Is Reliabilty No Longer The Trump Card It Used To Be?

Reliability is good, especially if your tight on cash, however Passion & innovation is oh so much better.

I'm fine with making potentially more trips to the dealer with an automaker that takes risk and gives me the latest in design, innovation, and technology.

Jeremy Clarkson said it best,"If you want to see what technology the average family sedan will offer 10 years from now, there's only one place to look now...The S Class".

You mean "LS".

@JDMUSMuscle LOL you do know Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear denounces Prius and everything Lexus right???

You provided a good laugh though, for that I thank you. And remember, Lexus themselves called the LS, the Japanese S Class...hilarious

If you plan on getting a new car in 5-7 years anyway, reliability is not a great concern. It's more for those who are going to drive it until the wheels fall off.

This is true, but those that drive till the wheels fall off are a dying breed.

Toyota isn't as reliable as people think they are anymore after having 4 out of 5 years with the most recalls of any manufacturer, ouch!

Actually they never were, they just covered it all up to maintain that edge.

Yeah I think it is a trump card. Most people don't want to be in and out of dealerships and mechanics constantly (spending money they don't have).

The author of the article is kind of comparing apples to orange. The differences between Toyota and Audi are extreme. Somebody who can afford an Audi (a small segment of the population) cares less about reliability because they can afford to have the vehicles repaired. Whereas the majority of the population would desire the reliability of the Toyota because they cannot afford constant repairs.

Toyota's (and their re-badged brothers - Lexus) are refrigerators.... appliances and nothing else. The new RC is ugly, the current IS is fugly, the LS is boooorrrring!

Prius looks like a little dog rubbing its butt on the carpet....

Top Gear is hardly unbiased, but even so Jeremy Clarkson called the LFA the best car he ever drove, given his bias that says a lot.

Regarding the Audi referenced in the article, why would you want to the aggravation of excess repairs of unreliable models and know you have to dump it once the warranty is up, likely taking a price hit. The VW/Audi owners I have known almost all have not been repeat buyers. Only long term owners have been for TT's, but even they wouldn't be a repeat buyers.

For me reliability, safety, quality, and value are all musts.

reliability is only a concern for those with limited financial resources and people who don't like to waste time and money. blow enough cash and dealers will kiss your ass and make you happy for whatever ego-compensating car one chooses, until it's out of warranty of course. but then they're ready to sell your wealthy ass the next one.

There is the reliability of the car, then there is the competency of the folks servicing it, and then there is the commitment by the manufacturer to honor their warranty, provide the parts and the support to make the car owner happy again. These factors vary quite a bit among the different brands so if the service and the manufacturer provide a sketchy support then reliability becomes key.

Considering Audi is now #4 in reliability of all nameplates (yes, it's true... look it up), what's that say about this article? Of course, VW quality still sucks, but hey...

The problem with reliability is that some brands are afforded amazing reliability when the opposite is true (VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes) and others are accused of so-so quality/reliability when the opposite is true (Hyundai-Kia).

Reliability can be taken for granted today, as you almost have to search for a unreliable car. I think the auto companies have mastered this, along with emissions, safety, fuel economy, etc. After all, it's a small world today when it comes to innovation and new tech. New discoveries are almost instantly shared or copied by competitors.

The downside of all this, to me, is a lack of distinction between the brands, and/or country of origin. It may still exist, that is for sure. But it is nothing like it was 45 years ago when I was buying my first car.

I am old enough to remember when European cars provided an experience so far removed from the mainstream cars, that I gladly paid the premium price and put up with the reliability issues, cost of parts, lack of local support, etc., for the joy of driving something that was clearly unique and superior in many ways.

I won't deny that I enjoyed that prestige aspect, either. It was down on my list of "musts", but it existed. I think prestige emphasis is heavier in the market, today. I say this because the distinction of premium ownership is more image than anything else. The benefits of spending 30 or 40% more for that premium brand car are no longer worth it.

While new cars are so much better than years ago, they are also very much alike. We're buying a grille or front fascia more and more.