It’s okay to buy a brand new car
By Michael Binstock
Acorn Automotive Editor

Westlake Village-based J.D. Power and Associates has just released its annual report on the quality of cars, SUVs, trucks and vans.

According to the J.D. Power 2003 Initial Quality Study new and redesigned model launches often demonstrate high initial quality, which may dispel the myth that quality always suffers during new-vehicle launches. An analysis of all replacement-model launches and major vehicle redesigns since 1998 shows an average decline of only five problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in initial quality in the launch year, which is usually more than regained in the year after launch.

"Consumers often delay purchasing a model in its first year, waiting for the manufacturer to get the so-called bugs out," said Joe Ivers, partner and executive director of quality/customer satisfaction at J.D. Power and Associates. "Yet, the quality of most new-model launches is actually very good. Some manufacturers have virtually eliminated the launch-year quality drop-off. A few have even demonstrated a pattern of launching models with better initial quality than the models they replaced.

"The initial quality drive for improvement among some manufacturers has been stalled by new-model launches that were especially challenging," said Ivers. "For other manufacturers, existing models show some deterioration that offset initial quality improvements elsewhere."

However, several manufacturers have accomplished significant improvements in initial quality in 2003. Suzuki is the most improved nameplate, improving 31 percent over 2002, due largely to the successful launch of the all-new Aerio. Mercury, Kia and Jaguar also have improved by 22 percent, 21 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

With regard to specific models, only the Honda Accord and Civic and Toyota Camry and Corolla are produced in both North American and Japanese plants. Honda Accords built in Japan have a nearly 25 PP100 advantage over those built in North American plants, while Civics built in North America have a nearly 15 PP100 advantage over their Japanese-built counterparts. Toyota Corollas built in both Japan and North America are almost identical in initial quality.

Toyota led the way with the best figure (115 problems per 100 vehicles), closely followed by Porsche (117), BMW (124) and Honda (126). Next came General Motors (134), Nissan (135) and Ford (136).

For individual vehicle marques, Lexus, part of Toyota, was the only brand to score less than 100. At the bottom of the list was Hummer, with the hottest selling vehicle––the H2––with 225 problems per 100 vehicles.

The full report is on the website www.jdpower.com. It makes fascinating reading.