Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[Calgary14]

I find vehicle loyalty to be weird for some people. I know people who drive Ford because they grew up with Fords and wouldn't even consider anything other than Ford no matter what.

Others are loyal to Honda/Subaru/etc but whatever the brand is, vehicle loyalty is weirdly strong for some

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

I find vehicle loyalty to be weird for some people. I know people who drive Ford because they grew up with Fords and wouldn't even consider anything other than Ford no matter what.

Others are loyal to Honda/Subaru/etc but whatever the brand is, vehicle loyalty is weirdly strong for some

Ford and the other domestics have generational loyalty going for them but that's faded decade over decade as it's primarily pickup trucks keeping them viable now. I find Honda and Toyota have strong loyalty but probably Subaru the most IMO. Americans just love them as they sell far better in that country than any other as for example they pretty well dead as a brand in Europe. I have no loyalty as I've owned almost every non-exotic brand available in North America outside of MB and Nissan. I feel brand loyalists miss out on great vehicles over the years.

[Ashasx]

Genesis dropped 13 points? I thought people were comparing them to Lexus in terms of quality.

Is long-term ownership proving otherwise?

[GoinAllTheWay]

Porsche as a top brand? That surprises me. I thought they were labelled as eternal money pits? Maybe it was just the ones I was looking at? That's really good to know as I've always wanted one but was hesitant.

Not surprised Mazda is overlooked. I've been saying for years you get a ton of car for the price you pay. Outside of the very annoying "Mazda rust" that mine also suffers from, they are superb. The 3's anyways, that's all I've driven but it's been one of the best highway cars I've every driven. The faster you go, the more solid the steering feels.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Genesis dropped 13 points? I thought people were comparing them to Lexus in terms of quality.

Is long-term ownership proving otherwise?

And yet it is still above Benz, Cadillac, Acura, Jag, Volvo.

There were some surprises across the board. Mazda being #1 for example.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Porsche as a top brand? That surprises me. I thought they were labelled as eternal money pits? Maybe it was just the ones I was looking at? That's really good to know as I've always wanted one but was hesitant.

Depends very heavily on the model. They really got that reputation due to the non-turbo 996 911, which sold an absurd number of cars compared to previous generations and had a design flaw that could turn the engine into a brick in about 5% of cases. The Cayenne didn't help, because it was effectively just a luxury SUV with a handful of mostly minor problems that cost an obscene amount to fix because it's a Porsche. If you're a suburban family with 2.5 kids you're just far better off getting an RX350 as your grocery hauler.

I bought a 987.2 Cayman S for two reasons - first, because it still had hydraulic steering and all subsequent models are drive by wire, and second, other than a known shifter cable issue that isn't the end of the world if it does arise, the car is basically bombproof. More recent caymans and most 911s since the 997 seem to be in a similar boat. I have no information about the reliability of the Macan or Panamera because there's no real reason to buy those cars (I could see getting a PGTS as a wagonish all year round car, I guess).

All in all, Porsche is a very reliable brand at this point, but the caveat there is that even reliable cars need the occasional fix or part replacement, and those are just inherently twice as expensive (or more) just because it's a Porsche.

[Erick Estrada]

Porsche has been in the top 10 for reliability for most of this decade I believe which is impressive when you consider they sell a lot more vehicles now with their SUV's compared to when they were just a car company.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Porsche as a top brand? That surprises me. I thought they were labelled as eternal money pits? Maybe it was just the ones I was looking at? That's really good to know as I've always wanted one but was hesitant.

Not surprised Mazda is overlooked. I've been saying for years you get a ton of car for the price you pay. Outside of the very annoying "Mazda rust" that mine also suffers from, they are superb. The 3's anyways, that's all I've driven but it's been one of the best highway cars I've every driven. The faster you go, the more solid the steering feels.

I'd say that issue goes beyond annoying, though. A dash rattle is annoying. Rust completely and totally ruins a car for me. Their ongoing rust problems - which Mazda always says are in the rearview, but never seem to be - has written off the brand for me. I do like their vehicles other than the rust.

[81MC]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I'd say that issue goes beyond annoying, though. A dash rattle is annoying. Rust completely and totally ruins a car for me. Their ongoing rust problems - which Mazda always says are in the rearview, but never seem to be - has written off the brand for me. I do like their vehicles other than the rust.

Yep. Mechanical bits can be replaced as needed. When the vehicle starts to rot, that’s a whole other ball game. Unless it’s a classic, rust is a total deal breaker.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Yep. Mechanical bits can be replaced as needed. When the vehicle starts to rot, that’s a whole other ball game. Unless it’s a classic, rust is a total deal breaker.

Yep. I buy and sell several cars a year I'll buy a car with just about any issue(s) except rust.

[Ironhorse]

So my wife just texted that our Expedition was backed into whilst parked at her workplace (strip mall). Pic shows a nice big scuff across the rear bumper. She has the guy’s name and phone number, as he apparently came into the store to announce this event. What is the best way to deal with this? Do I still call my insurance? It looks to at least be a bumper repaint.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

So my wife just texted that our Expedition was backed into whilst parked at her workplace (strip mall). Pic shows a nice big scuff across the rear bumper. She has the guy’s name and phone number, as he apparently came into the store to announce this event. What is the best way to deal with this? Do I still call my insurance? It looks to at least be a bumper repaint.

I would get a quote and reach out to him how much he owes you. I wouldn't bother with insurance at this point. Fault or not at fault, a claim is still a claim. I'm no professional with handling this but it's what I'd do. Chances are he would rather pay for the fix then go through insurance. Looking at $2500 range to paint a bumper.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Depends very heavily on the model. They really got that reputation due to the non-turbo 996 911, which sold an absurd number of cars compared to previous generations and had a design flaw that could turn the engine into a brick in about 5% of cases. The Cayenne didn't help, because it was effectively just a luxury SUV with a handful of mostly minor problems that cost an obscene amount to fix because it's a Porsche. If you're a suburban family with 2.5 kids you're just far better off getting an RX350 as your grocery hauler.

I bought a 987.2 Cayman S for two reasons - first, because it still had hydraulic steering and all subsequent models are drive by wire, and second, other than a known shifter cable issue that isn't the end of the world if it does arise, the car is basically bombproof. More recent caymans and most 911s since the 997 seem to be in a similar boat. I have no information about the reliability of the Macan or Panamera because there's no real reason to buy those cars (I could see getting a PGTS as a wagonish all year round car, I guess).

All in all, Porsche is a very reliable brand at this point, but the caveat there is that even reliable cars need the occasional fix or part replacement, and those are just inherently twice as expensive (or more) just because it's a Porsche.

You sound like a guy I may like to talk to when I'm actually in the market I've wanted a Porsche for some time and I'd like to make that happen somewhat sooner than later.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I'd say that issue goes beyond annoying, though. A dash rattle is annoying. Rust completely and totally ruins a car for me. Their ongoing rust problems - which Mazda always says are in the rearview, but never seem to be - has written off the brand for me. I do like their vehicles other than the rust.

You're not wrong. I was being gentle I suppose. Like I've said before, if it wasn't for that rust issue, that car would still be incredibly presentable. Mechanically it's cost me very little.

Only other thing that seems to come up with regularity is a dirty mass airflow sensor that throws up a check engine light. Simple to correct though.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by photon

Audi E-Tron GT

https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/9/22...ar-specs-price





I still think I'd rather own the Taycan but the Audi looks great to me too.

IMO, the GT is way better looking than the Taycan, though they are both nice, and overall, pretty similar.

My order is in and I believe I am getting the first RS GT in Calgary - I am so jacked!

The styling is very much an ICE vehicle look - Audi said they wanted it to look like an Audi, not like an EV. Which I agree with.

Obviously, it looks quite a bit like the S7, inside and out - except with more of a Porsche ass-end (which I think is a huge improvement to the design, compared to the S7). I currently have an RS7 and the new GT will be very similar style-wise. None the less, I can't wait!

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Since you won't need it anymore you should give me your S7 when that car gets here. It'll save you the hassle of selling it and you'll feel good about yourself for your generosity.

[nik-]

I love it, and I typically don't like that sportback style. The only think I don't like about it is the grille piece which looks ok on darker colors, but stands out with lighter ones. It would have looked better imo if they bridged the body color from the fenders to the grille under the headlights.

Spoiler for potential size

Spoiler!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Since you won't need it anymore you should give me your S7 when that car gets here. It'll save you the hassle of selling it and you'll feel good about yourself for your generosity.

####, you're 5 minutes too late. I just gave it to someone else - and I had to throw in a case of beer.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by nik-

I love it, and I typically don't like that sportback style. The only think I don't like about it is the grille piece which looks ok on darker colors, but stands out with lighter ones. It would have looked better imo if they bridged the body color from the fenders to the grille under the headlights.

Spoiler for potential size

Spoiler!

I agree. But you can't get the coloured grill in Canada anyway - only black.

So in that picture, the entire front would be black.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I agree. But you can't get the coloured grill in Canada anyway - only black.

Oh, well that solves an aesthetic problem. Now just to figure out the money problem and I'm set!