Porsche takes top spot in dependability study
 

Porsche takes top spot in dependability study
Troubled Toyota slips from No. 3 to No. 5 in influential J.D. Power survey
By Dan Strumpf
The Associated Press
updated 9:42 a.m. ET, Thurs., March. 18, 2010
NEW YORK - Porsche shot to the top of a closely watched study of long-term vehicle dependability, overtaking U.S. and Japanese rivals, J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday.

The German sports car brand took the No. 1 spot in the annual study, which gave it ninth place last year. Lincoln came in second, while Buick and Lexus tied for third. Mercury and Toyota rounded out the top five.

The annual study measures problems experienced by the original owners of vehicles after three years. In last year's study, Buick and Jaguar tied for fewest problems, but both brands lost ground to rivals this year.

Toyota, whose reputation has come under scrutiny in the face of massive recalls, fell two spots from its third-place standing last year. While average vehicle quality across the industry improved from last year's survey, Toyota's quality score fell slightly.

However, the Japanese nameplate still swept four segment awards, more than any other brand. Japanese rival Honda took three segment awards, while Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln brand took two awards.

The industry average was 155 problems per 100 vehicles, J.D. Power said, or less than two problems per vehicle. That's a decline from 167 problems per 100 vehicles last year.

"The improvements in long-term dependability and component replacement rates are good news for both consumers and manufacturers," said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research for J.D. Power, in a statement.

J.D. Power's 2010 dependability study surveyed more than 52,000 original owners of 2007 model-year vehicles between October and December 2009. The results are watched closely by automakers and are often used in advertising. Owners' opinion of a car after three years can be a major influence on their opinion to buy that brand again.

The firm also releases an initial quality study, which measures problems in the first 90 days of ownership. That study usually comes out in June.

Surprised, Porsche has never been known for reliability. Cool beans though, I sure do love the 911. :dribble:

Actually they've gotten good reliability scores for quite some time now

I've never really liked the sound of their engines though.........There's a million Porsches where I live and most of them like shit when they go by

That is a great study and all, but how much mileage does the average Porsche have after 3 years compared to Hyundai, Ford, Honda, etc?

I've owned two Porsches in the last 5 years (2002 Boxster, 2005 Boxster) and both never had any issues. The cost of regular maintenance at the dealership is not for the faint of heart though. Over $200 to change the oil and filter. I did it myself for about $80.

$80? What kind of oil did you use?

8L of Mobil 1.

I've read the Boxter oil change is a pain in the ass, since the motor is not visible. Half the time you are removing/replacing panels.

I have also heard of nightmare engine problems in early boxters.

They're wrong. Oil changes are simple. The oil and coolant caps are easily accessible in the trunk.

What about the drain? is it accessible?

Do you know which years had the motor issues?

I wouldn't mind a Boxster, and they are getting reasonably priced.

Just don't get one with a plastic rear window........Ugh.

You suck the oil out through the dipstick. This is very common on German cars.

We do it on our small boats at work as well. Hose down into the sump, and suck it all out.

I just jacked one wheel up, crawled under and pulled the drain plug. Took 30 seconds.

I don't know which years had engine problems, if any. My 05 has a few issue areas according to Consumer Reports but I've had few problems and none major. I love the sound of the engine, personally, and it handles like a dream.

I don't remember if my 02 had a plastic window but my 05 has glass.