Quote:
Originally Posted by HardDrive
I don't see how the severity of the complaint is relevant.
For a new car under warranty, an engine light or a blow transmission translate into the same thing for the consumer: wasted time and a trip to the dealer.
The expectations issue, however, is quite valid. There is no question that part of the reason Mercedes took such a beating in recent years was the lofty expectation people had of the car. A rattle in Kia has less of an impact than a rattle in $60,000 MB.
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I have an obnoxious rattle in my e300d right now, so I can't argue with that.
However, what I'm saying is that for someone who wants to keep a car for 10 years, it IS important to know whether the problems are rattles from loose trim, or mechanical failures. If you're using the surveys to get a sense of what to expect long-term, their value is questionable.