{"id":118659,"date":"2017-08-29T15:52:16","date_gmt":"2017-08-29T19:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=118659"},"modified":"2017-08-29T15:52:16","modified_gmt":"2017-08-29T19:52:16","slug":"new-vehicle-buyers-less-satisfied-with-their-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2017\/08\/new-vehicle-buyers-less-satisfied-with-their-cars\/","title":{"rendered":"New Vehicle Buyers Less Satisfied With Their Cars"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Toyota is making customers happy with its new products as it took the top spot in the new ACSI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Americans are buying nearly as many new vehicles as ever, but a new study shows they less satisfied with what they\u2019re getting.<\/p>\n

According to the latest results of the\u00a0American Customer Satisfaction Index, driver satisfaction is down 1.2% to a score of 81 on the ACSI’s scale of 0 to 100. Domestic brands led the decline in scores.<\/p>\n

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Product News!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite General Motors\u2019 improvement \u2014 its score rose to 82 \u2014 U.S.-based brands fell below the average with Ford down to 81, followed by Fiat Chrysler at 77. Toyota and Lexus tied for top honors with an 86 \u2014 slight increases over last year\u2019s results.<\/p>\n

Lincoln, which was the top finisher last year, fell 5% to a score of 83. Foreign-made vehicles continued to the highest driver satisfaction with 77% of the \u201cabove-average\u201d brands being imports, widening the gap between U.S. and foreign nameplates.<\/p>\n

(Hurricane Harvey could drench U.S. motorists with higher gas prices. For the story,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Click Here<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“Chances are that we have seen this movie before,” said Claes Fornell, ACSI chairman and founder. “There was a surge in demand and increasing customer satisfaction with foreign cars in the 1980s, mostly because the domestic auto industry had difficulty keeping up.<\/p>\n

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Lincoln fell from the top spot on this year's ACSI. Domestic makers fell overall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWhile U.S. cars have improved much over the years, they have not been as consistent in quality and customer satisfaction compared with their international counterparts. Experience with the Great Recession shows that this movie does not have a good ending unless major steps are taken \u2013 not another government bailout, but rather a renewed focus on how to create satisfied and loyal customers.”<\/p>\n

ACSI divides the ratings into two classes: mass-market cars and luxury cars. Among mass-market cars, five of the top six are foreign-made. Following Toyota was Subaru at 85 (+1%), GMC was stable at 84, Hyundai at 83 (+2%), Kia (+4%) and Mazda (+2%) tied for sixth.<\/p>\n

(<\/em>Click Here<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for details about how automakers plan to help those affected by Harvey.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The rest of the list in order:<\/p>\n