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Is there any main brand of car you simply won't buy?

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12357…14

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    #122
    K.Flyer
    Registered Users Posts: 8,565 ✭✭✭K.Flyer


    mickdw wrote: »
    Have you any recollection of what diesels were like before turbos?I cant believe anyone would wish to go back to that.
    I do agree that there is too much crap involved now but a basic turbo setup should be super reliable.

    I remember the old diesels before turbos only too well...
    0 - 60mph in about... an hour:D


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    #123
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    padma wrote: »
    People can argue all they like about a certain brand having 1 or 2 good models..but in this day and age with the technology that is out there to produce cars with shoddy engines..electrics and other crap happening to them is not acceptable..
    Theres a thing that has me baffled. How is it that "some" brands are particularly prone to, say, electrical faults. Isn't there more or less one company that makes electrical parts for cars?
    I mean Valeo. In any case, how is that?
    How can a company consistently get electrics wrong? I dont mean always but the odds of electrical faults with a certain brand are far higher.
    Of course, some previously reliable brands are making a bags of things with their dmf's and gearboxes failing.
    The tides have surely turned in terms of "reliable" brands etc. Confusing as hell nowadays to find a definite reliable car. Lotta homework to do eh?


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    #124
    Voodoomelon
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Voodoomelon


    Dacia, Daewoo and Ssangyong are the only brands i'd rule out altogether, regardless of what models they produce. Purely because i'm shallow enough to be embarrassed even leaning against one.

    Most other brands have some sort of model i'd be interested in or admire.


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    #125
    dr.fuzzenstein
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,635 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    K.Flyer wrote: »
    I remember the old diesels before turbos only too well...
    0 - 60mph in about... an hour:D

    I had a 1980's Ford Escort breadvan with the non-turbo 1.6 diesel engine.
    I was lucky if I did it in an hour.
    And I thought that thing was slow till I bough at 1980 VW T3 transporter with, again a non-turbo, 1.6, yes you guessed it, diesel engine. I think I once had it at over 110 km/h, but that could have been in a dream.
    Diesels where pretty much undrivable back then, so all the people who complain that modern diesels are waaayyyyyyy to slow and they would never drive one after their petrol, turbo, MSXLA4AMGSTGTIGTXGTOGTSSTIGmobile 3.8 V8 quatrovalve 4WS 4WD active suspension with carbon fibre filled gearbox DSG race track prepped super-duper mobile don't know that to anyone who has driven a sub 50 PS NA diesels back in the 80's/90's the current crop are like race cars.
    So now I'm preparing for the usual howls by the pedril boys of "Diesels are Sh*te! DMF! DPF! Injectors! Ban Diesel! Buy a 1 liter Ford!". Yeah, yeah, fine, if that's what boils your spuds.

    As for makes, can't think of one I'd rule out, maybe the Chinese, but give 'em time, remember how we laughed at the Japanese? No, you're too young. The we laughed at the Koreans. Now we're laughing at the Chinese.
    So general rule of thumb: Whoever we're laughing at now, beware! Give it a few years, we won't be laughing anymore.


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    #126
    visual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,268 ✭✭✭visual


    I use to drive 2.4 hiace without turbo had a few of them and they where as quick if not quicker than cars from same period.

    VW vans where always slow think the first quick one was 2.5 turbo


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    #127
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,432 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    To echo what others have said, anything French, especially Peugeot. The garage I take our MX-5 to is also a Peugeot dealer and all their replacement cars are Peugeots. Horrible things with weird seating positions, door mirrors designed by blind people, rattly hard plastics, the list goes on.


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    #128
    Into The Blue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,358 ✭✭✭Into The Blue


    Alun wrote: »
    all their replacement cars are Peugeots. Horrible things with weird seating positions, door mirrors designed by blind people, rattly hard plastics, the list goes on.

    I got a 307 as a rental.. tried to talk the agent round, but she tells me everything else in that category is gone, and I'll have to pay for an upgrade.. it was a work trip, so couldn't do that.

    Took a down grade instead, five days of fun in a 500 :)


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    #129
    Cleveland Hot Pocket
    Registered Users Posts: 5,193 ✭✭✭Cleveland Hot Pocket


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    peugeot and citreon not a hope

    Yet you drive a PSA focus?


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    #130
    Turbulent Bill
    Registered Users Posts: 1,622 ✭✭✭Turbulent Bill


    FrontDoor wrote: »
    Cars are the one thing people have a massive confirmation bias with.

    BMW sell cars that can be extremely expensive to maintain and have some engines that are a financial time-bomb. Audi sell a gearbox that is disastrous and costs 1000s to fix. MB sell cars that are often extremely unreliable and prone to rust. Yet all 3 manufacturers can walk away from these issues and still people come back and buy their product again.

    The one thing that matters above all else when buying a car is the person that is driving it.

    Exactly. Most of the premium brands have had catastrophic and well-documented issues, yet it doesn't dissuade owners from buying again. The reliability is only average (or worse), but reported satisfaction is still high.

    I'm delighted that people write off entire brands based on pub talk, it'll just make my next (second-hand) motor cheaper.


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    #131
    dr.fuzzenstein
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,635 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    Alun wrote: »
    To echo what others have said, anything French, especially Peugeot. The garage I take our MX-5 to is also a Peugeot dealer and all their replacement cars are Peugeots. Horrible things with weird seating positions, door mirrors designed by blind people, rattly hard plastics, the list goes on.

    Pugs and Citroens are not so bad.
    Funny thing though, if you ask a French person, they will say the same and also add "But Renaults are built by drunk peasants, don't buy them"


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    #132
    Eric Cartman
    Registered Users Posts: 26,282 ✭✭✭✭Eric Cartman


    renault
    fiat
    peugeot
    citroen

    luckily none of them make anything in a category that appeals to me so its a fairly safe bet.

    I will revise my decision if they somehow start building reliable rwd large luxury saloon's or Large 4x4's

    dacia, ssangyong - just because eughhhhh.


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    #133
    rizzodun
    Registered Users Posts: 2,598 ✭✭✭rizzodun


    I remember having a long discussion in work about French cars.

    Him: "I liked my pug"
    Me: "I'd never buy one, French cars are notorious for problems, electrics, bla bla bla..."

    So after a long back and forth with myself basically slating French cars (and the French in general) we changed subject slightly...

    Him:" So what would you like to buy for yourself for a bit of fun?"
    Me:"205 GTI or ideally a T16, or a Renault 5 Turbo..."

    Needless to say he left confused...


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    #134
    Hachiko
    Registered Users Posts: 1,698 ✭✭✭Hachiko


    Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »
    Yet you drive a PSA focus?

    leave the daysul focus boy alone, its better than a lexus and countless others remember.


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    #135
    John_Rambo
    Registered Users Posts: 9,536 ✭✭✭John_Rambo


    wandatowell wrote: »
    I always swore I'd never buy a Ford.

    Picked up a Focus ST last month. Christ I won't buy anything else ever again!

    Never liked Fords styling. Had a Focus ST for a week and couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Such such such good fun, the orange, the burble, the aggressive grill, the pipes, the drive, the stupid stupid take off speed, the stiffness... everything.

    One major flaw - they're a penalty point printer. :D


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    #136
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »
    Yet you drive a PSA focus?

    only the engine block itself is psa... the rest are ford components. (air flow meters, fuel pumps etc wont swap with each other)
    Hachiko wrote: »
    leave the daysul focus boy alone, its better than a lexus and countless others remember.

    i never said ford was better than any others. to answer the question i simply would not buy a lexus/renault and others.


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    #137
    Hachiko
    Registered Users Posts: 1,698 ✭✭✭Hachiko


    of course not, a daysul focus is up there with the rolls royce, lucky you. cheap tax too, no?


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    #138
    Bacchus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,699 ✭✭✭Bacchus


    Will never buy VW again after my current 08 Golf. Aside from having to replace the entire engine last year after it blew up as my wife was driving it on the South Ring road in Cork, the wheel bearing at the front have had to be replaced, the air blower unit broke down (fixed myself), some fan in the engine started making weird noises and just as Summer hit this year, the air con unit broke down. By the time I'm done with this car I'll have practically replaced every part of it.


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    #139
    Cleveland Hot Pocket
    Registered Users Posts: 5,193 ✭✭✭Cleveland Hot Pocket


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    only the engine block itself is psa... the rest are ford components. (air flow meters, fuel pumps etc wont swap with each other)



    i never said ford was better than any others. to answer the question i simply would not buy a lexus/renault and others.

    Regardless, you bought a ford focus diesel but you wouldnt buy a lexus?
    That's just nonsensical tbh.

    So a 1.6 diesel focus is better than an ls400 or a sc430, or the IS range?
    Idiotic IMO - you should really think before you post sometimes.


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    #140
    Zubeneschamali
    Registered Users Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    Never been even slightly tempted by anything Japanese. Or Korean. Or "premium" German.


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    #141
    Irishcrx
    Registered Users Posts: 2,861 ✭✭✭Irishcrx


    I wouldn't write any brand off completely as said there is always an exception but I wouldn't buy the following in general because I'm just not into them.

    Renault
    Fiat
    BMW
    Audi

    I think it's more down to the make and models for reliability than the brand as a whole , I've had a BMW 3 series before that was never out of the garage always something up with it. There has to be value in buying a car for me as well , I always take a long time considering options before making a switch probably a couple of month's of scouting about. But the usual 'pub' talk driver will always stick to the tale 'Ah Alfa's are a heap , always breaking down , dodgy cars' etc etc I've owned a few Alfa's and maintained them well and I've only once had a problem with one. The rest have always gone straight though the NCT and been bullet proof for me.

    I bought a 166 V6 earlier in the year and it cost me €1,000 over in the UK plus VRT to bring in , it has low mileage and looks brand new inside and out, anyone who's ever set foot in the car can't believe how much it cost compared to their Merc , BMW and I think it's a far better better car than them for a quarter of the price.


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    #142
    Joe 90
    Registered Users Posts: 891 ✭✭✭Joe 90


    dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »
    I had a 1980's Ford Escort breadvan with the non-turbo 1.6 diesel engine.
    I was lucky if I did it in an hour.
    And I thought that thing was slow till I bough at 1980 VW T3 transporter with, again a non-turbo, 1.6, yes you guessed it, diesel engine. I think I once had it at over 110 km/h, but that could have been in a dream.
    Diesels where pretty much undrivable back then, so all the people who complain that modern diesels are waaayyyyyyy to slow and they would never drive one after their petrol, turbo, MSXLA4AMGSTGTIGTXGTOGTSSTIGmobile 3.8 V8 quatrovalve 4WS 4WD active suspension with carbon fibre filled gearbox DSG race track prepped super-duper mobile don't know that to anyone who has driven a sub 50 PS NA diesels back in the 80's/90's the current crop are like race cars.
    So now I'm preparing for the usual howls by the pedril boys of "Diesels are Sh*te! DMF! DPF! Injectors! Ban Diesel! Buy a 1 liter Ford!". Yeah, yeah, fine, if that's what boils your spuds.

    As for makes, can't think of one I'd rule out, maybe the Chinese, but give 'em time, remember how we laughed at the Japanese? No, you're too young. The we laughed at the Koreans. Now we're laughing at the Chinese.
    So general rule of thumb: Whoever we're laughing at now, beware! Give it a few years, we won't be laughing anymore.
    Yes, Japanese cars were pretty bad when tey appeared first but they were well built compared with the rubbish that British Leyland inflicted on their customers. The cars improved to the extent that some were desirable provided that you dumped that Japanese tyres that they came with and bought some decent European tyres. These days the buikd some decent cars and some of the best tyres in the world. Wouldn't say the the Koreans have anything worthwhile yet but they will. Chines, at least a generation away.


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    #143
    simplybam
    Registered Users Posts: 214 ✭✭simplybam


    Fiat, Renault, Ford and Opel/Vauxhall are on the no-go-list for me.

    Cars I previously owned (in no particular order) were Fiat Tempra, Citroen Xantia (had 3 of them over the years), Citroen Xsara, Peugeot 406, Renault Kangoo, BMW 3-series, Peugeot 205. Have also driven at least 2 dozen other cars over the years (friends' cars or rentals) including Subaru Legacy, Mercedes C-class, BMW 5-series, Renault Laguna, Mercedes A-class, Audi 100 (yes - I AM THAT old, lol), VW Golf, VW Passat, Hyunday Trajet, Mazda 626 and a good few more.

    Drive an older E-class now and it'll be Merc all the way from now on - by far the most comfortable drive I ever experienced and my boy racer days are well and truly over.


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    #144
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    Only car brand in our household that ever gave extreme engine problems was Opel.

    My mother had an Opel Astra in the 1990s when I was a kid and that had a head-gasket failure!
    Then she bought another Astra which had a really serious problem with the doors.

    Meanwhile, a friend of mine in Madrid bought a new Astra and the engine needed to be replaced (this is about 4 or 5 years ago).

    Not sure I'd go near them as a brand after all that.

    I'm not sure that the anti-French car thing is justified anymore. I'm always a little careful not to read in too much Clarcksonianism into it. The British media HATES anything French.


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    #145
    Riesen_Meal
    Registered Users Posts: 10,575 ✭✭✭✭Riesen_Meal


    SpaceTime wrote: »
    Only car brand in our household that ever gave extreme engine problems was Opel.

    My mother had an Opel Astra in the 1990s when I was a kid and that had a head-gasket failure!
    Then she bought another Astra which had a really serious problem with the doors.

    Meanwhile, a friend of mine in Madrid bought a new Astra and the engine needed to be replaced (this is about 4 or 5 years ago).

    Not sure I'd go near them as a brand after all that.

    I'm not sure that the anti-French car thing is justified anymore. I'm always a little careful not to read in too much Clarcksonianism into it. The British media HATES anything French.

    Mad,

    I had an Astra for 4 years and had feck all trouble with it....

    Driving a 307 ATM and I hate Peugeot's.... :(


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    #146
    Viper_JB
    Registered Users Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭Viper_JB


    I don't really buy into the badge thing, I like certain cars based on my requirements and the merits of the car itself, there are plenty of car makers that don't make anything I'm interested in....but if they were to make something then I wouldn't be against driving a car with a certain badge.

    I think a big problem we have in Ireland is that some people will go into a dealership and ask for the cheapest, lowest spec car that they sell so they can drive the badge, these guys have a tendency to believe that driving the badge gives them certain entitlements on the road, with these brands you need to watch how the people driving the best cars that they produce behave on the roads...not the worst...some crazy, crazy stuff being posted on this thread :(


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    #147
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    You also can't really base your opinion purely on brand or some kind of weird notion that the nationality of the car has an impact on the build quality either.

    Mostly it's about price point and sometimes individual car makers produce dud lines of cars with a particular flaw, or go through a phase of making dud cars then they can go through a golden age too where they produce amazing stuff.

    It can be down to a change of production management, or a particular design team / lead designer.


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    #148
    nc19
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,395 ✭✭✭nc19


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    a focus diesel......

    not saying its a good car but just the newer fords im starting to like... as with mustang etc.

    Just dont try to replace the fuel filter......


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    #149
    nc19
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,395 ✭✭✭nc19


    Quazzie wrote: »
    So you'd drive a Ford Focus but wouldn't drive a Lexus is250 because a Focus has either style or build quality or style but the Lexus is250 has neither.

    No offence mate, but you're talking through your hole.

    My own list would be:
    Renault
    Fiat
    Alfa Romeo
    Rover

    Dont be mean to the poor Rovers!!!

    218VVC is a smashing car......


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    #150
    Ralphdejones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 581 ✭✭✭Ralphdejones


    I've never ever understood the whole "I will never drive a . . . . make" thing

    It makes no sense to me

    The model is what determines a good/bad car, not the make, and that's more true now than ever.

    Granted there are some makes that have never made a model I would drive, but that's not to say they won't.


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    #151
    nc19
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,395 ✭✭✭nc19


    Row wrote: »
    Name any make/model of car that doesnt give some sort of trouble...:rolleyes:
    Tbh ask any good independent Mechanic/Garage and they'll tell you some of the horror stories of moderns cars today....:eek:....after hearing them you'll be on your bike...:D

    I work in an non main dealer and by far the most common car to come in with problems would be french cars followed by german (mainly bmw) followed by fords. Couldnt tell you the last time a mazda 2/3/6 came in for anything more than a service. Lancers and Colts get rusty exhausts but thats it. Nissan micra/almera no problems really but dont get me started on the primera (newer shape) Same with kia and hyundai, minor wear and tear problems.
    By a long way euro cars are junkers with bmw leading the charge.

    On this note I would never by a car from Europe.

    I will stick with my souless jap and korean cars ta very much


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