Session 5 - Japanese Cars

Japanese cars still most reliable
Japanese cars are the most reliable in the world. That’s according to J.D. Power
and Associates, an international market research company. J.D. Power’s asked
thousands of car owners about problems they had with their cars in the first three
years of ownership. The Lexus car topped the reliability list, for the fourteenth year
in a row. Lexus is Toyota’s luxury car brand. The survey found that Lexus cars
were getting better and better. They had 120 problems per 100 vehicles, down from
145 problems in the 2007 study. "That's a pretty good track record," said Dave
Sargent, a J.D. Power's executive. Lexus was first place in six categories, while
other Toyota and Honda cars led four categories. Toyota's Prius hybrid was the
winning compact car.
Mr Sargent said that reliability in cars is improving every year. In the past two
years, the industry average has improved from 237 problems per 100 vehicles to
206. Land Rover, sold earlier this year to India's Tata Motors, was the worst-
performing brand, with 344 problems. Sargent also said the “seriousness” of the
problems was decreasing. The complaints being reported a few years ago were
“hard” problems, such as serious technical defects. Sargent said these were
becoming less common. He told reporters it is now more likely that car owners will
complain about “soft” problems, like strange noises or wear and tear of the car’s
interior. He added that: "Improved quality is good for everybody, [especially] for
the consumers, who don't have the annoyance of problems [and costs]."
TRUE / FALSE:
Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or
false (F):
a. A market research firm found Japanese cars to be the most reliable. T/F
b. Japanese makers have topped the reliability list for the past 14 years. T/F
c. Only 145 people said they had problems with their Japanese car. T/F
d. Toyota’s energy-saving hybrid car was the most reliable of all cars. T/F
e. Industry-wide, overall reliability worsened in the past year. T/F
f. The best-performing non-Japanese car maker was Land Rover. T/F
g. Car owners are now more likely to complain about strange noises. T/F
h. People will complain about wear and tear more than engine problems. T / F
SYNONYM MATCH:
Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. reliable a. headed
2 according to b. irritation
3. topped c. faults
4. track record d. small
5. compact e. deterioration
6. improving f. trustworthy
7. defects g. getting better
8. likely h. past performance
9. wear and tear i. in the opinion of
10. annoyance j. probable
PHRASE MATCH:
Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one
combination is possible):
1. Japanese cars are the most a. in a row
2 an international market b. defects
3. The Lexus car topped c. common
4. the fourteenth year d. research company
5. Lexus was first place e. tear of the car’s interior
6. the industry average f. reliable in the world
7. serious technical g. good for everybody
8. becoming less h. has improved
9. wear and i. the reliability list
10. Improved quality is j. in six categories
Discussion:
a) What did you think when you read the headline?
b) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘reliable’?
c) Are you reliable?
d) Are you happy with the reliability of the things you buy?
e) Have you ever had a problem with a car?
f) What do you think of Japanese cars?
g) How do you think Toyota can stay number one for 14 years in a row?
h) Would you buy a Toyota after reading this article?
i) What are your favourite and least favourite cars?
j) How do you think Toyota bosses feel about being number one?
a) Did you like reading this article?
b) Do you think cars will ever become 100 per cent reliable?
c) How important is reliability to you?
d) Are you surprised that Land Rover was the worst-performing car?
e) Do you worry about the wear and tear of the things you buy?
f) Do you read consumer guides or look at consumer Internet sites before you
buy something?
g) Do you think car companies care about reports such as the one in the article?
h) What other “soft” problems do you think cars might have?
i) What annoyances have you had recently with things you’ve bought?
j) What questions would you like to ask Toyota’s boss?

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Japanese cars still most reliable

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