Improving Ford, GM need to get quality message across

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100319/BUSINESS01/3190364/1318/Improving-Ford-GM-need-to-get-quality-message-across

Posted: March 19, 2010

BY BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

General Motors and Ford are giving Toyota even tougher competition when it comes to long-term quality -- a critical consideration for car buyers.

The two Detroit automakers delivered a strong performance in the 2010 vehicle dependability study from J.D. Power and Associates, which measures 198 different problems in 3-year-old models.


All of Ford's three brands ranked among the Top 10 and GM's Buick placed third, tying Toyota's Lexus.


What's more, the Cadillac DTS made by GM was named the top-ranked vehicle in the study, unseating the Lexus LS. In fact, three of the top-five rated vehicles are made by GM.


"It is the first time in more than a decade that a domestic brand vehicle has been the top-rated vehicle," said David Sargent, J.D. Power's vice president of global vehicle research.


For years, Detroit automakers have improved in shorter-term quality studies. Now, that seems to be translating into cars that better withstand the test of time.

FULL story 2 page story and related articles at link.

[liberal N proud]

1. They need a little help from the Automotive media

Every time you open an automotive magazine or read an article on autos, they are pushing Toyota and how Hyundai.

I have been researching buying a new car and every time I do a search for cars by what I want in a car, Toyota, Lexus and Hyundai are the first three on the list even if you exclude them.

The US Auto Makers don't stand a chance in a playing field like that.

[Mudoria]

2. It's good to see our auto makers stepping up in the quality department.

They've been making good vehicles for a number of years now but no one wants to acknowledge it. I know quality wasn't a big deal to them in the 70's and 80's but they've made huge strides in the last 20 years. If I were in the market for a new car Ford or GM would be my choice.

[FarCenter]

3. When you look at the specific models, it's not so rosy for Ford and GM

Plus defining dependibility after 3 years is silly. A 3-year old car is almost new. The median age of cars is over 9 years.

J.D. Power and Associates, "2010 Vehicle Dependability Study", Top Three Models per Segment
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2010-Vehicle-Dependability-Study-Results/page-3/

Sub-Compact Car: Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris
Compact Car: Toyota Prius, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe
Midsize Car: Buick Lacrosse, Mercury Milan, Honda Accord
Large Car: Mercury Montego, Buick Lucerne(tie), Ford Five Hundred(tie)

Compact Sporty Car: Mazda MX-5 Miata, Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice Convertible
Midsize Sporty Car: Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Toyota Solara, Ford Mustang

Compact Premium Sporty Car: BMW Z4
Premium Sporty Car: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Porsche 911

Entry Premium Vehicle: Lincoln MKZ, Acura TSX, Cadillac CTS
Midsize Premium Car: Audi A6, Lexus ES 350, Cadilac STS(tie), Infiniti M-Series(tie)
Large Premium Car: Cadillac DTS, Lexus LS 460

Compact MAV: Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson
Midsize MAV: Toyota Highlander, Toyota 4Runner, Ford Freestyle
Large MAV: Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition

Midsize Premium MAV: Lexus GX 470, Lexus RX, Infiniti FX-Series
Large Premium MAV: Lincoln Mark LT, Cadillac Escalade EXT, Lincoln Navigator

Midsize Van: Fod Freestar, Toyota Sienna, Buick Terraza(tie), Chrysler Town & Country(tie)

Midsize Pickup: Honda Ridgeline, Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger
Large Pickup: Toyota Tundra, Ford F-150 LD, Chevrolet Siverado Classic HD

[Romulox]

4. What are you talking about? That list has plenty of Fords, GM products...

:wtf:

[FarCenter]

5. The problem is the discontinued models

There are 13 Toyotas, 13 GM, and 12 Fords.

But the GMs include the Pontiac Solstice, Pontiac Vibe, and Saturn Sky as well as the Buick Terraza, all of which are discontinued brands or models.

The Fords include the Freestar and Freestyle, as well as the Lincoln Mark LT, which are also discontinued.

[Romulox]

6. That's silly; several of the Toyotas on the list are subject to Sudden Acceleration.

Since all of these quality studies amount to nothing much more than reader surveys, you can bet that Toyotas will move down that list next year, at any rate.

And GM still owns Opel, which is the source of the Solstice and the Sky. The product can be reintroduced as a GM model tomorrow. :hi: