CARS - HOW RELIABLE?

[man of kent]

Having worked with German automotive engineers on numerous occasions I'm not taken in by their superior attitude (I'm not anti German). They just have more cash to play with and management prepared to say no when the launch is ready. How come Volks bought Skoda to pre test their assemblies before launching on the Volks cars. Says something doesn't it. See below........

Over the last few months I've noticed the number of broken down German cars on the motorways and dual carriageways. So here is the count:-

Ford 2 (both early Fiestas)
Citroen 2
Peugeot 1
Vauxhall 2 (mainly German manufactured and all design)
Mercedes 1 plus 1 truck, the only one
Volkswagen/Audi 7
BMW 0
Rover 1 (early 200 - unreliable British cars?)
Renault 0
All Japanese 0
Porsche 0
Jaguar 0
Land rover 0

One make is obviously unreliable. Certainly there is no justification for "unreliable British cars". Japanese cars still appear to be reliable as are modern Fords due to the Mazda influence (Ford the largest shareholder in Mazda).

Sadly after 20 years of Vauxhall ownership I have not found current vauxhall/opel cars reliable. Bring back the Carlton - German designed but a long time ago.

Hope this opens a few eyes. It takes 10 years to change the mind of the public. I make my own mind up by being observant!

[kevinfourlegs]

You know what, its right what they say, "they don't make 'em like they used to"

[man of kent]

You know what, its right what they say, "they don't make 'em like they used to"

As a retired automotive designer I can say that the modern car has got so much EU required stuff, mainly electronic, that even though the test programmes are very good, its simply a case of 'so many, something must go wrong'. There must be 5 or 10 times more 'bits' on a modern car than say back in the 60's or 70's. An average family mid range car then was about 1 ton. Now they are around 1.5 tons and getting heavier.

[man of kent]

Latest count or broken down cars over the last couple of weeks:-

2 VW
1 Saab
1 Citroen

Still looks like VW/Audi are trying to set a record.

Just in case you think I am anti VW, I'm not. These are the cars I see broken down - not punctures. Try looking yourselves.

Having said this, Audi just won the Le Mans 24 hour race but they dont seem to look like the road cars. Peugeot nearly made it.

[nightmare]

In the 90's GATWICK CARS a mini cab firm used Carltons(98%) because of reliability size and comfort.

 When the OMEGA replaced the carlton most of the drivers got them ,

However within a month nearly all of those drivers  had changed BACK to their CARLTONS.

Break downs, smaller boot, higher fuel consumption. 27 mpg in a 2.5 diesel

+ Most Drivers said the CARLTON was more comphy and easier to drive!

How could vauxhall get it so right with the CARLTON and so wrong with the omega

[Mitch1965]

Fortunatley for me since i moved from the ford brands i haven't had much issues with my Vauxhall's from my 27 yo Astra, to my now 8yo vec-c, which i have had for 6 years.
 I do find myself smiling when i go down the m-way in my Astra to see more modern cars broke down & mainly these are french, but not without seeing a few more prestige cars also. Maybe i have now jinxed myself now but I shall stick to griffins, most recent purchase is a Meega estate on LPG.

[man of kent]

With all the testing that is done on components by suppliers and by the majors on complete cars, individual components are more reliable. Trouble is there are 10 times as many components on modern cars, so sods law says they are still unreliable but do do a lot more miles before breaking down. With a profusion of recovery companies it does show that there is plenty of work for them.

Cars used to be very reliable if maintained. The trouble was that lots of people did not maintain them, hence maintenance free cars other than the oils etc.

Funny how we spend 4 years getting a car bug free from new and then we start again! Its because the buyer wants new designs and as most new car buyers only keep a car for a couple of years they get what they want.

Another golf on a low loader being recovered today.

[Johnraka]

Hmmm, of all the cars I have driven over recent years (and that has been more than a few!) the Carlton still comes out on top for comfort etc. Have recently had my company Vectra diesel changed for a Skoda Superb Estate (my choice) - have to say the Skoda is the closest to a Carlton that I have found in terms of comfort - reliability and sheer outright performance - for a 2ltr diesel it feels and behaves more like my old 3ltr petrol Senator - astonishing!

Would not go for a modern Vauxhall again - the Vectra was sluggish to pull away and one of the most uncomfortable cars I have ever driven - never again.
Cannot afford to run a Carlton as well as the Skoda now but if I ever got another one (and I have had 3!) I would strip it down and do a full restoration on it - that would take time and money but I think would be well worth it.
Gotta go a long way to match or beat a Carlton - the Skoda Superb comes within a hairs breadth (in my opinion) - probably because of the VW/Audi influence - having said that Skoda used to make bl**dy good cars before the revolution...

[man of kent]

Dont forget that VW use the Skoda range to test there drive trains before VW use them. You will find the latest spec drive trains in the Skoda first. Personally thats a reason I would not buy the new Skoda models until well tested. This of course assumes I can afford a new Skoda which I cannot.

[Johnraka]

Got to say I'm very happy and impressed so far - can only speak as I find...

[diplomat2.6]

Another good statistic would be to look at distribution of cars older than x reg ie 11 years old. Sounds like a good time filler whilst on holiday. Have to agree with Skoda comments - I went in an auto diesel where the owner claimed 50+ mpg. It was very quiet. The quality of the leather seemed poor but that was my only complaint

[man of kent]

Ford did a customer survey of the Fiesta and the small Mazda (a few years ago).

Buyers were over the moon with the Mazda. They didn't think much of the Fiesta - Dagenham dustbin etc.

Its the same car with different bumpers and trim..............!

[Land-Barge]

Ford did a customer survey of the Fiesta and the small Mazda (a few years ago).

Buyers were over the moon with the Mazda. They didn't think much of the Fiesta - Dagenham dustbin etc.

Its the same car with different bumpers and trim..............!

Ah but the Mazda sounds more exotic

[nightmare]

I also drive a citroen XM 2.5 td and find the ride very comfortable especially on the Argyll roads(more holes than road)

Oleopneumatic suspension= magic carpet ride .
Adjustable ride height,sport setting(firmer).

AND its fully RUSTPROOFED.

On the down side...

Working on it is a right pig 

For example

Had to change the engine sump. To get the sump of you have to...

REMOVE:-

ECU box from inner wing
A/C compressor
Top & bottom right engine mount buffers
Auxillary belt & tensioner
Cam belt covers top &
crankshaft pulley to get to bottom cambelt cover
Lower right engine mount buffer bracket
drain cooling system & remove turbo intercooler
Lower rad hose
pressure regulator/main accumulator
Fuel filter & priming pump
radiator expansion bottle
fly-wheel cover plate......

Just so you can get to the 2 nuts & 22 bolts that hold the sump on & remove the sump.

Refitting is a reverse procedure BUT to refill the cooling system you kneed a header tank to go onto the expansion bottle otherwise you get air trapped in the system.

FUN EH!


And why did I have to change the sump?


A deer's antler made a hole in it

I love my CARLTON even more now