"J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 81,500 purchasers and lessees of new 2008 model-year cars and trucks surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study, which was conducted between February and April, is based on more than 200 questions designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate problem determination and drive product improvement."

Note though, that the industry leaders rank less than 2X better than the industry laggards.

 

Now that was depressing.

 

It's not really much of a shift in quality for MINI -- the industry as a whole improved and, if if I recall correctly, MINI was right around the same number for '07 models. So MINI stayed about the same while the industry improved around it.

 

Well, this clearly demonstrates is that JD Powers' charts are useless. Yes, they can graph their survey data, but beware of drawing any conclusions....except that maybe their surveys aren't too accurate.

 

The average Mini has 1.6 problems, the average Lexus has 1.0 problems, the industry average is 1.2 problems. Is this really such big difference?

Also, the average Mini has alot of gizmos, doodads and thingamabobs (more things that might break).

 

That puts it into perspective. Thanks! *:D

 

Initial quality stinks? But overall quality is excellent according to Consumer Reports.

 

JD Powers is ridiculous.

Case in point: the Subaru Impreza in the 2002-2005 timeframe. It won huge numbers of JD Powers awards in Europe and the UK, highest quality awards, owner satisfaction awards, you name it. In the US, however, it consistently scored in the bottom half of the rankings. These were on almost identically equipped vehicles built in the same factory.

In short, JD Powers is completely full of crap and they skew their rankings to fit consumers' preconceived notions. I can only presume that this is to reinforce the "authority" of their brand.

 

The whole industry has improved. I remember not to long ago, the highest numbers on the chart were around 290-300. Now it's at 167. Not bad.

 

Remember when the 1st gen cars came out MINI was ranked really low? It turned out that the majority of the complaints were from Starbucks freaks who said the cupholders were too small!!!

 

I agree that this survey is useless. It's an initial quality report, nothing to do with long-term. And even that is based only on customer complaints, not actual problems.

In other words, if a 75 year old buys a Lexus and one panel is 1/20" off kilter, not only will they not notice, but they certainly will not care enough to complain about it. Mini owners are younger, more passionate about their cars, and willing to take the time to complain and get everything perfect. (Having said that, Porsche #1 perhaps has no explanation).

 

Diitto that McEnvy. I suspect that Mini owners attention to detail and high expectations have something to do with it.

 

Who cares what they say! We know we love our MINIs! That's all that matters

 

These surveys always make me laugh. I don't bother to fill out any of these any more. After a week of ownership you get this huge survey in the mail. How much are you going to know about the quality of your vehicle after 1 week of ownership. There is usually more than one survey that you receive too. Usually the only people that reply to these are the ones that already have had some type of problem.

I wouldn't mind getting a survey after 3 or 4 years but they don't send them for that it seems.

From what I understand also the surveys are not used to improve a vehicle they are used to keep your MA or SA or whoever at the dealer from getting a bonus.

 

I have a pretty strict standard of quality and below is the definition. To most people 'Quality' is a sort of feelie, unquantifiable thing. We need to learn that Quality is definable, measurable, and attainable.

To get a rating of good quality, two conditions must be met. The first is that only one problem is found in the first 1000 miles. If nothing comes up, then that one gimme expires. The next problem cannot come before 80,000 miles. Note that 'problem' is defined as anything other than gas or oil or tires. I might give brakes a pass but I did have a VW go 240K on factory brakes, so unlikely.

I've developed that standard because I've found that some of my other cars can meet that standard. To get to great quality, the car has to go to 100K before problems. This level can be reached.

By that standard, Tinkerbell (the wife's 2006 MCS) is unable to reach a rating of good, as there have already been problems, even though the dealer has attended to those issues. Time will tell if Bimini will make it there. But I have to admit - We're having so much fun that the few problems we've had seem unimportant.

 

The only thing that seems awry here is that MINI owners, in my estimation, seem to be very positive. This report seems to paint an unhappy picture.

No one from JD Powers ever called me...

 

This thing says they ask "more than 200 questions" on their survey. WTF? I don't think I ever took a final exam in college with 200 questions. How many questions does it take for 90 day car owners to say if they have any problems (and probably say what they don't like)? That's ridiculous IMO, I'd put it right next to the Am Express CC offer if I got it in the mail.

 

Well, lets see my hood latch broke and the computer needed to be updated all in the first couple months of ownership. Not mention anyone who took deliveries near the winter in cold areas likely complained about the engine knocking. It's very fitting for the MINI to be next to last on the list they definitely had INITIAL quality problems.

With MINI being a one model brand that just had released an entirely redesigned model a low score should be expected anyways.

Overall its not really going to affect long term resale or overall customer satisfaction, so long as most of those things are just only initial problems. Its really a useless ranking for most people.

 

..

still researching

 

Here's another big factor as far as I'm concerned: MINI owners are hyper in tune with their cars. They KNOW their cars and any small abnormality is recognized. A large percentage of Toyota, Lexus, Cadillac, (fill in the blank) owners are not motoring enthusiasts, not even close. Many would not know a problem if it bit them in the butt. OTOH, MINI owners are constantly evaluating every aspect of their car and are hesitant to accept anything but proper operation. This is my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

 

I once bought a used 1981 Fiat Spider. Before I bought it, I asked many people what they thought of Fiats:

Those that knew someone who had one said "the guy was always fixing it, don't touch it."

Those that actually owned one said it was a great car, cheap parts, never left them stranded.

I loved the car. Finally had to sell it when I needed a back seat for the kids.

My opinion: good service experience and knowing someone who knows how to fix your car is the most important.

The percepttion of quality is very subjective. The JDPowers surveys are attempts to tabulate surveys and measurements in order to place a numerical value on quality. The limitations of such results must be understood.

 

It used to be claimed that initial quality was a good predictor of overall quality, I don't know if its still true. but I will say the initial quality of my 2002 was not very good. It then went from 10k to 80k quite trouble free. Since 80k it seems to have every gremlin you see in posts :steering,doorlocks,auto ac ,etc. I still am crazy about the MINI( I say :more smiles per mile ) but if it had stayed trouble free to 100k there would be a Clubman in my driveway next to it and there isn't one .

 

The other problem with JD Powers surveys is that a question about cupholders holds the same weight as a question about the drivetrain. So the negative opinion about the cupholders will be ranked the same as the opinion about a gearbox failure.

Not really an objective survey.

 

Look, I love my new Mini, and I understand that the survey lists minor design flaws as problems (poor mileage on a Hummer), but Mini needs to do better than this. Below Land Rover? That is just pathetic. You cannot just count on the support of the enthusiast community to defend you, you need to improve the quality of the car. This explains why in another survey the number of Mini owners who would buy another Mini dropped from 42% to 30% in one year!

My wife's Prius is as dull as dishwater, but it has not seen the dealer in 3 years and 30k miles. Of course it is not made in England....

 

You're absolutely right. Despite the flaws, the survey is still looked at and it's certainly a black mark for the brand.

Although, made in England... shouldn't really matter, it's still a BMW run facility.