JD Power just came out with its 2019 US Vehicle Dependability Study. Yawn… Who cares, right? Au contraire, my motor-loving friends. This important stuff. Because no matter how excited you are when you leave the dealership, your love affair with a new car will end the minute engine/electrical/transmission/etc problems start.
The Study
This is where marketing information powerhouse JD Power comes in. They’ve surveyed the owners of various three-year-old vehicles and documented how much time they’ve spent in the shop. This may seem futile for cars so young, yet when you think about all of the new technologies—from automatic braking, dynamic cruise control to auto-pilot and the array of sensors, chips and the hardware involved — there’s plenty of opportunity for error. So who’s on top?
#1 Is A No Brainer. #2 Is A Life Saver.
According to JDP, the most reliable brand is Lexus. Duh. Not a huge shocker there. Where Toyota is good, Lexus is better, that’s how the cookie crumbles. But here’s where the study gets exciting — standing at #2 is Porsche. And for the first time ever, JD Power awards the most reliable vehicle to…wait for it.. The 911. Speed-loving, sports-car craving rationalists rejoice. Our day in the sun is here! You can have your Porsche and eat it too! Or whatever.
I can tell you, from personal experience, that the 911 is indestructible. I have a friend, let’s call her Shmama and she owned a 2006 911 Carrera S. Like a badass, she took it to the track, never changed the oil, spilled battery acid on the floor and more than once, had a kid puke in the back seat. But guess what, that thing drove like a dream for five, fun-filled, speeding ticket-packed years. Now, I’m not condoning Shmama’s behavior. But she’s a very close friend and I have it on good authority that she is actively pursuing another Porsche (insert donation link here).
#3, #4 & #5 Can Make You Happy Too
Also in the top five are Toyota (duh), Chevrolet and Buick. Now just wait a red-hot minute before you go hating on Buick. I’m gonna show you a Buick right now and if you think it’s ugly, you can immediately click away:
Oops sorry.
That’s not it. That thing is awful. Try this:
Am I right? That’s a damn fine looking wagon. Even finer when you realize it’s a hella-reliable Buick. Excellent.
Rounding out the top five is Chevy, which is great because if the 911 isn’t mean enough, there’s always the ZR1.
But in all seriousness, it is great to see American automakers represented on this list. And to know that we have a lot of options when it comes to reliable vehicles.
What This Means For You
So the next time you’re told you need to get “a sensible car”, tell them you’re getting a Porsche GT3 and walk away. You can thank me later. Just don’t send me your speeding tickets.