Less than a week after matching Lexus for the top spot in J.D. Power's Long-Term Dependability survey, Buick has finished #2 overall in the University of Michigan's Consumer Satisfaction Index rankings.

With 86 points, Buick finished 1 point below Lexus, and four points above the industry average.

Cadillac, too, scored 86 points.

Link:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../708140387/1148

Quotes:

"Detroit is finally clawing its way out of the bottom," said study author Claes Fornell, director of the National Quality Research Center at U-M's Ross School of Business.

Several brands owned by Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. sharply improved their rankings, while the Toyota, Honda and Nissan nameplates all declined. The only Asian brands that gained ground were South Korea's Kia and Lexus, Toyota Motor Corp.'s premium marque, which took the top spot.

Toyota's slip is a sign the company is beginning to struggle amid rapid growth, U-M's Fornell said.

Edited August 14, 200717 yr by FriendsOfBuick

A lot of this has to do with Toyota going to math based design and not enough real world testing. GM wants to go to this and get away from real world testing because Toyota is doing it. I say to hell with that, don't try to keep duplicating what Toyota is doing invent for yourself!!

A lot of this has to do with the fact that it was done in Michigan. What would be really telling is what the survey results are in California.

I guess I should add some clarification to what I said before. Toyota is having more problems(warranty,engines) because of their testing methods than in the past, because of their math based testing. So they have hit a bump in the road, and I only foresee more problems because they are trying to grow way too fast.

RJB makes a good point. Very interesting way to go Caddy and Buick.