LexFather

Well as you know GM, Ford, Hyundai, Chrysler all had ads and offers to try to get Toyota customers to trade in their cars due to the recall fiasco....

We all know its not a matter of if, but WHEN will one(all) get a big recall.

Honda I have to give a big thumbs up to since they know EVERYONE gets recalls (hell they just had 2) and didn't position itself against Toyota, even acknowledging Toyota is the "face" of Japanese brands.

So which one first?

skylineg35

Hyundai, they have been growing at a rapid pace and putting out products in new segments.

mmarshall

My guess is probably Mercedes, with those awful, electro-hydraulic brakes. In the vehicles where they have been installed, they've been a disaster since Day One. Mercedes has already converted, at customer request, a number of those cars to a conventional, full-hydraulic system.

TRDFantasy

I agree, Hyundai is most likely to have the first big recall.

mmarshall

I'm not sure I agree. Hyundai, unlike Toyota, has found a way to both grow AND keep the quality level up. Based on build quality alone, right now, I would choose several Hyundai products over equivalent ones at Toyota.

TRDFantasy

There is no way to "cheat" here so to speak. While it may seem Hyundai has kept up the build quality at first glance, it is the little details that Hyundai is not focusing on when growing so fast.

Fact is, you cannot grow that fast, AND be profitable, AND keep up quality, AND still focus on all the little details. Even if you have government backing like Hyundai does, you just can't maintain all of these things.

As we all know, Toyota has suffered problems growing that fast over the past decade. Are we supposed to assume that somehow Hyundai won't suffer these problems if they continue growing this fast?

Hyundai last year had some recalls on a few models regarding severe corrosion problems on suspension subframes. These were not old Hyundai models either, but some more recent models released in the past several years, no more than 4-6 years old.

mmarshall

Hyundai has a advantage, though, that most other automakers don't....an abundant supply of relatively low-cost labor. That has one of the key factors in how and why the company can deliver a lot for a comparatively low price.....although Hyundai/Kia prices, recently, have indeed been rising.

nthach

I've got 5 on GM...

pagemaster

What's all the hate on Hyundai all of a sudden. They have their stuff together and their cars are nice....Last time I checked Hyundai is on the ups while Toyota has time after time pledged cost cutting....

I also would not rule out a large Lexus recall...it seems the recalls are mostly North America based, but surely something must be going on over in Japan

madoka

You ever hear of a company called Apple?

madoka

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/..._crash_auction

A car being shown at a north Georgia auto auction plowed into the crowd and sent a dozen people to the hospital, including at least six with serious injuries.

Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright says the accelerator apparently stuck as the car was being driven into the auction hall for dealers to bid on it Tuesday night. Six people were airlifted to hospitals with serious injuries, while eight more were driven to local hospitals. Thirteen were treated and released at the Blue Ridge Auto Auction, in Ellijay.

Wright didn't have any more detailed information on injuries, but no deaths were immediately reported.

The Gilmer County Sheriff's office says the car involved was a Volvo. The state patrol is investigating, but Wright said it was too early to speculate on whether charges could be filed.

TRDFantasy

That same labor force is also a disadvantage. Hyundai's low-cost labor force has a history of volatility with Hyundai management.

We're obviously talking about automakers here, and not electronics companies.

Speaking of Apple, I wouldn't exactly call their quality tops. Many of their products offer mixed reliability/quality, with some of their products being quite fragile.

G Star

iTrader: (2)

I'm going to say BMW because I don't like them

eyezack87

iTrader: (4)

Honda/Acura

nthach

Blame the Cullens - yes, this is a Twilight reference...