I think this experience shows that you can't always believe Consumer
reports. A case in point is the Hyundai, yes the crap of all crap if you
can believe what you read. According to them this is the worst car ever
made. As a daily driver there are 3 of them in the household along with 2
MG's and a 98 Dodge Caravan. The oldest Hyundai an 89 never broken down in
10 years and I've put less than $200 in repairs which includes a battery.
The other two, one of which is an 88 have never broken down and the most
expensive repair to date was a water pump for $13 dollars. Between the 3
Hyundais they have about 250 thousand miles. My previous 92 Dodge caravan
cost me $1300 in one month in repairs alone with close to $3000 in 6
years. For the money I don't think you will beat the Hyundai. With a 5 or
6 year bumper to bumper and 10,000 or 10 year drive train and 5 year free
road side service. And if you at them there not bad looking either. Just
MHO.
...Art
On Mon, 14 Dec 1998, n wrote:
> Did someone suggest a Camry???
>
> Let me share my Camry nightmare.
>
> I bought one new in 1986, the then new 1987 design. It was unquestionably
> the worst car I have ever owned. (Bought my first car in 1956) From day-1
> it had problems of fit, finish, reliability & of dealer service. The list
> of problems is too long to review here. But, suffice it to say that when my
> '80 MGB was our more reliable car (FAR more reliable), it speaks volumes for
> Toyota's lack of quality.
>
> On one occasion it was in the shop off and on for 5 weeks inside two months.
> Turns out MYoriginal problem diagnosis of a fuel problem was ultimately
> diagnosed by the zone service mgr. as bad injectors. Not the electrical
> problem the dealer service mgr. & staff insisted it was. Of course, the
> warrantee expired before we learned that. And, unlike Volkswagen who
> quickly handled a transmission problem long out of warrantee, Toyota
> basically said fight us for new injectors if you like.
>
> Then the coil went. The dealer wanted $600 for a new coil. Lots of threats
> later, he agreed to installing the "coil" in the old distributor for $250.
> The original quote was for the replacement of the whole distributor. Then
> it was the air box - similar price. Bought a replacement at a junkyard &
> installed myself.
>
> In it's last year at about 85,000 miles it died 3-times out in the middle of
> nowhere. Ultimately, we dumped it for a move back to another European car -
> a Saab. Wish we had done it sooner.
>
> Now we have a car that IS more reliable than my MGB. And, a lot safer and
> carries much more.
>
> Other recent European cars we've had good experience with: Audi, VW (2).
>
> Norm
> '66 MGB
>
>
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