Oops-Scion listed last in JD Power Initial Quality Survey

[Whitigir]

I think if this is how JDpower and Associate rank the Auto Makers...I think they are doing it wrong.

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by torqdork

FTA:
So it appears two-thirds (couldn't find the raw data) of complaints were most likely about the BeSpoke head unit. That may be why Scion is currently offering the new 2014 head unit for half price (posted in another thread).

The majority of Scions (and Subarus for that matter) do not come with the BeSpoke head unit. The same goes for FR-S.

[torqdork]

Originally Posted by Rampage

The majority of Scions (and Subarus for that matter) do not come with the BeSpoke head unit. The same goes for FR-S.

But they could well be the ones complaining. Without the raw data that pollsters usually provide (I didn't see it), it's impossible to say what the actual complaints are about and what models are involved.

[Clipdat]

To be fair, I did rail them for the oil leak from the rear cam plate issue in my JD Power survey. No reason oil should be leaking from a brand new car, period.

[jariten]

I don't really take the IQS seriously. C&D did an article a few years ago

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...-study-feature

It really seems more like a 'how intuitive is this car' survey than anything else. I know that cars with central mounted window switches get hammered in the survey just because people aren't used to them being there. That's a 'problem' in the IQS even though it's really just a matter of using them for a while(I personally like being able to handle the windows, radio, ignition, doorlocks etc. all with my right hand).

If it was done after a year, instead of 90 days, and they changed its name...I think it'd be a more meaningful survey and there wouldn't be as many clods causing the dumbing down of vehicles.

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by Rampage

The majority of Scions (and Subarus for that matter) do not come with the BeSpoke head unit. The same goes for FR-S.

The touchscreen unit in the Subaru sucks ass, I can tell you that much. Nobody likes it...and naturally Subaru uses it in all their cars.

[gily25]

I'm never surprised by these rankings..they always seem realistically "off" for instance I know far more people having issues with their Chevy than I do people with their Volkswagen and I probably know roughly the same quantity for each mentioned.

Food for thought:
I don't think the survey takes into account the kind of people who own each brand and how that translates to what they expect from the car. If you're a Surgeon and you drive a Ford Escape...you're going to expect that vehicle to be as precise as you are...so any little crickety noise is going to enrage you and you're going to complain. Similiarly if you're barely getting by and you can just barely afford a new car, you may expect more from the car because of the percentage of your budget, yet you may not have the time or ability to keep the car in top-performing condition (I'm thinking of all the 2 year old beater Versa's and Lancer's I see on the road), if the car starts to have issues of course you complain, that's why you bought a new car. For comparison there are the people that buy an economy car for commuting but are smart enough to realize what they've bought and A) take excellent care of it, knowing its limitations and B) understand its limitations and not complain about certain things.

A better survey would be controlled and run 100 of each brand of car over the same terrain with the same drivers, then see which cars have problems and which don't. *2 cents*

[SubieNate]

Am I the only one that VASTLY prefers our interior to everything but the GTi/Golf in the sub $30k bracket?

My door rattles but it's about my only complaint... I hate the interior on the Genesis Coupe in comparison, the Mustang is even more plasticy, the Focus is hideous and the Sync system is TERRIBLE. Hell, my buddy's Mini rattles worse than my car and it's "upscale."

I honestly don't understand what cars it's being compared to when people complain about the interior. I think the dash design is way more aesthetically pleasing than the typical massive center stack you see on everything made since 2005, and I like the soft touch rubbery stuff it's made from.

On Subaru quality, all I know is my 99 L wagon had 212k trouble free miles on it when I sold it, and I knew others who'd done more. The turbo cars are a bit more finicky but if you look into maintenance on most Turbo cars, a few years into ownership there are some things to watch out for.

The speed3, 135i, Optima/Sonata turbos have all had issues as big or bigger than ours. I think some kinks are just a part of the process with today's much more complex engines as companies try to push fuel efficiency and power farther and farther simultaneously.

As a note, JD Power's surveys are always what the domestics are bragging about, and have bragged about for years now. And we all know how they've stacked up quality wise and ranking wise when tested by other groups. I don't put a lot of stock in the accuracy or lack of bias in their testing.

Cheers
Nathan

[Rayme]

This forum made me realize how much people go complaining at the dealership because they are first time car owners(over normal stuff). smh..how can studies like this be reliable lol.

[Tromatic]

"J.D. Power found that two-thirds of the complaints owners had dealt with technology inside the car, from navigation systems to confusing cruise controls to problems pairing their phones with Bluetooth. Under the Power study a complaint doesn't mean something's broken — just that it isn't working as the owner thinks it should be."

PEBSWAS (Problem Exists Between Steering Wheel And Seat)

Originally Posted by SubieNate

Am I the only one that VASTLY prefers our interior to everything but the GTi/Golf in the sub $30k bracket?

No. I'm thrilled that I can have one.

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

Exactly, and everybody blew a gasket when I talked about how the Subaru I was test-driving broke down and I said that was unacceptable...

When I almost bought my friend's '07 STI, I went on the Subie forums and was getting beat down by the fanboi nerds when I mentioned the interior looked a little cheap.

[DarkSunrise]

Sort of an aside, but I find the FR-S interior looks much better in person than in pictures. When I first saw the pictures, it was almost a deal-breaker, but when I actually sat in an FR-S, it was better than expected. My wife and I both kind of looked at each other simultaneously and were like, hmm, this isn't so bad.

My theory is that the fit and finish is actually quite good for the most part, it's just the design has a bit of an old-school retro theme going on, making pictures come out worse than they should.

[Braces]

Okay ... I admit that the interior is a little cheap, but this car was mean't to be a 25K DRIVER's car. All of the technology is in the design. Sure the car rattles a little .... this is the price you pay to have a car that weighs less than 3000lbs. Look at the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradales, F430 Scuds, Audi R8 GT, Porsche Cayman R cars. Those cars COST MORE than the regular model, but you get LESS. No carpet, no sound deadening, Door straps, plastic windows, etc etc. These are purpose built DRIVER's cars. People don't complain about the noise in these cars or how bad the NAV is. You buy these cars to DRIVE. I didn't buy the FR-S to listen to the stereo or admire the interior. I bought it to drive.

[whtchocla7e]

The report is not about the brand image guys (who cares what people think about Scion anyway), it is about reliability.