HikeArizona.COM

What kind of vehicles do you guys all drive when your going hiking? Im thinking about investing in a 4wd high clearance Jeep or something of the sort so I could get to some places where I definitely couldnt get to with what Im driving now (73 mustang):) I saw a Jeep Grand Cherokee today for $2600 and I was thinking about checking it out. What "hiking vehicle" is easiest to drive and which gets the best gas mileage (even though I know most wouldnt be too fuel efficient.)

chumley wrote:But of far more interest to me is customer satisfaction surveys for vehicles that are more than 3 or 5 years old. How reliable is the vehicle after it's driven 50,000 miles? 100,000?

Somewhat beneficial, after all what have we learned about poll results?

Pivo wrote:what have we learned about poll results?

That they're within 2-3% of being right, which for auto reliability is probably sufficient?

Pivo wrote:Subaru Tops Charts, While Rivian and Jeep Hit Bottom: 2024 Consumer Reports Auto Report Card.

And the others?
"Due to insufficient data, we do not rank Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lucid, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, and Ram."
Lack of data due to insufficient sales maybe?

In 2023, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 had a theft rate of 1,207 per 100,000 vehicles, with 23,721 vehicles stolen. This makes it the third most stolen car in the United States.
Wooohooo now that is real market assessment. But we have a 2023 2500 so were not as cool.
On the plus side the top least stolen cars are Tesla and Volvo

I struggle to believe Subaru outperforms Honda or Toyota. I call BS based on self reported data and user bias.

I prefer the design of Foresters and Outbacks over Honda and Toyota options, even though I can't see them as more reliable. Electrical issue, the vibration issue, transmission valve body replacement, rear differential replacement, power motor replacement, to name a few problem things I can remember. I never had that with my Honda with almost 14,000 more miles at replacement than I presently have on my Subaru. 1 year out isn't that long for a new car. This isn't 1970! 5 and 10 years would be far better, but of course there are no 2024 cars over 1 year of age.

I conjecture that most folks vote 'for' the car/truck they bought. They don't have a day-to-day comparison though, unless they own a 2nd vehicle. Likely the one(s) to ask about repairs/reliability (including COSTS) are the independent mechanics that service ALL brands; likely the most comprehensive group.

@Jim_H
You're not wrong, but you're also just adding your own anecdotal data. My anecdotal data is that I've had at least one Subrau in the stable over the last 20 years, tend to replace at 4 years, and haven't had a single issue (I usually own a "fun" vehicle plus something that can get me to most trailheads on dirt). Generally get rid of them at 40k-50k miles, so I can't add my anecdotal perspective past that but they've been perfectly fine and reliable up to that point at least. Not a big challenge to get to that point these days, of course, for any manufacturer, which I think is your overall point. Used to be that 100k miles was the "goal" for a long lived vehicle but that's changed for sure over the last 15 years or so.

My alfa quad was a fantastic and fun car, though, except for the fact I had to take it in every two months for some random crap Bet they would love to have my anecdotal data on that one. Not exactly a hiking vehicle, though.

CannondaleKid wrote:Lack of data due to insufficient sales maybe?

Or perhaps purchasers of those vehicles are simply incapable of following whatever instructions are required to complete the survey. ;)

hikeaz wrote:I conjecture that most folks vote 'for' the car/truck they bought.

I think the survey is conducted simply by compiling points for or against the vehicle that a person purchased. It's not a personal comparison of different vehicles as much as it is simply saying more drivers of brand a report fewer problems than drivers of brands b, c and d.

@xsproutx
Right, and that is part of my point. 1 year is barely enough. My Honda was great for basically the decade I had it. The Outback has had some pretty big problems, and most started after the 4th year. I'm not alone in that, though. My brother traded his 2016 Outback after a few years due to all kinds of stupid electrical issues, and another HAZer has a paint pealed hood on their 2018. I think the reliability rep of Subaru is over blown. Myself and others with early 2000s Hondas all sing their praises. Too bad they are ugly AF today. Interiors are, at least.

Trading a car at 50,000 miles is insane, to me! Today, with all the trash in cars, I wouldn't want to risk the newest model. I may not love my 2013 Outback, but part of me wants it to last to 200,000 miles. I doubt it will. I like that it has no digital surveillance, and is not spyware masquerading as an automobile, unlike new Subarus and pretty much all cars.

chumley wrote:That they're within 2-3% of being right, which for auto reliability is probably sufficient?

For Election Polls it would seem that's not the case.

Jim_H wrote: I call BS based on self reported data and user bias.

I am in agreement.

4X Subaru buyer
1996 and 2005 Legacy wagons both 150K+ miles with no issues and then sold
currently driving 2006 Baja 243K miles (engine rebuild at 180K) and 2017 Outback 113K miles no issues

@Jim_H
I mean, I disagree with the spyware comment I guess. I assume you're talking about how many modern vehicle do have the capability to phone home/call emergency services? Those are easily disabled if you want to and something I generally do. 100% agree with you that this 1 year review is worth... well... I took a dump in the woods this morning. That probably was worth more? Definitely made me feel decent at least...

There were definitely some LARGE CVT issues that were a huge problem but I haven't heard of electrical or paint issues in the last 10 years being a systemic issue. Not to say that it doesn't happen, but haven't seen it systemic at any rate. Unless you're talking about the stupid infotainment unit crashing; that's a definite problem and annoys the crap out of me. I actually blame it for getting pulled over two years ago: it crashed while driving back from mt baldy and I was pressing buttons on the screen as it rebooted and not paying attention to my speed as much. Cop gave me a warning, at least, which was pretty nice of him.

But yeah, I'm definitely one of those guys who trades in cars before they get old and am fortunate enough that I can do that, which I know not everyone can/wants to/etc. When you only have to risk the newest model for a few years, you just don't have to worry about much in the grand scheme.

toddak wrote:currently driving 2006 Baja

Man I've really been thinking about buying a baja recently. My pops has an el camino and I just want to buy a cooler less functional version with big tires to show him up

@xsproutx read this. It has very little to do with connected services. There is basically no single product on earth that pilfers— and sells— more data about you than your vehicle (at least without your knowledge or consent).

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/priva ... r-privacy/

If only it would come to America. I'm still trying to grasp the above the wheelwell things, lunchboxes?
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a6274 ... -revealed/

@xsproutx
If you drive a new Subaru, they know you took that dump and are selling it to companies. They are collecting when you do almost anything now based on lots of things, including your cell phone gps, and they are selling that information. They want to know about your sexual activity.


NEVER plug your phone into your car if you value privacy, and don't even have a conversation in the car anymore. I wish I could drive my 13 car until I die because of this stuff.

@chumley
I agree, that by default, there is a fair bit going on. Most of what Mozilla says IS that it's connected services, though; 2 out of the 3 things in the first bullet are that and the other bullet can only be transmitted (in most cars...) via that. You can get around *most* of it easily if you really want (IE, not using the connected apps) and the rest of it *somewhat* easily with a simple OBD flasher and/or disconnecting one simple part (cell antenna). Important to note that most of Mozilla's article is based on ToS which is an obvious starting place but most are overly broad for a reason anyway. Not everyone is savvy with these things so I get the mistrust and there should be a much easier was to "handle" things. Maybe one day the US will get proper consumer protection

The data that is harder to control would be certain OBD data but that's been in place for 25 years, give or take now and if you don't take it to the dealership, they won't have that data.

@Alston_Neal
It's called the "tasman" so the only assumption is that when you're flinging up snakes/spiders/other crap that will kill you, it gets trapped in the wheel well for later release instead of your truck bed where you'll be moving something later and get killed?

@chumley
You can request that this data tracking be removed.
https://vehicleprivacyreport.com/

It's not only cars that do this. Your smart TV also.
Vizio (Just purchased by Walmart)

The TV maker released its latest earnings report on Tuesday and revealed that over the last three months, its Platform Plus segment that includes advertising and viewer data had a gross profit of $57.3 million. That’s more than twice the amount of profit it made selling devices like TVs, which was $25.6 million, despite those device sales pulling in considerably more revenue.

This can also be turned off in the TVs settings.

@The_Eagle
While we're at it, turn off your smart phone.