Top five car brands customers don't buy twice

[mmntech]

Over on Yahoo Autos today, they had conducted a poll and listed the top five auto brands with the lowest level of repeat customers.

They are...
5. Scion
4. Jaguar
3. Dodge
2. Chrysler
1. Mitsubishi

Not going to inject my own opinion here because I'm don't have experience with most of those brands except Dodge, and that was a few years ago.

Full list here with their justifications for it.
https://ca.autos.yahoo.com/news/5-car-brands-customers-don-t-buy-twice-020708256.html

 

[Jimzz]

well Chrysler/Dodge worked with Mitsubishi on a lot of their designs. That and the original Hyundai's that came to the US had Mitsubishi powertrains. Its why ever since Hyundai does their own stuff their reliability has gone up a good deal.

Only one I was surprised was Scion. I am guessing many that had one go to a larger car after?

 

[Alienwho]

I never know what to believe anymore. I've been reading for years that Scion's initial quality and reliability are very good, even the best. This says both are poor and below average? I've never even sat in a scion so I have no idea. I assume they don't have repeat buyers because they're cars for kids who then buy big boy cars after.

Nobody else on the list shocks me one bit. I do wonder if their characterization of dodge includes the "RAM" line of trucks.

 

[Jimzz]

I never know what to believe anymore. I've been reading for years that Scion's initial quality and reliability are very good, even the best. This says both are poor and below average? I've never even sat in a scion so I have no idea. I assume they don't have repeat buyers because they're cars for kids who then buy big boy cars after.

Nobody else on the list shocks me one bit. I do wonder if their characterization of dodge includes the "RAM" line of trucks.

It should. They have had horrible auto trans for so long.
I say that as someone that drive a Dodge truck. I got a different engine option as the base motor got the older trans and the bigger engine got the newer trans. Did not need the extra power of the engine but did not want the base auto trans.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

I would venture a guess that Scion owners have a high tendency to "upgrade" brands for their second purchase, regardless of quality issues.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've owned 2 Toyotas, 2 Lexus, 2 Ford Mustangs, 2 BMWs and 1 Nissan (I'm not going back to the 80s because the cars I owned then are so far out of production now they aren't even worth mentioning). I would buy any of those brands again. My wife owned a VW when I first met her and there is no fucking way I'd ever buy a VW again.

Personally, I don't think I'd buy any of the cars on that list even once let alone twice.

 

[MiataNC]

I would venture a guess that Scion owners have a high tendency to "upgrade" brands for their second purchase, regardless of quality issues.

^This

I also thing Scion has not kept up with the changing market. B and C Segment cars/hatches from all makes and models have really upped their game in the past 5 years. Scions are decent cars, but there are better optioned competitors on the market for the same money or less.

 

[Zenmervolt]

well Chrysler/Dodge worked with Mitsubishi on a lot of their designs. That and the original Hyundai's that came to the US had Mitsubishi powertrains. Its why ever since Hyundai does their own stuff their reliability has gone up a good deal.

Only one I was surprised was Scion. I am guessing many that had one go to a larger car after?

I think the biggest problem for Mitsubishi in the US right now is that they really only have one car. I mean, I know they build more than one, but who really looks at them for anything other than the Evo? That's a young person's car and Mitsubishi doesn't have anything to "step up to" when a person gets older.

When all your brand makes are entry-level economy vehicles you're pretty much guaranteeing that no-one will buy a second car from your brand.

ZV

 

[Wuzup101]

I currently have a Mitsubishi (Evo X - purchased new). My previous car was a Mitsubishi (Eclipse - purchased used). I would not consider another eclipse unless they brought back the AWD turbo drivetrain (or turbo/rwd). I would consider another Evo XI if they actually made it. No reason for me to buy anything else in the lineup. My parents do have a loaded 2008 outlander and they like it a lot (as do I for what it is).

The above being said, the Mitsu lineup is pretty bland. Their only advantage is that the majority of their cars are fairly cheap. Feature / power train wise they generally don't compete (with few exceptions).

 

[Aharami]

Only one I was surprised was Scion. I am guessing many that had one go to a larger car after?

pretty much this. Wife has a 2006 tC that has now become my car since wife does the daycare dropoff and pickup and needs a 4 door. It's a fine 1st car for a teenager or a twenty something. But it's not a car for an early 30's dude. When we replace this car, we won't be getting another scion since scion doesn't have anything in it's lineup. And I don't see myself getting a Toyota either.

 

[exar333]

I currently have a Mitsubishi (Evo X - purchased new). My previous car was a Mitsubishi (Eclipse - purchased used). I would not consider another eclipse unless they brought back the AWD turbo drivetrain (or turbo/rwd). I would consider another Evo XI if they actually made it. No reason for me to buy anything else in the lineup. My parents do have a loaded 2008 outlander and they like it a lot (as do I for what it is).

The above being said, the Mitsu lineup is pretty bland. Their only advantage is that the majority of their cars are fairly cheap. Feature / power train wise they generally don't compete (with few exceptions).

Mitsubishi's marketing in the US has baffled me. They discontinued some of their best cars, for no apparent reason. The Galant was their main car, and it just went away. The Lancer was a great budget option too, and that was pretty much left to wither on the vine.

Now, they have the EVO (which was extended an extra year in the US through 2015) and the Outlander. Isn't that about it for relevant cars? Such a strange company...

EDIT: AAAAAND THE Eclipse. They made every new one worse than the previous. Then killed it. :/

 

[amdhunter]

I've owned
Mistubishi - Never had an issue, but current lineup sucks.

Honda - NEVER AGAIN - HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE w/Service and Build Quality.

VW - NEVER AGAIN - weirdness with clutch noise on 90+ degree days, replicated with technician twice and yet they couldn't reproduce problem. Tried to get me to buy a whole new transmission at 6000 miles for misaligned shift linkage.

Mazda - yes. Nothing but great service from 2 different dealerships over the course of 5 years.

 

[smackababy]

EDIT: AAAAAND THE Eclipse. They made every new one worse than the previous. Then killed it. :/

I preferred the Gen 2s over the Gen 1s, in terms of looks, at least. The GTX was pretty nice. Basically, once they stopped offering AWD, they were crap. =)



I can see Scion and Jaguar being the two to get the least amount of return buyers. Does Scion offer a model that isn't "Baby's first car"? Or do you have to buy an actual Toyota for that? And Jaguar is typical "British engineering", ie crap. =)

 

[MiataNC]

I preferred the Gen 2s over the Gen 1s, in terms of looks, at least. The GTX was pretty nice. Basically, once they stopped offering AWD, they were crap. =)



I can see Scion and Jaguar being the two to get the least amount of return buyers. Does Scion offer a model that isn't "Baby's first car"? Or do you have to buy an actual Toyota for that? And Jaguar is typical "British engineering", ie crap. =)

The only car that Scion offers that isn't "Baby's first car" is the FR-S. It is a true sports car in every sense of the word (light, well balanced, built to be a drivers car, and RWD). That being said it is impractical, incredibly niche (like the Miata MX-5 or S2000), and does not appeal to spreadsheet racers that obsess over HP/Trq numbers. People shopping the FR-S have zero interest in anything else Scion sells.

 

[cbrsurfr]

Mercury is dead so buying another is not an option.
VW - I would have gladly bought another but they refused to bring the model with the options I wanted to the US so I bought an Evo.
Mitsubishi - so far so good, but unless they bring a new Evo down the line I don't see buying anything else from them. The outlander sport looks decent but with only the anemic 2.0 non-turbo, no thanks.

 

[ElFenix]

well Chrysler/Dodge worked with Mitsubishi on a lot of their designs. That and the original Hyundai's that came to the US had Mitsubishi powertrains. Its why ever since Hyundai does their own stuff their reliability has gone up a good deal.

Only one I was surprised was Scion. I am guessing many that had one go to a larger car after?

hyundai's reliability only went up after it got a new president who decided he didn't want to build crappy cars anymore.

 

[XavierMace]

I've owned two Mitsubishi's. Both were complete POS's. '01 Galant, '03 Eclipse.

 

[smackababy]

hyundai's reliability only went up after it got a new president who decided he didn't want to build crappy cars anymore.

Isn't that the story of all Asian brands coming into the US market. They start out making the cheapest POS you can buy, and then improve their quality drastically? Japanese electronics weren't always a thing of sure quality. There was a time when they were cheap garbage. Same with their cars. The Koreans were next. I can only guess the next wave will be whatever country industrializes next. Vietnam maybe?

 

[Jimzz]

hyundai's reliability only went up after it got a new president who decided he didn't want to build crappy cars anymore.

Actually they started to invest in quality in the late 90's. The CEO then in 2000 transferred control of Hyundai automotive to his son. So the same family has been running it for a long time. It was not till they invested in their own power trains and equipment they really started to turn around.

I like Hyundai enough that I found a Elantra, 2006 or 05, for my Nephew. So far no problems and good car for the dollar. Hunyadi's from 05+ are the new Buicks IMO. Their image is still not perfect but they have made decent cars for a while so good car for a good price in the used market.

 

[exar333]

hyundai's reliability only went up after it got a new president who decided he didn't want to build crappy cars anymore.

Also the new Hyundai/Kias are more expensive too. 2004 ASP was ~$17,000 and 2014 is now $24,310. If you adjust 2004 price for inflation, it is still about 15% more. That's definitely significant.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Mitsubishi's marketing in the US has baffled me. They discontinued some of their best cars, for no apparent reason. The Galant was their main car, and it just went away. The Lancer was a great budget option too, and that was pretty much left to wither on the vine.

Now, they have the EVO (which was extended an extra year in the US through 2015) and the Outlander. Isn't that about it for relevant cars? Such a strange company...

EDIT: AAAAAND THE Eclipse. They made every new one worse than the previous. Then killed it. :/

:thumbsup: 😀 So true! :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

[LTC8K6]

Having mostly repeat customers means you are lacking in attracting new customers.

Having a lot of new customers can give you a lower repeat business number.

 

[ElFenix]

Actually they started to invest in quality in the late 90's. The CEO then in 2000 transferred control of Hyundai automotive to his son. So the same family has been running it for a long time. It was not till they invested in their own power trains and equipment they really started to turn around.

I like Hyundai enough that I found a Elantra, 2006 or 05, for my Nephew. So far no problems and good car for the dollar. Hunyadi's from 05+ are the new Buicks IMO. Their image is still not perfect but they have made decent cars for a while so good car for a good price in the used market.

it was chung mong koo taking over in the 90s from his father that spurred the quality message. he knew hyundai had to improve its rep or it would't get repeat business. previuosly hyundai had been stacking em deep, selling em cheap, quality be damned.

http://www.hmmausa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/zInsights05_April_-29.pdf

 

[rsbennett00]

The dealers kill repeat business as much or more than the cars themselves. I owned a VW and loved it but the service techs were such brain dead morons that I can't stomach buying another.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I bought one dodge and never bought another one. It wasn't because of quality or anything. I guess their designs just didn't appeal to me. Hell the dodge car I had I gave to my mom and she still drives it today. I don't even go to dodge at all when looking for a car. Maybe its all the bad things I hear and read?