Slightly OT - Car Manufacturers and Internet Forums

Submitted: Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 09:23

ThreadID: 49257 Views:2479 Replies:4 FollowUps:5

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Batman69

Given the popularity of the internet and social forums like Exploroz, why don't car manufacturers understand they can't sweep major design/reliability problems under the carpet anymore?

My point is before the technology superhighway became main stream people weren't able to contact, discuss or compare issues or problems they were experiencing with their vehicles with the masses or people with in the same dilema. Therefore the problems were relatively easy to control, pass off as one off or a small issue to unsuspecting owners who knew know better.

In time manufacturers will realise they can't shove of second rate vehicles or vehicle they know have serious issues (hopefully the likes of the Nissan Patrol ZD30 problems of which I have had first hand experience) onto the public without there being widespread knowledge of the issue quite quickly.

Do they realise the negative effect these types of owner experiences are having on their brands? If not they had better smarten up. Word spreads quickly and more than ever before it's a small, small world.

I am interested in your thoughts.

Regards,

Steve.

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Reply By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 10:29

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 10:29

it works like this:
they Dont Need to care as there is always someone else who will take you place

AnswerID: 260048

Follow Up By: Batman69 - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 13:07

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 13:07

Yes you are correct... now...

But what happens as the popularity of the sites continues to grow and grow, information will get around even quicker.

I am but one owner of maybe 200 or 300 with bad experiences, but I have told some of my friends of my plight (maybe 10 or 20 people) and of all the other stories I have heard via exploroz. If they all tell 10 people who tell 10 people who tell 10 people... well there may well be 2,000 or 3,000 people who would think twice about buying one, just because of my experience. Let alone all the others who have been influenced by the stories on exploroz.

That is why I firmly believe that the internet and forums like this are a very powerful tool for consumers. There aren't too many excuses for making an uninformed decision nowadays.

Hopefully the manufacturers will take note!

Steve.

FollowupID: 521510

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 13:26

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 13:26

no....
cos you'll always go out and buy ...the 4wd in this case...the one you are most happier with..for what ever the reason $$$ V Looks V comfort V whatever

FollowupID: 521512

Reply By: ben_gv3 - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 10:31

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 10:31

Interesting points there Steve, but remember even with the past experiences re: the ZD30, people still buy them. The same goes with the Landies and their oil leakage issues.

Since they don't really present a safety issue, unlike crap welds etc. then the manufacturers aren't forced into issueing recalls etc. Besides what's the proportion of grenades compared to non-grenade ZD30's?

My 0.2c

AnswerID: 260049

Follow Up By: Batman69 - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 12:56

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 12:56

Ben you are right I agree however...

I reckon only uninformed people still buy them.

I am sure the percentage of grenades is small, probably less than 5%, however as one who was "touched" by the ZD30 in a Patrol I can guarantee I will never purchase Nissan again.

Again I agree they don't present a safety issue but the issues definitely hit the hip pocket nerve of the customers when they go bang. People that spend lots of money they shouldn't have to get pretty shirty, and they tell people who tell people...

FollowupID: 521509

Reply By: Olcoolone- Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 13:46

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 13:46

You can blame the car companys all you want here in Australia.

The people you really need to get stuck into are our beloved pollies.

Now bare with me......we had a customers 2003 Honda CRVin our workshop last week, less then 100K on the clock and he was up for a $2300 repair bill due to no fault of his own.

Honda Australia said there was not a problem and would not help with payment, but in Ameriac Honda America are paying for the repairs even on vehicles dating back to 2000.

American people have laws the are enforced to protect the end user even when the warranty has expired......but here in little old Australia........... guess what we have nothing.

On another matter we had two high end $1400.00 8 mth. old LG monitors go wrong on us that they could not repair, it took us 5 mths. to get our money back.....tried consumer and business affairs and they could not do a thing for us due to us being a business so our only option was to look at passing the recovery onto our lawyers.....in the end LG did pay us.

The laws here in Australia are weak and need fixing, especialy vehicle ones.

Regards rIchard

AnswerID: 260073

Reply By: Dave Thomson - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 14:28

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 14:28

People still will buy them ??? what kind of people would they be ??? I know I would NEVER go back to Nissan after the way they treated me, fact, if you buy anything and it bites you, you'd be NUTS to go back there, one sure way to put people off , hit them in the pocket and you WONT be seeing them again, no your absolutley right Batman , it WILL come back to haunt them and good enough for em ' I say, they took a great car and destroyed its reputation and worst still walked away and left us to pick up the pieces,
sorry but it still gets up my left nostrill how badly they treat customers,
regards,
dave

AnswerID: 260084