Reliability???

For some amusement go to the following:
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http://autos.msn.com/home/reliability_ratings.aspx?src=URES
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Do a comparison of the reliability of your model year Windstar and the same model year of Honda Odyssey. It's not true for every year, but you may find your Winnie more "reliable" than the Honda. But you will also see on the same pages that your Winnie is worth thousands less than the Odyssey. ????? How can the more "reliable" van be worth less?

I'll offer an observation...

A few years ago, a female neighbor friend called me from the side of a busy expressway. Her not-too-old Honda had just broken down in midday traffic. Would I please come help investigate the problem before she called the Honda dealer? After doing a little checking under the hood and then calling the Honda service manager, I was shocked to hear him say, "Yep, broken camshaft allright! I've been changing them out by the basketfuls!"

How could this be? The absolute "darling" of the automotive press breaking camshafts...leaving little school teachers stranded? Why haven't I read/heard something about this...?

What he said next may require some translation ... you probably have never heard anything like it: .... "Just tell her not too worry, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. I'm sending a truck to pick up her vehicle ... and on the back of the truck will be a loaner vehicle for her to use while we repair her's"

I waited around to see the service truck arriving...with loaner aboard as promised. Can you imagine getting such a reaction from a dealer?

Did my neighbor care that the camshaft broke? Apparently not much... she's bought perhaps two new Hondas since then. Perhaps they've had mechanical problems, I don't know ...but why worry?

Is this a possible answer for the reliability/value inconsistency? Are all Honda dealerships treating customers .... like customers?

.....Is this a possible answer for the reliability/value inconsistency? Are all Honda dealerships treating customers .... like customers?

Wow! That is definately a brow raising concept (and experience for you and your neighbor), but I gotta think this would be totally dependant on the dealership. Maybe there are Ford dealerships that are like this?!? :uhoh: :lol2:
G/luck!
Joel