Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to Design problems factoring in cost.

Strictly anecodotal, but...
ER — (archived)

The irony is that there is little correlation between initial cost and reliability and durability. The bottom-of-the-line Japanese rice-burners have a phenomenal service record compared to the top-of-the-line Euro and USA sedans. I've never owned an American car, I've owned an English Ford, 3 VW beetles, a VW rabbit, and 4 assorted Japanese vehicles (over the last 43 years). All got 30mph+ on the road and all (with the exception of the Anglia and the rabbit) gave me long and excellent service. I've owned one Nissan for over 14 years and 130K city miles and it has never yet failed me, and it runs like a champ and still looks great.

Luxury cars may have unnecessary extra parts that tend to fail (like electric door locks and buttocks warmers) simply because there are more of them, but I also suspect that the individual parts are no better. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the Rolls water pump was comparable or inferior in quality to my Sentra's. And the latter will be a lot cheaper to replace. I guess this is one situation where it is the rich that are being exploited, and the poor are getting a free ride.

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