You Need to Drive a Distance Equal to the Diameter of Mars, Which Cars Do You Trust?

Kinja'd!!! "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
05/01/2017 at 22:50 • Filed to: Thoughts

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Think of a new car then think of a used car. Make sure you have an answer for both first then tell us below what your first choices were!

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*Warning, rhetorical questions abound below!

Now that you know you wouldnt even need an oil change, what percentage of brand new cars do you think would make that distance straight from the showroom floor? How many miles does a vehicle need to go in order to qualify as “reliable?”

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I was just thinking about how we base reliability in odometer distances. I was also thinking that some of the least reliable brands have customers just as loyal to them as the brands that bank on their reliability reputations. How reliable does a new vehicle need to be?

I mean if the car can make it across the diameter of Jupiter then why does an automaker need to be responsible for the next three used buyers collectively being able to take it across the diameteric mileage of every planet in our solar system combined and still be 5,000 miles short of making it from the Earth to the Moon? I mean look at how far you’ve all gone! You lot have skipped your scheduled annual maintenance every year since the second owner too!

Maybe we are at a point where a paradigm shift is needed. I know everyone hates that infotainment screens, buttons, and bluetooth issues impact reliability because it annoyed me as well. An engine blowing up around 160,000 miles is something that truly matters to me. Hmmm, but I dont know of too many people checking whether or not their used car has an airbag that won’t shoot sharpnel directly into their faces. Wouldnt that be a reliability issue no matter the mileage?

We can drive nearly anything halfway to the moon with nothing but iffy scheduled maintenance adherence and never worry much over most of the major mechanical components when buying a used car. However, the keyfob not being detected sure happens a lot. That means not being able to enter or start your car. Mechanically or electronically speaking, even if the fix is simple your problem is the same. Car wont start, that’s a huge issue isnt it?

It’s late, Im just thinking out loud and Im a loud thinker.


DISCUSSION (15)


Kinja'd!!! crowmolly > Wobbles the Mind
05/01/2017 at 22:53

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Now that you know you wouldnt even need an oil change, what percentage of brand new cars do you think would make that distance straight from the showroom floor

To be honest, probably close to 100%. Even manufacturers with low quality ratings can get that out of a car.

I’ll give you a talking point back: Around what year do you think we started seeing, say, 75% of cars go ~5000 miles without issue?


Kinja'd!!! gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Wobbles the Mind
05/01/2017 at 22:56

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i think every new car could make 4k off the showroom floor.


Kinja'd!!! E90M3 > Wobbles the Mind
05/01/2017 at 22:59

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I know my 3 would have no problem driving the diameter of Mars. I know this because in the 6 weeks I’ve had the car it’s done more miles than that.


Kinja'd!!! Die-Trying > Wobbles the Mind
05/01/2017 at 22:59

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i’d take old reliable............ if were talking new though, is the nissan sentra still sold in mexico?


Kinja'd!!! Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Wobbles the Mind
05/01/2017 at 23:00

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For the new car, most would probably make it. And for the used, I’d play it safe and go with a Lexus or Toyota of some sort.


Kinja'd!!! benjrblant > Wobbles the Mind
05/01/2017 at 23:00

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I was just thinking about how we base reliability in odometer distances.

I’ll say it again: this is the worst metric for measuring “reliability.” It’s common because its easy but its as flawed as measuring how fast a car is by its wheel diameter.

Case in point, my father has a 1985 GMC 2500. The odo has rolled a few times so he doesn’t remember if its got 380 or 480,000 miles. Reliable? You tell me. It’s had three engines and two transmissions.


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > crowmolly
05/01/2017 at 23:07

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I want to say at some point in the early 80s purely because there would have been enough time where performance wasnt the primary concern so other criteria needed to be the selling points. That’s a great question for exploration!


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > crowmolly
05/01/2017 at 23:07

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I was going to say, I’d even trust a high end, high maintenance exotic with 5,000 miles


Kinja'd!!! crowmolly > Wobbles the Mind
05/01/2017 at 23:16

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Damn, now you’ve got me thinking.

See, I think most cars from the 50's-70's would do OK. Early 80's it might drop off due to FI being new and general shoddy build quality. Then back up in the 90's.

Hrrmmmm


Kinja'd!!! FastIndy > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
05/01/2017 at 23:32

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Is that the safe choice? Or is that reliability perception simply bolstered by people who care more about reliability?

I think that in this case, perception creates reality. A brand is perceived to be reliable, is bought by people who care about reliability, who take care of their cars and on the whole can improve the brand statistic with no real physical difference in quality necessary. It’s beautiful.

In short... uhhh.... good choice


Kinja'd!!! Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind
05/02/2017 at 00:01

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Just around Mars? I would take my chances with essentially any new car to do that distance without breaking down catastrophically.

The only ones I might question would be from FCA, especially Maseratis and Alfas, but even these should survive this test of reliability.


Kinja'd!!! DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Wobbles the Mind
05/02/2017 at 00:04

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Idk about new cars, but for new cars I think service history and use is waaay more important than make and model.


Kinja'd!!! Shoop > Wobbles the Mind
05/02/2017 at 00:25

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New car? All of them. Used? Anything that’s not a pile. Of shit.


Kinja'd!!! OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Wobbles the Mind
05/02/2017 at 00:48

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My LS400 has already driven the distance of all those planets combined...


Kinja'd!!! TorqueToYield > Wobbles the Mind
05/02/2017 at 06:46

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Obvious choice is obvious: Toyota Hilux.

Then you could sell it to some Middle Eastern warlords and they would drive it for the next 70 years without an oil change as well.