NoOption5L@aol.com

General Motors and Ford earned a record number of awards while Lexus
ranked highest in long-term dependability for the 11th consecutive
year, according to J.D. Power and Associate's latest Vehicle
Dependability Study.

Overall, the auto industry recorded substantial improvements in
long-term vehicle quality in 2005, according to the survey.

Toyota's Lexus brand had the fewest number of reported problems with
139 problems per 100 vehicles. (The average number of reported problems
across the industry is 237 problems per 100 cars.)

Porsche ranked No. 2 after making the greatest improvement from last
year, while Hyundai, while still coming in below average, had the
biggest decrease in problems compared to 2004.

General Motors and Ford Motor Co. topped a record number of vehicle
categories in the study, with eight and five respectively.

"Our studies consistently show that long-term durability is a
tremendously important factor for consumers," Chance Parker, executive
director of product research analysis at J.D. Power and Associates,
said in a statement.

"The study also finds that long-term durability can have a significant
impact on a vehicle's retained value," he added.

According to the study, three-year-old (2002 model-year) cars that
perform above the industry average typically retain $1,000 more of
their value than cars performing below the industry average.

The Westlake Village, Calif.-based firm's 2005 Vehicle Dependability
Study was based on responses from 50,635 owners of 2002 model-year cars
and light trucks.

--

These cars, all 2002 models, have held up the best after three years,
according to a survey.

Compact car: 2002 Chevrolet Prizm

Entry midsize car: 2002 Chevrolet Malibu

Premium midsized car: 2002 Buick Century

Full-size car: 2002 Buick LeSabre

Entry luxury car: 2002 Ford Thunderbird

Mid luxury car: 2002 Lincoln Town Car

Premium luxury car: 2002 Lexus LS 430

Sporty car: 2002 Mazda Miata

Premium sports car: 2002 Porsche 911

Midsized pick-up: 2002 Chevrolet S-10

Light-duty full-sized pick-up: 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Entry SUV: 2002 Honda CR-V

Midsized SUV: 2002 Toyota 4Runner

Full-sized SUV: 2002 GMC Yukon/Yukon XL

Entry luxury SUV: 2002 Lexus RX 300

Premium luxury SUV: 2002 Lexus LX 470

Midsized van: 2002 Ford Windstar

Full-sized van: 2002 Ford E-series

Patrick
'93 Cobra