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Asked: Jan 04, 2008 - 08:04 AM

Status: Closed

What do people mean when they say "quality" while referring to a car?

I am an owner of a Honda cCivic and in the proocess of buying a new car. I wanted to know what people mean when they say "quality" car. Which make has the best quality?

In Buying & Selling > Car Comparisons
5 answers - 79 days ago

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Edmunds.com Staff Answers

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researchqueen

Date: Jul 24, 2008
Time: 18:00

I have your perfect answer: the Edmunds article, What Do You Mean By Vehicle Quality?

Voted Best Answer

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autoboy16

Date: Jan 08, 2008
Time: 06:27 PM

When I think quality, I think of materials used. For Example:Test drive a Pontiac Grand Prix. From the start, you'll notice the VAST amounts of plastic and rubber. The grand prix has its igniton in the dash. If you have a lot of keys, all you hear is metal banging plastic! Then the Engine has a tinny electronic sound and the seats aren't very comfortable. While you're seated, you arm rests on hard unpadded plastic and you have to touch the cheap and flimsy feeling controls to get the whole experience. That is not qualiy!


Sure its cheaper than say a VW passat but you get what you pay for! In a Passat, the leatherette is firm but its comfortable! The engine sounds growlie and great(even the turbo!)! Sure VW uses plastic, but nowhere near the same extent of the Grand Prix! There is comfortable leatherette/vinyl or leather pads where your arms would rest and all the controls feel solid and well put togather! Even the doors close with a solid "thunk!".

On top of that, VW gives you many more features and better quality for a few thousand more. Remember the old saying, "You get what you pay for!"

Quality is subjunctive and I would gladly pay the extra $$$ for a Passat before I would the Grand Prix. Even the old generation Passat is a solid choice against the current Grand Prix.

-Cj

Source: Personal Experience

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mr_shiftright

Date: Jan 07, 2008
Time: 05:54 PM

Well you'll get some interesting answers, so I'll kick in my two cents.

I think most people mean one of two things when they say "quality":

one would be "reliability", like say a Toyota Corolla represents "Toyota Quality"

A second interpretation would be what we call "fit and finish"--that is, the car is put together with quality materials, paint and assembly--so the car "looks like" a quality item, regardless if it's not the most reliable car on the road statistically.

avatar

jipster

Date: Jan 07, 2008
Time: 06:16 PM

When someone says they want a "quality" car, they are referring to Japanese made.

avatar

madmanmoo

Date: Jan 08, 2008
Time: 04:01 PM

Quality would be a vehicle that is reliable and looks good. Fit and finish is solid. That's how I describe 'quality'.

It's definitely from whoever's mouth it's coming though.

avatar

autoboy16

Date: Jan 08, 2008
Time: 06:27 PM

When I think quality, I think of materials used. For Example:Test drive a Pontiac Grand Prix. From the start, you'll notice the VAST amounts of plastic and rubber. The grand prix has its igniton in the dash. If you have a lot of keys, all you hear is metal banging plastic! Then the Engine has a tinny electronic sound and the seats aren't very comfortable. While you're seated, you arm rests on hard unpadded plastic and you have to touch the cheap and flimsy feeling controls to get the whole experience. That is not qualiy!


Sure its cheaper than say a VW passat but you get what you pay for! In a Passat, the leatherette is firm but its comfortable! The engine sounds growlie and great(even the turbo!)! Sure VW uses plastic, but nowhere near the same extent of the Grand Prix! There is comfortable leatherette/vinyl or leather pads where your arms would rest and all the controls feel solid and well put togather! Even the doors close with a solid "thunk!".

On top of that, VW gives you many more features and better quality for a few thousand more. Remember the old saying, "You get what you pay for!"

Quality is subjunctive and I would gladly pay the extra $$$ for a Passat before I would the Grand Prix. Even the old generation Passat is a solid choice against the current Grand Prix.

-Cj

Source: Personal Experience

avatar

researchqueen

Date: Jul 24, 2008
Time: 06:00 PM

I have your perfect answer: the Edmunds article, What Do You Mean By Vehicle Quality?

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