Prince of Darkness Smites Jag XF. Again.
By Mike SolowiowMay 28, 2008 -
In our previous edition, the Jaguar XF's headlights had given up the ghost, only to be restored with donor parts from a new, still-on-the-lot XF. This morning, while driving to base to take part in my USAF fitness test, I received a peculiar indication in the center (centre?) computer display: "Performance Reduction." I'd witnessed this message before, when driving quickly through a very high mountain pass. The computer limits the engine output by about 20 percent. Stopping and restarting the car seems to take care of the problem. However, why would it reduce performance while going no more than 45mph in stop-n-go traffic? I can only surmise I angered the spirits of Castle Bromwich. Maybe I should hold a seance over the "power bulge" hood to exorcise the rest of the demons lurking in the convoluted wiring of my Jag, which we have named, "Lady Margaret," or Maggie.
Posted in News Blog | Quality | 11 comments 
TrueDelta: GM Still Beta Testing With Early Adopters
By Frank WilliamsMay 14, 2008 -
Conventional wisdom says never buy a car the first year it's on the market, whether it's a brand new model or a redesign of an existing one. TrueDelta's latest quarterly results say… it depends from whence cometh the car. The 2008 Honda Accord, Nissan Rogue and Mercedes C-Class, for example, all boast a better than average repair rate. On the other hand, GM. Last year, the GMC Acadia and Saturn's Aura and Outlook showed higher than normal repair rates. So far this model year, they're lower than average rates. The cycle is repeating for the 2008 Cadillac CTS (2.5 times the average repair rate) and Saturn Vue (1.5 times the average). TrueDelta developer Michael Karesh sums it up thus: "For GM, rough launches appear to be the rule rather than the exception." So the next time GM CEO Rick Wagoner and Co. feel like mouthing-off about the "perception gap" supposed afflicting their narrow-minded non-customers, they should visit TrueDelta (and/or TTAC) for some cold, hard truth. if we don't say so ourself. Which we do.
Posted in News Blog | Quality | 16 comments
Toyota: I Spit on Ford’s Quality Claims!
By Frank WilliamsMay 12, 2008 -
Last month, Ford released the results of a self-commissioned study claiming their initial quality is as good as Toyota's. Well, Toyota ain't gonna take it; no! They ain't gonna take! On their Open Road Blog, corporate mouthpiece Mike Michaels goes to great lengths to explain that the Ford survey isn't the J.D. Power survey– which places Toyota above Ford. However, Michaels points-out that all of these initial quality surveys "deal with problems that surface only in the first 90 days." They're "useful, maybe, if you're going to rent the car for three months" (and God knows how many times we've done that.) Michaels then proclaims that brand loyalty– where Toyota and Lexus rank at the top– is the only true indicator of quality. That's the only way to know "how your car will treat you long after that new-car smell is gone." It's also a great way to know which car company has the most effective brainwashing marketing or the most risk-aversive customers. But there's one question Mr. Michaels left unanswered: why should we believe a survey that placing Toyota over Ford is any more accurate than one placing Ford on the same plane as Toyota when the methodology behind both of them is clouded in smoke and mirrors? Enquiring minds want to know.
Posted in Marketing | News Blog | Quality | 43 comments
NHTSA Investigates Sonata Rust Problem
By Frank WilliamsApril 29, 2008 -
Consumeraffairs.com reports NHTSA is investigating complaints of rust producing "fist-sized holes" in the subframe on Hyundai Sonatas, resulting in suspension failure. So far the problem has occurred in 1999 - 2002 model year Sonatas. The rust weakens the subframe to the point where it causes "wheel collapse or separation, half shaft detachment resulting in sudden vehicle disablement and or steering anomalies" according to the NHTSA web site. Most of the reports are from states where salt is used to control ice in the winter. Several accidents have been reported, and one car was rusted so badly the insurance company totaled it. If you have a Sonata, you may want to check under it to see if yours is affected. The car comes with a seven-year, unlimited mileage warranty against rust through; depending on how old yours is, you may need to move fast. Or slowly. Or both.
Posted in News Blog | Quality | Safety | 26 comments
Volt Birth Watch 40: Rust Never Sleeps
By Frank WilliamsApril 15, 2008 -
We just received this photo via email from one of TTAC's Best and Brightest: "This may be out of date, but I figured you may find it noteworthy for the Volt birthwatch series. Just under a year ago, GM had a Volt on display at the Indy 500. The car was likely a non-running example, but nonetheless it was there to showcase GM's engineering prowess so I judged it in that light. What I saw was… not good. Some of the trim on the Volt was rusting! Rust! On such a high profile vehicle at such a high profile event!" As the photo shows, it wasn't just a spot or two, either. Whatever GM's reason for showing the vehicle in this condition, let's just hope the production version - whatever it ends up looking like - will have better quality trim. And that their attention to the detail on this display model isn't indicative of their attention to detail on the engineering side.
Posted in Electric Vehicles | Hybrid | News Blog | Quality | Volt Birth Watch | 13 comments
As Ford Quality Rises, Dealer Income Shrinks
By Frank WilliamsApril 11, 2008 -
Ford isn't wasting any time bragging about their bought and paid for surveys claiming that their quality is now on par with Toyota's. However, as the Detroit News reveals, FoMoCo's newfound reliability has dealers losing money on warranty work. The National Automobile Dealers Association estimates Ford dealers currently lose $30 on every new car they sell; they make up the difference through financing, add-ons, service and warranty work. [U.S. car dealers earned $7.7b on warranty repairs last year.] With warranty work shrinking, they'll have to earn more money elsewhere. To that end, Ford's introducing a line of aftermarket accessories called "Customs" focusing (so to speak) on "high-profit items like custom wheels and electronics." So in addition to paint protection, window etching and LoJack, Ford dealers will be hawking factory-authorized customization. Pimp my profits?
Posted in Marketing | News Blog | Quality | Sales | 27 comments
Ford’s Initial Quality As Good As Toyonda’s
By Frank WilliamsApril 8, 2008 -
Bloomberg reports a recent survey that shows Ford's initial quality is at the same level as Toyota's and Honda's. The survey, which ranked problems per 1k vehicles in the first three months of ownership, showed Ford's vehicles scored 1,284 against Toyota's and Honda's "statistically equivalent" 1,250. GM and Chrysler didn't do so well, scoring 1,367 and 1,744 respectively. Of course, Ford will crow about their "achievement" in their "Drive One" ads. What they won't tell you, though, is that Alan Mulally signed the figurative check to RDA Group for performing the survey. That's right folks — Ford bought the survey in which they placed so highly. I vented the editorial spleen when they did the same thing last year, so all I'll say this time is that it didn't seem to help their sales then so I hope they get their money's worth this time.
Posted in Marketing | News Blog | PR | Quality | 63 comments
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