Sure, It's off topic but which Jap car brand is the crappest?

[Pussy]

Awesome car. There's a reason they called the 4 Door a "Cherry". There's a lot of people out there who were introduced to their ovum in the late '70s, early '80s in a 120Y Cherry.

The Cherry was the 100A model.. and front wheel drive too I think.

[James Deuce]

Had a 4 Door 120Y Cherry for a bit. So did my girlfriend's Dad. He worked for Ford. I'm not telling any more. There was a 120A Cherry Coupe with the same front end styling as the four door.

[Flip]

I have never owned a jap car, thank god. But work got me a Toyota lowlux, what a POS! Fucking crap injectors, $4k a pop and the third set was failing when I gave it back. If I had paid my money for the car I would have taken Toyota to court. I have a series landrover that was more reilyable.

[Edbear]

I will add though, a lot of problems we do see are fuel related. Namely 91. The stories I've heard about that fuel from people in the know, well I wouldn't run it in my lawn mower. We recommend 95, and have seen a reduction in 'check engine' lights coming on. Don't forget in Japan they run higher quality and octane fuel than we do, and a lot of engines do not like our fuel. Especially Mitsubishi GDi's. We had an instance of a guy getting check engine lights coming on and very poor economy. Finally got it out of him he was running 91. Fuel economy back to where it should be and no more warning lights, all from changing back to 95.

Your posts are from a man who knows what he is doing and sells cars well chosen and presented. Your comments about the problems you do see affirm my comments in general. Far too long have far too many dealers ripped off buyers with dodgy imports. It is not easy to find a reliable dealer though with the publicity some are getting it may improve when customers become more wary and know better what to look for.

It is certainly down to proper servicing and choosing stock that has the history you look for. My daughter's husband very thoroughly checked out several cars before choosing a very nice Honda. Odysee. They have had several issues that should not have occurred had it been represented honestly, of course in that case the dealer wouldn't have sold it.

I have had dozens of vehicles over the years and the only completely reliable car was our '99 Nissan Pulsar which we bought new and sold to buy the Kizashi. After 12 years and nearly 200,000km it was still "as new". Every Jap import had issues they shouldn't have had with my Nissan Caravan diesel being the most reliable.

Our MX5 is so far proving reliable and fun but we don't do a lot of miles in it, being a fine weather toy.

[Edbear]

The Cherry was the 100A model.. and front wheel drive too I think.

My sister had a 100A Cherry. She loved it!

[Flip]

Crowe (wife) has a 3 door 98 Suzuki Grand Vatara, we brought it new, its been 100% simply perfect. Always outside, only oil and filters.

[steve_t]

Our MX5 is so far proving reliable and fun but we don't do a lot of miles in it, being a fine weather toy.

Fine weather is even more of a reason to be on the bike!

[Edbear]

Fine weather is even more of a reason to be on the bike!

You are quite correct of course and it still hurts not to ride!

[jafar]

I had a diamante 3.5 wagon for 9 years, only time I was ever left on the side of the road was when the water pump packed up. That was @ 230,000 k . I had it towed to the local Mitsi dealer & they had the pump changed over, cam belt done & back on the road in under 24 hours. Roger Gill Motors in Pukekohe did the job & I didn't even have an account with them @ the time. I emailed them & told them what was going on & they had the work done the same day as they received the car from the towing company. Great service from them !
Fuel consumption was better than the equivilent sized Holden or Ford. The car was serviced every 10,000k regardless & never missed a beat.

[ducatilover]

YAfter 12 years and nearly 200,000km it was still "as new". Every Jap import had issues they shouldn't have had with my Nissan Caravan diesel being the most reliable.

450,000km on our '96 Corolla wagon now and not a single break down.
Horriible sack of shit to drive though, hateful wheeled sin!
The brother's '91 325i is pushing 300,000km.
Only issue was the IACV got dirty, no biggie, can sort one in well under an hour.
Mind you, both are NZ new.
My NZ new FSH '91 Celica GT-R (very well optioned too, was a nice car) decided to munch its head gasket at 180,000km, whereas the import Celica ZR I had recently was fine at 240ish kms.
It nothing to do with import or not, it's choocing the right vehicle and knowing the vehicle.
My Jap spec BMW 320i was a great car, never had an issue.

[onearmedbandit]

Your posts are from a man who knows what he is doing and sells cars well chosen and presented. Your comments about the problems you do see affirm my comments in general. Far too long have far too many dealers ripped off buyers with dodgy imports. It is not easy to find a reliable dealer though with the publicity some are getting it may improve when customers become more wary and know better what to look for.

Not only have they been ripping them off with 'dodgy imports', but also dodgy NZ new vehicles.

It is certainly down to proper servicing and choosing stock that has the history you look for. My daughter's husband very thoroughly checked out several cars before choosing a very nice Honda. Odysee. They have had several issues that should not have occurred had it been represented honestly, of course in that case the dealer wouldn't have sold it.

No one has a crystal ball Ed. Even an AA or similar pre-purchase inspection will inform you that is a visual check only 'on the day'. No one will strip an engine to inspect the quality of individual components, or put an estimate on how long until you start having electrical problems. Yes we do buy well represented vehicles, but occasionally we still get burnt. Nothing we can do about it but fix the problem, either pre or post purchase. That's the difference between a good dealer and a dodgy one.

I have had dozens of vehicles over the years and the only completely reliable car was our '99 Nissan Pulsar which we bought new and sold to buy the Kizashi. After 12 years and nearly 200,000km it was still "as new". Every Jap import had issues they shouldn't have had with my Nissan Caravan diesel being the most reliable.

Our MX5 is so far proving reliable and fun but we don't do a lot of miles in it, being a fine weather toy.

Sorry to hear that you've had a bad run. But that doesn't make it a rule.

[Pussy]

Had a 4 Door 120Y Cherry for a bit. So did my girlfriend's Dad. He worked for Ford. I'm not telling any more. There was a 120A Cherry Coupe with the same front end styling as the four door.

I was going to say that I won't argue.... but bugger it, I will!
The 120Y wasn't the Cherry!

[SVboy]

I was going to say that I won't argue.... but bugger it, I will!
The 120Y wasn't the Cherry!

plus 1-was a cherry an 100A?

[Pussy]

plus 1-was a cherry an 100A?

Yes it was!

[Edbear]

Not only have they been ripping them off with 'dodgy imports', but also dodgy NZ new vehicles.

No one has a crystal ball Ed. Even an AA or similar pre-purchase inspection will inform you that is a visual check only 'on the day'. No one will strip an engine to inspect the quality of individual components, or put an estimate on how long until you start having electrical problems. Yes we do buy well represented vehicles, but occasionally we still get burnt. Nothing we can do about it but fix the problem, either pre or post purchase. That's the difference between a good dealer and a dodgy one.

Sorry to hear that you've had a bad run. But that doesn't make it a rule.

You're absolutely correct of course.

The issues my kids have had were such that a dealer would have known about at sale time but seems in hindsight was counting on it lasting until out of the warranty period.

Of course, too, when dealing in anything involving mechanical and or electrical componentry you will inevitably get failures unforeseen but you hit the nail on the head stating the difference is in what you do about it. It seems most buy cheaper, lower grade vehicles and rely on the law of averages. Recent high profile cases in the news will hopefully see the worst offenders go away.

Personally my reputation and my name are more important than the immediate dollar and long term your rep is your dollar.