People buy clapped out cars, distastefully mod them, don't take care of them and then trash talk it's reliablity. Specifically the case for Subarus, Minis, a few VWs.
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The problem with your theory is that people buy clapped out Hondas and Toyotas, distastefully mod them, don’t take care of them and then go on about how wonderful and reliable they are. Doesn’t really work does it?
Cos theyre simple engineering, wont go wrong cos there is nothing TO go wrong most of the time
Sorry buddy but you’re very very wrong. There’s nothing complex about VW’s, Minis or Subarus. All the known issues that cars from those manufacturers suffer with are largely down to shitty engineering mistakes.
Nah Subaru has been innovative along with VW with interesting engines. Minis aint complex but theyre a damn sight more interesting than a Yaris. From experience my dad owned a GTI for 11 years and had no mechanical issues. My uncle had a Jetta for 14 years with no mechanical issues. Common factor they looked after their cars
Man if you’re really tryna get into the weeds. Subaru are absolutely not innovative, they’ve been using the same engine (with minor revisions) for over 30 years. It’s weird because it’s a boxster engine, but there’s no massive benefit, it’s weird for the sake of being weird.
Tbh I don’t think VW should have been thrown into this. They have done some interesting stuff with the W12, W8, VR6/VR5 and V10 diesel, but they’re mostly rare engines (apart from the VR’s), it wouldn’t be fair to call VW’s unreliable based on those engines. Most VW’s come with fairly plain and simple 4 cylinder engines, nothing complex or fancy about them, and they’re actually fairly reliable, I’ve personally owned a few different VW’s and Audi’s and the engine has never been a problem. What has been a problem in every one I’ve owned is all of the bushings are dead by 80k miles, the coil packs tend to die at 60k miles, timing chains tend to need replacing at like 70k miles, the cooling systems tend to have issues and the AC always dies at around 70k miles. None of these issues are a massive deal, but it’s annoying and clearly suggests they use poor quality parts and have continued to so over a span of at least 15 years. I owned a Honda up to about 130k miles and it didn’t suffer from any of those issues I’ve listed for VW, still drove like it was brand new.
Mini’s aren’t complex at all, but they’re made by BMW. As far as I can tell, BMW is a company that couldn’t give a flying fuck about their customers and seem to be running an experiment to see how ugly and unreliable they can make their cars before people realise they’re getting mugged off and stop buying them. Mini’s aren’t ugly or shitty to be fair, but the underpinnings are still BMW, so they are still destined to fail mechanically, regardless of how well you maintain it.
What tech does a VW, Mini, or Subaru have that a Toyota or Honda doesn't?
Interesting engines...excluding sports cars Subaru and VW have used unique engines in their vehicles. Also VW made systems like haldex, DSG, maintain em well and they work a charm.
Subaru and VW have used unique engines in their vehicles. Also VW made systems like haldex, DSG, maintain em well and they work a charm.
So you think Honda inventing the now ubiquitous variable valve timing, or Toyota's pioneering work mass-producing hybrids, isn't unique? Or that a LFA V10 or the high revving stuff in a S2000 or S800 isn't interesting?
Also, Haldex is a Swedish company, and the dual clutch gearbox was invented in the early 1960s by Hillman. VW had the first modern mass-produced one, but credit for that goes to Borg Warner.
Your original claim wasn't anything to do with interesting though, it was that Toyota and Honda cars were simpler. Flat fours and V5s aren't any more complex than inline fours, V6s, or anything else.