JD Power Survey 2011 - Other sports cars and cabriolets
27 May 2011
2 Volkswagen Scirocco
Satisfaction rating 82.0%
Overall 20th=
VW Scirocco review
Making its JD Power debut, the Volkswagen Scirocco impressed owners with its fine gearshift, and practical rear seats and boot.
The main concerns were side window problems and below-par servicing from VW dealers.
3 Audi TTSatisfaction rating 80.8%
Overall 41st
Audi TT review
Up from fourth last year, but with very mixed scores. Owners were impressed by the TT’s performance and handling, and mechanical reliability was also well above average. Downsides: service advisers were criticised, as were the tiny rear seats.
4 Mercedes-Benz CLKSatisfaction rating 79.8%
Overall 55th=
Mercedes CLK review
Nearly a decade old and no longer on sale, which is some excuse for below-par fuel economy and handling. It’s no defence for the many reports of cars pulling to one side, or higher-than-average number of sat-nav glitches.
Sinner: Mercedes-Benz SLK5 Mercedes-Benz SLK
Satisfaction rating 79.6%
Overall 60th
Mercedes SLK review
Down on last year’s survey, in which the SLK came second. Owners grumbled about uncomfortable seats, tricky entry and exit, and poor economy and visibility. There were a few glovebox problems, but reliability was mostly good. Owners didn’t like Merc’s high car-collection charges for a service; dealer facilities were highly rated, though.
In focus
Two models blot Merc’s owner satisfaction record
Back in 2003, Mercedes pledged that it would hit the top spot for customer satisfaction within three years. It failed – although it did show reassuring signs of improvement in the JD Power manufacturer league over the following six years, rising from 21st in 2004 to 3rd in 2009. For the past two years, though, it has been on the slide again, the chief causes being the CLK and the SLK.
The good news is that the CLK has been replaced by the E-Class Cabriolet, which will make its debut in next year’s survey. The SLK is about to be replaced by a new model, too, and will appear in the survey in two years. Both new models are more efficient, which should please survey respondents because fuel economy was one of the biggest complaints about the SLK and CLK.
Two models blot Merc’s owner satisfaction record
Back in 2003, Mercedes pledged that it would hit the top spot for customer satisfaction within three years. It failed – although it did show reassuring signs of improvement in the JD Power manufacturer league over the following six years, rising from 21st in 2004 to 3rd in 2009. For the past two years, though, it has been on the slide again, the chief causes being the CLK and the SLK.
The good news is that the CLK has been replaced by the E-Class Cabriolet, which will make its debut in next year’s survey. The SLK is about to be replaced by a new model, too, and will appear in the survey in two years. Both new models are more efficient, which should please survey respondents because fuel economy was one of the biggest complaints about the SLK and CLK.
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