Mercedes reliability

[uumode]

Lexus lover

Was it the Triumph Acclaim and Honda Accord that allegedly had the same parts?

John

Yes, and I think they wanted the public to believe they were actually different cars when they shared 99.9999999% of the parts
I think the only differences were the badges on it's rump and the steering wheel.

These days of course, the differences aren't so obvious (to some), but co-developed nonetheless.

The 'Japanese' Toyota Aygo / Citroen C1 / Peugeot 107 are certainly the same car Will be interesting to see if the Aygo impacts on Toyota's reliability as the parts are French PSA group sourced from European suppliers, and so far the PSA track record isn't very high in the reliability rankings.

Nissan appears to have dropped probably due to Renault? It should be the other way around, Renault use Nissan parts?

Jeremy Clarkson highlighted (as a joke) a co-developed car from yesteryear between I think Alfa Romeo / Nissan (or Datsun) and Nissan undertook the styling and Alfa Romeo the electronics
BTW does anyone know the name of the car and the exact Japanese partner involved?

 

[DrNick]

Wasn't it called an Arna, and I'm pretty sure it was Nissan

 

[uumode]

Wasn't it called an Arna, and I'm pretty sure it was Nissan

that's it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Arna
Nissan styling in the form of the not so stylish Nissan Cherry!
With the not so reliable engines and transmission from Alfa Romeo

when it should have been sexy Alfa styling and Nissan reliable engineering.

 

[steveatpipex]

Reading these posts causes my ticker to speed up somewhat, being new to the marque! But then I look at my Z4 - 3 years old and by far and away the most unreliable BMW I have owned. Its been towed back to dealers twice (Faulty ignition and spark plugs, apparently) and in for numerous other issues, including broken rear spring (common on them I'm afraid), new window winder motor, new handbrake components, new rear disc spring, the occasional body rattle. Now its at the end of the 3 yrs warranty and I am keeping my fingers crossed, I can tell you!
Despite this, its a superb car to drive and I love it to bits .
I hope I feel the same about the CLK in 3 years time

 

[janner]

Was it the Triumph Acclaim and Honda Accord that allegedly had the same parts?
John

Yes, and both were extremely reliable. If only they had bothered to rustproof them.....

Regards,
Janner, Sales executive, Lexus UK

 

[grober]

Reading these posts causes my ticker to speed up somewhat, being new to the marque! But then I look at my Z4 - 3 years old and by far and away the most unreliable BMW I have owned. Its been towed back to dealers twice (Faulty ignition and spark plugs, apparently) and in for numerous other issues, including broken rear spring (common on them I'm afraid), new window winder motor, new handbrake components, new rear disc spring, the occasional body rattle. Now its at the end of the 3 yrs warranty and I am keeping my fingers crossed, I can tell you!
Despite this, its a superb car to drive and I love it to bits .
I hope I feel the same about the CLK in 3 years time

Could it be cos its built by "good ol boys " in the USA?? Did you know you were buying an American car?

 

[glojo]

Yes, and both were extremely reliable. If only they had bothered to rustproof them.....

Regards,
Janner, Sales executive, Lexus UK

RUST did you say rust??? I thought Japanese cars were exempt from this dreaded desease

Lexus????? Is this some type of motor vehicle?? Lexus??

John the Lexus luvver

 

[sagalout]

I'm pretty sure that some versions of the acclaim had the honda engines and gearboxes.

Just thinking back and I've been fairly lucky with cars not breaking down on me. Out of about 20 odd cars that I've owned the only ones that have actually left me stranded have been an MG Midget (fuel pump failed) and a Rover 420 which broke down about 5 times (same fault each time - tricky to find electrical short).

I havent even had any faults in any german cars I've owned (VW Scirrocco, BMW 728, W202 C180 and W202 C200) but most japanese stuff, whilst never actually breaking down, has cost me a fair bit of money in things like starter motors, CV joints etc.

 

[steveatpipex]

Could it be cos its built by "good ol boys " in the USA?? Did you know you were buying an American car?

Yes I did and I have thought about that - however i rationalised it by assuming that if a "quality" brand builds a car in another country, they would replicate the standards and ensure that manufacturing quality met the Brand. Perhaps not.

I have to say its a cracking car to drive, but I did feel let down by the quality side.

 

[scotth_uk]

How many old Datsuns , Hondas , Toyotas etc. do you still see on the roads compared to our cars from the 60s , 70s & 80s ?

Here - not many, but I gather not many were sold (in comparison to other manufacturers). Try the rest of the world though were old Japanese cars are everywhere.

 

[MangoMan]

All I can say on the matter is, is that other than my 300ce; I have owned a Toyota Avensis 1.8GLS Hatch since April 2001, (5 years+), and other than MOT & Servicing, my only costs, (unexpected repairs) have been, 1x Sidelight Bulb @ £1.80 (fitted myself) and a new Ignition Switch @£101.01 (fitted). This was only the Electrical Part, not the actual tumblers, which was on Wednesday.

So, not bad for a car that I've owned for over 5 years - £102.81.

Ciao.

 

[DuFFmAn]

Well, Me dad whos a huge Jap car fan has always brought Japanese..

He's had at least 5 Honda Accords and non of them have ever broken down or had unexpected repairs needed except for one where the Fan Belt snapped :s..

Also had a Nissan Urvan van for 12 years and 120000 miles with no problems what so ever... This van was replaced by a Mercedes Sprinter which at 2 years and 45000 miles, needed the injectors reconditioned and now the glow plug warning lights are playing up...

Now we were planning to purchase a used Mercedes CLK but have now decided not too after visiting this forum and finding all the issues wrong with it.. "rust" and "electrics".. So are now looking into buying another Honda Accord.. lol

 

[sclass]

My daily user car is a 1988 Toyota Carina. Have owned it last 6 years and never let me down. No squeeks or rattles and drives as good as the day I got it. Toyotas are Bullet proof.
I see lots of 1988/1999 Toyota Carina cars on the road proof that these cars were built to last.
If and when this car gives up, I will most likely replace with another Toyota.

 

[uumode]

I had an Audi 90 for a record breaking (for me) 11 years which I bought off a friend at 3 years old.. so car 14 years old when I got rid of it.

That had a bullet proof 2.3 engine, 145,000 miles and no mechanical breakdowns as such. There was this one time when the radiator fan fuse blew and the engine overheated, replacing the fuse sorted it. The air con compressor packed up, and the indicator stalk broke twice, and a few blown bulbs,

Wear and tear - front suspension bushes, CV joint cover replaced, and an exhaust downpipe fitted, and new cam cover gasket fitted as there was some oil seeping out.

The engine didn't burn any oil, and the spark plugs were healthy. Amazing that it was still on it's original exhaust except for the downpipe.

I just sold a VW Polo, that was unreliable, but rust free at 5 years old, and still on it's original exhaust after 75,000 miles.

Just acquired a Toyota Avensis 1.8 auto in the hope that it will offer better reliability than VW and better rust proofing than my E-Class.

The trip computer says I'm averaging 38 mpg compared to 26 mpg for my E240 on the same work commute route

'generally speaking' my E-Class is fairly reliable, just that it rusts like a 1970's Japanese car, and is extremely prone to stone chipping down to the bottom layer. I never had to worry about rust/stone chips on my other cars

 

[Dieselman]

RUST did you say rust??? I thought Japanese cars were exempt from this dreaded desease

Only after 1982 when they started rustprofing them for the UK market.

Toyota went a step further and "galvanealed" the steel of the body.
MIL had a nice 1986 Corolla which was bodily perfect until a Volvo 740 rearranged the back end, Ok it only had 145,000 on the clock and was 14 years old by then.
Before that she had an older model Corolla which then passed through the family and friends and that was boldily tatty but was only scrapped due to the differential locking on the motorway. This was a 1.3 rear drive Corolla with 250,000 miles on at the time.

These cars were so good compared to the British rubbish, that at one time all of the "Outlaws" went Yellow.

 

[glojo]

I always fancied trying a Japanese car, but being 6' 7" and 18st I found most of them uncomfortable. Strangely enough the old mini always had plenty of room, but lots of rust

John

 

[Dieselman]

Without wishing to be contraversial I would like to know does the German ADAC actually recover broken down Mercedes or is that covered "in house" by an appointed Mercedes rescue agency or dealers?

Also it would be nice to know the ratio of petrol and diesel cars driven and recovered in Germany. Due to serious taxation diesels are unpopular and sadly appear to be the less reliable mercedes products now.

This is not a dig I am merely curious.

 

[glojo]

Without wishing to be contraversial I would like to know does the German ADAC actually recover broken down Mercedes or is that covered "in house" by an appointed Mercedes rescue agency or dealers?

Also it would be nice to know the ratio of petrol and diesel cars driven and recovered in Germany. Due to serious taxation diesels are unpopular and sadly appear to be the less reliable mercedes products now.

This is not a dig I am merely curious.

You forgot to ask when was each vehicle last serviced?

Was it serviced by a main dealer, or an independant?

Was the vehicle not serviced by any type of garage?

Was it an electrical breakdown?

How many vehicles used supermarket fuel, or top quality premium products.

How old were the vehicles?

I would have thought that a highish percentage of the more modern Merrcedes-Benz would be covered by Mobilio so the owners would not use ADAC???

I think your post does ask sensible questions, but you have highlighted what is costing business so much money. Blooming statistics.....


John

 

[kusanku]

I've owned 3 fords, all of which had engine trouble: 2 needed valves replacing, and one had a timing chain snap: all rusted. I've had 3 Vauxhalls, which were similar to the fords: one needed a new camshaft, one had a head gasket blow, one (a Nova) was fine mechanically, but rusted dreadfully. Had a Peugeot, which had no major problems, but just one minor problem after another.

I've had 4 Mercs, none of which have had any mechanical problems at all. Had an electrical problem on my 320cdi, and an alternator go on my 123 series (it was 18 years old at the time though). But, have to admit to rust on all of them. The only car I've owned that was completely free from rust, mechanical failures and electrical failures was a Honda Civic: but I didn't really enjoy driving it. I keep thinking about changing brands, and have looked at alternatives, e.g. Jags, Lexus, Audi, BMW. But, by and large I've not liked them as much as Mercs (c-class notwithstanding), so I'm probably going to stay put. If you find a decent independent speciallist, as I did in Birmingham, I still think second-hand Mercs are a pretty good option. But, I may be wrong.

 

[big x]

Without wishing to be contraversial I would like to know does the German ADAC actually recover broken down Mercedes or is that covered "in house" by an appointed Mercedes rescue agency or dealers?

Also it would be nice to know the ratio of petrol and diesel cars driven and recovered in Germany. Due to serious taxation diesels are unpopular and sadly appear to be the less reliable mercedes products now.

This is not a dig I am merely curious.

Er..you mean controversial.

One trend I've noticed is that in the States VW (all gas of course)
do badly year after year, yet here the man in the street thinks the cars
are reliable due to the strength of the brand.

adam