Ten "Toughest" Cars On The Road

[Rambit]

This top 10 rating is yet another Consumer Reports special. No surprise they liked Hondas. I don't know which I'm starting to dislike more, Honda or CR. Can't think of a more uninspiring list of cars.

Funny in the "things gone wrong" part, how come whenever I drive past a Honda dealer their service department is always busy? They can't all be getting tune ups can they?

It's no secret car sales are way down. The "big three" and Toyota all lost in March. Chrysler sales were down 19% over the previous year. People just aren't buying new cars or have moved into another segment, mainly due to fuel costs I guess.

1. Honda Odyssey
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 91
Things Gone Wrong: 22 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 14%
Minivan Segment Average: 26%
Total Five-Year Repair Costs: $686
Conveniences: Eight-way power adjustable driver seat with lumbar support; fold-down rear seat back.

2. Honda Accord
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 88
Things Gone Wrong: 34 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 22%
Medium-Car Segment Average: 25%
Total Five-Year Repair Costs: $681
Conveniences: Eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and fold-down rear seat back.

3. Toyota Highlander
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 86
Things Gone Wrong: 32 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 17%
Medium-Crossover Segment Average: 27%
Total Five-Year Repair Costs: $718
Conveniences: Door panels with integrated speakers and storage pockets; 14 beverage holders; second-row seats that move, recline or fold flat.

4. Honda Civic
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 82
Things Gone Wrong: 35 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 25%
Small-Car Segment Average: 25%
Total Five-Year Repair Costs: $686
Conveniences: Driver's foot rest; reclining front seat back; rear seat heat ducts.

5. Honda Pilot
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 79
Things Gone Wrong: 37 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 22%
Medium-Crossover Segment Average: 27%
Total Five-Year Repair Costs: $686
Conveniences: Adjustable steering column; second- and third-row bench seats; seven to nine beverage holders.

6. Audi A4
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 77
Things Gone Wrong: 39 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 25%
Near-Luxury Segment Average: 27%
Total Five-Year Repair Costs: $1,093
Conveniences: Electronic cruise control with two-stage switch; dual-zone climate control with an automatic seven-temperature sensor, a sun sensor and a pressure sensor.

7. Honda CRV
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 74
Things Gone Wrong: 31 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 19%
Small-SUV Segment Average: 29%
Total Repair Costs: $686
Conveniences: Heat-rejecting green-tinted glass; power-folding side mirrors; under-seat storage bin.

8. Volvo XC90
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 74
Things Gone Wrong: 53 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 19%
Small-SUV Segment Average: 29%
Total Repair Costs: $993
Conveniences: Audio and cruise controls mounted on steering wheel; flat-folding front passenger seat; high-performance sound system with MP3 capability.

9. Subaru Forester
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 71
Things Gone Wrong: 43 problems per 100 vehicle
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 28%
Small-SUV Segment Average: 29%
Total Repair Costs: $746
Conveniences: Power window, mirrors and door locks; cabin air filtration system.

10. Acura RDX
Consumer Reports Road Test Score: 72
Things Gone Wrong: 47 problems per 100 vehicles
Average No. of Reporting Problems: 27%
Near-Luxury SUV Segment Average: 32%
Total Five-Year Repair Costs: $747
Conveniences: Power moon roof with tilt open and close; dual zone auto climate control with air filter.

FULL STORY HERE

Bernie

[Casey]

being young and single, the ONLY thing on that list that even appeals to me is the A4, and that would be with some heavy mods. it pretty much seems to me that CR focuses only on the average person, average family, average income, who expect above-average from their purchases, be it electronics, appliances, or cars. certainly there is nothing wrong with that, appeal to the masses and you maximize your exposure and your profits, but people like us, the enthusiasts, if you will, are always a bit put-off by the boring lists they come up with.

there is question in the monthly question section in this months Maxim from a guy asking why his dad only purchases things raved about in consumer reports, and the answer was basically that the older men get, the more secure with their purchases they need to be. i am seeing the same thing from my father trying to purchase a car now. i am urging him to look at the new Challenger, Mustang, something sporty, i tell him he deserves it. before i was born my dad had Chargers, Challengers, big ass Ford trucks, Mustangs, 442s, etc. but he wants something conservative now, fuel efficient, etc. he DOES say he wants a good amount of power, so that still hasnt left him at least.

but anyway, CR will always pick, IMO, the car that does everything 'well'. None of those cars are particularly great at anything. None are fast, none make you turn your head, none will get any glimpse any further than when they inevitably stray into your lane in the highway. CR is for people who just want 'a car'. Thankfully, thats not us.

[Rambit]

I agree! I guess the truth of the matter is we as enthuiasts make up a tiny percentile. For the vast majority a car is basic transportation between point A and B. Something that's cheap and reliable whatever that is, cuz I'm sure it's in their minds. When things do go wrong with Hondas, and they do, they're anything but cheap to repair.

Bernie

[DaveW68]

Originally Posted by Casey

being young and single, the ONLY thing on that list that even appeals to me is the A4, and that would be with some heavy mods. it pretty much seems to me that CR focuses only on the average person, average family, average income, who expect above-average from their purchases, be it electronics, appliances, or cars. certainly there is nothing wrong with that, appeal to the masses and you maximize your exposure and your profits, but people like us, the enthusiasts, if you will, are always a bit put-off by the boring lists they come up with.

there is question in the monthly question section in this months Maxim from a guy asking why his dad only purchases things raved about in consumer reports, and the answer was basically that the older men get, the more secure with their purchases they need to be. i am seeing the same thing from my father trying to purchase a car now. i am urging him to look at the new Challenger, Mustang, something sporty, i tell him he deserves it. before i was born my dad had Chargers, Challengers, big ass Ford trucks, Mustangs, 442s, etc. but he wants something conservative now, fuel efficient, etc. he DOES say he wants a good amount of power, so that still hasnt left him at least.

but anyway, CR will always pick, IMO, the car that does everything 'well'. None of those cars are particularly great at anything. None are fast, none make you turn your head, none will get any glimpse any further than when they inevitably stray into your lane in the highway. CR is for people who just want 'a car'. Thankfully, thats not us.

VERY well said!

[Hemi57]

uh oh Bernie, this has hit one of my hot buttons - Honda (had once, never did again).

My wife had Preludes over a period of 21 years. The early one was the best (1983) and it was all down hill from there. The build quality and reliability in the last was enough for me to say "never again" to a Honda in my garage.

What really got me going was their advertising at the time (driven by technology) while the POS we had blew tail light globes every 6 months with monotonous regularity and caused the digital dash to light up like a Christmas tree. Bloody thing got taken away on a flat bed more that once after dying on the road. Air Conditioning system stank (literary) and servicing & part costs were obscene.

Honda owners = suckers IMO