Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Does Ford Want My Business?

Can you be more specific as to the questions on the CR survey? Or are you swarn to secrecy as a Consumer Union member?

Do you think that the questions are biased to make Japanese cars look better?

My wife has had two Japanese cars an Eagle Summit Wagon and a Mazda MPV. We've had the MPV for three years now and I have taken it in for a brake recall and that's it. In seven years and 80K miles the Summit had a bit of weatherstripping, a speedo cable, and an airbag clockspring fail and that's it.

My Mystique, on the other hand, has had recurring brake problems, the main cat, an O2 sensor, and a failed bearing as the major problems in 70k miles. Everything else has been annoying things like leaks, recalls, and minor electrical problems. I have found all of the American cars that I have driven ('85 Topaz, '90 Probe (mostly American. 3L Vulcan) and my Mystique) to have strong drivetrains but poor execution on the details.

I will say this, however, I was very down on my Mystique in the near month's time it took the dealer to get the cat fixed. Now that the car is at full capability again, I have fallen in love with it all over again.

What's interesting is you compare a 1998 Mystique, which maybe sold for $15-18K, to two luxury cars costing well over $28,000.

So far, Ford's quality is better than the 90's. There hasn't been any recalls on the 2004 F-150, and the 2002 and up Focus is listed as a 'recommended buy' in Consumer Reports.

CR is horrible for cars. It IS biased towards japanese cars, but its not their fault.. its people's fault.

I know plenty of japanese car owners. When something goes wrong with their car, they don't get pissed off, they just call it "some little problem" and wouldn't report it because it "doesn't count" and their cars are reliable. However, my friends that own american cars and are told their cars are unreliable b*tch about everything that goes wrong.

Proof.. couple years ago, I was looking at cars that were stablemates but came from different "countries" (even though they were from the same factory). Surprise, surprise, the american ones had less reliability according to CR.

Use it for your new fridge, not your car.

Yeah, I can tell ya about the survey, but if I did, I'd have to shoot ya!! Just kidding! Basically, Consumer Reports sends out an annual survey every year to its subscribers. The survey asks about your experiences with all sorts of products, not only cars, but TV's, refrigerators, cameras, etc.

For cars, they list several categories, such as cooling systems, electrical, transmissions, engines, paint, body integrity, brakes, exhaust, etc, and ask if you've had any SERIOUS problems in each of those areas. Basically "yes" or "no". They define "serious problems" as something that either costs a lot to fix or is a serious safety or drivability concern. Like I mentioned in my original post, one guy's definition of "serious problem" may not be the same as another guy's idea of "serious problem". In my experience, in the five years I've owned my Mystique, I've never had anything happen that would cause me to indicate a "serious" problem on their survey.

The information is sorted as to car make and model, and usually engine type (4 cyl or 6 cyl). They ask the same questions, regardless of make, or if its a car, truck, or SEV. The survey isn't biased towards imports, but I wonder how many Toyota owners will admit that their pride and joy has given them trouble?

Exactly what I was saying. Its not their fault, that's just how it goes.

Also, there are other problems.. for example, the kind of people that would be driving the cars I would buy aren't the kind that are sending in their opinions to CR.

The things being said about how people fill out a survay are true. My father drove several Toyotas. Things on those cars broke just like any other car. But if the car would still go may dad did not consider it a problem. Me, if something goes wrong I get pissed then fix it. Any minor detail that falls out of place I consider a problem. Different perceptions of what a problem is.

Survays are more like opinions. They are far from scientific.

Oh and DFT...
I feel the same way, Ford does not want my business. I know the dealers are just franchises. They are also the only link between the customer and the corporation. In addition Ford is in the business of selling extended warranties. If their service stinks who would want to be stuck having to go to the dealer for repairs?