They do break down the data and I do have access to it but it is not free for the public so I cannot publish it without violating our company agreement. Most automotive suppliers subscribe to JD Powers service. That was the reason for my last guideline, which is a car's mechanical reliability usually can be directly correlated to the length of it's warranty. Longer warranty period = greater likelihood of mechanical failure. Cosmetic and nuisance issues do not have as great an impact on a manufacturer's bottom line.

 

I heard to keep your warranty valid on a hyundai you have to maintain it like a formula one and you end up spending as much maintaining it as you did to buy it. (???)

 

Such brand rating are aggregating averages and can be confusing if not deceiving if don’t understand the basis for the collected the information. Meaning, if these numbers are based on consumer polls, recall info, etc. I believe the JD Powers IQ ratings, for example, are based on 90 day consumer or “voice of the people” ratings. They are valid for what they are, but these ratings have limits as well. It is similar to the USA news and word report of colleges and universities. These ratings are accurate if you accept their definition of quality as described in their methodology. Knowing their methodology, therefore, is necessary in order to understand their rating.

The JD Powers table provided earlier in this thread is informative if you understand the methods and the details. These numbers are about a brand and the ratings treat all the brands as though they are equal. Specifically, that the number of products is the same, the diversity of products is the same, and the consumers of the products are the same (or at least somewhat random). Of course, they are not. The Lexus and Porsche numbers, for example, have limited numbers of products and a fairly narrow consumer base when compared to Toyota, or Chevy.

Bottom line in my opinion – in general it is hard to make a decision about a particular model in a particular year for a specific brand is difficult based on the JD Power IQ. Across voice-of-the-people polls, MINI is average to just below average. Some of the dings are about German’s making cars for Europeans and selling them to Americans. What American and Europeans value are somewhat different. Best example of this difference is cup holders.

 

Such brand rating are aggregating averages and can be confusing if not deceiving if don’t understand the basis for the collected the information. Meaning, if these numbers are based on consumer polls, recall info, etc. I believe the JD Powers IQ ratings, for example, are based on 90 day consumer or “voice of the people” ratings. They are valid for what they are, but these ratings have limits as well. It is similar to the USA news and word report of colleges and universities. These ratings are accurate if you accept their definition of quality as described in their methodology. Knowing their methodology, therefore, is necessary in order to understand their rating.

The JD Powers table provided earlier in this thread is informative if you understand the methods and the details. These numbers are about a brand and the ratings treat all the brands as though they are equal. Specifically, that the number of products is the same, the diversity of products is the same, and the consumers of the products are the same (or at least somewhat random). Of course, they are not. The Lexus and Porsche numbers, for example, have limited numbers of products and a fairly narrow consumer base when compared to Toyota, or Chevy.

Bottom line in my opinion – in general it is hard to make a decision about a particular model in a particular year for a specific brand is difficult based on the JD Power IQ. Across voice-of-the-people polls, MINI is average to just below average. Some of the dings are about German’s making cars for Europeans and selling them to Americans. What American and Europeans value are somewhat different. Best example of this difference is cup holders.

 

I would have thought it was the other way around...

Short warranty = poor reliability
Long warranty = high reliability

Or did you mean that as the warranty gets longer the chances of something randomly failing late in the warranty gets higher regardless of design? (True to some extent - the odds of chance failures increases, but bad design overules IMHO)

If the manufacturer knows the car is unreliable, they won't put a long warranty on the model as they would then have to pony up for all the repairs. While that's good for the customer retention, it probably won't do for the allmighty shareholders...

I have a hard time believeing that ANY manufacturer/big business would be altruistic enough to put a long warranty on a crap design (BMW has proven this once or twice) - eg: vacuum pumps, timing chain tensioners, oil dip sticks... Getting the HPFP warranty extended was quite the fight, I gather, and these are just the flaws that leap to mind on the R56s - I don't know the rest of the BMW lineup!

-RANT complete!-

E

 

All that ranting aside, I have to admit, my '12MCS is a JOY I would have a hard time replacing!

Reliability has been OK - I am currently dealing with a clunk in the suspension where I couldn't locate the source when putting on my snow tires (I tried to shake and pry at everything to no avail), and engine temperature control issues the dealership says aren't there!

E

 

Summons, haven't you had the recent extra thermostat and new sensor cradle fix yet?
(We were 'jawing' about fan running/thermostat issues on my N18 MCS a while ago. If you remember my dealer was in denial...many times)

 

Nope, I meant my original statement. The longer warranty is an enticement to buy a car you would otherwise be afraid of.

 

Hi cjm

Sadly I have had the recall carried out, but...

While there has been some improvement, the car still stumbles a bit at idle. Particularly on cold, wet days, after a cold soak.

It also stumbles (reliably) during the warm up, from about 40C to 60C, when you let the engine fall back to idle with the clutch in.

It has got better, but the symptoms are still there...

I also still think I have a lazy thermostat, but can't prove it, so because there's no CEL, they deny it's a problem.

This raises a flag wrt long term ownership. What damage is being done - maybe none... I don't know.

Has yours kept up with the good behavior?
E