. The remote key fob can't roll down my windows
6. The programming for the radio stations is obtuse

Right there are 6 valid IQS issues. These are all perceived issues by the buyer and factor in. Are they assembly issues or bad quality? No, but the do factor in.

So now add in the following:

What if you buy a car and expect it to be more than it is? Bad IQS?

What if you buy a car and the features are harder to learn than your dim witted spouse can handle? Bad IQS?

The answer if yes more often of not.

We are increasingly ask for more complex options but are willing to take the time to learn them. This adds up more than you think.

I would take you seriously if BMW was in the top 3, but, since they're number 21, that's the only reason why you posted this.

"It's like they don't die"

That's a good comparison, they do look like the equivalent of a zombie. Looking at the very few Japanese car made before 1998 that are still running you could hardly imagine they are still in running condition by looking at them. What I can tell you is that these cars should NOT be allowed on the public roads given their technical condition.

Star, do you crap Krauts?

You must stink something awful...

star's full name is Brown Star. like, the lower terminus of the alimentary canal. and he prob'ly does crap krauts.

i wonder where he gets his "facts" from? straight out of his butt hole?

yup, every now and then, BrownStar goes supernova and fake "facts" aka as StarShit EXPLODES and flies all over the place!

Star,

Where on earth do you get your negative information about Japanese vehicles from? Since you say that they're made with cheap materials, who supplies them with these materials and what do you know about them? What makes German metal far more superior to Japanese metal? I mean, who makes and supples all that German metal? Forgive me for all the questions, but all I see is you rambling about how horrible Japanese vehicles are, and how bullet proof German vehicles are..It's funny though, because theres only 2 German brands in the top 5. I mean, where is all your proof for everything that you're writing about Japanese cars? All I've seen are a couple of good "Initial Quality" reports which is overrated in my opinion. Here in California I see thousands of Japanese cars made before 2003 riding around in good condition. I also see a lot of German cars riding around in good condition as well. You know, I can see how hard it must be for you to see any of these Japanese vehicles still around especially from your Mom and Dads basement. I'm not knocking any brand or any car, I'm just sick of all the senseless posts with all the lies attached to it. Each car and brand are unique in their own way, although there are barriers that seperate them such as Performance, Ride Quality, Build Quality, and overall Luxurious feel. There is NOT one car that has it all. 99.9% of people that come on here and bash other brands can't even afford they're defending. Stop the B.S. and maybe give your opinion on a personal experience you've had with a Porche, if any...

Tool-nik You are the living proof that lobotomy doesn't work, though I have to admit that for a vegetable you sound quite irritated.

ok so basically since BMW is ranked so low, does that mean that BMW owners are just whiney schoolgirls? or is it because there are legitimate quality issues?

with modern day manufacturing where Cpk values are 1.3 as standard, every car made should be of good quality straight from the factory. high initial quality is a good indicator for long term quality.

with that said, BMW being that far below on the list is a clear indicator that aside from cupholders that dont work, there are definitely quality issues that probably come from design and not manufacturing (well built but poorly designed). just one look at the forums and it amazes me that people put up with things like getting a software update to fix steering columns lockups or to make the windows roll up and down properly.

the only cars i own and will ever own are #1 and #2, porsche and infiniti.

Nice!

i recall a time when Volvo bragged in their ads that their cars lasted an average of 12 years. (this, when any domestic that lasted more than 100k miles/8 years was noteworthy!)

now toyota warrants trucks ALREADY 8 - 13 YEARS OLD all the way out to 15 years! and, if they decide to buy them back rather than repair, consider them still in EXCELLENT condition for valuation purposes.

what other mfgr (except maybe RR) stands behind their products like this?

of course, mechanically most toyotas DO STAY in excellent condition (or nearly so) for incredible lengths of time.

my '94 toy truck appears not even 1/2 worn out yet. GF's '93 4runner has 280k miles, and also seems good for yet another few hundred thou.

a neighbor bot a brand new tacoma about 3 years ago, but drives it only about 2-3 times a month. because his OLD toy truck, a mid-'80s model, is FAR from dead or dying; it remains his daily driver.

i know 3 women who still tool around in their late '80s camrys. one was in a crash a few years ago. most insurance companies would've totalled it out. but she loved it so much, she had it repaired. (likely for MORE money than the retail value!)

"now toyota warrants trucks ALREADY 8 - 13 YEARS OLD all the way out to 15 years! and, if they decide to buy them back rather than repair, consider them still in EXCELLENT condition for valuation purposes."

that doesn't do justice to what has happened to the tacomas frame rotting.

htay-- did you not READ the article? it said toyota will FIX the trucks with undue rust, OR BUY THEM back.
what other company will do that, on vehicles long past the corrosion warranty?

Lexus amd Infiniti both make a nice car, but they have awful styling.

Teknik-is this what you were told when you were a child... go play in busy intersections? LOL...
You didn't feel loved, it's clear for everybody now. That's the reason ALL your comments are personal attacks and insults against other posters instead of being comments that are car related. GTFO loser...