Quality control

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

I know many on this Digest dislike anecdotal evidence as a basis for 
generalizing, BUT, anyone who thinks Japanese cars are no more reliable 
than "other" makes is simply dreaming.

I have a friend who has owned half a dozen Mazdas. I have owned two. I know 
others who have owned them. NONE of these Mazdas has needed exemplary after 
sales service. In fact, the only after sales service my 98 Protege required 
was hopeless. The block heater kept blowing a gasket. (Those of you not 
living in frozen climes will not know how simple this device is: zero 
moving parts, not connected to the car's electrical system, fits in a 
freeze plug hole with a simple metal clamp and rubber gasket, a more 
foolproof part is hard to imagine). The dealership replaced three of them 
with no result.  The part cannot be defective, it either fits or it 
doesn't. If it doesn't fit it will leak right away. If it fits it will 
never leak. I finally said to the guys" hey humour the poor customer here, 
next time you put a new block heater in, replace the rad cap, I think the 
system is over pressuring". They reluctantly agreed and zero failures since 
then. Heck, I cannot find anything wrong with this car in four years and 
30,000 miles. Nothing, zero defects, no repairs needed, and precious little 
servicing due to the low miles so far. Even a major service is under CAN$300.

All the Japanese built cars show the same pattern. Anyone who thinks Lexus, 
Infiniti, Acura, etc etc are as unreliable and expensive to fix as any 
Mercedes or BMW is certifiable. It just is not so. After sales service on 
these makes is friendly and reasonably competent, but that's irrelevant. 
The darn things are never in the shop except for routine servicing.

I drive European cars because I prefer them, but really, the quality 
control is dismal compared to what is easily achieved by the Japanese 
makers. Now once you have repaired all those factory installed defects, 
European cars become nearly as reliable as Japanese models but they still 
keep selling you defective parts. High mileage Japanese cars can be a 
nightmare, but I've never been able to tolerate driving one for long enough 
to find out if this is previous owner neglect or abuse or a genuine quality 
of manufacture and servicing problem. My money is on the former though, 
seeing how the average North American "driver" treats his car: "Needs an 
oil change? Can't be I only did one last year!"

Back to your regularly scheduled litany of fixes for busted Euro cars......


Michael Smith
White 1991 164L
Original owner
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