Consumer Reports

[jhm]

Consumer Reports lists Ford F150 4wd least reliable full size pick up. They list Toyota Tundra most reliable. I wouldnt consider the toyota a full size.

[dr9672723]

Personally, consumers union is losing credibility with me and I won't be renewing my subscription with them. They claim to be unbiased, but time and time again, my impression of their tests drives seem to have the mind set "if it isn't Japanese, it isn't a good vehicle." You can't deny some Japanese cars have superior quality, but not necessarily in every single case. Other auto reviewers I have read elsewhere often come to dramatically different conclusions from what C.U. rates the same vehicle. My experience with Fords? Well, I can't argue with them there.

[jeb]

I think CU's findings place a lot of emphasis on proven reliability so that tends to weight the japanese ratings on the plus side. I think that's fair to do, personally. A test by Car and Driver, for example, is nice but they usually focus on performance and even their long term tests aren't all that long term. C&D is certainly way more entertaining, though. I guess it depends on what's important to you in a test or rating.

 

I agree that the Tundra is not a full sized truck. And they only have a 240hp motor which is way behind the times. I really like Toyota but I don't look at the Tundra as a real half ton truck at this point.

[jhm]

Like them or not, consumer digest does research reliability way better than test drives by any of the car/truck magazines. I bought a dodge avenger back in '97 because it was praised by the auto magazines and my wife needed a new car and it looked real sharp and I got a good deal because it was end of model year. This was the top of the line model with the V6 and all the goodies. It turned out to be a piece of junk! I was in the dealership so often they knew my name and I knew theres. I got rid of it when I found out it cost $700.00 to replace the spark plugs, the entire intake has to come off! Motor trend didnt mention that!

[redvett]

Like them or not, consumer digest does research reliability way better than test drives by any of the car/truck magazines. I bought a dodge avenger back in '97 because it was praised by the auto magazines and my wife needed a new car and it looked real sharp and I got a good deal because it was end of model year.  This was the top of the line model with the V6 and all the goodies. It turned out to be a piece of junk! I was in the dealership so often they knew my name and I knew theres. I got rid of it when I found out it cost $700.00 to replace the spark plugs, the entire intake has to come off! Motor trend didnt mention that!

 

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Where did the GMT800 4x4 fall in the list?

[jhm]

I dont know. I just read what I posted which is on USA Today. Silverado is above ford, dont know about dodge, have to check the mag.

[sperry]

CU and even UL lost a bit of credibility with me, but in a general sense, I'm still interested in reading CU's reports, maybe for humor but no longer for reference.

 

UL , as a testing lab should be ashamed of themselves with what they approve.

Unfused cheap stereo's that catch fire, outlet strips where the contact tension weakens easily, etc.

 

Back to CU. I remember a while back, they tested toasters. I bought the one they checked as the "best". It was the worst piece of junk appliance I ever bought.

 

So when it came to selecting my truck, I asked around and researched a considerable amount, like most of us would. Only in this case, little attention was paid to CU's report on them; in fact, I don't even remember refrencing their report(s) on it at all.

 

F150's, yeah, I believe them on that. My neighbor's brother-in-law has one he leased. He's ready to unload it as soon as it's up. Lot's of faults never really repaired.

[jhm]

I'm not trying to defend Consumer Reports magazine, but I do know that lots of vehicles that are junk are usually shown in the reports with bad ratings. I also know lots of vehicles that are super as far as reliability and they are given good ratings. I would not base any purchase solely on thier opinion, but taken as a piece of the equation, yes. As far as appliances go, the mfr's change model numbers so fast, by the time the guide is published, that model is usually no longer sold or has a new model number.

[redvett]

CU and even UL lost a bit of credibility with me, but in a general sense, I'm still interested in reading CU's reports, maybe for humor but no longer for reference.

 

UL , as a testing lab should be ashamed of themselves with what they approve.

Unfused cheap stereo's that catch fire, outlet strips where the contact tension weakens easily, etc.

 

Back to CU. I remember a while back, they tested toasters. I bought the one they checked as the "best". It was the worst piece of junk appliance I ever bought.

 

So when it came to selecting my truck, I asked around and researched a considerable amount, like most of us would. Only in this case, little attention was paid to CU's report on them; in fact, I don't even remember refrencing their report(s) on it at all.

 

F150's, yeah, I believe them on that. My neighbor's brother-in-law has one he leased. He's ready to unload it as soon as it's up. Lot's of faults never really repaired.

 

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My son in-law has a F**d and bitches all the time about gas mileage. His 2wd dosent come close to my 4x4.

He says he gets 10-12mpg. What a joke. I can get city driving 15-16mpg.

[HDChuck01]

Geez, furd must not have bought enough ad space in that issue! I guess we know who did!

[sperry]

My son in-law has a F**d and bitches all the time about gas mileage. His 2wd dosent come close to my 4x4.

He says he gets 10-12mpg. What a joke. I can get city driving 15-16mpg.

 

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I failed to mention his disbelief look when he saw my milage! (I just came back from a trip) It showed 20.7... in my 4X4

[Mighty HD]

I'm not so sure about it being unreliable.

 

Let me tell my side of the story.

 

I am a DIE HARD GM person. I have always owned chevy or gmc, pontiac, etc.

 

I got an 03 F150 4x4 ext cab 4.6 for my work truck when I started with the new company. I'm in it 75+ hrs a week, it NEVER shuts off. It idles or is running the job and interstate all day from 5am till I get off. Oil gets changed every 5000, etc.

 

On a construction job site (roadway) conditions are by FAR more severe than any other thing. I promise you. TONS and TONS of dust. So much that I have to change the air filter every 2000-3000 miles, LOTS of mud when it rains, bumpy, jumping curbs, rail road, more idle time than a police car.

 

It hasent been in the shop once since it was bought. , and it now has almost 60,000 miles on it. A very hard 60,000. The guy who had it before me beat the hell out of it and they fired him needless to say. I got it @ 40,000 miles.

 

For what my own f150 goes through I think they're pretty d**n reliable.

 

Now my GMC is better of course.

[nuclear_ned]

as some of you know my experiences with ford.. I can tell you first hand the difference between the 04s at least.. the top engines in both chevy and ford.. 5.4 and 5.3 seme to have major differences on paper.. but when you drive them the chevy eats the ford alive.. I think its just better engineering..

[obbop]

For what it's worth........

 

A professional mechanic with 30+ years experience gave me his opinion about

today's cars and trucks.......

 

Basically, for "immediate" reliability it IS hard to beat the Japanese vehicles. However,

over time, as the vehicle ages, it has been his experience that American vehicles tend to have fewer problems. Of course there are exceptions to everything.

 

Another mention was the cost of parts and repairs. On the whole, generally, the American vehicles are cheaper to fix.

 

I have no facts to back up his claim but I have owned Toyota and Datsun and American cars and trucks. I can't argue against his opinion. It would be interesting to hear what other long-time mechanics had to say.

[Stocklook]

This all come down to how you take care of it, Routine maintenance is the key to any vehicle to last a long time, but there are exceptions to everything like faulty engineering, the 80's is proof of that

 

The EPA has made it tough for them, but after a few years they get it right, and then they change it again.