Regal leads 'Consumer Reports' reliability list Tue Nov 4, 7:00 AM ET
By Earle Eldridge, USA TODAY
The Buick Regal is the most reliable family sedan, bumping perennial leaders Toyota Camry and Nissan Maxima in Consumer Reports ' latest new vehicle guide, on sale Tuesday.
And benighted Ford Focus has put enough distance between itself and a raft of early recalls to make the influential magazine's list of recommended vehicles.
Detroit automakers say it's time they got recognition for quality improvements.
"In general, (domestic brands) are clearly narrowing any gap that existed," says Louise Goeser, vice president of quality for Ford. She says Ford's general warranty spending the past year is down 19%. Focus warranty expense is down 30%, Ford says.
Detroit models are heavily discounted, while top names from Japanese brands which continue to dominate the reliability charts, despite Detroit improvements are not. Consumer Reports data suggest that shoppers now have more and cheaper choices without sacrificing reliability.
Perhaps most galling of the magazine's data is that very often, the more you pay, the worse you get.
Less reliable than average were every model by Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover. Those are luxury brands whose prices can run past $80,000. BMW did better. Only its $70,000 7 Series flagship sedan and $41,000 X5 were worse than average.
The results are based on spring survey results from 675,000 readers and subscribers to the magazine's Web site. Reliable vehicles aren't always recommended. They also must perform well in magazine driving tests and score well in crash tests. For instance Regal, a headline car for the preview guide, isn't recommended because Consumer Reports hasn't tested it recently.
Other Detroit models upgraded in reliability and now recommended: Ford's Explorer and Escape SUVs and Lincoln LS luxury sedan; and GM's Buick Park Avenue, Buick Rendezvous and Saturn L300.
Buick was always my favorite division of General Motors. They have stayed consistant in there products and haven't made as many dumb decisions like Cheverolet, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Pontiac.
I personaly like the Park Avenue better but I am glad Buick has beat out the boring mundane underpowered junk from Japan.
The world's greatest cars are American cars build here in America!
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 831 times:
Interesting. Although it should be noted that "quality" and "reliable" are not necessarily synonymous with each other.
BTW:
I'm THINKING about (just THINKING about) maybe buying my first American car.
I know a guy who has a '98 (it might be a '99-I don't recall at the moment) Ford Mustang Cobra Convertible, in seemingly immacculate shape, 19K miles on it. He's asking $19,500 for it. Is that a good deal?
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 2, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 828 times:
WOW great car.
I hope it's a 1999. The 1998s were good too but the style I thought was just a little on the girly side.
My girlfriend has a 2001 (same as 1999-2004), and it has been a very good car for her. She puts on over 60 miles a day and only had to replace brake pads once. That's all she's had done.
Hers is just the V6 and it still hauls ass and gets close to 30 mpg hiway.
$19K might be a little steep but it is a Cobra and only 19K miles is pretty good.
Still try to talk him down a little, otherwise a great car.
The gas milage is a little less than your Honda Civic Del Sol but the power difference is night and day!
Dc10guy From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 2685 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 823 times:
I like the Regal too. The 3800 V6 engine is one of the best engines built in the world.
Next time try the old "dirty Sanchez" She'll love it !!!
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29366 posts, RR: 61 Reply 5, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 815 times:
The 3800 V6 engine is one of the best engines built in the world.
But it ain't a straight six Ford and never will be.
But it ain't a 350 Chevy and never will be.
But it ain't a 351 Ford and never will be.
Sorry but today's motors pale to what Detroit used to put out.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Dc10guy From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 2685 posts, RR: 7 Reply 6, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 810 times:
350 Chevy .... Please. That was on of the biggest piece-o-crap motors ever. The only one worst was the 454. And don't tell me different I've owned plenty of both.
Next time try the old "dirty Sanchez" She'll love it !!!
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 7, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 794 times:
The 3800 V6 is definitely a decent engine. Torquey, good mileage, reliable, one of GM's best products. But I would hardly say it's the best gas 6 cylinder engine in the world. There are far better 6 cylinder engines out there, and I'm not just talking about my preferences, I'm talking about quantifiable reasons.
I am happy about the Focus now being recommended. It gives hope to the new one coming out shortly, as the styling is improved and it should be quite a good car in its category.
The high priced imported luxury cars ... shame on them. They know how to do better, but they are focussing too much of their attention on fancy crap that will break ... as proven by their reliability ratings. The Germans make incredibly stiff, wonderful driving cars that appeal to the driver. But these cars are more and more being marketed to computer geeks with too much technology. Let Lexus go after this market. At least they know how to do it reliably. In the mean time, the ultimate driving machine is being replaced by the ultimate interfacing machine. How disturbing.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Dc10guy From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 2685 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 789 times:
Very true Captiangomes. I have a Toyota that has a 3.0 v6 and it is a great motor. The BMW's are hard to beat. But than you can add the cost side to the argument.
Next time try the old "dirty Sanchez" She'll love it !!!
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 9, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 788 times:
Mmmmmm, BMW inline 6 engine, just sublime. And I can guarantee you, those engines ARE reliable.
Now, I know somebody with a new 745i, and he's had numerous problems with the POS. And of course, it's ugly, looks like a BMW Roadmaster. hehehe. Beyond the numerous "no-start" problems, and electrical glitches, the driver's side of the two zone climate control stopped working. Great.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
JetService From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 4798 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 788 times:
I had a 3800 Pontiac in our TranSport and it was indeed a great engine for us. Right now I drive a 3.4L Chevy V6 that puts out 210HP. I just passed the 100K mark and it still runs smooth. And I'm not exactly a good one when its comes to car maint.
I do like the Regal and the pic posted above makes me want to consider one for my next ride.
Dc10guy From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 2685 posts, RR: 7 Reply 11, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 781 times:
Hey Capt. What do you expect for 85K ??? I do like the 7 series, I don't think they are ugly at all ...... 12 cylinders of pure kraut power. das is good yah ?
Next time try the old "dirty Sanchez" She'll love it !!!
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 12, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 776 times:
Das is veddy good!
No doubt, the driving will be good, but so will the warranty and free maintenance and free loaner vehicles. I am a huge fan of German cars, just don't like the direction they are taking in some respects. But give me the keys to a new 760Li and I'll be very happy to take it for a spin. Buick Century however? Yawn. I have driven one, and it gets the job done. No argument from me though ... great vehicle for those who want a reliable car at a discount and 0% financing.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Illini_152 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1000 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 770 times:
Wow, Superfly, I agree with you on something!
Just replaced my Poniac Grand Am (totaled her out sliding sideways across the interstate at 70+) with a '92 Regal. Owned by an old lady, it has 64,000 on it.
Beautiful ride, smooth and it eats up the highway, but steering is still crisp and heavy, not insanly overboosted like my mother's old Lincoln. And the 3.8 is one of GM's best V-6 motors out there, no it ain't a Ford straight 6, but from the cars I've seen with them, you have to try and kill 'em.
Couple of complaints though-
- like all FWD V-6's, the rear spark plugs are damned near impossible to get to. Took me 3 hours and my knuckles are still all torn up.
- the oil filter is also incredibly awkward to get to if you're using ramps. Nothing like a nice warm oil shower on a cool autumn evening.
Happy contrails - I support B747Skipper and Jetguy
NWA742 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 757 times:
350 Chevy .... Please. That was on of the biggest piece-o-crap motors ever. The only one worst was the 454. And don't tell me different I've owned plenty of both.
I WILL tell you different, very different. The Chevy 350 is certainly one of the best motors you can get. That, along with the 4.3L V6 which is based on the 350. Personally myself, my family, and some of our friends have owned vehicles with either of these two motors, and we all have the same thing to say. They are simply bulletproof, they won't quit. Sometimes you'll have to replace an alternator or some other small detail, but they are incredibily tough and reliable motors.
The 3.8 V6 is also one of the best out there, and has been rated among the top of the 100 greatest engines in the past 100 years I read.
While The General's interiors and small quality effects have not been over edge, some of their powertrains are among the top in the world, I have no doubt.
Dc10guy From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 2685 posts, RR: 7 Reply 15, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 756 times:
Illni 152, dumb question but did you try to get at the plugs from underneath the car ??? Sometimes if you jack the car way up you can reach the plugs. Otherwise remove the front torque link and rock the motor fwd. Still sucks either way ....
Next time try the old "dirty Sanchez" She'll love it !!!
LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Reply 16, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 752 times:
I have the pleasure of occasionally driving a '92 Regal (powered by the lovely 3.8 of course), beautiful car, even though I have a list of about half a dozen secondary items that I've been meaning to fix (needless to say the A/C is one of them) for a while. But hey, it's an American. The stuff that counts is still good (@~85K miles), with some deterioration being noticeable in the tranny over the course of the past 3 years (I believe '92 was the first year for the electronically controlled one). Looks awesome too. 'Only' 170 horses, but still feels darn nice.
I would however gladly trade it for one of the post-97 Grand Sport versions, powered by the supercharged 3800 V6, 240hp engine.
Speaking of GM products, how come on their newer vehicles the shift selector says '3' instead of D(rive) and 'D' instead of OD(overdrive)? The last position is still for the OD gear, and 3 appears to be exactly the same as D on older cars. Are they just trying to scare people away from driving in 'Drive'?
P.S. I also know someone who has a brand new BMW (3 series convertible or something, not of great interest to me), and they've had a crapload of minor faults with their vehicle (and a transmission fluid leak). I would have really expected more from such an expensive car.
Illini_152 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1000 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 746 times:
Ah, was told to try the torque link/rocking the motor bit. Didn't work, wouldn't rotate. Found out that Buick left enough room to get them from above. BARELY. Didn't try from below... maybe next time, if I remember.
At least that's one job I won't have to do for another 30,000 miles And thank GOD GM still uses timing chains instead of belts. It was had enough to change the timing chain in my mom's RWD van when in broke (at 270,000 miles)
--
Mike
Happy contrails - I support B747Skipper and Jetguy
Covert From Ghana, joined Oct 2001, 1436 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 734 times:
3 keeps the tranny in from shifting into overdrive. If the car has 4 gears, D will allow it to go into 4th (which is overdrive), and 3 will top it out in 3rd.
Flight152 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 3295 posts, RR: 7 Reply 19, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 725 times:
the boring mundane underpowered junk from Japan.
Underpowered? The Honda Accord V6 produces 240 horsepower, the same as the Regal. However the Regal is more expensive and weighs more.
T prop From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 996 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 713 times:
350 Chevy .... Please. That was on of the biggest piece-o-crap motors ever. The only one worst was the 454. And don't tell me different I've owned plenty of both.
DC10guy, care to explain why you think so?
IMO these are some of the most reliable engines ever. If small block chevys are such pieces of crap, how is that GM managed to produce them for almost 50 years?
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7422 posts, RR: 65 Reply 21, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 698 times:
YAY I have a 1990 Buick Regal. she is a real great vehicle! 80K miles!
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
AWspicious From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 691 times:
What is it about straight-six engines that make them so good? I've heard Chrysler's version (found in the Cherokee, etc), and the one by MB (found in their 300e) are suppose to be darn good engines, too.
So, what gives??? What makes a straight six better than a V6? So, why no straight eight?
MD-90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 8422 posts, RR: 13 Reply 24, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 692 times:
Straight six Ford? Yeah right. They could never compare to BMW or Toyota's inline Sixes.
Buick is THE epitome of boring and mundane. 'Nuff said.
MattD, run away, run away! Do you want to die in a rollover accident? Becuase you almost surely will. Don't buy a convertible unless it's a Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, Saab, or VW that actually has rollover protection, unlike such deathtraps as the Mustang, Corvette, Camaro/Firebird, or Eclipse Spyder.
Isn't it funny how cars like the Subaru WRX, which are intended to be thrashed around and suffer much abuse, are recommended by CR, and yet it's taken the Regal, a little old lady car if there EVER was one, this long to FINALLY get on it. The only decent thing GM builds are trucks and full-sized vans.
25 BlatantEcho: I don't care what they say, it's still an American automobile. have any of you people driven a BMW then gotten in a Buick? Or a Nissan then a Chevy? S
26 MD-90: Ford makes good trucks, Chevy/GMS good trucks and vans. Other than that.....ick. I can't believe all the people who buy domestic cars. Some look nice,
27 Superfly: Flight152: The Honda Accord V6 produces 240 horsepower, Yeah at like 10,000 rpms. Matt D: Don't listen to these young brats that drive what there momm
28 LY744: "3 keeps the tranny in from shifting into overdrive. If the car has 4 gears, D will allow it to go into 4th (which is overdrive), and 3 will top it ou
29 Racko: "Don't buy a convertible unless it's a Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, Saab, or VW that actually has rollover protection, unlike such deathtraps as the Mustang,
30 Superfly: Rollover protection? Are you talking about a rollover bar? I'd like to see some facts backing up the Mustang being a death trap. My Le Baron was a con
31 MD-90: Oh jeez you can certainly add the LeBaron to the list. That thing is a rolling deathtrap. So is the Pontiac Sunfire convertible, another one I forgot.
32 Covert: My dad had a LeBaron, it died at like 60k. I mean died, we open the block up and the gap was like we took it to the shop to get bored...
33 Jimbobjoe: Flipping over a convertible is a pretty rare thing, especially when it's so low to the ground, like a Cobra Mustang. I don't see any particular reason
36 Illini_152: What is it about straight-six engines that make them so good? I've heard Chrysler's version (found in the Cherokee, etc), and the one by MB (found in
37 Superfly: MD-90: If you can't provide facts to back up your claims, keep your mouth shut. OK kid? Illini_152 is right about the straight six compared to a V six
38 L-188: Also generally for their weight I-6's are very torquey because the engine isn't pushing against itself. That is why that engine is so popular in indus
39 NKP S2: Quote: "A straight six is more relaible than a V6 or V8 (generally) because the engine isn't pushing against itself. The power strokes are focused in
40 Captaingomes: Oh c'mon Superfly, don't tell MD-90 to shut up. I personally wouldn't call the Mustang convertible a death trap. I would also say that rolling one ove
41 Flight152: Also, the excellent, but understated Acura 3.5 RL actually leads the list above the Regal with its 3.5L 225hp V6.
42 Superfly: Captaingomes: Hey if people don't like a certian type of car, that's fine. Just say it. Don't just start pulling stuff out of your a$$ claim it to be
43 MD-90: Superfly, have you actually ever driven a Cressida? If so, I'm impressed. At one point we had an 81 sedan and an 85 station wagon....very, very nice c
44 Superfly: MD-90: Oh yes. My oldest sister owned one. It was a 1982 sedan. Even the stock stereo sounded great. AM/FM cassette with 7 band eq. I think that was t
45 MD-90: The 85 redesign was a big improvement over the earlier one. Especially the rack and pinion steering replacing the recirculating ball setup. I know you
46 Superfly: I like the two toned beige/brown versions of these cars from 82-84. Brushed aluminum stereo panel, illuminated 7 band eq, laeft and right led output m
47 MD-90: No beige, no beige! Our 81 had the beige interior, which was okay, but the brown dash was ugly. The wagon was a tasteful gray. No leather in either of
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From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, 
great car.
From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, 
I am a huge fan of German cars, just don't like the direction they are taking in some respects. But give me the keys to a new 760Li and I'll be very happy to take it for a spin. 
From Ghana, joined Oct 2001, 1436 posts, 
From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 4839 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
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